Smitten

What do you get when you put four talented authors together to write a book? A wonderful read called Smitten. This was a clever idea to set Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter in fictional Smitten, Vermont to weave their own stories and characters. Colleen writes about Natalie (energetic, like her), Kristin writes about sophisticated Julia, Diann writes about graceful Shelby, and Denise writes about athletic Reese.

The lumber mill in Smitten has just closed and just how will the town survive without the main employer. Four friends come up with a plan to save Smitten and make it the romantic capital and capitalize on the name Smitten.The hometown hero, Sawyer Smitten wants to hold his wedding in Smitten on Valentine's Day so the town gets busy changing and transforming Smitten into a tourist destination for lovers. They put together a sweet shop, high end spa, new romantic cabins and new sport shops.

Each story is about 100 pages long with a romantic tale throughout the story. The endings were pretty much figured out but it still did not change the fun of reading the story of each of the four lives. Each author did a great job of conveying her character's high points and flaws.

Fun book and, unfortunately, you have to wait till December 2012 for the continuation of Smitten, Vermont.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me this book free just for my honest opinion.

Tyndale Giveaways

Wanted to let you know about a great giveaway happening over at the New Living Translation Facebook page, and also give you great prizes until December 24th.
Check it out-who knows what you could win and from Tyndale it will be good!!

Journey To Christmas

This is the first DVD that I have ever requested to review and it was a dandy. I am so glad I was able to watch this four part series. We watched the first two last night and the last two tonight. You can split them up in four series and do for a church bible study. The DVD is so applicable since it applies to the birth of Jesus is a totally different format as we head into December and his birth.

There are five very different people on this journey to the Holy Land. There is a Messianic Jew, A First Nations woman, a poet/singer, a radio personality who is trying to find God, and an agnostic lawyer. This group along with a local Bible scholar follow the paths that Mary and Joseph would have taken to get to Bethlehem. You see the culture, places and people surronding the nativity. The photography is superb and breathtaking as you experience the sights as the group does. They spend the night in a Bedioun tent and experience a horrific sandstorm ( the worst one in 42 years), ride camels, follow the route Mary and Joseph took, You see the Christmas story unfold through the eyes of each member. They end up in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and read the gospel story and how that story will never be the same to each of them. There is also commentary from Bible experts which really highlight the story even more. It was interesting to hear each of them after they got back and processed it all what their final take from the trip was. This DVD has enriched my Christmas season even more and I plan to pass this on to my family so they can experience this marvelous DVD for themselves.

Since I will probably never get to Israel, this DVD showed me what it is like and that is why I am so thankful to Tyndale Publishers for sending me this free just for my honest opinion.

The Lucado Inspirational Reader

It is always a good day when I get to read a "new" Max Lucado book. He is my all time favorite author and my bookcase is filled with all his books. He has such a gift with the written word that makes sense and puts a new slant on just what the bible is telling us.

His latest book is the "best of the best" of his quotes and anecdotes from his twenty five years of writing books. This collection has his best illustrations, stories, and one liners along with different themes for each chapter. Do you need a dash of faith? Do you need a reminder why the cross is vital, heaven is real and peace is available to you?. If so, this is the book for you to buy-read-re-read and re-read again and again. This book has chapters on the bible, comfort, creation, encouragement, family, faith, forgiveness, heaven, peace, second chances just to name some of them.

I am using this book as a daily devotional along with my other three Max devotionals. Now that is a great way to start each and every day-hope and encouragement for my everyday life.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for providing me this book free just for my honest opinion and for having such a great author on your team.

The Daughter's Walk

I love to read Christian fiction and am always surprised when a book surpasses my expectations . This book by Jane Kirkpatrick is just that kind of book. I have read her books before and have not been disappointed. When I read what this one was about it really intrigued me. What actually transpired throughout the story was so compelling and a look at history in the late 1800's and into the 1900's.

It starts in 1896 when Helga and her daughter Clara accept a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane Washington to New York City. It has to be done in seven months and they will win $10,000 which they need to save the family farm from foreclosure. I thought the book would just detail their walk and what happened along the way, but it was so much more in depth. They were gone a year and when they went back home a lot of things have changed and not good things. Clara decides to leave home and walk on alone, leaving the family home and changing her name. This is where the story really begins-with Clara and her continued journey. She is a risk taker in an era where women did not have many rights or independence.

The story ends in 1942 and how the family separations and forgiveness finally begin and a new chapter begins in Clara's life . I found the author's notes and acknowledgments very insightful into the story and just how this book came about.

This was one enjoyable read and I thank Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending me this book free just for my honest opinion of the book.

House of Secrets

I love Christian fiction so I picked House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson to read since it was a contemporary fiction. I have not read anything by her so I was game to try her. I finished this last week and it has taken me this long to figure out how I felt about this book. I did not dislike it but I did not love it either-figure that one out.
The story centers around Bailee Cooper and her three sisters and their childhood memories that are not all that good. Their father wants them to meet at the summer house with great news to tell them. Problem is, they have not kept in close contact since their mother's death fifteen years ago. Bailee is the mother figure to the sisters and always felt she had to take care of them. The sisters think something sinister happened to their mother and their father was responsible. Were they right or were their memories tainted. The story showed just how damaging that their silence was not only to the sisters but their relationship with their father.
The story delved into the sad story of mental illness and what it does to the person and the family around them. It was a real eyeopener to me just how devastating mental illness can be.
I felt the story dragged somewhat in the middle-too much rehashing of events but in the end it was a satisfying read with how God can heal people and how love prevails.
Thank you to Baker Publishing for this free copy just for my honest review.

Lonestar Angel

I love Colleen Coble's writing-let me count the ways. First, she is the only author I would stay up till one in the morning on the day her book came out to ensure I got a copy!!. Second, she always writes a fantastic story with lots of twists and turns. Her books just flow and before you know it you are halfway through the book. Third, I have never been disappointed in any of her books. Fourth, she lives in Indiana like me and is a warm, funny and gracious lady.

This is the fourth in the Lonestar series and I really hope this is not the last. Eden and Clay Larson were married young with a baby girl. This baby girl was stolen and they never found her and Eden left the marriage thinking it was her fault but Clay never signed the divorce papers. Move ahead five years with Eden in a new town (Wabash Indiana-Colleen's hometown) ready to marry someone else when Clay appears to tell her not only are they still married but he believes he has found Brianna in Bluebird, Texas. They head to the Bluebird ranch pretending to be counselors. There are five girls at the ranch and Clay and Eden try to figure out which one is Brianna. Enter the suspense. Someone is trying to kill Eden while various characters from Eden's past start showing up. Which one is the culprit? As usual, I thought I had figured it out, but Colleen usually surprises me and she did this time also.

