Christian Fiction, February 15, 2011
Feb 15, 2011
Love is in the air this spring, with several CF publishers pulling out all the stops. Some of these love matches also sport suspenseful story lines and twisting plots. Sibella Giorello’s The Mountains Bow Down mixes mystery and romance on a cruise to Alaska, while Mel Starr’s A Trail of Ink finds his protagonist searching for valuable and missing books as he also falls in love.
Several popular series boast additions this season as well. Fans of lighthearted tales will want to pick up the final entry in Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson’s “Potluck Catering Club” series, while those who enjoy a more emotional roller-coaster ride will want to try Maureen Lang’s Springtime of the Spirit, the third book in her “Great War” series. Chick lit fans will be delighted with Kristin Billerbeck’s A Billion Reasons Why and Jenny B. Jones’s Save the Date.
Bedford, Deborah. His Other Wife. FaithWords. Feb. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780446698672. pap. $13.99. CF
Hilary has done her best to raise her son, Seth, to be a responsible young man, and she’s managed to do it alone. Now Seth is looking forward to college, proud of the scholarship that he has earned. Then the unthinkable happens. At a postgraduation campout, a rock-climbing accident leaves a young woman dead and Seth’s future uncertain. The return of Seth’s father and his new family adds more confusion to the mix, challenging all those involved to make amends and start fresh. VERDICT Bedford’s (A Morning Like This; When You Believe) multilayered tale is leisurely paced and full of engaging characters. It is sure to attract fans of Christian romances, particularly those by Catherine Palmer and Debbie Macomber.
Billerbeck, Kristin. A Billion Reasons Why. Thomas Nelson. Feb. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781595547910. pap. $14.99. CF
Eight years ago Katie McKenna and Luc DeForges had a very public, emotional breakup. Putting that painful incident behind her, Katie rebuilt a stable life for herself, one including Dexter, a new boyfriend who is everything Luc was not. Then Luc returns to her life. Now financially successful, he wants her to go home to New Orleans with him to sing at the wedding of a mutual friend. What should Katie do? VERDICT The characters and breezy plotline in this fun, romantic romp by the author of the “Trophy Wives Club” series will please fans of Christian chick lit authors Lori Copeland and Ginny Aiken.
Caroll, Robin. In the Shadow of Evil. B&H. Mar. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780805449792. pap. $14.99. CF
Maddox Bishop (Deliver Us from Evil ) works as a homicide detective just outside of Lake Charles, LA. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he is assigned to investigate the murder of a man burned to death in a house fire. Layla Taylor is also probing the death because she was the contractor who built the home. Soon other houses she worked on also become targets of arson. Maddox and Layla join forces to solve the crimes, but first they both have to learn how to trust each other. VERDICT Readers who got to know Maddox in the previous book will want to learn what becomes of him and how he manages to deal with the guilt over his mother’s death. With a great plotline and a wholesome love story, this page-turner is a good choice for fans of Dee Henderson.
Clark, Mindy Starns & Leslie Gould. The Amish Midwife. Harvest House. (Women of Lancaster County, Bk. 1). Feb. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780736937986. pap. $13.99. CF
Oregon nurse midwife Lexie Jaeger, who was adopted at birth, yearns to know her biological family. When her aunt Melia, a midwife in Lancaster County, PA, is charged with manslaughter in the death of an Amish woman and her baby, Lexie travels to help her. There, she meets her birth grandmother and begins to depend not on herself but on God. VERDICT This series debut by Clark (Secrets of Harmony Grove) and Gould (Beyond the Blue) is a well-written, intriguing story with fully developed characters and steady pacing. It should please both CF fans who enjoy emotional reads and nongenre readers who loved Jodi Picoult’s Plain Truth.
Clipston, Amy. A Place of Peace. Zondervan. (Kauffman Amish Bakery, Bk. 3). 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780310319955. pap. $12.99. CF
Three years ago Miriam Lapp left her Amish community in Pennyslvania. Following her mother’s death, she arrives home and is confronted by her estranged family and her former fiancé, Timothy Kauffman, who is now engaged to someone else. She returns to Indiana only to receive word that her father has suffered a stroke and that she must come back. VERDICT The narrative in the final volume in Clipston’s trilogy (after A Gift of Grace and A Promise of Hope) drags on, and the characters seem whiny. Readers interested in Amish fiction featuring prodigal daughters would be better served by reading Wanda E. Brunstetter.
