Book Review: "You Were Always Mine" by Nicole Baart

I believe I started reading Nicole Baart because I won a book (or 2) in a series.  I then ventured into getting to review some of her books as part of a street team.  You Were Always Mine I bought just because and decided to read this now because well...coronavirus; we're all quarantined and this was a book on my shelf I haven't read yet.  This is hands down, no contest the best Baart has written thus far!

Jessica, the main character, is newly separated and has two sons-one adopted and one blood.  One night she receives a phone call about a tragic death regarding a loved one.  Not only does Jess now have to navigate "single" life, a career, a moody teenager, the behavioral/emotional issues that arise with her other son stemming from his past, but a web of lies uncovered by this death.  While trying to deal with grief and all the aforementioned she throws her self into solving the mystery that this death brought about concerning her adopted son. The mystery is multi-faceted and the answers slowly unravel.

This novel was engaging and riveting, the suspense continued to build.  As I neared the end I was CERTAIN that there was no way possible there were enough pages left to conclude the story.  But alas Baart slaps you in the face with an enormous betrayal and quickly ties up all loose ends.

I finished this novel last night and I'm experiencing a major book hangover today.  I need more!  I highly recommend this book for your next read!

Book review: "The Whiskey Sea" by Ann Howard Creel

Photo credit: Netgalley

     There was something about The Whiskey Sea (Lake Union Publishing), by Ann Howard Creel, that drew me in the second I read about it.  Originality at it's best; I had never come across a book that was about a young girl repairing boat engines and taking part of the prohibition in a sea side small town.
     Frieda and her younger sister Bea are left orphaned at a young age and reluctantly taken in by the one man they believe has done them no wrong.  He teaches them the ways of the sea and Frieda falls in love with the sea wanting to follow after her "father" who would like her to have a more traditional life.  She learns to work on engines and uses her new found skills to make some quick cash during the prohibition.  She aims to make a better life for herself and her family, to the scrutiny of those she loves.  Will her past haunt her and will her tenaciousness ruin her future?  The different ways that grief and heartbreak effect those in the same family is always so intriguing. 

     I appreciate that Creel (almost) didn't sugar coat things. 99.9% of the book is real life, hard times, how am I ever going to get through this type of stuff.  The last page, maybe not so much, but even that wasn't perfectly perfect.

Overall I truly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

The Whiskey Sea was published August 23, 2016.

A copy of this book was provided to me for review by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: "Broken Angels" by Gemma Liviero

Photo credit: Netgalley

    Broken Angels (Lake Union Publishing), by Gemma Liviero, follows the lives of three individuals during WWII.  Both Jewish and Aryan the three characters all face the harsh realities of such an ugly period in history.  The alternating points of view gave fresh air to the story when often times, as stories told about this period of time, became hard to read.  These three viewpoints also brought to light parts of the war I'd never read of before, and I am an avid reader of WWII stories.  It shows how war changes people; even those who seem to have a higher status too become broken.

     All three characters (even the German one) are easy to get attached too.  The story is both heartbreaking and redemptive.  I absolutely recommend it; especially if you are drawn to stories of the war.

Broken Angels  was published April 2016.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All thoughts are my own

I received a review copy

Book review: "Jilted" by Varina Denman

Although I have still to read Jaded (It's next on the list), I didn't hesitate to jump on the book tour for Jilted: A Novel (Mended Hearts Series) (David C Cook), by Varina Denman.  I had become so attached to the characters upon reading the second part of the trilogy and was excited for more.

This last instalment follows Lynda, a middle aged mother who suffers depression due to not only her childhood traumas but those caused by her small town life as well.  Lynda's boyfriend convinces their small town that she cheated on her husband and that her baby was his; resulting in the proverbial scarlet letter, her husband leaving herself and their child, and a swift kick to the curb from her church congregation and closest friends.  With no one to lean on Lynda runs from her faith and into herself.  Depression is a topic that is very taboo within the church, and it is so refreshing when someone speaks out about it.  The beauty of story is that it becomes real.  There is always some part of a story that you can see yourself in; personifying the topic. 

