The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson

Edith never expected what would happen when she decided to keep the Inn open during the Christmas holiday. She thought having the Inn open would help diminish the loneliness she would feel as a result of her children be absent for the holiday. Her husband Charles is the pastor of the only church in Christmas Valley, whose residents take Christmas seriously. But as can happen the reason for the season sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

Myrtle arrival rocks Christmas Valley on its ear. When Collin and Amy arrive in the colorful bus things get even more interesting. Amy is expecting a baby and the colorful that doubles as their home is in need of repair.

Can Christmas Valley pull together this Christmas and rediscover the real meaning of what Christmas is all about? You'll have to read this wonderful story to find out. It a beautiful story of what the true meaning of Christmas can be. A story of hospitality and hope. A story of how to treat people that cross our paths, because you never know if you will be hosting an angel in disguise.

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson

History Professor Nick Journey is shocked when a document dating back to the civil war is discovered during an expansion project in Oklahoma. He is intrigue by the wording of the document and by the gold pin with the letters GW which was also found. Before Nick can delve into the historical implications of the document he is attacked by two men with guns. In his efforts to escape, he hits one of the men with a car killing him.

Nick never expected that a piece of paper written during the civil war would start a chain of events that could culminate in the death of the President of the United States. Meg Tolman works for an obscure branch of the government and is the only one who believe the theory that Nick believes the paper discloses. An illusive group called the Glory Warriors spanning the generations since the civil war can still be active is amazing.

This is a wonderful story. I don't normally seek out historical type fiction, but this one intrigued me. As I was reading it brought to mind stories like Dan Brown's Angels & Demons and the movie National Treasure. I was totally engrossed and wanted to find out what would happen next. The development of the relationship between Nick and his Autistic son Andrew helped to make Nick a more personable character.

Hope there will a new series on the horizon!

The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson

Betty was comfortable in her life, that is until Jack showed up and disrupted the entire neighborhood. And if things weren't bad enough the mysterious stray dog shows up in her yard. He probably belongs to her unruly neighbor. The nerve of some people!! Then on top of everything else Avery shows up at her door. Avery is the step-daughter of her son Gary.

How will this little brown dog heal the rift between neighbors. And heal the loneliness of an old woman, and the heart of a young woman.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope to read some of the other stories by this author. It is a story of the healing power an animal can have on those he comes in contact with.

The Nine Lives of Christmas by Shelia Roberts

Ambrose is a cat on a mission to earn his ninth life. He meets Zach and follows him home. Zach will be his doorway to a happy ninth life, and from what Ambrose can tell Zach could use some help.

Zach is not the commitment kind of guy, at least that is what he keeps telling himself. His family history isn't the greatest and he doesn't want history to repeat itself. He meets Merilee in the grocery store and a feels a spark that his fireman instincts immediate attempt to put out. But fate and Ambrose keep bringing them together.

Will Zach risk all for a happily ever after? Not telling your just going to have to read this story for yourself!

I like Sheila Roberts. I have read a couple of her other books. Her style of writing is engaging and easy to read and like the characters.

Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner

Lillian Diamon is still mourning the loss of her husband and children in an accident. She finds herself being drawn back to the Rose House, where four years earlier she had pour out her grief among its beautiful roses. She isn't sure why she is feeling compelled to return to the rolling hills and vineyards of the Sonoma Valley. As she is wandering through La Rosaleda she enters a gallery only to discover a painting that turns her world upside down again. The painting depicts her last trip to the Rose House the raw emotion of her grief and anguish very visible to the entire world. Who painted this? Why would they paint such a private moment? Is someone following her again?

Another wonder story from the pen of Tina Ann Forkner. We return again to the Rose House where we met Kitty, Ruby and Lucy. The Rose House is a place of promise, a place of renewal. Will Lillian finally be able to place past behind her and reach for the future? Your just going to have to flip the pages to find out.

I like this story very much. The only problem I had with the story was this glimmer of something sinister in the background. It was so far in the background that I kept wondering if it was ever going to come to the foreground.

It is well worth the read!!!

Priced To Move (The Shop-Til-U-Drop Collection #1)

Andie leaves her hectic ulcer producing job and lifestyle. She comes home to Louisville when she hears that her Aunt Weeby has broken her leg and will need some assistance for awhile. Aunt Weeby best friend Mona runs the Shop-Til-U-Drop Network, and she offers Andie a job as the head gemologist and host of the gem segment of her network.

