Lip Reading by Harry Kraus, MD

She Could Save Millions, or Save Herself

She just needs a little longer. She's really close. Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a medical researcher, stands on the verge of a breakthrough that will transform medicine.

But she soon discovers the reason behind the miraculous progress in her research, and it leaves her with a nearly impossible choice . . . and little time to decide. More than her research is at stake. And more threatens it than this latest revelation. Something she's tried hard to cover up. There is a high cost to some things in medicine and it's not always the patient who pays.

Can Rebecca find the faith and wisdom she needs to make the right call? The clock is ticking and the pressure is on.

My Review:
I enjoyed this medical research novel about Dr. Rebecca Jackson's work in creating artificial blood. If she succeeds, so many can be helped. Imagine, AIDS would no long be a concern with transfusions. But what a price she must pay! Although I find myself agreeing with Becca, I doubt my ability to stick to this decision.

Harry Kraus knows how to grab the reader's attention. I quickly connected to the protagonist. The other characters are small-town friendly people and easy to like. Noah keeps a secret better than most. Mel is a study in patience.

I liked the romantic tension between Becca and Noah. On again, off again. I can't say more without spoiling it for others.

The ending is unexpected, but I must admit, it made good sense.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and David C. Cook for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

What Follows After by Dan Walsh

In 1962, life was simple, the world made sense, and all families were happy.
And when they weren't, everyone knew you were supposed to pretend.

For the past year, Scott and Gina Harrison have been living a lie. While they show up at family get-togethers in the same car, they've actually been separated for over a year. To keep up the charade, they've even instructed their sons, Colt and Timmy, to lie--to their grandparents, their teachers, and their friends.

Colt, for one, has had enough, so he hatches a plan. He and his little brother will run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt's house in Georgia, and refuse to come home until their parents get back together. But when things go terribly, terribly wrong, Scott and Gina must come to grips with years of neglect and mistrust in order to recover their beloved sons, their love for one another, and their marriage.

In this emotional story, bestselling author Dan Walsh takes you on a journey to rediscover the things that matter most in life--love, truth, and family. With profound insight into the heart of a hurting child, he reminds us that a time will come to look back on hard times and smile, because we'll know that what follows after . . . is not what we expected at all.

My Review:
I didn't get much sleep last night; I stayed up and finished reading this magnetic book. What a compelling story! Because of a horrific tragedy, a family rediscovers their priorities. The story even contains secrets of a happy marriage!

Set in 1962, when divorce was an ugly word, a husband and wife separate but continue to put up a front so society won't learn of their broken marriage. Their two boys feeling unloved and neglected decide to run away from home with the hope that their parents will somehow get back together. Things don't work out as planned, and . . . Well, I can't say any more without ruining your reading experience.

I lived in Florida during this time period, and I clearly remember the events depicted, the bomb shelters, President Kennedy's blockade of Cuba, and the sure knowledge that World War III was upon us. The author did a good job setting the scene, writing believable characters, and telling a story that will have readers choose to read over sleep. This is a book I heartily recommend!

Thank you to Revell and Baker Publishing Group for my copy.

Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Quilts of Love, Book 16

Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it. At first, it’s just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.

Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important. Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as to the hope that her husband is still alive. As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return—to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.

My Review:
The premise of the story is a good one. Maybelle is a woman without many talents; however, her best friend, Doris, seems to be able to do most anything. There is a good bit about quilting, and a small group of women comprise a quilting bee. The quilt fills the long hours while the ladies wait for their husbands to return from the war.

I did not enjoy this one. The slow pace of the novel frustrated me. It is repetitious. For example, the phrase, "Loose lips sink ships" is mentioned five times! In addition, better editing would weed out grammatical errors like, "... Logan approach Maybelle" (173).

Discussion questions are included.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

How Sweet the Sound by Amy K. Sorrells

A Southern Novel of Second Chances

From a distance, the Harlans appear to be the perfect Southern family. Wealth and local fame mask the drama and dysfunction swirling through their family line. But as the summer heats up, a flood tide of long hidden secrets surface.

Devastation from a rape followed by the murder of two family members brings three generations of the Harlans together on their pecan plantation in Bay Spring, Alabama. Chief among them is Anniston, who by the time she turned thirteen thought she’d seen it all. But as her heart awakens to the possibility of love, she begins to deal with her loneliness and grief.

This tender coming-of-age tale, inspired by the story of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13, shows how true healing and hope comes only from God. Though our earthly family can wound and disappoint, our heavenly Father brings freedom to those long held captive through His mercy and grace.

My Review:
Talk about a dysfunctional family! The Harlan clan defines the word. This is a dark tale of rape and incest--the opposite of a fluffy read. Based on the biblical story of Tamar who was raped and told to keep it quiet, one of the characters suffers years of abuse while heads are turned away. With no one to comfort her, she thinks less and less of herself.

Chapters are written in first-person with the voices of two characters: Anniston (Anni) and Comfort. By writing with this two-narrator structure, the author allows the reader to see the story from two perspectives. I liked this and thought it helped me dig into the "meat" of the novel. I felt closely to both characters.

Discussion questions are included along with several Southern recipes. It might be a good choice for a book club to read, followed by a supper using the recipes found at the book's end.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and David C. Cook for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Moonlighters Series #2

Juliet Cole’s life has been dismantled by the murder of her husband. She doesn’t know who—or what—to trust when everything she has believed to be true about her marriage has been a lie. When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she’s finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. "Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don't turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you'll be burying more family members."

Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children could be in danger. She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet’s belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves. Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?

My Review:
Terri Blackstock knows how to make me hold my breath! Even though this fast paced suspense novel kept me flipping pages, I found myself anxious to read even faster. What a good read! It kept my full attention, and I never suspected the ending.

I immediately connected with the character Juliet Cole. Poor woman; she witnesses her husband, Bob, murdered. She actually sees the killer! As the police investigate, her world continues to crash down around her as she copes with ever-growing ugly revelations about the husband she dearly loved and thought she knew. However, Juliet is a strong woman, and she dedicates herself to helping the police and the FBI solve this crime.

I especially enjoyed the part where Juliet wonders if Bob was a Christian. "Could he have been a Christian and still been involved in drug trafficking? Could he have truly loved God and still done something that would devastate so many lives?" (304)

I highly recommend this one.

Discussion questions are included.

Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for my copy.

The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

Weddings by Design (Book 3)

A seamstress at a swanky bridal boutique, Gabi Delgado dreams of doing more than ripping out seams and fitting dresses to doe-eyed brides. She wants to see her own dress designs gracing the young women of Texas. When Jordan Spencer, the editor of Texas Bride magazine visits the shop to do a feature, Gabi is devastated to lose her job in his very influential presence. Convinced she'll never get her dreams off the ground now, Gabi needs lots of encouragement--especially from her friend Bella Neeley--to take a chance and start her business. And as she gets to know Jordan, she discovers that she may have to take a chance on love as well. Could it be that she'll have to design her own wedding dress soon?