We all are human.  We all have flaws, and struggles, and pain.  Our circumstances shape us and shape how we react to these struggles.  Fact of the matter is we are all human yet not the same.  We are detrimental to one another when we push our own circumstances on one another and judge.  That's what happens with depression.  Church, I beg of you to stop telling the depressed they aren't enough.  They don't pray enough, they don't read their bible enough, ect.  Let's practice grace with one another.  Lynda would have been so much better off had she been shown grace much earlier.  Wouldn't we all?

Read this, let it breath some life into you.  If deep topics don't interest you, know that this is a good, light, summer read and there is a pretty killer tornado scene that as I was reading I had to keep checking the windows to make sure the sunshine was still out.

I have received this review from RadiantLit in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Book Review: "The Tears of Dark Water" by Corban Addison

Original review posted: http://godsdanceralwayz.blogspot.com/... I've been putting off writing up a review on The Tears of Dark Water (Thomas Nelson), by Corban Addison, and I couldn't really tell you why because it was a very good book. I expected it to be; I have yet to read a book published by Thomas Nelson that I do not like. This was the first novel I've ever read about a pirate hijacking. A man whose family is falling apart decides to follow a sailing dream as a last stitch effort to save h  I've been putting off writing up a review on The Tears of Dark Water (Thomas Nelson), by Corban Addison, and I couldn't really tell you why because it was a very good book. I expected it to be; I have yet to read a book published by Thomas Nelson that I do not like. This was the first novel I've ever read about a pirate hijacking. A man whose family is falling apart decides to follow a sailing dream as a last stitch effort to save his son and hopefully his marriage. Off the coast of Somalia their boat is hijacked by pirates. The brilliance in this novel is not taking a common headline and molding a story from a few words. The brilliance is in including every side of the story. Addison let's you into each family members' story, the FBI, the attorney, but most interestingly the pirate. The pirate's story is what pulls everything together and makes it interesting; makes sense out of the madness. It isn't as suspenseful as one might think. It's a story about hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It's a story about the nitty gritty dirty little details of life. Addison is a great story teller and I can't wait to read more. I'm so honored to have been asked to review this novel. The Tears of Dark Water was published on October 13, 2015. I received this ARC from Thomas Nelson/Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Book Review: "The Tomb: A Novel of Martha" by Stephanie Landsem

When I was asked to review Stephanie Landsem's latest, The Tomb: A Novel of Martha, (Howard Books) I was thrilled.  The first thing I'll say is, even though this is part of a series, don't feel like you have to read them in any certain order. I stumbled upon one, then read this one, and have yet to read the first and I honestly don't feel as if I've gained less from the experience because of it. I should have posted this review in March, I just didn't have the words to say what I needed to say (and I'm still not sure I do). Growing up in the church, I thought the story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus was par for course, but as I talked about this novel while reading it I discovered many people don't know.  That makes this the perfect read for them.  Everyone will relate to one of the characters.  I had always understood Mary more, and maybe it's the season of life I'm in, but I sooooooooo get Martha.  Every time she lamented that "there's much to do" my heart broke a little in understanding.  The desire to do what's "right" and the heavy weight of responsibility that she gets so lost in is incredibly relatable.

The way Landsem weaves her imagination into a story that doesn't have a lot of details is intriguing. I implore you to journey through Martha's journey.  Maybe see her and her siblings through some fresh eyes.  Your new insight may just take your breath away.  I mean how could your life not change after you saw Jesus raise your brother from the dead?  Everything would change, and to explore the possibilities of how she could have been before hand with so little knowledge of her is so intriguing.

Perhaps Martha was not as prim and proper as she seems.  Landsem takes us through the journey of a mistake that perhaps Martha made.  This mistake not only changed Martha's life, but her entire families.  One choice seems to haunt and define her, driving her "need" to do everything by law.  Her mother's death early on first put a huge responsibility on Martha as homemaker and caretaker.  As her father passes on when her brother is not quite a man that only increases these responsibilities along with the desperation of keeping her mistake a secret.  While her secrets eat at her she finds them necessary not only to keep her families standing intact but for survival.  Then Jesus comes.  Martha has that inner war so many of us do.  Will she let Jesus change her, or is there always too much to do?

