JOY TAKE FLIGHT by BONNIE LEON

Title: Joy Takes Flight

Author: Bonnie Leon
Publisher: Revell (July 1, 2012)
Pages: 324

Kate Evans, an Alaskan bush pilot, is living her dream, marrying the man she loves, Dr. Paul Anderson. They’ve been through a lot and survived, so it should be easy going from now on…or so she thinks.

Kate and Paul are thrilled to discover Kate is pregnant. Demons from Paul’s past surfer, disrupting their lives. Kate wants one thing and Paul another. It doesn’t take long for their lives to start to unravel, Kate fears she’ll lose the man she loves.

JOY TAKE FLIGHT by BONNIE LEON is filled with genuine details of Alaska in the 1930’s, packed with suspense. JOY TAKE FLIGHT is the conclusion to the Alaskan Skies series. If you haven’t read the first two, you’ll want to do so.

INESCAPABLE by NANCY MEHL

Title: Inescapable

Author: Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)
Pages: 336

When Lizzie believes she is being stalked, then fired unfairly from her job, she has no other choice but to run back to Kingdom, Kansas, the very place she ran from years ago. Kingdom holds many bad memories, but she is hopeful she can make a new life for her daughter and herself.

Lizzie’s father doesn’t welcome her home, but thankfully a kind friend steps in and gives her a place to live and a much needed job. Just when Lizzie starts to accept her roots, she discovers the threat she ran from followed her home to Kingdom.

With little faith, and danger threatening, Lizzie finds her way back to God, and the community she once walked away from filled with shame.

INESCAPABLE by NANCY MEHL is packed full of suspense and mystery, with well thought-out characters, and great attention to detail.

JENNA’S COWBOY HERO by BRENDA MINTON

Title: Jenna’s Cowboy Hero

Author: Brenda Minton
Publisher: Steeple Hill (2009)
Pages: 277

I started reading BRENDA MINTON’S books after she’d been writing for several years. I’ve enjoyed her writing and stories so much, I’ve gone back in time, purchasing her older ones.

When former football player, Adam Mackenzie arrives in Oklahoma, after having a camp for underprivileged kids placed in his hands after the death of his cousin, the last thing he expects is to meet an independent mother of two, whom happens to be a war vet.

Jenna Cameron is doing just fine on her own. The last thing she needs is a man in her life. But here he is. Big, and strong, and not at all what the media made him out to be. She has a five year, and beyond plan, which doesn’t include marriage. No. She’s been down that road. Well, almost. She isn’t about to let another man hurt her.

JENNA’S COWBOY HERO by BRENDA MINTON is well written (like all of her books) with wonderful characters. I just love both Jenna and Adam. In many of the books I’ve read with a ranch setting, the hero typically works on the ranch or a rodeo. In JENNA’S COWBOY HERO, Adam was born in the county, but soon moved on to “bigger and better things”, to peruse a football career.

I loved Jenna’s character, the uniqueness of her situation, but loved Adam’s, more. Their falling in love was subtle and sweet. That Adam was placed into a situation he never would have put himself in was a wonderful storyline. So many things that he didn’t think was him, turned out to be just what he needed.

I enjoyed having Clint and Willow, Jenna’s brother and sister-in-laws, in the story. I enjoyed their story in A COWBOY’S HEART, and it was fun to see Clint interact in his sister’s life.

Impatiently waiting for BRENDA MIINTON’S next release.

STARTERS by LISSA PRICE

Title: Starters

Author: Lissa Price
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 13, 2012)
Pages: 352

The main character in STARTERS by LISSA PRICE has the same name as of my oldest daughter. That’s what first drew me to the book. My daughter later received the first chapter while exiting the movie theater. It intrigued her enough to ask me to purchase it for her. She didn’t get very far before putting it down. She expressed that she was confused by what was going on.

Every book my daughter has asked me to read after her doing so, I’ve enjoyed. So when she didn’t take to STARTERS, I let it sit in my pile of books to be read for some time before finally gave it a try.

Callie Woodland is on a quest to keep her brother safe, clothes on his back, and food in his stomach. They lost their parents years ago, and have been on their own ever since. In an attempt to make a life for the two of them, Callie decides to rent out her body to Prime Destination.

After Callie completes her rental time, she’ll walk away with enough money to purchase a house and necessities. Yet all is not what it seems at Prime Destination, and soon Callie finds herself in the middle of a mysterious plot. It’s no longer about her brother and her survival, but the lives of every teen.

STARTERS drew me in right away with wonderful writing in first person. In the beginning it’s hard to grasp what’s going on, but stick with it. The outcome will be worth it. I found it hard to put down, never a dull moment. STARTERS is packed full of mystery, suspense, and even a little romance. What a unique plot, with a surprise ending. I definitely see movie written all over it.

I was surprised to discover this is the first book in a series, and look forward to reading the others.

THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE by DENISE HUNTER

Title: The Accidental Bride

Author: Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 3, 2012)
Pages: 304

THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE is the first book I’ve read by DENISE HUNTER, and it won’t be the last. I spotted the cover of this book sometime ago, and instantly wanted to read it. The title was intriguing, as well as the blurb on the back cover. Sadly, it sat on my bookshelf for some time before I was able to get to it, having other books I was committed to reading first.