As always, Janice Thompson delivers fun, laughter, and romance as she takes readers back to Galveston, Texas, to spend more time with their favorite quirky characters along with fabulous new ones.

My Review:
Gabi Delgado, the protagonist for this Christian fiction, easily connects with readers. She's an unappreciated, talented, single lady who is working in a Cinderella-like situation. While others in the shop work in an ample space, Gabi works in a cramped closet.

Her Prince Charming, Jordan, a reporter for Texas Bride magazine is introduced early in the novel, and the author takes the time necessary for romance to build.

Gabi's dream models are Hollywood's dance stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Jordan incorporates them into the most romantic date ever. The expected plot includes a happily-ever-after ending. I liked this; it's a fun, sugar candy for the brain book.

Thank you to Lanette Haskins at Baker Publishing and Revell Books for my copy.

Prime of Life by P.D. Bekendam

Ben used to be a cardiothoracic surgeon before he suddenly abandoned his career and became a janitor at a retirement facility. Now, other than dealing with minor problems such as an unhealthy obsession with prime numbers, an inept boss, and a feud between two cantankerous retirees, he lives a relatively stress-free life. There is even hope for romance when an attractive podiatrist shows an interest in him.

But it is not long before his past catches up with him and his carefully protected world begins to unravel. He is forced to face deep issues about life, love, and God head-on, rather than hide behind his cleaning cart.

My Review:
This novel is told in the first person voice of Ben, a handyman for Heritage Gardens, a retirement home. Ben lives a wacky life as the retirement home's obsessive compulsive janitor. He hates the number four and avoids making left-hand turns. He loves prime numbers and mind games. I enjoyed learning how Ben's mind works.

In his previous life as a surgeon, Ben experienced a traumatic event which caused him to become a doctor-in-hiding and to turn against God. However, one of the home's senior citizens discovers Ben's former occupation and threatens to tell.

Marvin and Frank, two residents, have known each other since childhood, and they still behave quite childlike with their constant bickering and competition. Their personalities bring a good deal of humor into the tale.

Throughout the first half, the pace of the book is good. Then, the author speeds up and leaves out bunches; I longed for details! When I finished reading the hasty conclusion with its magical allusions, I actually found myself blinking.

Thank you to Leeanna Case at Worthy Publishing for my copy.

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley

When Laura Gantt returns to the North Georgia town where she recently buried her mother, she hears a startling rumor from her high school sweetheart, Sean Halloran. Many believe that when her beloved but unstable father disappeared in a mountain lake years ago, he staged his "drowning" and fled to the wild. Recent sightings of an unkempt mountain man seem to indicate that the crazy rumor is true.

While Laura deals with serious doubts about the dad she adored, Sean protects her from still darker secrets that can remain hidden as long as her father never returns. As old affections are rekindled, Sean and Laura also uncover memories of a long-ago event that could break them even as it reveals the love beneath the secrets.

My Review:
When I finished reading the final page of this lyrical novel, I sighed with contentment and said aloud, "Now, THAT is a good book!" Simply put, I liked this tale, and I strongly recommend it. Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and settle down for an enjoyable read.

I connected with history teacher Laura, who has come home to straighten out the affairs of her deceased mother. Thinking she's now all alone--without any family, Laura hears rumors that her volatile father may not have drowned years ago, but still wanders around the Kudzu-covered countryside. She's torn with indecision. Which would be better: To have her father return, but as a dramatically changed man? Or to settle once and for all the question of his death?

Set in a small southern town that's filled with gossipers, long-kept family secrets, and things that go bump in the night,  mysteries are revealed bit by bit until the surprise ending.

Childhood love matures into everlasting love at just the right pace. Romance is not rushed but treated tenderly and with respect.

Readers Guide is included, making this a good pick for a book club.

Thank you to Margaret Clay at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my copy.

Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron

Quilts of Love Series #14

Tess has taken some ribbing from her fellow officer, Logan, for her quilting hobby. He finds it hard to align the brisk professional officer he patrols with during the day with the one who quilts in her off-time. Besides, he's been trying to get to know her better and he'd like to be seeing her during those couple nights a week she spends with her quilting guild.

Then one afternoon Tess and Logan visit her aunt in the nursing home. Aunt Susan becomes agitated when Tess covers her with her story quilt. Aunt Susan seems to be communicating a message to them about the quilt. There's a story behind this quilt, they realize, one that may lead them to a serial killer. Trusting God to lead them on the right path, they know that if there's a chance to have a future together, they'll have to stop the killer before Tess becomes his next victim.

My Review:
I like the character of Tess; she's the kind of woman we all admire. Tess has lived in the small Florida town of St. Augustine all of her life, and so she knows most everyone. And like most small towns, everyone knows Tess. Tess just made detective on the local police, and Logan has just moved from Chicago and hired as her new partner. They click quickly. Could romance be far behind?

It was fun reading about St. Augustine. I've visited the city before, and it brought back some sweet memories.  I enjoy learning about places, and the author did a good job of showing the reader this famous city.

This is not a simplistic romance. The storyline is about a serial killer, and when another body is discovered, Tess and Logan are assigned the case.

The back cover of the novel contains some storyline errors, but I think if the reader ignores the cover and simply opens the book, she will enjoy this story. I sure did.

Discussion Questions included.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

For the Love of Pete (A Bloomfield Novel) by Debby Mayne

Widow Bethany Hanahan is trying in vain to fill an empty heart and an empty nest. The result is a home filled to the brim, but something is still missing.

That’s when her new gardening club friends come to the rescue, encouraging her to let go of the past as well as the present clutter –emotional, spiritual, and physical. It’s not long before Bethany is finding friends, not bargains, to fill her days. But has her life become too full for someone like Pete Sprockett, a childhood friend, for whom her romantic feelings are beginning to bloom?

Join the quirky, loving community of Bloomfield as they do what they do best – poke their well-meaning noses in and intervene in times of need –in author Debby Mayne’s second novel in what has become a five book series about a community where life is simple and love is real.

My Review:
Bethany's husband has died, her only child is off to college, and she's moved back to Bloomfield, close to her controlling mother. Pete, the plumber, has known and secretly loved Bethany since childhood. He hopes to have a chance to catch her eye, but Bethany is too easily pulled this way and that by other influences to consider him as more than a friend. Characters are undeveloped and flat.

Murray, the parrot, is another unbelievable character. If left alone, he opens his cage door, escapes, and creates chaos. I don't know why a lock cannot be found for the cage. To keep the peace, he is brought everywhere. He interrupts every conversation with his talking and squawking. He actually thinks, reasons, and communicates with people. Believe me, you've never met a parrot like this one!

