I won a copy of Sandpiper Affair through the Desert Breeze blog (check it out if you are looking for ebooks at  http://desertbreezepublishing.blogspot.com).  I wanted to love Sandpiper Affair so I could rave about it for my fellow writer, but alas, a few things got in the way.  First, of no fault of Janis Lane's, the book isn't written from a Christian worldview, so from the get go I'm missing one of the main aspects of life that I enjoy exploring in fictional characters — their walks with God.  (But, of course, an absent walk with God is real and a good reminder to me, also.)

Second, the book opens with an awkward scene with the heroine crawling on her stomach to take pictures of Sandhill cranes and the hero, park ranger, walking into her camera view up close and personal in a way that seemed impossible unless he purposely flipped his head over to look into her camera.  (And if you've read many of my reviews, you know how I am with rocky starts.)

But the writing improved and I didn't have issues following the characters as they fall into attraction, begin to date, find a dead body, survive a burning house, and various other adventures (often dealing with birds and cameras) before the bad guy is disclosed and captured.

I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.  All quotes read as from a bird book (exactly what the heroine was working on), and they introduced the content of the coming chapter. For example, "The dove's call is a sweet, low-pitched coo coo.  The sound can be heard especially during courtship when the male puffs out his chest feathers and struts in front of the female, both calling repeatedly to each other."

For the purposes of "Seek Truth. Read fiction," I will say that at one point our heroine Abby has returned home for a short visit with her parents and holds a heart-to-heart conversation with her mom about her fear of giving up her identity to be with a man.  Her mom responds, "Do you think I have no identity, honey?  I doubt your father would agree with you." She paused to think.  "I think the answer is that identities are blended, but not lost, when two people become one. Marriage takes two stones and rubs away the rough edges until the two parts fit so closely they appear to be one.  We're separate identities still, but we're different people from the two who started out together."

Wisdom, yes?

Now the question remains will Abby believe and seek a life with park ranger Adam?  Or will fear continue to drive her decisions?  This story is the first in a series.

This has been one of my favorite series since DragonSpell came out back in 2004, but somehow I missed this 4th book in the five book series.

Donita has developed a fantasy world of five high races and five low races, of dragons and mystical creatures, that reminds the reader of our world by the characters' behaviors, attitudes, and needs.  The series follows Kale Allerion, first known as an orphan and outcast, through her stages of growing into her calling as Dragon Keeper and wizard. 

The continent of Amara has drifted from the ways of Wulder, and its people find themselves under attack from various peoples, including evil wizards and Pretender.

In DragonFire, Paladin (Wulder's representive on Amara) is weak and ill because the people of Amara have chosen to ignore the fight that's now exploding in many parts of the country. Kale and Bardon are separated on this quest as each must use their talents and gifts for the good of all peoples.  Kale continues to learn and grow through the search for a valley of dragons and the battles that follow.

This series is classified as Fiction/Allegory from WaterBrook Press and often it's the kids who like it, particularly young boys.  But, you know, I like it too.  I recommend the entire series to anyone who enjoys new worlds, Christian allegory, learning through fiction to make better decisions, and how to be noble in a messed up world.

Aquasynthesis is an anthology of short stories written by various authors tied together by a story written by Grace Bridges (I think).  The "tie" story is about a Gizile and her sour mentor, Tok.  Tok is teaching Gizile lessons through a frozen pool  that shows stories as she watches.

I won't go into each of the short stories.  Some were blatant in their moral point, others more subtle.  Some were pulled from larger stories, others stood alone.  All took Gizile deeper into an understanding of who she was created to be, who she was created by,  and what she needed to do in response.  Forgiveness was huge.

I will say that I liked these short stories better than the majority of literary short stories I've read over the years.  Even the subtle stories had purpose and theme.  It's a cute idea, aquasythesis, but I'd rather read a novel.

Still, it won't surprise me in the least if a few of these shorts come back into my mind, and I begin to wonder about the bigger life of these characters.

The Mercy is the third book in the Rose Trilogy and the first book by Beverly Lewis that I've read.  Yes, I know it's not like me to read out of order, but I don't think I mind in this case.  Perhaps reading the third was actually a benefit because it wasn't difficult to grasp what had taken place in the first two novels and I got to read the ending.  :-)

Rose and her sister, Hen, are dealing with life in two distinct ways.  Hen had chosen to leave the Amish to marry an English boy — but that didn't turn into Happily Ever After, and she's back home and trying to connect with her blind husband before their separation turns into divorce.

Rose is getting over a serious break up, still trying to find a husband in the Amish community, and pretending like she isn't in love with her neighbor who has gone out into the world to attend college.

I've never felt a great draw to Amish fiction, but this was one of my Bethany Bingo books so I read it.  It was okay.  I'll even go so far as to say it wasn't as bad as I expected.  But it was slow.  Christianity lite.  The romantic leads were apart for the majority of the book.  So I can't claim it as a favorite.

But you know, friends, if you like Amish fiction, and a bunch of people must, The Mercy is a fine read.

Another fun read from Mary Connealy.

Rafe Kincaid is Mary's standard western man. He likes to brawl and works hard, finds women interesting and trouble.  But Rafe has bigger issues.  There's a cave on his property that holds too many memories for Rafe and his two younger brothers — both of which have run off to manage their pain in the ways that they can find.  Rafe bucks up and keeps the ranch growing.

Then he rescues fossil hunter, Julia Gilliland, from his cave, and finds he likes kissing the girl to keep her from bossing him around.  Add in Julia's drunkard father, her pregnant step-mom, and baby sister … and maybe even a returned brother or two of Rafe's … and Out of Control makes all the sense in the world.

Both Rafe and Julia want to control their worlds, but both need to realize that the same God who created mountains and caverns and a Flood that washed sea animals high into the Rockies, is the God who directs the steps of humans and draws hearts together in love.

Though I like Love Inspired Suspense better than straight Love Inspired romances, I adore Cheryl Wyatt, the person.  So I started her Wings of Refuge series a few years ago and try to grab each one as it comes out.  I believe this is her sixth.

The gist of the series set up is that each of the heroes is part of a paratrooper unit stationed in a town called Refuge.  The men are usually on the outs with God and the troop leader (and then the other soldiers) are praying, living life, and witnessing in such a way as bring all their brothers into God's family.

A Soldier's Devotion is about US Air Force pararescue jumper Vince Reardon and his struggle NOT to fall in love with Christ and out-on-her-sleeve believer Valentina Russo.  First because Val is a Christian, but then also because Val is a lawyer — and Vince has a thing against them as well.

But after a car accident that is Val's fault puts Vince's custom-made motorcycle out of commission, nothing is going to stop Val from befriending this guy she felt such a spiritual connection toward as she prayed for his life in the rain-soaked street.

Cute. Simple. Fun secondary characters used to draw out the main characters' flaws and fears.  Neat use of a charm bracelet.  Enjoyable read.  Go for it.