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Book Review: Life Support

26 May

361130Nurse Lauren Barclay put her life on hold to keep a watchful eye on her troubled sister. It’s why she’s back in Houston. But that means confronting the brooding physician assistant who caused painful turmoil in her family—and left Lauren with memories her heart can’t forget.

PA and single parent Elijah Landry is no stranger to stormy relationships, including one with his father, who is threatening him with a restraining order. It won’t stop Eli from protecting his disabled brother—or from making peace with Lauren. He wants that and so much more.

But as Lauren and Eli draw closer, a powerful hurricane roars toward Houston. Survival instincts take priority and everything changes. Can hope weather the storm?

 

 

homepic2Former ER nurse, wife, Mom and proud grandmother, Candace Calvert believes that love, laughter, and faith are the best medicines. Her popular medical fiction offers charismatic characters, pulse-pounding drama, romance, humor, suspense–and a prescription for hope. Think, “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.” She is . . .

A Northern California native who spent several years in Hill Country Texas–where she learned to check her shoes for scorpions and plucked an armadillo from her swimming pool. Thinks cruising is the best way to travel: honeymooned in Venice, swam with stingrays, rode a camel at the pyramids, and sang (badly) with a Newfoundland country band. She’s passionate about cooking, loves bird watching, gardening, and gets goose bumps when her handsome husband hits the low notes at karaoke. She writes inspirational fiction because . . .

God blessed her with a quirky wit, buoyant optimism, and a contagious sense of fun–but she didn’t come to know him until after the Triple Whammy that turned her life into a bad country song. A painful and unexpected divorce, the Northern California floods of 1997, and (just when she was coping like a champ, no problem) an equestrian accident that left her with fractured ribs, a bleeding lung, broken back, neck fractures and a spinal cord injury. She’ll tell you that God took drastic measures to get her attention.

In the months of rehabilitation, Candace healed in body and spirit. And came to fully understand the difference between being a strong woman and a woman of strength. The difference is faith, and that lesson has been her biggest blessing. Her story, By Accident, appears in Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, and launched her writing career. Now . . .

She is honored to bring readers medical fiction that offers exciting entertainment and a healthy dose of hope.

 

My Impressions:

If you are looking for a romance with fast-paced action and some medical drama to take along on vacation, then Life Support is a sure bet for your reading pleasure. Part of Candace Calvert’s Grace Medical series, it can be read as a standalone. Filled with great characters facing real life situations and problems and seasoned with a good dose of humor, it is a novel I really enjoyed.

Lauren Barclay is an ER nurse in Houston with lots on her plate — a demanding job, an erratic sister and an attraction to a man that should be off-limits. Eli Landry is busy taking care of his daughter and making sure his brother Drew gets the best medical care. But his father, a federal judge, is a big obstacle to what he thinks is best for his brother. Eli also feels the attraction to Lauren and is determined to make things right between them. Add medical emergencies, missing drugs and an approaching hurricane and you have a good mix for this romantic tale.

The strength of Life Support is its strong characterization. Relatable characters with real life situations are well-developed. I especially liked Drew, Eli’s disabled brother. Involved in an accident that left him with brain damage twenty years before, Calvert gives us a look into his thoughts and feelings that is truly unique. I loved that his teenage love for God carried over through his accident and the life that looks very different from his hopes and dreams. The care home that he goes to, Mimaw’s Nest, is also the kind of place I would entrust my loved one to. Are there any really like this out there? I sure hope so. The romance is of course the focus of Life Support. There are obstacles and misunderstandings that have to be overcome, but I liked that the characters were open with their feelings and didn’t shy away from confrontation. No suffering in silence here!

Life Support is a great pick for fans of romance and medical drama.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Tyndale for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Praying For Your Addicted Loved One

23 May

Unknown-1Watching someone you love self-destruct hurts.

Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 provides ninety devotions of strength, hope, and encouragement to families coping with addiction. Realizing you’re not alone in your struggles brings comfort and confidence to face day-to-day challenges.

