Cathy Burgess

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Rating: 5 Stars

What an education this book has been for me, and what a blessing to have changed perspectives on life! It's like food for a starving man! Give yourself this gift!

mls

The Guardian by Dee Henderson

Rating: 5 Stars

Dee Henderson in my new favorite author. This is part of the O'Malley series. Marcus, a federal marshall, is the oldest of the O'Malleys. He takes care of a beautiful witness to the murder of a federal judge. Also, his amazing family makes appearances. I had missed this book when first published (2001), so I'm excited about reading six other installments in the series.

mls

Back Home Again by Melody Carlson

Rating: 5 Stars

What a wonderful book! It is the story of three sisters who come together following their father's death to redo the family home and turn it into a bed and breakfast inn. From what I can tell, there is a whole series of these books published by Guideposts, Tales From Grace Chapel Inn." I want to read them all, but they seem to be hard to find. BACK HOME AGAIN is a very good book and one to add to your reading list of 2007!

Stephanie

Storm Surge: A Novel of Hurricane Katrina by Ramsey Coutta

Rating: 5 Stars

One of the only Christian novels I've seen about the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. The book is set in Port Sulphur, Louisiana, a small coastal town south of New Orleans. The story revolves around a murder from the 1960s and how a young couple find themselves caught in the throes of Hurricane Katrina while desperately seeking to save themselves from a renegade sheriff who fears they are about to undercover the past. Coutta vividly and accurately describes the forces and destruction of Hurricane Katrina and the obliteration of the small town.

Joanne

Sins of the Fathers by James Scott Bell

Rating: 4 Stars

It's certainly interesting. I know nothing about law, so I always enjoy seeing a little bit into that aspect of life. James Scott Bell really cuts to the heart of the matter. He is certainly one of my favorite authors!

Diane Pollock (blacksnake@mchsi.com)

Beyond Prisons by Laura Magnani and Harmon L. Wray

Rating: 4 Stars

Fascinating and informative!

Betty

The Last Jihad by Joel Rosenberg

Rating: 5 Stars

We enjoy reading Christian thrillers aloud. This was well written, with lots of fast action.

Betty

The Last Days by Joel C. Rosenberg

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the sequel to THE LAST JIHAD and is another really great read-aloud thriller. We'll be starting the third, and last, in this series in a few days.

Michael Horton

Journey Toward Justice by Dennis Fritz

Rating: 5 Stars

I have read so much about John Grisham's book, THE INNOCENT MAN, which is mostly about Ronnie Williamson, but co-defendant Dennis Fritz has his story to tell also.

I just read a book that touched my 62-year- old heart. JOURNEY TOWARD JUSTICE by Dennis Fritz is a memoir that John Grisham calls "compelling and fascinating." Fritz is one of the real characters in THE INNOCENT MAN, which mostly is about his co-defendant Ronnie Williamson, who was sentenced to death. Fritz, who was sentenced to life behind bars, and Williamson were exonerated in 1999 after 12 desperate and torturous years in prison. Williamson passed away a few years later. Fritz does not want only to be known as the man who was wrongly imprisoned for a murder with NO evidence against him. This story would interest everyone who has, or is are going to have a career in Law.

There is much more to his story never told before in his book. He says he witnessed miracles and actually heard God's voice telling him "Trust me." He solely relied on faith in God to make it through. This book will make you think, "This can happen to any one of us." JOURNEY TOWARDS JUSTICE is a great book that shows what faith, love, and hope can do... miracles.

Liz B

Custody of the State by Craig Parshall

Rating: 5 Stars

This book was as good as his first one, RESSURRECTION FILE. It is based on the cases of an agnostic lawyer turned Christian. I enjoyed reading this, and I hope you will too.

Maria Mullins (arise321@msn.com)

When We All Get To Heaven by J. M. S. Bell

Rating: 5 Stars

The characters in this novel became my friends as I walked with them through the 'down to earth' personal situations that effect Christians each and every day. The halos and wings of church-going folks were taken away, and they became 'real' to me. I felt their pains and their joys. I like this book and highly recommend it for quick, enjoyable reading. I can't wait for the follow-up book.

Lian Blackman

Fade into Focus, Focus into Fade by Nick Armbrister

Rating: 4 Stars

I found this collection of poetry at Amazon.com while surfing. It is a good and varied collection with different subject matters, though some of the poems are short and the wording a bit simple. I would recommend this for someone wanting to read new poetry by this author.

Jean Mess

On The Run by Iris Johanson

Rating: 5 Stars

This book is full of excitement from beginning to end, with a complex hero and unusual heroine, a terrible villain, horses and their training, murder, and an unusual young girl in the mix.

Kathleen Green

The Angels of Morgan Hill by Donna VanLiere

Rating: 5 Stars

This book makes you think how we are blessed.

Deb Peterson

The Baxter Series by Kathy Herman

Rating: 5 Stars

I was searching for a new author to read and I can across this series at the library. It is amazing!!! It is a five-book series and I am reading each one in about a day and a half. They are very different stories that all take place in the same town, all with an awesome message of hope, love and grace.

Lori

Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

Rating: 5 Stars

What a wonderful book to help put Christ in the center of Christmas. A must read.

Malvina

A Carol For Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher

Rating: 4 Stars

It's wonderful to get Christmas fiction that is warm and romantic, yet centers itself on faith in God, as opposed to other stories that miss the whole point of what a Christmas story is about.

Dorothy

Tristan's Gap by Nancy Rue

Rating: 4 Stars

For 18 years, Serena has poured herself into caring for her family and making every effort to please her husband and protect her children from the evils of the world. She is respected and looked up to as a “perfect Christian wife and mother” until the unthinkable happens and her world falls apart. I have to say that I did not like Serena at first….she did not have enough gumption for my liking! However, there were changes afoot and by the middle of the book, my feelings for her changed and I really enjoyed the story. I think you will too.

Dorothy

Maggie by Charles Martin

Rating: 5 Stars

This sequel to THE DEAD DON'T DANCE is fabulous. He is an amazing author from the South. These 2 books are "must reads" in my opinion.

Deborah

Sadie in Waiting by Annie Jones

Rating: 4 Stars

I liked that there were 3 sisters in this book, just like in my family. You see how each sister fit their role as youngest, middle, and oldest perfectly. I'm glad Sadie finally took charge and stood up for herself against her daughter, her husband, her sisters, and the townspeople. Small town settings where everyone always knows each other are always interesting to me because I live in largely populated area. It's always refreshing to read about simpler lifestyles. I also liked how the sisters grow closer together as they find out the truth about their mother. This was a very touching and moving scene. Family is the most important thing in the world.

Deborah

@Home for the Holidays by Meredith Efken

Rating: 5 Stars

I loved this book. It's so addictive to read. I found everyone's story funny, sad, touching, and very very real. I declare this highly addictive read tied for best book of the year!