Andie takes the job. She finds out on her first day that her co-host Max knows nothing about gems, and he drives her crazy. Mona and Aunt Weeby think they are a match made in heaven, but Andie is seeing red, and it isn't the Rubies.

A gentlemen from Andie's former job shows up bearing a parrot as a gift and he winds up dead in the vault belonging to the network. He also brought an invitation to visit the mines where the most expensive rubies are produces. Who would want to kill Mr. Pak and for what reason?

It was a pretty good story. I liked the interjection of humor and the tension between Andie and Max.

This is the first book in the series, and it was a very enjoyable read. I like her Home Decor series a little better, but this was still an fun mystery to read.

Grow Groups

We have this thing at our church called Grow Groups.  Basically it is a small group of people that get together once a week to discuss the sermon from the previous Sunday.  There is home work, questions to be answered before you arrive.  Dean and I were in a new group from last semester, because our old group wasn't going to be meeting anymore.  I really will miss the people in our group.  It was nice to be able to get to know them.

Needless to say, I was nervous to venture out to our new group tonight.  I always am when I am in a group of people I don't know.  There was one woman that I had met previously from a Tuesday morning bible study, but other than that I didn't know anyone else by name.  I have seem some of them in church or other activities, but didn't know who they were.  God gave me peace that this is the right group for us to be in right now.  I think both Dean and I can use the spiritual support that I feel we will get from the people in this group. 

Hard sometimes to open up to people you don't know very well, but sometimes God needs to break us and spill us out in order for Him to put us back together and guide us the way he wants to go. 

Thank you Lord for the group of people we met tonight.  My you guide us all on our individual journeys.  Help us to be transparent with each other, to support and lift up each other.  Help me to support in prayer those needs I am made aware of and for those that might not be.  Thank you so much for provided people who open up their homes and the offer of a safe place to share and grow. 

Well enogh of that.  Going to start getting ready for bed.  Sweet Dreams!!!  And God Bless!!

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Victoria won't let herself get close to anyone. She doesn't like being touched. When she does find herself getting close to anyone, she finds a way to sabotage the relationship. So she won't have to watch it fall apart later.

Elizabeth was the only person during her childhood that she allowed to get close. Elizabeth wanted to adopt her, to give her a family. Victoria allowed herself to let Elizabeth get close, but when the adoption didn't happened, it crushed her spirit to the point of no return. The only lasting thing in Victoria's life was the meaning of flowers that Elizabeth taught her. It is the one constant in her life. The one thing that would keep her going, help her survive.

I liked this story - I wasn't sure I would when I first started because it seemed to start out kind of slow. I pushed on and am glad that I didn't give up. It wasn't a jump up and down happy kind of story. It was touching and troubling at the same time. I loved the interwoven fragrance of the flowers and how one thing to hold onto can keep someone going.

The book includes a list of plants/flowers and their meanings.

Busy Mind

One trait I inherited from my mom is an active mind.  Which under most circumstances isn't a bad thing.  But when you are lying in bed trying to sleep and your brain won't shut off it is extremely frustrating.  I had alot more problems when I was younger and when I worked for the paper driving around at night.  When the weather would be bad, I would be so wound up I couldn't get to sleep.  It is an annoying trait.  When I was in junior high and high school I would sometimes have to get up read for a little then straighten out my bed smooth out the sheets and plump the pillows and try all over again.  Kind of hard to do that when your married and your husband is asleep.  I feel like it is going to be one of those nights.  God needs to hold my crazy brain in His hands to night to give me some peace of mind.  I pray this week that God will reveal himself in a special way to me this week.  I need to refresh my spirit. Sweet dreams!!

Design on a Crime (Deadly Decor Mystery #1) by Ginny Aiken

Haley is starting a new design business. To say she is a little nervous is an understatement. Marge has been in her corner encouraging her from the start. Haley has been through alot in the last several years. A personal tragedy has clouded her entire outlook, especially affecting her faith in God. Then her mother passed away, and now this leap into a new career.

Haley has a big rooting section led by Marge. So when Marge turns up dead at the auction where Haley is meeting with her first potential client, Haley is stunned beyond belief. Haley not only found the body, but she also finds out that she is the sole heir in Marge's will. Haley is over wrought with grief and now she has to figure out who killed Marge.

