Streams of Mercy – Lauraine Snelling

Streams of Mercy

Lauraine Snelling

Bethany House Publishers, Oct 6 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9780764211065

In 1907 accompanied by her children (Melissa, Joseph and Gilbert), Widow Anji Baard Moen visits her kind in-laws in Norway, who beg her to stay with them.  Instead Anji and her kids return to Blessing, North Dakota.  Anji balances being a supermom with teaching Norwegian history once a week to high school students and writing articles for the Blessing Gazette.

The circus comes to town by train, but proves not to be a joy when they bring diphtheria with them.  Dr. Bjorklund and Dr. Jeffers invoke strict health measures to keep the disease from turning into an epidemic.  When the paper’s publisher Thorliff becomes ill, Anji takes over running it.  Newcomer Minister Thomas Devlin provides carpentry services to the townsfolk and courts the widow; while healing Thorliff wishes he acted first.

The third Song of Blessing historical (see A Harvest Of Hope and To Everything A Season) is a tremendous early twentieth century Northern Great Plains inspirational drama that once again transports readers to a different bygone era (a trademark of Lauraine Snelling).  Life in small-town North Dakota during a terrible disease outbreak grips the audience, but it is Anji and several other caring folks who bring a personal touch to the captivating storyline; she in particular wonders what God prefers she choose between two caring men who both want her and her children in their respective lives.

Harriet Klausner

Valley Of Decision – Lynn Gentry

Valley Of Decision

Lynn Gentry

Simon & Schuster/Howard Books, Sep 22 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9781476746418

Several years have passed since Dr. Lisbeth Hasting left behind her beloved barrister Cyprianus Thracius in third century Roman controlled Carthage.  Both agreed to the separation to keep their daughter safe since his beloved offspring would be an Achilles’ heel for Cyprianus as the leader of the persecuted (by Rome) Christians.  Though she fiercely misses her mate, Lisbeth raises their child and uses her medical practice to control her sadness.

Disappointed with her mom’s lack of effort over the last decade to bring her daddy home; teenage Maggie’s paternal obsession leads her to take a radical course to persuade her father that his family (at least her as she doubts her mom cares) needs him.  In Carthage, Maggie finds her grandmother accused of murder, but her attempts at rescue leads to a riot.  The Proconsul demands the death of the troublemaking teen mastermind and her rebellious family.

The third Christian Chronicles of Carthage saga (see Return to Exile and Healer of Carthage) is a complex time travel family drama, but has a “déjà vu all over again” (the late great Yogi Berra) feel to the overarching theme.  Well written climaxing with a terrific unexpected but reasonable late twist, Valley Of Decision is a fine finish to a fabulous trilogy.

Harriet Klausner

Perfect Reflection – Karen Wiesner

Perfect Reflection

Karen Wiesner

Lulu.com, Aug 19 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9781312395589

In Peaceful, Wisconsin A&A Design Elaina Houston reflects back to her childhood in which her parents demanded 24/7 perfect behavior (as defined by them) from her.  She tried to live up to the parental paragon but failed as no person could meet the expectations demanded by her father and mother.  Eventually she gave up attempting to live someone else’s fantasy at the cost of internal tsuris; though since she quit trying Elaina almost always focuses on the bad from her past while ignoring the good.  Her only reliefs from self-induced misery are her belief in the Lord, and her Odd Jobs co-worker and BFF Ethan Lynwood as he likes the “real” Elaina.

Super-egotistical Ethan believed in his unfailing genius that led him to make terrible errors that hurt others as he covered for the misdeeds of his father and especially his brother Sebastian.  The camel’s back broke when his sibling’s actions led to the suicide of Abby, a girl Ethan liked.  Giving up on “evil” Sebastian and deciding to leave his family behind in Chicago, Ethan fled to La Crosse to escape from his enabling mistakes; as he has learned wisdom without humility and passion for the Lord and people lead to prideful transgressions.  Two years ago Ethan met Elaina.  In love with God and each other, neither anticipated their pasts to arrive with vengeance.

The fifth fantastic Friendship Heirloom inspirational contemporary (see First Comes Love and Forever And All That Jazz) is a delightful novel starring two protagonists who turned to God to help them deal with dysfunctional family histories.  The suspense comes late, but brings completeness (and full circle) to a tremendous drama.

Harriet Klausner

Michael’s Angel – Karen Wiesner

Michael’s Angel

Karen Wiesner

Lulu.com, Jul 30 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9781312769083

When Michael Fremont still was able to count his birthdays on his fingers, his mother told him she never wanted him just before she committed suicide in front of him.  Over the next decade he bounced around the foster family program.  The last few years he stayed with the aptly named Stern family in Chicago while his foster sister Eliza blackmailed him.  However, in two weeks he will leave the system and the Sterns, and take his vulnerable BFF LeeAnn Wagner with him.

