Meg Moseley's latest

Eighteen years ago, best friends Laura, Seth, and Cassie pledged to be there for each other no matter what. Not long afterward, Laura's father drowned in a nearby lake. Life has taken them in different directions but when Laura returns to their hometown to go through her mother's belongings after her death, all three find themselves together again. Rumors are beginning to circulate throughout town about Laura's father. Is his body really at the bottom of the lake or are the rumors that he has hidden out all these years and been spotted around town really true?

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley is set in small town Prospect, Georgia where everyone knows everyone else and life seems simpler. The story is one of mystery, secrets, friendships, lost love, and second chances. The characters live a life easy to relate to as a reader but I finished the book with some unanswered questions about some of them, specifically Cassie. Perhaps the author is considering another book to follow with some of the same characters that might clear up some of those questions.

I must be drawn to books about "ghosts". The last two I have read open up with suggesting there are ghosts which takes me back a bit in Christian fiction. All that to say, I really did enjoy the story. It is a quick read and each chapter leaves you hesitant to put the book down. It isn't all that predictable either which adds to its appeal. A Reader's Guide is included in the back of the book for book discussions.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to write a positive review. Check out another of Meg Moseley's books, Gone South.

Runaway Saint

Sara Drexel and her husband, Finn, own their own agency specializing in letterpress printing, website design, and creating cards and stationary. Out of the blue, Sara's Aunt Bel is back in town after serving over 20 years as a missionary in Kazakhstan and Sara offers her a place to stay. Aunt Bel left for a summer when Sara was four and just never came back.  Why did she leave, what happened to Bel all those years, and why is she hiding a lifetime of secrets? Trying to reconnect with Bel and figure her out stirs up parts of Sara that startle her.

Well, probably opening up the book with "I'm thirty years old and I still believe in ghosts. I believe in ghosts because I have one....." was probably not the opening I was looking for that would compel me to continue reading but I did so because I have always trusted Thomas Nelson to publish materials in line with Christian thinking. I will also admit that there was just a hint of inappropriate language as well which disappointed me.

 The relationships are a bit odd and quirky.  Sara's mother brings to mind someone out of the hippie movement of the 60's but Sara's husband, Finn, is the character I loved. He rounds Sara out so beautifully and loves her unconditionally, realizing he can't be the one who heals her wounds.  The church they attend isn't traditional which is fine but there were questions surfacing after attending one of the services such as "is that your Jesus"? I think I get what the author was trying to say but I think it could be unclear to readers who may lean toward Jesus being who you make him to be and not who God says he is. Filled with secrets and things which haunt from the past, relationships, and healing, Runaway Saint by Lisa Samson was an interesting read and one that made me want to see how it all turned out.   Anyway, I did enjoy the book but would be cautious who I recommended it to.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligate to leave a positive review. 

One of her best

This isn't the life Allison had planned but things don't always turn out as you plan. Her daughter is a grown woman and lives far away and her alcoholic husband left her even though she was certain God would heal their marriage, so Allison moves into the old log cabin home in the mountains of Idaho left to her by her Great Aunt Emma several years back. Allison has never been much of a collector nor has she kept memorabilia from her life. Emma left Allison box after box of items in the attic that reveal Emma had much more in common with Allison than she ever realized. Can Allison still be comforted and learn from the content of those boxes and the heartache her aunt had experienced? Healing comes from a number of unexpected places.

In some ways, there are two stories going on at the same time. Emma's story, which primarily takes place in the 1920s and 30s, and Allison's current day journey of healing, from her pain and disappointment, and her return to trusting God. The transitions between the time periods and the connection between the two are expertly done and easy to follow.

I have always enjoyed reading Robin Lee Hatcher's writings but she has addressed something in this novel that I don't know has been hit head on so well before. Allison felt certain God had promised to heal her marriage and then she felt God telling her to let go of her marriage. Why had God not kept his promise? Had she misunderstood either his promise or his direction?  Everyone has certainly felt that way at one time or another and the author does an excellent addressing that question. Knowing that Ms. Hatcher used experiences from her own life in this novel , walking a path similar to Allison's, makes it even a more compelling story.

One of her best yet, A Promise Kept addresses alcoholism, divorce, and searching for God through a beautiful story. I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive review.

Carolina Gold

The Civil War is over.  Her father is gone.  Charlotte Fraser has only her rice plantation and an island cottage her father left her.  She is determined to put the pieces of her life back together in spite of the fact that little is left of her former life, her father's slaves are now free, and little help to be found.  She may just be able to make it if she can grow the rice her father was famous for, Carolina Gold.  So many obstacles stand in her way and she has a loan to repay or risk losing Fairhaven so Charlotte agrees to tutor two neighbor girls to help pay the taxes and loan but gets more than she bargained for.

I selected this book simply because of the Charleston, SC area setting, never remembering having read any other novels by Dorothy Love but I wasn't disappointed.  What I found was an author whose pen brings history to life and makes the reader feel as if she is part of the story as one who is learning to live in the aftermath of the Civil War when the southern way of life was totally turned upside down.  Ms. Love is an author I will be looking for in the future as historical fiction is my favorite.  I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

A trilogy to love

My Hope Is Found is the final installment of Gideon and Lonnie O'Riley's story.  I don't want to ruin the first two books, Be Still My Soul, and Through My Heart is Torn, but will attempt to vaguely tell their story as it leads up to this fabulous ending .