The plot is simplistic, and there are no unexpected surprises. This is not one of my favorites. Perhaps you'll like it more than I did.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B&H Books for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher

God was going to save her marriage, Allison was sure of it. But neither her husband nor her marriage had been saved.

What had become of His promise?

Tony Kavanagh had been Allison’s dream-come-true. They were in love within days, engaged within weeks, married and pregnant within a year. Her cup bubbled over with joy . . . but years later, that joy had been extinguished by unexpected trials.

The day Allison issued her husband an ultimatum, she thought it might save him. She never expected he would actually leave. She was certain God had promised to heal; it was clear that she'd misunderstood.

Now, living in the quiet mountain cabin she inherited from her single, self-reliant Great Aunt Emma, Allison must come to terms with her grief and figure out how to adapt to small town life. But when she finds a wedding dress and a collection of journals in Emma’s attic, a portrait of her aunt emerges that takes Allison completely by surprise: a portrait of a heartbroken woman surprisingly like herself.

As Allison reads the incredible story of Emma’s life in the 1920s and 1930s, she is forced to ask a difficult question: Does she really surrender every piece of her life to the Lord?

Drawing from her own heart-wrenching story of redemption, A Promise Kept is Robin Lee Hatcher’s emotionally charged thanksgiving to a God who answers prayers—in His own time and His own ways.

My Review:
As a child of an alcoholic, I felt an immediate connection to Allison, who is recovering from her divorce from Tony, an alcoholic. I understand how a person can love an alcoholic but hate alcoholism. One of the lovely statements in the novel came from Allison's mother who said, "God hates divorce. He doesn't hate the divorced" (171). Robin Lee Hatcher did not delve into the ugliness of the situation, but elevated the story into one of hope and promise. Anyone who has dealt with problems of addiction or divorce would benefit by reading this novel.

Short chapters told in first person alternate between the stories of Allison and Emma, Allison's great aunt. Emma's log cabin is left to Allison. When Allison discovers Emma's journals, she also discovers how many things they have in common.

The question of why God would not keep His word is thoroughly answered in a most satisfying way. I definitely recommend this wonderful novel!

Thank you to BookSneeze® Thomas Nelson for my copy.

Songs of the Shenandoah (An Heirs of Ireland Novel) by Michael K. Reynolds

At the onset of the Civil War, Seamus heeds his wife’s wishes to return to her beloved family farm in the South, where he takes a post as chaplain for General Stonewall Jackson’s brigade. As Seamus ministers to the troops, his sister Clare ministers in a different way—by being a powerful voice in the Northern cause toward freeing the slaves.

All this while their youngest brother Davin, who became wealthy during the Gold Rush, struggles to find love and identity in a fallen world.

It’s a clash of loyalties and beliefs that threaten the entire family, each of them trying to hear God’s encouragement in the midst of the tragedy of war. The dramatic conclusion to the acclaimed Heirs of Ireland Series.

My Review:
It took awhile for this third book in the series to grab me; perhaps I had too many interruptions. (I read it during the Christmas holidays.) Nonetheless, I pressed on and read to the final page. I'm so glad that I did. The author has the ability to place the reader dead center in the middle of the action in the war against the states. We see the torn bodies, we hear the groans, and we smell the blood. In addition, he shows us the conflict that families on both sides face.

A great question is considered: "Is there a right side to this war? If soldiers on both sides are praying before going into battle, "who will God choose? (233) On what side does God stand?"

Love, loyalty, and forgiveness are themes. Despite depicting the horrors of war, the author brings the Hanley family to a satisfying conclusion. Although this novel could be read as a stand alone novel, the trilogy would be best enjoyed when read in order.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B&H Books for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

No One to Trust by Lynette Eason

Hidden Identity, Book One

She doesn't know who she's running from--and the man she loves may be someone else entirely.

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden in the shadows.

My Review:
In this Christian fiction romantic suspense story, the good guys are not always to be trusted. On the other hand, the bad guys are truly awful. One even uses snakes to torture his victims!

The story surrounds Summer and Kyle, a young couple who find themselves living a nightmare, while being pursued by the Mafia. From the first page, the fast pace is set, and the reader will find the pages almost flipping by themselves.

I had a hard time believing this intricate plot. So many twists and turns made the chase become tiring.

Thank you to Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing for my copy.

Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell

Quilts of Love Series #13

Kelly Frost, a textiles conservator, is invited to the Massachusetts coastal city of New Bedford to restore a 150-year-old Mariner's Compass quilt. But there is one stipulation: she must live and work in Gray House, a former whaling captain's home, where the quilt is stored. There she meets Army veteran Tom Pereira, the caretaker of Gray House, whose heart seems as hard as the rocky Massachusetts coastline. Over the long-lit months as Kelly works to restore the quilt, she and Tom grow closer.

And as she reads stories in a daily journal penned by Mary Gray, she learns the secrets of the quilt and Mary's own sad tale of regret. Then Tom learns secrets of his own family's past, and both Tom and Kelly learn they are tied to Gray House in ways they never imagined.

My Review:
New Bedford, Massachusetts, a historical whaling town is the setting of this romance novel. Gray House, a captain's home with its tiny observation room, which overlooks the city harbor is itself a character, with its creaks and groans and hidden secrets. It's has been empty for some time and Kelly Frost is hired to restore a Mariner's Compass quilt while living in the home.

I especially appreciated finding out how a person would go about restoring a fraying, old quilt. While Kelly works on the quilt, she pieces together the mystery behind how it came to be. She discovers a hidden journal written by Mary Gray, wife of the whaling captain. It reveals long-held secrets from the 1850's.

Kelly is a loner, having been raised in foster homes. However, her experiences were good with Lottie, her final foster mother, who remains someone Kelly can rely upon. Tom has had an opposite childhood experience: a warm, loving family, who live close by. However, he and his father's relationship is stiff as Tom has disappointed his father by never attending college.

A few surprises help to solve any questions. I enjoyed this whispering mystery/romance.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

The Offering by Angela Hunt

While searching for a way to help support her young family, Amanda Lisandra decides to act as a gestational carrier for a childless couple. After she finally establishes a pregnancy with another couple’s embryo, her soldier husband is killed on a special forces mission. Devastated by grief, she surrenders the child she was carrying and struggles to regain her emotional equilibrium.

Two years later she studies a photograph of the child she bore and wonders if the unthinkable has happened—could she have given birth to her own biological child and inadvertently given him away? Over the next few months Amanda struggles to decide between the desires of her grief-stricken heart and what’s best for the little boy she has never known.

My Review:
I get so excited whenever Angela Hunt releases another book because she never disappoints me. Her characters ring true, the situations they face are believable, and plots move along at a nice pace. I appreciate the depth the author goes to with her research. I always learn from her novels.

