Waukegan Public Library - series

Have You Heard About... Plain Promise

Fran J — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:54:18 +0000

… Sadie, the Amish widow, and Kade, the multi millionaire? In Plain Promise* by Beth Wiseman, Sadie rents a small cottage to Kade who is trying to figure out why he’s not happy being so rich. Being Amish, Sadie has a lifestyle that is very foreign to Kade and vice-versa. When Kade’s autistic son, Tyler, comes to live with him, Kade has no idea how to cope with this special child of God. Everyone in the Amish community is accepting of Tyler and slightly suspicious of Kade and his motives for being in Penn-Dutch country. Sadie and Tyler connect instantly, but she is leery of Kade. She wants to help him but doesn’t want to go against her Amish beliefs. Can these two find happiness coming from separate worlds or is Tyler their only connection?

This is a very satisfying read. Keep a tissue handy though. It is not necessary to read the first two books of this series, but I found them enjoyable as well.

* Other books in the series include Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Paradise and Plain Proposal.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas

Fran J — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 06:51:39 +0000

… the fun of camping in Arkansas? Lucy Binoche is about to find out in Sandra D. Bricker’s Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas*.

Lucy can’t ride horseback, hates hiking and isn’t into killing a worm just to hook a fish. So what is she doing signing up to go camping in Snowball, Arkansas? Her singles church group is going on a camping trip, and hunky Justin, a newcomer, is very into the outdoor life. Lucy wants to impress Justin and hopes that God will turn her into something she’s not – the outdoorsy type. Her good friend Matt can’t talk her out of it so he signs up to go along to sorta keep an eye out for her. Lucy has good intentions, just not good judgment. The mishaps that Lucy encounters will keep you in stitches. Will Lucy impress Justin or will Matt come to her rescue?

*Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas, is part of the Love Finds You series of unconnected inspirational romance novels.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on audiobook

Fran J — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 06:07:54 +0000

… the many voices of Jim Dale, the narrator for the Harry Potter audio books? As my first foray into the world of audio books, I tried listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a couple months ago, and I felt like I was discovering the series all over again. I won’t go into a plot summary of the Harry Potter books, since most everyone is familiar with the story, but I will say that listening to the books on CD is completely magical.

Jim Dale, a well-known British actor, narrates the entire series, and brings the characters to life in a way that goes beyond mere imagination. (Need proof? Listen to Chapter four of The Sorcerer’s Stone, when we are first introduced to Hagrid. Jim’s voice for the bearded giant exceeds anything our imaginations could ever convey.)

And while nothing will ever be able to take the place of my Harry Potter book collection, I’m really happy that I gave these audio books a listen. It’s like being treated to story time as an adult, and by the time I finish the seventh book, I know that I will be just as sad to leave Hogwarts as I was when I first finished the series. So, thank you, Jim Dale. Thank you for bringing Harry Potter to life for me again.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... Grace among Thieves

Fran J — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 06:04:22 +0000

… the historical Marshfield Manor, in North Carolina? It’s just been robbed. In Julie Hyzy’s Grace among Thieves*, Grace Wheaten, the curator and manager of Marshfield Manor, has discovered that several very valuable items in the manor are missing. A film crew is making a DVD of the property to showcase all of it beautiful antiquities. Is one of the film crew responsible for the thefts, or could it be one of the hundreds of daily visitors that come to see the magnificent estate?

Grace has her hands full trying to run the estate and maintain its integrity. Suddenly one of the visitors is murdered. The police warn Grace to steer clear and let them do their job, but Grace has other ideas and is determined to find the killer and find the missing precious items. This is book three in the series. While enough backstory is given, you really need to read to first two books so as not to miss all of the characters who work at the mansion and what their jobs are and how they help or hinder Grace.

* Earlier books in the series include Grace under Pressure and Grace Interrupted.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho

Fran J — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:48:06 +0000

… the undercover federal marshal who’s investigating a mining accident? In Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho*, by Janelle Mowery, you will get to meet Rebekah Weaver who was badly burned in a tragic accident. Deputy Marshal Nathaniel Kirkland is undercover trying to tie in several mining accidents that have happened in Silver City when he learns of Rebekah’s accident. Was her “accident” part of the plot involving the mines? As threatening notes start to appear all over town, these two try to investigate.

Nate and Rebekah do come together with the help of God in the end. This book is at times somber and yet humorous, with lots of twists and turns as the town eventually comes together to solve these so called accidents. The why’s of the accidents near the end was such a surprise that I almost fell out of my chair. I enjoyed this book immensely and it was hard to put down, so you need big blocks of reading time.

Silver City, Idaho, is a real place that you can find on a map. Every book in this non-series is excellent. Check them out for a new adventure in romance, history, heartbreak and humor.

*Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho, is part of the Love Finds You series of unconnected inspirational romance novels.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... A Timely Vision

Fran J — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:57:23 +0000

… someone with a talent for finding lost items? In A Timely Vision* by Joyce and Jim Lavene, you meet Dae O’Donnell, the mayor of Duck, North Carolina. Dae has the ability to find lost items simply by touching the person who has lost the item, but she’s not always happy to have this unique talent. When Miss Mildred loses her watch and asks Dae to find it, she finds a dead body instead. The body turns out to be 90-year-old Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mildred’s sister.

