Under a Maui Moon by Robin Jones Gunn

Carissa and Richard have been married for twenty-four years and raised a terrific son in Portland, Oregon.   What a wonderful time for them to become reacquainted.  But instead they have been growing apart.   They just weren't communicating or showing love for one another.  Then Carissa lost her job working for a group of physicians.  Before she left the office, one of the doctors offered her the use of his cottage on Maui for a vacation.  He and his wife would not be there again for several months.  Carissa made flight reservations and took off without talking to Richard or her sister or mother about where she was going or why.  Maui was a lovely spot for letting go of stress and lots of confusion.  The people she met there were hospitable and caring.  What better place to breathe in God's love and guidance.  What better place to rekindle a marriage.

Place this book on hold in the catalog. It is available in large print too. 


~Beth H.

Grace Will Lead Me Home by Katherine Valentine

Dorsetville is home to a variety of characters. It is a small town where people know one another, genuinely care about each other and help when there is need. Father James and Father Dennis are part of the community and people love them. But their housekeeper, Mrs. Norris, has had enough of their sloppy habits around the house. She quit suddenly and the search began for a new housekeeper for the rectory. The women who took the job were certainly unique and nothing like Mrs. Norris. Deputy Hill is well intentioned and wants to be a good lawman but he just has a way of making situations worse instead of better. What will he do next that the sheriff will need to fix? When an ex-convict moves into the rectory he is given another chance at life. The people in Dorsetville are much like the people in Jan Karon's Mitford. They are just folks living life as best they can while being themselves. Often things go better with God's grace.

The Secret (Seasons of Grace, book one) by Beverly Lewis

Judah Byler is an Amish sheep farmer. He and Lettie are the parents of Adam, Joe, Grace and Mandy. Lettie's parents live under the same roof but in their own side of the house. Each person knows their jobs and they do them which makes for harmonious living. But lately Lettie has been restless and has even been seen walking the roads and pastures during the night. She hasn't told anyone what is bothering her. Judah is busy day and night caring for the ewes and new lambs. Grace is of courting age and often attends the singings on Sunday evenings. One day Lettie talked to Grace about Henry. She just wanted Grace to think now what married life to such a quiet man would be. The next evening Henry proposed to Grace and she accepted. That very night Grace saw her mother leaving with a suitcase and she wouldn't stop when Grace called out to her. Where was she going and why? Later Grace found the letter Lettie had left her. Judah read it, too. The contents of that letter really did not help the family. As the community learned of Lettie's absence the rumors began to fly. How many people are hurt by the actions of one?

In a city far removed from Amish country lives Heather, a successful woman who has received devastating news from her doctor. Instead of following the prescribed treatment she has decided to take a lengthy vacation at an Amish bed and breakfast run by a neighbor of the Bylers. She hopes an alternative treatment will heal her and being in this peaceful setting is already helping her spirit.

The Longing The Courtship of Nellie Fisher book 3 by Beverly Lewis

Nellie Fisher and Caleb Yoder have ended their budding relationship. This is one result of the split in the Old Order Amish Church. Caleb is determined to stay with the traditional rules and lifestyle of his youth-life in the Old Order Amish Community. Nellie and her family have found new life in the New Order church. The church split has even divided families and couples like the breakup of Nellie and Caleb. David Yoder has always been known as being proud and stubborn. In the middle of all the confusion among the People, David had a stroke which left him paralyzed and in need of help. It is very hard for him to ask for any kind of help. When friends and family from the Old and New Order Church offered their help, love, prayers and he was resistant to all but a few. Caleb, his son, does accept help with the milking when his cousin Chris offers his services. What will happen when David learns that a Mennonite is helping in his barn? Nellie's sister, Rhoda, is still in her time of running around before joining the church. And she decides to move into town, rent an apartment with conveniences like electricity and modern appliances. She has even bought a car and is driving to and from her job as waitress. Her 'fancy' boyfriend cooks for her in his apartment and wants her to stay late. This has put a strain on Rhoda's relationship with her brother, her landlord for now. What should Nellie do in her relationships with Caleb who she still loves, her sister who needs guidance and Chris who is interested in her?