Darlington, C.J. Bound by Guilt. Tyndale House.Mar. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9781414340128. pap. $12.99. CF
As a foster child, Roxi Gold doesn’t have much choice about the direction of her life. She either travels with her foster parents across the country stealing rare books or gets tossed out onto the street. What she wants more than anything is a real family to claim her. Abby Dawson is a policewoman in Carol Stream, IL. Having lost custody of her daughter to her ex-husband, she also longs for a family. The two cross paths when a crime wounds an innocent man. VERDICT Darlington’s Thicker Than Blood won the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild’s 2008 Operation First Novel contest. Her second novel will appeal to readers who enjoy suspense in which the characters overcome doubts about their faith.
Eicher, Jerry S. A Wedding Quilt for Ella. Harvest House. (Little Valley, Bk. 1). Feb. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9780736928045. pap. $11.99. CF
Ella Yoder is devastated when she loses her fiancé, Aden Wengerd. The last thing on her mind is romance, but her family begins to pressure her to marry the new bishop. At the same time, her would-be brother-in-law, Daniel, agrees to help Ella build the house she and Aden had planned. Soon, she is faced with two suitors, but Ella still needs time to heal. VERDICT Eicher (“Hannah’s Heart” series) is well known for his character-driven, homespun stories. This first entry in a new series featuring Ella Yoder will attract fans of Marta Perry and Suzanne Woods Fisher.
Giorello, Sibella. The Mountains Bow Down: A Raleigh Harmon Novel. Thomas Nelson. Feb. 2011. c.224p. ISBN 9781595545350. pap. $14.99. CF
In her fourth adventure, Raleigh Harmon, a geologist–turned–FBI agent, is on a much-needed vacation, an Alaskan cruise, when a movie producer is found hanged from the ship’s railing. Though the death is assumed a suicide, Raleigh suspects foul play. A call to her field office in Seattle brings in Agent Jack Stephanson, whose presence confuses her feelings for her fiancé. VERDICT Giorello won the Christy Award for this series’ debut (The Stones Cry Out). Each entry has proven better than the one before, and the latest installment is no exception. Crisp writing, fast-paced action, and beautiful descriptions of Alaskan landscapes make this an essential read for fans of Irene Hannon. [See Hannon’s Fatal Judgment, reviewed below.—Ed.]
Griggs, Vanessa Davis. Ray of Hope. Dafina: Kensington. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780758259608. pap. $15. CF
Unable to deal with the wayward behavior of teenage sisters Sahara and Crystal, their mother hands them over to their 75-year-old grandmother. Ma Ray is a God-fearing church woman with a troublemaking past of her own. VERDICT Griggs’s (Practicing What You Preach) modern-day reworking of the biblical story of Rahab is sure to be a crowd pleaser among fans of both African American fiction and CF. Recommend it to readers who enjoy Kimberla Lawson Roby.
Hannon, Irene. Fatal Judgment. Revell. (Guardians of Justice, Bk. 1). 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780800734565. pap. $14.99. CF
When U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor returns from Iraq, he is assigned to protect federal judge Liz Michaels. It is an assignment he would rather not take. Liz is the wife of his deceased best friend, and there is no love lost between the pair. Jake blames Liz’s workaholic ways for her husband’s apparent suicide. But as the threats on Liz’s life increase, their feelings begin to change. VERDICT Hannon (In Harm’s Way) is a RITA Award winner with over 35 novels to her credit. Her popularity alone requires that libraries purchase this series launch, but the strong character development and story line here will appeal to T. Davis Bunn and Ted Dekker fans.
James, Cara Lynn. Love on Assignment. Thomas Nelson. (Ladies of Summerhill, Bk. 2). 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781595546807. pap. $14.99. CF
Rhode Island newspaper reporter Charlotte Hale accepts an undercover assignment during the summer of 1900 to work as a temporary governess to Daniel Wilmont’s children. She has been instructed to find dirt on the rival columnist, who’s outspoken in his Christian faith. But over time Charlotte discovers Daniel is not as she has been told, and she sets about clearing his name. VERDICT James’s second series historical (after Love on a Dime) is a tired tale. There is nothing new here to recommend it despite the nice enough story and the likable characters.
Jones, Jenny B. Save the Date. Thomas Nelson. Feb. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9781595545398. pap. $14.99. CF
Lucy manages a home for teenagers who are aging out of the foster system. Unfortunately, her funding has been pulled. Alex Sinclair is running for a seat in Congress but lacks the votes to win. When he promises the funding for Lucy’s home if she poses as his fiancée, Lucy agrees reluctantly. She despises him, and he’s not all that fond of her, either. But sparks soon fly. VERDICT Though Jones (So Over My Head; Just Between You and Me) infuses her novel with humor and does a fairly good job of developing her characters, we’ve read this predictable story many times before. Still, those who enjoy Christian chick lit might just pick it up.
