Review by Deborah Wiley:

Andrea Hampton is used to the safety and security of her big city job. However, nothing will keep her from running back to her sister’s side after Rachel is involved in a horrific accident. But helping Rachel and her grandmother open up a bed and breakfast? Ridiculous…and yet that is the position she finds herself in. Carpenter Cal Burke seems willing to help. Just what is going on with this rash of accidents plaguing the inn and its owners?

I read the first two books of The Three Sisters Inn series out of order, but the overall beauty of this series remains intact; HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is the first book and an excellent start to the series.

Marta Perry creates such beautiful settings for her tales. HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is set in the heart of Amish country. The peaceful setting provides a sharp contrast to the increasingly dangerous attacks on the Hampton family. In fact, the atmosphere accentuates the danger that lurks in this seemingly tranquil environment.

Marta Perry develops characters the reader wants to revisit over and over again. Andrea’s transformation over the course of the book is a joy to behold. The issues of faith are sensitively addressed through the eyes of both Andrea and Cal. The importance of family and friends is especially notable in HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is yet another fantastic book from Marta Perry. I am quickly becoming a fan of both Marta Perry and the Love Inspired Suspense line as both evoke such strong emotions. Easily recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Review by Cris:

I found this book to be an easy, enjoyable read with likable main characters set in the lovely Amish country. This book is part romance, part mystery. To be honest, I tried this book because it was free and ended up enjoying it!

Review by TSouth:

Was DITF a good read? Yes. Is it my favorite book of the series? No.

I think after reading Dead and Gone I expected a lot more to come out of DITF. I thought that I would see more of Bill and Sookie working on their relationship. Be that as friends or more. I expected a great deal about Sookie and Eric. I thought that Alcide would play more of a role especially after Tray. I even thought Quinn might show back up. While we got some answers about Eric and Sookie several more were brought to the surface. Bill and Alcide were just glazed over essentially and Quinn was never mentioned. This booked seemed unfinished almost as if it were a stepping stone to the next book.

Several plot lines were introduced bought not resolved. This book could have been magnificent but it wasn’t.

The problem I have with this book is that I can’t sit here and tell you what BIG thing happened. Several little things were brought about, but no big climax. The story flowed nicely but if felt like it was just a normal Sookie day sitting out in the sun waiting for something bad to happen. While I appreciate that Sookie needs time to recover the story lacked momentum.

As a reader I feel that I’ve waited a year and I didn’t get the fix I needed. It’s almost as if my book was missing 200 or so pages. The story I received was nice but I keep looking for the next part.

Review by E. A Solinas:

“Dead in the Family” has a very appropriate title — all sorts of family members pop up, and not just for Sookie. Charlaine Harris still can whips up a pleasant warm Southern vibe for her not-so-urban fantasies, but unfortunately this latest novel isn’t quite up to her usual standards: it’s basically a mass of fluffy in-between storylines that rarely go anywhere.

Just after Amelia leaves for New Orleans, Sookie’s cousin Claude appears at her home and asks to move in with her, since he’s a lone fairy who needs the presence of another. Bill is suffering from silver poisoning AND depression, and Sookie has to find a “relative” who can help him. And Eric has some family issues as well — his maker Appius Livius Ocella shows up on Sookie’s doorstep, along with his “son”/lover Alexei.

To make matters worse, unidentified fairies and weres have been crossing Sookie’s land,, and it also turns out that there’s a dead body buried back there. And it’s not Debbie Pelt’s. Now Sookie must unravel the secrets plaguing the supernaturals around her, or there might be even more deaths.

“Dead in the Family” feels like Charlaine Harris wrote half-a-dozen short stories, ripped them apart at the seams, and then sewed them back together. There’s no central plot to this book, just a mass of fluffy subplots woven loosely around each other. And some of the stories don’t really have much point to them, so the book feels cluttered and fragmented.

The saving grace is that some of those subplots ARE interesting, mainly the ones that develop the characters — the whole subplot involving Bill and the elderly Caroline Bellefleur is quite sweet and touching, and it should be interesting to see where Harris takes the religious/political pressure on the weres. And the typically bloody climax is a pretty shocking, gruesome one, if a bit slapdash.