The Tomb: A Novel of Martha was released March 17, 2015.  What part of the Martha, Mary, Lazarus story do you relate to the most?


This book was provided for review by Howard Books/Stephanie Landsem.  All thoughts are my own.

Review: "A.D. 30" by Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is by no secret my favorite author.  Like any other release day, I rushed to the nearest bookstore and patiently waited as the bookstore had to truck to the basement to find me a copy of A.D. 30 (Center Street) which they hadn't put out yet (AND IT WAS ALREADY LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING)! 

This day was also different then any other release day of my favorite author's new book for me.  My dad died that night.  Needless to say, it took me a while to read.  Me, the one who actually reads more when she is stressed because it's a break from the world, read less.  I read less, because it was hard.  There are some deaths within the first couple of pages, so...yeah.  I grieved with Maviah.  Through Maviah, I felt as if someone understood me, understood what I was going through.  I know, I know, she's a fictional character, but isn't it amazing how God uses story to change us?! To restore us.  To reach us...

I have read ALMOST every Dekker work and this one is simply different.  While I would still say that like his other novels, it is a parable-it crosses over to the biblical fiction realm.  The story however, is more inventive than any other piece of biblical fiction I've read.

Maviah is a slave, a single mother, a forgotten daughter.  Her world is turned upside down and she finds herself no longer a slave, but a queen, on a mission to save her kingdom.  She begins a journey to find Herod (yes, that Herod) and convince him to ally with her and save her people. She is accompanied by two of her dad's most trusted me, one of which is enamored with Yeshua.  On there journey, they stop and visit Mary, the mother of Jesus, who insists of meeting with Maviah.  Once Maviah experiences Jesus, she is changed.  That's what stuck with me the most.  Although, this was only the beginning of Maviah's journey.

She has yet to face deception, captivity, the feign of freedom, captivity again, deception again, and difficult decisions.  I know every Dekker book comes along and I say "THIS ONE'S MY FAVORITE!"  This one is so different, and for so many reasons I hold it close, and the story was SO good!  I have more pages dog-eared, and phrases underlined, and exclamations in the margins.  Dekker just gets it!

I'll leave you with this.  In the novel Maviah learns that Jesus is the only one fit to judge.  BUT he does not throw a stone at us.  Meditate on that truth and let me know what stuck out to you!

Book Review & Interview: "Hacker" by Ted Dekker

Photo credit: NetGalley

 

My Review

 



I asked every way I could for the honor of reviewing Ted Dekker's new Outlaw Chronicle installment Hacker (Worthy Publishing), because for me having to wait a day for a new Dekker book is a day too long.  The Outlaw Chronicles explore the ideas of what one's true self is, and forgiveness sooo far below the level of typical conversation.  That's my favorite thing about Dekker books; there is the edge of your seat thrilling story on the surface level, but if you pay attention there is SO, SO much more!  Hacker does not disappoint.
Nyah is a teenage hacker, trying to use her skills to save her mother's life.  She runs into some serious trouble with her hacks, putting not only herself in danger, but everyone she knows.  It's a race against the clock trying to mostly save her mother's life, but also her own.  She learns how to hack not only computers, but herself, and finds out who she really is--what life is really about.  Only when she learns how to surrender, everything falls into place how it is supposed to be.  It's amazing how often life plays out opposite of how we plan, but how it needs to be. 
Hacker reminds me a little of Blink in the sense of making you wonder where the lines stand.  It makes you think about what is really possible, if only you believed--REALLY believed.

Hacker was released on June 10, 2014.  If you haven't read it, why are you reading this still and not on your way to the nearest book store?  TOTALLY KIDDING, you should finish reading this, comment, share, the usual...THEN run to your closest book store, buy it, and don't stop reading till you're finished! ;)  Seriously though, the story will keep you on the edge of your seat and will bend your mind (hack?) to something you may not expect.  "Dedito."