If you have never read any of her books, please start, she is a gifted storyteller.

I am so grateful to Thomas Nelson for this review copy to read. I am not required to make a positive review but just my own opinions.

Deadly Pursuit

I have been waiting patiently (not) for my library to get Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon in so I could pick it up. It came in, I picked it up, I devoured it, I loved it, and I can't wait till she writes # 3. This is the first book that I read 250 pages in one sitting and was completely captivated by the storyline and characters.

A stalker with a deadly intent..A woman who protects children..An ex-Navy Seal turned police detective. Now that is quite a lineup of characters that just invites you to pick this book up and read. Irene Hannon has a wonderful knack to combine suspense with romance to make her storytelling "top notch". She is one of my top five favorite authors and I always know that when I am finished with her book I am glad that I found this author to read. I believe she has taken over where Dee Henderson stopped.

Make sure you read Irene Hannon's books-you will be in for great reading experiences.

The Crossing

The Crossing by Serita Jakes captivated me from page one till the last page. I usually look for suspense books to read and the summary of this book intrigued me. I believe this is the author's first book and I sure hope it is not her last. She really has a talent for the written word that was laced with scripture, and a storyline that kept me turning pages and always trying to figure out "who did it".
The storyline is a decade old murder. A gunman boarded a school bus coming back from a football game. The cheerleading coach-BJ Remington was killed and the star quarterback was hit with a bullet that changed his football career and his future. The killer was never found and for ten years Claudia relives that fateful day that her best friend BJ was killed. She has married and her husband is a DA who is determined to uncover just who murdered BJ and put his wife's nightmares to rest.

That is just the beginning of what turns out to be a superb murder mystery but with so much human emotion that encompses each page. She deals with a different character with each chapter which I found to be interesting and added so much to the story. My absolute favorite part was when BJ was dying on the bus and how she looks back over her life and recounts different things that happened with her parents, her faith and how in the end "there is no fear in this death". The author does an amazing job of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation that is available to all who ask. What a book for a non-believer. The ending may surprise you on who actually did the killing.


This is one of those books I will reread just because of the message Mrs. Jakes delivers with this novel. I thank Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending me this book free for my honest review.

Over the Edge

Just finished reading Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins and it was amazing. What a storyline!. It was even more amazing since the author suffered through Lyme disease herself.
Janessa McNeil is the wife of a well known researcher and professor at Stanford University's School of Medicine. His research is on Lyme disease and he says it does not exist. Someone intends to make Dr. McNeil see just how devastating this disease is. He strickens Janessa with the ticks after he sneaks into the house to do it. The following pages deal with her sickness and symptoms of this horrid disease. Janessa must deal with the horrible effects of Lyme and a husband who leaves her for another woman. The author also tackles the Lyme wars between the medical community and the patients. Who will believe Janessa and will she find help before it is too late.
This was a thriller-page turning interesting read with a surprise "who did it" to Janessa.
I know I will be on the lookout for ticks after reading this book and knowing just how devastating this disease is.

Attracted to Fire

One thing is for sure with me-when I select a Diann Mills book to read, I always know it will be great. Her latest book, Attracted to Fire did not let me down with the storyline, suspense, romance and ending. It is a fast paced read and what I found most intriguing was what the Secret Service does and how they go above and beyond to protect their detail.

The story encompases around two agents protecting the vice president's rebellious daughter when threats are made against her life. The two agents, Megan who has a dream of protecting the president, and the agent in charge, Ash who has a reputation for being critical and exacting need to find out who is behind the threats. Not only threats but agents are killed, security on the ranch is breached and who is really behind everything. That is just a teaser about the storyline. I found myself engrossed in the plot and trying to figure out just who is the culprit and why. It came as a surprise how it all came together in the end. It had all the earmarks of a political intrigue plot and could that ever happen today?

Loved the main characters Megan and Ash and how their competitiveness and drive started out and how they found each other beyond the job of Secret Service agents. The author left their story open for continuation and I hope she writes more about them and the "rest of the story" of their lives. If you have not read any of Diann Mills books, you are missing a superb writer-both historical and suspense.

Thank you Tyndale Publishers for sending me this free book for my honest review of it.

A Sound Among the Trees

This is the third book by Susan Meissner that I have read and can't wait till her next one comes out. She is a superb storyteller and her books have such a heartwarming flow to them. She loves to intersperse history throughout her stories and this one was fascinating.

Holly Oaks in an antebellum mansion in Virginia. It is a house that lots of people believe to be haunted. It is haunted by the ghost of Susannah Page who was rumored to be a Civil War spy. Adelaide the great granddaughter of Susannah has lived in the house her whole life and thinks the house is holding a grudge since the Civil War. Adelaide's granddaughter died in this house and now her son-in-law has brought a new wife to the house and she hears from people that the house brings misfortune to the women of the house. Marielle must find the letters that she hears have been left by Susannah to help sort out the truth. She does find the letters with the help of the prodigal daughter of Adelaide that comes home again. This is such a heartwarming story of different generations of women that have lived in the house and how they all tie together with their heritage. The most interesting part of the book were the letters Susannah wrote during the Civil War to her cousin that spanned three years and what she endured during that time in history. Loved the ending and how the author tied everything together.

Thank you Waterbrook/Multnomah for letting me review this for free just for my honest opinion.

Pattern of Wounds

When I pick books to read I tend to gravitate to suspense fiction books. I chose this book because a good friend read it and loved it. I did not realize that this was the second in the Roland March series by J. Mark Bertrand. Luckily, it was a story in itself, to some extent. There is a lot about the character and his relationship with his wife that I picked up only bits and pieces in this second book. Enough said about the background of my picking this book.

It was one of those books I "think" I liked-I am still not sure about my feelings after reading it. I have waited a few days to put these ideas down on paper. Roland March is a homicide detective in Houston. He has a past but he is really a good cop. He investigates a young woman found dead in a swimming pool in a rich area of Houston. He sees it as a copycat crime but the other investigators see it only as another crime. Roland has already sent a murderer to prison ten years ago for crimes like this one that was committed. Then he starts getting scary messages from the killer and the violence gets a little too close to home. The interesting thing is that with each crime after this there is a pattern of wounds on the bodies so he must try to figure out what exactly is the hidden message.

