What I'm reading this first week of August...

I picked up Cowboy by Staci Stallings this morning and I can't seem to put it down. What an addicting story! Good thing I was home sick with sinus problems today or I would've been totally distracted at work because I'd be thinking about this story. If I don't finish it tonight I don't know what I'll do tomorrow because if I'm feeling better I'll have to go to work. Then I'll have to read the story in little snatches and it'll make me nuts. There, now that I've vented I feel a bit better, LOL! I'm almost halfway through The Secret Life Of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck. This is another fabulous story. I just happen to be in a more romantic mood than momma mood today or I would've conquered the rest of Sharon's book in one sitting. It's very well written and I love the relationship she has with her husband and kids. SO real, yet without all the sarcasm often found in lit stories. Anyhoo...I also plan to pick up The Recital by Robert Elmer within the next few days and maybe I'll add DragonKnight by Donita K. Paul into the mix since that's the August book of the month. :)

My review of A Vase of Mistaken Identity by Cathy Elliott

About the book:

When Thea James discovers a puzzling list inside a vintage vase, she finds four names on the list . . . including her own! Follow this small-town antique dealer as she becomes a relentless detective on the trail of a killer in this page-turner mystery.

My review:

The heroine, Thea James, in A Vase of Mistaken Identity is probably the quirkiest character I've ever come across in a novel. Her equally antiquated name really fits her personality. She did some really bizarre things in the story, and her family were all pretty strange, too. Especially her grandmother. What a hoot! Some of the things grandma said in front of Thea made the heroine want to slide under the proverbial table more than once. LOL!

Anyway, at first the story sucked me in. I even snorted a few times, like when Thea was at the car wash. I felt bad for the poor dear, especially when the person she least wanted to see her looking a mess was at her relatives' home for dinner. The author did a bang-up job with that scene. I was there! However, I'm not much of a cozy mystery reader, so I don't know how things should pan out exactly in regards to the plot. Some of the metaphors seemed over-the-top, and others were perfect!

A few bunny trails took me off the path and made me set the book down a few times. When I picked it up a few days later and the action rekindled, I found myself riveted until things slowed down again. I think this is the first truly cozy mystery I've enjoyed. My favorite lines were...Or perhaps Thea had better build up the walls around her heart that had begun to crumble in the last few days. She could sense her inner child gathering rocks. Is that a creative line or what?

This story was fun and a few times had me desperately wanting to find out what the deal was regarding the vase. Then it dragged a bit, then picked up again, etc., etc... Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Initially I thought the book should have ended earlier, but then the last few pages made me change my mind. I smell another book percolating in the series, and the ending whetted my appetite for another zany mystery courtesy of Thea James, amateur sleuth extraordinnaire. :) The diner scene at the end was a bit too corny for my tastes, but overall I enjoyed this story enough to recommend it.

So if you want to read about some very zany people and snicker at their antics, you will want to read this book. A Vase of Mistaken Identity was published by Kregel in April 2006.

I did it!

Yes! I finally finished the second round of revisions for my romantic suspense manuscript Hold The Onions. I think it's my best version yet. Now after a few trusty author friends review it for final edits, I will send it off to my trustworthy and talented (not to mention very sweet and attractive and encouraging and...you get the idea) agent Tamela Hancock Murray, then it's off to the ever-elusive publishing world, and me on to another project. Did I mention I received five more books in the mail to review yesterday? Egads! I must catch my breath and read. Since I'm getting another wicked sinus infection, I think I'll stay in bed all day tomorrow and catch up on my sleep and my reading. So many great books...not enough time!

My review of Deliver Us from Evelyn by Chris Well...

Deliver Us From Evelyn is one engrossing novel. I carried it with me everywhere until I finished it. Yep, even to the bathroom. I know, TMI. The author is a genius when it comes to slick street thug characterizations and multiple points of view. Normally stories with many points of view are hard to follow, but this was so well done that I got lost in the story. I felt like I knew the criminals pretty well. He had me in their heads and thinking their thoughts. Sometimes there was no dialogue for an entire scene, but it was barely noticeable. In fact, the action was so intense that in some ways dialogue wasn't even needed. How often can you say that about a book?