After a very rocky start to their marriage and then being torn apart when Gideon's past comes back to haunt him, Gideon is finally able to return to his family.  However, stepping back into Lonnie and Jacob's life isn't quite so simple.  Lonnie has grieved over the loss of Gideon (she has no reason to think that they will ever reunite) for months and has finally come to a place where she can open her heart and has--to a Scottish preacher named Toby McKee.  When Gideon returns and realizes what has happened, he has to turn the only place he knows to--God.  Could it be that Toby would be the better husband for Lonnie and does Gideon love her enough to let her go? 

I love, love, love this series!  The characters are endearing and my heart has grieved over all they have endured.  I have no doubt you will love Lonnie, Gideon, and Toby as much as I do. Each of these books in the series will leave you wanting more but know that they must be read in order. These are the first novels written by Joanne Bischof but I hope they will not be the last.  Even though she is from California, I can see and feel the Appalachians in her writing and she is dead on.  If you haven't read the series, may I recommend this as something to put on your wish list?  If you still aren't convinced, check out Ms. Bischof's website at http://www.joannebischof.com/.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive review.  Five stars without any hesitation!

 

Excellent Biblical fiction

Return to Me by Lynn Austin opens with something of a prologue where the prophet Daniel is interpreting the writing on the wall for the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar. Babylon's days are numbered.  That means uncertainty for Daniel and his people but they will continue to trust in the Sovreign God as he has done his entire adult life.

Chapter one introduces the priest, Iddo and his family.  After years of Iddo's nightmares of his capture and his never ending desire to return to the Promised Land, King Cyrus is finally releasing the Jewish people to return to their land and rebuild the temple.  Iddo's passion for doing so has not wavered but he finds that all the Jewish people don't have that same passion. Babylon is "home", a pagan world they have grown comfortable in, and their love for and faith in the one true God has wavered. Even his own sons wish to remain in Babylon.  Only his grandson, Zechariah, desires to go to the land of his forefathers and it takes an "act of God" to convince him but his decision to do so changes everything.

Lynn Austin has successfully brought to life the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.  Not only does the story bring to life the characters from those Old Testament books, much of the story comes straight from scripture.  Ms. Austin's books are always among my favorites and this one is no exception.  Her writings demonstrate that she is well researched and thorough.  Her novels are typically lengthy but not filled with fluff.  This one is no exception.  I love how she makes me feel as if I am walking alongside these Biblical characters.  A must read for any historical fiction reader.  Return to Me is the first installment in the Restoration Chronicles.  I look forward to the furture installments.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.

Three Christmas Novellas in One Volume!

For a year, Beth has mourned over the death of her fiancé. Everyone is encouraging her to move on but she is still dressed in black and appears content to live above and work in the dry goods store with her spinster Aunt Lizzy. Lizzy fears that Beth may hold on to the past forever and end up just like her--alone. Every day Beth pastes on a smile that would leave most to believe she is okay but it is the secret she hides that makes her hesitant to open her heart even if the man be to the artist who stirs her soul with his work.

Mattie runs her own shop and is fulfilling her dream of being a cake decorator after having her heart broken and leaving Pennsylvania for Ohio. Mattie has found someone new, Sol, whom she plans to marry--some day. But Mattie lacks the bond with Sol that should be present with the one you want to spend the rest of your life with even if Sol does have all the characteristics she ever wanted in a husband. So why does her ex-fiance, Gideon's, voice keep popping up in her head? When tragedy strikes, Mattie is forced to return to her Pennsylvania home. Here she will be faced with the truth behind her broken heart.

Sadie has finally found love--Daniel. That is until Daniel betrayed Sadie, with her own cousin whom she had invited to visit for the months leading up to hers and Daniel's wedding. But her whole family believes exactly as she does. If she doesn't marry Daniel, she will never marry. Sadie is torn between suffering the scorn of calling off a wedding and being strong enough to marry the man who has lied to her. Unable to bear either, she moves away and is permitted to go on Mennonite mission trips to Peru until her family insists she return home several years later. Might she open her heart and learn t o trust again?

Christmas in Apple Ridge is a collection of three Amish novels in one, all of which are centered around the Christmas season. Each story is connected through either family or friendship. The first two novellas have been released previously but the third story is new and a continuation of the first two. Difficult circumstances resulting in broken people who, through God and the love of his people, begin to heal and open their hearts again make for some very believable and touching characters. As always, Cindy Woodsmall does an excellent job of capturing the Amish way of life and includes an Amish soap recipe for the reader to try their hand at the Amish way of doing things. I have never been disappointed in a Cindy Woodsmall book and this one is no exception. There are times when escaping to a less commercial, "simple" lifestyle sounds quite appealing and doing so in the pages of an Amish story is preferable to my cutting off the electricity. They were all a joy to read and got better with each one.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.