There was a lot of trying to guess "who did it" and I don't think I figured it out and I still after rereading the ending am lost. The last page ends with a twist and that really made me mad. Everything is left up in the air so I guess I have to read book number three to find out just how this ends-bummer. This is one of those books that will have different reviews from everyone.

I do appreciate being able to pick this one from Bethany Publishers for free just for my honest review

Wrapped in Rain

When I worked at a Christian Book store many customers would tell me how great an author Charles Martin was. I actually bought two of his books that are in my bookcase still waiting to be read. I picked this from Booksneeze to review and knew it was a repackaging but it sounded so good.

My, oh my, oh my-it was not just good, it was superb. This has to be one of the most heartwarming books I have ever read. As you read this story you laugh at some pages, you are enraged at some pages, and there are tears at some pages. He covers so much emotion and his writing style is so unique that I found myself so engrossed in reading and loving and rooting for the characters in a way I have never done before.

The main character Tucker Mason (Rain) has had a childhood straight from the pits of Hell with and evil father who doesn't care a lick for him or his brother Mutt. All the father cares about is making money and lots of it along with alcohol binges. Tuck and Mutt were raised by Miss Ella Rain who loves these two boys like her own. She is the only stable person in their lives and she is a Christian who instills the scriptures in their lives along with prayers to cover the evil they all endure. I was so amazed that one person could be so evil to everyone around them. Tucker is forced to return home and face his own tragic past along with Mutt who has escaped from a mental hospital with lots of problems of his own. Also enter a former girlfriend with a five year old son running from an estranged husband. Put these all together and you have one amazing story. At the end of the book and really all the way through, I wished I could have had a Miss Ella in my childhood. I loved how Tucker could still hear her voice and her prayers even after she had died and how he would talk back to her.
This book really shows how forgiveness and redemption can change lives along with peace and grace only found through our amazing Lord and Savior.

I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I am heading to my bookcase to read the other books I have by Charles Martin and I bet they will be as good as this one.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending me this copy free to review for my honest opinion,

Money Secrets of the Amish

I love to save money in all different ways so this book is right up my alley. Being retired and on a fixed income involves a totally new way to look at frugal ways to save money. In this book we learn from the best at making things last and the art of recycling.

The author found during 2008 during the economic collapse that her work was drying up also. She started investigating the Amish culture to be serene, simple and rooted in centuries past that held financial wisdom to me. During her period of "extreme thrift" she researched the Amish way of wealth. She learned tips on saving, spending and investing and how to live a lifestyle extravagant in peach, sharing, family and community closeness. One of her funny quotes "Could a clotheshorse, spendthrift, clueless about-cash girl like me actually spend less, save more, and make shoofly pie?'.

We Americans are a blessed society with enormous wealth to spend our money any way we want to. To think that God actually only wants 10% of HIS money and lets us spend 90% how we want to is mind boggeling. This book helps you retrain your brain to be more frugal with practical and simple money saving ideas.
My favorite chapter was Shopping Secondhand. She shops at a secondhand store and saves a ton of money then heads to Goodwill and buys 9 items that would have cost $237.48 and she spent $25.50 for a savings of @211.98. Now that is "fun shopping" As the Amish say "You don't have to buy something new to buy something good".

She has chapters on: Pay on time-rethinking gifts-saving-de-spoil the kids-to bulk or not to bulk-bartering-and the best things in life are free.

Great book, fun read, lots of tips to help my frugal life more and a good book to give to a newly married couple or kids going off to college.

I received this book free for my honest opinion of it and so appreciated this great read.

Thunder Dog

What a blessing the Booksneeze program is. This book is one of the examples of getting to read a wonderful book for free. It does not get any better than that!!. This was a book when I saw it up for review I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed at all. This is one of those "heartwarming" books that make you feel better after you have read them.
This book is a true story of Michael Hinson who is blind and his guide dog Roselle who actually made it out of the Trade Center Tower #1 before it collapsed. That, in itself, makes for an interesting storyline. Michael takes you back 10 years to that "day that changed America" to relive what happened. He goes to work as usual getting ready for a seminar when his life and many others are changed forever. He works on the 78th floor of the north tower when the building is hit and the tower leans to the south. His co worker David and he immediately head for the stairs and begin the long trek down stairwell B with his dog by his side. He smells the jet fuel but knows he needs to stay calm to keep Roselle calm. Neither panic and start working their way down-ten stairs, turn, nine stairs. When they get to the 34th floor they see the firefighters are coming up with water but they don't have any information to pass along so everyone is still guessing what has happened to the building. In just over an hour since they left the office they are outside when a police officer screams, "Get out of here! It's coming down!" Now Michael and Roselle are literally running for their lives when the dust from the buildings completely cover them. We have to get out of the dust or we are going to die. But even in the dust cloud, with my guide dog now blind, too, I feel God's presence. He is with me. I am not alone. I am running with Roselle.
Michael Hinson is one special person who never let his blindness stop him from doing anything. He has ridden a bike and even driven a car. He was determined to achieve parity in a sighted world and it was a true pleasure to read his story.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for this free copy to review for my honest opinion.

Inside Threat

Inside Threat by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn is the 4th book of the Riley Covington series. I picked this book to review from Tyndale without reading the other three. I figured each book would be a story in itself and the beginning of the book filled me in on lots of Riley's background. To be honest, I was not sure I could finish this book. The first 196 pages drug for me-it was an effort to pick the book up to continue reading but I kept on and was glad I did. On page 200 the action and real storyline begin and WOW, it was hard to put down.

Riley Covington is a football player who also, in the previous books was in the military fighting terrorists. There is a bunch of homegrown Islamic terrorists who kill a prominent senator and during his funeral, this group overruns the National Cathedral and takes members of Congress and others hostage. What Riley finds out is that his former girlfriend Khadi is part of that hostage crisis. Riley devises a dangerous rescue plan which really puts you on the edge of your seat. Can't tell you more-must read the book to find out how and if he succeeds.
The scary part of this book is that it could have come from the headlines of the newspaper instead of the authors head. We never know what evil lurks around the corner but the co-authors have put lots of scripture throughout this book and we, as Christians, know the "end of the story"

Thank you so much to Tyndale Publishers for this free book just for my honest opinion. I will be picking up the other 3 Riley Covington books to read.

