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Christian Fiction May 2017
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A Beauty So Rare: A Belmont Mansion Novel
by Tamera Alexander
Historical Romance. Twenty-six-year-old spinster Eleanor Braddock believes herself too tall and too plain to ever marry, so she finds another purpose for her life. While volunteering during the recently ended Civil War, she saw many young men die, leaving behind wives and children. After moving in with her wealthy aunt (the richest woman in America), Eleanor convinces her to finance a home for Civil War widows and orphans. Developing a friendship with the Austrian architect her aunt hires, Eleanor wonders if God doesn't have other plans for her after all. This 2nd in the Belmont Mansion series is a "sweeping Southern romance that is engaging and full of hope" (Library Journal).
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| If I'm Found by Terri BlackstockSuspense. Casey Cox has been a fugitive for a while now, changing her appearance and name as needed. The police think she murdered her best friend, Brent, but she knows she's been set up by crooked cops -- and now Dylan (a former military investigator with PTSD who's been hired to find Casey) just might know it too. Casey isn't sure if she can trust Dylan, but she knows she needs help. If she's arrested, she's as good as dead, but that doesn't stop her from putting herself in danger to help an abused child and the innocent man accused of hurting her. Narrated by both Casey and Dylan, this fast-paced 2nd in a suspenseful series is fine for newcomers, but those who want all of the details should start with If I Run. Terri Blackstock fans who don't like cliffhanger endings may want to wait until the 3rd and final book, If I Live, comes out next year. |
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| To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth CamdenHistorical Romance. In 1898 San Francisco, as the Spanish American war gets under way, a whirlwind romance leads Naval officer Ryan Gallagher to propose to Presidio hospital nurse Jenny Bennett -- but his sudden departure and subsequent break-up letter leave her confused and guarded. Six years later, Ryan's returned...with a four-year-old half-Japanese daughter in tow. In spite of the government secrets he's keeping, Ryan soon decides to try to earn Jenny's forgiveness -- and he also needs her help getting an opioid addict clean before an important military operation. With historical, atmospheric details, author Elizabeth Camden provides a fascinating backdrop to a compelling love story featuring a strong female lead. |
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| The Sisters of Sugarcreek: A Novel by Cathy LiggettGeneral Fiction. A fire destroys a Sugarcreek, Ohio church, killing two people and leaving their loved ones floundering. With her Amish volunteer firefighter husband now dead, Lydia Gruber, an Amish woman from Pennsylvania, finds herself lonely and unsure of her future. Then there are those left behind by Rose, the owner of a knitting and quilt shop, who was also killed in the blaze. She leaves behind her niece, Jessica Holtz (a single mother who inherits the shop), and Liz Cannon (Rose's best friend and partner in a secret society of two who delivered gifts to those in need). When the three women's lives intersect, they form a faith-filled friendship and work together to keep the craft store open, help Lydia deal with the loss of a husband she discovers she didn't know all that well, and provide hope for all of their futures. |
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| Maggie's Miracle: A Novel by Karen KingsburyRomance. Widowed after a marriage that was more a business arrangement than an affair of the heart, 32-year-old Manhattan prosecutor Megan Wright raises Jordan, her second-grade son, with help from her elderly mother -- but neither woman has an easy time handling the energetic, grief-stricken boy. Writing a letter to God, Jordan asks for a new daddy, one who'll have time to play with him. Enter widower Casey Cummins, who befriends Jordan through an organization that pairs children who've suffered a loss with a grown-up who wants to help. This 2nd entry in bestselling author Karen Kingsbury's Red Gloves Christmas series offers a heartwarming, satisfying story. |
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The Photograph
by Beverly Lewis
Amish Fiction. Twenty-year-old Eva as well as her older sister Frona and her 18-year-old sister Lily are in dire straits. All are unmarried, their parents are dead, and their older brother has just announced that he and his family are taking over their Lancaster County, PA house and farm; he also says only one of the sisters can live there, and the other two must marry or move to Indiana with a distant relative. Each is upset, but Lily runs away. Meanwhile, Jed, an Amish man from Ohio, travels to the area to visit a buggy maker. On his way there, he finds a book and a photograph of an Amish girl. Since the Amish aren't allowed to have photos taken, Jed's intrigued, especially when he thinks he meets the girl in Lancaster County. Set in the 1980s, this heartwarming standalone book by a veteran author features an intriguing set-up and secondary characters that fans will recognize.
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| Thunder and Rain by Charles MartinGeneral Fiction. Texas Ranger Tyler Steele lives for his job, which might be partially why his wife left, leaving him to raise their 12-year-old son Brodie alone. But things get more complicated when he helps save Samantha and her daughter Hope from an abusive man at a rest stop and offers them shelter. At Tyler's ranch, the hurting characters try to heal and trust again, including young Hope, who writes letters to God about all that's happened, even as their pasts refuse to stay hidden. This is a powerful story, beautifully told, but it does feature disturbing subject matter as well as minor instances of colorful language. |
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| The Second Half: A Novel by Lauraine SnellingGeneral Fiction. With his retirement just days away, Ken, a university dean, and his wife Mona find their plans for part-time work and travel upended by a phone call: their son, who serves in the Army's Special Forces, is being deployed to Pakistan in less than a week, and since his wife abandoned the family, he needs his parents to watch their two kids...for up to a year. With their dreams of never setting the alarm clock again shattered, Ken and Mona set to scheduling the kids' swimming lessons and Vacation Bible School -- not to mention helping them deal with the absence of both parents. Meanwhile, Mona struggles with worry and depression. If you'd like a memorable book peopled with likable characters close to retirement age, check out The Second Half. |
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