The overall message of Praying for Your Addicted Loved One conveys hope to families caught in the cycles of addiction. The various stages of the disease: abuse, recovery, and relapse, take their toll on families. Hopelessness grabs a family’s heart and wrings it out with each slip of clean or sober time. The verses in Jeremiah 30 and 31, the foundation of the book, offer promises of restoration and redemption.

90 in 90 reflects the 12 Step model of attending 90 meetings in 90 days. While your loved one attends meetings, you will read a daily devotional to lend spiritual support.

“Today I pray for other lost addicts to find the hope of recovery. I pray the families reading this book will continue to have hope that an addict—any addict—can stop using drugs and find a new way to live. If there is one thing I can say to family members it is, never quit fighting. There is always hope. With hope, I, a once hopeless dope addict, am now a dope-less hope addict.” ~ Josh Cosby

 

UnknownSharron Cosby is a Southern Belle from Alabama. She is wife to Dan, mother to three adult children and Mimi to five grandchildren. After Sharron’s family, the loves of her life are reading and writing. Sharron enjoys a wide range of genres, but her favorite is legal thrillers.

Her first published title is Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90. The book is a 90-day devotional for families in recovery or those wanting to be. It is based on Sharron’s journey through 15 years of her son’s drug addiction and her discovery of God’s promise of restoration in Jeremiah 30 and 31.

 

My Impressions:

I can only imagine the heartbreak that families face when dealing with a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Sharron Cosby has written a highly personal devotional to reach out to those who need hope and healing from God. As the cover of Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 states — Self destruction hurts everyone. The devotional guide provides insight from Cosby’s own life in dealing with her son’s addiction, scripture for meditation, a prayer that the reader can personalize and space for journaling thoughts, fears and hopes. It is also not a quick fix, but a 3 month journey that can encourage and sustain. Drawn from scripture, including Jeremiah, Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament letters, topics include real life situations and feelings such as Celebrating Milestones, Our Fragile Hope, Shame and Blame and I Need Help. So if you, a family member or a friend need to know they are not alone, pick up Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90.

Recommended.

(Thanks to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Into The Free

22 May

404242Just a girl. The only one strong enough to break the cycle.

In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a “nothing mama,” she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.

For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key that unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family’s longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.

Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?

 

 

julie-7-2_06_03_2013Julie Cantrell is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Into the Free, which won Christy Awards for Best Debut Novel and for Book of the Year 2013. Cantrell has served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and is a recipient of the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship. She and her family live in Mississippi, where they operate Valley House Farm. Her new novel, When Mountains Move, hit shelves September 1, 2013.

 

My Impressions:

Julie Cantrell won 2 Christy Awards for her debut novel, Into The Free. It is easy to see why. Her novel is a moving study of a young girl with so many obstacles to overcome, so many people set against her, yet somehow she manages to hold on to the elusive hope that she can escape and somehow make it into freedom. Not a particularly easy read considering the abuse some of the characters undergo, it is nevertheless a book I would highly recommend to anyone.

Spanning the years of 1936-1943, Into The Free features Millie Reynolds the daughter of a rodeo star who also regularly beats his wife. Mama retreats from the abuse and despair of her life by taking the drugs that the farmhands bring. Millie has learned to disappear, to be quiet and not cause any trouble. Yet she yearns for an escape and watches and waits for the Travelers that appear in the Spring.

Cantrell has a wonderful writing style, creating memorable and well-developed characters and using effective imagery. Millie is a survivor and a character that endures hard situations and hard people while maintaining her sense of self. Cantrell balances the abusive with the redemptive in the characters she creates. And there is a tension between Millie’s desire for the magical freedom that the gypsy boy River represents with the steady, dependable faith of cowboy Bump. The small town of Iti Taloa, Mississippi becomes very real in Cantrell’s hands. Small town gossip and prejudices are present, but so are caring people who seek to shelter Millie. But in 1940s Mississippi there is a limit to what one can do to step into a family’s business.