Enemies of the Heart

I think Andy Stanley is the BEST!!. I think he is a gifted preacher and a superb book author. I requested this book Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley and was surprised. Surprised that it was a book that came out in 2006 titled-It Came From Within. I am sure I read it when it came out but rereading his books is always enlightening.
What makes his writing so enjoyable is you can see him, on his stool, teaching this to the congregation along with his humor. He has personal stories throughout this book along with some "knock them dead" teaching on breaking free from the four emotions that control you-guilt, greed, anger and jealousy. All these are a "heart" issue and he digs deep into these topics and gives help on conquering these emotions. He explains how these damage our relationships and can destroy our homes, career and friendships. He helps us understand why we do the things we do and how to take charge with biblical direction. Confess, forgive, give and celebrate, theses are the habits that will change everything. These four habits set us free to love as God intends for us to love. Anger, greed, guilt and jealousy are the four monsters that can grow unchecked in your heart which will make your efforts to love short-lived.
This book has so much practical advice and help for anyone. I found myself highlighting pages and will read this one again and again-it is that good.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending this free copy for my honest review.

God's Love Letters to You

I must confess-I am a devotional-holic!!!. I love devotionals and usually read 10 different ones each morning before my bible reading. Love insights by different authors. When I saw this one on booksneeze I jumped at the chance to review it. I have Larry Crabbs 66 Love Letters and loved it so I knew I would love this on and I did. This one is just a 40 day devotional which is nice when there aren't days to follow. This devotional is so unique, it's short, packed with conversation with God (that is as good as it gets), and new insights on how to think about love. He has taken a different book each day to discuss. For example, Day 8 is about Ruth with a subtitle of my love can overcome all obstacles. The best part is you are reading from God's perspective and in the first person which makes it so much fun to read. After the story is a series of questions-take a moment to reflect which are very thought provoking and interesting. Last is a prayer to God and how it reflects the story you just read.

I guarantee you will "fall in love with the Savior" after this devotional is done. You relationship with Him will be deeper. Consider this your personal letter from God to you. This is a book I will go back over again and again-it is that good.
Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending me this free just for my honest opinion.

When Sparrows Fall

I passed this book up the first time and after reading the reviews on it, I was bummed I had not picked it. When it appeared again, I jumped at the chance to read it and I was not disappointed at all.
This is one of those books you read that you just "really like". It was hard to believe this was her first novel and I hope she keeps writing,
The storyline deals with Miranda, a widow, with six children to raise by herself. She has a controlling pastor that wants to move the flock (a call by God) to another area and wants the congregation to foot the bill with their land sale. Miranda refuses to sell her land so the pastor threatens her to reveal secrets from her past. The plot thickens when Miranda falls from a cliff and is hurt. Enter her brother-in-law Jack who is a widow also to take care of her kids while she is in the hospital. Miranda named him legal guardian of her children while she recovers. Jack discovers that the kids are so sheltered and brings life and change into the family. The kids had never seen marshmallows!!. Jack can't understand Miranda and her secrets and keeps trying to persuade her to let him help her while falling in love with her.
The ending was a surprise and her secret was a surprise also. This is just a joy to read.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for my free copy to review just for my honest opinion

More Library Reads

I love my library! Now that I don't work at a Christian bookstore where I had lots of books at my fingertips to read and enjoy-my library is my new best friend. They have been so good to order books I have asked for and the first two were ones I asked for.

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart. This is her third book in her series about Julia Desmit and her life from when she became a single mother and the trials that followed. The first book was After the Leaves Fall, the second was Summer Snow. Each of her books are extremely well written and very hard to put down. I found myself mesmerised by the storyline and what all she goes thru with her unorthodox family. All the books are stories about a young girl's struggle with loss, love, identity and faith with characters that are hard to forget and a story that you won't forget either. These are books that I would reread again-they are that good!!

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl was one I couldn't wait to get my hands on to read. This is her third in the Triple Threat Novel series and WOW was it good. I read half the first night and finished it the next night-very unusual for me. The story is about a cunning lady serial killer and three professional women caught up in her world. This is a fast paced thriller with lots of twist and turns that keep you turning pages like I did till I finished it. The only problem is I have to wait till fall for another book by this author. I highly recommend he Hand of Fate and Face of Betrayal books in the Triple Threat series. She will be one of your" new favorite authors" like me.

One Step at a Time by Josh Bleill was a book I found thru the Indianapolis Star and it was fabulous. It is the story of a marine from Greenfield, Indiana that is injured critically in Iraq by and IED. He loses both legs and lots of other injuries. He also lost two of his best friends which was probably the hardest of all. It is a story of his journey from enlistment, active duty in Iraq and two years of rehab and then his job with the Indianapolis Colts as a community spokesperson. You will fall in love with his faith, his enthusiasm, joy, humor but most of all his dependence on God to keep him going. This was a book that just flowed and how even when life doesn't turn out how we think it should-God still has great plans to use us not matter if we are missing legs there is still a way to go forward-one step at a time. I have a daughter in the Army and this book shows me just how the military people are there for each other and really take care of each other-quite a big family of support.

Desert Gift

I just finished Desert Gift by Sally John and it was one of those books where I read other reviews on this book and went ahead and picked this to read. I got this book free from Tyndale Publishers for my honest opinion. So my honest opinion is: it was just ok. I struggled with the plot-very uninteresting and way too long. The book and plot seemed to drag on forever till I got to the end. The characters seemed so trite and focused on themselves which got tiring after a while.
The story plot about Jillian Galloway being a successful radio talk show host and known as a marriage expert. She has a new book out and is leaving on a book tour when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. She is wondering if her whole life is a sham and how can she get her marriage back. This is supposed to be a book about unexpected detours that our lives can take and how God is always at work. There was some of that but mostly I felt the book just rambled on and on. Very seldom do I not like a Christian book and I am sure she is a great author, but this book left me relieved when I turned the last page.

Thicker than Blood

I have had this book on hold at the library since I read her second book Bound by Guilt two weeks ago. There were some characters in that book that are in this book but stand alone enough to read the way I did. CJ Darlington was an award winner in the Jerry Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and after reading her two books, it is easy to see why.

