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After moving around Elizabeth Gunnar – Beth comes home to teach English at Seaton Preparatory School in Hockessin, Delaware her old school where she graduated in 1977. Her parents have long retired to Asheville, North Carolina but actually Beth feels she’s come home. Of course it brings back the old memories of times spent with her group the Barbarians and her favorite teacher, Mr. Dutton who taught English. But it brings up bad memories too such as just why did Mr. Dutton commit suicide in her senior year?
She reconnects with her best friend Natalie who she’s only stayed in touch with via email all these years. At Homecoming she reconnects with Ken and Ray the other two members of the Barbarians. She begins to date Ray again, her steady boyfriend in high school who is divorced with three kids. She takes one of her students Satchel Queen, a lover of books and loner like herself under her wing and helps her to blossom especially in writing just like Mr. Dutton did with her.
Beth has Ray tell her again the story of what he and Ken saw that April 1st night in 1977 when he and Ken found Mr. Dutton in his cabin after cutting his wrist. They knew he was dead but why had the school staged such a cover up as they told the students that Mr. Dutton had a heart attack and was still alive. Natalie accuses Beth of being obsessed and needs to let his death go and forget about it as the other three have done. But Beth can’t let it go.
In this awesome tale writer Ann Tatlock captures your heart and even your mind from the very first page. An unmistakable page turner you’ll wonder why too just why did Mr. Dutton commit suicide and why is Satchel so unhappy? You’ll find yourself drawn into and relating to Beth especially if you feel invisible, a loner just as she does. See how God brings closure, happiness, and forgiveness in this timeless mystery suspense love story. Also included are reader discussions questions, which helps make this book perfect for book groups. A perfect read for teens and adults alike. Ann Tatlock is a remarkable writer! Don’t just take this reviewer’s word on it even “Publisher’s Weekly “, named her as “one of Christian fiction’s better wordsmiths”. So if you want to curl up with a good book I highly recommend “Every Secret Thing”.
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The time is the late 1800’s and twenty year old Violet Hayes is on a quest to experience romance and mystery just like the books her and her best friend Ruth snuck to read at Madame Beauchamps' School for girls. Yes she was taught to be a lady but she wants adventure.
After finding out her father is about to remarry and that her mother really is alive not dead as her father had try to make her believe, Violet knows she must go to Chicago to find her mother, who she hasn’t seen since she was nine, she convinces her father to let her go see the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and to visit her grandmother and her great aunts. But everyone else has their own plans for Violet. Her grandmother, father and Aunt Agnes are out to have her married. Her crazy Aunt Birdie tells her to marry for love and her Aunt Matt tells her she doesn’t need to marry. Than all in one week she has three marriage proposals but the men all have their own ideas too and not one includes love. All the while Violet is falling in love with Silas the salesman she met on the train to Chicago who has really tried hard to help her find her mother. But Violet believes he is a thief and not a proper suitor.
She allows the men to escort her to the fair and spends time with her grandmother helping the poor, Aunt Agnes takes her calling on all her high society friends and Aunt Matt teaches her about the Women’s Suffragette Movement. Violet learns a lot but feels none of these lives is for her. She knows her time is running out as her father is making her go home and marry Herman Beckett unless she finds someone else but Violet knows she must find her mother!
Her father has instructed her grandmother and aunts to tell her nothing about her mother but Violet finds herself in a mystery, the mystery of her mother and why she left, the truth about her father and the woman he is about to marry and Uncle Phillip which she didn’t know she had an uncle and all the while trying to stop the feelings that are growing for Silas.
Will Violet find her mother? Will she marry without love or have her heart broken by the thief Silas only time will tell as Violet finds God along the way and knows He has all the answers even if she isn’t sure herself.
“A Proper Pursuit” is an awesome read perfect for teens and adults alike who love romance, history and a little bit of mystery. The author Lynn Austin draws you in from the very first page and takes you back in time and places you there with Violet as she determines the course of her life and searches for her mother. This reviewer loved the detailed history especially Dwight Moody’s ministry, the women’s suffragette marches and the World’s Fair as the time period really comes alive. So if love books like ‘Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell or “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers you will thoroughly enjoy “A Proper Pursuit”.
