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Patty's Picks

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PATTY'S PICKS
 
We're bringing you a new page--PATTY'S PICKS (see Patty's bio under MEET THE REVIEWERS section)
 
Every month, Patty will rate (on a scale of 1-great to 5--not so hot) the books she reads and recommends to the reader.

Patty's Picks    

These are Patty's #1 picks for February 2009
 
EDEN'S GATE
TONOPAH
APPEARANCE OF EVIL
   Christopher A. Lane
 
THE OAK LEAVES
   Maureen Lang
 
ALWAYS GRACE
   Tim LaHaye and Gregory S. Dinallo
 
SERENITY
   Harry A. Kraus M.D.

Patty's Picks January 2009
 
STOLEN IDENTITY     Suspense Thriller  Rated #1
VENGENCE IS MINE                               Rated #1
      Brian Regrut
 
QUINLINS ESTATE                                 Rated #4
      David Ryan Long
 
HIDDEN GIFTS                                       Rated #1
      Rick Hamlin
 
WITH LOVE, LIBBY  Fifth book in Series Rated #1
      Roxanne Henke
 
A TIME TO MEND                                 Rated #1
THE ELEVATOR                                    Rated #1
      Angela Hunt
 
THE STAIN  Medical Thriller                    Rated #1
LETHAL MERCY   Medical Suspense       Rated #1
     Harry Lee Kraus Jr.

Patty's Picks December 2008
 
ALASKA TWILIGHT             Rated #1
     Colleen Coble
 
FLOWERS FOR VICTORIA   Rated #1  
     Sunni Jeffers
 
THE RESCUER
BEFORE I WAKE                 Rated #1
    Dee Henderson
 
EVER PRESENT DANGER  Rated #1
NEVER LOOK BACK          Rated #1
     Kathy Herman
 
AFTER ANNE                    Rated #1 The first of a  5 book series by this author. "Coming Home to Brewster" Outstanding spiritual message. I can hardly wait to complete the series.
FINDING RUTH                Rated #1
BECOMING OLIVIA         Rated #1
     Roxanne Henke

Patty's Picks November  2008
 
A WOMAN'S PLACE         Rated #1     
(I've read this book twice)
     Lynn Austin
 
Family Honor Series
SHATTERED JUSTICE      Rated #1     
KALEIDOSCOPE EYES     Rated #1
WHAT LIES WITHIN        Rated #1
     Karen Bell
 
SILENT PLEDGE             Rated #1
SOLEMN OATH               Rated #1
    Hannah Alexander
Stories of medical expertise in the E.R.

Patty's Picks October 2008
 
CORAL MOON                 Rated # 1
     Brandilyn Collins
 
THE PROPOSAL              Rated #1
THE NOVELIST               Rated # 5
( A good novel but I didn't understand it.)
THE JUSTICE                   Rated # 1
     Angela Hunt
 
SURRENDER BAY           Rated #1
     Denise Hunter
 
ALL SHE EVER WANTED    Rated #1
A novel regarding family dysfunction and healing.
     Lynn Austin
 
BLIND JUSTICE               Rated #1
     James Scott Bell

Patty's Picks September 2008
 
IMPOSTER Rated #1
A suspense Novel
Davis Bunn
 
MRS JEFFRIES & THE SILENT KNIGHT Rated#3
Emily Brightwell
 
FOREVERMORE Rated #2
Cathy Marie Hake
 
PECULAR TREASUES Rated #1
Robin Jones Gunn
 
MARGARET'S PEACE Rated #1
Linda Hall
 
THE SCENT of LILACS Rated #1
ORCHARD of HOPE      Rated #1 
Two beautiful novels
Ann H. Gabhart

 Patty's Picks  August 2008
 
WILLOW SPRINGS  Rated #1
Jan Watson
 
A GIFT FOR ABIGAIL Rated #1
Dwight Tilton   A Victorian Romance from 100 years ago, edited by Heather Harpham
Victorian Bookshelf Series
 
