-- Grace Elizabeth --

-- Grace Elizabeth --

Thursday, May 26, 2011

More Library Reads

I love my library! Now that I don't work at a Christian bookstore where I had lots of books at my fingertips to read and enjoy-my library is my new best friend. They have been so good to order books I have asked for and the first two were ones I asked for.

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart. This is her third book in her series about Julia Desmit and her life from when she became a single mother and the trials that followed. The first book was After the Leaves Fall, the second was Summer Snow. Each of her books are extremely well written and very hard to put down. I found myself mesmerised by the storyline and what all she goes thru with her unorthodox family. All the books are stories about a young girl's struggle with loss, love, identity and faith with characters that are hard to forget and a story that you won't forget either. These are books that I would reread again-they are that good!!

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl was one I couldn't wait to get my hands on to read. This is her third in the Triple Threat Novel series and WOW was it good. I read half the first night and finished it the next night-very unusual for me. The story is about a cunning lady serial killer and three professional women caught up in her world. This is a fast paced thriller with lots of twist and turns that keep you turning pages like I did till I finished it. The only problem is I have to wait till fall for another book by this author. I highly recommend he Hand of Fate and Face of Betrayal books in the Triple Threat series. She will be one of your" new favorite authors" like me.

One Step at a Time by Josh Bleill was a book I found thru the Indianapolis Star and it was fabulous. It is the story of a marine from Greenfield, Indiana that is injured critically in Iraq by and IED. He loses both legs and lots of other injuries. He also lost two of his best friends which was probably the hardest of all. It is a story of his journey from enlistment, active duty in Iraq and two years of rehab and then his job with the Indianapolis Colts as a community spokesperson. You will fall in love with his faith, his enthusiasm, joy, humor but most of all his dependence on God to keep him going. This was a book that just flowed and how even when life doesn't turn out how we think it should-God still has great plans to use us not matter if we are missing legs there is still a way to go forward-one step at a time. I have a daughter in the Army and this book shows me just how the military people are there for each other and really take care of each other-quite a big family of support.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Desert Gift

I just finished Desert Gift by Sally John and it was one of those books where I read other reviews on this book and went ahead and picked this to read. I got this book free from Tyndale Publishers for my honest opinion. So my honest opinion is: it was just ok. I struggled with the plot-very uninteresting and way too long. The book and plot seemed to drag on forever till I got to the end. The characters seemed so trite and focused on themselves which got tiring after a while.
The story plot about Jillian Galloway being a successful radio talk show host and known as a marriage expert. She has a new book out and is leaving on a book tour when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. She is wondering if her whole life is a sham and how can she get her marriage back. This is supposed to be a book about unexpected detours that our lives can take and how God is always at work. There was some of that but mostly I felt the book just rambled on and on. Very seldom do I not like a Christian book and I am sure she is a great author, but this book left me relieved when I turned the last page.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Thicker than Blood

I have had this book on hold at the library since I read her second book Bound by Guilt two weeks ago. There were some characters in that book that are in this book but stand alone enough to read the way I did. CJ Darlington was an award winner in the Jerry Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and after reading her two books, it is easy to see why.

Thicker than Blood centers around Christy Williams and her work in a book store that deals with rare and first edition books. It is a fascinating look into the world of antiquarian books and two sisters with a past full of regrets. It also shows addiction, betrayal and God's powerful reach in all their lives. As you read this story, you feel like you are right there in the room with them, experiencing all their raw pain and emotion.

This lady can write-be prepared to keep reading, because she keeps you enthralled in the storyline. Can't wait for her next one-

Monday, May 9, 2011

Lightkeeper's Ball

Oh, how I love Colleen Coble's books!!. Picked this book up from the library and devoured it quickly. This is the third in her Lightkeeper's series and it was super good. Since I have read all of her books, I know she does not write a bad book.
This book takes place in Mercy Falls California. Olivia Steward is heiress to an empire. Her family is considered to be very wealthy but in real life, their wealth has disappeared. The only hope is for the Stewart's daughters' to marry well. Olivia's sister, Eleanor was engaged to Harrison Bennett who is very wealthy. Eleanor dies very mysteriously so Olivia travels to Mercy Falls as Lady Devonworth hoping to find out who or what killed Eleanor. She finds that her death wasn't an accident and suspects Harrison to be the guilty one. Then the plot thickens when a charity ball takes place and truths long hidden will be revealed.
This book kept me guessing-which all of her books do-as to who the culprit really was. I was totally surprised by the killer. That is why Colleen is such a good writer, she weaves twists and turns throughout the book, and then completely surprises you with the ending. She always puts suspense, romance and lots of rich deep faith in her books.
Can't wait for the next Colleen Coble book. That's what happens when you read her books.