Accused

Accused by Janice Cantore is her first book of three in the Pacific Coast Justice series and it was not just good, not just great, but absolutely superb. I was hooked in the first chapter and was captivated by the characters, plot, suspense, twists and turns. I was always trying to figure out the "good" guys from the bad guys and then second guessing myself. The author is a retired police officer which makes the storyline flow with such vivid descriptions and authenticity.

Carly Edwards is sitting behind a desk in Juvenile division because of a prior officer-involved shooting six months ago. She had been a patrol officer with a partner before the shooting. The mayor's wife is murdered and two juveniles are arrested driving her car with her body in the trunk. Homicide thinks it is an open and shut case but as the murder investigation continues Carly believes there is a cover-up and against the superiors advice, she goes out on her own to find the murderer. Every time she thinks she has a lead, there is another murder with someone she has talked to. Who can she trust and who is out to kill her? That is just one interesting part of the story, the other is her ex-husband Nick that she divorced a year before because of infidelity. She does not believe in God after her dad's death and then Nick's betrayal. So much of this book deals with her being mad at God, not wanting to know God, wondering about God and then finally understanding Christ's sacrifice she finally believes in God. This part of the book was my favorite because anyone who is searching, this book has the salvation message throughout the book and the author does a masterful job of scripture and showing how Christ can change hearts and people.

I cannot wait till her second book comes out this summer. I think Tyndale was very smart in picking her to be one of their new authors. I appreciate Tyndale giving me this copy free to review just for my honest opinion of the book.

Downfall

I received an ARC copy of Terri Blackstocks third book in her Intervention series to review. Thrilled to say the least since I loved her other two books in the series. This book was crafted wonderfully to end the series featuring Emily Covington and her family.

We have followed Emily through the first two books and the drug addiction she had. In the third book she finally has turned her life around and is attending college but her high profile from the second book (can't give it away) is haunting her in her classes and with the other students. Her mother still is not sure she has not returned to the life of drugs and is constantly worrying about her. She is trying so hard to prove to everyone she has really "changed". Then the problems begin. A bomb is found under her car, a friend's wife is murdered and she thinks she knows who is responsible and realizes another woman is targeted by the killer. She tries to warn her and ends up in jail as the murderer. The "avenger" is after Emily and is striking terror in the lives of Emily's brother and mother. How will she solve this puzzle before she ends up dead.

This is a very fast paced book, as are all of Terri Blackstock's. She weaves a suspenseful storyline that had me completely fooled as who the "avenger" was. Terri exposes the horrid world ofdrug addiction that destroys families and ruins lives. The interesting fact that these three books have been a labor of her family's walk through drug addiction with their daughter. That is one reason why you can hear the author's anguish in the pages of her books. If you have not read the first two, please do . You will be rewarded with excellent Christian suspense.

I Am Second

Very few books will hit me square between the eyes, but I Am Second did just that. This book stayed with me long after the last page was turned. I have seen the video with Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy and was favoribly impressed with the concept of I Am Second. This book reminded me that is just where I need to be daily-Second!!

Reading this book reminded me that God has the power to change anyone and everyone that calls out to him. I know this but these truths resonated throughout the pages of people who have hit rock bottom but did not stay there. There are stories of famous people and ordinary people who realized they can't rely on themselves but need to lean on the God who created them. Only then could they find love, hope and freedom. I was amazed at the brutally honest stories but Josh Hamilton's story was absolutely unbelievable. Some of the very real stories deal with meth, racism, prostitution, fame, divorce, rejection, pornography and the challenges they have faced in these trials. They have all found hope and joy that is possible and they are living it every day. At the end of each story are links to other stories so this book is chocked full of inspiration.

This is an excellent book for a parent with a prodigal, or someone who just needs to know they are loved and that love is found in a relationship with God that makes him first in our lives. When we get that we realize that there is freedom to be found in saying "I Am Second"

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me this free book just for my honest opinion.

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.