SEPTEMBER 25TH A NEST OF SPARROWS by DEBORAH RANEY
In this thoughtful novel by Raney (Beneath a Southern Sky), multifaceted characters
and a fresh story line keep the pages turning. Wade Sullivan, an appealing
contractor, is anticipating his wedding to the love of his life, the divorced Starr
Parnell. Starr's three delightful young children will give Wade an instant family,
and he's already "dad" in the kids' minds. When Starr dies unexpectedly, her abusive
ex-husband, Darrin Parnell, shows up to collect the kids-and the insurance money.
Wade discovers that his own claim on the children is tenuous. Worried about his
abilities as a parent, he reflects that perhaps it is time to let go. As the story
progresses; Raney intertwines poignant moments with genuine humor and refuses to
make her characters one-dimensional: although Darrin is a character readers might
love to hate, Raney shows that he does have glimmers of love for his estranged
children. Raney also doesn't sugarcoat Wade's abilities as a stepfather, letting him
make ignorant mistakes that would cause a seasoned parent to cringe. This is one of
Raney's best novels.

OCTOBER 23RD A PROMISE TO REMEMBER by KATHRYN CUSHMAN
This book will grip your heart. A car wreck takes the lives of two teenage boys and
leaves their mothers desperately trying to cope. Andie Phelps is a devoted mother,
loving wife, prominent in her community and church. She has it all, money, friends,
and prestige; everything but her son. She's struggling to survive the loss. Melanie
Johnson is a single mother, barely getting by. She doesn't have Andie's resources
and clout. Her son's death has left her wounded. Normally the two of them would have
never met, but due to the loss of their sons they can't ignore each other. Then the
community gets involved, taking sides, which only makes matters worse. A Promise to
Remember is a heart-touching story of hope and heartbreak, of stumbling in the dark
and searching for the light. The characters are breathtakingly real. This is Kathryn
Cushman's debut novel and it's an extremely good one.

NOVEMBER 25THHeart Blessed by Susan Meissner
In this moving new novel by critically acclaimed author Susan Meissner, readers will
once again delight in the masterful storytelling that resulted in the author's A
Window to the World (2005) being named among the top ten Christian novels of the
year by Booklist Magazine. Left standing at the altar, Daisy Murien, a wounded but
hopeful romantic, opens a secondhand wedding dress boutique, hoping to soothe her
broken heart while giving doomed wedding dresses a second chance at love. Her
predictable days take a sharp turn, though, when the retired Episcopal priest who
blesses the tiny, blue satin heart she sews into each dress falls ill. When the
priest's brooding and recently divorced son arrives with plans to take his ailing
father away, a contest of wills begins between two stubborn-and hurting-souls. While
fighting to keep Father Laurent close by, Daisy finally begins to understand why she
has routinely convinced potential buyers not to buy the one gown that started her
business-her own: She doesn't want to give up on the dream of a fairytale romance.
This compelling story is about the magnificence of unconditional love and God's
impeccable timing in bringing it about. "Susan Meissner's strength is making
characters so real, you root for them as you welcome them into your life."

DECEMBER 11TH Unwrapping Christmas by Lorie Copeland
It's that time of year again, and with excitement and high expectations, Rose has
planned the perfect Christmas for her family and friends. But when she feels them
drifting away during a time that should celebrate togetherness, Rose is forced to
slow down in the most unexpected way. In this whimsical, uplifting story, she
discovers the true meaning of giving.

JANUARY 22ND THE BEACH HOUSE by SALLY JOHN
The first release in The Beach House series is the story of four women, friends from
childhood, who reunite to celebrate their fortieth birthdays. After the distance of
time and geography, they look forward to the camaraderie of old friends and the
escape from everyday life as they stay at a San Diego beach house. When thoughts and
discussion turn to the history of their friendship, will problems of the past
threaten to overtake the present? The quest for understanding, identity, faith, and
friendship provides a universal thread in this tender and charming story from Sally
John that will connect with women from all walks of life.

FEBRUARY 26TH GODS AND KINGS by LYNN AUSTIN
Hezekiah, prince of Judah, lives in a kingdom under siege from hostile forces within
and without. His father, King Ahaz, has abandoned the worship of Yahweh and led his
nation into idolatry. Gods & Kings chronicles Hezekiah's coming of age, detailing
his turbulent childhood when he saw his father sacrifice his older brother Eliab to
the pagan god Molech. Overwhelmed by fear, Hezekiah first encounters the
life-changing touch of God through the love and teaching of his grandfather,
Zechariah, a Levitical priest. These seeds of faith are all that Hezekiah has to
guide him in a kingdom threatened by invasion and corrupted by idolatry. But
surrounded by threats to his very existence, can he hope to survive and be given the
chance to change the future of his country?
9-01-08