The Next Target by Nikki Aranna

David C. Cook

The tension begins on the first page as you learn that the main character, Austia Donatelli, works ministering to newly arrived Muslims in The United States.  Austia runs a career center locates jobs for the newly arrived and teaches English classes to Muslim women at night, showing them Chrisitan love through her work.  When one of the women asks questions about Jesus, she shares her faith with them.  After an honor killing of a young woman that she helped escape the chains of Islam, Austia begins to be aware that she is being tracked and watched.  Zaki a man who works for Hassian, a local radical leader shows up at odd times.  Even scared, Austia continues her work, but trouble comes from unexpected places.

As radical Islamists continue their jihad on Americans and Jews, and they increase their demands here in America, the tension between the groups escalates.  Due to the extreme terrorism, Muslims are seen less as individuals, and more as angry mobs.  Aranna builds a great story around this tension, giving the reader insights into the lives of those caught up in radical power with strong characters who work against the evil onslaught.  This is a great read, recommended for readers who like suspense and romance built around a topic that is in newspaper headlines daily.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Yesterday's Stardust by Becky Melby

Barbour Publishing

Yesterday's Stardust follows characters in duel stories across almost one hundred years, from the height of the depression to the desperation of today's decaying inner city.  Danielle is a reporter following a story with a soft heart for those in need, when she joins a gang and meets a local restauranteurand his sister.  They find an old diary of a woman entangled with the mob running illegal alcohol and other swindles, all the while trying to care for her nephew and his mother.  When Dani is almost killed, things fall apart and only God can put the pieces back together.

Great story, greet characters, and excellent job of weaving the past with the future so that the two stories build on each other increasing the interest and the suspense.  I love the added interest of the older story in the diary and the links to the current story.  This is an excellent example of romantic suspense with historical aspects thrown in, i cried, laughed and totally enjoyed the whole story, all the while the story makes the reader think about what they could be doing to help those less fortunate.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com.

Published by Barbour Publishing, June 1, 2012.

Two Testaments: A Novel by Elizabeth Musser

This is the second in the series following Two Crosses.  They were both great books, and I cannot wait until the third one comes out, so that I can find out how the story ends.  I am definitely going to pick up other Musses novels.

David C Cook

Two Testaments: A Novel by Elizabeth Musser

Gabriella and David are still in France, working to save as many orphans as possible while coming to grips with their discovery of David’s daughter.  Gabriella goes to class and works at the orphanage, while David teaches classes until David goes to Algeria to bring back his former lover, the mother of his child.  As more orphans come to the orphanage, the town turns against it out of racism and the parents of the students in the exchange program begin to grumble.  David and Gabriella’s love is tested as they continue their efforts to save children from the Algerian war and an evil Algerian seeking retribution.  Gabriella takes a larger role at the orphanage and David goes to Algeria to help Anne-Marie get to France, but he stays behind to help Mustapha.

As with the first book, I loved Two Testaments.  Musser does an excellent job with all the characters, but especially Mother Griolet as she deals with the racism of the town, overcrowding, and her successor.  The story is interesting, exciting, and heart rending.  This is definitely one of the best I have read this year.  I would recommend it to anyone enjoying history, romance, and suspense.

Provided by Netgalley.com.

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Two Crosses by Elizabeth Musser

David C. Cook

In 1961, Gabriella Madison moves to the small village of Castelnau in France to attend classes in an exchange program.  When one of her professors, David Hoffmann, asks her out, she unknowingly steps into a world of secrets and falls in love.  Across the sea, terrorist groups tear Algeria apart with their fight for freedom from France.  Gabriella’s professor works secretly to bring children from Algeria to the orphanage and uses the Huguenot cross as a symbol of his group.  Things get dicey when the bad guys discover Gabriella and David saves a child during a riot, while Gabriella begins working for the orphanage.

This is such an intriguing story.  Musser paints beautiful pictures of France, including French phrases to add depth to the story.  Musser’s characters are so realistic that they feel like old friends, as they attempt to deal with memories and grow in their relationship with the Lord.  The background of the Algerian war for independence added interest since this was not part of familiar history for me.  You will not want to put this one down.  I would recommend it to anyone enjoying history, romance, and suspense.

Purchased from Amazon.com

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Glamorous Illusions: The Grand Tour Series, by Lisa T. Bergeren

Glamorous Illusions: The Grand Tour Series, by Lisa T. Bergeren

David C. Cook

The setting is the early 1900s, when it was the tradition for wealthy young adults to take a ‘Grand Tour of Europe’ to broaden their minds and see other cultures.  Cora Diehl just arrived off the train from her first year at normal school where she is training to become a teacher.  When her father suffers a stroke, her whole world turns upside down.  Cora is determined to keep the farm running so her parents can pay off loans and she can return to college, but her father’s health takes a turn for the worse, and Cora's life turns upside down when her previously unknown birth father, shows up and presents her with a shocking choice.  Cora returns to Butte, Montana with him to join with her half siblings on a grand tour of Europe.  Cora must deal with her worry for her parents, her anger over their decision to not tell her of her parentage, a new father, and siblings who are shocked and angry, all while traveling around Europe.

This is a great read.  I cannot wait for the next installment; I will definitely read them all.  The characters are strong with a desire to turn to the Lord for his strength, and Bergren tells the story through multiple eyes allowing the reader to develop a relationship with them.  Bergeren does a beautiful job of describing the fashions and the scenery.  This is a great choice for readers who prefer their romances to come with a little extra including suspense, history, and heart tugging sorrow.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by David C. Cook on June 1, 2012.

Arms of Love, by Kelly Long

Arms of Love, by Kelly Long

Thomas Nelson

Set in colonial America, the Amish families suffer persecution from the colonists because they do not fight against the British and from the British because they are colonists.  Adam is the son of an Amish family that holds some authority in their neighborhood Amish community.  Adam has loved Lena for several years and they look forward to marrying, but on her deathbed, Lena's mother Mary makes Adam promise to stay away from Lena until he is no longer under a dark cloud.  When Adam tells Lena that the can no longer be together, she vows to marry is brother.  Between the difficulties of life, Adam discovers a truth that he has tried to forget for many years, and comes to forgive his father for beating him.

This is a very tender story of strength, forgiveness, and love, with well thought out characters, and involving plot twists.  One rarely remembers that while fighting for their own freedom, colonists were lax to extend those same ideas to others.  Viewing the Amish way of life through a historical lens adds interest to the story, as does other elements of the setting such as the frequent deaths that surrounded everybody's lives.  This is a book for readers that enjoy a love story deeper than a mere romance, along with the interesting history of the setting.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Published by Thomas Nelson on May 2, 2012.

My Life is Crazy, by Me

My garden has completely overtaken my life.  I've been pickling and freezing and baking, until I've only had time to read, but not review.  Well, today I'm going to get back to the blog and get some of my reviews posted.  This is definitely been the summer of great books.  I haven't read a bad one, yet.  Hope your reading has been as enjoyable as mine.  If you haven't read anything that you've really enjoyed this summer, check out some of the following!  Have a great week!