Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers

Bridge to Haven - Pastor Ezekiel Freeman is led to a bridge outside of Haven where he finds a new born baby.  Despite his misgivings, he and his wife, the baby girl in as a foster child and name her Abra.  However, Freeman's wife, Marianne, is ill and dies when Abra is five years old.  Abra is then adopted by a loving family, but she carries the sting of rejection her whole life.  Before she graduates high school she leaves Haven and becomes ensconced in the world of Hollywood.

This is a wonderful,tear jerking, page turning story.  I cried from the first paged to the last, and read it in one session.

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers

Bridge to Haven - Pastor Ezekiel Freeman is led to a bridge outside of Haven where he finds a new born baby.  Despite his misgivings, he and his wife, the baby girl in as a foster child and name her Abra.  However, Freeman's wife, Marianne, is ill and dies when Abra is five years old.  Abra is then adopted by a loving family, but she carries the sting of rejection her whole life.  Before she graduates high school she leaves Haven and becomes ensconced in the world of Hollywood.

This is a wonderful,tear jerking, page turning story.  I cried from the first paged to the last, and read it in one session.

Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen) - Hannah is helping her partner, Lisa, prepare for Lisa and Herb's family reunion.  On the first day, Lisa's Uncle Gus, who no one has seen or heard from for over 25 years makes an appearance.  However, tensions are evident and very obvious when Gus is murdered.

Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen) - Hannah is helping her partner, Lisa, prepare for Lisa and Herb's family reunion.  On the first day, Lisa's Uncle Gus, who no one has seen or heard from for over 25 years makes an appearance.  However, tensions are evident and very obvious when Gus is murdered.

Key LIme Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Key Lime Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - Hannah is baking treats to sale during the fair.  She is also a judge for the baking contest.  Her biggest issue is Moishe's appetite.  Her cat has stopped eating and sits at the window staring at nothing.  Until, Hannah finds one of her fellow judges murdered one night after the fair closed.

Key LIme Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Key Lime Pie Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - Hannah is baking treats to sale during the fair.  She is also a judge for the baking contest.  Her biggest issue is Moishe's appetite.  Her cat has stopped eating and sits at the window staring at nothing.  Until, Hannah finds one of her fellow judges murdered one night after the fair closed.

Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Cherry Cheesecake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - Hannah's youngest sister, Michelle, convinced producer Ross Barton, to film part of a movie in Lake Eden.  The director, Dean Lawrence, is a demanding person who insists on cheesecake for breakfast and lunch.  Everyone has a good time until Dean is killed when someone switches a prop gun for a real gun during filming.

Meanwhile, Hannah has a decision to make.  Both of her boyfriends have proposed and everyone is betting on the outcome and pressuring her to make a choice.

Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Cherry Cheesecake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - Hannah's youngest sister, Michelle, convinced producer Ross Barton, to film part of a movie in Lake Eden.  The director, Dean Lawrence, is a demanding person who insists on cheesecake for breakfast and lunch.  Everyone has a good time until Dean is killed when someone switches a prop gun for a real gun during filming.

Meanwhile, Hannah has a decision to make.  Both of her boyfriends have proposed and everyone is betting on the outcome and pressuring her to make a choice.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Taters and Peas by Betty Terry Smith

Taters and Peas: How God Uses "P's"--Promises, Prayer, Protection, Perseverance, and Praise--to Produce "Sweet Taters" - While Betty's previous books provided insight into spiritual growth through her personal story, Taters and Peas incorporates scripture and her poems in her teachings.  Betty classifies Christians into categories such as Common-Taters, Imi-taters, and Sweet-taters.  She then describes God's Peas: his promises, protection, and our prayers, perseverance, and praise.  this is not a book to read through once and forget, but to study and keep handy to keep track of our progress from Common-Tater to Sweet-Tater.

Taters and Peas by Betty Terry Smith

Taters and Peas: How God Uses "P's"--Promises, Prayer, Protection, Perseverance, and Praise--to Produce "Sweet Taters" - While Betty's previous books provided insight into spiritual growth through her personal story, Taters and Peas incorporates scripture and her poems in her teachings.  Betty classifies Christians into categories such as Common-Taters, Imi-taters, and Sweet-taters.  She then describes God's Peas: his promises, protection, and our prayers, perseverance, and praise.  this is not a book to read through once and forget, but to study and keep handy to keep track of our progress from Common-Tater to Sweet-Tater.

