From the Publisher:

When her ultra—ministry—minded brother, Joshua, confesses to murder, lawyer Rachael Flynn begs him to let her represent him, certain that he is innocent. But Joshua refuses her offer of counsel.As Rachael works on the case, she begins to suspect that Josh knows who the real killer is, but she is unable to get him to cooperate with his defense. Why won't he talk to her? What is Josh hiding?

The answer is revealed in a stunning conclusion that will have readers eager for the second book in this gripping new series.

My review:

Widows & Orphans is another page turner crafted by Susan Meissner. I have always enjoyed her women's fiction, but after reading her Rachel Flynn Mystery, book 1, I can see the author has a real knack for mystery plots. I had a very hard time putting this book down. Just when I thought I knew where the story might be going, the heroine would discover something else. And she was a fabulous character, too. A new mom, breastfeeding, and the works. What a sympathetic heroine!

Rachel loved her brother Josh, believed in him, and was willing to fight for him and for the truth even when he'd given up on himself. Rachel's brother was one of the most creative characters I've seen in a long time in regards to his internal motivation. The in-depth examination of Josh's heart (that the author delved into) gave me the happy shivers. The spiritual thread was also profound and so well done I'm still thinking about it and probably will be for days.

The entire book was written from the heroine's perspective, but the author did such a wonderful job with the characterization, dialog and description, that I didn't notice because I felt like I knew the other players as if I'd been in their points of view. Fig was a total dork genius, but lovable and funny. I loved how he referred to Rachel's baby as the dictator or the princess and stuff like that. Trace, Rachel's husband, was an awesome character, too, and a great husband. I just loved the whole crew of secondary characters and I'm thrilled that there are several more books coming out in this series. I can't wait to get to Sticks and Stones next! If I didn't have so many deadlines I'd read it now!

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From the Publisher:

This story tells the tale of a boy, Nate, on a cattle ranch in 1880's Montana. Nate has always wanted a dog, but his Pa does not. Only grudgingly does Pa allow Nate to keep the nearly dying puppy he finds. Nate must struggle to control his new dog and allow the Lord the time to sway his Pa's heart.

My review:

One-Eyed Jack is a delightful story about a boy who loves his dog, and the lessons he learns about life from the mishaps and trials he experiences because of One-Eyed Jack's recklessness. This story has a Little House on the Prairie feel to it, but with a faith thread. Even though it's a children's story, I really enjoyed the book and read it straight through. Plus, I thought the pictures were adorable and complemented the story. I especially loved the part of the story where Nate and his dog are lost and he thinks he'll never see his family again. Despite his overzealous and clumsy ways, One-Eyed Jack was a lovable pooch and very heroic. And the ending of the story was really nice. It almost makes you want to cry like in the story Homeward Bound, where the animals find their way back to family after being lost in the wilderness. I definitely recommend this book.

One-Eyed Jack was published by Blooming Tree Press and released in August 2006.

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From the Publisher: Andrew, astute, applied, and ambitious, has little but contempt for his wayward and adventuring brother, Phillip...who in turn resents what he sees as Andrew's high—handedness and superior attitude. The rift is deep, and it seems it will be permanent after Andrew learns of Phillip's unwitting involvement in a court plot and insists that he and his son, Peter, flee to the new colony of Virginia.

So far apart in both body and heart, will the two brothers ever meet on common ground again, let alone find their way to forgiveness?

My review: I was surprised that the description from the publisher didn't include the information that drew me to the book. The court plot alluded to is the plot to destroy King James and his court in Parliament. The story is about conspiracy against the Protestant king as much as it is about the relationship between brothers. It's about diabolical planning, murder, torture, heartache, injustice, adventure, and secrets. It's about political struggles, conspiracy, opposing religious forces, Bible translation, travel to the "New World", salvation, and true love.

In short, it's about a whole lot more than the description would lead you to believe. That said, I really enjoyed this book. The point of view was mainly omniscient, which provided for a variety of perspectives you wouldn't get from a third person POV account. This entire novel held my attention. I really took an interest in the portion of the story where Phillip and his son Peter traveled to Jamestown with the original group as settlers. Peter met Pocohantas, though he didn't know her name at the time. There were skirmishes with the native peoples, a thwarted search for the lost settlers of the original Roanoke settlement, sickness, and other adventures. At first I didn't think I'd like that part of the story, but it turned out to be my favorite portion of the book, though I also enjoyed the rest of the novel.

Captives & Kings was about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and about how the sin of one family member can impact the lives of so many innocent people. I had a hard time putting this book down. If you love historical fiction, this novel covers points of history rarely covered anywhere else in novel form.

Captives & Kings was published by Harvest House and released in January 2007.

