Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah/ Melody Carlson/ 294 p

In this last installment of the 86 Bloomberg Place series, Lelani has returned from Maui with her baby and an engagement ring from Gil, Anna's brother. She wants a simple ceremony but Gil and Anna's mama wants a big Latino celebration. Since Lelani is estranged from her own controlling mom, she doesn't want to harm the relationship with Gil's strong-willed mom. Kendall found love unexpectedly when she was rescued by a local plumber. She has finally gotten help for her money issues and has been helping Lelani with Emma. When her "Maui Man" proposes, Kendall's family rushes in to take over planning the wedding. They still treat her like the spoiled air-head that she used to be much to her frustration. Megan and Marcus finally share the same faith but when Marcus goes to Africa on a mission trip, Megan begins to doubt if they will ever be on the same page. Anna knows she loves Edmund but now he seems to be interested in someone else at the office.

With all this angst and two weddings to plan, there's lots to resolve to bring this trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. Another good read for Christian fiction fans.

Let Them Eat Fruitcake/Melody Carlson/ 302 p.

This is the second book in the 86 Bloomberg Place series. Megan, Lelani, Anna and Kendall are settling in as roommates. But they each are dealing with their own problems. Megan's boss is mean. Her job isn't what she wants to do - she's a teacher not a designer. Her mom, still dealing with the death of Megan's dad, is going on a cruise for Christmas leaving Megan on her own. Lelani, who had a child out of wedlock, is feeling the pull to go home to see the little girl that she left in the care of her parents. But her parents aren't all that welcoming. Anna's old boyfriend is back just has handsome and charming as ever. Now she's not sure if she wants the "nice guy" she's been seeing or her first love. She may find out too late who she really loves and who really loves her. And Kendall meets and sleeps with a married actor at a party and she's decided they are meant to be. Especially after she finds out that she's pregnant.

Not your typical Christian fiction book. There were some characters I liked more than others but all in all a good Christmas read.

I Heart Bloomberg / Melody Carlson /292 p.

Anna, Lelani and Megan don't know one another but they all have one thing in common -- they are needing to find a new place to live. An ad in the local paper for tenants to share a "luxurious house" in a great neighborhood has each of them sending in a resume and hoping to be one of the lucky girls to be picked for this too-good-to-be-true housing arrangement. After they are chosen by Kendall to share her house, they soon realize that Kendall hasn't been entirely truthful with them. Kendall's grandmother gave her a large run-down home and she's hoping that new furniture and accessories will distract her tenants from the reality. If she plays her cards right, she's hoping her new tenants will finance her shopaholic habits and become her new BFFs - on her selfish terms. Each of the girls, have their own heartaches and faults but they are soon working together to make Bloomberg Place the home they were hoping to share.

This is a sweet, if not realistic, story of how friendships are made in the most unlikely ways. The first book in the Bloomberg Place series.

The Spindle Chair / Shellie Arnold / 300 pgs

The book was well-written and had a compelling story of a couple, Laurie and Pierce, who has to cope with a particularly hard miscarriage that almost took Laurie's life. Laurie becomes pregnant again, and her already distant husband, who is a pastor, becomes more distant as he deals with all the fear he has over the new pregnancy. Meanwhile, new memories of Pierce's life before he was adopted resurfaces, making an already tenuous relationship even more strained. So, the story is about some heavy marital issues, not so much about romance.

Nevertheless, it's a beautiful and hard story to read. I would recommend it with some tissues on hand.

Dance of Grace / Stacy Monson / 322 pgs

After dancing teacher Vanessa Jordan loses her younger siblings and her leg to a car accident, she hits rock bottom. However, her life is changed when she meets Kurt Wagner, an ex-con turned church janitor. Kurt wants to build River House, a safe haven for youth who are just like Kurt used to be. Vanessa and Kurt work together to make Kurt's dream happen, but Kurt's past may end up putting everyone in danger.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was beautifully written and I really grew to love the characters. Although I'm often skeptical of the trope (non-Christian girl meets Christian guy and learns from him, converts, and they fall in love), it worked in this novel. I loved that the guy has his own demons he has to deal with, because we all know that consequences of our past actions don't just disappear the moment we accept God's grace and forgiveness. There was some great chemistry between the two protagonists. I would highly recommend.

Person of Interest (Military Investigations #8) / Debby Giusti / 224 pgs

Natalie Frazier, a former servicewoman, is babysitting a friend's baby when she hears a murder next door. She is convinced that her former commander is behind the murder, and when more people close to Natalie turn up dead, she runs away with the baby. Everett Kohl, an Army investigator, is supposed to remain dispassionate while investigating crimes, but his instincts tell him that while Natalie's actions look guilty, she is actually innocent. Helping her could cost Everett his job, but not helping her could cost Natalie her life.