The story is insane--just like the title, but in an "organized" manner. It's totally action packed, and I absolutely loved it. Considering I'm not usually a suspense reader, that is unusual for me to say. I did sort of figure out who the true bad "person" was before he/she was revealed (don't want to spoil it for you), but that didn't bug me like it sometimes does. I dunno. Maybe I'm just smart. *wink* The author certainly took me through the mazes with unheard of perfection. The plot is well thought out and the loose ends all tie together in a very satisfying conclusion. Oh, and there are like 6 epilogues. Ha! Like I said, the author is nuts, but a genious.

There were some real cliff-hanger moments, and people died along the way, but that's inevitable when you have that much crime going on. Anything less would not seem realistic. Oh, and one of the scam artists had a profound spiritual journey. THAT was different, but very believable, too. Deliver Us from Evelyn, my friends, is one masterfully written story. As far as suspense goes, this one held my attention like no other. Go ahead and check it out.

Snappy title, ingenious story...you decide. I think you'll agree with me. This is the first book I've read by Chris Well, but I also own Forgiving Solomon Long. Now that I can see the two are linked, I'll have to pick the other one up and devour it at some point, too. Deliver Us from Evelyn was published by Harvest House in March 2006.

What I'm reading this fourth week July...

Two days ago I decided I wanted something different, so I picked up Deliver Us from Evelyn by Chris Well. I'm not at all disappointed. In fact, this book is crazy, zany, and twisted, and I totally love it. Talk about quirky characters and complex villains...this story has it all. It's a real page turner. I've never read anything quite like it. I hope to finish it by tomorrow night at the latest so I can post a review. All I've got to say is...bravo!

I'm almost halfway through A Vase of Mistaken Identity by Cathy Elliot. It's also somewhat zany, and though not as compelling of a story (because it's more of a cozy,) it's still interesting enough to keep me reading. In Vase, the author has metaphors that don't always work for me, but the quirky heroine is squirrely enough that her characterization makes up for it. Was that redundant? LOL!

I'm also reading The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck, but I'm in more of a suspense mood this week, so that's on hold for now. I still have Letters from the Enemy by Susan May Warren in my purse. Haven't read that in awhile because I haven't been waiting in lines anywhere, which is a good thing. I hate waiting in lines almost as much as I hate waiting for sequels to come out. LOL!

My review of Rekindled by Tamera Alexander

Rekindled is one of the most powerful redemption stories I've ever read. I kept hoping the heroine's husband would reveal himself to her, and I held my breath every time I thought the truth would come out. The emotional tension kept me reading through the end with anticipation. Of course, my throat clogged more than once, and my eyes watered. A-hem. I love a story that makes me feel something so deep and so rich that it makes me want to love my husband even more.

Truth be told, there are few historical romances that I've enjoyed as much as this one. In my opinion Rekindled ranks right up there with Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers. The villains were creepy and seemed very real to me. I loved the characters and the heroine's interactions with the ladies from the bordello, as well as her friendship with the simple-minded man. Excellent characterization. Once again I escaped to another world and loved every minute of it.

I can't wait to read the sequel. Something tells me it's going to be about a teen rescued from the bordello, but I could be wrong. However, given the level of commitment the hero and heroine felt toward saving that poor girl, I'm convinced she'll have an important role in the next book in the series. Did I mention that I love this book? The ending was well-paced, and the timing and resolution was as perfect as any I've ever read. Great climax, and extremely romantic reading! Rekindled was published by Bethany House and released in March 2006.

My review of Ticket To Tomorrow by Carol Cox

Ticket to Tomorrow had me hooked from the moment the "bad" man bumped into the heroine's absent-minded-professor/inventor friend and business partner. I also love the cover, which perfectly resembles a young woman from that era. (I have a weird habit of looking at old photographs in antique shops, so I can assure you it has a definite authentic look.) Plus, my grandmother looked a lot like the cover model when she was young. I'm not kidding.

