Need to Read #41: Captive Maiden

Title: Captive Maiden

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Book blurb: Gisela's childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father's death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela meets the duke's son, Valten--the boy she has daydreamed about for years--and learns he is throwing a ball, she vows to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

Quick endorsement: I love fairy tale retellings and was delighted when Melanie decided to re-tell Cinderella! This book was lovely and I highly recommend it to all fans of fairy tales.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-tour-captive-maiden.html

Need to Read #40: No One to Trust

Title: No One to Trust

Author: Lynette Eason

Book blurb: Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover story?
The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

Quick endorsement: Lynette’s books are never a disappointment! This one was packed with action, suspense, mystery, adventure, and romance. I couldn’t put it down!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2014/01/revell-blog-tour-no-one-to-trust.html

Need to Read #39: Glittering Promises

Title: Glittering Promises

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Book blurb: America’s newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are track the news story of the decade—“Copper Cora,” the rags-to-riches girl—and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn’t going to claim Will’s heart, she might just try...

Quick endorsement: I have loved so many of Lisa’s books – this one is no exception! It was a stunning conclusion to the Grand Tour series. As I say in my review: “This book is worth buying, worth owning, and worth reading again and again.”

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/10/litfuse-blog-tour-glittering-promises.html

Need to Read #38: Head in the Clouds

Title: Head in the Clouds

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Book blurb: Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.
When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.
When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

Quick endorsement: Confession: I’ve only read this book once so far and that was almost three years ago. However, I loved it then – it made me laugh several times, and the people were delightful! I did finally obtain my own copy via PaperBackSwap, and am eagerly looking forward to re-reading this one someday. Great book!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2011/05/head-in-clouds.html

Need to Read #37: Trinity

Title: Trinity

Author: Ronie Kendig

Book blurb: A year ago in Afghanistan, Green Beret Heath Daniel’s career was destroyed. Along with his faith. Now he and his military war dog, Trinity, train other dogs and their handlers. Though his passion is to be back in action, the medical discharge has forced Heath—and Trinity—to the sidelines. Military intelligence officer Darci Kintz is captured while secretly tracking the Taliban. Only one dog can handle the extreme conditions to save her. Trinity. Only one man can handle Trinity. Time is running out on the greatest—and most dangerous—mission of their lives.

Quick endorsement: While this book didn’t grab me at first, by the time I was 100 pages in, I couldn’t put it down. Modern war stories and/or dog stories aren’t usually my thing – but this book caught and held me to the very end! SO worth your time.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/05/trinity-military-war-dog.html

Need to Read #36: On Distant Shores

Title: On Distant Shores

Author: Sarah Sundin

Book blurb: Lt. Georgiana Taylor has everything she could want. A comfortable boyfriend back home, a loving family, and a challenging job as a flight nurse. But in July 1943, Georgie’s cozy life gets decidedly more complicated when she meets pharmacist Sgt. John Hutchinson. Hutch resents the lack of respect he gets as a noncommissioned serviceman and hates how the war keeps him from his fiancée. While Georgie and Hutch share a love of the starry night skies over Sicily, their lives back home are falling apart. Can they weather the hurt and betrayal? Or will the pressures of war destroy the fragile connection they’ve made?

Quick endorsement: World War II is a fascinating time period, and reading about Georgie’s adventures as a nurse is so interesting! I love the historical accuracy that fills Sarah’s books, only adding to their draw. Historical fiction lovers! This one is for you.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/12/on-distant-shores.html

Need to Read #35: Love at Any Cost

Title: Love at Any Cost

Author: Julie Lessman

Book blurb: Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassidy McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him. Hoping a summer visit with her wealthy cousins in San Francisco will help her forget her heartache, Cassidy travels west. But no sooner is she settled in beautiful California than Jamie McKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well, captures her heart. When Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than he is, Cassidy finds herself bucked by love a second time. Will Jamie discover that money can't buy love after all? And can Cassidy ever learn to fully trust her heart to a man?
With delectable descriptions and a romantic sensibility, bestselling author Julie Lessman brings the Gilded Age to life in this sumptuous new series. Readers will faithfully follow Lessman to the West Coast for more romance, passion, and surprising revelations found in "Love at Any Cost."