I'LL WATCH THE MOON Rated #1
Ann Tatlock
 
THINGS WE ONCE HELD DEAR Rated #1
Ann Tatlock
 
THE WEDDING ALBUM Two novels in one book
THE WEDDING DRESS Rated #1
WITH THIS RING Rated#1
Marian Wells
 
BLACK ICE  Fog Point Series Rated #1
Good Suspense Novel
Linda Hall
 
STEAL AWAY Rated #1
A Terri Blake-Addison Mystery
Linda Hall
 
NOTHING BUT THE RIGHT THING Rated#2
An African American Novel
Stacy Hawkins Adams
**********************************************
 

PERILOUS PROPOSAL         Rated # 1
A SOLDIERS LADY               Rated # 1
NEVER TOO LATE                Rated # 3
Michael Phillips  Books from CAROLINA COUSINS 
 
SISTER'S  CHOICE                 Rated # 1
Judith Pella  #2 in Patchwork Circle Series
 
GLIMPSES OF PARADISE      Rated # 2
TRY DYING                            Rated # 3
James Scott Bell
 
STOLEN IDENTITY                Rated # 1
VENGENCE IS MINE               Rated # 2
Brian Regrut           Suspense Thriller Novels
 
PRINTS CHARMING               Rated # 1
Rebecca Seitz       A good book for Scrapbooking fans.

Patty's Picks
 
 
HARTS CROSSING Rated 1
LEGACY LANE  Rated 1
SWEET DREAMS DRIVE Rated 1
Robing Lee Hatcher
 
SECOND OPINION Rated 1
Hannah Alexander
 
ECHOES FROM THE PAST Rated 1
NATURE'S BOUNTY   Rated 1
Ellen Harris
 
FUNERAL IN BLUE   Rated 3
             A mystery I did not enjoy completely.
HALF MOON STREET   Rated 5
            A  Victorian mystery , modern subject matter.
Anne Perry
====================================
 
A GREATER STORY Rated 1
James Scott Bell
A HIGHER JUSTICE  Rated 1
James Scott Bell
 
A DELIRIOUS SUMMER   Rated 3
Ray Blackston
 
FOR THE LOVE OF THE LAND Rated 2
WHEN THE STORM BREAKS  Rated 2
Bonnie Leon
 
SEAPORT SUSPENCE NOVELS
A SHRED OF EVIDENCE Rated 1
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER Rated 1
ALLTHINGS HIDDEN Rated 1
NOT BY CHANCE  Rated 1
Kathy Herman
 
THE RUSSIANS      Rated 2 Good Story, Difficult History

THE CROWN AND THE CRUCIBLE
A HOUSE DIVIDED
TRAVAIL AND TRIUMPH
Michael Phillips  & Judith Pella
 
HEIRS OF THE MOTHERLAND
THE DAWNING OF DELIVERENCE
WHITE NIGHTS RED MORNING
PASSAGE INTO LIGHT
Judith Pella

Patty's Picks   February 2008
 
    A QUARTER FOR A KISS     Rated 1
    Book 4 in the Million Dollar Mysteries
    Mindy Starnes Clark
 
    THE BUCK STOPS HERE     Rated 1
    Book 5 in the Million Dollar Mysteries
    Mindy Starnes Clark
 
    NIGHT LIGHT                       Rated 2
    A Restoration Novel
    Terri Blackstock
 
    OUT OF THE SHADOWS       Rated 1
    Sigmund Brouwer
 
    CROWN OF THORNS            Rated 1
    A Nick Barrett Mystery: 
 I couldn't put these 2 Brouwer novels down
    Sigmund Brouwer

    DEADLOCK                            Rated 1
    James Scott Bell

    THE NEPHILIM SEED              Rated 1
    James Scott Bell
 
    AN UNEXPECTED LOVE           Rated 4
    Michelle Ashman Bell
    A well written interesting story but too forceful in promoting a  particular belief that caused  personal discomfort for me.
 