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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
Talk about dreams coming true! In “One Little Secret” Ursula Rhoades a suburban housewife and mom has the chance of a lifetime to sing with the great Nik Prevel an awesome rock singer in his own right – son of the great Cristoff Prevelakis who is known as the love ballad king. There’s only one small problem Ursula can’t seem to tell her husband who is in New York for the summer working on the biggest case of his lawyer career the case that could lead to a senior partnership in his law firm. A dream that Ursula and her husband Don have worked towards all their married life. Yes Ursula had dreams of her own just as we all do. She dreamed of winning a Grammy. But she gave it all up for her husband and children, Victor and Valerie – that is till now.
Who would have thought just one innocent night of standing in for the singer in her son’s band would lead to a chance of a lifetime invitation by Nik Prevel who wants to record a CD of love ballads with or without his father’s blessing. Ursula agrees after much persuasion to do the project but no one is to know except Nik and his manager Arnie. So she becomes Alexandra Arcano or Alex the mystery woman. Ursula tries all summer to tell her husband but he’s so busy they hardly have time for phone conversations. Ursula begins to wonder if God really wants her to tell her husband as something happens everytime she tries. Ursula knows she’s lying to her family something she has never done. Deeply religious, all this is tearing Ursula apart.
Wow! the author Allison Bottke does an amazing job on this her second novel the first being “A Stitch in Time” where we first meet Ursula. God is all over this novel! An awesome read for teen girls and adult women alike call it fiction, contemporary fiction or chick-lit this reviewer calls it God’s light as this novel has more reference to God than most Christian fiction books I’ve read in along time and that is so awesome. So find a comfortable chair, maybe some popcorn and sit back and enjoy “One Little Secret” as you won’t want to put it down and I promise you’ll come away never looking at your own life the same again!
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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
In the heart of the woods two Gatherers Krawg and Warney hunt for berries for the House of Abascar. The sound of crows catches Krawg’s attention. Krawg decides to investigate and he finds a small baby by the river’s edge placed gently so no harm may come to her, in a giant footprint of a creature they do not recognize. They sneak her back to the other Gatherers careful not to attract the attention of duty officers and beastmen. And there she becomes the ‘River Girl’ and is raised until she becomes old enough to let them know that her name is “Auralia”.
Something about Auralia is different – magical even and all who know her love her and are enchanted by her. She seems not afraid of man nor beast but no one knows where she comes from. Some think she is a Northchild but others claim that can not be as there is no such thing. She weaves magical colors from things she finds in the woods and presents the Gatherers with gifts of her many colors and a cloak that she wears that just seems to come alive with color.
But the colors are illegal banned by the Queen who has gathered everyone’s treasures and stored them in caves under the castle but strange the Queen herself has disappeared, leaving the prince Cal-raven to be raised by the king Cal-marcus. But the beauty and enchantment of Auralia seems to have split the king and his son. The King feels she’s dangerous – rebellious even but the Prince feels she may have come from the “Keeper” which is also forbidden to speak of. But the King feels the Prince’s enchantment may also interfere with his plans for the Prince to marry Stricia, Ark-robin’s daughter. But what role is the mystery of Auralia to play in the Expanse and what is the Expanse? Enter in and meet ale boy and the part he must play, Ark-robin whose duty it is to protect the king and the prince, Scharr ben Fray the tales and magic he teaches Cal-raven and who has been banned by the king from Abascar and the Queen and find out why she has banned colors.
So if you’re a fan of fantasy such as Lord of the Rings or J.R.R. Tolkien than you’ll love Auralia’s Colors an awesome tale for young and old alike. Enter into the fantasy world of fangbears, river wyrms, bamble pigs and ride upon varns. As the dream world unfolds you too will be swept up and enchanted by the marvelous imagery of “Auralia’s Colors”. The author Jeffery Overstreet takes you into an awesome dream in this his first fantasy novel that is not only colorful but flows so smoothly you will not want to awaken.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
Poor Lex –Alexis Sakai is now the OSFC (oldest single female cousin) in her family and her Grandma is out to change that and in the Japanese culture that’s not a good thing, slowly everything in her life changes as she realizes just how much influence her grandmother has. Just because her grandmother is determined that Lex is to be in a serious relationship by her cousin Mariko’s wedding and that is only four months away or else she will stop all funding for the girls junior high volleyball team that Lex couches.
