Band of Sisters Cathy Gohlke Tyndale House August 2012 Fleeing her Irish homeland, with shame on her shoulders and little sister in tow; Maureen O'Reilly sets sail for America to make good on a promise made to her father years ago. After surviving the long passage across seas and then the obstacles and unexpected help on Ellis Island, she finds herself thrown out into the cold confusing streets of New York. But she knows all will be well once she finds the wealthy family that owes her deceased father a favor. She was not expecting that family to close their door on her and leave her scrambling for work and shelter elsewhere. Looking for a job becomes disheartening, especially after the lodging she's had to lower her standards for. Against her own want, she decides to use the influence of a man who befriended her upon her arrival. When she is given the job as a sales clerk in a distinguished department store, she is thrilled. But when she notices her coworkers getting promoted and then disappearing, the luster slowly wears off and danger sneaks in. So she decides to get to the bottom of it. Playing sleuth at the store runs her into trouble, and she has no one to turn to. She has a sister who wont speak to her, a family who turned her out and a man she doesn't trust following her around the city. Will she find the answers she is looking for, and in the process let go of the past so she can finally allow someone to truly love her? This book was very enjoyable. The writer really pulled me into the story. I stayed very absorbed, doing my own detective work. I enjoyed so many of her characters and all the different stories they each had. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, with a little mystery mixed in!

Running For My Life Lopez Lomong Thomas Nelson July 2012 He was six years old when his childhood ended. Though still alive, the only life he had ever known stood out in front of the Sudanese church with tears running down their faces as he was roughly thrown into the back of a truck and driven away with the other 'lost' boys by a corrupt militia. This was 1991, the year Lopez Lomong's life became nothing more than sleeping, eating and going to the bathroom in the cramped quarters of one small tent. They all waited in fear of what was to come next. When the soldiers noticed boys dying, they decided it was time to begin the training. That's when they began to drag the boys big enough to hold a rifle out into the unknown. It was time for Lopez to make his break. A few boys from his village, whom he referred to as his 'angels', came to him with their escape plan one evening, and before he knew it, they were all running for their lives. Running in the wrong direction, the landed their selves in a camp in Kenya. But this camp was different, and he began to dream. Having been invited to watch an old farmers t.v. (something he had never seen before) with some older boys, he had the opportunity to see the Olympics. He saw Michael Johnson run, and he knew he just had to find a way to America. If he could not see his parents again, he would keep running. But this time for Gold. Run along side as Lopez unfurls an incredible story of hope! Get a glimpse of the redemption he experienced when he began to dream. I enjoyed this book! Of course, it is not written in the style of a seasoned author. But what you get is a man who wants to tell his story. And what a great story. I think it is always a pleasure to peek into a life that is vastly different than your own, to help you appreciate and better understand those around you. I would highly recommend this!

Angel Eyes

Angel Eyes Shannon Dittemore Thomas Nelson May 2012 Never did Brielle imagine she would be heading back to her hometown. But as tragedy hits in Portland, she finds herself on a bus headed back to the small town she left behind not even two years ago. Upon her arrival, she has a run in with a very strange guy, one who's touch is fire hot. Despite her first impressions of him, she finds she is inexplicably drawn to him. On a very stormy night, after an unwise walk through the fields, they find their selves thrown together in an obscure barn. And then when it happens, she witnesses something she has never seen before. Without full comprehension, she knows this guy, Jake, is definitely different. As things heat up, she winds up right in the middle of something much larger than she could have ever prepared for. Coming from a home that believed nothing of God, let alone the super natural, she is forced to open her eyes to a world of Angels and demons and decide for herself whether they are real or not. After time, it becomes clear that there are certain things she simply cannot deny. Especially after putting on the 'bracelet'. When her eyes are finally opened to a realm she never dream existed, she and Jake discover the battle they are fighting, is one of good and evil. Light verses dark. I really liked this book. I read it in two days. I always enjoy reading a new perspective. I was especially excited to find that it will have two more in the series. I will be anxious for the next installment! I think this was really well done, especially considering it was this author's first novel! I received this book from the publisher for review.

