Dreams Rekindled

A wonderful follow up to the Christian historical romance, Out of the Embers, that helps round out the quiet, quaint, and quintessential Texas town of Mesquite Springs. Readers don't need to have read the first book as this novel follows an entirely different person, Wyatt's younger sister, Dorothy. While her brother and his new wife are out honeymooning, Dorothy has taken over running the town's only restaurant, Polly's Place. While there she meets Brandon, a newcomer to town determined to start a newspaper. Dorothy loves writing and soon she's won over Brandon and has become invaluable to the little newspaper. What they don't realize is that another newcomer to town is out to start trouble, and the newspaper and their budding relationship are in for a rude awakening. Filled with well rounded and vulnerable characters - Dreams Rekindled shows how forgiveness and taking chances ultimately pave the way toward unity and love. Another great inspirational read from Amanda Cabot. 

Whammy

Part small town Texas drama part super hero drama; Whammy weaves together two stories to create a humorous, adventure mystery. Klive Anderson is a man of simple pleasures. He likes coffee, good sleep, his easy steady employment working in a Texas oilfield, and writing superhero stories in his journal. His roommate on the other hand is a the complete opposite. Stacey Karlisle owns the town's only coffee shop, but really it's just a front for her dope business. Differences aside they get on real good and can easily waste an evening watching Clint Eastwood movies together. Living in small town there isn't much drama to speak of but when one of Klive's coworkers is killed in a work accident, things begin to go off kilter for for him. He's unsettled and takes to writing more about villains and superheroes in his journal. When Stacey picks up his notebook one day she gets drawn into his story. Little does she know just how drawn in she's about to be. Off the wall, laugh out loud funny, and unique; Whammy is a zany western/comic adventure fantasy that readers won't soon forget about.

Valentine

Wow. That's a gut punch. Raw, gritty, and profound. It made me feel l just read some Appalachian noir. Set in West Texas during the late seventies; a fourteen year old Hispanic teenager is brutally and horrifically raped and assaulted and it tears the small town of Odessa apart. For many of the Bible thumping, good ol' boy residents, that young boy (who works in the oil fields) is innocent until proven guilty. Besides she was asking for it! For Mary Rose the woman who found poor Gloria, bloodied and barefoot after crawling across the desert to escape the man who brutalized her, it's insane that anyone could place blame on the girl. She's only fourteen, she's a child! Told in alternating perspectives from different women in the town; this story will captivate, enrage, and haunt readers. Wonderful storytelling!

Girls on the Verge

Camille is 17 and pregnant.  She's supposed to be going to a prestigious theater camp but instead she finds herself jumping through hoops trying to get an abortion. It's 2014 and Texas doesn't make it easy for a woman to get a legal abortion. Camille has met dead ends at every turn and when she tells her best friend Bea what she's going to do her best friend is a dead end too. Like her parents, she's religious and doesn't understand why she won't keep the baby. In desperation she turns to Annabelle an older actor who Camille has idolized for years. Together they decide that they will have to journey down to the Mexican border and try to get the pills that way. This is like Juno on a road trip. Full of humor, levity, seriousness, and friends coming together. A wonderful novel that explores what women are forced to do when all routes to a safe abortion are closed. Perfect for teens and adults. Very powerful without being uber preachy.

The Blinds

A bunch of criminals who have had their memories erased live in a small secluded settlement in the middle of a Texas desert with no contact from the outside world. No one knows they're there and they themselves don't remember who they were. They're part of an experiment that wants to see if the mind can truly be erased and if hardened criminals can really change their stripes. For the seventy or so residents of The Blinds life is alright if not a little boring. It's always the same people to talk to, the same magazines and books to read. The only thing current is the news which they can watch to their hearts content. Fran is sick and tired of the same routine every day, she always think she might leave, but she doesn't have the money or the contacts to stay. When she was taken into The Blinds eight years ago she was pregnant and her son, the only true innocent, is the only child in the place. It's a lonely existence. Things gets shaken up when a resident is murdered at the bar. Suddenly everyone is on high alert. Was it the four new residents brought in the day before? Was it an outsider? Who knows who they really are? It's fast paced, unsettling, and raises great moral questions. A fun, inventive read.

The One & Only

Giffin, Emily. The One & Only. 12 CDs. unabridged. 15 hrs. Books on Tape. 2014. ISBN 9780804127585. 