    A MORNING LIKE THIS             Rated 1
    Deborah Bedford

Patty's Picks January 2008
 
         THE RESURRECTION FILE     Rated 1
         Book 1 Chambers of Justice series
         Craig Parshall
 
         CUSTODY OF THE STATE     Rated 1
         Book 2 Chambers of Justice series
         Craig Parshall
 
         THE ACCUSED     Rated 1
         Book 3  Chambers of justice series
         Craig Parshall
 
         TRUE VALOR     Rated 1
         Book 2  Uncommon Heroes series
         Dee Henderson
 
         TRUE HONOR     Rated 2
         Book 3 Uncommon Heroes series
         Dee Henderson
 
         ALL THINGS hIDDEN     Rated 3
         A Walk Worthy Press book
         Judy Candis
 
         DON'T TAKE ANY WOODEN NICKELS     Rated 1
         Book 2  Million Dollar Mysteries series. A powerful ending to this story!!
         Mindy Starns Clark

Patty's Picks Christmas 07
 
TRAITORS GATE     Rated 2
Anne Perry
 
WHAT SHE LEFT FOR ME  Rated1
Tracie Peterson
 
A LOVE WOVEN TRUE  Rated1
Tracie Peterson
Judith Miller
 
THE PATTERN OF HER HEART  Rated1
Tracie Peterson
Judith Miller
 
TRUE COURAGE  Rated1
Dee Henderson
 
THE RESERRECTION FILE  Rated 1
Craig Parshall

Patty's  Picks  November/December 2007
 
NO GRAVES AS YET     Rated 2
Anne Perry
This was the first of a series of 5 WWI novels.A good read, suited for male readers also.
 
SHOULDER THE SKY    Rated 2
Anne Parry
 
ANGELS IN THE GLOOM  Rated 2
Anne Perry
 
AT SOME DISPUTED BARRICADE   Rated 2
Anne Perry
 
WE SHALL NOT SLEEP    Rated 2
 
DEAD OF NIGHT       Rated 1
Brandyln Collins
Hidden Faces Series
 
SECRETS     Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn
Novels from the fictional quiet little town of Glenbrooke, a delight to visit there.
 
WHISPERS   Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn
 
ECHOES       Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn
 
SUNSETS        Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn
 
CLOUDS         Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn
 
WATERFALLS  Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn
 
WILDFLOWERS  Rated 1
Robin Jones Gunn

Patty's Picks November 2007

WEB OF  LIES     Rated 2
Brandyln Collins

WHISPERS THROUGH THE TREES    Rated 2  A Mysteries of Sparrow Island novel
Susan Plunkett and Krysteen Seelen

A missionary visiting in my home introduced me to Anne Perry an author of historical Victorian  Mystery novels set in London in the 1800's.Though social problems are mentioned it is done with sensitivity. I noted no foul language, they are clean stories. The cockney dialect  took some time to interpret as I read.

A BREACH OF PROMISE    Rated 2
Anne Perry

DEATH OF A STRANGER   Rated 2
Anne Perry

DARK ASSASSIN    Rated 2
Anne Perry

CAIN HIS BROTHER Rated 2
Anne Perry

Patty's Picks October 2007
 
EVER AFTER     Rated 1
Lynn Austin
Powerful tale of patriotism and love.A delightful ending, brought some tears!

BY THE LIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS     Rated 1
Jamie Langston Turner
A story of faith lived in front of people.

FREELY BLUE     Rated 1
Jake Thoene
Interesting thriller about terrorism. It would be enjoyed by a male reader.

SISTER CIRCLE SERIES     Rated 1
THE SISTER CIRCLE
ROUND THE CORNER
AN UNDIVIDED HEART
A PLACE TO BELONG
Vonette Bright and Nancy Moser
A very enjoyable series, the same  characters were featured in each book, I knew them like neighbors.

Patty's Picks September 2007

A WOMANS PLACE  Rated 1        
Lynn Austin
WWII novel with a touching  ending.