But Sookie’s characterization is very shaky in this book — Harris zooms through her entire recovery from being TORTURED in ONE CHAPTER (ARG! Cop-out!), and initially she seems so aggressive that it feels like she’s channeling Anita Blake. Fortunately she gets steadier and sunnier after the first few chapters, and it’s intriguing to see her various family members interacting with her — fae, were and telepathic human.

And there’s some much-needed development given to the sexy, devil-may-care Claude (it’s very cute when he’s goofing around on the playground with Hunter), as well as new insights into Bill and Eric’s lives and families (both living and undead).

“Dead in the Family” is all about the family ties, but it feels like Charlaine Harris just whipped together a bunch of short story ideas rather than writing a cohesive plot. Better luck next time.

Review by Lesley West:

This is a story told by Death. An interesting point of view perhaps, but as it is set in Germany during World War II, perhaps it is entirely appropriate. It is also a story of a young girl, who in spite of having a life that no one would wish on anyone, still manages to have glimpses of pleasure through many small things, including the few books that she manages to acquire (or shall we say, steal).

It is interesting to see that it appears to be targetted to young adult readers – please don’t be put off by this – it is very much an adult story about children who are doing their best to live a normal life in times of unspeakable horror. It would also be a good way to introduce more mature readers to the history of the times. But be warned, it is quite confrontational at times, and considering who the narrator is, very sad.

To add extra punch to the story, it appears that it is the true story of the author’s grandmother. When you consider this, you realise how truly resiliant we humans are, and how occasionally, and with a bit of luck, we can hold off death for a time.

Review by N. Gargano:

I am not going to tell the plot of this book yet again, Amazon and some other reviewers have done it quite well…I will tell you that this is an astounding book, a beautiful book, and a book that I know I will read again and again……

I read a lot, two to three books a week, my family makes fun that I “love” so many that I read…but in the past few years there have only been a handful of books that when I finish reading the book I sit and try to think of who I can send a copy to, who can I share this wonderful experience with. A book that when I finish, I want to go back to the beginning and start over.

I am a little sorry it is listed as a young adult book, I feel that if the bookstores put it in the young adult section, so many people will be missing out on a wonderful experience. Yet it is important that younger readers, high school readers, read this book too. When I was growing up, I remember reading Diary of Anne Frank, and the feelings I had when I read it…and understanding the importance of everyone reading that book. Well, this book is that important, this book is a must read.

I am going to go back and read this author’s other book, I don’t know how it can measure up to this one, but if it is half as good, I am in for a treat.

Review by Rebecca Herman:

Seventeen-year-old Noelle Kramer was filled with the hopes and dreams of first love, believing that in Thad MacKaslin she had found the man she would spend the rest of her life with. But on the night they were to elope, she learned he had left town without a word, and she believed she would never see him again. Although her heart was broken, she planned to marry another and at least have a home and family of her own, until a tragic accident left her parents dead and Noelle blind, destroying her plans for the future.

Now, five years later, in the winter of 1883, Noelle lives a quiet life with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. Her blindness has caused her to give up all her dreams of love, marriage, and children. On their way home from town during a blizzard, Noelle and her aunt are almost killed by a runaway horse, but a stranger saves them – a stranger Noelle soon realizes is Thad MacKaslin, who has returned to their hometown of Angel Falls, Montana. And although both Noelle and Thad try to deny it, they still have feelings for each other. Has God given them a second chance at love and happiness together?

This book was one of the most enjoyable historical romances I’ve read in a while. Fans of western and inspirational romances are sure to enjoy this story of two people who had given up on a future together but are given a second chance to realize their dreams. The love story was incredibly sweet and emotional, rather than so many romances which focus on the physical romance but neglect the emotional side of a relationship. I’d highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sweet and emotional romance without all the graphic scenes.

Review by Donna Rose:

I almost could not finish this book. It was so-o-o repetitive that I think the whole story could have been written in about 20 pages. When an author repeats words, descriptions and conversations, it’s as if the reader isn’t smart enough to “get it” the first time. Insulting. I suspect the repetitions were to pad the story for more pages.