Shea Rigsby has been in a rut her entire life she just doesn't realize it. Born and raised in Walker, Texas Shea's whole life has revolved around football. After graduating from college she stayed behind in her hometown to work for the college athletic department, not even considering any other options. It also didn't help that her best friend's father is the legendary Walker football coach and close personal friend. When tragedy strikes the Walker community Shea finds herself closely examining her future. Is this what she truly wants out of life? At Coach's insistence she starts to branch out of her safety net and see what awaits her. Shea is forced to confront her fears, see the truth in others, and follow her heart. Shea's story starts fast and compelling but slowly peetered out to it's inevitable conclusion. Along the way were several cringe worthy moments and awkward scenarios. Narrator, Sofia Willingham saved this story from being too bogged down in football and awkwardness, and her cool narration kept the story engaging. For fans of chick lit and Emily Giffin.  - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin IN

Threads of Change

I've read several inspirational historical romance quilting books this year (phew is that a mouthful) and this one followed a pretty similar route. Take a historical romance, add some widows or unmarried women who too much time on their hands, throw in a dash of quilting with a side of unrequited love and VOILA you have this book (along with a whole new genre).

Liz is an independent women, she is a widow with a ten year old son and she isn't afraid to speak her mind. When her grandfather convinces her that she, her sister, her two cousins, her son, and her should move west to Texas, in order to avoid the coming war (Civil War) she hesitantly agrees. While on the trail to Texas she utilizes her quick thinking and inner strength to save the traveling party from near disaster several times. It may seem like she's in control of everything but her heart and her head are at war. Accompanying them is her dead husband's best friend, Thomas. He's clearly smitten with her and she is unsure how to proceed. What's a woman to do? Spoiler alert, quilting solves most problems.

The storyline was decent although the beginning was convoluted and confusing. Once they reached Texas I feel like the author rushed together a hasty ending. The pacing was a little odd but overall I guess the story was ok.

I received this book for free from Moody Publishing in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

A Sensible Arrangement

The title pretty much sums it all up. Sensible, sensible, sensible. Marty Olsen is ready to get out of Texas by any means possible. The death of her husband still haunts her and she can't escape the memories of him and their childless marriage. She hastily responds to an add looking for a Lone Star bride in Colorado. The add makes it very clear that a wife us needed for social standing, nothing else, and that it will be a sensible arrangement. No love required.

When Marty arrives she soon wonders if she will be able to hold on to that promise. Does God have another plan for her and Jake? Sprinkled with wonderful historical details, this story will delight and enthrall readers.

For fans of christian historical fiction. I received this book for free from Litfuse publicity in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

Captive Trail

The continuation of "Texas Trails: A Morgan Family Series," follows Billie Morgan, aka Taabe Waipu, as she escapes from her Comanche captors twelves years after being abducted. She has been an Indian for so long that she no longer remembers the english language or customs of the white people. But all is well, as she is taken in by four loving nuns who do their best to restore her faith, body, and mind.

As she adapting to the new lifestyle she starts to like Ned, the stage coach man that drives by weekly. He helps her as much as he can to recall her childhood, the time before she was captured by the Indians. As memories start to come back to her Taabe wonders if she'll ever find her real family or if they'll even love her. Soon though she pushes aside those worries because her Comanche betrothed has come looking for his runaway bride. Will she ever meet her real family? Will she outrun the Comanche? Will she ever get to be with Ted? Read to find out more!

Even though the second book in the series was written by a different author, I still thought it flowed well and connected with the original story. Well written and engaging.

I received this book for free from Moody Publishing in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

The Lone Star Trail

Sometimes inspirational romance can be a little heavy handed or "over the top" (i.e. the spirit of the Lord told me to forgive my rapist and offer him supper, etc.), but this managed to be inspirational without scaring away the non or mildly religious crowd.

This historical romance follows a family of German immigrants as they settle in Texas, the newest state in the Union. Things begin badly when one of the children, Ulla, dies upon arrival. As they try to move inland their wagon breaks and they have to rely upon the kindness of a strange family. Even though it is Christmas, the Morgan family takes in the Fleischer family until they can find a house to live in. Jud, the oldest son (and head of the Morgan Ranch since his father's death) resents the immigrants coming to Texas and snatching up all the land. His view begins to change though, when he notices how pretty the eldest German daughter is. It just goes to show that offering Christian charity and hospitality can open many doors. An uplifting and romantic read.

I received this book for free in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.