Tidewater Inn

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Publish Date: July 2012

Libbie Halladay, who restores historic buildings with her friend and business partner, Nicole, learns that she has inherited a beautiful old inn on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Before Libbie arrives on Hope Island to see the inn, her partner is kidnapped! An investigation into her disappearance leads the local sheriff, Tom Bourne, and his cousin, Coast Guard rescue worker, Alec Bourne, to wonder about Libbie’s possible involvement in the kidnapping.

Colleen Coble crafts an interesting story surrounding Libbie’s character. In addition to the kidnapping dilemma, this book also has distrusting (and untrustworthy?) townspeople including newly discovered step-siblings, and a fragile friendship/love interest between Libbie and Alec. The reader wants the deserving Libbie to receive fair treatment throughout the story, yet as in real life, there are sometimes challenging events that guide the direction of her personal journey.  

Spring Fever

Author: Mary Kay Andrews

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: June 2012

A light summer read, Mary Kay Andrews has developed several interesting characters in this book. Annajane Hudgens and Mason Bayless were married then divorced several years ago. After the divorce, Annajane remains best friends with Mason’s sister Pokie, and also continues to work for the Bayless family business, Quixie Beverage Company. The intrigue in the plot links Annajane with Mason’s new girlfriend, Celia, and Quixie Beverages in unexpected ways. A deceitful heart can be hard to recognize in people we have trusted, and as the author unravels the sticky webs of deceit woven around her characters, the reader is reminded anew that honesty and truth are traits we all should ascribe to.

Special Delivery

Author: Kathi Macias
Publisher: New Hope Publishers
Pub Date: March 2012

Mara is a waitress at a seafood café earning enough money to rent a room and meet her basic needs. It has taken her two years to finally gain citizenship in the United States, free from her homeland of Mexico. Her parents had sold her into slavery, and her uncle, Jefe, had raped her for the first time and then prostituted her out until his capture and imprisonment.

Two years earlier, Jonathan had helped break up a human-trafficking ring that forced teens and young children to be sex slaves right in their own San Diego area. Mara was one of those girls. Jonathan admits that he wonders and thinks about her often and what she is doing now. Because of that rescue, Jonathan’s family is now involved in the ministry of rescuing human-trafficking victims and helping them recover, get established, and begin new and productive lives. This is not a typical romance novel, and the hero and heroine do not end up together at the end of the book...but are both stronger for their friendship.

I was impressed with this book, at how the author told the heinous story of human trafficking here in the United States. This is the first book by Kathi Macias I have read, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the "Freedom" series of books in this series.

Kelsey's Song

Author: Lanie Kincaid
Publisher Name: Griffyn Ink
Publish Date: June 2010

This is a wonderful story about two people, JD & Kelsey, who are dealing with circumstances in their lives that they never planned. JD Hewlitt is a guitarist for the struggling band Wilder and just found out that he is a father of a 5-year-old girl. He meets Kelsey Conklin when he and his daughter Andie are in Target and Andie throws a temper tantrum. Kelsey helps calm Andie down and thinks nothing more about it until she realizes they are neighbors. JD and Kelsey slowly get to know each other over the next several months as she helps him cope with new parenthood, and he helps her come out of her shell after grieving the tragic death of her mentally ill brother.

Ms. Kincaid’s cast of characters is vibrant, three-dimensional and incredibly realistic. Kelsey Conklin is an undeniably strong woman with a sweet and giving personality. JD Hewlitt is charming and delightfully inept in his new role as a father. Kelsey’s children, Daniel and Allie, are absolutely adorable, and even when she is being a "demon child", JD’s daughter Andie works her way into the reader’s heart. Fully rounding out the cast of characters are JD’s brother TJ and fellow band mates Craig and Alex.

Kelsey’s Song is an enjoyable read with an appealing cast of characters. It is a heartwarming and uplifting romance, and if you enjoy novels centered around families, then you should definitely pick up a copy Kelsey’s Song.

