In the third of the Daily, Texas series of books, Lisa Wingate tackles a hurricane and its aftermath. Hurricane Glorietta hits the coast of Texas, forcing evacuations north, and cancelling the cruise Donetta Bradford was going on with her Daily friends Imagene and Lucy. Along the way, the three ladies are rescued by Kai Miller, a freespirited young woman who works on the cruise ship. Daily, Texas, also becomes shelter for a couple of dogs and an entire church family from the Louisiana Bayous.

I think this book addresses more faith-centered struggles than the previous two, although again the faith issues are more subtly woven into the narrative than some readers might like. Lisa Wingate is not a preachy writer. Instead, she creates humorous situations out of slice-of-life scenarios and shows how faith--and faith struggles--can play a role.

Overall, I enjoyed this third installment in the Daily series.

Julie and Julia, A Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell is a frank, endearing memoir of Julie Powell's year of making every recipe in Julia Child's tome Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I.

I truly enjoyed this book! I found it incredibly honest and just plain fun to read. I remember hearing about the book last year, I believe, before the movie buzz began. I saw the film earlier this week and absolutely LOVED it.

Highly recommended for adults; the language is a bit rough for younger folks.

If you have a book club, or want to start a book club but don't know how, Lit-n-Lattes: Adding Faith and Fun to Your Book Club is the book for you!

Written by several women who love to read, this book gives hints about how to start, host and maintain a great book club. The first section of the book walks the reader through the basics of what a book club is, and how to start one if you're not already a part of a book club. Then the book offers twenty-four book suggestions and brief summaries, complete with thematic invitation ideas and a recipe, as well as discussion questions, key quotations, and Scripture verses that go along with the book's theme or subject matter.

I was excited to read this book, because I recently agreed to coordinate my book club next year, and I was not disappointed. I'm excited to read some of the books outlined in this book, and my head is swimming in great ideas!

If you have never been a part of a book club but you would like to start one, this is the book for you. I'd encourage you to get it even if you're not sure all of the women in your book club are Christians. My book club is a mix of Christians and non-Christians, and I still plan to use this at some point next year.

Published by Group Publishing's women's ministry resources, www.group.com/women.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes is the latest release from the always-delightful Robin Jones Gunn.

Publisher's Summary:

When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.

Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.

Women ages 35 and up, readers of Christian Boomer Lit, and fans of books such as The Yada Yada Prayer Group will enjoy Robin Jones Gunn’s humorous and uplifting style. True-to-life characters and moments of poignancy bring a deeper understanding of the value of life and the gift of true friends. Readers guide and bonus material included.

About the FABULOUS AUTHOR:

Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of over seventy books, including the Glenbrooke, Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon, and Christy and Todd: The College Years teen series. The Sisterchicks® series has sold more than 300,000 units, bringing her total sales to more than 3.5 million books worldwide. A Christy Award winner, Robin is a popular speaker, both at home and abroad, and is frequently interviewed on radio and on television. www.robingunn.com www.sisterchicks.com

Pattie's Review:

OK, so anyone who knows me knows I LOVE me some Robin Jones Gunn. I did a book review in college of one of the Christy Miller books, and while I liked it, it was not exactly accessible to me as a college student struggling to balance American novels, Romantic poetry, and secondary education methods!

Fast forward to 1995. I was taking a semester break from grad school, and needed a reading break from all the heavy lit I was cramming in preparation for my master's comps. Enter the local Christian bookstore and a book called Secrets. I was hooked! I felt like Jessica was a kindred spirit--poor struggling English teachers that we both were. I've been a faithful follower of Robin's work in the Glenbrooke and Sisterchicks series ever since.

My favorite thing about Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes was how the friends connected after not having seen each other in decades. That comforts me, because as a military wife, I'm dealing with a LOT of friendship separation right now.

Another great part comes in the middle of the novel. Summer tells Noelle, "I want to remember it [the Bible verse]. There's a difference for me between memorizing something and really holding on to it in my heart." Noelle replies, "You want to own the truth and not just rent the words." Isn't that an amazing Truth?

I also loved how each woman tries very hard to enjoy the moments they share together, and enjoy life where they are in each moment.

So what are you waiting for? Go and order this book online, or drive on down to your local Christian bookstore and get it today!

Never the Bride is a novel adaptation of Cheryl McKay's play of the same name.