I really liked this book! It is a Love Inspired Harlequin paperback that the district does not own. I felt for the characters and I thought that the story of Natalie's growing faith in the midst of a really difficult situation to be well-written and realistic. It read very similar to a Dee Henderson book. I don't want to give too much away, but I was a bit baffled by the speed of the burgeoning romance between the main characters. It didn't seem very realistic to me. I have to admit that I haven't read a whole lot of romance in years until recently and I'm beginning to like the ones in which the protagonists have very obviously fallen in love but they're not already planning their wedding just a few days after meeting.

Sense and Sensibility / Sarah Price / 304 pgs

This Amish retelling of Jane Austen's classic was just released on March 1st. After having read a few other modern retellings of Jane Austen classics, I'm so glad to have finally read one that stayed true to Austen's original characters. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the classic romance to Amish Pennsylvania, mixing in some of the local Pennsylvania Dutch language and customs. Although Eleanor and Marianne's first names remain the same, some of the names change, most notably Colonel Brandon becomes a pastor, Christian Bechlder. As this was written by a Christian fiction author, and since it is set in Amish country, God and the Bible is mentioned heavily, so this book should be very popular with readers of Christian fiction but may not appeal to secular audiences. All in all, I definitely recommend this book for those hoping to read a different interpretation of Austen's Sense and Sensibility without being so modern that the characters no longer resemble the original ones.

For those unfamiliar with the original classic, Sense and Sensibility is the story of the three Detweiler sisters (Dashwood in the original), whose father has just died and whose home and farm are now the property of their older half-brother whose promise to take care of his step-mom and three younger sisters is broken. The Detweiler women must relocate to another Amish community and start a sewing business to provide for themselves. Meanwhile possible suitors appear for both of the elder sisters, but while one guards her heart by being proper and demure, the other loses both her heart and her head to a man who breaks it all too easily. 

Deadly Pursuit (Guardians of Justice, bk 2) /Irene Hannon/340 pgs.

Alison Taylor is a social worker who is a protector of the children. Strange occurrences begin to happen--dead flowers on her doorstep, bingo cards with skulls and cross-bones delivered in the mail, just to name a few. Someone is sending Alison a message, and it's not a pleasant one. Her law enforcement brothers become involved,  plus ex-Navy Seal Mitch Morgan, turned detective. There's mystery, suspense, romance--all within a St. Louis setting. Very enjoyable!

Accused (Pacific Coast Justice series Book 1)/ Janice Cantore/ 415 pages

Accused is the first book in the Pacific Coast Justice series written by Janice Cantore.  Carly Edwards has been place on juvenile duty after an officer involved shooting.  It seems like her chance to get back on patrol hinges on getting a confession from Lonnie, a juvenile delinquent suspected of shooting the mayor and stealing her car.  The only problem is that Carly believes Lonnie when he says he's not guilty.  When Carly tries to prove Lonnie is innocent she ruffles a lot of feathers in the department and the city government.  Just who can be trusted becomes Carly's biggest challenge.
For more information about other books in this series please check the SCCCLD website.

Mixed Signals / Liz Curtis Higgs 370 p.

Mixed Signals / Liz Curtis Higgs 370 p.

Belle O'Brien, a radio personality with a warm voice, is ready to change stations.  Her station has changed formats and when an offer comes from her former boss Patrick Reese, she takes it.  She falls for the historic town of Abingdon, Virginia.  She'd like to get married but the prospects are hard to find in a small town.  She's drawn to Patrick Reese, who launched her career way back when, and the new owner of WPER.  She keeps fumbling equipment around the station broadcast engineer, David Cahill.  Then there is the local Methodist minister in town.  Patrick Reese blows his relationship with Belle.  He does start one with Belle's landlady.  A humorous sparkling Christian romance is a fun read.

Deception: A Novel/ Randy C. Alcorn/ 486 pages

Deception: A Novel  is part of a trilogy of sorts written by Randy C. Alcorn.    Deception focuses on Ollie Chandler, a detective with the Portland, Oregon police department.  The murder of a prominent college professor results in too many suspects and too many alibis.  All the clues point to the murder being one the detectives.  Is Ollie being setup to take a fall?  Just how deep in the department does the deception go.  This was an interesting read that will keep you wondering until the end.  For more information about this book and the other two in the trilogy see the  SCCCLD website.

Christmas List / Richard Paul Evans 353 p. 20th Century Challenge

Christmas List / Richard Paul Evans 353 p.

It's three weeks to Christmas.  James Kier died in an automobile crash.  His death is reported in the newspaper.  It is big news when a real estate mogul dies.  The twist is that he didn't die.  James is unwillingly pitched into learning just what people really thought of him.  He is a fierce competitor, and frequently ruthless.  Blogs are filled with personal comments about him.  When his mistress fails to show up at their 'destination', he is disappointed.  When he appears at her home and finds her surrounded by all the expensive items quickly charged to his account before the news of his death can close it, he learns some very harsh home truths.  And he continues to learn more about himself at every turn.  And his ex- doesn't seem to be ready to welcome him home with open arms.  At the other James Kier's wake, he finds a man who is truly mourned, and who's life made a positive impact on others.  This gives him a wake-up call.  He has prepared a list of people he has most actively hurt over the years.  And does his executive secretary hand over quite a Christmas list for him to work through as he prepares to change his ways.

