Jillian Dare by Melanie Jeschke is a modern-day version of Charlotte Bronte’s classic Jane Eyre. Raised in foster homes, title character Jillian takes a job as nanny to the daughter of a wealthy employer and is introduced to a new life of luxury, mystery and adventure. Having read Bronte’s novel a number of times, I found myself anticipating most of the events in the story but found it interesting to see how Melanie Jeschke adapted the characters and situations to the modern world. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy updated versions of the classics.  ~Lori

About the Author~

Melanie Morey Jeschke (pronounced jes-key), a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from University of Virginia as a Phi Beta Kappa with an Honors degree in English Literature and a minor in European and English History.

A free-lance travel writer, Melanie contributed the Oxford chapter to the Rick Steves’ England 2006 guidebook. She is a member of the Capital Christian Writers and Christian Fiction Writers as well as three book clubs, and taught high-school English before home-schooling most of her nine children. Melanie lectures on Lewis and Tolkien, Oxford, and writing, and gives inspirational talks to all manner of groups, including university classes, women’s clubs, young professionals, teens, and school children.

A fourth generation pastor’s wife (her father Dr. Earl Morey is a retired Presbyterian minister), Melanie resides in the Greater Washington, D.C. area with her children and husband Bill Jeschke, a soccer coach and the Senior Pastor of The King’s Chapel, an non-denominational Christian church in Fairfax, Virginia.

About the Book ~

Jillian Dare leaves her Shenandoah Valley foster home behind and strikes out on her own as a nanny at a large country estate in northern Virginia. She is delighted with the beauty of her new home, the affection of her young charge Cadence Remington, and the opportunity for frequent travel to the Remington castle in England.

She is less certain about her feelings for her handsome but moody employer, Ethan. In spite of herself, Jillian realizes she is falling for her boss. But how can a humble girl ever hope to win a wealthy man of the world? And what dark secrets from the past is he hiding? This contemporary story, inspired by the well-loved classic Jane Eyre, will capture readers’ hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jillian Dare: A Novel, go HERE

“If you like fast-paced, action-oriented, CIA thrillers, this is the perfect book for you. This book is Vince Flynn splashed with the love of our merciful savior, Jesus Christ. I was impressed with the author was able to think outside the box and keep you turning pages quickly until the surprise ending. In the current environment we are living, this book could come true tomorrow.”

 ~ Dan O.  (This is Dan’s first review for me. I knew he likes this type of novel and recruited him. Thanks, Dan!)

About the Author ~

MARK ANDREW OLSEN whose novel The Assignment was a Christy Award finalist, also collaborated on bestsellers Hadassah (now the major motion picture: One Night With the King), The Hadassah Covenant, and Rescued. Two of his last books were the supernatural thriller The Watchers, and The Warriors.

The son of missionaries to France, Mark is a Professional Writing graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Connie, live in Colorado Springs with their three children.

About the Book ~

When an al-Qaeda email is intercepted, threatening an attack on America, it leads to the capture of the group’s leader. Yet even under fierce interrogation, the terrorist clings to his jihadist beliefs and refuses to divulge any information. Desperate, the Army resorts to extreme measures–a controversial protocol designed to break a subject’s resistance. But the attempt must be masked as an offer of clemency and rely on an outside party, someone who is unaware of the protocol’s aims.

They find that someone in Greg Cahill, a disgraced soldier who now serves in a prison ministry. Lured by the chance to restore his reputation, Greg befriends a man the entire country despises. And the result proves combustible, the two men having to flee for their lives. With both in need of redemption, they set out to prevent a major catastrophe…

If you would like to read the first chapter of Ulterior Motive, go HERE

I thought that Beloved Counterfeit was really interesting. I found the beginning to be a little confusing. It took me a bit to get into the story. I didn’t quite understand the main character Ruby O’Shea’s faith. I thought that some of the stuff was a little different then what I was used to. The romance was good and the plot was interesting.

~Rachel 

About the Author ~

KATHLEEN MILLER Y’BARBO is a tenth-generation Texan and a mother of three grown sons and a teenage daughter. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and an award-winning novelist of Christian fiction whose first published work jumped onto the Christian Booksellers Association bestseller list in its first month of release. Kathleen is a former treasurer for the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a member of the Author’s Guild, Inspirational Writers Alive, Words for the Journey Christian Writers Guild, and the Fellowship of Christian Authors. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker, and her kids think she’s a pretty cool mom, too…most of the time, anyway. Read the rest of this entry »

“According to Their Deeds” is written by acclaimed author Paul Robertson. This novel is his follow-up to “The Heir” and “Road to Nowhere”. In this novel, Charles Beale is a dealer of antique books who owns and operates a successful bookstore in the Washington, DC area. The story begins with Charles attending an auction of a former client and friend murdered through a suspicious break-in that went bad. Charles acquires several volumes that he had sold to his client at the auction. One of the books is holding papers of secret “sins” of a number of prestigious individuals in Washington. Charles is left with a moral dilemma where he must decide whether to come forth and potentially ruin many lives or stay silent and have all that he cares about become a potential target of those searching for this information.
Charles does not take this dilemma lightly, and the novel proceeds with many positive elements. His decision moves him through a number of encounters where he gathers evidence to further help him in his decision. This well written novel keeps you engaged in Charles’ next step. I especially enjoyed the dialogues and the banter between Charles and his wife and employees. He comes to life through this book and is a very likable character. I was also intrigued by his dilemma and found myself wanting to keep reading to see what he would do next. There were also a number of references to classical literature integrated into the book that most well-read readers would enjoy as well. I also liked the structure of the book. The chapters were not number but rather written almost in a diary or journal format where morning, afternoon and evening would be followed by a memory of a discussion or interaction Charles had with his client and friend who had been murdered. These discussions although short, were often intriguing and deep, and they were related to an element Charles was dealing with in that point of the story. At times, I found myself wanting more of these!
This book was categorized as a suspense, the book reads more as a murder mystery than what I would associate with a suspense novel. For the mystery genre, it was very satisfying. However, since I thought I was going to be reading a suspense, I expected more action throughout the book rather than towards the end of the novel. That being said, I am not sure this is a fair assessment, because Robertson does write well and delivers enjoyable and compelling characters. Since this was my first book of his that I have read, I would read some more, in hopes that the suspense would offer more action for my bias.
I also was hoping to see more spiritual content. Since this was Christian suspense, it seems that Charles uses his own standards and references these standards according to the discussions with his client. I was hoping that he would also show his reliance on God and on prayer to help him through this dilemma. Instead, we are given some examples through Charles’ mercy and grace to a young man who he takes in through surprising circumstances. Unfortunately, this may be more of a reflection of the publishing world today where it is OK to show Christ-likeness in a character rather than the character seeking Christ in novels.
All in all, I would recommend this novel to those seeking a mystery with a twist of morality. It is well written, delivers a positive message with intriguing characters.  ~ Mike Read the rest of this entry »