Besides having the story line drummed into your head, the plot was so predictable that I was almost embarrassed for the author. Free is too expensive for this book…my time is worth more.

Review by Brockeim:

Legends are made from legends. Rudyard Kipling dug deep into the tales of the jungle from his years living in India, and drew from them the kinds of stories that live forever.

“The Jungle Book” is more than how Mowgli, the man cub, learns to live and survive amongst enemies like Shere Khan. The intense mongoose vs cobra “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” also well-known, is here, as are several lesser-known and unrelated adventures.

Richly written, with details and contexts unfamiliar to Western readers, “The Jungle Book” lifts imagination and language beautifully. Poetic, and written in a literary style, it shines above most modern prose.

This is the stuff of afternoon stories read to older boys and girls. Young teens will while away rainy evenings, unwilling to part until finished. Sometimes scary and always exciting, Kipling also uses the book to teach lessons much greater than a jungle in India.

When chapters were first read to me many years ago, I listened gawk-eyed, listening intently for as long as my mother would read. I read it with different eyes now, but no less a young boy as I worry how Baloo will handle the Bandar-Log monkeys.

It isn’t perfect. A few scientific details are fudged (wolf pack breeding structure, for example), but nothing that matters in the big picture. Kipling will have you in the palm of his hand, even though it was first published over 100 years ago.

May “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling be as amazing to you as it has been to me.

–Brockeim

Review by Joyful Reader and Listener:

You will be sold on Kipling. And you may never settle for the movie afterwards; Jungle Book lives and breaths on its own.

Review by Michele:

I absolutely LOVED this book! As a huge fan of Dee Henderson, I was enthusiastic to note that she endorsed this book as similar to her own series. I couldn’t agree more! The plotline is suspenseful and intelligent. The characters are extremely well developed – so much so that you are very disappointed when their story ends. The romance is tender but believable. And the message of forgiveness is a tremendous and inspiring reminder to all. I am so excited that this is but the first in the series – I eagerly await book #2!

Review by Sally:

Do you know of anyone who has trouble relating to a family member? Most of us have or have had problems in this area. Monica, one of the characters in this tale, won’t even take her father’s phone calls! Communication and the lack of it is one of the themes in this suspense-driven novel. As Monica says, “As important as it is for people to talk the walk, it’s just as important to learn to listen with the heart as well as the ears.” Sometimes people communicate by doing, rather than by talking.

Another theme is forgiveness, and the damage involved when a person refuses to forgive. Another character states, “Forgiveness is hard, honey. But it’s what God calls us to. Besides, as some wise person once said, holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. It hurts you a lot more than it hurts them.”

I can’t say much about the compelling plot because I don’t want to ruin it for you. Romance, terrorism, Middle East, Afghanistan, FBI, kidnapping, hostage rescue team, diplomat, murder, relationships, women in distress, safe house, and bombs are all included in this Christian Fiction. This will keep any reader’s attention.

I do not agree with the theology that has one person asking God for forgiveness for someone else. Other than that, it is an exciting book to read.

Review by Nicki Heskin:

At first glance, this book appears to be simply an illustration of a kids song. Some reviewers have complained that that’s all there is..so why buy it. But actually, there is a lot more there if you look.

First of all, while illustrated songs seem like an odd choice sometimes to adults, little kids LOVE them. Invariably, they are the ones my two year old brings to me again and again. They are also the first books that kids are able to memorize. This is important because they like to pull them out when they are playing independently, and model reading on their own. What a satisfying experience for a pre-reader! Plus, for parents for whom it doesn’t come as naturally to bring music into their children’s lives, these sorts of books are a great way to do so.

This book does an excellent job of being really clear with the pictures lining up the words and the body parts. The first line, she gives each body part it’s very own page, so that they can be large and really obvious — the little animal on the page mirroring the same body part as the baby is also very adorable.

When she gets to eyes, ears, mouth and nose, she adds another dimension by putting in item on the page that you can do with that body part — for eyes – books, for ears – baby instruments, for mouth – baby food and sippy cup, and for nose – flowers. So there is a discussion element if you are reading this with your baby and choose to take it.