Since Lex quit her job and though a series of circumstances or was it God she landed her dream job at SPZ her life has become a revolving door of strange men claiming their mother is friends with one of her aunts and willing to date her for college game tickets. Even her brother is bringing men around that he claims are “friends” but seem to be the biggest losers. When she tries not to give into the pressure her grandmother threatens that other things could happen and things do but which is her grandmother and which are circumstances? Suddenly her dad is forced in to retirement from his job and decides to sell the house. Lex tears her ACL and has to have knee surgery just when she lands a chance to play on the ultimate volleyball dream team at Wassamattayu. Her other cousins/friends begin to avoid her. And Lex struggles with the dating thing due to something that happened three years ago that very few people know about especially not her grandmother who blames her not dating on the fact that Lex is too athletic and not feminine enough and even goes so far as to offer to pay for breast implants! Than there’s Aiden the one man she has come to trust as a friend and becomes her physical therapist but he’s not Christian and does not match anything on her “Ephesians list” for the perfect man but yet she is drawn to him…..
Wow, what a page turner! Enter into the Japanese culture in this Asian twist on Chick Lit. The author Camy Tang will have you in stitches in this hilarious romance. This reviewer just couldn’t put this awesome book down and once you finish the novel you’ll be wanting more from Tang. Check out the glossary of Asian words (Camy style) at the back of the book and pick up some new words along the way.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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Every Secret Thing
Cheri Clay, December 7, 2007
After moving around Elizabeth Gunnar – Beth comes home to teach English at Seaton Preparatory School in Hockessin, Delaware her old school where she graduated in 1977. Her parents have long retired to Asheville, North Carolina but actually Beth feels she’s come home. Of course it brings back the old memories of times spent with her group the Barbarians and her favorite teacher, Mr. Dutton who taught English. But it brings up bad memories too such as just why did Mr. Dutton commit suicide in her senior year?She reconnects with her best friend Natalie who she’s only stayed in touch with via email all these years. At Homecoming she reconnects with Ken and Ray the other two members of the Barbarians. She begins to date Ray again, her steady boyfriend in high school who is divorced with three kids. She takes one of her students Satchel Queen, a lover of books and loner like herself under her wing and helps her to blossom especially in writing just like Mr. Dutton did with her.
Beth has Ray tell her again the story of what he and Ken saw that April 1st night in 1977 when he and Ken found Mr. Dutton in his cabin after cutting his wrist. They knew he was dead but why had the school staged such a cover up as they told the students that Mr. Dutton had a heart attack and was still alive. Natalie accuses Beth of being obsessed and needs to let his death go and forget about it as the other three have done. But Beth can’t let it go.
In this awesome tale writer Ann Tatlock captures your heart and even your mind from the very first page. An unmistakable page turner you’ll wonder why too just why did Mr. Dutton commit suicide and why is Satchel so unhappy? You’ll find yourself drawn into and relating to Beth especially if you feel invisible, a loner just as she does. See how God brings closure, happiness, and forgiveness in this timeless mystery suspense love story. Also included are reader discussions questions, which helps make this book perfect for book groups. A perfect read for teens and adults alike. Ann Tatlock is a remarkable writer! Don’t just take this reviewer’s word on it even “Publisher’s Weekly “, named her as “one of Christian fiction’s better wordsmiths”. So if you want to curl up with a good book I highly recommend “Every Secret Thing”.