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From the Publisher: After a decade of reining the country music charts as the queen of country soul, Aubrey James, the daughter of legendary gospel singers, must come face-to-face with her life. After being betrayed by a close friend, Aubrey agrees to tell her exclusive story to CMT's Inside NashVegas host Beth Rose. Little does she know her future depends on reconciling with her past. But Aubrey's country world is rocked when Inside NashVegas host Scott Vaughn, a former love interest, shows up to hold the interview instead of Beth Rose. It's too late for the diva to change her mind. Scott's gentle manner and insightful interviewing wins Aubrey's trust, and ultimately her heart.

My review: Diva NashVegas was a fun, adventurous read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor was delightful and the antics between Aubrey and Scott were hilarious at times. I enjoyed hanging out with Aubrey and getting a feel for who she really was inside. How she learned to conquer her fears and make better decisions for herself, including returning to her childhood faith. Aubrey was a tough, but lovable diva, and when people treated her like a normal person it not only touched her heart, but it moved mine as well. Fame definitely comes with a price and her story is a wonderful illustration of that truth. Overall, Aubrey seemed more like a friend to me than a character in a novel. She was that real. And the way the author brought her character out through a variety of interviews was pure genius.

Scott grabbed my heart from the beginning. Though I didn't despise Car, I definitely wanted to see her with Scott, who was less pretentious. However, the scene with Car in the restaurant was truly touching. And her discovery of her feelings toward Scott gave me delicious shivers. Scott was just an all-around nice guy and a true hero in every sense regarding Aubrey. I loved watching their friendship grow. I think of all the novels Rachel has written (that I've read) this is my favorite. I highly recommend it.

Diva NashVegas was published by Thomas Nelson publishers and released in May 2007.

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From the Publisher: Monica Harris-Day’s perfect world begins a downward spiral the afternoon she comes home to find her husband in bed…with another man. After confronting Kevin, her husband of two years, Monica discovers he’s had a lifelong struggle with homosexuality that began at the age of ten after he was molested by a deacon in the church. For years, Kevin has sought deliverance, crying out to God to make him straight. He explains his deceit by saying that he thought he had truly been delivered when he married Monica, but was afraid to share his past with her for fear she wouldn’t marry him. Kevin begs Monica’s forgiveness and wants to save their marriage. He is convinced that God has indeed delivered him from the spirit of homosexuality and that the one time mistake was just his past coming back to haunt him.

Their pastor, Bishop Walker, offers them marital counseling, but Monica suspects he’s really concerned about maintaining his mega-ministry – the church has grown to 10,000 members since Kevin became the minister of music. When the pastor swears them to secrecy about their situation and urges Monica to stay in the marriage, she thinks Bishop Walker isn’t willing to risk the potential scandal and church split that would be caused if the truth is leaked to the congregation. My Soul Cries Out is a compassionate look at the issue of Christians struggling with homosexuality and the redemptive power of God to bring deliverance.

My Review:

My Soul Cries Out is a powerful redemption story about Monica and Kevin that on more than one occasion moved me to tears. I loved how the author wasn't afraid to tell it like it is when it came to internal thoughts, especially the skank ho references to certain women. Hilarious! The author masterfully wrote about Monica's rage the way it might really happen and didn't soften the issues for fear of offending the reader. This is real life trauma and heartache! Monica was a very flawed character but the author did such a fantastic job of growing her in her relationship with the Lord and with others that I couldn't help but love her. I just can't say enough good things about this book.

Kevin's characterization was so well done that I can honestly say I haven't read any novel highlighting the pain that comes from childhood abuse that was better at showing it than this one. And I've read a lot of them. You can't help but have compassion on Kevin when he reveals his struggles and you see how even the church had betrayed him by not protecting him. The way Kevin and Monica's relationship developed throughout the story is proof that God can use anything--even the most horrible sin or mistake--to make us more like Him.

In addition to the main story, there were several subplots regarding redemption that were both believable and moving. The story of Alaysia's quest for peace and redemption was perfectly done and complimented the main theme of My Soul Cries Out. True-to-life, the comments made by an unbeliever can often be used to turn the struggling Christian's life around. Oh, and the ending gave me the happy shivers. I SO loved this story and can't wait to read the next book from this author, who is even more beautiful than the model on the cover.

My Soul Cries Out was published by Urban Books and will be released in July 2007!

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This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

As I Have Loved You(Revell June 1, 2007) by

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki Arana is an award-winning author of highly-acclaimed inspirational women's fiction who weaves today's social, political, and spiritual issues into her novels. She has received numerous awards, including the Excellence in Media 2007 Silver Angel Award for The Winds of Sonoma.The book was based on the true love story of how Nikki met her future husband Antonio as he was cleaning the stalls of her parents' Arabian horses. Nikki and Antonio have been married for over thirty years, have two grown sons, and live in Idaho.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Contemporary Struggles...
A Single Mom and College-Ages Son.
Leigh Scott is a widowed, single mother who wants the best for her son Jeff. She would like him to graduate from college, land a secure job, and start a family. However, Jeff, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at a young age, has a God-given compassion for people. And his non-judgmental acceptance of all has unintended consequences.Jeff starts dating Jessica, a girl with a questionable past and seemingly non-existent future. Soon, Jeff's grades drop as quickly as his sober determination to achieve the goals he's worked toward all his life, and Leigh finds herself caught in a relational tornado. To complicate matters further, Leigh is an author with a looming book deadline, a father battling cancer, and her former boyfriend and first love, a strong Christian Native American, coming back in her life.Arana weaves a multi-layered, emotional family saga that brings the peril of judgment, the need for forgiveness and the gift of love to light.