Lacy, Patti. The Rhythm of Secrets. Kregel. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780825426742. pap. $14.99. CF
Everyone has a past, and Sheila Franklin would rather that her conservative pastor husband not find out about hers. Her safe, idyllic life is threatened when the son she was forced to give up 18 years ago comes looking for her. Now she must make a choice: embrace her son or keep her husband. VERDICT Fans of Eileen Goudge will enjoy Lacy’s(An Irishwoman’s Tale ; What the Bayou Saw) intense, emotional family drama.
Lang, Maureen. Springtime of the Spirit. Tyndale House. (The Great War, Bk. 3). Mar. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9781414324371. pap. $12.99. CF
In the fall of 1918, Christophe Brecht returns to his defeated German homeland and agrees to help family friends bring back their runaway daughter, Annaliese. In Munich he finds her a very different woman than the girl he once knew. Though raised among the bourgeoisie, Annaliese is now fighting for the rights of women and working-class citizens. A devout Christian, Christophe believes that such matters are better left to God. Despite their differences, the two feel an attraction and are forced to choose what matters most to them. VERDICT This third entry in Lang’s series (Look to the East; Whisper on the Wind) is a heart-wrenching love story set against the tumult of postwar Germany. It should appeal to fans of Amanda Harte’s “War Brides” trilogy.
McLaughlin, Henry. Journey to the Riverbend. Tyndale House. Feb. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9781414339429. pap. $12.99. CF
After Ben Carstairs is hanged for a crime he did not commit, preacher Michael Archer is determined to find Ben’s estranged father, Sam, and pass along a message from Ben. When Michael learns that Sam has been kidnapped, he joins the rescue party, but not before falling in love with Rachel Stone, a newcomer to Riverbend with secrets of her own. VERDICT McLaughlin’s book won the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild’s 2009 Operation First Novel contest. It should be popular among fans of romances set in the Wild West as well as readers who enjoy Louis L’Amour and Tracie Peterson.
Phillips, Michael. Angel Harp. FaithWords. 2011. c.464p. ISBN 9780446567701. $26.99; pap. ISBN 9780446567718. $16.99. CF
Marie Buchan, a 34-year-old widow and harpist, longs for change. It comes in the form of a trip to Scotland, where she is drawn into a love triangle involving childhood friends, one a church cleric and the other a duke. VERDICT Phillips (The Shepherd of the Hills) is a prolific author with over 100 titles to his name. That alone will constitute demand for his latest, though the writing is somewhat didactic. Recommend to those looking for evangelical fiction with elements of romance and mystery.
Reed, Ralph. The Confirmation. Fidelis. 2010. c.408p. ISBN 9781433669248. pap. $15.99. CF
When newly elected President Bob Long learns that a Supreme Court justice has suffered a debilitating stroke, he sees his opportunity as a devout evangelical Christian to replace the liberal judge with a more conservative one who will support his stance against same-sex marriages and abortion. At the same time, the United States struggles to deal with Iranian terrorists. VERDICT Ripped straight from today’s headlines, this second political thriller (after Dark Horse ) by the former executive director of the Christian Coalition is a well-written page-turner filled with well-developed characters. Evangelical readers enthralled with current politics will enjoy it, but be careful of recommending it to more liberal CF readers.
Rubart, James L. Book of Days. B&H. 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9781433671517. pap. $14.99. CF
Cameron Vaux’s mind is slipping; memories of his wife, who died two years ago, and his father are vanishing. Then he learns about the mysterious Book of Days, in which the memories of each soul on Earth are recorded. Finding the book is Cameron’s only hope, and he is joined in his quest by his sister-in-law, Ann. Their search takes them to Twin Peaks, OR, where they meet a New Age fanatic who will do anything to retrieve the book. VERDICT This supernatural suspense story by the author of Rooms is well crafted and full of plot twists and turns. It will appeal to fans of Ted Dekker and Tim LaHaye.
Shepherd, Linda Evans & Eva Marie Everson. Bake Until Golden. Revell. (Potluck Catering Club, Bk. 3). 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780800732103. pap. $14.99. CF
After winning the Great Party Showdown reality show, the members of the Potluck Catering Club return to their Colorado home of Summit View. But their friendship is tested when one of them is accused of a crime. VERDICT This final volume (after The Secret’s in the Sauce and A Taste of Fame) will not disappoint those who enjoyed the first two titles or who were fans of the original “Potluck Club” trilogy. The same unabashed humor, interesting characters, and lighthearted mysteries are present here. Sure also to appeal to devotees of Robin Jones Gunn’s “Sisterchick” series.
