THE BULL RIDER'S BABY by BRENDA MINTON

Title: The Bull Rider’s Baby

Author: Brenda Minton

Publisher: Love Inspired (April 17, 2012)

Pages: 224











I was truly blessed the day I came across a BRENDA MINTON book. I love what I read and each book after. THE BULL RIDER’S BABY was no exception.



Keeton West is back in his hometown for the first time in years since his family fled after the terrible accident. He’s been handed a baby he didn’t know he had, and reminded of a woman he left behind all those years ago.

Sophie Cooper has sworn off Bull Riders, and with good cause. When Keeton West walks back into her life with a cute bundle in hand, she’s knocked off kilter. No matter her feelings for Keeton – back then or now – she can’t get involved with the handsome bull rider.

Once again MS. MINTON has interrupted my life with her amazing ability to write a page turning book. I’m never in doubt that when I pick up one of her books, I won’t be able to stop until I’ve completed it. She writes the most amazing stories with characters you’ll fall head-over-heels for. Her writing is flawless. The storyline compelling. The characters three dimensional, leaping off the pages.

Writing short stories for LOVE INSPIRED can’t be easy. There are so many out there, it has to be difficult to pull off a story that the readers won’t walk away thinking they’ve heard a million times. What MS MINTON does is create unique lines and characters that will keep you guessing the outcome. Well, maybe not the ultimate outcome, but she throws in a few shockers that will take you by surprise.

I was ecstatic to discover she has another book coming out in August of this year, THE RANCHER’S SECRET WIFE. You can bet I’ll be watching the stores for that one. As far as I’m concerned, she can’t write fast enough.

FIGHT FOR YOU by JASON DERULO

LOVE ME BAD by JAMES DURBIN

"Love Me Bad"






A cigarette fills an empty room

Smell of heartbreaks and cheap perfume

Photos scattered across my wall

Maybe someday I’ll take them off, but I miss you

Yeah, I still miss you



Yeah!

In the middle of the night

When I feel you by my side,

Well it’s nothing but a memory.

What if we never said goodbye,

If I never made you cry

Baby this is killing me,

So love me bad, love me bad

Yeah love me bad again.



All those words I never said,

On my lips taste like regret.

Promises like fake tattoos

After all that we've been through

Well I miss you

Yeah, I still miss you



Yeah!

In the middle of the night

When I feel you by my side,

Well it’s nothing but a memory.

What if we never said goodbye,

If I never made you cry

Baby this is killing me,

So love me bad, love me bad

Yeah love me bad again and again and again and again and again...

Again and again and again and again and again...



Love me bad, love me bad, love me bad



In the middle of the night

When I feel you by my side,

Well it’s nothing but a memory.

What if we never said goodbye,

If I never made you cry

Baby this is killing me,

So love me bad, love me bad

Yeah love me bad again

So love me bad, love me bad

Yeah love me bad again and again and again

THE DISCOVERY by DAN WALSH

Title: THE DISCOVERY
Author: Dan Walsh
Publisher: Revell; Original edition (April 1, 2012)
Pages: 352

I have to say THE DISCOVERY is my favorite DAN WALSH novel. I loved what MR. WALSH did with the storyline. I thought it to be wonderfully unique. The fact that he added history in was an added plus, just the right touch to give me a glimpse into the times without bogging me down with boring details. The voices of Michael and Ben were distinctly different.

Michael Warner’s grandfather passes away and with his passing leaves Michael his home. What he discovers will unravel family secrets beyond Michael’s imagination.

I loved the story of Ben and Claire. In many books you get to know the character before they die, so when they do you feel the loss. With THE DISCOVERY the initial death holds little meaning. In this wonderful novel things change and in doing so, by the end of the story you’re mourning the death. Brilliant!

While reading Ben and Claire’s story I completely forgot that Michael was reading it, so emerged in Ben and Claire’s tale I was.

The story may have been slow to start, but once you hit page seventy it takes off, making it hard to put down. I especially enjoyed the references to the past. My grandfather was a musician. The mention of the old time bands provided a wonderful trip down memory lane.

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER - KELLY CLARKSON

HER LONE STAR COWBOY by DEBRA CLOPTON

Title: Her Lone Star Cowboy
Author: Debra Clopton
Publisher: Love Inspired (March 20, 2012)
Pages: 224

DEBRA CLOPTON is one author that I continually look for her books. Each time I finish one I wish there were another waiting for to read. I own every single one she’s written. As soon as I heard the time was approaching for HER LONE STAR COWBOY to hit the stores, I started scanning the bookshelves. When I spotted it I was tempted to give someone nearby a high-five.

Jessie Holden has been hiding from his awful past. One he’d rather forget. When he meets the ever cheerful Gabi Newberry, she disrupts his years of confirmed bachelorhood, his anger towards the past, and issues he has with God.

Gabi may be a new believer but she doesn’t let that stop her from telling anyone in her path about her love for the Lord. That includes the handsome cowboy who seems to think his mission in life is to rescue her.

Once again MS CLOPTON has written a story with characters that will grab you and not let go. There were several memorable lines that made my jaw drop or put a smile on my face. I loved the characters stories. Gabi is not your typical heroine. I loved how she latches on to her new found faith and wants to shout it to the world.

Jessie, just like all the male characters in MS CLOPTON’S books, is one that will have your heart beating double time. You just can’t help but fall in love with him. MS CLOPTON continues to write exceptional stories with a path that will keep you guessing.

In HER LONE STAR COWBOY you get more than just a glimpse into Jessie’s brother’s life, Colt. You get involved, left yearning to read the rest of his story. Can’t wait for HER HOMECOMING COWBOY coming out in August 2012.

SECOND WORLD by RM WAGONER

Title: Second World
Author: R.M. Wagoner
Publisher: CreateSpace (September 20, 2011)
Pages: 170

As I started SECOND WORLD by RM WAGONER, I didn’t know what to expect. In the beginning I wasn’t sure where the story was going, but it was so well written and intrigued me enough to keep me turning the pages. When I realized what direction it was headed, I was hooked.

Clare’s family is anything but normal. Her father is temperamental, her mother emotionless, and her older sister bossy. Young Clare escapes her dysfunctional family while encountering supernatural forces, and embarks on a journey that will forever change her destiny.

For a book with only 170 pages, it packs a powerful punch. It’s beautifully crafted and filled with wisdom. Two books came to mind while reading SECOND WORLD, The Shack, by William P Young, and Hind Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard.

It takes more than just good writing to produce a great book. It takes a well carried out plot, three-dimensional, fully developed characters, writing that is paced well, words that flow naturally, believable action, consequences, and dialogue that work. One that makes you forget you’re reading a story, so emerged in the pages you’ll be. SECOND WORLD was all of that and so much more.

I was speechless as the story neared the end. I was jolted into tears and left deep in thought, needing moments to absorb the story that unfolded in the course of only a few short days. The insight to good and evil that is in this world, along with God’s goodness and grace is astounding. The author pulled off faith woven in such a natural way you don’t feel preached too.

SECOND WORLD would make a wonderful addition to the classics in most schools now days as part of their curriculum. What a refreshing read for young adults as well as any age. I fear my words will fail do this book justice. If this is MS WAGONER’S first published book, I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future.