The Kill List, by Nichole Christoff

Jaime Sinclair, the daughter of a U.S. Senator and former Army General has taken on a life vocation of being a Private Investigator who specializes in Security Issues. As the book starts out she is helping to catch a 'stalker' who is going after a Television Personality. In the process she almost looses her life, but she catches the stalker.

As soon as this situation seems to have resolved itself she is called by her former husband, an Army Colonel whose daughter has been kidnapped. Jaime will rush to the Army base to help in the process of finding the little girl. She will come in contact with a former friend, FBI agent Kev Jaeger. She will also meet a new friend, Lt. Colonel Adam Barrett who happens to be the head of the MP's at Leeds Army Base.

Together with Lt. Colonel Barrett Ms. Sinclair will help to uncover several different illegal situations as well as find our what happened to Little Brooke, the three year old diabetic who was kidnapped. And, if that is not enough she will face the issue of developing feelings for Lt. Colonel Barrett. 

But she and Lt. Colonel Barrett have past life issues that will make it impossible for them to develop a relationship, unless of course they can each come to the point of revealing past hurts and seeking the healing that they need.

The story is well written. The characters are developed in an amazing way for such a short book. There are plenty of plot twists and yet the whole thing is very realistic and believable. I love the way that Christoff develop's her story and ties several issues together from stalking to PTSD to illegal activity and kidnapping to family bullying and abuse issues. There are many talking points for this book and they are all easy to get into.

I enjoyed the book tremendously and would love for friends to read it so that we could sit down in a book club and dialogue about all the different issues that are raised.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Other Mr. Darcy, by Monica Fairview

For a Pride and Prejudice sequel this one is very well thought out and well written. The main character's of the story will be Caroline Bingley and Mr. Robert Darcy, the cousin of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

The story starts with Caroline having an emotional breakdown at the celebration of the Lizzy and Darcy's wedding. She goes to the library to console herself by having a good cry. What she doesn't know is that Mr. Robert Darcy is in the Library, in the shadows, looking for a book and having a drink. He is witness to Caroline's meltdown.

As the story develops we will watch as Caroline Bingley has to deal with learning to let herself go emotionally and that it will not mean that she gives up being a Lady. For Robert Darcy he must contend with Caroline's feelings that he is not gentlemanly enough. It seems like Pride and Prejudice all over again, but with different characters.

For me I grew to dislike Caroline and Louisa Bingley in the original book. I did not like their high brow ways and the constant banter about the Bennett's and country society. So, I needed to have some real tenacity to keep reading. But Monica Fairview drew me in and had me watching Caroline blossom into a Lady that was someone you could actually like and cheer for, hoping that God would bless her life with a man to love. The only question being is Mr. Robert Darcy that man.

I really did love the book and thought it a great sequel to the original work by Jane Austen. I think if you are an Austen fan you will enjoy reading about how Caroline can change, how she can grow, how she can come to discover that marriage is about love and not about society and upbringing and what you will gain financially.

Now the only question is, will Louisa Bingley Hurst ever change?

Enjoy!

The Job, by Janet Evanovich

What a fun little read. Nick Fox is an international thief that has been on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. But the truth is that Kate captured him years before but the FBI kept it quiet as Nick helped them to find and put behind bars many other crooks. In the mean time Nick has had lots of fun living the good life and spending some of the spoils of his previous life.

One problem, he really likes Kate and she, well, she really likes him. But her task is to keep him out of trouble and to use him to help capture other criminals. So, when the call comes that Nick was caught on video tape stealing some pricey artwork the FBI is not pleased. Then he is caught in the act of another crime. Kate is sent to try and capture him, but before she can leave he contacts her to tell her that it is a set up and not him.

The story will unfold to bring about the Con Job of the century as Nick and Kate work together to capture the head of a drug cartel through an elaborate con that they devise. The FBI knows what they are doing, but still they are off grid and will be disavowed if caught. Forget that, if caught by the drug cartel no one will ever find the bodies.

The writing is really good. The cast of characters are very well developed and the story line is plausible and down right ingenious.

This is a great little read that everyone will enjoy.

From the FBI to Scotland Yard to the world's largest Drug Cartel the world will just get busy and fun.

Enjoy!

Crossroads, by Barbara Cameron

This is a good story about two young Amish people who have "loved" each other since grade school. Emma loves her Amish life and is looking forward to getting married and raising children. Isaac is not so sure he loves the Amish life. He has moved out of his parents home and rented a small cottage and is enjoying his running around stage of life. He has taken to living like the English to the point of even drinking alcohol.

Emma is not sure she likes what Isaac is doing but she is tolerating his experimenting. But then he suddenly asks her to move in with him, before they get married. She is shocked and angered by his request. How could he think such a thing. They would be shunned by the community. She says no and their relationship seems to end.

