Title: When Calls the Heart (Canadian West #1)
Author: Jeanette Oke
Publisher: Bethany House, February 2055
Number of Pages: Paperback, 220 pages
Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Inspirational, Western, Cultural - Canada
Plot: (Goodreads.com) Nothing in her cultured East Coast upbringing prepared Elizabeth for a teaching position on the Canadian frontier. Yet, despite the constant hardships, she loves the children in her care.
Determined to do the best job she can and fighting to survive the harsh land, Elizabeth is surprised to find her heart softening towards a certain member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Personal Thoughts: These types of historical stories are some of my favorites to read and Jeanette Oke writes them so well. I'd already read her Love Comes Softly series about people settling in the Old West, dealing with Indians, sickness, and how to find love when tragedy strikes. Oke does a great job in describing her characters and surroundings with out going over board. Her stories can be a little predictable, but most romance stories are. There are a few twists and turns along the way, but the main character ends up with who she's supposed to be with. I also love that these stories are clean - no sex and no cursing.
The added element of his being part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police adds some extra mystery to the story. Elizabeth comes out west to settle in a small country area where she lives in a teacherage next door to the school where she's to teach the local children. In this particular area, the children had never had a chance to attend school, so her being there was a huge deal and she was welcomed with open arms.
Needless to say, this story ended the way I wanted it to and I am excited to pick up book #2 in the series and see what I think about it as well as the story of Elizabeth and Wynn continues.
Recommended Age Level: 14+
Rating: 4
Title: The Witness (Shield of Honor #1)
Author: Dee Henderson
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., January 2006
Number of Pages: Paperback, 378 pages
Genre: Christian Fiction, Crime Drama, Thriller, Romance, Inspirational
Plot: (Goodreads.com) For eight years, Amanda Griffin has been on the run from Richard Wise. She holds the access to twenty million dollars of ill-gotten funds, and a list of his contacts that she's gradually turning over to the police. One mistake could snuff out her life. Her family already thinks she's dead.
Trouble arrives when her sisters receive a huge inheritance from the father they never knew. Afraid that Wise will take revenge on Marie and Tracey, Amanda moves back to town to keep an eye on them -- and let them know she's still alive, for now.
Police Chief Luke Granger met Amanda three years ago, and he hasn't forgotten her. One of his homicide detectives is dating Tracey; another is just getting to know Marie. Luke, Marsh, and Connor will do everything in their power to keep the three Griffin women safe. But it may not be enough.
Personal Thoughts: This book had it's high points and it's low points! It starts right off the bat when Luke meets Amanda three years previous to the major plot of the book. The connection between the two is obvious to begin with, and then when we see them three years later, the connection is still present. Luke cares about her and her sisters. Marsh and Connor do too... the middle of the book lacks a little and the plot moves along slowly. But it's all build up for the last third of the book when things start happening fast and ends with a BANG!
I personally loved this book. It was a christian fiction book - but the only references were prayers and personal conversations about beliefs. It was not a 'throw it in your face' kind of book. I liked that there were no sex scenes or curse words. I like good clean novels that tell a good story and have a little mystery to them. This book satisfied just about everything that I like about a good novel.
Recommended Age Level: 18+
Rating: 3
Reviews:
Dee Henderson departs from her usual pattern by focusing on three couples, making her protagonists older, and having the series more integrated; in fact, many of the story threads aren't finished in this book. But the book has her signature blend of mystery and suspense. The characters are fully drawn, but Henderson's point-of-view choices prevent readers from connecting as deeply as those in her previous novels. Amanda and Tracey are never the viewpoint characters, and I think the book suffers because of it, especially with Amanda. Hopefully future books will allow readers to get to know her better. In all, The Witness is an excellent choice for romantic suspense fans. -- Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com