(3 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
A Proper Pursuit
Cheri Clay, December 7, 2007
The time is the late 1800’s and twenty year old Violet Hayes is on a quest to experience romance and mystery just like the books her and her best friend Ruth snuck to read at Madame Beauchamps' School for girls. Yes she was taught to be a lady but she wants adventure.After finding out her father is about to remarry and that her mother really is alive not dead as her father had try to make her believe, Violet knows she must go to Chicago to find her mother, who she hasn’t seen since she was nine, she convinces her father to let her go see the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and to visit her grandmother and her great aunts. But everyone else has their own plans for Violet. Her grandmother, father and Aunt Agnes are out to have her married. Her crazy Aunt Birdie tells her to marry for love and her Aunt Matt tells her she doesn’t need to marry. Than all in one week she has three marriage proposals but the men all have their own ideas too and not one includes love. All the while Violet is falling in love with Silas the salesman she met on the train to Chicago who has really tried hard to help her find her mother. But Violet believes he is a thief and not a proper suitor.
She allows the men to escort her to the fair and spends time with her grandmother helping the poor, Aunt Agnes takes her calling on all her high society friends and Aunt Matt teaches her about the Women’s Suffragette Movement. Violet learns a lot but feels none of these lives is for her. She knows her time is running out as her father is making her go home and marry Herman Beckett unless she finds someone else but Violet knows she must find her mother!
Her father has instructed her grandmother and aunts to tell her nothing about her mother but Violet finds herself in a mystery, the mystery of her mother and why she left, the truth about her father and the woman he is about to marry and Uncle Phillip which she didn’t know she had an uncle and all the while trying to stop the feelings that are growing for Silas.
Will Violet find her mother? Will she marry without love or have her heart broken by the thief Silas only time will tell as Violet finds God along the way and knows He has all the answers even if she isn’t sure herself.
“A Proper Pursuit” is an awesome read perfect for teens and adults alike who love romance, history and a little bit of mystery. The author Lynn Austin draws you in from the very first page and takes you back in time and places you there with Violet as she determines the course of her life and searches for her mother. This reviewer loved the detailed history especially Dwight Moody’s ministry, the women’s suffragette marches and the World’s Fair as the time period really comes alive. So if love books like ‘Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell or “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers you will thoroughly enjoy “A Proper Pursuit”.
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
One Little Secret by Allison Bottke
Cheri Clay, December 7, 2007
Talk about dreams coming true! In “One Little Secret” Ursula Rhoades a suburban housewife and mom has the chance of a lifetime to sing with the great Nik Prevel an awesome rock singer in his own right – son of the great Cristoff Prevelakis who is known as the love ballad king. There’s only one small problem Ursula can’t seem to tell her husband who is in New York for the summer working on the biggest case of his lawyer career the case that could lead to a senior partnership in his law firm. A dream that Ursula and her husband Don have worked towards all their married life. Yes Ursula had dreams of her own just as we all do. She dreamed of winning a Grammy. But she gave it all up for her husband and children, Victor and Valerie – that is till now.Who would have thought just one innocent night of standing in for the singer in her son’s band would lead to a chance of a lifetime invitation by Nik Prevel who wants to record a CD of love ballads with or without his father’s blessing. Ursula agrees after much persuasion to do the project but no one is to know except Nik and his manager Arnie. So she becomes Alexandra Arcano or Alex the mystery woman. Ursula tries all summer to tell her husband but he’s so busy they hardly have time for phone conversations. Ursula begins to wonder if God really wants her to tell her husband as something happens everytime she tries. Ursula knows she’s lying to her family something she has never done. Deeply religious, all this is tearing Ursula apart.
Wow! the author Allison Bottke does an amazing job on this her second novel the first being “A Stitch in Time” where we first meet Ursula. God is all over this novel! An awesome read for teen girls and adult women alike call it fiction, contemporary fiction or chick-lit this reviewer calls it God’s light as this novel has more reference to God than most Christian fiction books I’ve read in along time and that is so awesome. So find a comfortable chair, maybe some popcorn and sit back and enjoy “One Little Secret” as you won’t want to put it down and I promise you’ll come away never looking at your own life the same again!
