One thing that happened with the recent transfer of my website to a new server is that several blog posts disappeared. Ah well! Ever resourceful, I’m back with some reviews of books you really should look for. I guarantee there’s something in this post for every book lover! Just keep reading 🙂

Tracy Higley is an author with a gift for transporting readers to the ancient world. Her settings have included many of the ancient wonders of the world, and The Queen’s Handmaid transports readers to Alexandria, Egypt, and the courts of Cleopatra. The characterization is rich, the setting lush, and the plot compelling. I also love how her books make me think about what it would be like to seek God before Christ came to bridge the divide. 

I LOVED Fatal Exchange! The pacing is fast — 85% of the plot happens in one day. It is tightly woven with an intricate plot. The action doesn’t slow until the end. By that point, the characters need a chance to catch their breath. There is a romance, and because of the hero and heroine’s past, it works even under the very tight timeline. The Christian thread only enhances the story. I loved this romantic suspense and the way it weaves in characters from a prior novel. It stands on its own and has me itching to read the next Lisa Harris novel.

Raptor 6 is the latest release from Ronie Kendig. She writes high-octane military novels. I loved the missionary angle that comes into play in this book set in Afghanistan. Zahrah just wants to help the Afghan children but has an expertise that makes her valuable to the anti-US forces. This book moves fast and honors the men and women who fight in the military while including a beautiful romance. It’s another excellent military read that will keep fans of Tom Clancy’s books coming back for more.

I adore Tamera Alexander’s historical romances set in post Civil War Nashville. They capture the essence of reconstruction in a realistic way while telling a story I can disappear into. This story-telling sets a high standard and leaves me wondering if she can do it again. She does!In A Beauty so Rare, Eleanor Braddock is not a beautiful woman in the traditional southern sense, so she has resigned herself to a life of singleness. because of her father’s illness she has to find a way to support herself. The story weaves in the plight of war widows and orphans while also pulling in an element of European royalty. Trust me: it works beautifully. And in the telling, the author addresses true beauty and the importance of looking beyond the superficial to the heart and essence of a person. I finished the last page with a happy sigh for a story well told, quickly followed by a sad sigh because now I have to wait for her next book!If you love antebellum historical romance with strong Christian threads, you will adore this story that transports you to that time in Nashville.

I enjoy Vannetta Chapman’s Amish based mysteries in large part because the Amish and English characters interact in real and dynamic ways. Murder Simply Brewed is no exception. A man dies while at work in an Amish village/resort. At first nobody suspects anything, but as other strange things begin to occur at this getaway, the manager and the Amish employee who found the body begin to wonder if more could be at stake.There is more than the mystery though, as one couple experiences romance and another begins to explore what could be. The characters are enjoyable, the interactions real, and the mystery kept me guessing for quite a bit of the book. All in all a great read for those who love a mystery in an Amish setting.

Set in 1882 in the Wyoming territory, Claiming Mariah has a richness of layers. The characters are faced with impossible choices foisted on them by the decisions of their fathers. Watching the characters wrestle through the impossible kept me reading page after page. This book will delight you if you love a western with a twist.

See? I promised there would be something for everyone! So do any of these books intrigue you?