Martha E

Halos by Kristen Heitzmann

Rating: 4 Stars

This is a bit unusual Christian novel. Alessi Moore is a young orphaned girl with only a bag of belongings and a red mustang, seeking a place to belong. She has an odd belief in “halos” and allows a sunlit, snowy halo to direct her to a northern town named Charity. With a name like that and a halo welcome, she expects something wonderful to happen. Instead, her car and worldly possessions are immediately stolen, and Alessi finds herself seeking charity from strangers who really seem to just want her to go away. The young men at the garage where her car was stolen take her in, but their roommate, Steve, isn’t happy and doesn’t trust her. She has to struggle to find work, ending up talking Steve into letting her help in his bookstore. Steve’s Christian cynicism begins to soften in the face of Alessi’s own kindness and optimism. Meanwhile, the sheriff seems uninterested in finding Alessi's car, and most of the towns people want to act like nothing has happened. It becomes clear that there is some old mysterious “pact” that the town has taken to hide an evil secret. How much will the town ignore and what danger will they allow to threaten Alessi before these supposedly good Christian people will take action?

Martha E

Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner

Rating: 5 Stars

This is an absolutely lovely Christian romance. From beginning to end it is a sweet mix of sadness, laughter and hope conveyed through wonderful, quirky personalities. Daisy Murien is a young woman struggling to deal with the rejection and bitterness left from being dumped ten days before her wedding. She bravely opens a secondhand wedding dress boutique, Something Blue, and takes on the management of an apartment building as a way to keep herself busy while trying to heal. She engages a retired Episcopal priest, who is her first tenant, to bless the tiny, blue satin hearts that are sewn into each wedding dress for her store. Daisy gets wonderful advice and encouragement from the priest, while trying to dodge being “set up” for dates by her mother and Aunt who also live in the building. Daisy, the sad and struggling character, writes in her diary to her alter ego, Harriet, the logical and sensible part of her character, who writes back sound advice! Her normal and planned days become quickly confused when Father Laurent suffers a heart attack and his recently divorced, hurt and withdrawn son threatens to move his ailing father away. Any of us who have faced and overcome rejection at one time or another can relate to the pain and process of finding hope and learning to risk again. I am not one prone to tears when reading (though I’ve been known to laugh out loud and argue with characters!), but I suggest that tissues be nearby for the ending of this book.

Erin

The Redemption: Legacy Of The King's Pirates 1 by Marylu Tyndall

Rating: 5 Stars

If you like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies you will love these books! Pirate stories with Christian values.

Robin

The Shack by William P. Young

Rating: 5 Stars

This is the best Christian fiction book I have read in years. We just reviewed it in our book club and several ladies had major breakthroughs in the area of forgiveness after reading this book. Loved it!

Marla A.

True Light by Terri Blackstock

Rating: 4 Stars

This is the third book in the Restoration series. If you've ever wondered what life would be like with no electricity and other things needed to survive, you'll enjoy this series. After going 7 days with no electrical power after hurricane Gustav, I would not want to face what the people are going through in this series of books.

Penny

It Happens Every Spring by Gary Smalley/Catherine Palmer

Rating: 4 Stars

Very heartwarming tale of a married couple who needs to rediscover what love is. Filled with great characters. Funny and serious. This is book 1 in The Four Seasons of Marriage series.

RW1010

The Scent of God by Beryl Singleton Bissell

Rating: 5 Stars

Just finished this memoir and it was awesome!

Katy (kretzkidz@yahoo.com)

The Quilter's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Rating: 4 Stars

It is a very good book and flows nicely.

Katy (kretzkidz@yahoo.com)

The Storekeeper's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Rating: 4 Stars

A great read to put you in a peaceful place.

Rose Blackard (agreatdayin2003@yahoo.com)

Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark

Rating: 5 Stars

Mindy Starns Clark is an excellent mystery writer. She keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times. This book involves an unusual symbol and an inherited mansion in the Louisiana bayou. Miranda Miller is living a normal life in Manhattan when her world is turned upside down.

D. Lohrding

In The Shadow of Lions by Ginger Garrett

Rating: 5 Stars

Excellent book! It's both a love story and a mystery, and it's the best way to learn about history (Henry VIII and his battles with religion). I loved this book and cannot wait for her next one in the series!

Karen (karenrn92@gmail.com)

The Quiltmaker's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini

Rating: 5 Stars

I am reading through all the books in this series. If you like historical fiction with some modern stories about women's friendships, you will love these books. You even get a primer on quilting!

Shyeyes

Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Gunn

Rating: 3 Stars

Two friends/partners head to England to fulfill a wish by a client whom they have to escort to her hometown. All plans to see the sights go awry with their charge! Very amusing but also very predictable.