Quick endorsement: This is a big book, but it flies by due to the delightful people within the pages! The time period and location (Gilded Age San Francisco) just make it better. This is a book I’ll read many times – give it a try!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/05/love-at-any-cost.html

Need to Read #34: Dear Mr. Knightley

Title: Dear Mr. Knightley

Author: Katherine Reay

Book blurb: Dear Mr. Knightley is a contemporary epistolary novel with a delightful dash of Jane Austen.
Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self and encountering more pain.
After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous “Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress.
As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.

Quick endorsement: I was delighted that Katherine honored me by asking me to write an endorsement for this book – but that’s not why I’m recommending it now! I genuinely loved this one, loved the Jane Austen aspects, loved the writing, loved the characters, just plain loved it!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-tour-dear-mr-knightley.html

Need to Read #33: Submerged

Title: Submerged

Author: Dani Pettrey

Book blurb: Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a small town. She's returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn't appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he's not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?

Quick endorsement: I’ve read three books now by Dani Pettrey, and this one is my favorite. As you can see from my review, it earned a 9.5 from me! There were some amazing settings and the characters were awesome. This book is never leaving my shelf! All romantic suspense peoples – you’ll love it.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/04/submerged.html

Need to Read #32 (BONUS!): Book of Dreams

Title: Book of Dreams

Author: Davis Bunn

Book blurb: For Dr. Elena Burroughs, life is divided into two chapters—before and after the death of her husband. Today marks the point that her span of being a wife is equal to her span of being a widow. Even her success as a psychologist and her worldwide acclaim for a book on the interpretation of dreams is dimmed by an unspoken If only.
Then a new patient arrives, one so private only her first name is given. Impeccably dressed and escorted by two bodyguards, Sandra recounts a frightening series of recurrent nightmares. Elena agrees to consider her case more carefully, convinced that something ominous may be at work here. Elena's interpretation of her dreams confirms that, indeed, the new patient and her family confront a powerful global network of dangerous forces.
As the story unfolds, they face a key question of the Christian life: How do you understand and fulfill the will of God?

Quick endorsement: I’ve read this book twice. The first time, I read it and really enjoyed it, giving it a fairly high rating. The second time, I almost had to force myself to start it…only to find it really was as good a book as I had rated it! All that to say – this is a good book. The cover may not look it, the back cover may not read like it is…but give it a try.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-of-dreams.html

Need to Read #31: A Hobbit Devotional

 

Title: A Hobbit Devotional

Author: Ed Strauss

Book blurb: If you enjoy J. R. R. Tolkien—even if you’re new to his classic stories—you’ll love A Hobbit Devotional featuring 60 humorous, challenging, and encouraging devotionals. Soon to be a major motion picture, The Hobbit has fascinated readers for more than 70 years. Now, this tale of humble folk who overcome fear, discouragement, and despair through steadfastness, courage, and hope forms the basis of a brand-new devotional book. Each reading sketches a scene from The Hobbit, relates it to a contemporary life situation you might experience yourself, and brings in the teaching of a relevant Bible story or verse.

Quick endorsement: I had high hopes when I asked for this book, and they were not disappointed. Some devotional books based on literature are far too preachy, and come across as boring. But some? Are perfect. This is one of those. Perfect for those of you who are avid Hobbit fans, it incorporates the story and the application seamlessly in an interesting manner. I definitely recommend it.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-hobbit-devotional.html

Need to Read #30: Cranford

Title: Cranford

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell

Book blurb: Gaskell's witty and poignant comedy of country-town life, a gently comic picture of life in an English country town in the mid-nineteenth century, Cranford describes the small adventures of Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two middle-aged spinster sisters striving to live with dignity in reduced circumstances.
Rich with humor and filled with vividly memorable characters, including the dignified Lady Glenmire and the duplicitous showman Signor Brunoni, Cranford is a portrait of kindness, compassion, and hope.