Back to the story...What a great mystery! Just enough intrigue to keep the reader turning the pages, and enough dramatic tension to make the reader wonder when the antagonist is going to strike. The diabolical plan is revealed in snippets, but is never drawn out enough to give it all away...until the climax, of course. That makes it a perfect mystery, in my book. I hate a predictable story.

The romance was...delectable. I loved it! How incredibly romantic! I loved how the hero kept wanting to steal kisses from the heroine. And he looked like the long-haired hunk in fringed leather from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Remember him? Admit it. He was the REAL reason you watched the show. Seriously, though, he was the ultimate hero. The whole story was very well done.

In my opinion Ticket To Tomorrow is the perfect example of a historical romantic mystery. I know that isn't a genre, but if it were, Carol Cox would be the leading author. She led me to a different time and place in history and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Ticket to Tomorrow was published by Barbour Publishing and released in April 2006. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to read it.

What I'm reading this 3rd week of July...

I'm halfway through Rekindled by Tamera Alexander. That is one deep story and I love it! I just started A Vase of Mistaken Identity by Cathy Elliot, so I don't have much to say yet as I haven't finished chapter 1.

I'm over halfway through Ticket to Tommorow by Carol Cox. Another great story. They are all SO different, but I'm enjoying the ride. I also have Letters From the Enemy by Susan May Warren in my purse. I haven't had a chance to pick that up again so I'm not that far into it either--maybe chapter 2--but so far it's holding my interest.

I also need to pick up a "light" novel, and The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck is looking pretty good right now. I may start it tomorrow. That's what I love about having so many books. I can read whatever suits the mood I'm in each day. I LOVE choices!

My review of Dying to Decorate by Cyndy Salzmann

This story is so unique! It starts out hilarious, sucking you in with the witty internal dialogue from Liz--the main point of view character--when she refers to "the hag" in her that's dying to be unleashed. Then the story transitions to the women's Friday night club group and their concern for their dear friend Lucy who is in a total funk and depressed (and for good reason.) They rally to cheer her up and part of that is through helping her renovate a home she recently inherited. With that home came intrigue found in the pages of a young girl's diary during the era of slavery and the Civil War.

This story held my interest and I must say I hated it when the story ended. I want the author to write a historical now about the content in that awesome diary. That was some great stuff! In addition, though the story ended sooner than I'd hoped, it ended on a positive and uplifting note, making me a guaranteed fan of the author for years to come. She really knows how to draw the reader into the lives of the characters.

Oh, and if I were a culinary woman, the recipes are to die for. I think I'll lend them to my husband as he's the chef in the family, and more than one concoction within its pages has piqued his interest. I highly recommend this novel. I hope to see a sequel in the future. There is so much potential for more drama with this incredible cast. Dying to Decorate is published by Howard Books.

What I'm reading this 2nd week of July...

I'm about halfway through Cyndy Salzmann's story Dying to Decorate. It continues to hold my interest and tickle my funny bone big-time! When I want a more romantic read I pick up the historical Rekindled by Tamera Alexander.

I haven't taken a crack at Death in the Desert since July 4th. It just isn't pulling me at the moment. I pulled out a Heartsong by Susan May Warren called Letters From the Enemy and put it in my purse for leisurely reading, like when I'm waiting around and need a good book to peruse. :) Finally, I cracked open Ticket to Tommorow by Carol Cox. So far, so good. I love the absent-minded professor character. What a hoot!

In regards to writing-related books, I pulled out Description by Monica Wood to finish. My interest in the book fizzed out about six months ago when I came across the points of view (first, second and third) chapter. Since I just started a first person POV past tense chick-lit style series about three social workers, I decided to review that section when I'm in the mood for non-fiction.

My reading has slowed down a bit since I started this latest project, but I hope to finish at least one more book this weekend. I have a friend coming from Phoenix to visit, so if we aren't up late at night gabbing and chowing on chocolate, I may get some reading done. :)

My review of The Bishop's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter

I know I'm behind the times as I've never read a Beverly Lewis novel, so this was my first experience reading a novel about the Amish. It was a pleasurable journey for me. I loved the plot and the twists and turns. The characters were also well-developed. I think the author sprinkling in Amish words helped me to get a feel for their culture. It reminded me of a soap opera in that every time the secret was about to come out someone interrupted them. Can you say As the Amish World Turns? :)

Seriously, I really enjoyed this story. It was unique in many aspects and the conflict was good and seemed very realistic to me. I don't want to spoil it for the reader so I won't go into details by identifying the secret, but I'll just say that this story will put a smile on your face and bless you as you experience God's hand moving in the lives of the characters. The Englisher's father's struggle with alcoholism was well developed and true-to-life as well, making this novel a page turner for me.