Shay Brandenberger is struggling to raise her daughter on her family ranch after her husband up and left, then late succumbed to an early death. Despite her determination and prayers, she’s about to lose the only home she’s ever known.

Travis McCoy is back in Moose Creek, Montana after more than a decade. Little did he know he’d be roped into being the groom for the Founders’ Day wedding reenactment. And the bride is no other then Shay, the woman he ran out on the day he was to be married back when they were teens.

Thrown together, Shay and Travis make the best of a bad situation. At least that’s how Shay sees it. Travis is hoping for something entirely different. A lifetime with the woman he never stopped loving.

Right from the first page I was sunk. DENISE HUNTER is an amazing writer, with a talent for weaving together a remarkable story with a unique plot. I read THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE in only a few shot days, not able to put it down. What a great twist on the convenient bride scenario.

I took forward to reading more of MS HUNTER’S books in the future. Next on my list of books to purchase is A COWBOY’S TOUCH. The first story in A BIG SKY ROMANCE.

THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR by BRENDA MINTON

Title: The Cowboy Next Door
Author: Brenda Minton
Publisher: Steeple Hill (May 1, 2009)
Pages: 224

It never fails. As soon as I start a BRENDA MINTON book, I can’t stop. And when I get to the end, I’m ready for another. THE COWYBOY NEXT DOOR was no exception. I loved getting immersed into Lacey and Jay’s lives.

Lacey Gould is a strong woman, in spite of her past…or maybe because of it. Since she escaped to Gibson, she’s slowly been putting her life back together. A life she’s dreamed of.

Jay Blackhorse, an officer of the law, knows all about Lacey Gould’s past. He and Lacey may be from two different worlds, but she isn’t the only one with a past. With secrets better left alone.

Lacey’s sister shows up with a baby in Gibson, then Lacey’s mother. Jay and Lacey’s growing friendship is soon snuffed out. Lacey may have forgiven others in her life, but she has yet to forgive herself. Jay made a promise to a girl years ago, and doesn’t know how to let go.

Will they both let go of their past and hurts, and allow love to blossom?

Once again BRENDA MINTON has written a page turner, with well thought-out characters that will walk into your life and win your heart. It’s a real pleasure when you run across a great line in a book that has you reading it over. But when you come across several, it’s a real treat, and THE COWYBOY NEXT DOOR is just that.

Next on my list of BRENDA MINTON books…REKINDLED HEARTS.

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE by COLTON DIXON

THE SOUL SAVER by DINEEN MILLER

Title: The Soul Saver
Author: Dineen Miller
Publisher: Barbour Books (May 1, 2012)
Pages: 320

THE SOUL SAVER by DINEEN MILLER is not your typical Christian novel. At least not like any I’ve read. What first captured my attention was the idea of a Spiritually Mismatched Marriage between the main character and her husband.

Lexie Baltimore’s husband, Hugh is an atheist. Not only is Lexie a believer, she has a gift as well. Through sculptures in her studio, she forms unknown faces from visions God gives her in her dreams that will send her on a mission to save a soul.

Pastor Nate Winslow, lost his wife a year ago, and nothing about his life has been the same since. He had made a deal to save his only child. A deal that would haunt him daily.

Hugh Baltimore has his sights set on a career he’s been working on for years. Unlike his wife, God doesn’t fit into the picture. But when evil lurks, Hugh can’t deny there might be something to this faith thing his wife is so adamant about.

After mentioning WINNING HIM WITHOUT WORDS:10 TEN KEYS TO THRIVING IN YOUR SPIRITUALLY MITSMATCHED MARRIAGE, a non-fiction book DINEEN MILLER co-authored, in THE SOUL SAVER, I was pleasantly surprised to discover I had a copy sitting on my bookshelf. The very next day I started reading it.

DINEEN MILLER has written a brilliant novel, one I took note of her prose. The plot is intriguing, and keeps you turning the pages. A light mystery entangled with an equal amount romance. I’m looking forward to her next novel.

GOD’S GENTLE NUDGES by CONNIE CAMERON

Title: God’s Gentle Nudges, Inspirational Stories of How God Lovingly Leads Us Closer to Him

Author: Connie Cameron
Publisher: WinePress Publishing (July 5, 2005)
Pages: 168

I received GOD’S GENTLE NUDGES by CONNIE CAMERON as a gift, and immediately put it at the top of my stack of non-fiction to read. Each morning, along with reading a chapter out of my Bible, I read a story or two out of GOD’S GENTLE NUDGES.

CONNIE CAMERON opens her heart to reader about God’s gentle nudges in her life in this beautifully written book. It’s a collection of stories of inspiration, joy, encouragement, and tears. Stories that will warm your heart and inspire you to make positive changes in your own life.

My favorite stories are:

Chapter 10, page 39, I STILLL CHOOSE “MOM”
Chapter 15, page 69, A WRITER’S PEP TALK FROM GOD
Chapter 25, page 117, GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN
Chapter 29, page 131, WALKING TESTIMONIE
Chapter 30, page 137, A “DEGREE” OF FAITH
Chapter 31, page 145, JUST PASSING THROUGH

I have placed GOD’S GENTLE NUDGES on my list of books to share with others in hopes that it will touch them like it has me.