I read a few negative reviews of Into The Free. Some thought it was too Christian, others not Christian enough. Cantrell is blunt in her portrayal of hypocritical church members. At their best they are unfeeling gossips. At their worst they are abusive and manipulative. But theirs is a Christianity that is in name only. Her portrayal of real faith is beautiful. When Millie visits Bump’s family in the Delta she finds she “can taste the existence of God in every bite of food, smell Him in every whiff of Delta air, feel Him as Bump brushes against my arm and children tug at my dress with question after question about the rodeo, about Bump”. The provision and protection of God takes the shape of Sloth, a character from Millie’s childhood, who shows up to guide and direct her and sometimes to save her.

Into The Free has been in my TBR pile a long while. I am glad I finally took the time to read it. Powerful, beautiful, poignant, it is definitely Highly Recommended.

Highly Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase Into The Free, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Daisies Are Forever

21 May

689124In the final days of Nazi Germany, the strength of one woman’s heart will determine the fate of a family.

Prussia, 1945

The fall of the Third Reich is imminent. As the merciless Red Army advances from the East, the German people of Prussia await the worst.
Among them is twenty-year-old Gisela Cramer, an American living in Heiligenbeil with her cousin Ella and their ailing grandfather. When word arrives that the Russians will invade overnight, Ella urges Gisela to escape to Berlin—and take Ella’s two small daughters with her.

The journey is miserable and relentless. But when Gisela hears the British accent of a phony SS officer, she poses as his wife to keep him safe among the indignant German refugees. In the blink of an eye, Mitch Edwards and Gisela are Herr and Frau Joseph Cramer.

Through their tragic and difficult journey, the fabricated couple strives to protect Ella’s daughters, hoping against hope for a reunion. But even as Gisela and Mitch develop feelings beyond the make–believe, the reality of war terrorizes their makeshift family.

 

LTolsma-178New York Times best-selling author Liz Tolsma is the author of Daisies are Forever, Snow on the Tulips, and the contributing author of A Log Cabin Christmas. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children, all adopted internationally.

 

My Impressions:

I loved Liz Tolsma’s novel, Snow on The Tulips. It was a beautifully written novel depicting the heroics of real and relatable characters during the final days of WWII in the Netherlands. Daisies Are Forever is a look at WWII with a twist — from the point of view of the Germans as they are facing a certain defeat. Based upon true events, this novel is an interesting look at the trials of a defeated people.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in Germany during WWII. Her parents returned their family to Germany hoping that the economic upswing would benefit their family. Unfortunately, they have been swept up in the war. Mitch Edwards is an escaped POW who has spent five years of the war regretting his actions that placed him and his mates in a German stalag. The two meet up during the desperate escape from the Soviet invasion. Along with Gisela’s two nieces, two elderly women and others they meet along the way, the two travel to Berlin desperate to overcome their past mistakes and rescue those they love.

The look at the German side that Daisies Are Forever presents is definitely a plus in this novel. The author takes experiences from two women, one being her aunt, and crafts a unique perspective on WWII. This look into an unknown piece of history was very interesting. The reader gains new insight into what the people of Germany faced as they endured the daily bombings by English and American Air Forces, the atrocities of the Soviets and the betrayal of their own government. I felt, however, that this strong story line was often sidelined for the romance thread, which I found weak. There is a tug of war for Gisela’s heart that went on too long for this reader. And after all was said and done, one of the major characters just disappears from the action with no explanation. Both Gisela and Mitch struggle with guilt in their roles in the loss of friends and loved ones to the crush of war. By the end of the book, they both acknowledge that they have little power to save others and need to place that firmly in God’s hands.

I think Daisies Are Forever will appeal to most fans of historical romance novels. And while I didn’t like it as much as Tulips in The Snow, I look forward to more books by Liz Tolsma.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson and LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

For more reviews, click HERE.

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

 

 

Liz Tolsma‘s latest WWII historical fiction novel, Daisies are Forever, is getting rave reviews.

“. . . compelling and fast-paced tale about the atrocities and tremendous losses. . . .” —Library Journal

“Excellent storytelling, accurate historical reporting and gritty, persevering characters make this WWII-era novel a must-read.” —CBA Retailers + Resources

 

daisies-400-click
Liz is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!