Where Lilacs Still Bloom

Where Lilacs Still Bloom Jane Kirkpatrick Water Brook Publishers April 2012 It started with an apple and the desire to see it larger and crisper. Hulda Klager dreamed of an apple that would better suit the needs of her family. When her father told her to follow her dreams, and that she was smart enough to hybridize an apple, she decided to listen. At first hiding her hybridizing from her husband, she realizes she cannot withhold her excitement as she bites into her first apple. Finding she has her whole families support, she begins to dabble in her flower garden and comes alive! Flowers are her passion. With her children at her side, she begins to construct a garden that craves admiration. After creating many new varieties of her flowers, she feels drawn to focus on her lilacs, more specifically creating a creamy white, 12 petaled lilac. Paying children from the community to help her, she soon has everything she needs to follow her heart. However, after tragedy strikes her family, she begins to wonder if her priorities are in the right place. Has she spent too much time tending her flowers and not enough with her children? But whenever she tries to give up her passion, her steadfast husband is there, encouraging, even sacrificing for her to continue. Making contacts in the horticulture world and gaining a following is something she never imagined, but she still worries. With the floods constantly threatening to ruin her work and what about the tragedy that seems to follow her, she wonders if God is telling her to change her course? In a garden full of love and dreams, this is true story of an amazing woman who changed history. This would be a really great book for anyone who is passionate about gardening. This was not one of my personal favorite's by this author. As I do not yet have a garden, I was a little bored at some points in this book. However,I really enjoyed the story of Hulda, and would love to see her gardens. Some of the fictional characters, I didn't feel the need for in this story. But overall, true to this author's style, she did an excellent job with her history research, and I especially enjoyed the relationship she painted between Hulda and her husband. I recieved this book from the publisher for review.

Flame of Resistance

Flame of Resistance Tracy Groot Tyndale House May 2012 It's occupied France, the year of 1944 when Tom Jaeger, a downed American pilot finds himself being taken into the custody of French resistance conspirators. Upon recovering from his wounds, he finds he is to aid the resistance, known as the Flame, in a plan to retrieve details about the various guarded bridges. Posing as a German officer, he is sent to meet Brigitte Durand. Brigitte, also resistance, runs a Germans-only brothel. Certainly when Tom signed up for this war he could never have known his job would include spending time with a prostitute. But as their relationship heats up, so does the trail leading to Flame itself. With spies everywhere, suddenly they find their situation has been compromised. And the Millice, the French equivalent to the German Gestapo, will stop at nothing until they uncover all those involved. Racing to cover their tracks, they can only stand back helpless as those they love are being captured. Can they put a stop to what they have started before everyone has to pay a price? Suddenly a very unlikely group of friends, begins to grasp not only at saving their lives, but hopes also for the promise of love. I really liked this book! Always a fan of historical fiction, I especially enjoyed this one as I love anything old French. The author has a very easy reading style, that weaves an exciting story mingled with ever interesting war history. I loved all the characters and all the details she included. I will definitely be acquiring more of this author's books! I recieved this book from the publisher for review.

Cellar Doors

Cellar Doors Lance LaCoax Morehouse Media Group April 2012 It's small town Willow, where everybody knows everybody.... Or so they think. But suddenly when strange deaths begin to occur, the towns people find they have to question everything and everyone they have ever known. When the investigation dots just aren't lining up, they are forced to open their eyes to a realm they would never have believed or wished to be real. People they never thought could be involved in something so atrocious are ending up on their suspect list, all while the victim list is growing. Shocking secrets about certain townspeople become unearthed while those making the discoveries are forced to hide or run for their lives. Will they be able to get to the bottom of the mystery before its too late? How many lives will be taken before they can stop the unseen predator that was sent to steal, kill and destroy?! I read this book in one sitting. I think it was very well written, especially being this authors first book. His writing style made it very easy to glide through the pages, as did the short chapters. I was excited to learn upon finishing the book that there is to be a sequel. He did a great job setting up the readers anticipation for this next installment. Intertwining the very real spiritual realm with an empowering message, this book is a must read! I received this book from the author for review. I also post all my reviews on amazon.com and bookgateway.com

Hawaiian Crosswinds

Hawaiian Crosswinds Linda Lee Chaikin Moody Publishers June 2011 It's 1892 ,Hawaii. And the winds of change are blowing. Groups rooting for annexation crowd into secret meeting places, discussing plans to overthrow the Hawaiian hierarchy. Rafe Easton is among them, but he has more than the nations problems troubling him. The man who killed his father is on the move again, threatening to harm those closest to him. And the woman he is engaged to, Eden Derrington, is choosing to put her dreams over their relationship. Molokai is the island where all Hawaii's lepers are sent. And it also the very island Eden has set her sights on visiting, in hopes of finding the mother she always believed to be dead. After following her fathers footsteps in the medical field, it only seems natural to now follow him to the leper community with the cure he thinks he has found for his wife. With families intertwined and steeped in secrets, it seems Hawaii's tropical paradise is only a hiding place for the dangers that lurk beyond every corner. Will Rafe be able to convince Eden a more timely marriage is what's best for them? Will Eden have to choose between her fathers life long dreams and the man she loves? And will all the families secrets come to the surface, exposing things that have long been buried? I usually love this author's books, but I have to be honest and say, I had to make myself finish this one. Though she is a historical christian fiction author, I have never felt her books to be religious, I cannot say the same for this book. When I read this genre, I always hope it will be appealing to my christian and non-christian friends alike. And while usually her stories feel like page turners to me, I felt this one was very slow. However, true to form, she did a wonderful job with her historical research, I just felt the story left much to be desired. This would not keep me from reading anymore series she came out with, but I am not very eager to read the third installment of this series.