LeeAnn and her mother spent a lifetime running from her husband who wanted his cheating wife and someone else’s child dead; since her dad died Leeann is seemingly is free, but remains haunted by her harrowing past.  Meanwhile, feeling unworthy of LeeAnn, Michael panics when his desire for her seems out of control.  After insuring her safety and heeding a pastor’s advice, Michael enlists in the Marines.

When his military service ends, Michael needs to know how his angel is.  In Peaceful, Wisconsin, Michael finds a much stronger LeeAnn.  Already in love with each other and both finding solace with the Lord, he prays she gives him a second chance and she prays he takes a second chance.  In the darkness looking into Eden, someone else covets a second chance at LeeAnn and if necessary Michael.

The second fantastic Friendship Heirloom inspirational romance (see Clumsy Girl’s Guide To Falling In Love; LeeAnn is a support character) is a tense suspense starring two vulnerable lost souls finding each other twice while also obtaining solace with the Lord.  His angel and her hero come together in a strong tale as Karen Wiesner provides an entertaining second chance drama.

Harriet Klausner

Hope Harbor – Irene Hannon

Hope Harbor

Irene Hannon

Revell, Jul 7 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9780800724528

Since the death of his wife eighteen months ago, Michael Hunter wallows in self-pity and loathing of God.  Taking two months leave from St. Joseph Center not for profit, Michael drives almost non-stop from Chicago to his seaside destination, his late spouse’s hometown Hope Harbor, Oregon.  Tired and frustrated to learn his motel is closed due an electrical fire, when he steps onto a street without looking Michael causes a cyclist to crash to avoid hitting him.  At Charley’s food truck, Anna Williams thinks the stranger looks remarkably like someone she has not seen in two decades; thus the sexagenarian offers Michael a place to stay.

Bruised from her bike crash caused by the daydreaming pedestrian, Widow Tracy Campbell blames God for the death of her late husband and ignoring her furtive prayers.  At her family’s 80 acres farm Hope Harbor Cranberries, Tracy, works alongside her uncle on the 20% of their spread dedicated to cranberries.  She also provides accounting services and volunteers at Helping Hands.  After their first encounter, the widow and widower find commonality in their anger towards God and their grief.  With help of townsfolk like Anna, Charley and her uncle; Michael and Tracy begin to move on from their respective deep loss as their broken spirits mend and restore their trust in God and in love.

This leisurely-paced inspirational second chance at faith, life and love is an engaging contemporary ironically due to the newcomer’s invigorating impact on the townsfolk though they affect him even more than he does them.  Containing humor mostly from Floyd the seagull and mysteriousness (Charley’s perceptiveness and Anna’s past), readers will enjoy visiting coastal Oregon with mostly Michael, Tracy and Anna as our guides.

Harriet Klausner

Dead Dog Like Me – Max Davis

Dead Dog Like Me

Max Davis

Worthy Publishing, Jun 23 2015, $15.99

http://www.worthypublishing.com

ISBN: 9781617955242

Megachurch pastor Nick Gregory blames himself that his son Philip committed suicide, his daughter Carlee hates him and his wife Abbi left him because he lost his way.  Adding to his mental disarray, his Grace Life Church flock wants to abandon him as he did them and likewise he believes God did the same to him.  His publisher demands the book they paid a hefty advance and he cannot sleep without nightmares.  Wallowing in guilt and despair, Nick considers joining Philip, but hungry Deuce intervenes with a need for food.  However, not paying attention, Nick runs over Deuce who had the sin of loving him and his family; just one more reason for Carlee to hate him.  Unable to cope Nick drives his Escalade into a cement pylon.

When he awakens, he no longer is in twenty-first century DC; or even in his body.  Instead his mind resides inside King Saul’s crippled grandson Mephibosheth, circa 800 BC.  Mistreated by guards, who bring him to King David, a confused Nick begins seeing parallels between his life and that of his current host, a broken lost soul; leading Nick to think Mephibosheth is a “Dead Dog Like Me.”  That is until he wakes up confused from an induced coma in a hospital.

Dead Dog Like Me is a remarkable Christian drama that looks at how far a person can fall when they lose their way (faith), and seek atonement and a merciful second chance with God, family and believers.  The juxtaposition of Mephibosheth and Gregory make for a captivating tale though more insight into the life of Saul’s grandson would have enhanced the plot; hopefully Max Davis does a sequel reversing who morphs into whom.