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
Auralia's Colors (Auralia Thread) by Jeffrey Overstreet
Cheri Clay, December 7, 2007
In the heart of the woods two Gatherers Krawg and Warney hunt for berries for the House of Abascar. The sound of crows catches Krawg’s attention. Krawg decides to investigate and he finds a small baby by the river’s edge placed gently so no harm may come to her, in a giant footprint of a creature they do not recognize. They sneak her back to the other Gatherers careful not to attract the attention of duty officers and beastmen. And there she becomes the ‘River Girl’ and is raised until she becomes old enough to let them know that her name is “Auralia”.Something about Auralia is different – magical even and all who know her love her and are enchanted by her. She seems not afraid of man nor beast but no one knows where she comes from. Some think she is a Northchild but others claim that can not be as there is no such thing. She weaves magical colors from things she finds in the woods and presents the Gatherers with gifts of her many colors and a cloak that she wears that just seems to come alive with color.
But the colors are illegal banned by the Queen who has gathered everyone’s treasures and stored them in caves under the castle but strange the Queen herself has disappeared, leaving the prince Cal-raven to be raised by the king Cal-marcus. But the beauty and enchantment of Auralia seems to have split the king and his son. The King feels she’s dangerous – rebellious even but the Prince feels she may have come from the “Keeper” which is also forbidden to speak of. But the King feels the Prince’s enchantment may also interfere with his plans for the Prince to marry Stricia, Ark-robin’s daughter. But what role is the mystery of Auralia to play in the Expanse and what is the Expanse? Enter in and meet ale boy and the part he must play, Ark-robin whose duty it is to protect the king and the prince, Scharr ben Fray the tales and magic he teaches Cal-raven and who has been banned by the king from Abascar and the Queen and find out why she has banned colors.
So if you’re a fan of fantasy such as Lord of the Rings or J.R.R. Tolkien than you’ll love Auralia’s Colors an awesome tale for young and old alike. Enter into the fantasy world of fangbears, river wyrms, bamble pigs and ride upon varns. As the dream world unfolds you too will be swept up and enchanted by the marvelous imagery of “Auralia’s Colors”. The author Jeffery Overstreet takes you into an awesome dream in this his first fantasy novel that is not only colorful but flows so smoothly you will not want to awaken.
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
Sushi for One? (Sushi) by Camy Tang
Cheri Clay, December 7, 2007
Poor Lex –Alexis Sakai is now the OSFC (oldest single female cousin) in her family and her Grandma is out to change that and in the Japanese culture that’s not a good thing, slowly everything in her life changes as she realizes just how much influence her grandmother has. Just because her grandmother is determined that Lex is to be in a serious relationship by her cousin Mariko’s wedding and that is only four months away or else she will stop all funding for the girls junior high volleyball team that Lex couches.Since Lex quit her job and though a series of circumstances or was it God she landed her dream job at SPZ her life has become a revolving door of strange men claiming their mother is friends with one of her aunts and willing to date her for college game tickets. Even her brother is bringing men around that he claims are “friends” but seem to be the biggest losers. When she tries not to give into the pressure her grandmother threatens that other things could happen and things do but which is her grandmother and which are circumstances? Suddenly her dad is forced in to retirement from his job and decides to sell the house. Lex tears her ACL and has to have knee surgery just when she lands a chance to play on the ultimate volleyball dream team at Wassamattayu. Her other cousins/friends begin to avoid her. And Lex struggles with the dating thing due to something that happened three years ago that very few people know about especially not her grandmother who blames her not dating on the fact that Lex is too athletic and not feminine enough and even goes so far as to offer to pay for breast implants! Than there’s Aiden the one man she has come to trust as a friend and becomes her physical therapist but he’s not Christian and does not match anything on her “Ephesians list” for the perfect man but yet she is drawn to him…..
Wow, what a page turner! Enter into the Japanese culture in this Asian twist on Chick Lit. The author Camy Tang will have you in stitches in this hilarious romance. This reviewer just couldn’t put this awesome book down and once you finish the novel you’ll be wanting more from Tang. Check out the glossary of Asian words (Camy style) at the back of the book and pick up some new words along the way.
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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