This is a story about a military wife who decides to serve as a gestational carrier for a couple who cannot carry their own child. There is a side story about foster parenting and adoption. The first person point of view allows the reader to walk hand-in-hand with Amanda (Mandy) as she moves through her experiences. I think she reasoned her dilemma out quite well, and I agree with her decision.

Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D. Bricker

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker--the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

In Once Upon a Jingle Bell, A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the Twelve Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In It Came Upon a Midnight Deer, Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.

My Review:
These two Christmas novellas tie in together with some of the same characters. Because of childhood experiences, Joss and Reese are BFFs who cling together each Christmastime as they try to avoid the season. Everything goes smoothly until Reese gets engaged and plans to spend Christmas with her fiance's family. The changes will keep you chuckling.

This lighthearted book is fun and easy to read. The author tells two stories within this one title. Chapters are short and titled with lines from The Twelve Days of Christmas. All things Christmas are covered. This would make a pleasant read for most anyone. Good Christmas gift!

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and BandH Books for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

Unspoken by Dee Henderson

Charlotte Graham is at the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago history.

The task force of FBI and local cops found her two abductors, killed them, rescued her, but it took four very long years. The fact she was found less than three miles from her home, had been there the entire time, haunts them. She's changed her identity, found a profession she loves, and rebuilt her life.

She's never said a word--to the cops, to her doctors, to family--about those four years.

A family legacy has brought her back to Chicago where a reporter is writing a book about the kidnapping. The cops who worked the case are cooperating with him. Her options are limited: Hope the reporter doesn't find the full truth, or break her silence about what happened. And her silence is what has protected her family for years.

Bryce Bishop doesn't know her past, he only knows she has coins to sell from her grandfather's estate--and that the FBI director for the Chicago office made the introduction. The more he gets to know Charlotte, the more interested he becomes, an interest encouraged by those closest to her. But nothing else is working in his favor--she's decided she is single for life, she struggles with her faith, and she's willing to forego a huge inheritance to keep her privacy. She's not giving him much of an opening to work with.

Charlotte wants to trust him. She needs to tell him what happened. Because a crime cops thought was solved, has only opened another chapter...

My Review:
Charlotte is a fragile character. She remains tortured because of her horrible experience. At age sixteen, she was kidnapped and held for four years. She has not been able to speak about it. She never says much in this novel, but the reader is able to perceive some of her horrors. Turns out, Charlotte has a secret that she must keep. This twist keeps the reader turning pages.

Charlotte wrestles with the question: how can she trust in a God who allowed this? The novel doesn't fully answer this question.

Bryce is a bored coin collector. He and Charlotte meet when she sells him coins she's inherited from her Grandfather's estate. A good bit of the tale is a study of unbelievable wealth. What would you do with a ton of money? It's interesting to see how Charlotte and Bryce settle this problem.

The romance is as fragile as Charlotte. Bryce is a master at the art of gentling. I can say no more without spoiling your read.

Thank you to Amy Green at Bethany House Publishers for my copy.

Aloha Rose by Lisa Carter

Quilts of Love (Book 12)

When Laney Carrigan sets out to find her birth family, her only clue is the Hawaiian quilt—a red rose snowflake appliquéd on a white background—in which she was found wrapped as an infant. Centering her search on the Big Island and battling fears of rejection, Laney begins a painstaking journey toward her true heritage. 

Kai Barnes, however, is determined to protect the people he’s come to regard as family. He thinks Laney is nothing more than a gold digger and blocks every move she makes toward her Hawaiian family. 

As their conflict escalates, it puts at risk the one thing that Kai and Laney both want most—a family.

 My Review:
I appreciate the author's choice of Hawaii for the setting as it helped this reader better appreciate America's 50th state. Not only are fauna and volcanoes described, but many customs of the land are included. In addition, a liberal use of Hawaii's language allow the reader to better understand the ways of the island.

Scenes showing quilting techniques added interest to the storyline.

This Christian fiction handles adoption, cancer, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. One of the characters wrestles with abandonment and trust.

Sadly, stilted writing runs throughout the story. Many of the sentences are awkward. For example, on page 90, "With Daniel, for safety's sake, encased in a florescent yellow life vest, Laney and Kai kept him between them." This makes reading difficult.

This is the third novel I've read in the Quilts of Love series. I thoroughly enjoyed the other two. (Each title is written by a different author and is a stand alone novel, connected only by the quilt theme.) I would encourage readers to continue enjoying others in the series.

Discussion Questions are included.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Abingdon Press for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

Critical Reaction by Todd M. Johnson

After decades of turning out plutonium for the arms race, the Hanford Nuclear Facility has long been shuttered, though its deadly legacy cannot be fully contained. The men who guard the facility from sabotage or monitor its buildings for radiation leaks are told the risks are under control. They believe it, until the worst happens: a thunderous explosion in the dead of night.

Two workers, lifer Poppy Martin and new hire Kieran Mullaney, believe themselves lucky to survive the blast. But as the debris is cleared, they discover their safety is not assured. Dead ends and closed doors halt their efforts to discover what really happened--and what radiation may have poisoned them. When stalling and threats force them into the hands of experienced trial lawyer Ryan Hart, they learn that theirs is no ordinary lawsuit. There is something still hidden in the desert of eastern Washington, and someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to make sure it never sees the light of day.

My Review:
Attention, Hollywood . . . what an action film this would make! This legal thriller keeps the reader taking deep breathes while flipping pages. Short chapters keep the pace. I'm so glad it is a work of fiction, but even so, it could be true! (shudder)

The characters are believable. A father and daughter's strained relationship is nicely woven into the plot. This alone would make the book a worthwhile read. My favorite character is Poppy Martin, a blue collar family man who experiences the explosion.

I enjoyed the courtroom scenes. The author is an attorney and knows how to bring courtroom drama to life.

I noticed one small error on page 331, the recused judge's name is used. However, with such a compelling story, most readers will not let it hinder their reading.

Thank you to Amy Green at Bethany House for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

Saving Grace by Lesley Ann McDaniel

Madison Falls, Book 1 

What happens when a New York City opera singer flees to a small town in Montana to escape a stalker? Tracy Fontaine is about to find out.

When an obsessive fan forces Tracy to change her name to Grace Addison and go into hiding, the last thing she wants is to get to know the locals. Now, not one but two men have worked their way into her daily routine, much to the chagrin of jealous local girl Sophia, who insists on prying into Grace’s past and stirring up deadly trouble.

Will Grace find love in Madison Falls…or will her stalker find her?

Madison Falls. Home of faith, love, peach pie…and a dollop of danger.

My Review:
I like the character Grace Addison. She's had to change her identity and flee from her home to escape. Grace is jumpy and doesn't trust anyone. In a small town, this proves impossible.