Harriet Klausner

Silver Spurs – Miralee Ferrell

Silver Spurs

Miralee Ferrell

David C. Cook, Jun 1 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9780781411134

Due to extended unemployment, teenager Kate Ferris’ parents moved the family from Spokane to her late maternal Grandpa Cooper’s farm in ODell, Oregon.  In her new home, her dream of A Horse for Kate soon comes true.  Now, Kate wishes that her BFF Tori Velasquez also obtains a horse of her own.

To raise money for Tori’s horse, Kate, assisted by her best friend, takes on boarders.  The work is difficult, but made exponentially more stressful when the school’s queen of mean Melissa brings her horse to stay at the Ferris barn and compete in a contest in which the winner receives Silver Spurs.

Tweeners, especially those who previously read A Horse for Kate, will relish the second Horses and Friends inspirational tale because each of the lead female trio comes across as genuine with differing personalities emphasized by how they relate with one another and with their horses.  Kate keeps the plot focused as she pursues what she wants now while asking God to intervene or at least guide her to her goal; but Melissa steals the show.

Harriet Klausner

Justified – Varina Denman

Justified

Varina Denman

David C. Cook, Jun 1 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9780781412162

In Trapp, Texas, pregnant Fawn Blaylock knows she needs help as a soon to be single mom.  However except for her “Jaded” remaining friend Ruthie Turner, Fawn distrusts everyone who should care about her and her unborn son.  Her affluent rancher parents and the members of the church she and her family belong to pressure her to wed the father of her child, Tyler Cruz; but she has doubts since she knows first-hand the dark side of her former boyfriend.

When Fawn attended the funeral of Tyler’s dad Byron, she gave her former lover renewed hope to persuade her to give him a second chance.  Still she remains steadfast in her refusal because she believes he will never change into a responsible family man.  Her angry family disowns her and her soon to be born baby for her sin; on the other hand the town high school football coach JohnScott and his kin befriend her.

The second Mended Hearts Christian romance is a wonderful inspirational starring a “fallen” woman and a hero who needs to protect mother and baby.  Having lost her faith by how her hypocritical parents and the congregation she has known all her life excommunicate her, Fawn finds hope and support with JohnScott and his caring family.  Though it behooves the audience to start with Jaded as much of how far from grace Fawn has fallen is written in book one (plus the tale of Ruthie and Dodd), readers will appreciate the saga of a second pariah finding the love of God and a good caring man

Harriet Klausner

George’s Grand Tour – Caroline Vermalle

George’s Grand Tour
Caroline Vermalle; Anna Aitken (translator)
Gallic Books, May 26 2015. $14.95
ISBN: 9781908313737

With her mom heading to Peru, twenty-something London-based actress Adéle calls her octogenarian Grandpa that if he needs anything including a visit he should tell her. Politely George Nicoleau thanks her; even as both know she has not taken the train to Poitier followed by the bus to Chanteloup to his hamlet since her parents’ divorce a decade ago.

George reacts with mixed emotions to Adéle’s call of concern and caring. On the one hand it energizes him to begin the Grand Tour with his eightyish friend Charles, but also worries him that Adéle will replace her mom the “inspector” by checking up on him with a visit. As George and Charles conduct their Grand Tour drive, he and Adéle rekindle what they once had via texting.

Besides a unique vivid Tour de France ride by the elderly travelers, this is a compassionate and at times amusing (especially George’s technology efforts) tale. The quirky storyline reminds readers loved ones matter but in spite of their caring concerns; still to go after fulfilling your dreams by adapting the effort as needed to age, health, technology or other considerations. Readers will want to join George and Charles on their merveilleux pilgrimage.

Harriet Klausner

The Love Like Ours – Becky Wade

The Love Like Ours
Becky Wade
Bethany House Publishers, May 5 2015, $13.99
ISBN: 9780764211096

As a child growing up in Holley, Texas Lyndie James knew she loved Jake Porter. Their friendship ended when the preadolescent Lyndie moved to California. Though she has not seen Jake since they were tweener BFFs skipping stones, Lyndie never forgot her first love. Now two decades later Lyndie returns to Holley to take care of her ailing sister.

Iraq War Marine veteran Jake returns home suffering from PTSD. Though he has doubts whether he is ready to hire his childhood buddy to work with thoroughbreds at his family Whispering Creek Ranch, Jake does so anyway. As her enthusiasm for life reenergizes Jake, he reconsiders his lost belief in a God who allowed the horrors he witnessed and participated in the war. Soon the one-time best buddies fall in love, but though this is what she has wanted forever, he feels unworthy.

The third Porter sibling contemporary (Undeniably Yours and Meant to be Mine) is an uplifting Christian romance starring a pert lead female (perhaps to perky) and a fractured former marine. The delightful storyline focuses on hope if a person has faith in the Lord and his/her beloved mate. The flashback to the prime cause of Jake’s mental state enhances a wonderful tale.

Harriet Klausner