Famiply Affair by Debbie Macomber

Lacey Lancaster, recently divorced, lives in a small apartment with Cleo, her cat. She hasn't officially met her neighbor Jack Walker, but is disturbed many times by the arguing she hears through the walls between Jack and someone named Sarah. When Cleo and Jack's cat, Dog, become amorous, Lacey decides Jack needs to be responsible for half the kittens. Will Jack and Lacey become friends? Who is Sarah? This is a delightful little romantic story of two young people sure to entertain the reader. Sandy Penton.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Annie O'Sullivan is on the fast track as a realtor, has a couple of good friends, a boyfriend and a good dog. As she is preparing to lock up after her last open house, a guy in a van asks her to show the house to him. He seemed OK, so she said yes. The beginning of a nightmare year of rapes, beatings, psychological abuse and the death of her baby are disclosed through sessions with her psychiatrist. One is given glimpses of the brain-washing that a madman might use; and how difficult it is to get away from a hostage situation. A page-turner. Sandy Penton.

Sunflower Serenade by Tricia Goyer

It's county fair time. Bob and Charlotte are members of the fair board which has decided they need to raise money by having Shae Lynne, country western singer, as a program entertainer. This is all well and good until the community finds out that Lynne's producers want to film a video on their farm disturbing the peaceful summer days. Sam's California friend Jordan is coming to spend a week and Sam is anxious that Jordan will think Bob and Charlotte are country hicks and drags his feet taking him to the home place. Emily has discovered photography and with Uncle Pete's help, enters some pictures in the fair. Toby has come a long way with Christopher's training and is also entered in the fair. Charlotte is again entering her pies, but when they get smashed in a collision with a goat, she wonders if it is all worth it. Sounds like a typical summer with fairs, community activities and a little clash of personalities for spice. A good read. Sandy Penton.

On the Right Path by Diann Hunt

Bob and Charlotte feel it is important that the two older grand kids, Sam and Emily, spend some time earning money during the summer months as their finances are stretched pretty thin with three extra mouths to feed. Sam reluctantly takes a job working at a day care, but his girl friend steers him to her uncle who manages the airport and a part time job, so he is happier. Emily and friend Ashley find themselves doing housework for an elderly lady a couple of days a week and surprises herself by becoming friends with the lady who shares her early life story with the girls. Christopher wants to teach Toby, the dog, some tricks and finds he needs to learn a little patience. The Stevenson family learns to depend on God for their needs, not necessarily their wants. A good beginning to the summer. Sandy Penton.

Seeds of Faith by Kristin Eckhardt

School is about out for the summer when grandma Charlotte hears a rumor that the grand children's father, Kevin Slater, may be going to show up to attend his class reunion and take care of some family business. Fear drives Charlotte, after all, the kids have only been there a few months and she isn't ready to give them up. Meanwhile, Emily is sewing a fifties prom dress for a fund-raiser contest and her temper is tested with a "not-so-good" friend, Nicole. Sam has discovered "a girl" and is trying to figure out how to ask her to the prom. Christopher and friend Dylan are going camping. Charlotte leans on God, depending on Him to work things out in His own way. A good message. Sandy Penton.

April's Hope by Robert Elmer

April showers bring May flowers as the saying goes, but Charlotte and her family have had enough rain. When heavy rains flood the watershed area of Heather Creek, the family joins together to help the neighbors out. When Charlotte is injured lifting a sand bag, the open house being planned is presumed to be put on the back burner. Christopher is busy forecasting the weather and building his weather station. Sam has noticed classmate Arielle and struggles with how to ask her for a date, or if he even should. Emily has a birthday coming up which again reminds everyone of the loss of their mother and daughter. One more chapter in the life of the Stevenson family, you are sure to enjoy it. Sandy Penton.