 

One winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire HDX
Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Hurry, the giveaway ends on May 31st. Winner will be announced June 2nd on Liz’s website.

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; ENTER TODAY AND BE SURE TO STOP BY LIZ’S WEBSITE ON JUNE 2ND TO SEE IF YOU WON.

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Book Review: For Such A Time

16 May

211607In 1944, blond and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric’s secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric’s compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy.

Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp’s prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she is unable to save herself?

 

Breslin_Kate1-300x225A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her husband, John, and a very spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest. These days, when she’s not writing inspirational fiction or spending time with her author friends, she’s avidly reading books, watching anything Jane Austen on BBC, or following John’s musical career as his #1 fan. An avid “tree-hugger” she often enjoys long walks in the forests and playing in the garden–growing all kinds of flowers and herbs, especially those that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Kate’s also a traveler – she and John have toured most of Washington state and many places in the U.S. With her intrepid mom as traveling companion, Kate’s also been abroad – Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. Her next story takes place in Western Europe. Could another “research trip” be in the offing . . . ?

 

 

 

My Impressions:

I have read a lot of books this year that have been set in Europe during WWII. Most have been good, but Kate Breslin’s novel, For Such A Time, ranks as one of the best. While the degradation and abuses of the concentration camps are highlighted, Breslin manages to infuse enough hope to make the story sing with the love and faithfulness of God. Certainly a must read for those who love historical novels, I will heartily recommend For Such A Time to all who want a moving read.

Aric Von Schmidt, a camp commandant on his way to Theresienstadt, rescues Stella Muller from execution at Dachau. Her indomitable spirit and beauty touch him in a way that he believed nothing could again. Bitter and hardened to the atrocities of war, he nevertheless reaches out to save her. Stella, though, has a very dangerous secret. Her false papers and her Aryan features label her as a true German. She maintains her identity in order to survive and hopefully to be the salvation of those who have no hope. The ghetto of Theresienstadt holds terror, abuse and despair for all those who enter and only certain death to those who leave. Through Stella’s daring, her uncle’s vision and Aric’s sacrifice, many might be saved from extermination.

For Such A Time is a beautifully written account of the dark history of murder, terror and abuse that the Jews and others deemed undesirable had to endure at the hands of the Nazis. And while I knew the history well, it was still a startling and heartbreaking story that unfolded in the pages of this book. Difficult to read, it was also a wonderful testament to the will to survive and the deep faith in a good and gracious God in the midst of trial. I found the characters well-developed with poignant backstories that, while not lessening their crimes, made them seem terribly human in their motivations. Based on the biblical book of Esther, the novel portrays great courage and faith in God’s deliverance. Unfortunately, the story is fictional. The great escape never occurred. The author shares the facts in the Afterword, making the story all the more tragic.

My favorite part of the book is the verses that Stella finds in her mysteriously appearing Bible. Speaking directly to her plight, she finds comfort where none seems to exist. And her memories of best friend Marta sharing the gospel will encourage the reader in his/her own encounters with those who need to know God’s love.

A wonderful novel that transcends the historical genre, I highly recommend For Such A Time.

Highly Recommended.

Great For Book Clubs.

For more reviews, click HERE.

(Thanks to Bethany House Publishing and TLC Tours for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Fatal Exchange

12 May

721911Emily Hunt might come from a family of cops, but she never goes looking for an adrenaline rush. She lives the quiet–well, relatively quiet–life of a teacher and thrives on making a difference in the lives of her students. But she’ll have to draw on a well of strength and savvy she didn’t know she had as student Rafael Cerda takes her class hostage for ransom money to save his brother’s life.

Undercover cop Mason Taylor has been working with Rafael to find his brother and bring the cartel thugs who hold him to justice. Can he talk Rafael down from his impulsive actions? And is there something more sinister at work here than he realizes?

 

harrislisAward-winning author Lisa Harris has been writing both fiction and nonfiction since 2000 and has twenty novels and novellas in print. She currently lives with her family in Mozambique, where they work as missionaries.

Visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at http://www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com.

