Angels At The Table

Angels At The Table

By: Debbie Macomber

240 Pages

 

Summary:

Debbie Macomber has brought back her beloved Angels. Shirley, Mercy, and Goodness are back, and this time they have an angel they are training: Will. They take Will to New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve party where he inadvertently causes trouble. What could possibly happen when he has two strangers meet before they were meant to?

 

 

It's New Year's Eve and the party is in full effect at New York City's Times Square. Shirley, Mercy, and Goodness thought it was a good opportunity for Will to see the people he would be working with once he begins to answer prayers himself. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty when Will accidentally has 2 strangers meet. Lucie is in the process of getting her restaurant to open. Her mother has invested her life's savings into this venture and Lucie is feeling the pressure. Aren is a divorcee who has just moved to New York after taking a job at a newspaper. They bump into each other at midnight, share a kiss, and the connection is instant. Aren tells her that if she would like to pursue a relationship with him, to meet him at the top of the Empire State Building in a week. On her way to meet him, Lucie's diabetic Mother is taken to the hospital after a fall. Lucie never makes it.

 

A year later has Lucie's restaurant open and widely successful. Aren is restaurant critic writing under a pseudo name. Anxious to right the wrong he name, Will and the Angels go to Earth to help things along. On the night Aren reviews Lucie's place, they all add a little extra of things to the food. It backfires and he gives the restaurant, and the chef, a scathing review. Lucie has no idea Aren is the reviewer and Aren has no idea the restaurant is Lucie's.

 

Once the two meet again, things pick up where they left off. However, reality hits Aren first. He lives in a constant state of fear for what will happen when Lucie finds out he was the one behind the horrid review. Eventually the truth is discovered and Aren's fears become truth. Lucie breaks it off with him. Good thing 3 Angels and a trainee are on the case.

 

The Angels are the stars of the book. They find a way to ruin a perfectly good meal, further complicating their jobs. They enjoy a Broadway show- until they decide to put their own "touch" to it. And I'm not saying who was responsible for taking a camel out for a mini walk amongst New York City, but it does happen.

 

Angels At The Table  is another delightfully charming Debbie Macomber creation. This book is a great Christmastime read. You will have a great time meeting the characters and laughing at the hi jinks these Angels get into. Curl up, get comfy, and see what happens when you read Angels At The Table.



A Snowglobe Christmas

A SnowGlobe Christmas

By: Linda Goodnight & Lissa Manley.

224 Pages

Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks

 

I recently finished reading "A Snowglobe Christmas" by Linda Goodnight and Lissa Manley. Coming from the North East, these stories brought back wonderful memories of a small town Christmas. Both stories center around the weeks leading up to Christmas.  A Snowglobe is snuggled deep in the mountains of Montana. It has become well known for its picturesque setting and festive atmosphere. Every store, house, church and lamp post is thoroughly decorated for Christmas. Tourists from all over come to share in the town's Christmas Celebrations. From winter sports to charming stores the residents love Christmas and are pleased to share with the many visitors.

The first story Yuletide Homecoming, by Linda Goodnight, is the story of a young successful woman returning home to run the family business. Dana Caldwell is excited to have her daughter home and is looking ahead to retiring. Amy is just as excited to return home and help run "The Snowglobe Gift Shoppe". There is just one cloud hanging over this return and his name is Rafe Westfield, her ex-fiancee. But Amy has moved on and is anxious to celebrate the holidays with her Mom. Both mom and Rafe are about to shake up Amy's world in ways she never imagined. Will Amy leave again or stay in Snowglobe? God has all the answers she will need.

 

The second story A Family's Christmas Wish, by Lissa Manley, centers around Sara Kincaid and Owen Larsen. Both are single parents with three year old daughters. Owen arrives at "The Snowglobe Bed and Breakfast," owned by Sara, in answer to her emergency call concerning a big leak in her roof. Owen has brought his shy daughter Jane with him. Sara's daughter Mia is thrilled to see a playmate and whisks Jane off to the world of make believe.

 

With the girls happily playing Owen and Sara's attention turns to the leak. It turns out fixing the roof is going to cost a lot. Sara does not have the money. The holiday bookings were lost because of this leak . Owen has made plans to move out of town before Christmas so a job as involved as this will not fit into the one week he has left. God has other plans. The compromise that is finally worked out is almost too good to believe. When Owen reluctantly agrees to attend the town's Christmas Tree Lighting, he is surprised how much both he and Jane enjoy sharing it with Sara and Mia. A blizzard, prayers and a near fatal accident change Owen and Sara's life forever.