Again, I loved how the secret almost came out about twenty times. I wanted to shout at the characters to stop interrupting them--the hero and heroine (like on the soaps when someone walks past them in a crowd who has been missing for years. You want to reach into the screen and turn the person's head.) The Bishop's Daughter is listed as general fiction, but had just enough romance to satisfy me. (Did I mention it was a "sweet" romance? Those don't normally appeal to me, but this was so well done I enjoyed it anyway.)

I highly recommend this novel, and now I wish I had read the first two books in the series as well. The Bishop's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter is published by Barbour and scheduled for release in August 2006.

My review of Never Say Never by Lena Nelson Dooley

I guess this story is not officially out yet because I couldn't find it anywhere, so I copied the cover from Lena's website. At first this novel wasn't what I expected it would be (based on the back cover,) and it took me awhile to get to know the characters, but I eventually succumbed to their charms. Gareth is the ultimate hero. He's a rich captain and really knows how to wow a woman with gifts and his thoughtfulness. He was sincere, though, so that worked for me.

I think the romance really took off when Chelle went to Mexico on a missions trip. At that point I was riveted to the story and wanted to finish to find out what happened. I have to say their attraction to each other felt much more real to me at that point. I didn't mind the mother daughter relationship and the inherent conflict, but I think Charlotte wasn't very strong in her role. Though I understood the author's intent, it didn't work for me.

On the romance piece, I'm a diehard romantic, so I must applaud Lena because I thought Gareth and Charlotte's first kiss was worth the wait. If you want to go on a cruise and take in the sites, but don't have the money to book a real one, pick up this book and enjoy the ride. :) Lena is a dear sister in Christ and I'm very fond of her historicals. The publisher of Never Say Never is Heartsong Presents and I assume the title will be released soon, but I'm not sure when.

I hit my 100th....

official Amazon review on July 4th, 2006. Of course, y'all know that I've read way more than 100 books in that time period, but as far as posts go, I thought that was a milestone worth mentioning. :) Also, I started reading The Bishop's Daughter by Wanda Brunstetter for Novel Reviews blog yesterday. So far so good.

I'm having a really tough time getting into Death in the Desert, so I've set that aside for now. I think it's all the telling that's distracting me. I want action, not overdramatization and long narratives. Ugh. Anyway, I'll get back to it and if it gets better I'll let y'all know. I'm on chapter 10 of Never Say Never by Lena Dooley. So far I'm still not really "into" the story. Not sure why. There are only two chapters left and an epilogue. Hmmm...

I'm on chapter 6 in Dying to Decorate by Cyndy Salzmann, which continues to get better as I read along. I'm also on chapter 6 in Rekindled by Tamera Alexander and chapter 11 in A Bishop's Daughter by Wanda Brunstetter. Those are both holding my interest. I continue to be thoroughly impressed with Tamera's writing. VERY GOOD STUFF!

What I'm reading this first week of July...

I'm still reading Never Say Never by Lena Nelson Dooley. It's different from her other Heartsongs and so far it's held my interest, but the characters seem unusually drawn to each other and I'm not sure how I feel about that yet. Guess I'll have to see how the story ends and decide. I cracked open Cyndy Salzman's Dying to Decorate and found the humor about the doggie's breath and gas problem right up my ally. Oh, and the main character talking about the hag coming out! What a scream! LOVE that story so far, but I had to set it down last night so I could sleep. I also started Rekindled by Tamera Alexander and was extremely impressed with how the book began. Talk about a hook! I HAVE to know what is going to happen to the man and his wife who thinks he's dead. Plus, I'm partial to westerns because I live near Tombstone and this story has a "western" setting. Finally, I decided I'll bring Death in the Desert to the park tonight and read it while I'm waiting for the lights to go off and the fireworks to begin. The author is Francine P. Biere and since she's a local author I thought it would be great publicity to have the book on hand because people always ask me what I'm reading. I can tell them I'm reading a book by a local author. Is that planning ahead or what?

