November's Pick - House of Mercy by Erin Healy

I am soo excited to read House of Mercy this month. First, because I won a copy of the book in drawing, and second, because I am huge Erin Healy fan. 

I first discovered Erin when she co-authored the book Kiss, with Ted Dekker. It was one of the best books I had read that year. Since then, I have read several of her books and each time she takes the reader on a suspenseful journey. 

Join me as I escape into a world of horses and valleys and cattle ranches. 

Book Description:

When Beth’s world falls apart, can she ever be whole again?

Beth has a gift of healing—which is why she wants to become a vet and help her family run their fifth-generation cattle ranch. Her father’s dream of helping men in trouble and giving them a second chance is her dream too. But it only takes one foolish decision for Beth to destroy it all.

Beth scrambles to redeem her mistake, pleading with God for help, even as a mystery complicates her life. The repercussions grow more unbearable—a lawsuit, a death, a divided family, and the looming loss of everything she cares about. Beth’s only hope is to find the grandfather she never knew and beg for his help. Confused, grieving, and determined to make amends, she embarks on a horseback journey across the mountains, guided by a wild, unpredictable wolf who may or may not be real.

Set in the stunningly rugged terrain of Southern Colorado, House of Mercy follows Beth through the valley of the shadow of death into the unfathomable miracles of God’s goodness and mercy. 

“Healy has proven she has what it takes to write a fast paced supernatural thriller guaranteed to keep you hooked right until the last page, and beyond.” —TitleTrakk.com

October's Pick - The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

With the long anticipated movie coming out in December, I thought it would be great to read (or in some cases reread) this classic.  I read it early in my teen years and look forward to catching up with the characters and plot twists. J.R.R. Tolkien is a master at building a fantastical world, populated with curses and creatures and one incredible quest. Whether you are a plot driven, character driven or even literary driven reader, you will enjoy the adventure.

Overview

A great modern classic and the prelude to THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

"A glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible…All those, young or old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts."—New York Times Book Review

September's Pick - Jimmy, by Robert Whitlow

Earlier this year I read "To Kill A Mockingbird" for the first time and loved it. The story was nothing like I've read lately, and as a writer, broke most of the rules I've been taught to follow. While looking for a book club selection for this month, I came across this one by Robert Whitlow. Some of the reviews compare it to the emotional styling of "To Kill A Mockingbird." I was intrigued.

I am looking forward to reading Jimmy. A unique style in an unique genre. I welcome comments and opinion from fellow readers.

From Booklist

Jimmy, a mildly retarded child, sees "Watchers," or angels, and in his innocence, he's very nearly an angel himself. His parents wonder if he'll ever be able to take care of himself and gently move him toward independence. He responds admirably. In fact, it's Jimmy's highly developed sense of responsibility that eventually gets him in trouble, but his angels are there, and whatever happens, apparently, is God's will. For some readers, Jimmy will seem sentimental. For others, it will summon gratifying tears. John Mort

August's Pick - Last Light by Terri Blackstock

From the first page, Last Light takes you into a world that we can hardly imagine. A world in which one day all electronics go dead. But worse than no electricity, airplanes can't fly, watches don't run, cell phones and land lines have no signals.  It is a worldwide phenomenon and scientist are unable to reverse it.

We follow the average American family as they try to deal with this permanent power outage and the chaos it brings. As Christians, they are faced with a choice - to hoard all their possessions, like all of their neighbors, or to do what Christ has called us to do and "give freely, to everyone who asks."

I wondered how would I handle the situations that Doug and Kaye and their four children were dealing with?  I began questioning if my family and kids were too spoiled, with our steady stream of cyber entertainment diet.

Would we be able to have utter and complete faith in God for EVERY one of our physical needs on a daily, or every moment, basis.

But mostly, I wonder if it's too late to learn how to garden!

July's Pick - Me, Myself & Bob, by Phil Vischer

My first experience with the Veggie Tales was at a friend's house (whose kids were teenagers at the time) watching a dancing cucumber sing "oh, where is my hairbrush."  Dumbfounded, I said, "he doesn't have any hair."  The whole room rolled with laughter, shouting "that's the point."  Well, from there I was hooked, and when I had a son a year later, he would soon be hooked as well. 

Turning on the radio one day, I caught the tail end of an interview with Phil Vischer.  He said, "How dare we have any dreams." He went on to say that OUR dreams should be God's dreams that He unfolds in His timing. This really ministered to me as I dream of being a published writer - I had to pray, is this my goal or God's will for me?

I am so excited to read this book and hear his amazing spiritual journey, and I hope you are too!  Please let me know what you think!

Publisher's Weekly

Have you ever been tempted to start your own business? First read this cautionary tale, especially if you think your ideas come from God. Vischer, a pioneer in computerized animation and creator of Veggie Tales, proves that a pathetically skinny, shy techno-geek can be hilarious even when describing his headlong plunge into bankruptcy. In 1989, "with an unflappable `How hard could it be' attitude," the 22-year-old entrepreneur launched his dream of creating high-quality Christian entertainment by founding the company that would become Big Idea Productions. Thirteen stressful years later, he was featured in a People magazine cover story "small town kid kicked out of Bible college and down to his last ten bucks creates talking vegetables and hits it big, selling 40 million videos!" shortly before firing half his staff in an unsuccessful attempt to avert disaster. While Vischer accepts the blame for the collapse ("my strengths built Big Idea, and my weaknesses brought it down"), he also details various unnamed executives' incompetence. One question haunted him: if he was doing God's work, why didn't God rescue his company? Concluding his story of spiritual inspiration and heartbreak, Vischer draws lessons from his experience for anyone who has ever lost a dream. 

June's Pick - Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

Overview (from www.BarnesandNoble.com)

An anonymous gift sends a woman on a journey she never could have anticipated.
 
One afternoon, Julia Evarts and her five-year-old daughter, Gracie, arrive home to find an unexpected gift on the front porch: a homemade loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a simple note: I hope you enjoy it. Also included are a bag of starter, instructions on how to make the bread herself, and a request to share it with others.

Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life. She’d just as soon toss the anonymous gift, but to make Gracie happy, she agrees to bake the bread.  

When Julia meets two newcomers to the small town of Avalon, Illinois, she sparks a connection by offering them her extra bread starter. Widow Madeline Davis is laboring to keep her tea salon afloat while Hannah Wang de Brisay, a famed concert cellist, is at a crossroads, her career and marriage having come to an abrupt end. In the warm kitchen of Madeline’s tea salon, the three women forge a friendship that will change their lives forever.

In no time, everyone in Avalon is baking Amish Friendship Bread. But even as the town unites for a benevolent cause and Julia becomes ever closer to her new friends, she realizes the profound necessity of confronting the painful past she shares with her sister.

About life and loss, friendship and community, food and family, Friendship Bread tells the uplifting story of what endures when even the unthinkable happens.

Petey, by Ben Mikaelsen

We have all seen him.

A man parked in a wheelchair, his body crumpled in horrific positions. You probably heard him desperate to speak in his own language of garbled noises.

After reading this YA novel, you will never look at someone like him the same. Petey is a story about a boy born with severe cerebal palsy, which leaves him with almost no control of his muscles. In 1922, when Petey is born, he is misdiagnosed as severly retarded. Not knowing that their son could think and feel and communicate, his parents commit him to an insane asylum. There he grows up, experiencing friendship, love and heartbreak under horrific conditions.  As an old man, Petey is moved to a nursing home and has almost given up on life, until he mets a teen named Trevor Ladd. The two form a strong friendship and give each other a new purpose and outlook on life.

A very simple, yet inspiring read.  I added this to my "Highly Recommend" list.