The reader worries for Grace and her safety but doesn't quite know just why she feels the necessity to relocate. Like a carrot on a stick, the reader is given hints as to Grace's back story. I kept flipping those pages to discover "why is she so afraid?"

There's a bit of romance, more than a little suspense, and an expected happy ending. I liked peeking backstage. The Plan of Salvation is laid out. All in all, a satisfying read.

Thank you to FirstWildCard and Ark Ink for my copy.

And now, the first chapter:

Warm air prickled the back of Grace’s neck. The porch creaked under her feet as she stole a glance over her shoulder at the dark street. Nothing.

“...excited to have you here ....”

The real estate agent’s lilting voice hummed in Grace’s ear. She turned, marveling not only at the whiteness of the agent’s slacks, but at the boldness of that fashion choice for a woman whose figure resembled that of a snowman.

“...cab ride even longer than your flight.”

Something pinged against the wooden planks. Grace jolted, dizzied by days of wakefulness. The agent dipped down gracefully as her plump fingers extended.

Just a dropped key.

“I know you’ll fall in love with this adorable house. The pictures on our website don’t do it justice.”

Her chipper tone set Grace’s tired nerves on edge. Why couldn’t the woman move a little faster? Casting a wary eye down the shadowy street, Grace eased the strap of her computer bag off the tense spot on her shoulder. Her over-worked adrenal glands pulsed as the agent—what was her name...Cookie? No. Spritz. Spritz Cole, that was it. As Spritz righted herself and lifted the rescued key toward the mahogany Craftsman door.

“Of course,” Spritz lobbed her an encouraging smile. “Most people want to actually see a house first before signing the papers. You must be anxious to start out fresh.”

“Yes.” Grace coerced a steady tone. “This place just felt right.”

An air of confidence spread over Spritz’s carefully made-up face. “You won’t be disappointed.” She clicked the key, and the deadbolt gave an obliging swoosh. Pushing the door open, she took a theatrical step back. “Welcome home.”

Grace’s heart made a thump that could have come from the score to a Hitchcock movie. She peered in. Her lungs filled with paint-infused air as she took a careful step across the doorsill and into the foyer.

She blinked away welling emotion, plunking her suitcase down on the polished wood floor of the vacant bungalow. Her chest ached as she perused the living room, which looked bigger than her entire studio apartment back home. Its white walls stared at her like a vast canvas.

“Well?” Spritz’s voice glistened with just enough gusto to instill consumer confidence without falling into phoniness.

Grace forced a step further into the house which now bore her name on the title—or rather her chosen name. She found it impossible to whip up much enthusiasm when all she really wanted was her life back. “It’s...adorable. Just like you said.”

The door ka-thunked shut, sending Grace’s heart into her throat.

Spritz let out a pleased breath. “You were smart to snap it up. Houses like this don’t come on the market very often. Why, folks in Madison Falls tend to stay put till they die.”

Grace shot her a fretful glance. Was she being funny or merely factual?

Apparently oblivious to Grace’s unease, Spritz breezed into the living room. “Let me just give you a quick tour.”

Exhaustion jabbed at Grace like a maestro’s baton. “No, you don’t have to—”

“You’ve come all this way,” Spritz cajoled. “I can’t just abandon you at the door. I don’t mind at all.”

Too weary to argue, Grace ran a jittery hand through her hair. Startled once again by the shortness of her cut, she flinched. “Alright then.”

As Spritz took center stage with a clearing of her throat, Grace backed up just enough to secure the deadbolt. She forced attentiveness, though frankly her only architectural concern was the structure’s ability to keep danger at bay.

Spritz stepped seamlessly into tour guide mode. “The key feature of this cozy room is of course the striking Craftsman brick fireplace.” She recited the painstakingly penned text of her own website.

Feeling like a reluctant audience to a friend’s baby-picture-slideshow, Grace swallowed her protest and stepped into the living room.

“...loads of light from this generous picture window.” Spritz pulled a cord, sending the front blinds clattering upward.

Grace shrank back, feeling the same vulnerability as she did whenever someone burst into her dressing room unannounced. The darkness outside chilled her. Why hadn’t she planned for a day-lit arrival?

“...cut glass...original to the house.” Spritz dropped the cord. Her arm extended toward the smaller windows above the built-in bookcases which flanked the fireplace.

Keeping a polite focus on her guide, Grace slid toward the picture window. She felt for the cold metal of the latch, breathing easier at its firmness. She gave the cord to the blinds a quick yank then twisted the wand to smooth the slats.

“...1920’s charm.” Spritz clasped her hands in front of her, clearly moved by her own narrative of the home’s features. A well-rehearsed pause, then a twirl toward the dining room.

Forcing her tired eyes to stay focused, Grace pulled shut the blinds on the smaller windows. 1920’s charm, indeed. Feigning cheerful interest, she crossed under the wide arch which separated this room from the next.

Spritz drew her arm with a flourish in the direction of a built-in china hutch. “This room is perfect for entertaining.”

Grace huffed at the suggestion that she would actually invite people over. Spritz’s eyes narrowed.

“I...I...” Grace stuttered, dismayed that fatigue had wiped out her ability to self-censor. “I just never had my own dining room before. I didn’t know I needed one.”

Spritz’s face lit like a make-up mirror. “Our neighborhood progressive dinner is coming up. I’ll be sure to add you to the circuit.”

Grace shivered, giving in to a long blink. Just what she needed. An invitation to the biggest event of the Mayberry social season.

Spritz swung open a double-hinged door, taking a calculated step through it as she spoke. “I just love the charm of this vintage style kitchen.”

Grace cast a polite look through the doorway. Vintage style? Was that real estate lingo for badly-in-need-of-an-update?

“Cute.” Too bad she couldn’t cook. All those years of dorm food and take-out had made that skill superfluous. At least she knew how to make coffee.

Thoughts of a comforting beverage warmed her momentarily, then vanished as her inaugural step into the kitchen almost sent her plummeting.

Spritz let out a yelp, catching her by the elbow. “Sweetie! Are you okay?”

Her heart racing, Grace clutched Spritz’s arm as her feet surfed for solid flooring. “I… I’m fine. Thanks.” She let go, testing the tiles using the care of a person treading through a minefield. One tile near the door had a definite trampoline-like quality. Funny that hadn’t made the web site’s list of fancy features.

Spritz gave the floor a healthy stomp with the heel of her Easy Spirit pump. “I really had no idea there was a problem here.” She patted Grace’s bicep. “Not to worry. We’ve got a wonderful handyman in town who’ll fix it for a song.”

Grace’s stomach fluttered. The last thing she needed was some strange man in her house expecting her to sing. “I’m sure I can take care of it myself.”

“Oh, a DIY girl, huh?” She looked impressed. “Why not let Sam handle this, and put your energy into the fun projects?”

