The New Day Dawns by Grace Anne Schaefer

I have to start this with a disclaimer. I was one of three editors on The New Day Dawns by Grace Anne Schaefer, so I have to admit to a little bias! However, the book has garnered several favorable reviews and been well-received by readers, so my good opinion isn't total bias.

The New Day Dawns is Book 1 in the five-book People of the Frozen Earth family saga. The story takes place nearly 2000 years ago on the Western Great Plains; the ancestors of the People of the Frozen Earth had crossed over the land bridge from Siberia seeking a new life. The young warrior Mach and the chief's daughter Horda are preparing to experience the Mating Rituals. Their joyous plans are interrupted and almost destroyed by a combination of their own actions, tribal mores, evil enemies, and forces of nature. They must use all their skills; strengths; and beliefs in themselves, each other, and the values of the People to not only survive, but triumph. In the end, they learn that what they have become is more important than what they were.

One of my favorite reviews is written by someone who was surprised he liked the book and even more surprised to be writing a review.

Grace Anne wanted to donate 10% of the Internet sales of her books to an Indian charity. I recommended the International Anglican Fellowship, specifying the donations be designated for the Lakota Sioux. When Grace Anne learned more about these people, she became very excited. "These are my people!" she exclaimed. The Lakota Sioux are among the descendants of the People of the Frozen Earth.

After she committed to tithing Internet sales to the Lakota Sioux, Walter Kilian, the Executive Director of the International Anglican Fellowship (IAF), decided he should read the book if he intended to recommend it. He wrote a review in the latest issue of the IAF newsletter. The review is on page 2 of Vol. 10, Easter Season, 2005 - the URL will change when a new issue comes out.

He wrote: "It was absolutely beyond my expectation. As a retired naval officer I've read all of John (sic) Clancy's books and several of John Grisham's books that Cynthia has introduced me to. This is as good as those and the IAF is making money too! . . . I had a difficult time putting the book down and perhaps best of all Cynthia did too!"

The New Day Dawns is available from GASLight Publishing as an e-book (HTML or PDF) or trade paperback and from Amazon.com as a trade paperback.

Thundering Heart by Carolyn R. Scheidies

Thundering Heart by Carolyn R. Scheidies is a winner of the Treble Heart Books Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Romance. To recover from the betrayal of her fiance falling in love with gorgeous best friend, Andrea Johnson retreats to a secluded resort for a vacation. She meets two men - Dirk Nelson at first stirs her passion and leads her to rationalize sharing her faith as an excuse for spending time with him and ultimately to questioning her own values. The mysterious Graham Andrews has secrets, but his dislike of journalists, his guilt over the auto accident that took the lives of his wife and daughter, and his weakened faith as a result of his losses aren't part of his secrets. Andrea has her own secret - she can't tell Graham that she's a journalist, and her first inclination was to delve into the mystery and find out his secrets. Thundering Heart deals realistically with issues of faith, self-esteem, loss, trust, and love. An enjoyable and inspiring story.

To Live Again by Lauralee Bliss

To Live Again by Lauralee Bliss begins with Janice and Len Dawson and their two children living a wonderful life. The only flaw is a strained relationship between Len and his brother Paul, but Paul's wife Katy and Janice are close friends.

Then disaster strikes - Len is diagnosed with cancer. Not only does Janice have to deal with her continued responsibilities of homeschooling their daughters and trying to keep their lives normal, but she is faced with Len's physical deterioration and his anger over his illness. When Len dies, Janice takes on the burden of supporting the family financially and emotionally.

However, she felt God had turned her back on her, so she turns her back on God. But living without faith just doesn't seem to work.

Unbelievably, a year later, tragedy befalls again. Katy is stricken with cancer and dies after only a few weeks. Paul is devastated, and Janice realizes she has to help him and his children. In the end, they find both faith and love.

To Live Again is a very touching story - with moments of great sadness and moments of great joy intermingled with a love story tied together with a lesson in faith.

Between a Clutch and a Hard Place by Gayle Trent

Between a Clutch and a Hard Place by Gayle Trent is a genre new to me: comedic mystery. The sleuth, Myrtle Crumb, is truly a unique character. She got involved the mystery because she wouldn't be outdone by a local fashion plate, so she had to visit the consignment shop and find something just a little better.

She not only found a pocketbook, but she also found an intriguing note inside that led to a mystery. What happened to the previous owner? So Myrtle started sleuthing ... unlike any sleuthing you've seen before.

The story is written in first person, and just reading Myrtle's charming chatter is delightful, and the twist at the end is a surprise.

Between a Clutch and a Hard Place was nominated for the 2004 Appalachian Book of the Year.

A Time to Dance by Diana Brandmeyer

A Time to Dance by Diana Brandmeyer is a short contemporary inspirational romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Deni Sparks and Shane Anderson want the same piece of property - Deni for a home and stained glass studio, Shane for a lakefront development. Deni inherited the property, but she must live in the rundown house for three months or, according to the terms of the will, it goes to Shane.

Deni and Shane have to learn to trust in God, regardless of who ends up with the property. And in the end, love proves to be more important than property.

A Time to Dance was nominated for the RIO, the Reviewers International Organization's annual Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence, and was also an EPPIE finalist.