Come, autumn, come! With the hope of cooler weather, golden leaves, and shorter days comes the desire to slow down and relax with a good book. Prop your feet up and travel to another place or time as you enjoy a love story, solve a mystery or be inspired to make a difference. Fall into reading with great books from the FBC Library. The reviews that follow are taken from the publishers' book jackets.
June Bug by Chris Fabry. For as long as she can remember, June Bug and her father have traveled the back roads of the country in their beat-up RV, spending many nights parked at Walmart. One day, as she walks past the greeter at the front of the store, her eyes are drawn to the pictures of missing children, where she is shocked to see herself. This discovery begins a quest for the truth about her father, the mother he rarely speaks of, and ultimately herself. But when her father’s past catches up with them, forces beyond his control draw them back to Dogwood, West Virginia, down a winding path that will change their lives forever. Don’t miss this retelling of the famed novel, Les Miserables.
Unbridled Dreams by Stephanie Grace Whitson. Irma Friedrich has everything a girl could want but she’s miserable. To her, the perfect life includes horses and roundups and trick riding. Willa Friedrich, haunted by disappointment and fear, thinks controlling her daughter’s future is the only way to protect Irma from dangers Willa knows all too well. Shep Sterling, known as King of the Cowboys, leads a life that represents all Irma desires and everything her mother fears. Something has to give when Willa’s insistence on sending Irma to finishing school collides with Irma’s determination to audition for Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West. And Shep Sterling is waiting in the wings!
Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand. Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston’s wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her. Reporter Logan Woods is following the break-ins with the hope of publishing his coverage as a true crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: chase the girl, the story or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything.
Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck. Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing – the responsible, dependable thing – unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says “yes” to a new destiny. Then without warning, ownership of the run-down café where she’s been waitressing falls right into Caroline’s lap. While she’s trying to determine the cafe’s future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline’s heart. But when her first love, Mitch O’Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life. Then, in the midst of all, Caroline discovers the captivating love of Jesus. “You are so loved, sweet Caroline. So loved.”
Her Mother’s Hope by Francine Rivers. From the beloved, best-selling author of Redeeming Love comes an unforgettable story about family and faith, dreams and disappointments, and ultimately the resilience and tenacity of love. Set at the turn of the twentieth century, Her Mother’s Hope explores the depths of grace and forgiveness in one of life’s fiercest bonds – the love between mother and daughter.
Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury. Brad Cutler, twenty-eight, is a rising star at his New York ad agency, about to marry the girl of his dreams. Anyone would agree he has it all - a great career, a beautiful and loving fiancée, and a fairy-tale life ahead of him. Then memories of a high school choice flood his conscience, and he is no longer sure what the future will bring. But he knows he must go back to the shores of Holden Beach in search of his first love, and a forgiveness neither of them has ever known.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin. Smile … you’re about to read not only one of the classic works of English literature, but a novel filled with love, humor, and heart. Prudent Elinor Dashwood and her passionate sister, Marianne, will come vividly to life. Their search for love, their heartbroken anguish, their wit, and their unceasing loyalty to each other – all of it will remind you why they are two of Austen’s more beloved characters. This read will delight your heart and stir your spirit.
Lonestar Sanctuary by Colleen Coble. Though tragedy has wrecked her life, Allie Siders holds on to the hope that her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, will speak again. But with a stalker out for revenge, all Allie can think about now is their safety. She must sever all ties and abandon life as she knows it. She heads to the peaceful Bluebird Ranch, nestled deep in Texas hill country and to the only person who can help them. The ranch is a sanctuary for abused horses and troubled kids: the perfect place for Betsy to grow and recover. Ranch owner, Elijah DeAngelo eagerly welcomes the duo. But Rick Bailey – the ranch foreman and DeAngelo’s right hand man – hasn’t decided to let his guard down yet. Promises made long ago soon force Rick and Allie to work together to escape danger. And in the quiet safety of Bluebird Ranch unexpected love brings new hope.
How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler. When Deena Livingston moves into her grandfather’s cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, she plans to keep to herself, start a cake-decorating business, and recover from the heartbreak she left behind in Atlanta. But a special request from Grandpa Ernest compels her to interact with the Bryson City locals, who have some surprising stories to share with the new girl in town. Can a Dr. Seuss- quoting plumber who shows up at the most unexpected times, a handsome social worker who seems to know exactly what Deena is thinking, and a classroom full of mischievous middle-school students teach Deena to once again embrace the sweet things in life?
She’s in a Better Place by Angela Hunt. Former Washington adviser Jennifer Graham is willing to take on anything to remove her unemployed-single-mom stigma – even a Florida funeral home! Her work takes on a new dimension when Gerald Huffman, her assistant and mentor, reveals he has a serious illness. When she learns that he and his daughter haven’t spoken in ears, Jen decides to help them reconcile… but things don’t go exactly as she planned. The mortuary once again becomes a setting for lessons of laughter, love, and life in this third in The Fairlawn Series.