Quick endorsement: I started this book thinking I’d read it merely because it was written by Elizabeth Gaskell (who I knew to be an excellent classic author) and because it had a TV show based upon it that many of my friends loved. Little did I expect to love this book myself! While it no doubt appears boring at first, you won’t find it to be so. Quaint and funny, it’s highly enjoyable!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2012/11/cranford.html

Need to Read #29: Vanished

Title: Vanished

Author: Irene Hannon

Book blurb: Reporter Moira Harrisons is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she's startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement--and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road.
A dazed Moira is relieved when a man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then everything fades to black. When she comes to an hour later, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person lying on the side of the road. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on the person's face in the instant before her headlights swung away. The person she hit had been in trouble. She's sure of it. But she can't get anyone to believe her story--except a handsome former police detective, now a private eye, who agrees to take on the case.
From the very first page, readers will be hooked into this fast-paced story full of shocking secrets from fan-favorite Irene Hannon. "Vanished" is the exciting first book in the Private Justice series: Three justice seekers who got burned playing by the rules now have a second chance to make things right.

Quick endorsement: If I had to name a great suspense book that I read in 2012…it would, at this moment, be this one. This book was amazing, packed with suspense and sweet romance, among other things. Definitely worth the money and the read.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2013/01/revell-blog-tour-vanished.html

Need to Read #28: Seed Sowers

Title: Seed Sowers

Author: Gwen Toliver

Book blurb: From the hot, steamy jungles of Indonesia to the highest mountain passes in the Andes of Peru, Seed Sowers: Gospel-Planting Adventures takes you on an unforgettable adventure around the world.
Hang on to your hats! Seed Sowers tells twenty one true tales of modern-day missionaries whose lives were anything but boring.
Crazed wildcats, angry witch doctors, heart pounding jungle rides down white-water rapids, terrifying headhunters and cannibals, and frightening first contacts with unknown tribes--each story bears testimony to the brave missionaries that God calls to serve.
Each one of them is a seed sower--planting the seeds of God's Word in the lives of people around the world waiting for Scripture in the language of their heart.

Quick endorsement: This book is action-packed, exciting, entertaining, funny, sad, and moving – all in one. A great collection of true missionary stories, and perfect for a read-aloud!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2012/12/seed-sowers.html

Need to Read #27: Bourne & Tributary

Title: Bourne and Tributary

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Book blurb: The Bettarinis and the boys they love are back with these two novellas that follow Waterfall, Cascade and Torrent.
In Bourne, t he story picks up right where Torrent left off...Find out what happened to wounded warriors returning from battle, to the Betarrinis, fighting for the men who've captured their hearts, and what will happen to them next...
A year later, in Tributary, Lia struggles to overcome the fear that constant battle has heaped upon her; Gabi and Marcello face an unexpected crisis; and Lord Greco may be ready to leave the grief and loss of his past behind him, so that he might grab hold of the future...

Quick endorsement: I suppose that these are supposedly two books…they originally came out as two separate e-novellas. But then they were published in soft cover form, and so I got a copy. And loved it. This one is the wrap up for the stories begun in Waterfall, a book that clocked in as my #2 Need to Read. This is a wonderful finale to the series (though I can hardly wait for the upcoming book Deluge!). (And yes – I took my book outside, laid it on icy tracks on the driveway, and took those pictures. :)

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2012/11/bourne-tributary.html

Need to Read #26: One Tuesday Morning

Title: One Tuesday Morning

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Book blurb: I'm a firefighter, God, so I know I've been in some tough places before. But this . . . this not knowing the people I love . . . this is the hardest thing I can imagine. The last thing Jake Bryan knew was the roar of the World Trade Center collapsing on top of him and his fellow firefighters. The man in the hospital bed remembers nothing. Not rushing with his teammates up the stairway of the south tower to help trapped victims. Not being blasted from the building. And not the woman sitting by his bedside who says she is his wife. Jamie Bryan will do anything to help her beloved husband regain his memory, and with it their storybook family life with their small daughter, Sierra. But that means helping Jake rediscover the one thing Jamie has never shared with him: his deep faith in God. Jake’s fondest prayer for his wife is about to have an impact beyond anything he could possibly have conceived. One Tuesday Morning is a love story like none you have ever read: tender, poignant, commemorating the tragedy and heroism of September 11 and portraying the far-reaching power of God's faithfulness and a good man's love.