With a decisive nod, Spritz stepped over the aberrant flooring to the rectangle of a hallway. Grace followed, anxious to finish the tour and get on with her plan. All she needed was to be left alone, to let down her guard at last, and fall into a deep sleep.

“Storage closet. Linen closet. Basement.” Spritz flung open each door in turn. “The floor is original to the house, but it’s been refinished. Let me show you the back bedroom.” She disappeared, rattling off facts as if her audience still needed convincing.

Grace’s body followed her eyes to the cracked-open bathroom door. A golden trail of light across the floor taunted her. Flashes of that last moment before her life had changed for good. She looked intently at the light—an eerie implication that someone else had recently been in the house. Be strong. What other choice did she have?

She reached out. A light touch to the crystal doorknob. Good grief, it’s only a bathroom. Wouldn’t be practical to avoid it indefinitely.

Shoving the heavy door with one hand while instinctively clenching the other, her own breath threatened to choke her.

The bathtub held a dead body.

No! Reflexively, her hands shielded her eyes. Then through parted fingers, she forced a second look. It was just a bathtub. Clean, white...and empty.

It had been more than two years now, but the image of the blood splattered porcelain still haunted her.

“Don’t you just love the claw foot tub?”

Grace sucked in a sharp breath, jolted by the perky voice from behind. She shook off the memory. Why couldn’t the place just have a shower, like her apartment?

“Let’s take a look at the front bedroom,” Spritz chirped with an air of unruffled confidence. She stepped into the room to her left, flicking a switch to illuminate it.

Grace followed, heavy with fatigue. She hovered in the doorway of the big white box that would be her bedroom, piqued by Spritz’s unnecessary perkiness.

Spritz beamed with professional pride. “The bedrooms are the same square footage, so it really depends on which view you prefer.”

Grace heaved an anxious sigh. She had already decided she’d sleep in this room. Best to keep track of the world out front—as if anything would happen in a town this size. Yawning, she lifted her wrist slightly, shocked at the hour—nearly eleven. One o’clock in the morning back home. Her eyelids felt like they had stage weights in them.

“Where’s my head?” Spritz crossed toward her, hands outstretched. “You flew all the way from Seattle, then had that long cab ride from Missoula. You must be dead on your feet.”

Grace’s stomach pitched at the ill-chosen words, but she coerced a smile. Spritz had shown such kindness without even knowing how much Grace had needed it. She allowed the realtor to enclose both her hands in a solid, warm grasp.

“I’ll see myself out.” Spritz gave Grace’s hands an extra squeeze. “You just call if you need anything.” She turned for the door, speaking over her shoulder as she walked. “Or stop by my office. It’s on Main, right across from the park. You can’t miss it.”

Grace chuckled to herself. As if finding anything in this town would require the use of MapQuest.

Grateful for her long-awaited solitude, she bolted the door after Spritz’s exit and lowered the blinds over its small cut glass pane. Talk about impractical. Why would anyone want a window in their front door?

Looking around the quiet house, she surrendered to a welcome yawn. She hadn’t been this tired in a very long time. All she needed was a refreshing night’s sleep to plan her next step for surviving this ordeal.

She dragged her feet back to the bedroom and stopped. Looking down at the hard wood of the floor, she let out a throaty moan. Where had her head been? She had always prided herself on her ability to think things through down to the minutest detail. How could she have neglected to arrange for a bed?

She sat down with a thud and buried her face in her hands, not knowing if she would burst out in laughter or sobs.

“Good grief, Grace Addison.” A quiet laugh escorted her words. “Or whatever your name is. Get your act together, would you?”

Paige Rewritten by Erynn Mangum

Paige Alder series

Paige Alder is in a really good place. She’s dating nice guy, Tyler. Her boss has offered her a raise. Her walk with God is strong. Life is great—and that’s when things start to change.

First, the youth pastor at church keeps asking Paige to work with him full-time. Then her sister shows up newly engaged and wanting to reconnect, even though they haven’t spoken in years. And now former boyfriend Luke has come back into her life. How is Paige supposed to know what the right decisions are?

This warm and humorous book will help young girls work through important issues, such as forgiving others and obeying God.

My Review:
I enjoyed this second installment of Paige Alder's humorous life. Paige's twenty-third birthday comes with a couple of surprises, but not the traditional, happy kind.

Since the first installment of Paige's life, Paige Torn, the protagonist has returned to her daily Bible devotions. Her boss has offered her a raise, and Luke seems to have renewed his interest.

I do not like non-endings. The author enjoys cliff hangers and tantalizes the reader into purchasing the next book in the series. Tsk tsk.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and NavPress for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.

The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine

The Widows are very disappointed in Pastor Adam. Not only has he not set a date for his nuptials, he hasn't even proposed. The Widows' skills know no bounds, but even they find it difficult to plan a wedding under those circumstances. Of course, what they don't know is Adam has proposed to Gussie, but the couple is trying to keep the engagement a secret--not easy in Butternut Creek.

Meanwhile, Adam's sister Hannah, a doctor, has returned from a two-year trip to Kenya where she was working in refugee camps. She is staying at the parsonage until she recovers from a bout of malaria, and is having difficutly adjusting to life back in the US after the horrors she's witnessed. Though physically weak, she becomes animated when verbally sparring with Gabe Borden, her adopted nephew Hector's high school basketball coach. The Widows spot sparks of a different color between the two, and are soon up to their matchmaking ways once again.

My Review:
This Christian fiction is a fun book to read. There are several humorous moments. Two I particularly enjoyed are the scene where Hannah and Gabe are first pushed together by the Widows, and Charley and the ceiling tiles. It takes talent to write such funny stuff.

Butternut Creek is a place I'd like to live. It's a small town filled with people who care, led by the Widows, an important group of church ladies, who live to inflict their will on others (ahem) serve.

Romance blossoms whenever the Widows spot any single. I like the way the author tells the story of love blooming.

Reading Group Guide is included.

Thank you to Sarah Reck at Hachette Book Group for my copy.

Where Hope Starts by Angela D. Meyer

Karen Marino’s life is a nightmare. The New York City restaurant manager is a professional success, but her marriage is in shambles. When her husband, Barry shows up drunk at her restaurant, she loses both.

She flees The Big Apple and returns to her Midwestern home to sort through her options. But instead of answers, she finds an old boyfriend ready to rekindle romance, a family full of secrets, and an angry brother bent on revenge.

Karen wants to do the right thing, but how do you forgive someone when you don’t feel like it? As she searches for the answer, she uncovers the family secret that threatens to tear them all apart. Can she find her way back to the place Where Hope Starts?