Of all the stories by Lewis which I have read about the Amish I found this to be more open about the Plain lifestyle and its problems. Each book opens up more questions about a way of life which is so different from ours. People I have met from the Plain community are as different from each other as we are and they are each special.

The Gift by Richard Paul Evans

Nathan Hurst works security for a music store chain as a house detective only not the kind that walks around watching for shoplifters. He watches the transactions in over 300 stores and catches employees stealing from the company. In so doing he travels to other cities to complete investigations and have employees arrested. Some people are surprised when arrested. Some are shocked that they would be caught. So Nathan has saved the company lots of money and even has had some merchandise returned by the thieves. It was in the airport when returning from one of his business trips that he met Addison, Collin and Elizabeth. The weather was awful with ice, snow, wind and bone chilling temperatures shutting down air travel. The prospect was time spent sleeping on the floor in the airport until flights would resume. When Nathan met Addison and saw her son, a chemo patient with surgical mask and very pale skin, he was moved to share his hotel suite with these desperate people. This was the beginning of an amazing relationship. Collin was not even ten but was wise for someone so small. Through his years of sickness and treatments for leukemia he had acquired an understanding of listening to other people and caring about them. He also was given the gift of healing. As he put it he could make life better for people. Sadly he was unable to heal himself and each time he touched someone transferring his healing energy to them he was sicker for days. Nathan continued his job of catching bad employees and travelling around the country. When the story of Collins' gift was in the newspaper, people flocked to his home, trying for a touch of his hand. Addison called Nathan and the police. Until someone broke the law the police could only keep the crowds off Addison's property. So Nathan helped them go elsewhere until the madness subsided. But it only got worse. Addison's ex husband tried to sell Collins' gift. He had approached several wealthy people who were in need of healing. Though he had been told what each episode did to Collin, he wanted the money and chose to ignore the warning. Early in the book Nathan says this is not a Christmas story. But it tells so much about the spirit of giving on several levels that I think it is a story about love and caring. And who doesn't need a good dose of both?

The Note by Angela Hunt

Peyton MacGruder was called to the office of her editor, Nora Chilton, at the Tampa Times. According to a reader survey Nora tells Peyton that her column by the Heart Healer is not being read by enough people. Nora gives Peyton three weeks to bring up those reader numbers. In the meantime Peyton needs to consider where else she wants to work at the paper. On Wednesday, June 13, a flight left New York bound for Tampa. Chapter one gives details of that day including flight preparations by crew, controllers and pilots, what the passengers were doing during the flight, the food that was served in the air and the weather in New York and Tampa. Before reaching the Tampa airport the plane crashed, leaving questions as to what caused the tragedy. Of course, Tampa Times covered the crash with stories about the known facts. Days later someone stopped Peyton as she was leaving work. They gave her a sandwich bag containing a note which might have been written by a passenger of the ill fated flight. A friend at the newspaper, King, thought Peyton would save her column by finding the person who was to receive the note and writing about her search for her readers. He encouraged her to follow her heart. When Peyton wrote her first column about the note Nora read it and was surprised and upset by something she had not approved.
Then Peyton was approached by Julie St. Claire about sharing the story and getting television coverage of each step in that search. Even the CEO of the television station and newspaper asked Peyton to do this. When Peyton traveled to St. Louis for the first interview, Julie was there with a camera crew but Peyton had a signed confidentiality agreement from the first prospect. When Peyton agreed to share the story with Julie it was with the understanding that the outcome of the search would first appear in the Heart Healer on July 4. Julie St. Claire appeared with cameras at each interview location and was more invasive and upsetting to the prospects than was Peyton. Tanner Ford had even arranged with Julie to have coverage as he claimed the note was for him. Later Peyton was approached by a small strawberry blond at the lake in front of the newspaper building. She gave good reasons for claiming the note was meant for her. Julie St. Claire had planned a televised interview with Tanner Ford, the intended recipient of the note. Peyton knew he was lying and contacted him before that telecast. What would he do when Julie asked him his reaction to the note?
Hallmark's movie of The Note starred Genie Francis as Peyton MacGruder. King is played by Ted McGinley. Hallmark made several changes in the story for the movie such as the location of the newspaper and Peyton's home and the crash site. Some of the characters are different in the book and movie but both versions work. In both the book and movie there is a surprise revelation for Peyton herself and her friends. I saw the movie before reading the book and I suggest you enjoy both, too. Check the Hallmark schedule (it airs The Note Thursday evening September 18) to watch how the story unfolds and read the book which you will find on the library catalog.

Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber

Anne Marie had invited several women to meet at her bookstore after hours on Valentine's day for a special celebration. These women were all widows and felt left out of the usual activities of the day. Their celebration was for life and friendship. During their sharing several suggestions were made including volunteer work, helping someone else and making a list of wishes. A discussion of the list better developed the idea. Twenty seemed like a good number and the items should be wishes or dreams, not goals or things to accomplish as on a 'honey do list.' The idea caught on and as time went by each woman who made a list seemed to be renewed or energized. Anne Marie decided to try volunteering at a grade school relating to one little girl. Just this act was life changing for both Anne Marie and her new friend. Lillie and Barbie both lost their husbands in the same plane crash and they were now interested in new love. People who were not in the 'widow group' were intrigued with the list and began their own. Such a simple act as making a list can have amazing results with ripple effects. The group members met frequently to share what was happening in their lives and how the lists helped them. I enjoyed reading this story with unexpected twists and turns and think a list may be a good thing.

Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn

This is the latest book by Robin Jones Gunn in her Sisterchick series and it is a winner. (Each of these books is a little different since they have different main characters on holiday in places that are right for them.) In this story, Liz and Kellie have been friends for years and have been talking about dreams and wishes. Kellie's hobby is interior decorating. Liz's gift is shopping for bargains and her wish is to see Big Ben in London. Quite by chance or accident they were hired to decorate Opal's space at the retirement home. Opal is a petite woman with spunk and is the first at the home to step out of the usual decor and make her rooms her own. Others liked it so much that they followed her lead. Rather than pay money for the job, Opal gave Kellie and Liz airline tickets to England so they could be her companions and then enjoy their visit to her homeland. While palnning their trip Liz and Kellie each wrote down the top five places they most wanted to see in England. When they arrived they took Opal to her sister's House and received a big, or petite, surprise. Rose was Opal's twin who lived in a quaint house in Olney. Though the plan had been to return immediately to London, the twins convinced them to stay - for a couple days. Then they were misdirected enroute and landed in Oxford which had much to offer. It became clear that the trip which had been planned by dreams, desires and searching the Internet was being directed by God. Kellie and Liz were following His guideance and growing closer to Him while learning things about themselves and each other. When finally in London they got to their list. I don't want to tell you too much-I'll just say surprises abound up to the very end of the book for Liz, Kellie, Opal and Rose.

Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber

Many people pray for things they want or need. Especially when they are in trouble or during the Christmas holiday season. One year the angels were so busy helping people that the Archangel Gabriel decided to send Shirley, Goodness and Mercy to Earth to help with three requests. Previously these three angels had overstepped their bounds. This time they all want to be helpful to their assigned people without trying to make things happen as they want them. Carter wants a dog but his family cannot afford one. Beth feels that since she has failed in her marriage she is afraid to try a new relationship. Harry knows he is dying and wants to know his wife will be taken care of after his passing. Will these situations be resolved before Christmas? How can the angels help a little boy with his greatest wish, help a young woman trust and commit again and help an older gentleman find peace of mind? While reading this story I was aware of the angels but the focus is mostly on Carter, Beth, Harry and their needs. I wonder how many people are helped by angels daily without realizing it?

RV There Yet? by Diann Hunt

Can you imagine three independent women travelling cross country in an RV together? DeDe, Millie and Lydia had met at a camp in Colorado one summer in high school. Now they are more mature, as in fiftyish, menopausal and premenopausal. When they got word that Aspen Creek Bible Camp was in need of help from its alumni, the three friends decided to take time off from their "regular lives" and have an adventure. They met at Lydia's in Maine and got reacquainted while preparing for the trip. Waldo, the recreational vehicle, had weeds growing up around it but Lydia thought "he" should be okay. On the trip from Maine to Colorado DeDe had time to reconsider her troubled relationship with Rob, Millie was paranoid about her job at the library and Lydia continued missing her late husband. Each expected to see certain people they remembered from camp. They also expected to work at fixing up the buildings and grounds of a place that meant good times. What happened on the way was unexpected and the group they reunited with at Aspen camp was a surprise, too. Millie's organizational skills helped and so did Lydia's culinary expertise. But Millie's trumpet playing resulted in a somewhat scary outcome. Time to rethink life, relationships and how we spend our time was productive for many of the alums. This is sure a fun read full of chick humor and situations. I look forward to reading another story about friends laughing, listening and caring about one another as they go through life's 'adventures.'