Quick endorsement: Technically, my favorite series by Karen is the Bailey Flanigan series…but those aren’t the books I chose to focus on here. This is an incredibly moving story of God’s power, shown through the horrific tragedy of 9/11. I highly recommend this book.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2011/11/one-tuesday-morning.html

Need to Read #25: Harvest of Rubies

Title: Harvest of Rubies

Author: Tessa Afshar

Book blurb: The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman.
In her early childhood years, Sarah experienced the death of her mother and her father's subsequent emotional distance and she came to two conclusions: that God does not care about her, and that her accomplishments are the measure of her worth - the measure of herself.
Sarah, the talented scribe and cousin to Nehemiah, is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation.
Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums - her very being proves to be a blessing to others.

Quick endorsement: There are times when good Biblical fiction is almost impossible to find…but this last year was not one of those times for me. While this is not drawn as much from the Bible as Tessa’s first book, Pearl in the Sand, is, that’s simply because of the nature of the story. While PS focused on the story of Rahab, this book was about a non-Biblical character, who knew and was related to Nehemiah. Great book.  

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2012/05/harvest-of-rubies.html

Need to Read #24: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Title: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Author: Perry Moore

Book blurb: The ultimate visual companion and keepsake to the making of the stunning fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe based on the beloved children's classic by C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis wrote the classic children's series over 50 years ago, and the amazing land of Narnia is finally coming to the big screen. This beautiful book captures the creative energy behind this film and offers the official inside story on how the magic was made.
Includes selections from the script, still shots from the film, photos of the production, an introduction and stories throughout from the producer, Perry Moore, reflections and anecdotes from cast and crew, and much more.
By going beyond the usual soundbites which make up traditional 'Making Of' books, this insider's account allows for the real personality of the project and its people to shine through its pages.

Quick endorsement: Movie guides with lots of pictures are one of my favorite things, and this is the best one I’ve found for any movie. The only movie it covers, however, is LWW. If you are a Narnia fan, this book is an absolute must!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2010/12/official-illustrated-movie-companion.html

**Note: $7.98 is a great price. I paid at least $20 for mine! I don't regret that...but would have preferred this. ;)

Need to Read #23: Fire in Ember

Title: Fire in Ember

Author: DiAnn Mills

Book blurb: John Timmons' life is planned and orderly. He cares for his mother and four younger brothers, and their future depends on him to keep their Colorado ranch profitable. Ember Farrar (Bert) has run away from her law-breaking family in search of a new life. But, when she attempts to return a horse that her brother had stolen, ranch hands believe she is a thief and a boy and they plan to hang her. John, who is also a deputy marshal, breaks up the hanging. After paying for the stolen horse, he takes the boy home to work off the debt. Later he learns Bert is a girl who refuses to tell him who she is and why she possessed a stolen horse. When ranchers report stolen cattle, Bert is a natural suspect. John is touched by Bert's sweet spirit and natural gift of music. Surely she's not a cattle thief. Bert fears for their lives when she is forced to either help her brothers steal or put the Timmons in danger. When John thinks Bert has betrayed him, he ignores God and turns revengeful. Will John learn who Bert truly is? Will their lives ever return back to normal?

Quick endorsement: A girl who is trying to pass as a boy…not something you see in just every book! This one was well-written and a good read, full of exciting adventures and threaded with mystery.

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2011/05/fire-in-ember.html

Need to Read #22: The Journey

Title: The Journey

Author: Wanda Brunstetter

Book blurb: Discover along with Titus Fisher how life can begin anew in Christian County, Kentucky. Moving from Pennsylvania, finding rewarding work, and leaving a broken romance behind is the best decision Titus ever made. But is he ready to consider love again when he meets two women: one who seems perfectly suited for any Amish man and one who challenges long held ideas of the woman’s role. Who will Titus choose, and will it be the right choice?

Quick endorsement: Wanda Brunstetter’s books never fail to delight me. This one is wonderful, and the beginning to a good series!

Link to review: http://austenitis.blogspot.com/2011/04/journey.html