My review of The 3rd Covenant by David Brollier

This is one deep story with incredible plot twists and a lot of criminalistics to stimulate the reader's mind. Clearly the author did extensive research. Having taken a college course in forensic science myself, I have to say that I was impressed by the way the evidence was collected and the conclusions drawn by the CSI and lead detective. Parts of this story had me thinking Jackie Chan meets CSI in regard to content. Snippets of the Asian culture woven into the story gave it an exotic flavor as well. The plot was extremely intricate and well thought out. I loved the details and the fact that I didn't guess who was behind all the murders. I was actually surprised at the end, yet the plot made sense. Very well done!

In regards to the actual writing, for the most part it was pretty good and descriptive with adequate "showing" and good dialogue. Some parts were a bit stilted in regards to speech and a few places had way too much telling. The changes in points of view were okay, but I would have preferred it if the author had stuck to three points of view...the lead investigator, his wife and the Bishop. With all of the others intermingled with occasional omniscient point of view, it got a bit confusing at times.

Overall I'd say the story was very engaging and interesting. The continual murders and collecting of evidence as the killers were pursued held my interest. There were very few dry places in this novel, and for me, that was good because I hate a dull story. Despite the "learning curve," I think David Brollier did a bang-up job on his debut novel. I can just about guarantee that his next book will be even better. The 3rd Covenant is published by Publish America.

My review of The Secret Thief by Judith Jaeger

This novel is not inspirational fiction. I just thought I'd make that clear up front for my regular readers. But just because it's not Christian fiction doesn't mean there isn't a lot to glean from it. I read this story straight through.
The Secret Thief is a story completely different than I expected (after reading the back cover). However, it was right up my alley. I love reading about messed up people, and this author really captures the victimization of the daughter and the abuse of the mother in such an amazing way, that the closest I can come to describing it is to say it's like a female version of the story, "A Child Called It" by Dave Peltzer.

However, in the Secret Thief the heroine was the victim of Munchausen's by proxy her entire life. It's a disorder where a parent makes their child sick on purpose to get attention. The mother in this story was such a great example of a person with Borderline Personality Disorder and Munchausen's. I was thoroughly impressed by the depth and honesty in this story. Parts of it also made me think of the movie "Mommy Dearest."

A couple of times I felt like the author expressed political opinions in the body of the novel that weren't necessary, like the heroine's extensive thoughts on Lesbians. Also, the beginning of the story confused me a bit as it went back and forth with a scene that already occured. Other than those issues, I found this a fascinating story and couldn't put it down.

In my opinion it was well worth the read. I recommend it to readers who want to enter the mind of a victim. There is no sugarcoating in this story. Just the gut wrenching truth in the young woman's messed up mind. The heroine had some pretty wicked thoughts, but as you get to know her you see that she feels driven to do the things she does to keep herself from going insane. The only control the young heroine had in her life was stealing when she felt boxed in by her mother's illness. The poor girl was brainwashed into believing so many lies her mother told her that she didn't know what the truth was until close to the end of the story. Of course, the fact that she gets strong enough at the end to confront her mother is extremely gratifying. The Secret Thief is published by Behler publishing.

My review of Dark Hour by Ginger Garrett

Highlighting one of the bloodier stories in Biblical history, Dark Hour brings II Chronicles chapters 21-23 to life on the pages of this intense novel. A page-turner, Dark Hour is not typical Biblical fiction. Like much of the Old Testament, it doesn’t gloss over a thing. Before Christ, and following the downfall of David’s kingdom, the world was not a good place. Murder, intrigue, false religion, struggle for power, and unimaginable abuse are woven between the pages of Dark Hour, though not in such gory detail that I wouldn’t let my child read it. I literally felt sucked into that era with all of its’ struggles, passions, and culture.