 

My Impressions:

For romantic suspense, one of my go-to authors is Lisa Harris. The second book in her Southern Crimes series, Fatal Exchange, is just another of example of why she is one of my favorites. Fast-paced with a twisting plot, it also has a great romantic element combined with a strong faith message. A good pick for anyone looking for their next great read.

Emily Hunt is a teacher among a family of police officers. She has never wanted the high pressure job that requires courage. But when faced with a student with a gun in her classroom, Emily is called upon to draw from her experience and her faith. Mason Taylor had been a family friend of the Hunts until Michael Hunt was murdered and Mason was tied to his death. Exonerated by the police force, Mason, an undercover officer, longs to put things right with Emily’s family. The standoff at Emily’s school, puts Mason in the middle of the action and in the line of fire.

Fatal Exchange has it all — great characters you come to care about, a fast-moving plot with twists you never see coming, a believable romantic thread and a message of forgiveness and trust. The characters rely heavily on God, even when they have doubts and fears. The novel makes it plain that though we live in a sin-filled, fallen world, God’s grace is abundant. Drug trafficking, cartels and dirty cops are the elements of the very believable plot line. I liked book 1 in the series, Dangerous Passage, but I really liked Fatal Exchange. And while it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend the reader start with book 1. There is a mystery running through the two books that does not get solved. But from the last paragraph of Fatal Exchange, it looks like the reader will finally have answsers in book 3. If you are a fan of Terri Blackstock or Diann Mills, be sure to check this one out. You will not be disappointed.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Casting The Net

8 May

640622Heartwarming English comedy of manners, featuring the trials and tribulations of newly ordained minister, Neil Fisher.

In part two of the Dunbridge Chronicles, Neil Fisher returns from ordination inspired by his sense of ministry, but determined to distance himself from the two ladies in his life. This is not altogether well received, and a wide segment of the congregation of St Stephen’s, Dunbridge—including the music group—points Neil to the error of his ways.

Meanwhile Neil’s close friend Colin and his wife, Jeannie, are delighted by the birth of a daughter, but is all well with the baby? Neil’s mother Iris continues to meddle, to his irritation. Churchwarden Peter has said a relieved farewell to his flighty wife Glenda—or has he? Dunbridge is not as peaceful as it seems.

 

rhodespamFor many years Pam Rhodes has presented the world’s number one religious television program, Songs of Praise. She writes for the Daily Mail’s Femail section, and is also a successful novelist, author of With Hearts and Hands and Voices and four other novels, as well as a number of other books.

My Impressions:

I have rather mixed emotions about Casting The Net, the second book in The Dunbridge Chronicles by Pam Rhodes. I very much liked the cast of characters and the charming English village of Dunbridge. I liked the wonderful sense of community that Rhodes has created in the parish of St. Stephens. I also liked the look into how Christianity is lived out in a culture different from my own. But the theology of the book gives me some pause. It definitely got me thinking!

Neil Fisher is a young curate embarking on his second year of potty-training or curacy in the Anglican parish of St. Stephens. He begins with a bit of confusion and hesitation over his abilities as curate and his romantic feelings. By the end of this challenging year, Neil has grown into a more confident and knowledgeable minister. His love life seems settled too, but of course the next book in the series could produce even more challenges for him.

First the pros of Casting The Net. Rhodes has done a wonderful job of creating a village and parish church that teems with life. The characters are very realistic and run the gamut from lovely and loving people to busy-bodies to those who use manipulation to get what they want. You can find these characters in any setting in real life! The triumphs and trials of their lives mirror real life as well. The main character, Neil, is by far my favorite. I liked the way he grew in his understanding of both his congregation and himself, ministering to people with God’s grace. Rhodes also tackles issues that don’t have easy answers — the death of loved ones, divorce and marriage. Culturally, the Anglican church in an English village is much different from my conservative, evangelical church in the Deep South and it was interesting to see what was accepted and what was not. While raising hands and singing praise songs is seen as a bit alien for them, regular visits to the pub and having a pint are a way of life.

