When we first meet Alice Ballard, the heroine, we are instantly drawn to her shy, insecure, yet gentle heart. Tied to a man no one has seen or heard from in five years, the upkeep is unbearable. Being connected to the lucrative Ballard trust, through marriage, does her little good because her spiteful mother-in-law does everything in her power to keep Alice from the money that is rightfully hers. And any hopes Alice has of breaking free are quickly shattered. But when a handsome man from the past shows up on her doorstep, promising Alice the love she’s always longed for but never had, her desire to be free increases to the point of desperation. It isn’t long before she takes matters into her own hands, eliciting the help of her handsome new lawyer friend. But when the web of lies that have become her life unravel, will she, and her only remaining son, be able to bear the truth or will it tear what’s left of their lives to shreds?

Although it took about forty pages or so for me to really get into this book, once I understood all the dynamics, I was hooked. Lisa Lickel turns our ideas of “Romeo and Juliet Romances” on their ears in a story that will keep you turning the pages long into the night.

The novel introduces Sara, a successful corporate executive, happily married, mother of two, who suddenly becomes caregiver for her elderly mother, Rose. Recently widowed, and independent Rose lived in the family home of over 50 years until a serious fall resulted in hip surgery, slow recovery and declining health and progressive dependence on Sara.

Rose and Sara are typical of the elderly parent needing care and the dutiful daughter trying to meet the multiple demands of caregiving, a growing family, and a flourishing career. Feelings of guilt, self-reproach, lack of sleep, and trying to accomplish all types of minutia overwhelm Sara has she feels her world crumbling around her.

Excruciating pain, loss of independence, and no social outlet have turned Rose from an effervescent self-sufficient person to a depressed, bitter, demanding recluse.

“If I Walked in her Shoes” invites the reader to view one day from the two perspectives, Rose, demanding and lonely, and Sara, overwhelmed and defensive. The question considered from the two viewpoints asks, “What is it like to be in the others shoes?”

Susan Salach dramatically helps her characters come to grips with the importance of the foundation of family love as the basis for an ongoing bonding relationship in times of crisis and changing roles.

Susan Salach’s writing is strong, her characters real, and her plot is believable. Introspective, informative, inspirational, and heart searching describe this beautiful tribute to caregivers everywhere.

For Pinkerton man Sanders, the wound in his side was the least of his problems. Anna%u2019s bullet made a detour through that painful flesh abrasion, wounded his manly pride (he%u2019d been shot by a woman!), then made a bee line for his heart, which he%u2019d been convinced would never love again. But the feisty socialite changed his mind in an instant%u2014sure as shootin%u2019!

Anna%u2019s parents are set on marrying her off to whatever wealthy, respectable suitor will take her off their hands. But Anna%u2019s every bit as determined not to marry a man she doesn%u2019t love. She%u2019s also set her mind on becoming a reporter. She knows she can write. She%u2019s the anonymous author of a whole series of dime novels, and has her own well-stocked bank account to prove it.

When Anna%u2019s sleuthing brings her into repeated contact with none other than Doc Holliday, as well as his good friend Wyatt Earp, Jeb makes up his mind to stop the headstrong, independent, incorrigible woman before she gets hurt. After all, he%u2019s the hired gun Anna%u2019s father pays to keep his daughter safe from herself. Besides, Jeb has a score to settle with Holliday for murdering his wife.

Anna%u2019s antics and Jeb%u2019s determined quelling of them makes for a hilarious romp of a semi-western romance. Bringing Earp and Holliday into the storyline serves to add believability to this fun tale. Y%u2019Barbo%u2019s well-rounded characters insert themselves into the readers heart and don%u2019t let go. I loved both Jed and Anna from the first, action-packed scene, and cheered for them until the last captivating paragraph.

An easy read, one that leaves the reader with a smile and a little more faith in the power of love.

A drunk driver left Grayson without his beloved wife and Dayne without his devoted mother two years ago. Sara steps in to try and help her brother, but Grayson can’t seem to get over the loss of his wife. Longing for some time to focus on Dayne and heal from his loss, Grayson convinces his church to hire an associate pastor. Enter Mark Welch and his beautiful and loyal sister Adrea. In a unique turn of events, Grayson comes face-to-face with the florist who has been creating the arrangements of white roses he ordered for his wife Sara. The arrangements he faithfully presented to her during their life together, he now leaves at her grave.

Grayson and Adrea find themselves unable to deny that their pain and loss on Valentine’s Day three years before is the only thing drawing them together. But fears and secrets, all grounded in the past, seem determined to drive them apart.

Vannatter, a pastor’s wife, knows the ins and outs of church leadership and uses that knowledge to give the reader glimpses of the real-life struggles and humanness of those called into ministry. In a refreshing, easy-to-read style, Vannatter shows the reader true-to-life believers wresting with the same things we all do: fear, doubt, forgiveness, and anger. There are no squeaky clean, never-fail Christians in this book. Rather the reader will meet believers trying to do the right thing, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing, in the face of difficult circumstances. The reader is likely to recognize himself or herself in one or many of Vannatter’s unique characters.