An ARC was provided for review by Worthy Publishing First Look and a digital copy provided by NetGalley for a fair and honest review.  Interview below provided by Worthy Publishing.

Interview

(provided by the publisher)

 

1.      Your main character in Hacker, Nyah, makes a living by cracking the firewalls of major corporations. What role does technology play in her development as a character?

TD:  Nyah roots a great deal of her identity in technology. In doing so she defines who she is by what she does. She even says so at the beginning of the book. I am a hacker. We all do this. For her, technology is what she knows, it’s what defines her, and provides the comfort zone. But it’s also her prison, which she comes to discover later.  

 

 

2.      How does personal loss affect Nyah’s view of God?

TD: When we meet Nyah, we find her in a place of great suffering especially for someone her age. That colors everything, just as it does for everyone else. For Nyah, the inescapable question is, “Why is there such suffering in the world?” Or more to the point, “Why is all of this happening to me?”  That offense, that feeling of injustice and unfairness, feeds her entire view of the world, including her view of God as a distant, uncaring creator.

 

3.      Why do you consider Hacker a modern-day parable?

TD: Parables are meant to re-frame the world differently so we can experience it again for the first time. Hacker takes a simple concept that many people already believe, that there’s another reality so near to us that we’re unaware of its presence most of the time, and puts it center stage. The story doesn’t have a moral or try to make a point per se, because that’s not what parables are for, but it does ask you to look at the world through new eyes—Nyah’s.

 

4.      The central question in each book in this series is, “Who am I?” What prompted you to explore that question?

TD: The question of identity is central to all of life and, in fact, most of my own striving and struggle can be traced back to it. We define ourselves, almost without thinking much of it, by what we do. I’m a mother, a father, a man, a woman, a writer, an accountant… The list is neverending. But strip that all away, as death will one day for all of us, and what remains? Are you, at your core, really a mother or a father or an accountant? Or are you something far more and we’ve only bought into the notion that this costume, which we call the body and our careers and talents, is really who we are?

 

5.      The series so far includes a 17-year-old who claims she has been buried alive, a 13-year-old orphan with no memory, and a 17-year-old genius computer hacker. What are the similarities between these characters?

TD: [Laughs.] You’ll have to read the books to find out for yourself. Ultimately, they are all forced to take a journey that begins in the valley of the shadow of death and ends on the other side of it.

 

 

6.      What role does the unseen play in your books?

TD: An enormous role, because that’s how it is in real life even in a literal way. Physicists tell us that the visible universe is a miniscule slice of what actually exists, we just can’t see the rest. But just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s non-existent.

 

 

7.      What makes your characters in this series “outlaws”?

TD: It’s their journeys, which lead them “out of the law” of death and suffering into the light. It’s the same journey we all get to take, and which we’re called to.

 

 

8.      You grew up as a missionary kid among cannibals in Indonesia. How do you think your unusual upbringing affects your writing and your faith today?

TD: My upbringing gives me a unique way of looking at the world. Understand, I grew up among people for whom spirituality was integral to life. It wasn’t tacked on or part of life… There was no separation. They believed in the unseen, they witnessed its powers, and lived as though the seen and the unseen were woven together in a beautiful, mysterious way.



 



Book Review: "Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis" by Edgar Harrell, USMC, with David Harrell

Picture credit: NetGalley

I read Out of the Depths: An Unforgettable WWII Story of Survival, Courage, and the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (Bethany House ) by Edgar Harrell, USMC, with David Harrell with high hopes.  I may have come into the story biased by other somewhat similar stories I highly enjoyed.  This one was just different, not bad, just different.  The story itself seemed somewhat distant; lost in almost overwhelming details.  I understand that details are necessary to tell story; it's just that in this instance they took over and were sometimes disconnecting from the story.  I think the published copy of the book will be better.  I had an advanced e-reader copy, which did not include pictures.  I think the pictures may override those details in connecting the reader to the story.  Not a bad read, I just don't think it was told to it's full potential.

