Living Lies by Natalie Walters - A Book Review

    

Walters uses this romantic suspense novel to tackle the issues of mental illness, depression and suicide as well as the stigma attached to them. She does so with great empathy and compassion. Readers will walk away with renewed understanding of themselves whether as a sufferer or someone who interacts with someone openly dealing with these issues or someone living with the lies these issues speak to them. I highly recommend the novel Living Lies.

Lane Kent would describe herself as broken and unworthy. Her friends would describe her as empathetic and selfless. The burden of guilt she carried weighed heavily on her, and blinded her to the possibilities for the future. Deputy Charlie Lynch, a former Marine, knew what he wanted out of life, it was the reason he had come to Walton, Georgia, and he knew it needed to include Lane Kent. Convincing her that they had a future was something he was willing to work at for as long as it took. The fact that Lane's life seemed to be in danger from the perpetrator of Walton's first murder in thirty years only increased Charlie's desire to keep her close. Fans of romantic suspense will be excited to add Natalie Walters to their list of favorite authors.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Living Lies from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan

    

I really enjoyed Murder I the City of Liberty, but I was constantly aware of the fact that I would have understood the characters and the plot better had I read Murder at the Flamingo first. So of course that is what I recommend doing. Even without that advantage, I was quickly pulled into the lives of Regina (Reggie) Van Buren and Hamish DeLuca, private investigators in 1940s Boston. Regina brings a connection to high society, Hamish to the underworld through his cousin Luca, and both to the minority community of the North End. Sometimes these connections create complications more than they help as Reggie and Hamish pursue their current case involving Minor League Baseball, the building of tenements and the smuggling of munitions as the world waits to see if the United States will join the second great war.

I was grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Cherokee Hideaway by Wheeler Pounds - A Book Review

 

This is a book that I am glad to have stumbled across. While there may have been a few spots that read like a first-time author, by far the majority of the book was polished and flowed smoothly. The author artfully describes the wilderness through which his main character, Raleigh, treks into the Simpsey Canyon in Alabama. Not since reading Black or White by John Aubrey Anderson have I read a book with so many snakes, but they truly help create the setting Raleigh finds himself in. The author also writes romantic attraction and tension that is quite intense without offending those who enjoy reading in the clean and Christian genres.

While The Cherokee Hideaway would not be classified in the Christian fiction genre, many spiritual references are included, some in regard to missionary work with the Cherokee in the past and some with the modern day characters who also have a Cherokee heritage. God is often referred to as a higher power, and Christ is not mentioned.

The history of the Cherokee nation unfolds through the words of an old journal and of a Cherokee grandmother. The reader will grieve over the atrocities perpetuated against the Cherokee, but the mood is kept hopeful and looking into the future. One that will have the reader wanting to follow Raleigh and Jenny into the next book in this series.

I thank Bluewater Publications for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The Pages of Her Life by James L. Rubart - A Book Review

    

Once again James Rubart has crafted a story that aids his readers in searching the depths of their souls, teaching the truths of God's Kingdom. In The Pages of Her Life Rubart tells the story of Allison and Parker Moore's journey to discovering their true selves, and in doing so provides insight to help readers do the same. After reading his books I always feel like I need to express my gratitude for the lessons learned.

The term supernatural often brings forth mental images and thoughts linked to the dark side. Maybe the term is best written super natural with a space in discussing Rubart's writing. He opens windows and doors to allow us to see ways in which God continues to work in super natural ways. While God may not work exactly as portrayed in this book, our eyes are certainly opened to seeing new possibilities.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I was very grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review this book, and highly recommend all of Rubart's work.

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter - A Book Review

   

Summer by the Tides is definitely soap opera worthy. Maddy Monroe and her family experience a wide range of storms both literally and figuratively. Observing her family's ruined relationships, and personally experiencing betrayal, has left Maddy with the firm opinion that love is not worth the trouble. On top of all that, Maddy has placed God on the shelf, vaguely aware of Him, but not interacting with Him.

Connor Sullivan, Maddy's grandmother's neighbor, contacts Maddy and both of her sisters with the news that their grandmother is missing, drawing all three to Seahaven, the vacation home of their youth. Once the sisters all arrive, it is obvious that they are not one big happy family. While Maddy takes an immediate dislike to Connnor, they do find a way to work together when out-of-work Maddy's management skills are needed at his restaurant. Despite the friction between them, Connor is drawn to her, the first woman who has caught his attention since his wife's death three years earlier.