Vannatter develops both the story and the characters to a satisfying conclusion, teaching us all a lesson about trusting God and remaining faithful even in the midst of the most heart-rending circumstances. Readers of contemporary romance will enjoy the believable characters and the universal themes portrayed in this delightful story that is compact enough to enjoy in a weekend or even one late-night read.

Reviewed by: Nikki Studebaker Barcus

Raney does a beautiful job of creating interesting, yet flawed, characters who strike a cord within us. Tackling the uncomfortable subject of domestic violence, Raney allows the reader to see the effects of such abuse on the heart, mind, and soul of the survivor. Giving the reader a peek into the thought processes and rationalizations of why woman stay in such situations, and how that past colors every aspect of their future.

Raney’s writing keeps the reader turning pages, rooting for the characters, and absorbing the lessons about forgiveness and new beginnings right along with Maggie, Trevor, and the residents of Clayburn. Unique secondary characters, interesting plot turns, and delightful instances of humor will make this a book you pick up time and again. A recommended book for anyone who enjoys women’s fiction and romance. Women in or from abusive situations may enjoy the themes of restoration and healing, especially.

My disappointment did not last long however. This book isn%u2019t so much Bruce Lee as it is Confucius in style. It is a book filled with proverbial statements that are often styled in a semi-Asiatic and reflective way. They cover politics, spirituality and of course, God. Though you may occasionally disagree with some of Fox’s reflections, you cannot escape the fact that he points to a personal walk with God as the answer. Fox has no appetite for, as he puts it %u201Corganised religion%u201D. His appetite is for God. Like a good fighter Fox breaks through many of the stereotypes and heresies that modern culture so foolishly clings to but does so in a matter of fact way – like an athlete who doesn%u2019t stop for a rest, cause frankly, he isn%u2019t sweating. His style is not rude, yet to the point.

This book is ideal for those who embrace haikus, martial arts and Zen poetry. It can serve as bridge building book between yourself and one who might not pick up the latest Rick Warren book. This book has the courage to be different and such books are what is needed today.

-Joshua Jones
Youth and Student Leader,
St.Nics Church, Nottingham

One scene in the book made tears come to my eyes and that doesn’t happen often. It was so touching and full of emotion. Sad, but very beautiful.

“Creede of Old Montana” is funny, inspiring, full of love, has many battles and fights, but also has sad, touching moments. So if you love Westerns this is a book you must have. Even if you don’t like them you will love this book. I HIGHLY recommond “Creede of Old Montana.”

Her best friend is Emory Chance, a woman who once had an affair with Ouisie’s preacher husband. Without Emory and the bottle hidden in Ouisie’s bedroom, life would be unbearable for the reverend’s wife. Since Emory’s found the Lord, she’s a different woman, and one of only a few who know about Hap’s violent tendencies. One of the few Ouisie trusts with that knowledge.

Ouisie’s children know. They’ve witnessed it, been on the receiving end of it. Her little girl has a lisp and is growing old before she’s grown. Her son, Jed, already bitter after the death of his friend Daisy, grows angrier and more belligerent as his mother continues to keep secrets and refuses to protect herself or her children from Hap. But Ouisie guards her husband’s reputation because, as a wife who fails to make her husband happy, surely his fits of temper are her own fault.

Somewhere in Defiance, the man who stole young Daisy Chance’s life still lives and breathes and plans his next move. And then there’s Elijah, a self-proclaimed prophet, who shows up out of nowhere and befriends Ouisie.

Her life is spinning out of control. She’s on a collision course with disaster, and too afraid to take the reins and stop the headlong rush. Will she find her courage before her world crashes in around her…before her children are forever destroyed by life and Hap Pepper’s cruelty?

Life in Defiance is the third and final book in the Defiance, Texas trilogy. Mary DeMuth has created a town full of living, breathing characters with wants and needs, problems and secrets. They’re not perfect people, and they live in a far from perfect world. This author is a master at capturing human emotion and pouring it onto a written page. My heart bled as Ouisie suffered under Hap’s heavy hand and heartless comments. My mother’s heart cried for Jed and Sissy as they cringed beneath their father’s temper and their mother’s inability to fight back. I longed to comfort Emory, who lived with not only her daughter’s murder, but her own failure as a mother prior to Daisy’s death. No one creates emotion like DeMuth. Every book in the Defiance series is a masterpiece. Each of the first two seemed to reach a pinnacle of excellence, leaving me to wonder how the next story could possibly reach or exceed its impact. Each time, DeMuth answered with another perfect, powerful follow-up. Absolutely unforgettable.

This book challenges pre-conceived ideas and misconceptions of single-parenthood and reminds us of the importance of looking past the superficial. Hannah Johns, a Christian woman who finds herself raising a toddler alone, has an impenetrable faith that draws others to her and to her God. I admired her purity, gentleness and open-hearted love, until her kindhearted nature put her in a place of total emotional vulnerability. Then, as Brock Ellis twisted that knife even deeper into her already wounded heart, I longed for vindication. Suddenly, I didn’t want Hannah to be the nice, gentle, forgiving Hannah anymore. I wanted her to walk away and harden her heart. But at a time when I would have been wallowing in self-pity, Hannah drew closer to God and trusted in His plan. And ultimately, it was her faith and total surrender to the will of God that brought about her ultimate healing.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery