Leaving

KINGSBURY, KAREN

LEAVING

The Bailey Flanigan Series begins with Bailey leaving Bloomington for the adventure of a lifetime. She has won an audition for the ensemble of a Broadway musical in New York City. She’s determined to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of the city? And what of Cody Coleman? His disappearance has Bailey worried about their future and praying that their love can survive.

In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis. New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan.

Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan series that features members of the popular Baxter family and finally completes the Bailey/Cody story.

My Review:

True confession: I have never read a Karen Kingsbury novel before. Yes, really, but see I have only been reading Christian fiction for a little over a year now and there’s a lot of ground to cover in order to keep up with new releases and catch up with older ones. And every time I picked up a Karen Kingsbury book, it was in the middle of a series and I could never get my hands on the first one…until now. At last! The first in a series by Karen Kingsbury!

BUT

It does seem to be a continuation of another series. LOL. Reading the first chapter felt like I’d taken a wrong turn and ended up at somebody else’s family reunion! There are three distinct story arcs here – one centering around Bailey and her family, one involving Cody Coleman and the third, a seemingly unrelated family – Logan and Ashley Blake. (I think Ashley is a Baxter – but I can’t figure out her connection with the Flanigans. It’s like there are two parallel stories going on here.) I still think I have to go back several books to get this complicated family tree figured out and fill up on back story. Can anyone tell me what series or titles that would be?

So, in spite of the character confusion I did really enjoy Leaving. Kingsbury knows how to anchor a story with layers of wonderful emotion. Her writing touches all the senses and transports the reader not only into another place, but into another feeling as well. Love the strength she has worked into her families, the love, humour, joy…The Flanigans and Blakes are all that a family should be. It made me ache to experience that family life with them.

In a way this book doesn’t end. It’s definitely a set up for the next in the series, Learning which will be out in June 2011. Thankfully, that's not too long to wait!

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of Leaving by Karen Kingsbury, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday, April 24 for all the books I read between April 11 - 23. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31

Giveaway Winners! (April 1-10)

Hope you are ready to crack open a good book, because I am sending five out this week to our first April Showers Brings Reading Hours Giveaway winners!

A Cowboy's Touch

by Denise Hunter

WINNER: MICHELLE

A Heart Most Worthy

by Siri Mitchell

WINNER: MERRY

Serendipity

by Cathy Marie Hake

WINNER: JO

The Deepest Waters

by Dan Walsh

WINNER: BETSY

Surrender the Night

by MaryLu Tyndall

WINNER: ANN LEE MILLER

I have nearly everyone's email so I will contact you to get your mailing address. If you didn't leave an email address in your comments can you please email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca and give me your mailing address?

Ready for Round Two?

Leave a comment after any of the reviews I post from Monday April 11 to Saturday April 23 and you'll be eligible to win another book...or two...or three. Winners from this draw are welcome to enter again.

For complete details on this month long Giveaway click here: http://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2011/03/april-showers-bring-reading-hours_31.html

Surrender the Night

Tyndall, MaryLou

Surrender the Night

A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy...a wounder British solider driven into hiding...both are about to change the course of history forever.

When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack she's saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this wounded enemy soldier?

Alex hadn't meant to kill his superior or get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he's at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her, or will she turn him over to the Americans?

Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex's presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?

As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the march again. This time their target is the City of Washington. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?

A GRIPPING, PAGE-TURNING ROMANCE SET IN AN INTERESTING TIME PERIOD. TYNDALL HAS SET UP AN IMPOSSIBLE SCENARIO, THROWN HER HERO AND HEROINE INTO THE MIDDLE OF IT AND VOILA -- IMMEDIATE FIREWORKS! THE RELATIONSHIP IS DOOMED FROM THE START AND I WAS ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW TYNDALL WOULD MANAGE TO BRING RESOLUTION TO THEIR ROMANCE.

DEFINITELY NOT PREDICTABLE, BUT VERY FULFILLING. COMEDIC MOMENTS ARE INTERSPERSED WITH DRAMATIC ONES AND WATCH OUT WHEN THE ROMANCE HEATS UP! THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR A HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of Surrender the Night by MaryLu Tyndall, leave a comment below. A draw will be held tomorrow (Sunday April 10) for all the books I read between April 1 - 10. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.

The Deepest Waters

Walsh, Dan

The Deepest Waters

For John and Laura Foster, what began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 aboard the steamship SS Vandervere soon becomes a nightmare. A terrible hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura finds herself rescued with the other women and children, but how can she feel anything but despondent without her groom? Suspecting her John is gone but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone.

Talented author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story of hope, faith, and love through an intimate lens. Inspired by real events, this emotional and honest story will capture your heart as you sail through its pages.

WOW!!!

I DEVOURED THIS ONE! STARTED IT YESTERDAY EVENING, WOKE UP THINKING ABOUT IT AT MIDNIGHT SO I READ FOR AN HOUR, WOKE UP AGAIN AT FOUR AND KEPT ON READING. I FINISHED IT AT THE BUS STOP ON MY WAY TO WORK. I HAVE TO CONFESS I WAS MOVED TO TEARS. LUCKILY THERE WAS A STRONG, FRIGID WIND WHIPPING ABOUT AND I USED THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR MY WATERING EYES AND RUNNY NOSE.

DAN WALSH IS A POWERFUL STORYTELLER. HE GRABS HIS READERS WITH THE FIRST SENTENCE AND DOESN'T LET THEM GO UNTIL THE LAST ONE. I'VE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HIS 'FORMULA' IS -- WHY WHAT HE DOES WORKS BUT I'M TOO LOST IN THE STORY TO STOP AND ANALYZE.

I DO KNOW THAT I LOVE THE FLOW OF HIS WORDS -- THE DEEPEST WATERS WOULD MAKE A FANTASTIC READ ALOUD. IT'S RICH TIMING AND CADENCE BEGS TO BE SHARED.

THE FACT THAT THE STORY IS LOOSELY BASED ON A TRUE ONE MAKES IT ALL THE MORE POIGNANT. BUT WALSH'S CHARACTERS REALLY CAPTURED MY HEART, RIGHT DOWN TO THE DOG! (ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME AND HOW MUCH I LOVE DOGS WON'T BE SURPRISED AT THAT!). I, IN FACT, DEVELOPED A BOND WITH MICAH (AND NO, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU A THING ABOUT HIM -- YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO READ THE BOOK!) IN A WAY, MICAH BECAME THE BOOK'S CENTRAL FORCE -- PROPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES AND ACTION IN A SURPRISING WAY. BRILLIANTLY CRAFTED BY WALSH.

THE ONE THING I WILL TAKE AWAY FROM MY READ IS MICAH'S DEVOTION TO GOD AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO REJOICE IN THE MOMENT WHILE NOT BELABORING THE PAST OR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. I HAVE BEEN GUILTY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION OF BORROWING TROUBLE IN SPADES AND AM LIVING IN THE MIDST OF TURMOIL ON MANY FRONTS IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW. WALSH HAS BROUGHT ME COMFORT, UNDERSTANDING AND HOPE THROUGH MICAH. AND, ALONG WITH THAT A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY GOD ORCHESTRATES OUR LIVES -- IF WE LET HIM.

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Deepest Water by Dan Walsh, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 10 for all the books I read between April 1 - 10. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.

Serendipity

HAKE, CATHY MARIE

SERENDIPITY

The only remaining woman in Carver's Holler, Maggie Rose has cared for a ragtag of old men for years, bartering for a living and making soaps, lotions and perfumes from a special recipe passed down for generations. She hasn't wanted to marry...at least that's what she thought. But when a strapping young man arrives on Maggie's doorstep, searching for a doctor for his ailing mother, life suddenly changes for the dark-haired beauty.

Todd Valmer is in a desperate situation. His mother needs a caretaker, and he's barley hanging on to his Texas farm. Maggie seems to be the obvious solution. She can cook, care for Ma, tend his house while he works the fields...and she's comely, as well.

But instant attraction does not a marriage make.

As a clash of cultures and a battle of wills ensues, is there any hope that true love will blossom between a free-spirited woman and her uncompromising husband?

BRILLIANT AND FUNNY. MAGGIE IS A CAPTIVATING HEROINE AND TODD THE PERFECT BEFUDDLED LOVE INTEREST. THEIR ROMANCE IS TOE-CURLING FUNNY, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE SUCH A COMBINATION.

THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT ONE LINERS -- DELIVERED AMIDST SMOLDERING LOOKS. HAKE'S PACING AND DELIVERY IS SUPERB AND THIS IS THE KIND OF FEEL-GOOD BOOK THAT WILL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE FOR A LONG TIME AFTER YOU FINISH READING.

LOVELY CAMEOS OF SOME OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS FROM GOODING, TEXAS ARE THROWN IN FOR AN ADDED BONUS. THIS IS AN ALL-ROUND ROLLICKING GOOD READ AND ONE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS.

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 10 for all the books I read between April 1 - 10. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.

A Heart Most Worthy

MITCHELL, SIRI

A HEART MOST WORTHY

In 1918 Boston, three seamstresses dare to dream of a better life. Fiery Julietta pursues love recklessly. Shy Annamaria falls for the wrong man. Secretive Luciana's past endangers them all.

Drawn together amid the opulence of Madame Fortier's dress shop, will each find the fairy-tale ending she seeks?

IN A WORD. MAGICAL. THIS WORKS ON SO MANY LEVELS WHEN, ACCORDING TO CURRENT CBA PUBLISHING STANDARDS IT SHOULDN'T. MITCHELL BREAKS ALL THE RULES IN ORDER TO CREATE THIS STUNNING, EPIC TALE THAT IS REMINISCENT OF CLASSIC LITERATURE.