I felt the heroine Jehoshebeth’s confusion and fear as she dealt with Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel, who was her alleged mother. When Athaliah slaughtered the royal children in Judah and Israel to make herself queen, she proved that like her mother, her evil had no limits. As a reader I entered the temple courts where sacrifices were offered, prophets were killed for their messages from the Lord, and being a follower of the God of Israel was not looked upon with favor unless you lived with the priests. Miraculously, an heir to the throne of David was preserved despite the enemy’s attempt to snuff out the lineage of Christ.

This wonderfully-written novel made me want to read through Chronicles again. This is the perfect novel for readers seeking an escape to a world without hope, yet where the triumph of God is clearly seen in the midst of the dark trials suffered by the characters. Dark Hour is published by NavPress and is being released this month.

My review of A Girl's Best Friend by Kristin Billerbeck

A Girl's Best Friend was everything I thought it would be. In fact, I liked it even more than She's All That, probably because Morgan is a fellow blonde. The author did an amazing job making me feel a part of Morgan's life, and helping me empathize with her despite the fact that she's lived a life of privilege.

There were some very touching scenes as well as some eye-openers for Morgan. Poor girl really was protected from the "real world" to the point that it was almost harmful for her to function in society without that protection of the almighty dollar. I love how she "found" herself and discovered that she didn't have to repeat history and become what her parents were.

I loved how her dad stayed a jerk because in reality many people have parents whose love is conditional and that's a very sad thing. I loved it that Morgan became stronger, and in the end she knew what she wanted, and it wasn't riches. Her heart didn't have to be as hard as a diamond because she could chose to love and give of herself to show that love. Truly a remarkable and very believable transformation, thanks to the loving input and truth-speaking of her Spa Girl friends, who tell it like it is.

I am anticipating a bang-up story of Poppy's self-discovery and something tells me that story will top them all. It's how Billerbeck does things. She builds your relationship and love for the characters, and makes each new story that much better. Just when you think you've discovered your favorite chick lit story, she hits you with an even better one. Amazing! Oh, and her attraction to the man with the six pack abs and the anticipation of his kisses made me smile. Morgan had private thoughts about the man's abs like I think about fine chocolate. Now that's a great story! A Girl's Best Friend is published by Integrity.

I'm less than five chapters from the end...

of A Girl's Best Friend by Kristin Billerbeck. I'll be posting a review tomorrow. Time to bed down for the night. I'm SO sad about that, because I can't stop reading this book!!!

My review of Coldwater Revival by Nancy Jo Jenkins

This story was so gripping it's hard to for me to express my feelings adequately, but I'll give it a shot. The flow of words and beautiful similies and metaphors reminded me of Secret Life of Bees, only this story really blessed me whereas I found Sue Monk Kidd's book depressing. I have to admit that when the heroine in Coldwater Revival, Emma Grace, reflected on her childhood tragedy when she fell asleep during the storm, the feelings I experienced were so intense I had to set the book down for a few days for an emotional breather. But I couldn't hold out long and had to go back to it because the story was well worth finishing even if it did nearly rip my heartstrings to shreds at certain points.

The closest I've felt (to compare the strong emotion I experienced) was when I'd read the Scottish series by Liz Curtiss Higgs. Though at the outset I never would've thought this story had a romantic element, not only did the growing love between the heroine and hero in Coldwater Revival impress me, but I dare say that in many ways this story had one of the strongest romantic elements of any I've ever read.

This daring debut novel had me holding my breath and sighing with relief as I read along, enjoying every page. My heart pounded along with the heroines right through to the end. Wonderful story, and extremely well-written, with the best use of similies I've ever experienced in fiction.

I highly recommend this book! It has so much meat and emotion in it, and the best part was that not one time did I feel that a scene was forced or contrived. Nor did any of the spiritual elements feel preachy or like the author struggled to write that piece into the novel. Everything flowed from characters who seemed like real people to me. In fact, reading this story was like slipping into another time and place. I could picture everything in my mind. Ironically, it's making me want to find a copy of Hurricaine by Janice Thompson ASAP. Maybe I'll e-mail her right now. :) Coldwater Revival is published by RiverOak.