The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Janet

>Two women walking from Spokane, Washington to New York City, in 1896, seems a ridiculous task. Yet, that is exactly what Helga demanded of herself and her daughter, Clara. After all, the $10,000 payment would be worth anything they might have to go through, right? There were stipulations of course; they must walk within a certain amount of time, they couldn’t beg or take charity of any kind, they must wear the new shorter dresses, and they had to get important people to sign their document. Peace of cake, oh yeah! The trials along the way are daunting in and of themselves, but the life Clara leads after their return home is a whole different story. Read for yourself how Clara pulls through the journey, in The Daughter’s Walk, and how she deals with a life of separation from her family upon her return to Washington.

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Janet

>Making Waves is the first book in the Lake Manawa Summers series, set in 1895. When the Westing family decides to spend the summer at the lake, Marguerite is thrilled. She is a very independent lady, so when she falls into the lake requiring a very handsome gentleman to rescue her, she is chagrined. Her mother is determined that she marry Roger Gordon, a man of means and social stature. Marguerite is bored with Roger; she wants to have fun with lots of adventure. Roger is anything but fun. She talks her father into letting her little brother take sailing lessons, with her as a chaperone of course. What she really wants is to learn to sail herself. Her brother’s sailing instructor, Trip Andrews, allows Marguerite to tag along in the sailboat with them. She falls in love with sailing and Trip, but because of her father’s business troubles, she feels compelled to accept Roger’s proposal to save embarrassment to her family.

Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Rhonna

>
“There’s no place like home.” I know all of us Kansans get a bit tired of hearing quotes from the Wizard of Oz, but some of them are just plain true. I read Snow Melts in Spring mostly because it takes place nearby, in the area of the world I love more than any other. It’s set in a small town in the Flint Hills and K-State Vet School makes many appearances.

Mattie Evans is a veterinarian struggling to establish her practice after a series of patients that died of unexplained causes. Her staunchest supporter, John McCray asks her to save his son’s horse after a horrible accident. John’s son Gil has been away in California playing pro football for several years. The news of the accident draws him back home to tend to his horse and face painful memories from his past.

Mattie and Gil work together in the midst of many trials, forging a bond of love and faith that is tested when it is time for him to return to his “normal” life. Vogts tells an inspirational story with a backdrop of beautiful grasses and rolling hills.

Angel Song

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Mary

Ann Fletcher loves New York City and her job there as a contemporary decorator. Her sister Sarah lives in their home town of Charleston where tradition and historic homes are the way of life. When Ann goes back for a visit to celebrate her sister’s graduation, tragedy strikes in the form of a fatal car accident. Ann is left to settle her sister’s estate and deal with the heartache and loneliness of loss. She is disturbed by music that continues to haunt her after first hearing it in the ambulance ride hummed by her dying sister. Kevin, a 12 year old neighbor of her sister’s with Down Syndrome, knows that angels sing such songs. He sends Ann angel pictures daily and shares his sightings of angels with her.

Ann is being pursued by a very eligible New York bachelor while at the same time a contractor in Charleston is the kindest, most generous man she has ever known. God is revealing himself to Ann through loving people but will she deny herself his love?

Angel Song written by best-selling author Sheila Walsh is a gentle reminder of the promises of angels surrounding us and caring for us and the love that is always available to us through God’s care.

In the Company of Others by Jan Karon

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Mary

Experience the beauty and romance of Ireland at Jan Karon’s website before you begin her newest Father Tim novel, In the Company of Others. The Celtic music and charming photographs will prepare you for a wonderful read.

http://www.mitfordbooks.com/

Those of us who have been waiting for the newest book from Karon can be most pleased with the result. This second book in the Father Tim series takes us to Ireland for a two week vacation with Timothy and Cynthia in the land of their ancestors. Cynthia’s ankle is injured when she is unpleasantly surprised by a stranger hiding in their room. This incident keeps them close to their quaint fishing lodge rather than touring the countryside as planned. Here we become deeply involved in the lives of Liam and Anna Conor, owners of Broughadoon,and Anna’s musically talented daughter Bella. There are many sad, dark secrets complicating their lives in which Father Tim and Cynthia begin to share and counsel. A journal written by Fintan O’Donnell, a surgeon in the nineteenth century, is a focal point of much of the book which brings insight into the history of the people of Catharmore, the nearby ancestral home of Liam and current home of his elderly, alcoholic mother. This journal also leads to the solving of mysteries involving a stolen painting and the stranger hiding in the Kav’nas room.