I loved Haley and could relate to her anger at God and the struggle with the faith that used to come so easy for her. I like that there was a good mix of her faith struggle and the mystery. Sometimes a Christian mystery can be more Christian than mystery which can turn me off the story. I didn't feel that way with this story.

Thee are two more in this series and I hope to get to read them soon. Also want to check out some of her other books.

A good start to a mystery series!

Sign Language by Amy Ackley

Abby North is only twelve-years-old when her life begins to change, and she doesn't even realize it is coming. The only indication she has that something is wrong, is that her father is sick. He is going into the hospital for what Abby thinks is a routine operation. What she doesn't realize is that this is just the beginning of the end for her dad.

A thought provoking story. I was angry at the parents for not explaining what was happening to Abby and her brother Josh. They were left in the dark with no clear answers to the questions they were afraid to ask. And when a question was asked, a straight answer was not given.

I had a hard time with parts of the story because it brought back memories of the loss of my father. I was 26 when he passed away, and it wasn't easy. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like at the age of twelve.

I was glad I read this story, but sad at the same time. I would recommend this book. Just know that is isn't a lighthearted tale. So keep that in mind if you decide to read it.

Desperate Housedogs (Pampered Pets Mystery #1) by Sparkle Abbey

I love love love this new series.  Can't wait until the next one arrives. 

Caro is a pet therapist who specializes in working with pets and their owners to get along.  Things are going pretty well until one of her clients ends up murdered.  It appears she was the last one to see him alive.  Will the police think she is the one who killed Kevin.  In her quest to find out what really happened, she gets in way over her head.

Also underlying this other story is a feud between her and another family member about a family heirloom.

A very enjoyable read, and what made it even better was it was free from Amazon.

What a wonder group of characters and animals.  Very engaging.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Jennifer and Cameron were best friends in Grade School, until Cameron disappeared. Jennifer wasn't very popular and the loss of her only friend was very difficult, especially when she was told that he died not to long after he left. Jennifer was left to cope with her grief as her mom was working and going to nursing school during those traumatic years.

Her mom remarried and when Jennifer started high-school she changed her name to Jenna, she lost weight and starting dating. All seemed perfect in her world until her birthday approached and she discovered that Cameron was back!

They have shared memories, but will that be enough to keep their friendship going.

I found myself routing for Jenna as she struggles with her relationships and trying to figure out who she was and who she wanted to be.

It was kind of a slow start for me. Glad that I kept going and finished.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

The Waverley family has always been a little strange, at least according to the residents of Bascom, North Carolina.  Even the garden that they have lovingly tended for several generations is not very ordinary.  The apple tree is feisty and the edible plants, imbued with special powers.

Claire Waverley has become a successful caterer, using her knowledge of the plants powers to influence those she serves.  She is set in her routine until two people turn up in her life.  She meets the new neighbor next door and her sister mysteriously returns. Sydney left as town as soon as she was able, vowing to never return.  Her arrival stirs up the entire town.

Will Sydney ever be able to explain to Claire why she came back home?  Will Claire allow herself to trust her instincts and break from her safe routine to experience life?

A very enjoyable read.  Although it isn't by the same author, it reminded me of "Practical Magic".  I kept picturing the characters from the movie in my head while I was reading.

Plan on reading other books by this author.

Happy New Year!

Well Happy New Year!!  Hard to believe that 2011 is over already.  It is true what they say, "the older you are the faster the time goes".   The first day of the new year is one of contemplation for me this year.  I wonder what this year will bring.  I am hoping it will be relatively uneventful.  Last year was the constant worry of whether we were going to move or not, then the move and getting settled.  It was a rough year of constant change.  Now that things are more settled, I hope it stays that way.  I just have to trust the Lord that whatever comes our way this year that we will come through it with grace and prayer.

Lord watch over us during the coming year.  Keep us safe and healthy.  Provide for our needs.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Liz is almost 16 when she dies and makes her journey to Elsewhere. Elsewhere is quiet and peaceful, you can't get sick or any older. In fact when you arrive, you start getting younger. On the boat ride to Elsewhere Liz comes to the realization that she died. She isn't very happy when she arrives and has a hard time adjusting to her new surroundings.

Now she is in a world where she will never getting any older and will never achieve those milestones most teenagers look forward to. Liz is not adjusting well to never getting any older. Where some one older wouldn't mind.

I really enjoyed this story. I wasn't sure I would at the beginning, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read the other books by this author and like them just as well.

Quick read. Well worth the time!