August may be a slight month when it comes to
the number of books I anticipate reading, but I'm excited that two of my
must-read authors--Laura Frantz and William Kent Krueger--have books releasing.
My reading list might be slim, yet quality. I'm also intrigued by a new
release from an author I haven't read before, Julie
L. Cannon.
Ballantyne Legacy Series #1
Revell
432 pages
To my delight I received my complimentary
copy of Love's Reckoning from Revell this past Saturday. In my estimation,
Laura Frantz is one of the premier authors of historical fiction in the CBA.
She's not a formula writer--which I greatly appreciate--and reading her prose
is like hearing a symphony. Add to that, she's a vivid painter of scene so the
reader is placed right in the middle of action, and her characters are rich and
three-dimensional. I have no doubt that I will enjoy Love's Reckoning just as much as I have her past
novels, The Frontiersman's Daughter, Courting Morrow Little,
and The Colonel's Lady.
Book Description
On a bitter December day in
1785, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of master blacksmith Liege Lee in
York, Pennsylvania. Just months from becoming a master blacksmith himself,
Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship and move west. But Liege soon
discovers that Silas is a prodigious worker and craftsman and endeavors to keep
him in Lancaster. Silas becomes interested in both of Liege's daughters, the
gentle and faith-filled Eden and the clever and high-spirited Elspeth. When he
chooses one, will the other's jealousy destroy their love?
For more Spire Reviews' posts regarding Laura
Frantz's work click <here>.
Atria Books
336 pages
William Kent Krueger is a fellow Minnesotan
who sets many of his stories in picturesque northern Minnesota. That alone
makes his work intriguing, but its his superb storytelling that keeps luring me
back for more. The majority of Krueger's work centers around Cork O'Connor
who's part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He's a former Chicago cop, former
small-town Sheriff, turned private investigator. His books are not Christian
and if you're offended by rough language (which he uses sparingly), then his
books may not be for you. But his novels always include a spiritual element,
one that favors Christianity as opposed to mocking it. If you haven't read
William Kent Krueger before, I highly recommend giving him a try. And if you
are the type of reader who needs to start at Book #1 in a series, pick up Iron Lake. You won't be disappointed.
Book Description
Cork O'Connor is sitting in the shadow of a
towering monolith known as Trickster's Point, deep in the Minnesota wilderness.
Beside him is the first Native American governor-elect, Jubal Little, who is
slowly dying with an arrow through his heart. Although the men have been bow
hunting, this is no accident. The arrow in the governor's heart belongs to
Cork.
When he becomes the primary suspect in the
murder, Cork understands full well that he's been set up. As he works to clear
his name and track the real killer, he recalls his long, complex relationship
with Jubal, the Native kid who aspired to be a populist politician and grew to
become a cunning man capable of treachery and murder. As Cork looks deeply into
his own past, he comes face to face with the many motives, good and ill, that
lead men and women into the difficult, sometimes deadly, political arena.
List of Corcoran (Cork) O'Connor novels,
click <here>.
For more Spire Reviews' posts regarding
William Kent Krueger's work click <here>.
Abingdon
Press
320
Pages
Author
Julie Cannon is new to me, but the concept of Twang has me intrigued. My
daughter's dream is to become a performer so any novels that chronicle a music star's life pique my interest. Hopefully, when I'm done reading Twang, I'll have one more author to add to my must-read list.
Book
Description
Twenty-three-year-old Jennifer Clodfelter believes she is
destined to be a country music star. When her passion, determination and
homemade demo tape were rejected by every music label in Nashville, she refused
to give up. In just three years, a combination of guts and raw talent have
propelled her on a journey of fame beyond her best dream.
Now
Jennifer has all she ever wanted, only to discover that there is a dark side to
the glitz and number one hits. She will have to decide whether to sing her pain
to a loving audience or find the courage to face the music in the private
studio of her heart.