The Promise of Spring by Leslie Gould

Spring is trying to arrive, but it is still miserable and cold..... and foggy. Sam, Emily and Christopher are driving home one evening when a car ahead of them leaves the road landing in a swollen creek. Sam instinctively grabs a rope and flashlight and heads toward the partially submerged car. A woman cries for help as she tries to open the door to rescue her granddaughter. Sam to the rescue, and many are calling him hero the next day. Emily meanwhile, discovers her mother's diary. Reading it brings the pain of her loss to the front but also helps Emily to find the answers to some of her questions. Christopher is in the school play, memorizing his lines, but the fear of "freezing up" begins to nag at him. Charlotte and Bob still feel unsure of their decisions in raising three grandchildren after their mother's death in a car accident. So the saga continues. Sandy Penton.

Every Sunrise by Tricia Goyer

Charlotte's grand kids are facing the bitter cold of February in Nebraska, quite a shock from San Diego, California where they hail from. Emily is adjusting nicely, looking forward to Valentine's Day while Christopher's writing a story for a contest the school is having. Sam, however, is sinking into a "blue funk" pretty deep. Even his school buds can't seem to lift him out of it. Determined to find his father, he takes off for Golden, Colorado in his "junk" car in the middle of a snow storm. When Charlotte and Bob discover him missing, they do all the things a worried parent would do including jumping in the truck and heading to Golden themselves, depending on God to give them the wisdom to know what to do when and if they find Sam. A real page-turner, snuggle up with this one. Sandy Penton.

An Abundance of Blessings by Carolyne Aarsen

Charlotte is still struggling with trying to control everything around her. Husband Bob tends to just ignore her or goes to the barn. Pete, at thirty, feels he ought to make some of his own decisions which might mean losing Dana. Sam is obviously angry. Mad at the snow and ice, frustrated with living in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska, yet wants to be accepted by his friends at school. Emily is coming around but Charlotte has difficulty accepting some of the decisions Emily makes about her wardrobe and makeup. Emily wants to learn to sew so maybe that will be the connecting thread to their relationship. Christopher is on the go, learning and inventing and being the rambunctious boy he is, perhaps the catalyst to them all. Curl up with a good book about midwest living in the winter. Sandy Penton.

A Patchwork Christmas by Kristin Eckhardt

Charlotte is still anxious about Sam, Emily and Christopher and the holidays. This will be their first Christmas without their mother and Charlotte wants to make this one special. But.... Sam wants to go to California to a friends for Christmas, Emily doesn't want to be the leader sheep in the pageant and Christopher is afraid of freezing up during his solo during the pageant. Charlotte finds it is hard to put her trust and faith in God and struggles daily to let go and let God take control. A good holiday read. Sandy Penton

An Amish Love: Three Amish Novellas

"A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long. Has Abigail Kauffman bitten off more than she can chew? Telling a little lie about Joseph Lambert has gotten her married to him in record time and ow things are definately not going as she had planned. A good story of married love. "What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller. Five years have passed since the accident and God has brought three young people together to mend their hearts. Ellie Chupp not only lost her sight but her boyfriend as well; Christopher Miller lost his fiance in the car wreck and has been banned for his actions but feels drawn back to the community and his church; Isiah Chupp shares a secret with cousin Ellie about the accident. Will hearts be mended? Will Ellie be an unmarried maidel because of her blindness? Will Chris forgive and repent his actions? Another good story. "Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman. It's been eleven months since Levina has seen her husband Naaman Lapp. Now he has returned without any explanation. His children are mixed in their feelings about his absence and the oldest, Adam, is shunning Naaman even tho the bishop did not ask for it. Can Levina forgive completely, even tho their religion requires it? What is Adam's problem? When the sheriff, Larry Dozier, arrives asking for Naaman, many speculate the purpose of his visit and are reluctant to give him directions to Naaman fearing he is still in trouble. Yes, it seems middle-aged Amish men can also have mid-life crisis' also. A good finishing story. Sandy Penton.

Homespun Harvest by Robert Elmer

Feeding three more mouths is pinching the family budget and the kids needed a little spending money, so Charlotte takes up cafe owner friend Melody's offer to bake pies for sale at her cafe. Charlotte talks to the kids, they are enthused, and the baking begins. Bob isn't so sure this a good idea but supports her. Sam is so excited about earning money for a car, he even takes on a little part time job delivering parts which doesn't exactly turn out like he had planned. Emily learns to make a mean pie and makes some changes in the school lunch program. Christopher finally gets to drive the tractor, but when an accident happens, he is devastated. A good recipe for pie at the end. Another good Heather Creek story. Sandy Penton.