Eden in Winter by Richard North Patterson

Eden in Winter -  Patterson completes the Blaine Trilogy with Eden in Winter.  As Adam Blaine continues to protect his family from prosecution, he becomes close to his father's mistress, Carla Pacellli.  who is pregnant with Adam's brother.  While he is back in Afghanistan, the DA and an Inquirer reporter continue to try to find evidence of the Blaine family's involvement in their patriarch's death.

The story of the Blaine's provides a rich backdrop for the study of family, class struggles, power, love, loyalty, and societal pretense.

While this is the third book of the series, Patterson provides enough information through the character's thoughts to preclude the necessity of reading the prior books.  However, this also, provides spoilers for those who have not read the previous books.

Eden in Winter by Richard North Patterson

Eden in Winter -  Patterson completes the Blaine Trilogy with Eden in Winter.  As Adam Blaine continues to protect his family from prosecution, he becomes close to his father's mistress, Carla Pacellli.  who is pregnant with Adam's brother.  While he is back in Afghanistan, the DA and an Inquirer reporter continue to try to find evidence of the Blaine family's involvement in their patriarch's death.

The story of the Blaine's provides a rich backdrop for the study of family, class struggles, power, love, loyalty, and societal pretense.

While this is the third book of the series, Patterson provides enough information through the character's thoughts to preclude the necessity of reading the prior books.  However, this also, provides spoilers for those who have not read the previous books.

Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke

Peach Cobbler Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - The Magnolia Bakery has opened across the street from The Cookie Jar.  The owners are the Quinn sisters. One of whom is none other than an employee of the Sheriff's office, and Hannah's rival for the affections of Mike, the sexy deputy.  When one of the sister's is murdered during Lisa's wedding, Hannah needs to prove the innocence of most of her friends and relatives.

Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke

Peach Cobbler Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - The Magnolia Bakery has opened across the street from The Cookie Jar.  The owners are the Quinn sisters. One of whom is none other than an employee of the Sheriff's office, and Hannah's rival for the affections of Mike, the sexy deputy.  When one of the sister's is murdered during Lisa's wedding, Hannah needs to prove the innocence of most of her friends and relatives.

Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Sugar Cookie Murder - Martin Dubinski and Brandi, his new Vegas showgirl wife, attend Lake Eden's annual Christmas Buffet.  Tempers flare when Martin's mother and his ex-wife observe the expensive fur coat and ring Brandi is showing off.  Later, Hannah discovers Brandi's body in the parking lot.  She gets the attending deputies to keep everyone at the function, using the weather as an excuse to keep everyone from leaving.

Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Sugar Cookie Murder - Martin Dubinski and Brandi, his new Vegas showgirl wife, attend Lake Eden's annual Christmas Buffet.  Tempers flare when Martin's mother and his ex-wife observe the expensive fur coat and ring Brandi is showing off.  Later, Hannah discovers Brandi's body in the parking lot.  She gets the attending deputies to keep everyone at the function, using the weather as an excuse to keep everyone from leaving.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Fudge Cupcake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - Hannah discovers the body of Sheriff Grant in the dumpster behind the school.  Because her brother-in-law Bill is running against Grant for sheriff, he is the number one suspect.  However, many people had reason to hate Grant, including all his deputies, past and present.

Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Fudge Cupcake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) - Hannah discovers the body of Sheriff Grant in the dumpster behind the school.  Because her brother-in-law Bill is running against Grant for sheriff, he is the number one suspect.  However, many people had reason to hate Grant, including all his deputies, past and present.

The Red Room by Ridley Pearson

The Red Room (A Risk Agent Novel) - David "Sarge" Dulwich sends John Knox and Grace Chu to Istanbul to broker the sale of a piece of art.  All they have to ensure is that they are in the room with the buyer for five minutes.  As John and Grace navigate Istanbul, they realize that the sale is of interest to others who may or may not be allies.

The Red Room by Ridley Pearson

The Red Room (A Risk Agent Novel) - David "Sarge" Dulwich sends John Knox and Grace Chu to Istanbul to broker the sale of a piece of art.  All they have to ensure is that they are in the room with the buyer for five minutes.  As John and Grace navigate Istanbul, they realize that the sale is of interest to others who may or may not be allies.