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

This book was provided for review by NetGalley

Book Review: "Stranger Things" by Erin Healy

Photo credit: Erin Healy

In her new novel, Stranger Things (Thomas Nelson Publishers), Erin Healy explores the Celtic concept of thin places, the ever growing sex-trafficking trade in America, and the idea of a person sacrificing their life for a complete stranger.  High School teacher, Serena’s, world gets turned upside down when a student accuses her of the unthinkable.  She retreats to her very own sanctuary to process, only to discover she is not the only one drawn to this secluded spot.  She crosses paths with a sex-trafficker.  Not only is her reputation at risk, but now her life is as well and a complete stranger steps in and sacrifices his life to save hers.  This stranger, Christopher, has a personal mission to save young girls from the underground world of sex-trafficking.  He started by rescuing his sister, Amber, and from there started a non-profit along with two friends.  Christopher and his colleagues suspect Serena to be not only connected, but heavily involved in John Roman's sex trade ring, the man who lured in Amber.  Serena continuously finds herself entangled in a web she did not know was there.  As soon as she finds a truth she seemingly uncovers more lies.  Unsure who to turn to she struggles to find a way to clear her name, then to clear it again, to figure out why a complete stranger would die for her, and the meaning behind the “visions” she sees when at the abandoned fire house where Christopher died.

The lines between chapters become unclear, not because the story is so, but because the plot line is continuously moving at a fast pace.The pages turn without recognition of number, the cover refusing to close.  Unique to this story is the concept of thin places; the Celtic idea of places where the spiritual and physical veil is so thin one can see through it. They blur the line between fact and fiction, when in truth there may be no line at all.  That is something Serena, while not the lone character to experience thin places, is trying to continuously figure out.

While the challenges these characters face are most likely not completely universal, they pry eyes open to a monstrosity that most are unaware exist so close to home.  Sex-trafficking tends to be thought of an oversea trade, but is the third highest growing crime.  The “stranger” concept however is quite universal.  The idea of a stranger sacrificing their life is as old as time.  This novel in itself not only has so many layers that it begs to be read twice, but it is in itself a “thin place.”

Stranger Things is to be released December 31, 2013 and can be preordered here.  It is a story that challenges how deep a strangers actions can change one life; how one action can effect a decision to change the outcome of events.  As Healy says in Stranger Things, “If everyone only cared about one other person, we’d all be okay.”

Learn more about Erin Healy and connect with her on social media sites via the attached link.

*This book was provided for review by the author via NetGalley*

Review: "House of Mercy" by Erin Healy

Erin Healy’s House of Mercy (Thomas Nelson Publishers) follows a young lady named Bethesda (Beth) whose family lives on a generationally ran cattle-ranch turned sanctuary to rehab troubled men.  She dreams of becoming a vet, due to her easy intuition at healing animals, and is about to go off to vet school.  One night she makes a quick decision that turns into a very foolish mistake. This mistake put’s her dream at stake as well as her family’s livelihood causing Beth’s relationships with her family to take quite the toll. As she tries to right each wrong she continuously finds herself in more trouble and her decisions continue to have a domino effect.  Mercy becomes personified and Beth discovers a spiritual gift.  She starts to believe in this gift that she cannot control and follows Mercy to once again try to right her wrongs.

House of Mercy turns even more tragic and the magnitude of consequence is made clear.  While not all the tragedies that ensue are clearly due to Beth, it is argued that she is the cause.  Her family ties continue to sever as she fights for control to fix her wrongs and she is given a task to complete that may fix almost everything.  This request unravels a family secret and sets her directly on a journey toward mercy.   She is given an ultimatum and flees the situation to begin her journey and attempt to fix her problems. 

Healy does a great job at keeping the reader on the edge of their seat; suspensefully relaying Beth’s journey.  The story is heartbreakingly universal.  Beth is constantly trying to fix things herself without relying on anyone else, including God.  As she journeys to fulfill the request set out for her, and find her grandfather she is forced to learn to rely on Mercy or suffer even more consequences. 