Cynthia and Tim have a deeply joyous, committed marriage and their dialogue is truly motivating as they share their faith and wisdom with this hurting family. Fans of the Mitford series will learn bits of news regarding those wonderful characters as Father Tim telephones and emails his thoughts back home.

Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Rhonna

Cassie Griffin is standing heartbroken and pregnant over her husband’s freshly dug grave when the suitors start fighting for her hand in marriage. Montana territory in 1875 is a harsh place for a woman on her own, but Cassie wasn’t expecting to have to choose a new husband when the old one isn’t even cold in the ground. Through the crowd she sees Red Dawson, maybe not the man of her dreams, but kind and hardworking. Neither of them wants to get married, but they know it must be done to save her from men who are more interested in her land than her well-being.

Although the story starts with a sad and brutal theme, Montana Rose becomes the hopeful and often humorous tale of a woman learning to trust her instincts and her husband, as well as a reluctant husband learning to appreciate his wife’s previously untapped talents for being a good ranch wife and a loving companion.

Sorta Like a Rock Star

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Susan

> Amber Appleton is one cool teenager. She is the self-proclaimed Princess of Hope and spreads optimism and goodwill wherever she goes. She teaches the Korean Divas for Christ (KDFC) English with the help of R & B music. She’s the only friend of a local Vietnam war veteran and haiku poet, Private Jackson. She also goes once a week to a local retirement home to cheer up the residents by having a verbal battle with the local nihilist. Amber is also homeless. She lives on Hello Yellow, the school bus her mother drives, with her mom and her dog, Bobby Big Boy. Amber doesn’t let the reality of her situation bring her down, though. That is, until a fatal tragedy upends her life and Amber is left to pick up the pieces.

Sorta Like a Rock Star is a young adult novel and the style of writing is very chatty. Amber is the first person narrator, and it can take awhile to get used to her voice. She’s obviously an intelligent and driven teen, but some of her idioms make her seem ditzy and silly. One thing the book (and Amber) has going for it is that while Amber is optimistic, she isn’t delusional. She knows her situation is far from stellar, but she continues to be her hopeful self because she realizes that’s what others need her to be. Her journey and transformation are both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Janet

> How does a woman from back East prepare for living in the wild west with all it’s hardness? Why, through Hattie Wyatt’s Herdsman School of course. Women come to find a husband, but first they have to measure up to become a bride of one of Barnett’s ranchers. Aunt Hattie makes sure they do, with hands-on training in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf, riding a horse and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands. Of course it wasn’t Tressa Neill’s idea to go west. With her parents gone and her Aunt and Uncle not wanting her, what other choice did she have? But maybe it will be worth it if Abel Samms will take notice of her. He already has enough trouble with cattle rustlers and wants nothing to do with the group of potential brides his neighbor brought to town. A Hopeful Heart includes humor, mystery and romance you won’t want to miss.

Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Rhonna

Lady Sydney Hathwell is stranded in America when her father dies and she discovers that the fiance he intended for her is a horrible man. She contacts an uncle in Texas and he invites her to stay with him, but assumes she is a nephew rather than a neice and makes it clear that he prefers it that way. She dons mens clothes and heads for Texas, only to be greeted by the cranky (but, of course, handsome) Tim Creighton who can’t believe he’s forced to deal with this whimpy fop. This is a light and amusing inspirational romance.

Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Mary

Robert Whitlow, a practicing attorney in Georgia, has written a legal thriller series, The Tides of Truth, with Deeper Water as the first novel. This series is now complete with the second and third titles being Greater Love and Higher Hope. He has been mentioned as Christian fiction’s John Grisham.

In this first book in the series, Whitlow shares the deep spiritual convictions of law student, Tammy Lynn Taylor, who wins a summer internship in Savannah and ventures far from her protective homeschooled family to experience the challenges of big city law. She is given a case involving a poor fisherman arrested for tying his johnboat to private docks every night. This seemingly simple case for an intern becomes much more complicated and sinister leading Tammy to suspect collusion between senior law partners in a young child’s death. Tammy’s strong convictions generating from a deeply religious family shine through in every situation and are an enlightening aspect of Whitlow’s novels.

Robert Whitlow is also the author of Jimmy, the subject of the previous blog post.

JIMMY by Robert Whitlow

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Janet

>Jimmy is an ordinary story with extraordinary happenings. Because of Jimmy’s handicap, some of his accomplishments are what might be considered trivial to others. Yet, Mr. Whitlow pulls the reader into each situation Jimmy faces; his fears, trials and his victories. I just wanted to be Jimmy’s friend as I read through this book. The relationships that are built between Jimmy, his parents, his grandfather, his dog and other characters throughout the story are strong and endearing. I would consider this book a gentle read with a little suspense built in.

Beguiled by Deeanne Gist

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Rhonna

I’ve written about Gist’s great Christian historical romance before, but now, working with crime novelist J. Mark Bertrand, she has branched out with a contemporary suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Rylee Monroe supports herself and her grandmother by walking dogs in Charleston. She loves the animals and the families she works for, but becomes concerned for her safety when a series of local robberies seems to have some connection to her. Logan Woods is a reporter covering the robberies for the local newspaper. He and Rylee team up to try to figure out what the connection is.

Beguiled displays Gist’s expertise with Christian romance mixed with Bertrand’s flair for the mystery to create a satisfying read.

Return Policy by Michael Snyder

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Rhonna

Willy Finneran is a grieving novelist that has no problem adjusting the truth to avoid conflict. Ozena Webb is a customer service rep and single mother who spends her evenings playing board games with her disabled son. Shaq is a homeless man with a temper who can’t remember who he is. When Willy is sentenced to community service in the homeless shelter where Shaq lives, their lives all intersect in a life-changing and powerful way. The story of three people doing the best they can with what they have, Return Policy demonstrates the glimmer of hope that exists even in the darkest parts of our lives.

Rekindled by Tamera Alexander

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Rhonna

Struggling to establish a ranch in Colorado, Larson and Kathryn Jennings have a troubled, if loving marriage. So when Larson doesn’t return from what was supposed to be a short journey, Kathryn mourns their inability to overcome the obstacles that separated them as much as she mourns him. Larson wakes in an unfamiliar place, cared for by strangers, and disfigured beyond recognition. He struggles to find his way back to Kathryn and to make up for the years of unhappiness they’ve had. A story of love, spiritual transformation, and the struggles of life, Rekindled will have you rushing to get the next installment of the compelling Fountain Creek Chronicles.

Alive Day by Tom Sullivan

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Judi

> Dr. Brendan McCarthy had to rebuild his life following an accident that blinded him. In Alive Day , McCarthy is asked to work with a Marine who has been disabled in Iraq and is depressed, angry and suicidal. McCarthy and his service dog Nelson work to reach the Marine and try to help him realize that his life is not over. The story is a quick read and can be a bit saccharine at times, but the overall message of trust, hope and love made this a book that I enjoyed. The author, Tom Sullivan, is a writer and actor who has been blind since infancy and his descriptions of blindness and the relationship between the character and his service dog offer insights into how much dogs can be of assistance to the blind or disabled and how much of a team a person and a dog can become. He demonstrates through his characters how much we all need to rely on others for support and strength.

Little Apple Bookworm

Category Archives: Christian fiction