My Review:
A lot happens in this Christian novel. The protagonist, Karen Marino, goes through a rough season of life. Even though several friends urge her to turn to God, she steadfastly refuses to believe that God could be interested in helping her. (After all, He never has.) She loses her job, her marriage is in shreds, she's tempted by her former boyfriend, she's estranged from her family, and her mother is dying. Obviously, she needs help.

The author tackles some tough issues: control of temper, pornography addiction, alcoholism, spousal abuse, infidelity, and inability to forgive to name a few. It's interesting to see how the characters wrestle with these issues and untangle their lives.

I especially liked Karen's struggle to forgive the people who wronged her. (How do you forgive someone when you don’t feel like it?) Forgiveness is taught in this novel.

However, the writing is somewhat choppy; scenes change without supplying details that need to be told. Loose ends tie up too easily.

Thank you to FirstWildCard and Cross River Media for my copy.

And now, the first chapter:AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Come home.



Karen Marino choked back a cry as she stared at the words scribbled on the front of the envelope. She slid her fingernail under the flap and gaped at the plane ticket nestled inside a letter. Why now? She gritted her teeth. Heat flushed from her neck to the top of her head as she remembered the look of disgust on her father’s face.



The clash of pans in the restaurant kitchen startled her back to the present. “What the...?”



She glanced at her watch. Almost eleven. She slid the ticket and letter back inside the envelope and tucked it into her purse. She took a deep breath before stepping out of her office.



“Steve, how does the schedule look?” Karen hired him straight out of culinary school. His lack of experience paled next to his talent, and within a year his specialties had drawn in customers from all over New York City’s five boroughs, earning the restaurant a five-star reputation.



“Perfect, my love.” He crossed his arms and smiled. “Now, when are you going to marry me?”



She laughed. “Your mother would be disappointed. I have more red hair than Irish blood.” She enjoyed the attention her hair brought in The City, where she no longer stood out like an apple on an orange tree.



“My ma would love you anyway.” Steve placed his hand over his heart.



She shook her head and waved him back to work, then strode through the kitchen inspecting the line cooks as they prepped for the noon rush. “Be sure and clean up as you go....No, not that dish. Use the glass one. And keep a towel nearby.…How long have you worked here?…Don’t wipe your hands on your apron.”



She stopped. “Jimmy,” she yelled above the din of the kitchen. Her voice carried to the break room where the young man sauntered out with a donut in one hand and a coffee cup in the other.



“Yeah?”



She glared at him. “What’s with all these dirty pots and pans?”



The guy shrugged. “Had somewhere to be last night, so I saved them.”



“Get rid of that donut now and finish your job in the next half hour, or you’re fired, no matter who your cousin is.”



He threw the donut and coffee in the trash can and plodded off to his station.



“Karen.”



“What!”



“You okay?” Her assistant manager, Cathy, raised an eyebrow.



“Sorry, didn’t mean to snap.” Karen took a deep breath. “Is the dining room ready?”



“No problems there. But…” Cathy glanced over her shoulder. “Barry’s at the bar.”



“Not with the new owner coming in.” Karen clenched her fists. If she talked to her husband now she would lose her cool. “Did you tell him I was busy?”



“Yes. But, he’s got that look.”



Karen rolled her eyes. That meant another of Barry’s money-making ideas. Ideas didn’t pay the rent. “I better go talk to him.”



Barry grinned as she approached and she paused at the sight of his dark wavy hair and strong jaw line. If life were a photo, he would take her breath away. But once you added sound and action, that fantasy vanished.



She bit her lip. A part of her longed for what they used to have. How does a man change so much? He used to lead people. Now he controlled them, like the other night. Karen shuddered, then closed the gap between them. “We’re about to open. You need to go. We can talk tonight.”



“Like all those other times? Please.” He leaned against the bar.



“I said, we’ll talk.”



Barry slid off the bar stool. Although he stood only a few inches taller than her five foot seven frame and didn’t work out enough to have an impressive build, he carried himself with a bravado that demanded attention. “We’ll talk now. You’ll like this idea. It’s a chance to get in on the ground floor of a start-up company.”



Karen caught a whiff of liquor on his breath. “A little early to be drinking, don’t you think?”



“Don’t change the subject.” He banged his fist on the bar.



She jumped. His eyes grew dark. She backed away, her eyes frozen on his hands. “You need to leave. Now.”



“Why?” Barry’s voice grew louder.



“So I won’t lose my job.” The new owner was a powerful man. Barry could blow it for her.



“Miss Indispensable? Lose her job?” His empty laugh bounced around the deserted room.



“Please.” Karen reigned in her hostility.



“I will do as I please.” He took a step toward her.



“If you hope to get your hands on my money, try honey not vinegar.” She crossed her arms and stared at him.



“What are you talking about?”



“This approach will not get you what you want.”



He looked behind her and backed away. “Yeah, maybe we should talk tonight.”



Karen wrinkled her brow. What’s got into him now? She turned. The new owner walked toward her. He reminded her of Danny Devito. Short, stout, and balding. Add a bit of swagger to his walk and you would have her new boss. She groaned. Glancing Barry’s direction she saw him leave through the kitchen. I hope he didn’t just cost me my job.



She turned to face the man. She mustered a smile and extended her hand. “Karen Marino. You must be Mr. Simon.”



The man stared at her. “You’re fired.” He smiled like a kid who just lifted a trinket from the store and got away with it.



“You can’t do that.” Her throat closed up. Breathe.



“I own this place, I can and will clean house as I see fit.”



His reputation was well earned. She forced herself to unclench her hands. “I built this restaurant into what it is today.”



“There’s no place in any of my restaurants for what I just witnessed. Home stays at home.”



“You’d get rid of me for one incident?”



“It’s not just one incident.”



She bit her tongue and glared at the man. Who talked?



“Leave now. Come back and clear out your desk after lunch.”



“Fine, I don’t need you or your restaurant. I have my reputation.” She regretted the words as soon as she said them.



“When I’m done, you won’t have a reputation.”



She turned and fled to her office. A man that powerful didn’t make idle threats. She grabbed her purse, squared her shoulders, and marched through the kitchen. She would not be shamed out of here. She did nothing wrong.



Her assistant manager barked orders at the staff. The new owner smiled while he watched. So Cathy betrayed me. An old pain grabbed at Karen’s heart. Why do people turn on me?



Letting the door slam on her way out, she rushed into the flow of human traffic. The wall of buildings hid the breadth of the sky and pressed in around her. Exhaust fumes mingled with the aroma of pizza from a nearby kiosk. She jumped when a taxi blared its horn. Two people shoved each other to get in, arguing over appointments. She picked up her pace, needing to escape the surroundings that for the last fifteen years had made her feel so alive. An image of the family orchard in Missouri filled her heart.



Her past caught up to her present and the old emotions, released from their prison, pinballed around inside her. She ducked into a nearby alley and leaned against the wall. Pressing her hands against the wall, she took several calming breaths against the tears welling up in her chest. She needed to think, not cry.