LEVI'S WILL   Rated 2                       
W. Dale Cramer
A hard story of Will, a prodigal  son

SUMMER OF LIGHT   Rated 1  
W. Dale Cramer
Delightful, funny, entertaining with a lot of truth in the story

MIXED SIGNALS  Rated 1 
Liz Curtis Higgs
This was her first novel? This is a keeper for sure

A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS Rated 1 
Book 2  in the Forever Faithful Series 
Karin Kingsbury

HALFWAY TO FOREVER   Rated 1 
Book 3 in the forever Faithful Series
Karin Kingsbury
I have read this book twice

THE GOOD NEARBY   Rated 1
Nancy Moser

THUNDERING HEART  Rated 1
Carolyn R. Scheidies
A fun story in a familiar geographic area, good word pictures through out

SOME WILDFLOWER IN MY HEART  Rated 3
Jamie Langston Turner
It was a great story but I read 40 pages before I got into it

NO DARK VALLEY   Rated 1
Jamie Langston Turner
A great novel with a message

Patty's Picks August 07

 

VIOLET DAWN Rated #1

The Kanner Lake Series 

By Brandilyn Collins

The suspense about scared me to death!

 

WINGS OF REFUGE Rated #1

By Lynn Austin

A good story.

 

AIN'T NO RIVER All three rated #1

RIDING THROUGH SHADOWS

PASSING INTO LIGHT

By Sharon Ewell Foster

Insight into another culture, the happiest ending for a series,

 

ABIDE WITH ME  Rated #2

ByDelia Parr

Regarding forgiveness and restoration.

 

THRU THE GLASS DARKLY Rated #2

By Gilbert Morris

Good novel; my husband loved it. Best for a male reader.

 

THE DWELLING PLACE  Rated #1

By Elizabeth Musser

July 07
 
Liz Curtis Higgs
   THORN IN MY HEART --3
   FAIR IS THE ROSE      --2
The stories were excellent, but the large glossary of non-English words was distracting and lowered my enjoyment of the stories.
 
Melody Carlson
   ON THIS DAY   --1
   LOOKING FOR CASSANDRA JANE--1
I read the last book until 3 am. Absolutely couldn't put it down.
 
Dee Henderson
   THE HEALER --1 (Part of the O'Malley series)
   BEFORE I WAKE--2  Found the ending too abrupt.
 

June 07

 

The following books gave me a great deal of reading pleasure this month. Each book deserves a great rating of number one.

 

TALES OF LONDON

By Lawanna Blackwell

1. The Maiden of Mayfair

2. Cathrine's Heart

 

AMANDAS TREASURE

By Melody Carlson

 

FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES

By Tamera Alexander

1.Rekindled

2.Revealed

 

Book 3. ABRAMS DAUGHTERS

By Beverly Lewis

The Sacrifice

 

PELICAN CROSSING

By Hilery Cotterill

A gift from my son-in law, this is the story of the misadventures of a trainee nurse. A fun read for any one with a nursing background.

 

THE ROAD UNSEEN

By Peter and Barbara Jenkins

A story of their spiritual journey by the authors of " A WALK ACROSS AMERICA"

 I rated the following #1s for May 07.

 

1. DARK WATER

By Linda Hall

I read this novel recently, but the suspense was so great I enjoyed it second time around.

(See review under http://idealinhope.com/bookreviews/fiction.html)

 

2. THE FINAL CRUMPET

A Royal Tunbridge Wells Mystery

By Ron and Janet Benrey

Very British with information about a tea museum. Two of my favorite words: "Blimey and Crikey".

(See review under http://idealinhope.com/bookreviews/fiction.html)

 

3. SAN DIEGO  

By Cathy Marie Hake & Joyce Livingston

Four Romantic Novels. Most enjoyable about the novels, I visited the same locality, and the stories shared the same characters.