Thicker than Blood centers around Christy Williams and her work in a book store that deals with rare and first edition books. It is a fascinating look into the world of antiquarian books and two sisters with a past full of regrets. It also shows addiction, betrayal and God's powerful reach in all their lives. As you read this story, you feel like you are right there in the room with them, experiencing all their raw pain and emotion.

This lady can write-be prepared to keep reading, because she keeps you enthralled in the storyline. Can't wait for her next one-

Lightkeeper's Ball

Oh, how I love Colleen Coble's books!!. Picked this book up from the library and devoured it quickly. This is the third in her Lightkeeper's series and it was super good. Since I have read all of her books, I know she does not write a bad book.
This book takes place in Mercy Falls California. Olivia Steward is heiress to an empire. Her family is considered to be very wealthy but in real life, their wealth has disappeared. The only hope is for the Stewart's daughters' to marry well. Olivia's sister, Eleanor was engaged to Harrison Bennett who is very wealthy. Eleanor dies very mysteriously so Olivia travels to Mercy Falls as Lady Devonworth hoping to find out who or what killed Eleanor. She finds that her death wasn't an accident and suspects Harrison to be the guilty one. Then the plot thickens when a charity ball takes place and truths long hidden will be revealed.
This book kept me guessing-which all of her books do-as to who the culprit really was. I was totally surprised by the killer. That is why Colleen is such a good writer, she weaves twists and turns throughout the book, and then completely surprises you with the ending. She always puts suspense, romance and lots of rich deep faith in her books.
Can't wait for the next Colleen Coble book. That's what happens when you read her books.

Live Loved

Life is so good!!! I had the wonderful opportunity to review two new Max Lucado books in the same month!!. I am a HUGE Max fan so this was like Christmas to me.

Live Loved is his latest devotional and different in many ways. This devotional is not dated so you can start and stop anytime. This book also have collections from his latest books so it is completely different from his other three devotionals. The layout is a short story, then a prayer and two to three scriptures to end the devotional. Here is a sampling of the chapter titles: Loved with a Steadfast Love, Loved with a Perfect Love, Loved with a Wise Love, Loved with a Merciful Love, and Loved to Love Others.

I have all three of his other devotionals and read them every day so now I have four inspirational daily reminders of God's love written through the pen of Max. If you are a Max lover like me you will NEED this for your collection-it is a winner!!

Thank you Thomas Nelson for this free copy just for my honest opinion of this book.

Bound by Guilt

I tried to win this book from Tyndale when they were having their giveaways and was not able to. The storyline intrigued me so much I picked this up from the library.
This book by CJ Darlington is one of my top 5 books-it was fabulous.
The book centers around the plot of rare books and what people will do for the rarest of books. I never realized that first editions of books claimed huge monetary rewards which makes them a thief's greatest prize.
This story deals with complicated characters that you won't soon forget, but it also deals with guilt, rejection and loss in a storyline that offers hope and healing through forgiveness. Your heart will be broken by Roxi whose life is in shambles when someone comes in and offers love with no strings attached. Just like God does with us with forgiveness.
This was hard to put down because I wanted to see just how Roxi would end up and the ending did not disappoint me.
I now have her first book Thicker than Blood on hold at the library. That book deals with a few characters in this book but you can read them on their own.

Max on Life

I am thrilled to review Max Lucado's newest book-Max on Life. I am a huge Max fan-I own everything he has ever written and he is my all time favorite non fiction writer. This book is a new concept for him and he has written a winner. The subtitle is-Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions. The chapters are: Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Haves-Nots, Hereafter with questions to Max about life and his answers. Loved the format where I could pick the book up and read a few pages, put it down and then go back to it. There are questions about doubt, pain, big questions about life and faith, heaven and hell. What I love most about Max is his way to make things "make sense". He is always practical, bible- based and just interesting to read. There are 172 questions in this book and it is one enjoyable read. Here is a sample: I was born to worry. What advice do you have for us fretters?
Max answers each question and keeps you looking toward to One who is the ultimate Answer to all our hows and whys and wheres and whens.
This book is a must read for non Christians, Christians and anyone who needs biblical answers to problems.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for this free copy just for my honest opinion.

Judgment Day

Just finished Judgment Day by Wanda Dyson-it was not just good-it was really, really, really good!!. This is the first book I have ever read 200 pages before I just had to stop. When they call this a page turner, they were totally correct.
Christian suspense is my favorite genre to read and this author was masterful in weaving an interesting tale of corruption, greed, murder and even harvesting organs for sale. Suzanne Kidwell has a weekly cable show called Judgment Day and she exposes people for the lies they tell, often with shoddy investigation tactics. Her car has been rigged to explode but her boyfriend is killed not her. Then she is arrested for murder and hires her ex-fiance Marcus and his partner Alex. They take the case and realize there is more here than just a murder charge and that is where the suspense starts. The investigation into what is going on and how both Alex and Marcus deal with each other and the case kept me reading trying to figure out just how this was going to end. The plot was very fast paced and the ending was both good and bad. You will have to read for yourself to figure out what I mean by that statement. The whole idea of harvesting organs for money was unbelievable to me but I am sure this goes on. The author does a good job of exposing this to her readers. This book is a keeper, I just wish I had not read it so fast!!.
Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending this free just for my honest opinion

Promises to Keep

I received Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock free for my honest review from Bethany House Publishers. I have not read anything by this author and was very impressed by this book. This was one "sweet story".
I liked that the story was told in the first person of Roz who at age 11 is struggling with so many family issues. The story takes place back in the late 60's when the Vietnam war, free love, drugs and craziness was happening. Roz's mother flees from Minnesota and an abusive husband along with her three kids to her hometown. Her dad helps her buy a house but the owner Tillie keeps coming back wanting to live there. She wants to die in that house since she and her husband built it. Tillie is finally allowed to live there with the Monroes' to help the family with cooking and babysitting. Tillie's character was crafted masterfully along with Roz and Mara's character. Mara is a Negro and she and Roz become friends and share a secret with a "cross my heart and hope to die " pledge. This story took me back to a place of innocence, childhood friendships that I experienced in that era . Also a husband and father wants to reunite his family and will stop at nothing to accomplish that. The storyline takes so many turns and that kept me reading and trying to figure out where the author was going and how the story would end.
I absolutely loved everything about this book and highly recommend it. I am off to the library to pick up more books by this author.