The story will be about Isaac learning what is valuable to him. He will learn what life without Emma is like and will have to decide what he will do about joining the church. His friend Davy is working with him as a roofer and they seem to be headed the wrong way.

An accident on the job will jar Isaac into looking at life a bit different once again. What will the outcome be.

The story is nicely written and enjoyable to read. For my first time reading a Barbara Cameron novel I did enjoy it very much. I'm sure you will as well.

A Love Undone, by Cindy Woodsmall

Van Beiler and Jolene Keim are engaged to be married, but one week before the wedding Jolene's parents are swept away in a flash flood at the river crossing and they both drown. Jolene has a decision to make, as the oldest of six children what should she do? She tells Van that she wants to marry but then stay and take care of her siblings. Van isn't so sure he wants that. As a matter of face he calls off the marriage and Jolene is left with her siblings to raise on her own.

To make matters worse in a year or so Van will marry Jolene's rival from school who always had her eyes set on Van. Things just seem to go from bad to worse.

Then a new man with a son shows up to provide training for 22 abused horses that the humane society asks him to take. He comes to his uncle Lester's farm to do the work. Jolene happens to provide house cleaning and meals for Old Man Lester. She meets Andy Fisher and has an immediate attraction. It is her understanding that Andy is a widower.

As her heart develops longings for Andy she is going to come to find out that he is actually not a widower but that he is still married, his wife has left him, but he is still married. Thus her heart again is being crushed.

The story is sad yet very heart warming. The additional heart warming part has to do with the animals that Andy is tasked with taking care of. It will give him a chance to find a woman who knows how to care for animals. It will also give him the opportunity to help a young man find a new calling.

But for him the hardest part will be loosing his heart to a woman that he can't have.

This is a great story and written very well.

Enjoy!

History of the World in 1,000 Objects

What a truly fun and amazing book. First of all be aware that this book weighs a bunch. When the package first showed up from Amazon I didn't think it was a book, it was just too heavy. But upon opening it up here was this treasure inside that is becoming one of my favorite fun things to look through, read and learn from.

No I have not finished the entire book, that will take a long time. But what is so amazing are the pictures of the items that are being described and the stories that they tell.

The book is laid out by different time periods of history. Then within those time periods they have amassed pictures of items from pottery to petticoats. Then they describe each item and it's relationship to that period of history.

As a reference book this will be a fun addition to any library, your children can start looking through it and find items of interest that will help them create even more informed essay's on history for their education. I think also that this will help teach kids and adults alike about history in a fun way. It truly is a stunning piece of work and one that you will not want to hide away, but place on a coffee table and keep handy for times of learning and enjoyment.

I think also this would be a great addition to a home library for those who home school, your kids will love it.

Enjoy!

The Shadows of Christmas Past, by Christine Feehan

Friends,

This being a romance novel written by a secular writer means that there are some sections that my Christian readers might not appreciate. Let me again say that you can just skip those three to six pages of text and move on in the story and not miss a thing. But before you let your teenage read you might want to read it yourself. With that said, here is my review:

Maia Armstrong has a gift. She is the perfect veterinarian. She seems to be able to heal any wounds on any animals. She also has an uncanny ability to calm the animals down while she works with them. So, why if she is so good does she travel from place to place filling in for other doctors? Why doesn't she have her own clinic?

Oh, and did I mention that she is beautiful? Not only that she is a great drummer. When she is not working she likes to go to the local bar and fill in with local bands as their drummer. She is really good.

Then there is Cole Steele. He is aloof from everyone. He is hard, strong willed, intimidating and is a bad boy to the bone. He left home as soon as he could because of an overly abusive father. Since he has been away he has spent time in jail, intimidated way to many people and seduced his share of woman, never settling down.

But he has returned to town because his father has been murdered and he has discovered that he has a half brother, Jase, whom he has never known about or meant. His fourteen year old half brother needs a guardian. Cole returns to fill that role.

Oh, and as an aside the murdered father has left each of his sons 32 million dollars as their inheritance.

But the town people think that Cole probably killed his father and is planning on killing his half brother to get the full inheritance.

Cole and Jase go to town to have dinner and run into Maia. To say that Cole is intrigued is a light statement. He is captivated.

Through a series of events Maia, Cole and Jase will end up spending Christmas together. Will it be a disaster or will it be healing for to very hurt young men?

The story is very well written. The tension that is raised is amazing. The characters are each developed in perfect harmony to the story and the secrets of each ones past comes to the surface as they learn to trust each other and care for each other.

This is just a perfect Christmas read for anyone wanting that special heartwarming story.

Enjoy!