 

Both stories are a Christmas delight, uplifting and will put you in the mood for Christmas. So break out a cup of cocoa, settle into a comfy spot and drift into the charming town of Snowglobe.

The Bridge

The Bridge
By: Karen Kingsbury
272 Pages
Reviewed by: Betsey Brooks

Summary:
The touching story of how a bookstore affects and changes a town and the people within it. 

** More details of The Bridge plot have been kept from this review so as not to give the story away. ** 

 

The story revolves around a new and used book store in Franklin, Tennessee. The owner, Charlie Barton loves people almost as much as he loves books. People of all ages have been touched by Charlie's caring ways as they passed through the doors of "The Bridge". That all came to a horrible end.

 

We learn about Charlie from two former students, Molly and Ryan.They have moved on with their lives, but brought with them the memories of the special times they spent together at "The Bridge". Both are very upset when they read about Charlie's unstable condition following an accident. The article continued on to tell of the bookstore's destruction by a devastating flood.

 

Ryan goes to the community with a plan to help Charlie get back on his feet. After reading the article Molly wants to help too. Their united effort brings more than the community together. Success seems doomed when they learn the owner of Charlie's building has decided to sell it. Charlie has until the first of the year to buy it. Will Charlie live to know of every one's love and effort? Is there any hope of saving "The Bridge"? Do Christmas miracles still happen? Pull up a comfortable chair and settle in for a wonderful read.

A Patchwork Christmas

A Patchwork Christmas Collection

Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks

 

A Patchwork Christmas Collection features three inspiring stories. In these stories you see how the making of a quilt can be a scrapbook of life. As life weaves it's happy and unhappy events into the fabric of their lives you watch their faith and strength grow. Although the women's lives are completely different, their desire and need for God's guidance is the same. Their journey to find the joy and peace that only God provides gives the reader much to ponder.

Seams Like Love by Judith Miller

Karla Stuke bears the scare of an engagement broken by a cheating fiance and she has put a thick wall around her heart. Frank Lehner was a childhood friend who has returned to the "Community" to be an apprentice pharmacist. But that is not his only goal. His love for Karla as a friend has matured into the love of a man for a woman. Now he must figure out a way to convince Karla he is worthy of her trust. Both look to God for guidance, but is Karla willing to hear what God's will for her is? Will this Christmas be different than the last one? Only God knows.

A Patchwork Love by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Jane McClare finds herself a penniless widow with a young daughter to raise. Desperate times require desperate measures. Jane answers an add in a local newspaper and a relationship with a Mr. Howard Higgins develops. After a short visit to meet Jane and Molly, Mr. Higgins sends them train tickets to come and spend a Christmas holiday with him. Molly does not like him and claims he doesn't like her either. Jane's desire to provide a secure future for her daughter leaves her no choice. But God has his own plans for Jane and Molly. As the train travels west, a blizzard moves east. The train is stopped by a wall of snow and a raging blizzard. Meanwhile the little cough Molly started out with turns critical. Jane finally realizes only God can help them. Out of the blizzard comes a sleigh bringing more help than anyone can guess. Is settling for a life with Mr. Higgins what God really has planned or is there a happy loving life waiting else where?

The Bridal Quilt by Nancy Moser

Both Ada and Samuel had no doubt they were in love and marriage was in their future. It was the Christmas Social Season in New York City and they were pare of the elite social circle. Parties, balls, trips to the theater and lots of shopping was their world. This year both of their families were waiting to celebrate the engagement when Samuel finally proposed. Samuel loved Ada, but he just couldn't get the words out. He didn't know why he was having such a hard time so he prayed "Show me your will, O Lord". Samuel didn't hear an answer. Meanwhile Ada had been working on a marriage quilt which was a chronicle of her life. She was looking forward to adding the blocks representing her engagement and the events leading up to her wedding. While out for and evening with "the guys" Samuel rescues a little girl who was being beaten. Ada's brother is a doctor so Samuel brings the child to their house to be helped. When he returns the child to the slums he Samuel discoverers God's real purpose for his life. A year later Ada comes face to face with an unconscious Samuel as he lay in the street. God's will for their lives slowly emerges bringing surprises and change to Samuel, Ada and both of their families. Only God knew where the next Christmas would find each of them.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to curl up and enjoy a good read. Each story features wonderful characters in unusual situations . I found myself sorry when each story ended. I will definitely look for more books written by these authors. Truly a book filled with the Christmas Spirit. Enjoy!

