A Dream for Hannah by Jerry S Eicher

Seventeen-year-old Hanna Miller, devoted Christian, has a dream of ideal love. A chance circumstance plummets her dreams of love between a man and a woman and her parents send her to Montana to heal from her grief. Also traveling, looking to heal his broken dreams, is Jake Byler. Working for the Forest Service, not wanting to turn Englisher, he seeks the small Amish community of Libby, Montana to have contact with family of a sort. Hannah and Jake seem to be thrown together, with each resisting the attraction they feel. Summer ends and they part not having resolved anything, still searching for that something they want in life. Hannah heading for marriage with Sam Knepp, Jake still searching. Will Hannah marry Sam, even though she questions her love for him? Will Jake be able to find his purpose in life? Book one of this series leaves the reader ready to pick up book number two to see what happens next. A good story. Sandy Penton.

Oh My Stars by Lorna Landvik

Violet Mathers, is a child of the depression years, abandoned by her mother, unloved by her father, and loses her hand on her sixteenth birthday. Bitter, she boards a bus, determined to reach California and the Golden Gate Bridge, and is way-laid in North Dakota when the bus runs into a tree. Small communities being what they are, the passengers were parceled out to homes in the community, and Violet shares the home of Kjel (pronounced Shell) Hedstrom's parents and his friend Austin Sykes (a Negro). Landvik carries the reader along through the years as the three friends develop their relationship, and share their quest to make a new kind of music. Heart warming and encouraging, a great read. Sandy Penton.

Kubiak's Daughter by Stephen Lindley

Ex-Chicago cop Kubiak wants to enjoy his retirement, but when his married daughter fails to show up for her birthday party and third-rate burglar Baumgarten wants to hire him to prove a suicide a homicide, everything goes to pot! How could his son-in-law be involved in a suspicious murder? Kubiak tries to unravel the mystery and clear his son-in-law's name before the police arrest him for murder. A great "Perry Mason" type of mystery. A good read. Sandy Penton.

The Thorn by Beverly Lewis

Rose Ann Kauffman is devoted to her invalid mother, loves the Amish way of doing things, and content to let God's will be done. When her sister, Hen, arrives with five-year-old Mattie Sue in tow, Rose uneasily welcomes her way-ward sister. To complicate matters, the bishops foster son, Nick, is vying for her attention, determined to encourage her to "the edge," to go with him to the "world." Will Rose be the determining factor in Nick's choice to join the church or go back to the Englischer world? Is Hen's marriage to Englisher Brandon in peril? Lewis writes a tantalizing story of life for the Amish in a worldly world. A great read. Sandy Penton.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn

Fans of Mitch Rapp will be delighted with American Assassin. The reader joins Mitch when he is first hired to become an assassin, a highly skilled and intelligent athlete, with a grudge against the evil in the world. Truly an exciting adventure leaping off the printed page, a good read for fans of intrigue and mayhem. Sandy Penton.

Kokopelli's Flute by Will Hobbs

Thirteen year old Tep Jones is living the life most kids would love to live. His parents run the Seed Farm near the Anasazi cliff dwellings and he seems to have the run of the area. With his trusty dog Dusty, he climbs to the Picture House to view the eclips of the moon late one night only to find pothunters raiding the sacred site. After they leave, Tep finds a sacred flute that was overlooked by the men. Testing the flute, he takes it home with him, not realizing that the flute has given him the power to change into the body of an animal. Hobbs writes a great tale of life in the west, the history of it, and the challenge to save the seeds that are important to the lives of all of us. Adults will find it as interesting as young adults. Sandy Penton.

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane

Patrick Kenzie, married with a young daughter, is a private investigator getting sick and tired of snooping into other people's lives, wonders why doing right seems wrong and when doing wrong seems right. When a late night phone call takes him back ten years to a missing persons case he finds himself questioning whether this life is worth it. Amanda McCready is missing again and her aunt is worried about her. To salve his conscience, he agrees to look for her, putting his family and himself in danger. Lehane writes a clever and fast-paced tale of mystery and intrigue. A really good read. Sandy Penton.

The Sister Wife by Diane Noble

Mary Rose marries Gabriel after a whirlwind romance aboard ship on the way to America. Also on the ship was Brigham Young along with some of the first Saints to settle in America. Caught up in the charisma of Joseph Smith, Mary Rose, Gabriel and their friends Bronwyn and her husband Griffin, follow the group to Nauvoo, Illinois where the attitude of other Americans is less than friendly towards the Mormans. Noble writes a good tale, following closely the actual history of the Morman trek across the United States and the teachings of Joseph Smith and then Brigham Young. I am looking forward to reading book two. Sandy Penton.

The Disobedient Bride by Joan Johnston

When Rebecca Littlewolf answers a "bride wanted" ad she is surprised to meet someone from her past. Zach Whitelaw, divorced and not really looking for love just some children, seems to have met his match in Rebecca. Johnston writes a quick moving and enthralling tale of a marriage bargain, interesting to the end. Sandy Penton.

Walking Across Egypt by Clyde Edgerton

Good-hearted elderly Mattie Rigsbee admits she is slowing down yet she is busy in her little home and garden and will feed any stray who comes to her door. Her children Robert and Elaine have never married and Mattie would like to see some grandchildren but things don't look too promising. When dog-catcher Lamar arrives to pick up the latest stray, he has to rescue Mattie, too, and of course she has him stay for "a bite to eat" launching her into the life of Wesley Benfield, juvenile delinquent. Refreshing, heart-warming and truly a good story. Sandy Penton.

Sarah's Choice by Wanda E Brunstetter

Widow Sarah Turner's life on the canal is tedious and takes away time she feels she needs to spend taking care of her children. Patrick O'Grady wants to marry her but doesn't like their dog and the children much and they know it. Along comes Elias Brooks, piloting his grandfather's barge, a good and kind Christian with a birthmark that holds him back. Will Sarah choose wisely? Can she overcome her fear of the canal? Is there a bright future for her in Walnutport, Pennsylvania? An ok read. Sandy Penton.

The Judas Gate by Jack Higgins

Political conspiracy and intrigue at its most convoluted. If you can keep track of what's going on, good for you. Murder and mayhem in every chapter. OK if you like that sort of stuff. Sandy Penton.

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

This is the story of attorney Danielle Parkman, a single mom, and her son Max who has been diagnosed with behavioral problems. Fearful that Max is getting worse, she seeks help from a supposedly best in the field of psychiatric facilities. Determined to stay on top of his care, Danielle spends time with Max at the facility and begins to feel that things are happening to Max that she doesn't understand. When she finds Max, unconscious, in another boy's bloodied room and the boy dead, she is certain that Max is not responsible. First time novelist Heugten writes a frightening mystery, certain to keep you turning the pages. I liked it. Sandy Penton.

Bad Blood by John Sanford

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Appreshesion agent Virgil Flowers is called to a small town in Minnesota when there are three murders in about as many days in an area where one murder in ten years might occur. Sheriff Lee Coakley, in office only one month, is wanting to make sure she has all the "i"s dotted and the "t"s crossed in this investigation. Virgil and Lee seem to make a good team and the sparks begin to fly. Flowers is "super agent" to the rescue, having all the right friends in the right places to make things happen. It begins to appear that Sheriff Coakley has even more problems as details emerge indicating a religious cult that is into sex and incest is operating in the area. Sanford moves the action right along for a page-turning murder mystery. A good read. Sandy Penton.