God's Promises for the American Patriot

Absolutely love the Booksneeze program from Thomas Nelson. I received this book by Dr Richard G. Lee and Jack Countryman to read and review. This is my second book by them. I reviewed In God We Trust devotional earlier and loved it so I requested this book and was not disappointed. It is a small gift book with a beautiful flag cover with only 195 pages.
I have a daughter in the military and have become more interested in history and how our country has evolved.
This book enhanced how our country was founded by biblical principles and why it is so important that God directs our steps. Each page has an interesting tidbit of history or a historical person who has shaped America on the promises of God. On the other page are three scriptures that coincide with what was on the opposite page.
Loved the page where Ronald Reagan said on his famous "Shining City Upon a Hill" speech. We were indeed-and we are today-the last best hope of man on earth. Another interesting page is the Bible and the American Presidents and their quotes about the bible. This is something I never knew about President Lincoln. During the ravages of the Civil War, President Lincoln declared a National Fast Day on March 30, 1863 and explains why.
The authors have put together a wonderful book of stories of past and present heroes who have shaped America on their beliefs of God and the bible.
Excellent book for anyone who loves this country and what it stands for and how God's word is so important. This book will help you appreciate our history and God's promises.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for sending me this book for my honest opinion of it.

The Final Summit

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews was excellent!!!. I knew it would be since I have read all his other books. He is a writer than inspires me to dig deeper into history with the characters he researches in these books.

Each of his books are a little different and this was no exception. The concept of putting history's biggest and best minds to uncover a solution to the question of finding the principle that will save humanity but time is running out. David Ponder , from the authors previous book, has aged and lost his wife along with his will to live is visited by Gabriel enlisting his help to uncover the answer. David along with hundreds of his fellow travelers put there heads together and come up with an answer but is it the right one?

Loved the stories of Joshua Chamberlain, King David and the story of Eric Erickson who was instrumental in curtailing World War II by what he did. I have never heard this story and it was fascinating. I can't wait till Andy writes another book-these are books I will reread again and again because of the story lines

Thank you Thomas Nelson for sending this copy to me free for my honest opinion of this book.

COOL NEW BOOK GIVEAWAYS BY TYNDALE PUBLISHERS

Tyndale Publishers has started a new Book Club Hub Newsletter and you can enjoy a wonderful newsletter from a trusted publisher and......................... They have also put together 30 days of book giveaways-FREE. Just go to the their website to sign in. You can sign up for both books each day also.
Lots of free books just waiting to be read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Corruptible

I was super excited when I was able to get this ARC from Waterbrook before it came out. I jumped at the chance because I love this author. I have read everything he has written and he is great!!. This is the second book in the Ray Quinn Mysteries. You can read this one without reading his first one-he refers to different things that happened in the first one so you will be able to connect the dots.

Ray Quinn is an ex homicide detective that became a private investigator after being shot and losing his partner and love. He suffers with a painful disability along with a Jim Beam addiction and an impetuous sidekick, Crevis. An unlikely mesh working together to solve crimes. A new client needs his help and is willing to pay with a lot of zeros on his check. He needs the job and it seems easy but an ex copy turns up murdered along with Ray's clients sensitive corporate information gone. Now Ray must find not only a murderer but a thief and the list of people keeps growing and changing. He is having trouble discerning the good guys from the bad guys and there are people out there that want Ray silenced and try to do just that. Not going to delve any more information because I want you to pick up this book and read it for yourself--you will not be disappointed.

I found this book extremely hard to put down-love his writing style and he left the door wide open for another book in this series. When you finish this book, pick up his earlier books--just as good.

Thanks to Waterbrook-Multnomah for providing this book free just for my honest opinion.

Library Reads

How I love my local library. These are two books I requested and they purchased them and I got to read them for free-sweet!!!.

BLACK HEELS TO TRACTOR WHEELS BY REE DRUMMOND
I started following her blog last year(Pioneer Woman) and was hooked. On her blog she chronicles her daily life on a huge Oklahoma ranch, homeschooling, cooking and loving Marlboro Man-her husband. She started writing in her blog on how she met her husband and readers of her blog loved the chapters and asked for more. She posted weekly installments of her real life online serial love story, She wrote 40 installments and ended with her wedding day and decided to end the online version. She then started writing the next part of the story and continues with the birth of her first child. This is more than a love story, much, much more. It is a story of the reasons you fall in love. Ree was set to move to Chicago to start over when she was having drinks with friends and saw a tall rugged cowboy who lived on a cattle ranch miles away from her cultured, corporate hometown. This is where the plot thickens-an unlikely romance with a cowboy and a" no one around " for miles ranch. Ree loves nightlife and big cities so how is she going to trade that for a cowboy? Read the book and find the rip roaring details of how she fell hard for this cowboy.

This was just a fun book to read-she writes with such humor and shows how she went from city life to ranch wife. Sure hopes she writes another one from where she left off.

VICIOUS CYCLE BY TERRI BLACKSTOCK

WOW-WHAT A STORY!!!!
This is the second book of the Intervention series. I loved her first book-Intervention and actually loved this book even more. It is a hard book to read as a parent. It deals with drug addiction and human trafficking and the choices that change lives forever.
This was one book that I literally had to make myself put down and actually do something else. The characters are the same that are in Intervention with the time frame of a year ahead. Jordan is a 15 year old meth addict who has just delivered a baby girl at home. Her mother wants to sell the baby for money for more drugs so Jordan puts the baby in the backseat of a car driven by Lance. He came to her house to help her and is unaware of the baby being there till he is ordered to leave by Jordan's mother. He is arrested for kidnapping so now the family has to get Lance out of trouble, protect a baby who has no home and find help for a teenage mother hiding behind her lies.
This is a book that keeps you thinking long after the last page is turned. To see into the lives of drug addicts and just what they go through to get that next "hit" is unbelievable and so sad. Terri Blackstock is a wonderful writer who knows and has lived what she writes about. The book Intervention was her daughter's story and her family's story which was , in itself, amazing. Please pick this up and read it-you will not reget it.

Indivisble

I just finished Indivisible by Kristen Heitzman and was very impressed. I kept going back and forth on whether to pick this book to review and I finally did on the review another blogger did about this book. She said it was a great suspense fiction and she was so right.
I was not disappointed in this story, it was very fast paced with lots of twists that had me guessing. The plot kept me involved with a few surprises which always make for a page turning book. The backdrop of the story is a small Colorado town that had had animal mutations. Were they the result of gang activity or something else?. The sheriff of the town has to find out. The story has than that, there are quite a few characters and each has a past they are trying to escape and find peace. Loved that part of the story the best and how they tried to find redemption. Great Christian book but not a preachy Christian book. If you want a book to curl up on a long winter night-this is the one. Can't wait for her next book to come out Thank you to Waterbrook for sending me this book for my honest opinion.

Scars of a Chef

I just finished Scars of a Chef by Rick Tramonto and was impressed. It was one of those books that wasn't great, it was just interesting. I had never heart of Rick and he is a well known chef, especially in the Midwest.
The synopsis of the book sounded like a good read, which it was. It was one of those books that held your interest throughout.
The story starts out with Rick's childhood struggles of being an only child with a strange blend of parents. He did drugs, alcohol, skipped school and was ejected from three schools because of fighting. He started at Wendy's as a high school dropout who later was diagnosed with dyslexia. He found his niche-loved the food industry and all it entailed. He had to support his mother when his father went to prison after being involved in the mob. The book details all his different jobs as a chef and the different places he worked and finally opening a four-start restaurant. The hours-he was a workaholic-were intense and the drugs kept up but he was so empty. He knew there was more to life (he was raised in the Catholic Church) and God kept trying to get his attention. He lost his marriage, business and had to start all over again. This time he let God direct him instead of the other way around. Fun to see where he started and how "sold out" for Jesus he got finally.
It was an amazing story and not just a story for one who likes cooking. There are recipes throughout the book from his restaurants. Showed me a whole new account into the restaurant world.
Thank you Tyndale for sending me this book for free just for my honest opinion.

The Shape of Mercy

I am so thankful that I was able to read this book. What a story!!!!. The back of the book sounded so interesting and I found this book to be amazing. The author has scripted beautiful characters,modern day and historical events and a haunting tale.

The story centers around three women: Mercy Hayworth, Abigail Boyles and Lauren Durough and just how much these three women are alike-all from different generations. Lauren is hired by Abigail to transcribe an old book of journal entries from Mercy. So enjoyed the modern day story chapter then the chapter on Mercy, that was so captivating. It is not an easy book to digest since there were dealings about the Salem witch trials and just how perverted things and people can get. The author takes you on a journey of love, forgiveness, redemption and many twists and turns. This book is one that leaves you breathless toward the end-so surprised to find out the "rest of the story" about Mercy. Shape of Mercy is one of those books you won't soon forget.

Thank you Waterbrook for sending this for free for my honest opinion. Superb choice.

Library reads

Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
I read this a while back and forgot to write about it. I read her second book and loved it and got this from the library and started and guess what, I already read it!!!. Mind is going quickly.
This lady is one good writer. The story deals with Ben the owner of Crossroads Crisis Center who loves his work, his faith and his family. His wife and son are murdered and is world falls apart and he loses his faith. He strives to find the killers but after three years his hope is dying. A mysterious woman comes to Crossroads seeking answers and needing help. She has been robbed of her identity, her life, but not her faith. She resembles Susan which was Ben's wife and also has a necklace of Susan's. But how did she get the necklace and the connections between the two women mount plus someone is trying to kill her.
This story is a page turner with a surprise ending and I highly recommend it.
It would help to read this one first since there are characters in her second book that are in this book too so it makes more sense.

Book of Days by James Rubart
I picked this one up by Cara Putman's review on her blog. She loved it so I knew I would love it also. I read this on the way back from Virginia and it was really enjoyable. One of those books that made you keep turning pages-not really suspenseful but just interesting. God's book of days: a record of the past, present and future of every soul. Some say it is a fable but others say it is real and hidden somewhere on earth. Cameron has lost both his father and wife and they both have told him he must find the Book of Days so he embarks on the quest to find this book. What a quest it proves to be. The author is a masterful storyteller that makes you think about where you have been and where you are going. The characters and plot keep you reading while the spiritual truth throughout the book is beautiful. Made me realize how important our memories and choices are to who we really have become. This was one I will remember for a long time

Deadly Ties

Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze was not just good-it was really, really good!!!!. This has to be one of the best ever suspense books I have read. What a storyline that kept you guessing and guessing the outcome.

Lisa Harper has just become a doctor and plans to finally see her mother after 13 years of separation. This separation was not by her choice but a evil stepfather, Dutch Hauk. The story starts with a horrific crime when Lisa was 7 years old and her memory has hidden many of the specifics of that crime. This also introduces a love interest in Mark Taylor who is a Special Operations officer that comes to Lisa and her mother's aid. But can Mark save Lisa and her mother from the evil Dutch Hauk and his evil associates? Dutch wants Lisa dead and will go to all lengths to make sure that happens. This story also deals with the trafficking of women and something new in that area that I had never heard of-and it is so sickening. That, in itself, was very hard to read and know that and more disgusting things are happening around the world to women and children. Makes you glad that God is still in control of all situations and He will win in the end. Was so impressed to see so much scripture throughout the book and you will love the ending.

I will be heading to my library tomorrow to get her first book-she is a super writer

Thank you so much to Waterbrook/Multnomah for sending me this copy for free just for my honest opinion.

Fatal Judgment

Irene Hannon is one of my new favorite authors and her new book Fatal Judgment did not let me down. It was superb!!!. She has taken up when Dee Henderson stopped writing. Her stories are filled with suspense, twists, turns, and some romance, usually with a "hunk" as one of the main characters.
This story centers around U.S. Marshall Jake Taylor who has to protect a federal judge and he is not very happy. The judge was married to his best friend who he thinks that she drove his friend to suicide. But as these stories proceed, Jake has to revise his opinion of the judge and find the unknown enemy that wants the judge dead. Won't give any other details away-just head to your bookstore or library and pick this up. You will find it very hard to put down. The author is great at character development and I believe once you read her-she will be one of your favorite authors too.