The Brotherhood

Author: Jerry Jenkins
Publisher: Tyndale House
Publish Date: January 2011

Jerry B. Jenkins has started a new police thriller series in the Precinct 11 novels. The book has an interesting plot and Christian theme. I've never read any of Jenkins' other works (Leave Behind series in particular) so I didn't quite know what to expect. I liked the way he integrated Christian beliefs without being cheesy or preachy. Jerry Jenkins' writing style is flawless and easy to read, yet compelling. It was also kind of an eye-opener to frightening organized crime activities that are out there.
The Brotherhood is primarily the story of Boone Drake, a cop's cop, and his reaction to tragedy in his life. An unexpected accident changes Boone Drake's life in an instant. Unable to understand such tragedy, he searches for meaning in his job, his routine, and the bottom of a bottle. His emotions and questions are raw and honest and pulsate throughout the novel. But it goes beyond that into the heart of gangland in Chicago, where the Chicago PD is preparing the sting operation of a lifetime.
People who are affiliated with law enforcement or enjoy law enforcement novels will especially enjoy this book.

The Tehran Initiative

Author: Joel Rosenberg
Publisher: Tyndale House
Publish Date: October 2011

Joel C. Rosenberg in his book "The Tehran Initiative" Book Two in the “The Twelfth Imam” series published by Tyndale House Publishers brings us to The Middle East in the possible future. 'The Tehran Initiative', is a strong, compelling political thriller. Rosenberg hooks the reader from page one and the story flows effortlessly from there.

The main character of the novel is David Shirazi, a CIA operative working undercover in Iran. In Tehran, the Twelfth Imam has emerged, attracting those Muslims who believe him to be the messiah and call for the destruction of those who would oppose them. "I have come to bring peace and justice and to rule the earth with a rod of iron," he continued. "This is why Allah sent me. He will reward those who submit. He will punish those who resist. But make no mistake, Iskander; in the end, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that I am the Lord of the Age."

The dialog between the characters is believable and flows naturally. The 400 pages cover an intense 7-day period between Tehran, Jerusalem and Washington. If the reader steps out of the novel into actual current events, such a week has the potential to be the most intense week in history. World leaders face decisions that could obliterate entire nations in a matter of seconds if the wrong decision would be made.

I recommend this novel for anyone who wants a good story that seems like it could appear in tomorrow's newspaper.

River's Song

By: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Abington Press
Publish Date: August 2011
Review Run Date: Indefinite

River's Song is the first book in Ms. Carlson's series, The Inn at Shining Waters. Set in 1957, this is a story about a woman who has faced many challenges in her life, and now is struggling to understand who she is, and what she wants from life.

Anna Gunderson married at a young age for love. Tragically, her husband is seriously injured in the war, and Anna spends a difficult season tending to her husband while living under the roof of her autocratic mother-in-law. After her husband dies, followed by the deaths of her parents, Anna slips the bonds of her enslavement to her mother-in-law and returns to to her childhood home on the banks of the Siuslaw River in Oregon.

River's Song is a wonderful story about the power of this river to bring healing and renewal of purpose to Anna. The reader is drawn to Anna's character; she has experienced so much heartbreak that her ability to even desire healing for herself is questionnable. Thankfully, Anna develops a small support system who encourage her along the road to wholeness

Hurricanes in Paradise

By: Denise Hildreth Jones
Publisher: Tyndale House
Publish Date: May 2010

This book was a compelling read. The four protagonists, all women of varied ages and background, happen to become acquainted at a hotel on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Each of their individual stories keep the reader's interest, and the intersection of their lives for one week during hurricane season is the foundation of this book.

Riley is the Guest Services Manager at the Atlantis Hotel. It is her responsibility to make sure that the hotel's most important guests are kept happy during their stay at the hotel. The special guests to be looked after the week of this story include a well-known author, Laine, with an inflated ego, a widow, Winnie, struggling to come to terms with the circumstances of her life, and a young model, Tamyra, despairing from relationship difficulties she must face back home.