The constant challenges that Healy’s character’s face and the extreme abruptness that it takes until they listen to God makes them incredibly relatable.  House of Mercy exemplifies through Beth how decisions that may seem harmless sometimes carry negative consequences, but are not always a death sentence.  Healy also quite realistically describes through Beth’s journey that the plan God lays out for us is not always easy; human pride often gets in the way of His Mercy.  Beth must learn to relinquish control and let God use not only her but the people around her to turn her situation back on track.  Healy also relates to the reader in the truth that these other vessels also may take some work before they are willing vessels, and that is sometimes quite the fight.  Healy keeps it real; not all of the characters accept God’s mercy.  The story ends on a suspenseful note, leaving room for some of the characters to change their minds.

House of Mercy, released August 2012, is a riveting, fast-paced read with a redemptive lesson on what mercy truly means.   It is available in paperback or e-book form and Healy includes at the end of the novel the story of when she met a real life wolf that inspired her story of Mercy.

Find out more about Erin Healy here: http://www.erinhealy.com/

"Iscariot: A Novel of Judas" by Tosca Lee

   I started reading Iscariot: A Novel of Judas, by Tosca Lee, very hesitantly to my dismay. I had just finished reading a book that was the first to surprise me with the ending in such a long time, that I was in a bit of a book-hangover.  I've read Lee's previous works and I knew that I had to be all in when reading her novels, but I had waited for it's release for so long that I just couldn't wait anymore.
    Iscariot is a bit of speculative spiritual fiction.  I happen to like Lee's work so much because she stays completely true to what the Bible says and with lots of research attempts to read between the lines.  I've heard and read the same stories over and over that sometimes they become monotonous; she challenges me to really think about what I'm reading...to consider what it would have been like to be that person, to live in that time, how the circumstances would have felt.
     We start off reading about Judas's childhood.  It broke my heart to read about the very realistic possible circumstances that  formed the way Judas reacted to situations, the way he thought, the way he was raised, and the way he was effected by things.  There was a certain sadness that I connected with.  Little Judas broke my heart, and made me realize that we all are Judas.  Most of us, if in his position probably would have made the same choice; many of us, I don't think would ever be brave enough to have been in his position at all.
    The middle of the book felt more like a familiar friend, it's the part of the story we all know so well, this is where the lines are written a little bit closer together.  It is where we have to keep reminding ourselves that Judas was the one Jesus called fried.  It is where we have to remind ourselves how the story ends, and it made me feel sick to my stomach.
   The end of the book I put off....for DAYS.  I would read at a crawling pace and kept setting it down to  do anything but accept how it was going to end.  Sometimes we do things out of love that we really truly do with the best of intentions but they turn out not so good.  Many times we are so close to a situation that we are overcome by the severity of it and we can't see the big picture, we are too overcome to hope.  Is it possible that Judas thought he was doing what was best?  Is it possible that any of us could have so easily been Judas? I think the answer is yes.   think the end of Judas's story is quite sad, he had to have an intense love for Jesus to so whole-heartily follow Him.  Did this love change?  Was it fear, because that had to have been a pretty scary time?  Was it supposed to be out of love, and that part is just burried?   Tosca (I know I should say Lee, but it just feels too informal for her ok?) challenged me to consider Judas's story in an entirely knew way...even to the point of how he died.
    I know that I have rambled on a lot here, but what it comes down to is that you really need to read this book.  Let me warn you it will brake you.  I finished it about two weeks ago and I still am trying to recover.  I can't help but wonder how I would have been.  I am left with so many questions, that in the same answer so many more.  I mean seriously, someone else please read this so we can talk about it together?