Book Summary and Review:

Jessie Stone dreams of the perfect marriage proposal, the perfect wedding dress, and the perfect groom. Eleven bridesmaid dresses hang in her closet. Journals full of her hopes and dreams--lovingly recorded with her purple plumed pen--grace her bookshelf.

The only thing Jessie needs to make her dreams come true is, well, a groom.

Enter God.

In the flesh.

As God becomes more and more real to Jessie, He asks her to give her plans and dreams to Him. He asks her to give Him her precious purple pen.

Can she do it? More importantly, can she place her full trust in a God Who promises her the best love story, the Author of the greatest love story of all time?

This novel contains an amazing story. It's more than "just a Christian romance." It's a story of trust, of faith, and yes, of love--but not just the romantic love of Jessie's journal. I laughed out loud while reading this story, and at times I cried as well.

One of the truths in this delightful story is that God's timing is most certainly not our own, nor is it always the most convenient. another is that often our own hopes and desires get in the way of God's plans for us. How frustrating that must be for Him. And yet, He loves us. Me. You. The world.

I wondered as I read this novel, could I relinquish my own beloved blue gel pen to my Saviour, my Friend, my God? I hope and pray that if He asks it of me, I'll willingly comply.

I highly recommend this novel. What a great summer read!

You can purchase the book here.

Author info:

Cheryl McKay is the co-author (with Frank Peretti) of the Wild and Wacky, Totally True Bible Stories series, which has sold nearly 200,000 copies, and the screenwriter of the award-winning film The Ultimate Gift. Rene Gutteridge has published thirteen novels including Ghost Writer, My Life as a Doormat, the Boo Series, the Occupational Hazards Series, and the Storm Series. Together, McKay and Gutteridge are the authors of The Ultimate Gift, a novelization based on the feature film and popular book by the same title.

You've probably heard all the hype and seen Melissa Gilbert on the Today show or the View this week, promoting her new memoir, Prairie Tale.

For fans of the television show "Little House on the Prairie," this book gives the "behind the scenes" you might not necessarily want to read. But if you want to read about the personal and professional growth of an actress as she comes of age and self-awareness, this is the book for you.

Please be aware that this book is for older teens and adults; I'd give it an R rating for language and some content.

I appreciate Gilbert's honesty and forthrightness in her personal journey. It can't have been easy to write, but it was absolutely fascinating reading for this fan.

JILLIAN DARE by Melanie M. Jeschke

Publisher's Summary:

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.

Pattie's Review:

I really liked this novel. Then again, I like contemporary retellings of classic stories, if they are well-done. This one was very well-done. While Jillian at first glance seems too good to be true, she proves herself to be a well-rounded and modern realistic literary reincarnation of Jane Eyre.

The story follows Jane Eyre pretty closely, but with modern technological additions and the still-fascinating (to American eyes, anyway) family castle with creepy secret passageways...

OK, enough details! If you liked Jane Eyre (or even if it's not your favorite British novel), you'll enjoy Jillian Dare.

Taking Tuscany by Renee Riva

Publisher's Summary:

A. J. Degulio loved the idea of a visit to the Old Country... until her family decided to stay. It's 1972 and she's turning fourteen in a crumbling castle on a hill in Tuscany, wishing she were back in Idaho with her beloved dog, Sailor. In Italy, her blonde hair makes her stick out like a vanilla wafer in a box of chocolate biscotti, and she's so lonely her best friend is a nun from the local convent.

The challenges of roots and relatives are nothing new to A. J., but she's going to need more than the famous Degulio sense of humor to survive. Can't anyone see that Italy isn't really home? It will take a catastrophe - and a few wise words from a friend - for A. J. to understand that sometimes the only thing you can change is your perspective.

Pattie's Review:

The whole time I was reading this, and loving it, I felt like it was reminding me of another wonderful and delightful book. Then it hit me: This book is a delightful coming-of-age story that reminds me of a bit lighter version of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

I whipped through this book quickly. It was very difficult to put down! I truly, truly enjoyed it. It was delightful, laugh-aloud funny, and poignant. It has a lovable, likeable protagonist, letters, a dog (and a horse), quirky family members, and even a few nuns.

I'll be passing this book along to my daughter, who will be thirteen in the fall. I think she'll find a lot to relate to in this lovely novel.

I have never read any of Renee Riva's books before. This book is a sequel to Saving Sailor, but I was not lost without reading the first book. (I will, however, be reading it when I can get my hands on a copy!)