I order Christian Fiction for the library that I work at; and I ordered this book because it was Lori Copeland. When I received it did not look like a Christian Fiction book. So I thought that I better read it before I recommend it to my CF readers. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! It was very good. It does not push Christianity on you at all. It was very delightful. Do not judge this book by it's cover!

This book was wonderful. I laughed, and actually had a few tears in my eyes at the ending. It was so touching, and very moral. It proves you can tell/write a great heart-warming, moving love story and stay clean with it. Way to go, Lori! Bring us more! I fell in love with Johnny. He was delightful. If I only knew where God has my "Johnny." Wish all men were like this story's character. Uplifting, and full of hope. Quite a tender story with great dialogue, complete character development, and a lot of love and affection as the characters grow and change. WONDERFUL!

Fruitcakes and Other Leftovers." In Morning Sun, Pennsylvania Beth Davis loves her eccentric Aunt Harry, but could use a rest from her responsibilities. When she wins the lottery, she finds she now has the means to see the world while insuring for the proper care of Harriet. However, she reconsiders her wishes when an injured Russ Foster returns to town. All she wants for Christmas is Russ, but fears he does not reciprocate her love.

"Christmas, Texas Style." Ezra Honeycutt and Jasper Becker decide their grandchildren belong together. The two victims have never met. Additionally, Winnie Becker lives in Boston while Trace Honeycutt wants to be left alone on his Texas ranch after a failed marriage. To the senior citizens, neither situation is much of a problem. The two residents of the Rest Easy Retirement Ranch begin matchmaking, Christmas style.

DUETS 15 consists of two humorous Yuletide romances that center on the impact of an elderly relative(s) on a new relationship. Both story lines are entertaining and would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for fans of contemporary romances. Lori Copeland and Kimberly Raye live up to the Duets reputation for two enchanting tales.

Harriet Klausner

I love a humorous romance, and Kimberly Raye's is one of the funniest I've read in years! Good sexual tension, too. Her characterizations are excellent, and most particularly, she has a very strong ability to give each character a totally distinctive voice--a rare quality and a great talent.

As cold winds bring drifts of soft snow, readers will find WARMTH IN WINTER (4.5). Authors Lori Copeland and Angela Hunt have another stellar novel as inviting as the smell of Bea and Birdie's bakery. There's much to do on the island of Heavenly Daze as residents prepare for Christmas. Vernie Bidderman, proprietor of Mooseleuk's, seems to be in a daze. Meanwhile, Salt Gribbon's secret is getting more difficult to keep. Birdie Wester wants to help, but Salt is determined to do things his way, which may have a cost. On the mainland, Annie Cuvier struggles with her desire to take a fun cruise at Christmas rather than visit the island, especially since Dr. Marc hopes to set her up with his son, Alex. Yes, life on the small Maine island is unusual, its inhabitants almost eccentric, but there's no other place they'd rather be. From the moment you open the book, until that final sigh when you close it, you'll laugh, cry, and rejoice. A combination of "It's a Wonderful Life" and A Christmas Carol, this is a book you'll read every Christmas.

It's not necessary to read the previous "Heavenly Daze" books to enjoy this third tale in the series, but it doesn't hurt to familiarize yourself with the characters, either. The authors find ways to convey background information that you need to know if you haven't read the other books. Each of the "Heavenly Daze" books seems to focus on a few of the Maine island's occupants - this helps keep the reader interested (more than one person going through different situations), yet doesn't overwhelm the reader - though there are brief introductions of a multitude of islanders, the authors nicely put the spotlight on just a few and make them our friends by the end of the book.

Warmth in Winter is no different... during the holiday season, the reader gets to know Salt Gribbon, the old lighthouse keeper, his grandchildren whom he wants to hide away in an attempt to keep them safe, and Birdie Wester, the retired librarian who comes to Salt and the kids' rescue and depite her feelings of inadequacy, provides an abundance of love that they need. Though Salt doesn't have a specific angel tending him, Gavriel steps in beautifully and displays his unique angel personality a little more openly than the other books. We also meet Vernie's husband, Stanley who has been absent for 20 years. When he calls Vernie at Mooselouk Mercantile, he so flusters Vernie when she is trying to place an order for supplies that disaster occurs and Vernie doesn't know how to tell her friends the truth. Vernie thinks simply hanging up on Stan will solve the problem, but she doesn't count on his coming to Heavenly Daze after all of these years... And don't forget Annie, Olympia's niece, who visits the island on weekends to tend to her tomato experiment. Dr. Marc is still after her to meet his son, Alex, but Annie is NOT interested. She is interested, however, in going on a cruise over the holidays, but how can she think of leaving her aunt at a time when she needs her so much?