"The Bride Collector" by Ted Dekker

What I Have to Say..
Ted Dekker has done it again, he has written another brilliant thriller. This newest novel is called The Bride Collector. It is about a serial killer who murders women leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene. The novel starts with the death of his fourth victim and you read through his pursuit of his seventh and final, who in his perspective is God’s favorite and perfect bride. Dekker dives into the subject of mental illness, asking the question are those who are dubbed mentally ill really normal and those who are dubbed normal really the ones who are mentally ill. Not for the light of heart, the killings are gruesome and it was hard for me to read at first. Dekker used a great name as an underwear brand though; maybe that’s what hooked me. ;) Dekker is one of those minds that dare to ask the questions no one else wants to think about. Maybe that’s what makes this book so brilliant. If we all just understood each other; if we understood that we are all God’s favorites because He loves us unendingly we wouldn’t pin false stigmas upon one another. I dare you to open your mind to Dekker’s questions.

*This book was provided for review by Center Street*

Click for options to purchase this book

"Forget Me Not" by Vicki Hinze

Summary
A mother who cannot face her future.
THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.

Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.

Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.

The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

About the Author
Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

What I Have to Say...
Author Vicki Hinze’s first work of Christian fiction, Forget Me Not, is a must read. If you like a book to keep you on the edge of your seat, this will surely do it. A woman who looks exactly like main character, Benjamin Brandt’s, diseased wife shows up at their crisis center. In her pocket is Ben’s wife Susan’s necklace and a card bearing her name. This woman has been left for dead and has no memory except that someone had tried to kill her. Nameless and homeless, Ben takes her in trying to figure out who she is and how her case links to the death of his wife. This is a story of mystery, love, and faith. I have never read a book that was better at showing how bad things still happen when you’re a Christian and that faith takes effort. Faith isn’t a one time deal, it is a continuous thing. You’ll find this book to have a shocker or two. I could not ask for more in a story, it had everything in it. I sincerely hope that Vicki Hinze takes to writing more Christian fiction. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it!

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Click to find where to purchase
available in Trade Paperback and eBook

"An Absence So Great" by Jane Kirkpatrick

Summary
While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

About the Author
Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

What I Have to Say...
An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick caught my attention because it is about a young female photographer living in an early 1900 Midwest. Her journey particularly takes her to southeastern Wisconsin. A really interesting tidbit about this book is that it was inspired by actual photographs taken by the author’s grandmother. As you read through the book you will also see actual photos and get to read the story behind them. Jessie Gaebele’s continuing passion of photography keeps her connected to her past, mainly to the mistakes she’s made. She distances herself from those mistakes with time and distance but as long as she photographs she stays connected. She later on discovers that her photography is not the only thing tying her to her mistake, but the mistake itself. This mistake eventually caused everything she thought to be true in her life to be a lie. This mistake stole from Jessie what she thought to be the very definition of herself. Jessie runs from this mistake again, this time tying all loose ends, and her photography pulls her through. Kirkpatrick does a great job at delving into the most passionate emotions of humankind. This novel is a must read.


*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

Follow link to purchase this book
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781578569816
available in Trade Paperback, unabridged audiobook download, and eBook

"Yesterday's Promise" by Linda Lee Chaikin

Summary
He fought to seek his fortune.
Would he lose a greater treasure: the love he left behind?

As the son of the squire of Grimston Way, aristocrat Rogan Chantry has fought hard to win his independence from Sir Julien Bley and the British South Africa Company. Now, his pursuit of a mysterious deposit of gold, marked on a map willed to him by his murdered uncle, Henry Chantry, is challenged by a new complication: the impending British colonization of South Africa. Can Sir Rogan find the gold in the midst of escalating tensions among the native tribesmen, the missionaries sent to win them, and the new colonists?

Meanwhile, Evy Varley, the woman Rogan loves back in England, is headed for a brave yet dangerous confrontation with Henry’s killer–but at what price? With so much against Rogan and Evy, a reunion seems improbable, if not impossible. Can yesterday’s promise hold them faithful to the hope of future freedom and a victorious love?

About the Author
has written numerous best-selling and award-winning books and series, including the Silk series (Heart of India Trilogy), A Day to Remember series, The Empire Builders, Royal Pavilion Trilogy, Arabian Winds Trilogy, The Buccaneers Trilogy, and For Whom the Stars Shine, a finalist for the Christy Award. She and her husband make their home in Northern California.