Now the cons. When it comes to the theological issues, Rhodes presents views that are all over the spectrum. Neil presents one of the best explanations of why evil exists and God’s rule within a fallen world that I have read. But later in the novel, when faced with someone who does not share his faith, he offers a somewhat vague statement about there being many paths. Neil is a committed Christian, yet I don’t get the sense that he believes it is necessary for salvation. Neil is a bit on the fence when it comes to personal morality. He takes a strong stance in some areas, in others he looks the other way. I find it unusual for a priest not to be concerned with being unequally yoked. Relationships with others seem to take precedence over his relationship with God.

So do I recommend Casting The Net? Maybe. I liked it even though I could not agree with many of its sentiments. I liked the look into a church and community so different from my own. If you liked Jan Karon’s Mitford series, you will probably like this book. If you expect a book to express conservative Christian values, you may want to pass.

(Thanks to Kregel for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: When The Devil Whistles

7 May

DevilWhistles-JPEG1-194x300Allie Whitman and Connor Norman loved making the devils of the corporate world pay. Now, it’s their turn. And the price could be their lives.

“I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t.” That’s what Allie Whitman tells herself every night as she lies awake. Sometimes she even believes it. But mostly she knows deep down that her inability to make a hard choice has put millions of lives at risk, including her own. Now the only one who can help her is her lawyer, Connor Norman. Unfortunately, Allie’s actions have destroyed Connor’s trust in her—and may destroy much, much more.

 

 

Rick-Acker-300x197Rick Acker writes novels during his commute to and from his “real job” as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. His unit prosecutes corporate fraud lawsuits of the type described in his new book, When the Devil Whistles, which award-winning author Colleen Coble describes as “a legal thriller you won’t want to miss!”

Rick has led confidential investigations into a number of large and sensitive cases that made headlines in and out of California. Before joining DOJ, Rick was a senior litigator at the international law firm of Bingham McCutchen, where he worked extensively on the multi-billion dollar Executive Life case, which led to the indictment of several French executives and high-level diplomatic strains between the U.S. and France.Rick has law degrees from the University of Oslo and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with honors. In addition to his novels, he is a contributing author on two legal treatises published by the American Bar Association.

When Rick isn’t writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife, Anette, and their four children. They’ll be exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading.

Rick is a transplanted Chicagoan who spent thirty-five years in the Midwest before finally trading the certainty of winter and mosquitoes for the risk of earthquakes. He now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Anette, their four children, and two cats.

 

My Impressions:

I am slowly making my way through the many books I have downloaded on my Kindle. It is hard to resist a bargain, but I have so many I am not sure I will ever be able to read them all! To whittle the pile down, I am randomly choosing books. I just finished When The Devil Whistles by Rick Acker. A legal suspense/international thriller, the book was just the ticket for a fast-paced escape novel.

Allie Whitman is a professional whistle blower who, through her company Devil to Pay, provides the California Department of Justice with evidence on companies that cheat in their state contracts. Her attorney, Connor Norman, loves helping Allie bring down corrupt businessmen. But Allie gets in over her head when her cover is blown and she is blackmailed into investigating a marine salvage and construction contractor. What starts as a look into some cooked books becomes a deadly game involving foreign governments and terror plots.

As a legal suspense novel, When The Devil Whistles follows a standard formula, but Acker diverts from the expected when he introduces terrorists, nuclear weapons and a twisting plot that has the reader guessing. Yes, the plot is a bit implausible (how does the US government not know there is a Soviet-era nuclear sub on the bottom of the sea floor off the west coast?), but it is not so different from action adventures so popular in theaters. I liked the twisting action and I liked the characters. I took the plot devices at face value and just went with the story. The biggest negative in many of the reviews I read was that the book was blatantly Christian, which annoyed or disgusted some of its detractors. What I found was a book with some Christian characters and others not. The  Christians were never preachy. In fact their faith was exhibited in natural ways — they prayed or spoke of God’s help. I would say the message portrayed was subtle.

When The Devil Whistles was a fun, quick read and I would definitely read another by Acker.

Recommended.

(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible

6 May

100-Tough-Questions-About-the-Bible-cover-141-px-highStraightforward answers to questions Christians and skeptics alike ask about God and the Bible.