FIRST SHE WRITES FROM THE OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW. THAT MEANS SHE TELLS THE STORY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MULTIPLE CHARACTERS -- INCLUDING A HOST OF SECONDARY ONES. AND, AS IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, SHE DIRECTS CASUAL ASIDES TO THE READER IN TRUE CLASSICAL LIT FORM. AND SHE 'HEAD BOUNCES' WITHIN EACH SCENE. THIS MEANS THAT THE POINT OF VIEW JUMPS FROM CHARACTER TO CHARACTER WITHOUT A BREAK OR PAUSE. (USUALLY EACH SCENE IS STRICTLY WRITTEN FROM ONLY ONE CHARACTER'S POV -- EVEN IN STORIES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS.) THESE ARE ALL 'MISTAKES' THAT NEWBIE WRITERS MAKE AND COPIOUS BLOGS ON WRITING CAUTION AGAINST USING ANY ONE OF THESE TACTICS, LET ALONE ALL OF THEM IN ONE BOOK!

SO, HOW DOES MITCHELL GET AWAY WITH IT?

SHEER BRILLIANCE...AND THAT TOUCH OF MAGIC I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

HER CHARACTERS ARE SO WELL DEFINED THAT POINT OF VIEW IS NEVER QUESTIONED -- EVEN IN THE SCENES THAT BOUNCE FROM CHARACTER TO CHARACTER. AND THEY ARE SO ENGAGING THAT IT'S EASY TO KEEP THE MULTIPLE CAST STRAIGHT (THOUGH SHE DOES PROVIDE A LIST OF CHARACTERS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE BOOK.)

THE CLEVER PLOT HAS LOTS TO DO WITH IT TOO. MITCHELL WORKS SUPPOSEDLY LOOSE THREADS INTO A TIGHTLY WOVEN STORY THAT WILL LEAVE YOU SPELLBOUND. THERE'S A RICHNESS IN HER TONE, A STARTLING CLARITY IN HER TRUTHS, A RUSH OF EXCITEMENT IN HER SUSPENSE. A HEART MOST WORTHY IS PAGE TURNING PERFECTION.

AND THE SETTING -- SUCH A TUMULTUOUS TIME IN WORLD HISTORY...AND AMERICA'S IN PARTICULAR AS MORE AND MORE IMMIGRANTS TRAVELED TO THIS LAND OF PROMISE. MITCHELL PORTRAYS THEIR STRUGGLES REALISTICALLY. BUT SHE ALSO SHOWCASES THE IRONY OF THEIR PREJUDICES AS WELL. PEOPLE FLEEING PERSECUTION FOR A BETTER LIFE ONLY TO UPHOLD THEIR OWN PREJUDICES IN THIS SUPPOSEDLY FREE LAND. THEY ARE AS FETTERED IN THEIR NEW LIFE AS THEY WERE IN THE OLD ONE.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO PICK THIS BOOK UP AND READ IT (AND I HOPE YOU DO) BE PREPARED TO BE ENTHRALLED, THRILLED AND AMAZED AT THE POWER OF WORDS AND THE BRILLIANT MIND THAT WOVE THEM TOGETHER INTO AN UNFORGETTABLE TALE.

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 10 for all the books I read between April 1 - 10. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.

A Cowboy's Touch

HUNTER, DENISE

A COWBOY'S TOUCH

Abigail is just in Moose Creek, Montana fro the the summer to temporarily care for her great aunt. But a tender-hearted cowboy beckons her to stay.

Abigail Jones intends to spend just one summer in middle-of-nowhere Montana with her Aunt Lucy. Time away from her job is just what Abigail needs to reassess her life. The slow pace has her breathing deeply for the first time in years. And the majestic scenery encourages her to get acquainted with herself...and God.

What she didn't count on was the handsome widowed cowboy who owns the ranch where her aunt lives. When the rancher loses his daughter's nanny, Abigail decides to lend a hand for the summer.

Wade Ryan can't help being attracted to Abigail. But he's given up everything to protect his daughter, and he's not about to risk it all on a pretty face.

Under Abigail's care, Wade's home and daughter thrive. And with Wade's touch, Abigail's heart feels at home at last. But Abigail knows this elusive rancher is hiding something. Will her own secrets separate her from the cowboy who finally captured her heart?

HUNTER KNOWS HOW TO MATCH SIZZLE WITH THE KIND OF TENDERNESS THAT MAKES FOR A BLISSFUL ROMANTIC READ. BUT SHE ALSO KNOWS HOW TO THREAD ANGST INTO A STORY -- THE KIND THAT HAD ME SQUIRMING IN MY SEAT. HONESTLY, WHEN IT GOT DOWN TO THE CRUNCH I HAD TO RACE THROUGH TO THE END BEFORE I COULD BREATHE AGAIN!

I CAN'T SAY MORE WITHOUT GIVING SOME OF THE PLOT AWAY BUT THERE WERE TIMES I WANTED TO REACH INTO THE PAGES AND SHAKE SOME SENSE INTO ABIGAIL FOR WHAT SHE PUT POOR WADE THROUGH -- FOR WHAT SHE PUT ME THROUGH! THANKFULLY HUNTER CAME TO THE RESCUE AND SWEPT US ALL AWAY INTO A SPECTACULAR HAPPY ENDING. PHEW, I COULD BREATHE AGAIN!

Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 10 for all the books I read between April 1 - 10. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on April 1.