What I have to say...
For me the novel Yesterday’s Promise, by Linda Lee Chaikin, was a little bit hard to get into. I figure this is due to the fact that it is the second book of Chaikin’s “East of the Sun Series,” and the first book of the series I’ve read. However, being that I hadn’t read the first book of the series I don’t feel that took anything away from the story. If I would have read the first book this one would have been richer for me of course, but I still really enjoyed it. The only historical novels I would call myself a fan of are those of world war two era, which this one is not. It takes place in the late 1800s, with both historical and fictional characters, in England and South Africa. This novel was full of adventure, murder, mystery, aristocratic politics and faith. Chaikin focused separately on characters Evy and Rogan. When I was reading about one, I was wondering what was happening with the other. I enjoyed the end of the book the most and am anxious to find out what happens to Evy and Rogan in the third installment of the series.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*

You can purchase this great book here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307458759

Available in Trade Paperback and eBook.

"secrets" by Robin Jones Gunn

Summary
The Glenbrooke Series

Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?

Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her.

Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all?

This heartwarming bestseller, book one in the Glenbrooke series, introduces the fascinating people of Glenbrooke in a compelling tale of romance and spiritual truth.

About the Author
Robin Jones Gunn is the much-loved award-winning author of the Glenbrooke, Sisterchicks(R), Christy Miller, and Sierra Jensen series, with more than three million books sold worldwide. Robin lives with her family near Portland, Oregon.

What I have to say...
Author Robin Jones Gunn started out writing articles and children’s’ books, and then was persuaded to write teen fiction. Secrets is her first adult novel and it kicks off “The Glenbrooke Series.” Honestly, after I read the summary I thought the book would be decent but I wasn’t overly excited to read it. Main character Jessica is looking for a new life in a small town, but will her secret keep her from the new start she dreams of? Throughout the book I could not for the life of me figure out what that secret was. The plot is good, the characters and relationships are intriguing, and I was hooked. I could not set this book down. I particularly enjoyed the small touch of romance throughout the story. I wanted to know what would happen next, what Jessica’s secret was, and what would happen between Jessica and the fireman that saved her. I’m thrilled that this is only one of a series and can’t wait to read the next. I like the fact that the next book is about a different character from this story, however I do hope I still get to read about the same characters as well. I’m invested.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.*


You can purchase this great book here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422736
comes in eBook and Trade Paperback!


Value Fiction For Your Spring Break



Colorado Springs, CO— Fiction lovers don’t need to budget to travel this spring break with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s six full-length novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, February 16, 2010). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read “get-aways” provide quality entertainment at a price that any reader can afford.



Full-length novels offered include:



Secrets

by Robin Jones Gunn - Jessica has moved to a new town to start a new life. But a friendly fire-fighter and a suspicious boss both want to know what she’s hiding.



Beneath a Southern Sky

by Deborah Raney – Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between he two men who love her?



The Golden Cross

by Angela Elwell Hunt – Aidan O’Connor may be a poor barmaid but she’s also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life.



Deep Harbor

by Lisa Tawn Bergren – Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl face trouble, tragedy, and treachery across the Wast, Hawaii , Japan , and the high seas. These four immigrants from Bergen , Norway , each grow closer to God and learn afresh the value of faith, family, and coming alongside each other in times of need.



Faithful Heart

by Al and Joanna Lacy – The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California . Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who’s suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue.



Yesterday’s Promise

by Linda Lee Chaikin – Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa . In England , his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.

"Sinner" by Ted Dekker

In his thriller Sinner, Ted Dekker sticks to what he does best: challenging the reader of what they know to be good vs. evil. Shining the light on the truth the story leads 3000 believers to a hole of a city called Paradise where the light battles the darkness in the ultimate showdown. This novel is frightenly relevant to what is happening not only in todays world but in our very neighborhoods. Will you be part of the 3000? I know I will!