Let’s be honest–the Bible can be hard to understand. It’s full of weird laws, apparent inconsistencies, and tales of a God who often doesn’t do what we expect. You may have asked about some of these things and been brushed off or given trite, unconvincing answers.

But serious questions deserve thoughtful responses, especially when opinions of Bible experts clash. Stephen M. Miller pulls insight from a wide range of Bible experts to report their answers to the tough questions. He does so with a touch of humor and no preaching, allowing you to draw your own conclusions.

Questions include:
· Would a loving God really put a good man like Job through horrible suffering just to test his loyalty?
· If God knows everything, why did he test Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his own son?
· How could there be just one God, yet three?
· Since Jesus told people to turn the other cheek, why aren’t more Christians pacifists?

 

Stephen-M-Miller250-wStephen M. Miller is an award-winning, bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity.

His books have sold over a million copies and include The Complete Guide to the Bible and Who’s Who and Where’s Where in the Bible.

A former newspaper reporter, Miller has a bachelor’s degree in news journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in biblical studies from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He describes himself a journalist who covers the Bible as his beat.

He launched his full-time freelance writing career in 1994, after working as a news reporter and later as an editor of Christian books, magazines, and Bible curriculum for a group of Christian denominations in the Wesleyan theological tradition.

Miller lives in the suburbs of Kansas City with his wife, Linda, a registered nurse. They have two married children who live nearby: Rebecca Eck with her husband Jonathan, and Brad Miller with his wife Jill.

My Impressions:

Notice that the title of this book is 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible, not 100 Tough Questions and Answers. There is reason for that. Stephen Miller presents some really thought-provoking questions believers and especially non-believers puzzle over. He lets the reader know what scholars think about the issue and then lets him decide on his own. I really liked that. Not all Christians agree on why something occurred or just why God acts the way He does. By presenting the most popular and plausible thoughts on the matter, Miller allows the reader to ponder and explore a little deeper on their own. When used under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I think this book can be a sure winner to answer those things that have bothered us all and help those who are seeking for truth to find their way to God. Miller’s style is great too. The concepts may be hard, but Miller’s approach is direct and witty. Weighty matters are lightened up with a little chuckle.

So if you’ve ever wondered why Job suffered or why Joshua had a man and his whole family stoned or other things that might seem a bit inconsistent in the Biblical text, pick up this book. Or if you think you’d like to be able to speak to those who doubt or question, definitely pick up 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: One Perfect Spring

5 May

722673Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.

As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.

Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

 

 

Irenepicbio(From the author’s website.) Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Since then, she has written more than 45 romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have been honored with two RITA awards—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and she is a six-time finalist. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, two HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as a top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011. In addition, she is a Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time. She is happy to say she has no regrets!

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

 

My Impressions:

Irene Hannon is a new author for me. Although she has written many romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels, I had yet to pick one up. I sure am glad I did! One Perfect Spring is a breath of fresh air — a novel filled with likable and believable characters who face real life situations with doubts, questions and faith in God. Not perfect people, but a perfect God who gently leads them. If you are looking for an enjoyable read from the opening chapter to the last page, then check out One Perfect Spring.

Haley Summers, an exuberant eleven year old, writes a letter that triggers a series of events that brings hope and healing to the lives of her mother Claire, next door neighbor Maureen and the two men who enter their lives. Cautious hearts are opened and the prospects of a second chance at love become reality.

Irene Hannon has a natural writing style that made me believe her story. From the beginning I was drawn into the characters lives. There were no far-fetched situations or unrealistic responses, just true-life.  These characters struggled with the same things we all do — forgiveness, bitterness, past hurts, and reconciliation. They could be your neighbors, friends or family (or even yourself). I thought the romances (yes there were two!) developed naturally as well. There are sparks aplenty, but also a measured response to the difficulties of relationships with baggage attached. Hannon also presents an interesting perspective on adoption with characters on both sides of the question.

All in all a perfect choice for those who like a contemporary romance. I highly recommend One Perfect Summer.

Highly Recommended.

(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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