Wedding Dress / Rachel Hauck 343 p. Dec. Challenge 5 gold rings

Wedding Dress / Rachel Hauck 343 p.

Charlotte owns a chic Birmingham bridal shop.  Brides are her business, so why can't she find the perfect dress for her own wedding.  Does she have doubts about her marriage to Tim?  When she goes up the mountain to meditate, she ends up at an estate buying an antique wedding dress in a old trunk.  Charlotte goes on a quest to learn the gown's history.  She comes to know each of the women who have worn the dress.  Emily was the first in 1912; with, Mary Grace in 1939, followed by Hillary in 1969.  Interwoven are the stories of each of the brides along with their Christian faith.

Obsesssed / Ted Dekker 400 p.

Two pregnant women are granted life by the evil Nazi commandant Gerhard Braun.  The story alternates between these two women life in the concentration camp and their adult children resolving unfinished business.  Stephen Friedman is making a good living.  His life takes a big turn when he learns that he is the child of a Holocaust survivor who lived not far from him in California.  His mother leaves him a clue that only he and one other may follow; a clue that leads to the stones of David; a fabulously valuable prize that disappeared during World War II.  First he has to get his hands on Rachel's legacy.  Serial killer Roth Braun is after the same prize.  He is willing to do anything to get it.  He knows about Stephen.  Both are obsessed with the treasure.

Sworn to Silence/Linda Castillo/321 pages

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder has a big problem. Has a serial killer from long ago returned to Painter's Mill, Ohio? When the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered, the town starts to panic. Does Kate have enough police experience to launch a hunt for a killer? Do her Amish roots, long abandoned, hinder or help when dealing with both the Amish population and the rest of the town?


The first in a promising series. The description of the murders are fairly gruesome, but the characters and the story make for a good mystery. Thanks to Mizzou77 for her review.

Her Last Breath/Linda Castillo/398 pgs.

This is another  in the Kate Burkholder series, and it keeps the reader guessing! What looks to be a routine hit and run accident, soon becomes a murder to be solved. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to the crime scene only to learn that the husband, and two children, of her childhood friend, Mattie Borntrager, are the victims. The book takes off from there, keeping the reader guessing as to who are the good guys, and who are the bad. It's a very fast and engrossing read!

Gone Missing/Linda Castillo/277 pgs.

Number four in the Kate Burkholder series, Gone Missing is just as riveting as its predecessors. This latest entry in the series focuses on Rumspringa, the period of time in a teenage Amish person's life when he/she can experience life without all of the rules of the Amish community. When an Amish teenager goes missing, and ultimately turns up dead, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder, and state agent John Tomasetti become involved in solving the murder. As in the previous books in the series, there are twists and turns, mystery and suspense. It's a fast, engrossing read!

Breaking Silence/Linda Castillo/302 pgs.

This is the third Amish mystery featuring Kate Burkholder, police chief of Painter's Creek, Ohio--a community shared by both the Amish and the "English."  Three Slabaugh family members are dead: Solly and Rachel (husband and wife), and Abel, Solly's brother.This leaves four orphan children--Mose, 17, Salome, l5, Samuel, 12, and Ike, 10.  At first it appears as accidental deaths, until the coroner discovers a blow to Solly's head. In addition to these murders, Kate is trying to uncover the individuals responsible for hate crimes being committed against the Amish. Are the two related? To further complicate matters, Solly's estranged brother, Adam, wants custody of the kids. He was excommunicated by the Amish, so the Amish community doesn't want him raising the kids. All of these factors make for an interesting and fast moving read. It's a great series, and I highly recommend it!

Rainy Day Dreams /Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith / 277 pp

The year is 1856 and Kathryn is sent to Seattle by her father to find a husband.  She has to work in her cousin’s hotel instead of pursuing her dream of painting. Kathryn meets Jason who has come to Seattle to forget pain -- pain that is associated with art and painting.  They are at first at odds. As they get to know each other Jason begins to think he can love again and Kathryn realizes that she may be able to make a life in a backwoods settlement.

Hope at Dawn / Stacy Henrie /303 pp

Takes place during World War II in Iowa. Livy expects to marry her handsome and charming beau and become a housewife and mother.  When her unofficial fiance returns home injured, embittered and unable to cope without alcohol, she takes a job in a nearby community teaching German American children whose teacher has been imprisoned as a German spy.  There Liby's preconceptions about the "enemy" are challenged.

Iowa was one of the states that outlawed speaking a foreign language in public during this time period.  I was familiar with the discrimination against the Japanese but I was surprised that German Americans were also targeted.  For those who enjoy historical fiction and "gentle reads."