She pressed her fingertips against her eyes. I don’t want to go back to the apartment yet, and I don’t have an office anymore. Where can I go? She fought the desire to throw things and stomp her feet. She would not lose control.



Something brushed against her elbow and she jerked away. A pungent odor assaulted her nose as a man in a tattered jacket stepped closer.



“Some money for food?” He reached out his hands.



She pushed the man away and tucked her purse close to her body as she stumbled out of the alley and hurried away. Her thoughts latched onto her husband and the impossibility of the situation. Lost in a daze she walked several blocks before her stomach growled, reminding her of the time. She paused and looked around. Carnegie Deli looked like a good choice. Crossing the street, she stood in line for her turn, anxious for the line to move, yet longing for a slower pace.



Pressure built up in her right eye and tension grew between her shoulders. She dug through her purse for some pain reliever and popped two in her mouth.



“Next.”



She looked up at the man behind the counter. “Uh, I’m not sure, what—”



“I’ll take a Woody Allen and a coffee.” A construction worker shouldered his way past Karen, slapping some bills on the counter.



Karen glared at him, then raised her voice above the next person trying to steal her place in line. “Give me a Woody Allen, too.”



Within minutes her order sat next to the construction worker’s sandwich. She grabbed her plate and cup of coffee, and turned to find a seat in the crowded dining room. From across the room, she saw two women get up from their table. She rushed to grab one of the empty chair.



She settled in to her seat and thought of the first time she came here. She was on a blind date, and he wanted to share his favorite place to eat. Crowded elbow to elbow with strangers at the shared table, it was not exactly romantic, but the food was delicious and plentiful. Her sandwich was piled so high with meat she ate for several days off of the leftovers.



Now, the deli gave her the anonymity she needed.



Cradling the coffee mug in her hands, she allowed the heat to calm her nerves. The day had not gone the way she planned. Lately, not much had. She rubbed her temples then scooted her plate forward to make room for her note pad. Avoiding the glares of her table mates, she pulled out a pen and began to list her options.



Find a job. In this economy? Right.



Barry find a job. She laughed.



Dip into her savings. She ripped the paper off the pad and wadded it up. Not again. That money was for the future.



Her head pounded as she fought back the tears. Barry’s scheme might be all they had. Maybe not.



She reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter. Karen remembered how special it felt to be a daughter of Charles and Annibel Hannigan. They were well respected in the community and at church, and then everything changed.



What’s so important that they want me to come home now? She laid the ticket aside and unfolded the letter.















Dear Karen,







Please come home. Your mother is dying and she needs to see you. She needs to know you understand. You need to hear what she has to say.



We are both sorry for the past and ask your forgiveness. I’ve enclosed a plane ticket. Change the date to what works best.







Love, Dad







Her hands trembled as she held the letter. Mom’s dying?



She laid the letter down and leaned her head onto her hands. She lost their favor with no explanation, and now they offered it to her again on a silver platter. It felt fake. What had she done to lose their favor in the first place? She wiped at tears she couldn’t stop. Did they think an apology could make up for everything?



“Hey lady, if you’re done, why don’t you move on. There’s folks waiting for a seat.”



Looking the bus boy directly in the eye, she reached for her sandwich and took a bite. He waved at her in dismissal and went back to work.



She glanced out the window as a mother bent down to look her child in the eye. She pointed at a large bulldozer across the street. The little boy smiled, looked back at her and nodded. They hugged. She grabbed his hand and continued walking.



She and her mother used to have a relationship like that. Carrying on like they were the only two people in the world. She looked away. Maybe going home wasn’t a viable option either.



She bit her lip. Am I supposed to just forgive them? How could they ask that of her? She hit the table with her fist and the coffee mug jumped, spilling onto the letter.



“Hey, watch it!” The man next to her grabbed his paper and picked it up ahead of the offending liquid.



“Sorry.” She grabbed some napkins and sopped up the mess. Blowing out a hard breath and tapping her fingers on the table, she checked her phone for the time before dialing her best friend.



Megan and Robert Fletcher reserved a table every Tuesday night at the restaurant Karen managed. Over time she became friends with Megan despite her penchant for religion. She always listened and gave good feedback.



And she’s the only person I trust.



Karen wouldn’t get the same attentive ear once Megan and Robert had their baby. The call went straight to voice mail, so she left a message. Megan must be at the women’s shelter she managed.



Karen picked up the letter and airline ticket and stuffed them in her purse. A walk might help her think better. Catching the waitress’ attention, she asked for a to-go bag.



Back on the street, her mind quickly turned to what her lack of employment meant for her life. Stay in New York and try to find another job without a reference. Give Barry’s scheme a chance. Or go home.



She cringed at all of those options. Like it or not, she had to consider them or maybe…her steps faltered as she did some quick mental calculations.



It would be risky and Barry wouldn’t like it, but she didn’t care. She quickened her step. She needed to stop by the bank.

Greetings from the Flipside by Rene Gutteridge, Cheryl McKay

Hope Landon has been rewriting other people's greeting cards since she was six years old -- there's always a funnier caption. She's all set to chase those creative dreams with her musician fiance in New York City until he leaves Hope at the altar, deciding he must not really love this girl if he can't write a song for her. That may give her something to write about . . .

Hope disappears alone on what was supposed to be the couple's month long honeymoon. Upon returning she learns of her funeral -- everyone in her life concluded Hope must have killed herself after being jilted. Needing a fresh start more than ever, she heads for the Big Apple only to discover it's not that easy to rent a place when you've been declared dead.

Taking shelter at the YWCA, Hope soon lands a job at a Christian inspirational greeting card company as an assistant to Jake, a guy who shut down his organization's humor department. She has lost her faith in love; he needs to find something or someone that will make him laugh.

Is there anything in the cards for these two?

My Review:
This is a frame story, or rather a story within a story. More accurately, it's a coma within a coma. Let me explain. The protagonist, Hope Landon, experiences the worst day of her life when she is first left at the altar, then knocked unconscious, and finally falls into a coma. Her doctor and nurse warn Hope's visitors that those in a coma hear what is being said. This only seems to encourage her "current-decade challenged" mother to frequently LOUDLY pray by reciting all of the negative things that make up Hope's sorry life. The town florist, Jake, has had a crush on Hope ever since elementary school, and he witnessed her tragic injury. He visits and brings a more positive voice into Hope's life.

The reader gets to experience Hope's coma by reading "GREETINGS FROM MY LIFE" sections which run concurrent with the storyline. We see how words and Coma Arousal Therapy translate to help or hinder. This is a humorous, light-hearted read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Discussion questions included.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and B&H Books for my copy.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

If you would like to buy a copy, click here.