Amalie Wiese is traveling from New York to Iowa to join the new Amana communities as a head cook. She’s also engaged to marry Friedrich, another man in the Amana community. It takes five weeks of brutal travel by wagon train to reach Iowa, and Amalie’s train is almost stopped by Rebel soldiers burning Yankee cities and towns and running the wagon train travelers off in to the forest where who knows what evil waits.

When Amalie arrives in Amana, she is anxious to see Friedrich. But he is no where to be found. Then she learns that he went off, against the wishes of the community, to fight in the War Between the States. Friedrich’s best friend, Matthias is still there, but he’s distant and cold.

When Matthias also leaves for the battlefront, war rages in Amalie’s heart. Who will claim the victory?

LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA is set thirty years earlier than Ms. Dobson’s Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa which is also set in the Amana communities. I loved the book in Homestead, Iowa, and was looking forward to reading this one. A friend of mine actually received this book for review but she hated it, and passed it on to me to review instead.

LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA is a slower paced story, dragging at times, and Amalie at times seems a cold and uncaring heroine, but that is only because she cares so deeply she’s afraid to let herself feel—she might violate the rules of the community. Friedrich is also a caring man. Deeply in love with Amalie, but also hating the war that is raving between the states, and what it is doing to the oppressed people. Matthias himself is torn by the war, but he is above all, obedient to his leaders and if they say no, the answer is no. I cared for all these people, and had to keep reading to find out what happens, but the story is very slow, enabling people to put it down and not forcing them to keep reading. I’m giving it 4.5 stars. $12.99. 315 pages.

I received this book in return for review from Christian Bookworm Reviews

In August of 1944 Paris is on the cusp of liberation. The soldiers of the Third Reich are fleeing the Allied advance, but enroute they steal countless pieces of irreplaceable art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Goring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable piece of all, the Mona Lisa.

Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler are on a mission to rescue the valuable French pieces of art – but can they save them not only from the ravages of war, but also from German hands?

CHASING MONA LISA is a book that I hoped I would love. I loved all of Ms. Goyer’s historical fiction set during World War II and before, but this book left me cold.

Loosely based on a true story, about how people tried to protect the famed Mona Lisa, this book had potential. But it is written in a style that left me skimming, with lots of art information and historical facts tossed in, as well as overly descriptive accounts of the landscape and other sights.

Unfortunately, CHASING MONA LISA read like it tried to be authentic with the many facts, but there was no real story line which left me hopelessly confused and bored. However, I see many reviews across the board equally balanced between 3 and 5 stars so don’t take my word for it—this is only my opinion. You might totally love this book. I don’t. $14.99. 322 pages.

Danna Carpenter cannot buy help, since her husband was murdered, she is now the Sheriff and cannot get any help. It is nearly like there is a plot against her. A new man in town offers his help, turns out he is a private investigator hired to find out who is stealing cattle in the area. Throwing his hat in the ring to help her, sets him up as a target too.

Trying to find out who murdered her husband is at the top of Danna’s priority list. But she is hindered by the fact that no one will help her as deputies, and she keeps wondering if someone is threatening the former deputies, keeping them from helping her and causing her fail at her job.

The attraction to the new guy in town, also really alarms Danna. She has never felt like this, even with her husband who was murdered.

This was quick read, really sweet story with a happy ending. Definitely a book to read and enjoy on a quiet afternoon. 4 stars

This book was provided by Christian Bookwormreviews for review purposes only..no payment was received for this review.

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

This story caught my attention, because I have always loved the stories of King David, and having read several of the other books in this series I definitely wanted to read this book.
Bathsheba was a lovely young woman, who had once been offered to King David as a bride, but after he had promised his wife Abigail, not to take anymore wives, he didn’t accept her.  Which was fine, because the man offering her, her grandfather, really didn’t have the authority to do so, her own father had given her to marry Uriah, the Hittite, after Uriah saved his life.
Uriah loves Bathsheba, and she loves him, but her heart grieves that she has not born him a child in their three years of marriage, but more than that, she is lonely.  She hates that he has to go off to war, and fight, and misses him greatly.
After the death of Abigail, King David finds himself very lonely too.  In fact he too, should be off to war, but he is not, he is at home grieving when he catches his first glimpse of Bathsheba.  After finding out she is married to one of his soldiers, he stays away from the roof, even though she fascinated him.  It is after several years and in a moment of weakness that he sees her once again and this time, he has to have her.   What happens then is a sin, in the eyes of Adonai, their Lord and in the eyes of the people, if they were to know.  Trying to deceive Uriah into lying with his wife, to protect himself, King David does not take into account that Uriah is an upright man and will not lay with his wife, during a battle.  With that plan gone awry, there is nothing to do, but to send him into the thick of battle, hoping he dies and freeing him to then take Bathsheba as his own wife.
I loved this story, it however does not end with the death of Uriah and the marriage of David and Bathsheba, it continues on into the adulthood of their son Solomon.  A very compelling story, and book lovers of Biblical fiction will not want to miss.  342 pages US $14.99 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Title: THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BRIDE

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

October 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59554-266-3

Genre: Inspirational/historical suspense

Katie Russell works as a telephone operator in Mercy Falls, California, a job she loves. A well-off suitor has just asked for her hand in marriage, and her father has agreed. Even though Bartholomew Foster doesn’t stir her heart Katie does know that their engagement promises a secure financial future.