"Nikki Arana wrings the heart and exalts the soul."

---Romantic Times

My review:

As I Have Loved You is the perfect title for this book. Not only was it a page-turner, but there were some powerful illustrations within it's pages. This "love" story touched a deep place in my heart that few novels reach. Plus, it made me cry. Not a miserable-type cry, but a what-a-touching-message cry. I connected so well with the characters that I literally hurt when they hurt. I sensed the same deep regret, the kind where you wish you could go back and do something over again, but you can't.

I found the subplot with Jeff, Leigh's son, particularly compelling, especially the conflict regarding intimacy with his girlfriend and the values he was raised on. Also, the lessons Leigh learned about unconditional love through her son's experience were priceless. Very well done. It was like God held a mirror in front of Leigh's face and insisted she take a good, hard look. So true!

As I Have Loved You was published by Revell and released June 1, 2007.

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About the Book: Sarah Woodward has come to Kentucky as a mail-order bride, only to learn upon her arrival that "her groom" is betrothed to another! Does God have a back-up plan? She feels certain He led her for a reason, so with her usual stubborn determination, resolves to stay put until she discovers that reason. Rocky Callahan, an embittered widower has recently been saddled with the responsibility of his young niece and nephew and is desperate for help. Upon meeting the fiery Sarah Woodward, he proposes the answer to both their problems--a marriage in name only. Can Rocky let go of the pain of his past and trust God with his future? As for the marriage "in name only"--will it hold up, or does God have other ideas?

My Review:

I really enjoyed Loving Liza Jane, but I adored Sarah, My Beloved even more. It's one of the most enjoyable marriage of convenience stories I've ever read. Totally believable and very deep. The characters were delightful and three dimensional and the tension had me turning the pages.

Unlike some historical novels, the conflict in this one doesn't feel at all contrived and I loved every minute of it. Funny thing is I've read similar type plots in many secular novels, but nothing beats a well-done inspirational novel like this one. The growing relationship between husband and wife will warm you to your toes and when they finally realize they love one another, you know it's coming, but it still makes you want to sigh. And that first kiss...wow!

I think Rocky is the most intriguing hero the author has come up with thus far. He and Sarah were perfect for each other. Plus, the way he resolved his issues with God made sense and was totally realistic. This novel would be great resource for someone who is angry with God. Highly recommended!

Sarah, My Beloved was published by Whitaker House and will be released for sale in October 2007. Go ahead and pre-order your copy today!

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From the Publisher: Rennie Young, heroine of Too Good to Be True, meets the gallant Truman Sayers after she faints in the boys' department of the local super store. Despite this unromantic introduction, Tru Sayers, a handsome young labor—and—delivery nurse, seems like a gift from God. But a recent divorce and other life disappointments cause Ren to question whether she can trust her heart and God.

My review: Too Good To Be True had me hooked from the first chapter on. While the opening scene was emotional, some of the dry humor had me giggling. I read this novel nearly straight through, and if life hadn't interrupted me with other tasks, I would've finished it yesterday.

I loved The Guy I'm Not Dating, but I love this story even more. While addressing some heavier topics than the first book, I still found myself laughing out loud many times while enjoying the witty humor. But I also got choked up as the author led me into some deep issues that touch every woman's heart.

One of the things that I liked best about this story (in addition to the fact that it was fabulously written) was the insight the author had into human nature. How often we see the faults in others because we have the same fault ourselves, though most likely we're not seeing it while we are complaining about the other person. The author brings some realistic conflict into this story. Nothing contrived feeling. And the analogies, metaphors and similes were totally right on! They really added to the story and gave a better sense of what Ren was going through.

Also, the spiritual element was natural to the story and very much a part of who Tru and Ren were. Their faith was realistic and gritty as they dealt with some pretty hard stuff. No Pollyanna Christianity displayed in this story. Plus, the character arcs were fabulous and the secondary characters were well-developed. They were people whose behavior masked their fear and insecurity. I loved how the author made everyone grow just a bit, even the less likeable ones.

I really loved Ren and enjoyed participating in her developing relationship with Tru because it was intense, yet challenging and believable. Every time Tru did anything heroic I practically swooned because he seemed very human and real to me. And the romantic element was the kind that will make you sigh or get so excited you'd want to call your girlfriend and yell into the phone, "You need to read this book." So there you have it. Can't you tell I loved this story!

Too Good To Be True was published by Harvest House and released in March 2007.

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