PDF - Christian Library Journal

ADULT
FICTION
anything to help revive their sluggish
economy—particularly since the winter snows
have held off, thus delaying the start of the
skiing and tourist season.
As she struggles to stand for what is true and
right, she also encounters difficulty in her
personal life. Maggie and Jed had an
“understanding,” but that is put on hold when
Jed’s long-lost daughter, newly reunited with
her father, demands more and more of his time
and attention. Maggie must learn to deal with
her insecurity regarding her relationship with
Jed, and come to a deeper understanding of why
Leah seems determined to keep her away from
Jed. Eventually the three of them work out their
difficulties, and Maggie and Jed become
engaged.
Looking For You All My Life, by Melody
Carlson, is the third book in the Whispering
Pines series. Readers will definitely need to
read the first two books before this one, or they
will be confused. There are numerous
characters, and the author, assuming the reader
is acquainted with their various backgrounds
and relationships, does little explaining. While
the book is generally well-written, it is not as
riveting or realistic as the first two. Maggie and
Jed get engaged, but never spend the time
together investing in a serious relationship
necessary for marriage. The land development
project is brought up as a major conflict and
focus of the story, but no satisfying closure is
given to the issue.
Sherri Beeler, Teacher, Cascade Christian High School, Medford,
Oregon
Lost Romance Ranch, by Annie Jones.
(Route 66.) LCCN 00022410. Colorado
Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2000. ISBN
1578561353, PAP, $6.95.
F. Automobile travel--Fiction; Separated people--
Fiction; United States Highway 66--Fiction;
Humorous stories; Love stories. 234 p. Adult (High
school).
Lost Romance Ranch is subtitled A Romantic
Comedy From the Roadsides of Route 66 and
comes with a giggle guarantee. Though there
are a few amusing events, the subject matter of
the plot is very cogitative. Tidbits of the history
of Route 66 are part of the fabric as the
characters maneuver their way through this
story displaying that men and women truly
appear to be from opposite planets. Annie Jones
stimulates the reader to contemplate the sanctity
of the marriage vows by setting aside selfabsorption
and considering a partner’s
viewpoint so obstacles are able to be
surmounted. Seeking God’s counsel is
demonstrated to be extremely important before
making drastic decisions. Also, the surrendering
of pride becomes the restorative balm for
damaged relationships.
Blind-sided by the letter left from his wife in the
now empty house, Teague is confused. The
typical family difficulties aside he is left with
not a single clue to understand what has led up
to his wife suddenly leaving with the children.
Everything he does is for the welfare of his most
precious possession, his family.
Wendie broods over the numerous reasons to
justify her actions—Teague’s all absorbing work
ethic, charity functions, and other priorities that
he places above his family’s happiness. By
leaving with the twins, Wendie hopes to jolt
Teague into awareness of the seriousness of their
situation.
Will this be another marriage shattered on the
rocks of today’s statistics?
Debbie Lindsay, Homeschool Parent, Eatonville, Washington
The Marquesa, by Stephen Bly. (Heroines
of the golden west; 2.) LCCN 09833717.
Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1998.
ISBN 1581340257, PAP, $10.00.
F. Actresses--Fiction; Women merchants--Fiction;
Montana--Fiction. 221 p. Adult.
Isabel Leon, better known by her stage name,
“The Marquesa,” has settled down in Cantrell,
Montana, to manage a general store for her good
friend Carolina Parks, who is in the East
awaiting the birth of her first child. The
Marquesa has also joined a venture to build a
hotel in the rapidly growing boom town.
Unfortunately, her partners and almost everyone
else are in the gold fields.
When the Marquesa is approached by former
army captain Dawson Mandara who offers to
take charge of the construction of the hotel, she
accepts his offer even though she resents his
superior manner and pities the wife he mentions
frequently. As work progresses on the hotel, the
relationship between the Marquesa and the
captain develops to a point where the Marquesa
begins to envy the captain’s wife. As the
Marquesa struggles with her feelings for the
captain and her developing faith in God, she is
increasingly distressed by the thought of the
impending arrival of the captain’s family to
Cantrell. The Marquesa also has other problems
including a number of men from her past who
pose complications, including having her
thrown in jail. Life in Cantrell is never dull with
runaway horses, robberies, shootouts, and wild
chases after outlaws. Throughout all of this
activity, the Marquesa discovers that real life
can be even more exciting and fulfilling than
any role on the stage.
The Marquesa is the second book in the
Heroines of the Golden West series by Stephen
Bly. To fully understand many of the characters
and incidents in the book, one should have read
book number one, Sweet Carolina. As long as
the reader remembers that this book contains a
great deal more fiction than history, it is an
entertaining book that will make an enjoyable
light read.
Virginia Brown, Library Assistant, Freelance Writer, Former
Teacher, Sheridan, Wyoming
★
The midwife’s song : a story of Moses’
birth, by Brenda Ray. LCCN 00102602.
Port St. Joe, Fla.: Karmichael Press, 2000.
ISBN 0965396681, HBB, $14.95.
F. Moses (Biblical leader)--Birth--Fiction; Bible.
O.T. Exodus--History of Biblical events--Fiction;
Midwives--Fiction; Egypt--History--To 332 B.C.--
Fiction. 243 p. Adult (High school).
Brenda Ray draws on work credentials and a
Master’s in nurse-midwifery, to fictionalize the
account of midwife, Puah, and her mentor
Shiphrah recorded in Exodus 1:15-2:10 in The
Midwife’s Song: A Story of Moses’ Birth.
She portrays Puah with compelling suspense,
colorful descriptions, and deep insight, as Puah
defies the Pharaoh’s decree to murder all
newborn males, endangering her and those she
loves. Then Hattush, “who makes her heart
sing,” accepts punishment for Puah and their
unborn child when faced with the Pharaoh’s
rage, leading to a gripping climax. Shiphrah
remains a steady source of comfort and strength
throughout the ordeal. Puah, at 98, tells this
provocative story in chapter flashbacks to the
children as they march into the desert, led by
Moses.
Puah’s faith in God is reminiscent of
Hadassah’s, the memorable heroine in The Mark
of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. The
reader cheers and then grieves as the story
develops, and Puah’s deep faith is challenged,
sometimes minute-by-minute.
Research for the book followed the biblical
account, Jewish traditions, folklore, and ancient
Near Eastern history. An outstanding first book
of a planned trilogy, Ray’s account rings with
courage, sometimes deception, but always with
God at the center. This will become an oftenread
classic.
Gail Welborn, Freelance Writer, Everett, Washington
A moment of weakness, by Karen
Kingsbury. LCCN 99050869. Sisters,
Ore.: Multnomah, 2000. ISBN
1576736164, PAP, $11.99.
F. Custody of children--Fiction; Domentic fiction;
Christian fiction; Love stories. 411 p. Adult.
A Moment of Weakness is a compelling story of
two people, Jade and Tanner, childhood friends
separated by a family scandal and reunited years
later as adults. Their feelings for each other
have remained and deepened and they soon find
themselves in love. Jade commits her life to
Christ and their desire to serve the Lord only
strengthens their commitment to one another.
But their feelings carry them away in a moment
of weakness and their lives are changed forever.
While Tanner is on a trip to Hungary, Jade
discovers she is pregnant and contacts his
mother for an emergency number so that she
might get in touch with him. His ambitious
mother, convinced Jade will never be the wife
he needs to further his political career, fills her
with lies about her beloved Tanner, and Jade
leaves, a crushed and broken young woman,
determined to never see Tanner again.
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