If you are a fan of the soaps or have fond memories of watching them with your mom or grandma, you will enjoy Summer by the Tides. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman - A Book Review

   

Emily P. Freeman offers valuable insight into the miry clay that clogs our ability to make decisions, and offers practical ways to extract ourselves and to position ourselves to discern the next right thing to do. Chapters in this book are short, to the point, include relevant examples and Scripture, and end with a prayer and a way to practice the targeted skill or behavior. Freeman is quite articulate; her writing holds a sense of peace and has a calming influence.

I can see this book being one that I will return to, and am grateful to have received a copy from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn - A Book Review

    

Emily Winslow and her husband, Trevor, have moved with their daughter to California for a fresh beginning, but their ties to North Carolina keep them from feeling like they are completely committed. Years of fertility treatments and the resulting financial hardships have taken their toll on their sense of self-confidence and self-worth. They long to have refreshment breathed into their lives and their relationship.

Robin Jones Gunn explores the importance to women of close, nurturing relationships with other women. She does not ignore the complications that often arise in the search for these types of connections, complications caused by being judged, by insecurity, and by time constraints to name a few. God can use loving, sisterly relationships among women to heal and to draw women and their families closer to Him. Emily reluctantly steps out of her comfort zone and is embraced by just such a group of women. Readers may look at their own relationships, cherishing them or looking for ways to go deeper.

I recommend Becoming Us to those looking for a sweet story of renewal, and to those who have been hurt and want to try again to connect. I am grateful to have received a copy from Multnomah via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson - A Book Review

   

Not since Before We Were Yours has a book touched my heart to this degree. I believe having done some online research about the blue people of Kentucky, and reading about the Fugate family of Troublesome Creek, deepened the influence this book had on me. Being a book lover, I was also fascinated by the Pack Horse Library Project, a part of the Works Progress Administration of Roosevelt's New Deal Acts. In the years of its service, over one thousand Pack Horse librarians served nearly 600,000 Appalachian patrons, taking reading materials, both donated and created by the librarians themselves, into the poorest and most isolated areas of eastern Kentucky.

This story is a testament to how far we have come in Kentucky, and perhaps how far we still have to go. It addresses the importance of education,civil rights, and compassion. In heart-wrenching ways the author reminds us of the high cost of poverty. Where we have been is often an arrow pointing in the direction we still need to proceed. The winding mountain trails tread by these librarians in eastern Kentucky may exemplify the route we have taken in moving forward.

Readers of my reviews know that I typically review Christian fiction. While the language in this book prevents if from falling within that genre, it is not without strong spiritual elements. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek will take root in your heart like our deep rooted Kentucky oaks. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and received no monetary compensation. I give this book my highest recommendation, and hope it received the recognition it deserves.

On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher - A Book Review

    

A fractured family slowly comes together under circumstances that could only have been set in motion by a loving Creator. The Grayson family's story shows us the backside of their embroidered lives, but readers are blessed to be able to see the beauty created on the front side as this part of their story draws to a close, and to a new beginning.

While readers will be reading along enjoying this author's use of the rhythm of tension and ease, drawing near and drifting apart, and lifting up and letting down, they will experience a small and a large aha moment in the last quarter of the story when they least expect it.

This book will be a great vacation or staycation read. I am grateful to have received a copy of On a Summer Tide from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport - A Book Review

    

Meri Davies' story led to running and hiding from the pressures placed on her by her family. Her story is set in contemporary times at the Inn at Hidden Run outside of Denver, Colorado. This book also tells the story of Meri's ancestor, Eliza Davies, which is set in Memphis during the second half of the 1800s and revolves around a devastating yellow fever epidemic.

The Inn at Hidden Run is the first book in Newport's Tree of Life series. The author's goal is to inspire readers to go past DNA, to search for the stories of their families. Doing so has a significant impact on the relationships in Meri's immediate family. While her story was interesting, I was much more drawn to Eliza's story. The self-sacrificing work of Eliza and those who served with her is humbling. If I could rate their stories separately, I would give Eliza's a four- and Meri's a three-star rating.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and I received no monetary compensation.