It's so easy to get addicted to this Heavenly Daze series. It's easy to relate to the islander's fears of being rejected and their aches and their hopes to get over those aches. Great book to curl up with any time of year, maybe more so when you're in need of a little extra hope.

I first purchased this book about 8 months ago because I am a fan of Cassie Edwards, one of the authors of this book. Susan writes the prologue, a woman is about to give birth to her first child. She loves her child, a product of one night with her boyfriend before he went off to war and was killed. Her parents are disappointed in her, and plan to give her child to another family, but she can't do it. She flees on a cold wet night and has her baby in a strangers home, where her parents locate her. Taking her daughter with her she flees again. She travels for a while then comes across a home and leaves her child on the doorstep with a locket. The first story "The Woman Next Door" is also writen by Susan and chronicles how this little baby was found by Michael, a man who's lost his wife and child and feels empty inside. When he finds the child her turns to his neighbor, Katherine, to help him with the child. This story shows the romance blossom between the two of them and the love for the child. Both women bring love and joy back into his life. The next story in the book follows the mom who gave up her daugher. Cassie Edwards picks up the story and Davinda's struggles to deal with the loss of her daughter. Walking Thunder is the Chief to the Blackfoot people, and takes her in and tries to heal the loss in her heart. She eventually trusts him and they go on to have several children, and they take care of Walking Thunder's nephew Daniel, but she never forgets her first born. This is where Lori Copeland takes over. She writes of Sarah, a piano teacher raised by Michael and Katherine. She takes on a new student Daniel, who wants to learn how to play a song for his "adopted mother's" birthday. They begin to grow feelings for each other, but feel that they have to hide it because he is Indian and she is white. Well, their love wins out and he takes her home to meet his family. Of course mother and daughter reunite, when Daniel recognizes the locket both his wife and his "adopted mother" have. This whole book is just wonderful and I have read it several times, and always in one sitting. The stories come together beautifully and no one author lacks in keeping your attention. I bought this book being a Casey Edwards fan, but I have sinse bought all of Susan's books and are starting in on Lori's. This book is masterfully writen by three amazing authors.

I fell in love with the marrying parlor as soon as I began to read this book, and you will, too. Lori Copeland shines in this story, and this novella would make the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys a warm and heart-warming read.

This little book is a total hoot, especially when we're in the dog's point of view. The imagry and humor in Fudgeballs is superbly done and one can believe this is actually the way dogs think.

As for the romance between Dave and Jenny, and their misunderstanding, it was cleverly done and kept you on your seat wondering when our hero and heroine were going to figure out who was supposedly moving. Given the subject, though, I think I gained ten pounds just reading about all that delicious fudge!

Gee...I wonder what bull-poodles really look like? -Lee Emory

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this book is for you: "ALONE ON THE FROZEN KANSAS PRAIRIE ... Charity Burkhouser didn't stand a chance. Without a man's help the beautiful young widow would lose the homestead she'd traveled so far to claim and worked so hard to hold. When fate dropped a savagely wounded stranger on her doorstep, she knew she must fight to make him her own. She challenged the two bold Indian maidens entranced by the stranger's beautiful blond hair, and defied the town gossips who were shockec to discover a handsome man living in her cabin, sleeping in her bed -- without benefit of clergy! But most difficult of all, for the sake of the future, fearless Charity would have to confront the wild demons and beloved ghosts of Beau Claxton's past. She swore it wasn't a matter of love; it was a matter of survival. And she was determined to save him, to keep him, to make him ... passions captive."

When I first bought the book, it sat there for a coupl months. I picked it up, started to read it, and I was through all four hundred pages in a coupl hours. Two hours and twelve minutes to be exact. It is one of the best books ever written in our history, the best historical romance ever to be put in print!

When I started to read the first book in this series, The Island of Heavenly Daze, I was, honestly, a little worried it would be "too religious" for me. That wasn't the case and I thought it was a sweet book but nothing overwhelming. Only because I already had the second in the series, Grace in Autumn, I read it too. And now I'm totally hooked on the characters and the little quirky Maine island! I'm eager to find out more about what's happening in their lives and if anyone will figure out who the angels are. Don't be put off by the spiritual aspect of these books - they are sweet, funny and uplifting no matter what your beliefs are.