The back of the book has the last “knees and toes” echo…pretty cute, and also has the whole song written out under a staff with musical notes. My older daughter has taken to grabbing this ‘baby’ book and asking how to pluck it out on her little piano keyboard. So the book can have a second life for that purpose later on.

The pictures of the babies are endearing.. I love their happy little faces. It is worth noting that while the babies are definitely different “shades” — it’s hardly what I’d call multi-cultural, which is a shame because there’s no reason why it couldn’t have been. She did throw in a couple girls.

All and all, if the multicultural issue doesn’t concern you, I’d recommend this highly for your own little on, or for a gift.

Review by K. Creek:

My husband and I were trying to teach out daughter where her eyes, nose, mouth etc were. My husband has never heard this song so it was hard for him to do with our daughter. I found this book and now this is daddy’s book to read. within a week our daughter knows where her body parts are and how to say and she loves reading it with her dad. I would recommend this book.

Review by A. Reader:

As a student of history with a love (and a minor!) in classics, and little kid at heart I loved this series of books, culminating in The Last Olympian–maybe the best in the series. The obvious comparison is to Harry Potter, but these books are really something different. They’re a little lighter, and a little more fanciful, and just more ‘colorful.’ They are shorter and and just more fun with less dark overtones (imo.)

This last story brings about a conclusion to the whole saga, with one battle after another, answers all your question and even gives our heroes the accolades they richly deserve. It seems its the last one in the series and thats a little sad.

Review by :

The Last Olympians was one of the best books i have ever read, the storyline was perfect I felt as if I was in the book but no one could see me or hear me but I could hear everything. At school I could not even put the book down. The way Rick Riordan wrote the book i felt as if I knew the charectars my whole life. The book also generated feeling I cried at the sad parts gasped at the surprising parts and laughed at the funny parts wherever the book’s feeling went my feeling went with it. I loved the book so much I even wished I could be an amazing half-blood. I got this book for my birthday but I opened it before and the whole entire week I was itching to read it. I even told my friend to read it and she loves the series as much as I do. Personally I think Riordan should write another book. This was the biggest book of them all I never think I have ever read another interesting series. Rick Riordan makes sure everyone can relate to it and he thinks about the audience alot that is the most improtant thing an author can do. I have so much more to say but I can not. I hope you all enjoy the book!Thank you.

Review by Shana:

This is a nicely written suspense/mystery book. Written in third-person narrative, this Christian thriller keeps the reader on the edge. The plot is a bit of a brain teaser. I really enjoyed it!

Brill Jessup, the protagonist, comes across as a very believable chief of police. She works endlessly with the Sheriff and the FBI on a case that seems impossible to crack. Meanwhile, she does her best to ignore her husband who cheated on her. All while trying to stay strong for her daughter and keep her family together.

One of the Christian themes covered in this book is bitterness, along with the inability to forgive (illustrated by Brill & her husband). It’s a topic that most people will relate to.

At times, I could really relate to Brill. On the other hand, Emily, Brill’s very intelligent nine-year-old daughter is written too unbelievable. Several times I had trouble believing that she would speak and act as maturely as she did. Also, at the end the 180 turn in Brill and her husband’s relationship out of no where was hard to believe. Though, Brill herself admitted it was a miracle reunion.

Even though, there were minor things I didn’t like it was a great read. Overall, a fast, easy and thought provoking read. I’d highly recommend to any Christian book clubs or ladies group. I would most definitely read another of the series.

Review by CJ – MO:

“The Real Enemy” is the first of a new series. The main character, Colleen “Brill” Jessup is the first female police chief in a small town in Tennessee. She faces many obstacles as she starts her new job: trying to prove herself since she’s new and a woman, dealing with marital problems, and then trying to solve a series of tough missing person cases.

I really liked this book and found that it moved along quickly and kept me interested in finding out what would happen next with the cases and in Brill’s personal life.