Joshua: A Parable for Today by Joseph F. Girzone

Joshua moved to a small town called Auburn, renting a house on the outskirts. There he enjoyed his simple lifestyle in peace and quiet and spent time filling orders in his woodworking shop. That was his only source of income and he enjoyed making for people everything from statues to furniture. Word spread of a man who lived alone, made amazing things out of wood and had a deep understanding of God and religion. Most adults and children enjoyed being with Joshua and having conversations with him. Some of the clergy in Auburn became wary of him because of what they thought he was teaching their parishioners. Even when some ministers became agitated in their comments Joshua remained calm and gave thorough explanations of his beliefs. He visited several churches in town and the nearby synagogue when invited by members. His simple life became busier and complicated and He remained the same calm person, always ready to help someone in need.

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

She appeared out of nowhere just when Seth and his twin boys needed a housekeeper. The house was a shambles and Seth was a wreck. Her name was Emily Merkle. And she arrived with a wonderful pot pie for supper and a "Mother Goose" personality. The boys soon called her Mrs. Miracle and Seth picked up on the name. It was some time before Seth realized that the agency had not sent her. But there she was and everyone loved her. She fit right in at church doing what she could to help. She even encouraged Reba to date Seth. Not everyone was quite sure of Mrs. Miracle. Aunt Harriet began hearing voices and just felt that Emily was "other worldly."
Jerry and Sharon had been married for forty years and had raised Seth's twin sons after their mother was killed. Now the couple has grown distant and seem to have nothing in common. Suddenly Sharon asked for a divorce. How can Mrs. Miracle make this right? She has her hands full with Seth, the twins, Reba and her sister. Mrs. Miracle is certainly Heaven sent for all concerned.

Loving Natalee

Loving Natalee was easy to read and as someone who followed the case, I enjoyed the book. Beth is candid about her feelings and her account is sincere and heartfelt. The book walks the reader through the pain of losing her beautiful daughter. The reader feels her frustrations and the many yet unanswered questions surrounding the loss of her child. The story is inspirational as you learn how this courageous woman deals with a parent’s worst fear.

The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans

Christine and Martin were in love and getting ready to spend their lives together. She was planning her dream wedding-just the right flowers, food and gown. One week before the wedding Martin told Christine that he could not marry her. Her best friend, Jessica, could tell how devastating that was. She suggested they take part in a humanitarian work trip to Peru. On the trip the guide, Jim, introduced the group to a very different culture from their own. They met Paul, an ER doctor from the United States, who runs an orphanage of children who have been taken off the streets by the police. All the children are boys but one. Roxana is deaf and shy. The children had been abandoned by society and some had been sold or prostituted. While there Christine, Jessica and the rest of the group painted a classroom, built a greenhouse and spent time with the children. Then they went by foot and canoe into the jungle to stay at a lodge. Jim and Jessica became very good friends and so did Christine and Paul. As they worked at projects and being with the children, Christine found herself being helped as she was helping others on this mission to Peru.

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

Her favorite holiday had always been Christmas. Then shortly before that wonderful, beautiful, peaceful holiday, Joy Candellaro found her husband and sister together. Her marriage had been dying and she now realized it was really over. So she decided to treat herself to an adventure away from reality. She boarded a small plane headed for the northwoods. The plane crashed but she walked away from it and came to a lodge. It was run by Bobby and Daniel who were grieving the loss of Daniel's ex/Bobby's mother. Joy helped Bobby with his reading and Christmas decorating. Daniel began to relax some and even seemed to enjoy having Joy around. Then she passed out. Would her life ever gel for her again?