The Wedding Dress (Summer Reading Recommendations)

The Wedding Dress

By: Rachel Hauck

Recommended by: Betsey Brooks

I found it, the perfect book to take on vacation a trip or just to curl up with; it's a fascinating read. The story introduces you to the women whose lives are forever changed by a very unusual wedding dress. In fact the dress seems to be a gift meant for only these women. How the dress comes to each bride is a mystery.

The story starts with Charlotte Malone is the owner of an up and coming bridal shop. She has become engaged to Tim Rose after knowing him only a few months. Their wedding is coming up and she needs to find a wedding dress. the couple seem to be very busy and just don't get around to getting things done for their wedding. The engagement crumbles, but a strong bond continues between the two.  Life takes on a whole new purpose when Charlotte buys a mysterious old trunk with a lock that is welded shut. Charlotte begins the most wonderful adventure as she searches for the answers to the mystery surrounding the beautiful wedding dress  she finds in the trunk.

From the 1912 segregated city of Birmingham to the present day the stories of these amazing women will captivate you.  Emily, engaged to the most eligible bachelor in Birmingham, Taffy and ex slave seamstress with a gift from the Lord, Hillary married and widowed within months, Mary Grace a shop clerk  and Charlotte with an unknown father and no living family, are all linked together by the shimmering wedding dress. These women are smart, strong, courageous and not predictable. The twists and turns in their lives weaves a beautiful uplifting story.

This is a book I will buy and encourage others to purchase.  I think it is the kind of story one can read over and over, each time discovering something new. Thank you Ms. Hauck for such a refreshing inspirational story. I look forward to reading more of your books.

Always The Designer, Never The Bride

Always The Designer, Never The Bride

By: Sandra D. Brickner

319 Pages

Summary:
Audrey is returning to Atlanta for her best friend's wedding. Then it's back to New York to figure out what she'll do about her failing wedding dress design business. However, her visit to Atlanta doesn't go the way she thought it would. From meeting the handsome J.R. to a surprise client that takes her business in a new direction, Audrey has the trip of her lifetime.
Book #2 in what I've dubbed as the Tanglewood Inn series is every bit as good as it's predecessor, Always The Planner, Never The Bride. I loved this installment every bit as much as I loved the first. Characters I loved meeting are back, and I got to meet a couple more that I love as much, too. Reading this series is a joy because Brickner creates such a wonderful family environment with all the characters. Always  The Designer, Never The Bride was a book that I curled up with and hated to put down. I loved every page of it.
Audrey Regan is a wedding dress designer who's business is on the verge of collapse. She attends her best friend, Carly's, wedding in Atlanta thinking she'll only be there for a couple of days. While visiting everyone, she hopes to nab a high profile client. Things don't work out, but she does meet a different bride with a wedding dress crisis as a favor. Little did Audrey know, this client was going to change her future.
I loved watching Audrey's life take one turn after another. She fights her attraction to Carly's brother-in-law, J.R. In the end, neither could walk away from what they felt, though they both tried. I loved seeing her fight for her business. Audrey tried to satisfy a spoiled brat of a client, but new how to gracefully bow out. As a favor, she agrees to meet with Lizette, a bride who's getting married in 3 weeks but has no dress. Audrey creates a one of a kind gown that gets the attention of a highly successful designer. She was a class act when she discovers what he's done with her work and ideas.

All of the supportive characters were fun to read. Andy and Sherilyn, from Always the Planner, Never The Bride, return. This time around they are pregnant. The staff at Tanglewood Inn are every bit as inviting as they were in the first book.

If you enjoy light books that make you feel good, then you will enjoy Always The Designer, Never The Bride. Reading this book was like revisiting old friends you haven't seen in a few years. That homey, comfortable feeling takes over and it's like you've never been apart. I thoroughly loved reading this book from beginning to end.

Rating: Buy It!