Will Jesperson is the new lighthouse keeper in town, and he has witnessed pirates hijacking a ship. First on the scene he is able to save two men, but unfortunately, the rest drowned. When his brother arrives on the scene, he sends Will into town to talk to a woman informant.

While working the phones, Katie overhears a chilling exchange, and when she goes to check on her friend, she’s discovered that she disappeared, leaving her young baby daughter unattended. Will shows up on the scene unannounced, and even though Katie doesn’t believe his explanation, they form an unlikely alliance. Could the crime Will witness and the one Katie overheard be related?

THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BRIDE is the second book in Ms. Coble’s Mercy Falls series, but it easily stands alone. In fact, I read the third book in the series before I read the second one. Ms. Coble is a master at suspense, and she is able to make the reader feel every bit of the tension.

Katie is a realistic heroine, and Will a strong, courageous hero, the type the I was glad to cheer for. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to woman who vanished during the scuffle, and how it was possibly related to piracy. I also wondered if Katie would make the right decisions. If you like historical romances coupled with suspense, you won’t want to miss THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BRIDE or any of the books in this series. 14.99. 292 pages.

A Corpse at St. Andrew’s Chapel

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Set in 1365, in a small English village, Hugh de Singleton, surgeon and bailiff for Lord Gilbert Talbot finds himself in the middle of several mysterious deaths and occurences.  A dead beadle (manor officer in charge of curfew and other duties for the Lord) is the trigger to all the mystery that Hugh finds himself in the middle of.  It looks like an attack by a wild animal, only there are several things that trigger Hugh’s suspicions.  The beadles shoes are missing, and he has a caved in spot on his skull, both acts that a wild animal attack would not produce.

Hugh’s suspicions and nosing around nearly costs him his life, after an attack in the dark leaves him beaten and banged up, however in the light of day, it is realized that his attacker is dead.  How that happens is beyond Hugh, because the last thing he heard, was his attacker telling someone else that Hugh was still alive.

Normally I do not enjoy books set in this time period, they are often hard to follow because there is such a difference in that era than in ours.  However this book was very interesting and the author was able to make the differences of times periods a non issue, without loosing the historical aspect of the story.  A great mystery and a good story.  300 pages $14.99 US 4 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes by Christian Bookworm Reviews, no payment was received for this review.

The Bride Backfire

Opal Speck and Adam Grogan have both worked for years towards peace between their families. Set in 1857, the Specks and the Grogans have been fueding for years over a peice of property they both claim is their own. Opal and Adam just want peace, but it seems others in their families want to stir up more fighting and fueding.

Having sited Larry Grogan on their property several times, the Specks send word to stay away or be shot, basically. Larry just keeps sneaking over to torment Opal, knowing she won’t tell because she doesn’t want trouble, Adam coming upon a break in the fence while looking for one of their cows, goes over onto the land, and ends up getting caught. Trying to convince her Pa and brothers not to shoot Adam, Opal does the only thing she can think of in a bind, and declares they cannot kill the father of her child. A shotgun wedding takes place with Adam knowing he has not fathered a child with Opal.

The lies that Opal has told keep piling up, because she tells more to cover her tracks, she is falling in love with Adam and hopes he will take her to wife for real. He is hung up on who he thinks is the father of the child, when there really is no child.

A story full of deceit, meanness and the hatefulness between two families fueding. However there may be redemption as Adam’s father seems to take a liking to Opal, even after she slapped him for insulting her. Adam’s mother however is determined to ruin the marriage.

A book you will not want to put down. 288 pages, 4 stars

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Highland Blessings

Akira MacKenzie’s joyous wedding is blemished by not only the absence of her intended husband but her own kidnapping at the hands of their enemy clan, the MacPhearsons. The middle brother carries her off to keep the oath he made to honor his late father’s wish of seeing the warring clans allied in peace. Despite Bryce’s attempts to see the peaceful alliance the clan chiefs have contracted on behalf of their offspring, his elder brother (now the clan chief following his father’s death) has already reneged on the marriage plans to join the tribes by releasing Akira and her father from the contract their fathers negotiated.

