Fiction Friday: All Things Hidden
The ladies are cleaning out the basement of Bedford Community Church when they discover a tattered and yellowed newspaper article. The clipping, published more than a century ago, implicates Charlotte’s great-great-grandfather in the loss of funds intended to help finish building the church. Charlotte has heard stories about the incident through the years, but now it seems the past has come back to haunt her. Is it just her imagination or are people treating her differently now that they think she's descended from a crook? In the midst of raising her grandchildren, she becomes distracted with trying to solve a century-old mystery.
Meanwhile, Sam is spending time with a new girl in town-and is keeping secrets from his grandparents about where they go. Christopher wants to get the story of the alleged theft published in the local paper, and Emily reluctantly partners with a foreign exchange student on a class project and eventually realizes that they're not that different after all.
As old secrets are brought to light, the whole family is reminded that the truth is often more complicated than it seems. It’s a delightful story of small town neighborliness and suspicion, grandparents coping with being parents, teens coming of age, and redemption. It’s a quick read, but it tweaks my small town upbringing. And I love the grandparent protagonists.
The book is only available from Guideposts. Order online or to order just this book (rather than the whole series) call customer service (1-800-431-2344). See other posts on the blog tour here. Want to win all 18 books in the series? Tweet this: Read #AllThingsHidden by @triciagoyer http://ow.ly/14nNd! RT for a chance to win all 18 books in the Home to Heather Creek series!
Labels: book review
Friday, February 19, 2010
Fiction Friday: Double Trouble
With one solved case under her belt, PJ Sugar is ready to dive into her career as a private investigator. Or at least a PI's assistant until she can prove herself to Jeremy Kane, her new boss. Suddenly PJ sees crime everywhere. But is it just in her head, or can she trust her instincts? When she takes on her first official case--house-sitting for a witness in protective custody--Jeremy assures her there's no danger involved. But it soon becomes clear that someone is after the witness . . . and now they're after PJ, too.Double Trouble is quirky, but fun. At times it was a bit clichéd, but PJ is a captivating protagonist. While on a stake-out, she captures the suspect by throwing doughnut holes. She lives with her wealthy sister, her sister’s new Russian husband, and his Russian parents. Her high school flame has proposed, but is he the one?
Check out the other posts on the blog tour, and visit author Susan May Warren’s Facebook page to enter a humdinger of a contest that ends TOMORROW.
One Grand Prize winner will receive a $150 SUPER SLEUTH prize package that includes:
- A brand new iPod Shuffle (perfect for those all-night stakeouts)
- A $10 iTunes gift card (we recommend the ALIAS soundtrack)
- A $10 Amazon gift card (why yes, they do sell spy pens)
- A $10 Starbucks gift card (for fuel, obviously)
- A pair of designer sunglasses (be stealthy AND super chic)
- A gorgeous scarf from World Market (can also be used as a blindfold, and/or for tying up bad guys)
Labels: book review
Friday, February 12, 2010
Fiction Friday: Veil of Fire
Marlo Schalesky is a consummate storyteller who has woven a tale of suspense, love, and healing in Veil of Fire. In 1894, the small town of Hinckley, Minnesota faced a fire that destroyed the community. As the few survivors begin to piece their lives back together, fear reigns and the citizens persecute the unknown--a being they believe is a ghost lurking in the hills. Things go missing-- a pie, a cart, some beans--and a veiled figure in black has been seen in the shadows. The community is angry and afraid. Only a young orphan is willing to question who or what this being might be. Her discovery shatters the secrets one citizen thought had gone up in smoke. Schalesky has done a masterful job of maintaining the suspense until the moment the secret is revealed--a skill that eludes some of the best authors. Even though it isn’t new, I loved this book.
The story is based on a real historical event. The fire, one of the worst in history, destroyed six towns including Hinckley and killed 418 people in four hours in Minnesota of 1894.
Labels: book review