Starr, Mel. A Trail of Ink: The Third Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon. Monarch/Lion, dist. by Kregel. Feb. 2011. c.224p. ISBN 9781854249746. pap. $14.99. CF
When valuable books are stolen from the collection of Master John Wyclif, the Bible translator and scholar enlists the help of former student Hugh de Singleton (A Corpse at St. Andrew’s Chapel) to find the culprit. The investigation takes Hugh to Oxford, where the books are discovered near the body of a drowned student. VERDICT Romance and intrigue are the cornerstones of this excellent historical series entry. Its well-defined characters and attention to historical detail will appeal to fans of Ariana Franklin.
Wingate, Lisa. Larkspur Cove. Bethany. Feb. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780764208218. pap. $14.99. CF
Following a tumultuous year and the loss of her faith, Andrea Henderson moves with her son to Moses Lake, TX, where she plans to earn a living as a social worker. There, she meets game warden Mart McClendon, who is also trying to forget past tragedies. Pairing up to identify a young girl spotted with the town recluse, the two discover that a tattered past and their investigation are not the only things connecting them. VERDICT Wingate’s (Beyond Summer; Never Say Never) latest novel is an engaging tale with touches of mystery and romance. For readers who enjoy contemporary romances with Christian undertones.
Woodhouse, Kimberley & Kayla R. Woodhouse. No Safe Haven. B&H. Mar. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9781433671166. pap. $14.99. CF
Mother and daughter Jenna and Andi Tikaani-Gray have been struggling; Jenna’s husband recently died, and 12-year-old Andi suffers from a rare medical condition. When they receive some hopeful news about Jenna’s disorder, they fly home to Alaska to begin a new life. But disaster comes when their pilot purposefully crashes their plane in the wilderness. Now Jenna and Andi must place their trust in another passenger if they hope to survive. VERDICT Full of suspense, danger, and romantic tension, this series debut by a mother/daughter writing team is sure to be a hit with fans of Linda Howard.
CF IN BRIEF
Evans, Sara with Rachel Hauck. Softly and Tenderly. Thomas Nelson. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781595544902. $19.99. CF
After learning about her husband’s affair and resulting illegitimate son, Jade travels home and reconnects with her first love. VERDICT This second collaboration (after The Sweet Bye and Bye ) between country singer Evans and CF author Hauck (Dining with Joy) will appeal to the authors’ fans.
Hinze, Vicki. Deadly Ties. Multnomah.Feb. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781601422064. pap. $13.99. CF
After her husband’s death, Lisa Harper’s mother quickly remarried. Unable to escape her abusive new spouse but fearing for her daughter’s life, she sent Lisa to live with a trusted friend. Years later Lisa tries to seek a relationship with her mother against her stepfather’s will. VERDICT Fans of Christian suspense will enjoy Hinze’s (Forget Me Not) latest thriller.
Jackson, Neta. Who Is My Shelter? Thomas Nelson. (Yada Yada House of Hope, Bk. 4). Mar. 2011. c.432p. ISBN 9781595548634. pap. $14.99. CF
When Gabby’s husband threw her out, she found a renewed sense of purpose at the House of Hope, a shelter for homeless mothers and their children. Now her spouse, who has fallen on hard times, wants her back. VERDICT Eager series fans will snap up this fourth entry (after Who Do I Lean On?).
Lough, Loree. Maverick Heart. Whitaker House. (Lone Star Legends, Bk. 2). 2011. c.400p. ISBN 9781603742269. pap. $9.99. CF
En route to Mexico to set up a medical clinic, Levee O’Reilly’s husband, Liam, is murdered during a stagecoach holdup. Levee travels alone to Eagle Pass, TX, where she becomes a teacher and meets rancher Daniel Neville. VERDICT This second series entry (after Lone Star Bandit) will appeal to fans of Western romances.
Mowery, Janelle. When All My Dreams Come True. Harvest House. (Colorado Runaway, Bk. 1). Feb. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780736928076. pap. $13.99. CF
Raised by men, Bobbie McIntyre knows her way around a ranch. When she shows up on Jace Kincaid’s ranch looking for a wrangling job, he hires her, though she gets under his skin. Soon, Bobbie is interested in exploring her feminine side in the hopes of attracting Jace. VERDICT For Western romance fans.