Ms. Hildreth Jones tackles serious subjects in Hurricanes in Paradise, such as forgiveness, trust, and fear. She also allows the protagonists' to come to terms with their Christian faith in the book. All of the women have been exposed to Christianity at some point in their lives but their personal faith walks' are quite different from each other. The author weaves the Christian message throughout the book but it is done with grace and thoughtfulness.

A Kiss of Adventure

By:                    Catherine Palmer

Publisher:          Tyndale House 

Publish Date:     April 2008

     This book, about a young woman and her adventures in Africa, was quite captivating. The reader follows Tillie Thornton (short for Matilda) as she pursues a treasure that a Scottish explorer, Mungo Park, is said to have left near Timbuktu two hundred years ago. A particularly fierce tribe of nomads, the Tuarag, repeatedly attempt to kidnap Tillie and force her to take them to the treasure, but Tillie has no idea what the treasure is, or where it might be hiding. An American writer, Graeme McLeod, joins forces with Tillie, and they go from one adventure to another running from the Tuarag, and trying to determine where the treasure is. Somewhat predictably, a romance blossoms between them, and the reader silently observes each character as they cautiously peel back the 'onion layers' of their lives, unsure if they are able, or even are willing, to overcome their pasts in order to have a future together.

     This book appears to be written to the Christian reader. There are a lot of bible verses strewn about the pages; Tillie remembers these being taught to her by an African housekeeper. They are appropriately utilized in the book and help Tillie to make difficult choices as she faces various challenges. The subject of faith is significantly explored in A Kiss of Adventure. Tillie realized how easy it was for her to keep her faith in God when life was easier.   However, when she doesn't understand why difficult things keep happening, she consciously reminds herself of the truths she has been taught so that she does not become overwhelmed by her circumstances. I would recommend this book to all readers.

Veiled Freedom

By:                      Jeanette Windle

Publisher:           Tyndale House

Publish Date:      April 2009

     Veiled Freedom is an amazing book! The reader learns about the people and politics of Afghanistan through a riveting story line. The author breathed life into characters that lived and dreamed and despaired their very existences.

     The three main characters, Steve Wilson, Amy Mallory, and Jamil come together from different realities and worldviews. Steve, a private security expert, is working in Afghanistan. He is jaded and disgusted with life, especially with "freed" Afghanistan post-911. Amy is a young Christian humanitarian worker whose desire is to meet the physical and emotional needs of Afghan women and children. Jamil is an Afghan with too many life experiences, a young man with no hope for a brighter future for his country. The lives of these three people intersect in Kabul, and are forever intertwined. 

My knowledge about the difficult lives of the Afghan people has been very limited. I didn't realize the depths that greed, corruption, and misused power had wrought in this country. I didn't understand how poorly women are treated, and how little has changed within the culture as a result of Western military operations. Although a novel, Ms. Windle's well-written book is based on truth. The details she brings to each page adds significantly to the reading experience. I could smell the dusty smog of Kabul, I could hear the merchants and customers of the marketplace. 

The author also contrasted Christianity and Islam through the book. The character, Amy, believes that people should have the right to choose what belief system they adopt, and struggles as she is not allowed to share her own faith to the Afghan people. Jamil, on the other hand, vacillates between his devout adherence to the Muslim faith, and what he has read in a bible he has been given. Is love more powerful than vengeance? Does God want us to love our enemies or to find revenge for the wrongs that have befallen us? Is forgiveness attainable? As he wrestles with these questions, the reader is also confronted with their own belief system? Do we live by a system of beliefs, and let them guide our choices and decisions, or do we go about our daily lives giving lip service to a higher power yet not allow our beliefs to impact our lives?

     I would recommend this book to all readers. It is impactful and has an interesting story as well.