Circle of Grace by Leslie Gould

It is fall and the kids are starting to settle into their grandparents' home helping with the chores and attending church and school. Charlotte is still worried that she will keep making the same mistakes she made with Denise, the kids mother, and Bob is having trouble with his health. Sons Pete and Bill are at odds because Pete is helping Bob with the farm and Bill wants to sell the farm as well as having them make a will declaring Bill and his wife guardians for the kids in the event that "something" happens. Emily brushes Ashley off while chumming up with newcomer Rayann (from the city), Sam puts his soccer skills to work for the football team and Christopher is curious about earthquakes and tornadoes. Another good read. Sandy Penton.

Sweet September by Tricia Goyer

It is fall on the farm. Charlote and Bob are still getting used to their daughter Denise's children, hoping they will settle in and be comfortable as well a happy on the home place. Bob struggles with son Pete over farming, he can't seem to let go of the old ways, while Pete wants to try something new. Sixteen-year-old Sam is resisting school and all that goes with it. Emily seems happier for now and Christopher is having a great time exploring, finding treasures. Bob and Charlotte explain how the farm has been a refuge to people in need over the years, and that they would try to continue the tradition when Jefferson, a transient, appears on the scene, solving a mystery, in the night. Goyer spins a tale filled with history, the history of hope. A good read. Sandy Penton.

Under the Mercy Trees by Heather Newton

A story of the Owenby family, of Solace Fork, North Carolina. Martin Owenby, a has-been in his opinion, feels life has passed him by, with his lifestyle choice and life as a writer barely filling his basic needs. Learning his older brother, Leon, has gone missing, he returns home not sure what is expected of him. He faces a past that haunts him, painful memories still sting. His friendship with Liza, married now to Raby, still endures after all this time. Newton exposes the family through present and past events, memories that are touching to the reader, drawing us ever closer to the mystery of the story. I enjoyed the novel. You will, too, if you like puzzles. Sandy Penton.

Pawleys Island A Low Country Tale by Dorothea Benton Frank

Rebecca arrives on the island, needing a place to stay, to show her paintings and earn some money since ousted from her home and from her children by a husband who is shopping the "grass is greener" side of the fence. Huey Valentine befriends her, is enchanted by her painting, and together with friend retired attorney Abigail Thurmond, is determined to right the wrongs Rebecca's nasty husband has visited upon her. A ho-hum story. OK if you like that sort of thing. Sandy Penton.

Before the Dawn by Carolyne Aarsen

First in the series, the reader is introduced to Charlotte and Bob Stevenson, elderly grandparents who through a series of misfortunes are raising their daughter, Denise's, three children, Sam (16), Emily (14) and Christopher (10). Denise was killed in an automobile accident with no husband in the picture. Missing their estranged daughter and mother, the family strives to deal with their grief and learn to live together. With a solid background of Faith in God, Charlotte and Bob do their best to make this difficult situation work. A truly great read, anxious to read book number two. Sandy Penton.

Walking Across Egypt produced by Mitchum Entertainment

Based on the novel Walking Across Egypt by Clyde Edgerton, the video is well done. While not including all the information given in the novel, the producers added a few incidents that were not part of the story, but made a good storyline. I suggest reading the book before viewing the video. Sandy Penton.

Raney by Clyde Edgerton

Southerner Raney Bell and Yankee Charles Shepherd are married. Thus begins two years of learning to live together and with each others families which allows the reader to experience the young couples' culture shock. Edgerton does a great job and left me laughing, reading parts aloud to my friend and sorry to see it end. A great read. Sandy Penton.

Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb

Eve Dallas and partner Peabody are on the job. Sorry folks, I tried but just couldn't get into this futurama police mystery tale. Not my cup of tea. Sandy Penton