The book is classified as Christian suspense. The characters do talk about their faith and passages and messages from the bible are referenced. However, the book is not “preachy” and should appeal to a wide range of mystery/suspense fans.

Review by Corinne H. Smith:

Daily life in the twenty-first century can be overwhelming. Issues of global warming, health care reform, a strangled economy, and the latest celebrity shenanigans fill our media outlets and our heads until they just about burst. It is all too much to bear. No wonder we seek solace in the tiny triumphs of life: in our own small successes and in the personal interactions, the soothing sights, the tempting tastes, and the sensational smells we find in the world around us.

Neil Pasricha is the author of the award-winning blog, “1000 Awesome Things.” His online success translates well into the format of this book, which outlines 200 of those Awesome Things. Things like “That one really good pen that never gets lost;” “The sound of ice cubes cracking in a drink;” “Licking the batter off the beaters of a cake mixer;” “The smell and sound of a campfire;” and “That friendly nod between strangers out doing the same thing.” In these pages you’ll also learn the most successful strategies for trick-or-treating and for making the most of an all-you-can-eat buffet. You’ll even learn exactly what functions are attached to your colon. But this is not a book of mere lists. Mr. Pasricha provides an explanation for each one, and some of those pieces are several pages in length. His observations are spot-on, and his writing style is friendly and funny. This is an entertaining and feel-good read.

I had to wait until page 342 to find my most favorite Awesome Thing: Snow days. The author breaks this phenomenon into three types: The Pre-Planned Snow Day, The High-Probability Snow Day, and The Surprise Snow Day. But Neil, there’s a fourth one to consider, and that’s the “We’re already here. Will we get enough snow for them to send us home early?” kind. That one may be the most frustrating of all. When the crucial announcement comes, that joyful event becomes yet another (albeit, shortened) Awesome Thing. Assuming you can make it home safely in the storm.

“The Book of Awesome” is the kind of paperback that you can scan through quickly. You can catch the headlines and say “Yes!” to particular ones. Or you can take a single lovely, rainy weekend to devour this volume from cover to cover. Keep it on your bedside table or coffee table for a pick-me-up. Read passages aloud to a living room full of friends, and your group will come up with even more possibilities. You don’t have to agree with all of the entries. (“Using all the different shampoos and soaps in someone else’s shower” didn’t resonate with me, and neither did “Neighbors with pools.”) Just keep turning pages, and it won’t be too long before you find several more Awesome Things that you can relate to. And you will probably find yourself smiling, nodding, and laughing out loud.

Once you get into this mode, you may pay closer attention to those magic moments in your own life. Like sliding a key perfectly into a lock in the dark, without fumbling and without turning on the light. Watching a squirrel figure out how to invade a rodent-proof bird feeder. The smell of tea that wafts up when you unwrap a brand-new box of it. It’s all good … and Awesome. Thanks, Neil. [This review was based on seeing the pre-pub galley proof.]

Review by PT Cruiser:

This is a great book to open up when you’re depressed or anxious or bored or just any old time. The topics of “awsomeness” are mostly simple, familiar things that you don’t often stop to appreciate. Things like “Pulling off your wet bathing suit and putting on dry clothes after a long swim” or “The smell of books” or “The sound of rain from inside the tent”. But not only does Neil Pasricha, the author, suggest these awesome moments in life, but he expands on them with little descriptions and stories describing them. For example, under “Remembering what movie that guy is from” he talks about seeing a character in a movie that you know you’ve seen somewhere before, in some other movie, but which one? Was it in Shawshank Redemption? Or Miracle on 34th Street? No! He was the knife guy in Once Upon a Time in Mexico! Awesome!

I don’t think there has been one time that I’ve opened this book that it hasn’t made me smile. And there are a lot of times when I’m bummed out about something and I don’t have a lot of time to figure out why I’m bummed or read some long philosophy book about what to do about it. I can just open this book and instantly relate to at least a couple of the topic pages and it takes me to a different place, a place where I can smile in spite of myself or giggle about the fact that someone else finds the same things as I do pretty amazing and can relate.

Picking up this book when I’m unhappy and then finding myself in a not so bad mood after all? AWESOME!