 

April 07
Recommended this Month
 
TERMINAL JUSTICE      Author   Alton Gansky
HIDDEN GIFTS              Author   Rick Hamlin
END OF STATE             Author   Neesa Hart   
            This is a "Left Behind" book. Interesting!
 
BE NOT AFRAID            Author   Robert L. Wise        
           A heart warming WWII novel of  relationships placed on hold by war separation and hardship.                                  
 
 
THE WITTNESS             Author    Dee Henderson
THE TRUTH SEEKER     Author   Dee Henderson           
THE GUARDIAN             Author   Dee Henderson
THE PROTECTOR          Author   Dee Henderson        The O'Malley Series

Feb. 2007

I loved every book I read and I am rating them a ONE on a scale of 1 to 5. These books covered a range of topics of interest to me.
 
Randall Arthur   
Two novels regarding legalism in a spiritual setting.
WISDOM HUNTER
BETRAYAL
 
Brandlyn Collins   
The suspense will hold your attention!
DREAD CHAMPION
 
Angela Hunt       
A thriller, you won't want to put it down!
THE JUSTICE
 
Sylvia Bambola  
A novel : Christians persecuted for their faith.
REFINERS FIRE
 
Robin Lee Hatcher 
# 4 "Coming to America" series.
PROMISED TO ME
 
Robin Lee Hatcher  
A delightful novel, I had read it once before.
THE SHEPHARDS VOICE
 
James Scott Bell     
A novel dealing with a father's rights in a custody case.
BREACH OF PROMISE
 
Shelley Bates          
Concerning cults, educational as well as intertaining.
GROUNDS TO BELIEVE
 
Joseph Bentz          
Heart warming story of prodigals.
A SON COMES HOME

March 07
 
On a scale of 1 to 5 ( with 1 being the best ) I have  picked the following books with a number 1 rating:
 
Author    Lisa Tawn Bergren
CHRISTMAS EVERY MORNING
 
Author   Brandlyn Collins     
The Hidden Faces Series
BRINK OF DEATH  Book 1
STAIN OF GUILT  Book 2
 
Author   Joseph Bentz
AT CLOSE OF DAY
 
Author Donna Fletcher Crow  
The Cambridge Chronicles
A GENTLE CALLING
TREASURES OF THE HEART
 
Author   Carolyn R. Scheides  
The Barrington Saga  Book 3
SECOND CHANCE FOR CHARITY
 
Author   Alton L. Gansky 
Suspenseful Thriller
TARNISHED IMAGE
 

Dec. 06

 

From Patty’s Pen: I have read five books from the public library this month. I may read another before the month is over. These were excellent stories.

 

Author Tracie Peterson Alaskan Quest Series

SUMMER OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

This was a thrilling vicarious trip to Alaska. The conclusion of the series will no doubt be as excellent as the first two novels. (See reviews under fiction)

 

Author Kathy Herman The Baxter Series

TESTED BY FIRE

DAY OF RECKONING

Suspenseful Christian based novels. I am anxious to read the third novel in the series.

 

Author Hannah Alexander

SACRED TRUST

A suspense novel about emergency medicine, ethics and faith. I lost sleep toread this one.

 

January 2007

It was my privilege to read 9 books from the Public Library during December. I would rate each book  number ONE  on a scale of One to Five (where one is the best). I experienced emotions ranging from suspense, fear, sadness, joy and thankfulness  for the Christian message .One book ended so beautifully, I felt tears well up.
 
 
Author  Hannah Alexander    Healing Touch Series
NECESSARY MEASURES
URGENT CARE
 
Author  Linda Hall      Fog Point Series
DARK WATERS
 
Author  Rene Gutteridge
TROUBLED WATERS
GHOST WRITER
 
Author  Brandlyn Collins
CAST A ROAD BEFORE ME
COLOR THE SIDEWALK FOR ME
 
Author  Tracie Peterson   Alaskan Quest series
WHISPERS OF WINTER
 
Authors  William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn
LETHAL HARVEST
 

***

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