When the MacKenzies receive the letter withdrawing Evan’s commitment to wed Akira, she chooses to wed her childhood friend. However in the process of her abduction the clan rivalries are reignited by some of the younger generation without their laird’s blessing. Akira’s brother as well as her childhood friend mount a rescue party to retrieve her before it’s too late. The anger sparked is difficult to restrain especially for the man who considers Akira his. Unfortunately for both parties, the warring clans both lose Akira’s husband to be before any marriage occurs. However at risk Bryce may be, he still insists on seeing the alliance consumated as he promised his father. As the next eldest son of the clan Laird, Bryce is quickly installed to replace his brother but travels back to Akira’s home to request her father’s permission despite his position as her abductor. Though Bryce sees Akira as a MacPhearson, she is still deeply connected to her biological clan and many of the MacKenzies and MacPhearsons wish to fuel the ongoing conflict between their respective communities. She is not recognized as a MacPhearson by a number of Bryce’s subjects and as his intended bride is also no longer recognized as a MacKenzie by some of her father’s subjects. She has lost her family and although legally she has gained a new one, she is treated as if she belongs to neither by members of both.

In the end will Bryce and Akira not only find a common ground to build upon but grow to love and cherish one another as marriage was created to do? Can he take the trust he never earned and prove to a scared and lonely woman that she not only belongs in his life but to his clan as well? Though life was never easy in any era the clan rivalries and life in 15th Century Britain was harsher than modern minds can grasp conclusively yet Akira’s faith continued to grow and set a solid foundation for her to build from.

As a debut author from an imprint I was not familiar with, Hudson has proved to be well worth the taste of her talent and creativity this book provided. The narrative was intricately pieced together through characters and events that I could never claim familiarity with and leaves the reader feeling as if they’ve traveled to the locale and period of the events that unfold between these warring clans. I hope that Hudson will continue the stories of these clans who are trying to move forward from a distant and murky past of conflict and violence. Regardless of what she writes and where her books transport readers as she grows her bibliography, I look forward to more riveting, action packed volumes from this author. (ISBN#9781426702266, 352pp, $13.99)

***Thanks to Abingdon for a review copy on behalf of Christian Bookworm Reviews.***

The Lightkeeper’s Daughter

Thomas Nelson
January 12, 2010

When she was too young to remember the events or her parents, Addie was rescued from a shipwreck by the local lighthouse at the scene of the wreck. The couple who took her in raised her as their own though her adoptive mother lacked the love her father lavished onto his “princess”. As an adult, a man who is acquainted with her biological family discovers her as a result of seeing a picture that so thoroughly resembled her true mother he came and revealed the true circumstances to both her and Mrs Sullivan who had taken on the care of the lighthouse following her husband’s death of consumption.

Addie or Julia Eaton (her birth name) was thrust into unfamiliar environs and despite craving the love Mrs Sullivan never exhibited toward her Julia struggled with changing herself to meet the expectations of the family she never knew she had. When she joined the Eaton household as governess to her half sister’s young son, she and her sister’s husband find themselves tangled up in not only the web of lies and deceit surrounding the Eaton family’s past, the losses they have suffered in  their short lifetimes, and hope seems distant at best. As Julia comes to care for her nephew and his father stumbling through raising his child without a mother’s care she also begins to discover things are not as they appear nor are the family she begins to make a place among who they want everyone to believe they are.

Coble deftly intertwines the threads of mystery, suspense, history and just a hint of romance into a tapestry of light and shadows rife with characters that draw the reader into Coble’s narrative of life on the Pacific coast as well as Julia’s struggle to reclaim the past that was ripped from her before she was able to make her choice about the person she dreamed of being. As the skeletons are exhumed from the closets of her unknown past so the dangerous truths threatening her very existence begin revealing the inherent risks of reclaiming her identity and the blessings anonymity provided to her childhood years.

Coble has managed to create a world of the past peopled with characters who have only begun to draw my imagination into their circumstances and atmosphere. It appears that Coble has more to share with readers about Mercy Falls and its residents. As such I will be impatiently awaiting the continued story of the Eatons, Sullivans, and those surrounding them.

(ISBN#9781595542670, 320pp, $14.99)

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a review copy on behalf of Christian Bookworm Reviews.

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Grace Winslow, a pampered daughter of a white slave trader and African princess, has come to a place of decision. Will she marry the rich white man who wants her as a possession or will she find her way?

Kay Strom brings us a powerful historical novel about the slave trade of the late 1700′s in Africa. This story while fictional, is based on a true slave house, with a true African/White slave trade couple.

This story unfolds, bringing us a story of horror, of unimaginable cruelty and of betrayal. Grace is betrayed by her parents and in danger of her life, but her own personal tragedy will become triumph as she stays true to who she is. Follow the story as strong leaders emerge from the African slaves, held in the fortress of Zulina. Learn historical and native facts about the way African villages are plundered and pillaged, as the white slave traders, use other slaves to capture more slaves. Meet Mama Muco, a slave in the home of the white slave trader and African princess, who helped to raise Grace, who taught Grace about faith in God and who helps Grace escape.

Truly a story that is emotional, educational, Kay Strom has brought us a wonderful book, that will make us examine the social injustice and the horrible truths about slave trade.

320 pages $13.99 US. This book will be released August 2009

Some websites of interest
www.kaystrom.com
www.abingdonpress.com
http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=3583
http://www.amazon.com/Call-Zulina-Kay-Marshall-Strom/dp/1426700695/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246479616&sr=8-1