Set on the small Island of Heavenly Daze off the coast of Maine, where angels live amongst the inhabitants, this second book in the Heavenly Daze Series is nothing less than superb. A refreshing look at real people dealing with the dilemmas of everyday life faced with moral obligations that might just make one think twice. Ideally the angels and their helpful countenance are always close behind to shed some light and guide our characters down the right path.

This second book takes place during the month of November of the same year as the first book. New characters are expanded upon and some of our old favorites say good-bye. An Internet e-mail ploy indicates that the island is a place to request miracles, and the mail is piling up. Love is on the horizon but the blossom has yet to bloom.

The third book in the series, titled A WARMTH IN WINTER, takes place in December. I'm sure many of these questions will be answered in these poignant novels about a community that takes care of it's own. These are feel good books similar to Jan Karon's MITFORD SERIES. Kelsana 6/4/02

I found Grace in Autumn to be so delightful because it's so believable and warmly written. Through the lives of the islanders, I got the feeling that God understands our struggles and is there for us when we're ready to get our broken dreams fixed:
Would you find it difficult to manage all the financial responsibilities of maintaining a house and providing for your family all on your own? Babette Graham does find it difficult, AND frustrating, to manage the finances by herself. Her husband says she's good at it and he isn't, so it makes sense for her to continue doing it. Babette is weighted down with worries about her family's financial needs, and when her 5-year-old son Georgie proves to have a flair for painting puffins, she sees an answer to her financial worries. Babette's husband Charles thinks his wife's plan is great and already is spending the money before it's made. But what does Georgie think of her plan?

How would you feel if you were trying to help someone, and your friends criticized you for it instead of pitching in to help? Bea and her sister Birdie are trying to send personal replies to the "Dear Angel" letters but when Birdie decides to send more of a gift to one of the letter-writers who is in dire need, members of the congregation question her decision. How does Birdie handle such criticism, and will her friends ever understand why she's done what she has?

Pack your worries away and take a vacation with the people of Heavenly Daze - the break will be well worth it because you'll return to your own life refreshed and revitalized.

I wasn't too enthusiastic to read yet another 'Christian Romance'--sometimes they get too unreal & too unrealistic in their situations, to boot! But I am a confirmed Lori Copeland fan now! These 3 sisters are very real people, who have very real situations, that all Christian men & women face even today. I devoured "Faith", eagerly grabbed "June" from our Church Library & am looking forward to BUYING all 3, so I can read "Hope" & then go back and read all 3 over again!

This book is absolutely wonderful. It has a mixture of adventure, love and the exploring of a young girls faith. When you've been raised around the church all your life, sometimes, once your out on your own you find that your own personal faith leaves something to be desired. Hope's journey on finding the personal relationship with Jesus Christ that she knew it should be was filled with humor and trying times.

Hope, the last in Lori Copeland's Brides of the West trilogy, was worth waiting for - after frantically searching various bookstores I finally found it online. (If you haven't read Faith and Love, you should...you won't be disappointed!) An old-fashioned, inspirational/historical romance, Hope is comical, whimsical, intriguing and romantic - a great combination that reminds us all that there is always hope, always a chance that we can find that special man of our dreams. Like her sisters Faith and June, Hope has determined that the best future for her lies in being a mail order bride. On the road to marry her intended, she is kidnapped by a notorious gang that unknowingly mistakes her for a senator's daughter. Through the drama that ensues, she is protected by Dan, an undercover agent who had infiltrated the gang to bring them to justice. Hope is drawn by this gentleman "gangster" -- a Christian well-versed in Scripture who inspires Hope to work on her memorization and application skills. Hope does so admirably, albeit her struggle to improve her faulty memory provides a hilarious backdrop to her spunky dealings with the gang and the various roadblocks she encounters in trying to connect with her groom-to-be. Theirs is a hilarious and beautiful story of a forbidden love (they both are determined that Hope honor her commitment to be a mail order bride) that conquers all obstacles. The more we read, the more we see Hope blossom from a young, flighty and fearful girl, to a woman of noble character whose trusts in God is unshakeable. Perhaps the most touching aspect of this book is Hope's ability to triumph over her own insecurities to 1) improve her memory, 2)lead one of the gang members to a faith in Christ, and 3) marry the man she truly loves. My only gripe - that there was no family reunion among the sisters...but, there's always hope (hopefully Lori Copeland will pen this sequal soon!).