The Real Skinny on Losing It

Just finished this book by Michelle Mckinney Hammond on as she says "true confessions and divine revelations of a former yo-yo dieter. This was a very easy and enjoyable read. Yes, there were parts that we as "dieters" have heard time and time again, but there was a lot I learned and pondered about as I read this book. She writes very honestly about her struggles and the highs and lows she has experienced with so called "fad diets" and she names quite a few of them. She gives advice and shows how God is at the helm and our bodies are a temple and we need to remember that when we keep throwing junk into it. She explains we want short term, quick fix, drastic diets so we can lose it and be happy!!. Nothing in life is like that so she shows how she finally won the diet battle and what worked for her. I especially liked the chapter on the ABS diet and what all that entailed along with what foods are power foods. Each chapter is devoted to certain topics which were so helpful . At the end of each chapter was a section called Keeping it real which summarized what we read in the chapter and then Diva reflections which were very interesting. I will probably reread these often as I restart my "diet" again for the good of my health. Loved the recipes in back. I appreciate how she helped me understand what the real issue is-my heart and mind. Thank you Tyndale Publishers for sending this free for my honest opinion

The Promises She Keeps

This is the latest book by Erin Healy. I read her first suspense and fell in love with her as an author. I was so excited when this showed up on Booksneeze to order. I think I was expecting this book to be more like her first one so I was disappointed to some extent. This was a storyline I had a hard time staying with. She changed characters in each chapter. Here are some of the characters: Porta, she is an aging witch/sorcerer in search of immortality and thinks Promise is the one she is looking for. Promise-a promising singer with a terminal illness that survives a series of freak accidents at the hand of Porta's son. Chase is an artist who has autism and falls in love with Promise. He draws visions involving trees. Chase also has a twin sister Chelsea that protects him since their mother left them when they were little. I kept with the story since I loved this author but felt it took too long and too much dialogue to keep me interested. The last few chapters did perk my interest and liked the ending. I did learn a lot more about autism which was very interesting. I guess I hope her next one is a suspense like her first one. Thank you Thomas Nelson for the chance to read this book free for my honest opinion.

Dark Pursuit

I am on a Brandilyn Collins book reading kick. I have fallen in love with her writing and since I love suspense, I have found she does it really well. I think this is my third one from her and it was great. Very interesting storyline. A reclusive writer suffering from an auto accident that left him unable to concentrate still wants to write his last novel-his 100th. He so longs to gain his reputation back also. His 22 yr old granddaughter who was a drug addict, stole from her grandad so he cut her off and she left town. She is back but her grandfather does not know it and she needs his help desperately. Her boyfriend, she suspects, has killed two women and she discovers a third. She needs her grandfather to help her trap her boyfriend since her grandfather has lived suspense in his writings. But can the grandfather save her before the boyfriend gets to her to silence her. Very suspenseful and a page turner. Highly recommend this book and the other ones by Brandilyn Collins.

Lady in Waiting

Just finished Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner and it was a superb read. I saw this on the blogger list and did not order it the first time I saw it. The next time I looked for books and there was only one copy of this book left so I thought I would try it and I loved, loved, loved this book!. I received this on Tuesday and just finished it tonight. Usually books don't grab me and keep me reading but this one surely did. What an interesting storyline since this was a real person back in the sixteenth century. The author made it part fiction and part true history in it's storyline. The story centers around two Jane's. The first Jane is married, living in Manhattan and is an antique dealer. The second Jane -Lady Jane Grey lived in the sixteenth century and was born into wealth but also under a dangerous political and religious time in history. Jane acquired items for her store from a British sale and found a beautiful ring in a box with a Latin inscription and the name Jane on the band. She connects with the ring and tries to find out more about the ring and the original owner. This is where the storyline flows-the author goes from present Jane's story for a few chapters then goes to Lady Jane Grey's story for a few chapters. I found this to be a fascinating way to tell both stories. This really held my interest and the story, especially Lady Jane 's story was an amazing tale. Lady Jane's story is told from her dressmaker and friend Lucy Day and how she loves and cares for her. The book is rich with love, disappointment, standing up for your beliefs and choices we make in our lives. I have had The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner in my bookcase and never read it yet, so that's what I will read next and I 'm sure I will like it too.
Thanks to Waterbrook-Multnomah for sending this free book to me for my honest opinion.

More library reads

I love winter when I can curl up with my blankie and a good suspense book. I have read three lately that were superb; Deceit by Brandilyn Collins, Double Minds by Terri Blackstock and Intervention by Terri Blackstock.
Here is a synopsis of each.
Double Minds--
Struggling to succeed in the Nashville music scene, talented singer/songwriter Parker James finds the competition fierce – even deadly. A young woman’s murder, industry corruption, and a menacing stalker draw Parker into danger and intrigue. Nothing is as it appears, and unraveling the truth challenges everything Parker believes about her talent, her future, and her faith.
Intervention--
This story begins with every parent's nightmare: a drug-addicted teenage daughter is dragged to a rehab facility. When the interventionist is found dead and the teen is missing, mother Barbara Covington tries to find her daughter The villain is somewhat improbable, and the 14-year-old brother of the missing teen is exceptionally clever and poised. But the mother-daughter relationship strikes true emotional notes; the redemptive arc of evangelical Christian fiction is natural and resonant in a story of addiction. This is a powerful story and one that is close to the author's heart and life. This is one storyline I will not quickly forget.
Deceit--
Joanne Weeks knows that Baxter Jackson killed her best friend six years ago along with his second wife and sets out to find the evidence to convict him. But he is a church elder and beloved rich member of the town. She is a professional skip tracer and sets out to locate the only person that can put Jackson behind bars. Melissa was a sixteen year old foster child in the Jackson household when her friend disappeared. This was a fascinating book with the chapters going from present to six years ago throughout which made the storyline so much more interesting. The author had me guessing the end and I never did figure it out and boy was I surprised at the ending. A page turner and well worth a winters read

Possession

I just finished Possession by Rene Gutteridge and was amazed by this book. I love Christian suspense and this tops many books that I have read this year. She has written both suspense and comedy books and I feel her suspense is by far the best of the two. I was so intrigued by the premise of the book. A family starting over in a new town and the movers decide to hold his belongings for ransom. That is not all of the problems-Vance has withheld things from his wife about his past that are being brought to the surface. This story also focuses on the life of a homicide detective and the toll it takes on them. I loved the son Conner who is a real prayer warrior. He teaches his parents that God does answer prayers and demonstrates great faith in the situations he was put in. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the book and it really is a page turner . I found myself trying to figure out what is really happening and who is the " bad guy". I am not going to tell much more of the storyline but my recommendation is to buy it and you also will be amazed with this suspense story. A huge thanks to Tyndale Publishers for letting me read this free for my honest opinion.