Kevin Brickman has just moved into town to reopen the once-renowned Blue Whale Inn. With Kevin’s help, Dae tracks down who killed Miss Elizabeth and why. A romance slowly develops between Dae and Kevin over the books in this quaint series filled with quirky characters and interesting historical facts.

Duck, North Carolina is a real place you can find on a map. I’ve been there several times and had a marvelous time. I highly recommend stopping for a visit if you are ever in the area. It’s not far from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

* Later books in the series include A Touch of Gold, A Spirited Gift and A Haunting Dream.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida

Fran J — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:27:38 +0000

… Cassie and her late husband’s plastic flamingos? Check them out in Sandra D. Bricker’s Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida*.

Cassie has no plans to live in the vacation home she and her late husband had in Holiday, Florida. It’s a small bungalow with tacky plastic flamingos on the lawn that her late husband just loved. Cassie needs to do a few renovations and get the bungalow ready to sell so she can get on with her life. Renovations always take longer they you expect. Start with, throwing out the plastic flamingos, talking to the zany neighbors in this retirement community, finding that the flamingos somehow keep ending up back on the lawn, and meeting a handsome neighbor who enjoys dancing as much as she used to.

Cassie isn’t very impulsive, but her neighbor down the street is and pushes Cassie into all kinds of quirky things, one being signing up for a dance class that is taught by handsome neighbor, Richard. Cassie and Richard seem to hit it off. The house is taking shape for the sale, but Cassie is falling in love the new renovations. Is she falling in love with Richard as well?

This is a laugh out loud type of book that I couldn’t put down.

*Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida, is part of the Love Finds You series of unconnected inspirational romance novels.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Touchstone

Fran J — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:13:09 +0000

… the real wizards of the theater? Far from our stage magicians, these men use true magic to create illusions of sight, sound, and even emotion for their plays. In Melanie Rawn’s Touchstone, readers follow a theatrical troupe from their start in cheap bars to their triumphant tour of the coveted Winterly Circuit. Their success is threatened by personal struggles, conflicts within the group, and the leader’s worries about his secret precognitive dreams.

Ms Rawn gives us a suspenseful book with an intricate, unique form of magic. The four main characters and several of their friends are well developed. The plot is complex, mixing prejudices and political intrigue with the natural exuberance of young men who want to have a good time and celebrate their successes. Both the precognitive foreshadowing and a slightly cliff-hanger ending pave the way for a sequel. I’m looking forward to it!

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... Threadbare

Fran J — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:35:18 +0000

… the latest murder in Excelsior, Minnesota? In the newest mystery from Monica Ferris, Threadbare* tells the story of two murdered homeless women. These women really had nothing in common except that they were homeless, and when the niece of one of the women asks Betsy to help her, another body turns up frozen in the snow. Could the murders be connected? A piece of Hardanger needlecraft is found on one of the women. Is it a clue?

The plight of the homeless is good part of the storyline. Betsy’s needlecraft shop, Crewel World, is also a part of the story. Relatives of the homeless women, of course, are some of the suspects. It isn’t until the very end that the mystery unfolds itself into a shocking tale of greed.

This is a stand alone book with enough back story so you will understand why Betsy can take off from her job at Crewel World.

* Earlier books in the series are Crewel World, Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A Murderous Yarn, Hanging by a Thread, Cutwork, Crewel Yule, Embroidered Truths, Sins and Needles, Knitting Bones, Thai Die, Blackwork and Buttons and Bones.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Lake Eden Cookbook

Fran J — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:19:21 +0000

… the new cookbook from mystery author Joanne Fluke? The Lake Eden Cookbook is a wonderful addition to the books in the Hannah Swensen mystery series*. All of the great recipes in the previous books are now in one book for easier reference.

There is not really a story line in this book, and no mystery. Hannah caters a luncheon for her mother, the original founder of the “Lake Eden Gossip Hotline,” and she’s put together a booklet of all of her fabulous recipes to give to her friends. In between the recipes, there are a few short stories that the ladies share that are absolutely hilarious. The reading time will only take about 45 minutes, but you’ll linger over all of the luscious recipes. There are quite a few new recipes that you’ll want to try out: Tapioca Cheesecake, Raspberry Swirls, Norwegian Chocolate Pizza, and Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie, to name just a few.

* The series includes Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Strawberry Shortcake Murder, Blueberry Muffin Murder, Lemon Meringue Pie Murder, Fudge Cupcake Murder, Sugar Cookie Murder, Peach Cobbler Murder, Cherry Cheesecake Murder, Key Lime Pie Murder, Carrot Cake Murder, Cream Puff Murder, Plum Pudding Murder, Apple Turnover Murder, Devil’s Food Cake Murder, and Cinnamon Roll Murder, as well as stories in the anthologies Sugar and Spice, Gingerbread Cookie Murder, and Candy Cane Murder.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)