Not a 'Wonder' to Me

Wonders Never Cease
by Tim Downs

I found this book a bit contrived and yet, a bit whimsical. It’s not Tim Downs’ first book, but it is obviously a departure from his regular fare of ‘mystery.’

Here’s what I’m looking for in a “Christian” book. I’m looking for at least one strong Christian character that is obvious. The rest can be heathens, agnostics, etc., but there should be an “obvious” character. In this book, there is a somewhat “obvious” “Christian” character in Emmet, whom you realize later there is more to meet the eye.

The main plot is that Kemp McAvoy, a male nurse, medical residency failure, concocts a scheme to try to make money, a lot of money, by using his medical knowledge to make a has-been movie star think she’s seen an angel.

Natalie is the single mother – her daughter Leah seems to be having trouble coping with her parents’ divorce two years previous. Even though she attends a “Christian” school, they are concerned when little six-year-old Leah says she has seen angels. She just “knows” that’s what they were.

Natalie’s live-in boyfriend, Kemp, seems more distant than ever just when Natalie needs him the most.

The assortment of secondary characters was somewhat interesting, if rather cardboard and predictable. You’ve got three shady characters, a literary agent, a loan shark, and a publisher that are as crooked as the day is long.

The redeeming quality of the book is the little girl, Leah, and Emmit, the ‘janitor’ who seems to be the only one who believes Leah sees angels. I wonder why.

I would rate this book average, but it didn’t jerk my chain. I found it sort of whimsical and somewhat far-fetched. I also remembered a “Touched by an Angel” episode similar in nature to this basic plot. The writing was above-average, but I think there might have been a more compelling way to tell this story. It would barely rank as a “Christian” book – probably more of a “crossover” book. It seems “Christian” publishing now means “crossover” and “watered down” fiction to try to “draw” the non-Christian into reading it, without preaching. What are we coming to? If we’re going to say “Christian” – let’s be Christian. Let’s be bold about it. Jesus told compelling stories. Why can’t we?

Disclosure: I received this book free because I am a book review blogger.

Charmed by Beguiled

Beguiled

by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand

This book is labeled romantic suspense. It fits well into that category. In another review, I bemoaned the fact that particular book was more “tell” than “show.” Not so with this book.

I liked this book. There was snappy dialogue, with just the right amount of narration and description.

The first scene grabs you and puts you on scene very quickly. As layer by layer of mystery are unpacked, the romance grows. Rylee, a professional dog walker, seems to have a connection with a series of burglaries. But these burglaries aren’t ordinary. They’re being committed by a Robin Hood type burglar, who doesn’t steal the most valuable thing in the house – he usually just steals one particular thing, then donates it for charity to sell and give the money to the poor.

Logan is a reporter investigating the series of burglaries. The meeting between Logan and Rylee has a very large dog chasing Logan up a monument in the historic district of Charleston, South Carolina, where the novel is set. The apparent opposites of Logan and Rylee begin to attract them to each other – whether they like it or not.

As the investigation and mysteries grow, so do the feelings between Logan and Rylee. What is Rylee’s connection? Who is the Robin Hood burglar and why is he only picking out one particular thing to steal? Who is stalking Rylee and why?

Then break-ins become more “violent” by nature. The early break-ins, in some cases, weren’t even detected for days. But the later ones have come with destruction as it obvious by the trashing of the place, there was a break-in.

The romance between Logan and Rylee evolves. There are still ups and downs, as in any relationship, including trust and truth issues.

There is some “blatant” Christianity in this book, for which I was grateful. Even though I liked this book, I would like to have seen more “blatant” Christianity in it. My feeling again, was that this is a “crossover” type book. But the writing style and the “show” of the novel encourage me to recommend this book anyway.

The Smoking Gun of Hunter's Moon

Hunter’s Moon

by Don Hoesel

First, there was “crossover” music – where Christian musicians dumbed down their Christian message in order to appeal to a wider, mass audience. Some were successful, but as Christians, I don’t think we’re supposed to “dumb down” the message.

This felt like a “crossover” book to me. There were few references to God in this book, and the ones that were seemed contrived.

In my online writing “class”, I learned that in fiction or any other kind of writing, you should “show” – not “tell.”

This book is 95% - tell! The narration to set the stage goes on it seems, forever. And even after the stage is set – there’s still too much explanation. That’s not what the readers of today want in a book. If Hoesel had written this book 20-30 years ago, it would have probably fit in better.

If I hadn’t committed to reading through the book, I might have quit less than halfway through. As it is, I read fast, and was able to plow through in a day.

The smoking gun, as the cover suggests, – in this case is a 25-year old “murder,” two brothers, and a dominating, powerful family with national political aspirations in a small town in upstate New York.

The smoking gun figures later in the story as the title suggests. Family secrets abound in this book, and maybe men would like it better than I did. As a blog book reviewer for Bethany House, one of the perks is free books. I thought I’d give this book a try, because their blurb sounded “exciting.” Well, I guess it was. It’s labeled “suspense” and there is that, but I didn’t like it.

God at Work - Not a Sparrow Falls

Not a Sparrow Falls

by Linda Nichols

My favorite scene in this book is the climax scene where a potentially dangerous situation is defused because of God’s love shown by an old woman to a strung out young man. This old woman, Hattie, (whom you meet in the very first scene, then don’t hear from again for quite awhile), is an 80-something year old prayer warrior. When God prompts, she prays. God listens and acts.

She didn’t know she was praying for her granddaughter, necessarily. And 25-year old granddaughter Mary Bridget, is tired of being who she is…a girl in league with illegal drug manufacturers, on the run, and out of money.

At a critical point, Mary Bridget assumes the identity of her dead mother, getting fake documentation made, and tries to make a new life for herself in Alexandria, Virginia. While seeking refuge in a dark corner of a large church, Bridie, as she is now called, sees a distraught young teenage girl, and eventually becomes involved in her life and the life of her family.
The young girl is the pastor’s daughter, motherless and virtually ignored by her overworked and overstressed father, who is also becoming increasingly tired of life.

I really liked this book because God figures prominently in this story, and answered prayer figures prominently. Everything works out, but is not without consequence. But it’s OK, because God is at work.

This is the kind of fiction I like to read – not an obscure reference to God here and there, but a story where God is already or becomes – actively involved in the lives of the characters.
I recommend this book because of that.

So Many Books - New Blog to Handle Volume

With Spring finally here - I decided to start a new blog for all my book reviews. I have a number of them, and several more in the works.

I felt like the other blog, called Personal Passionate Pursuits should be wholly for posting what I'm learning, have learned, and what kinds of cool things God is doing in my life should be posted.

So - today I started this blog. It will be a place where I will post my book reviews.

I am passionate about reading. The dictates of my chocolate business sometimes demand that I don't get as much time as I'd like for reading - but I've decided that when I do get the time - I will read...so here is where I'll post my thoughts on what I've read.

I am a Bethany House book review blogger and I am also a Thomas Nelson book review blogger. That means when new books come out, I can sometimes read them before they're in the stores, and I also get them free.

Some of the books I'll be posting reviews for include: The Rewards of Simplicity, Beguiled, Wonders Never Cease, Hunter's Moon, Plan B (on May 3rd this review will be posted), and several others. I will also post reviews for books I've read in the past and books I'm not being "compensated" (the free book) for.

As an example: I've just re-read the classic Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. I had an aunt named Rowena, and I wondered again why my grandmother chose this name. So - I have immersed myself in Ivanhoe the book, plus two versions of the film. Those musings will follow in their due course. There will be other classics, other newer older books that aren't classics yet, that I hope will be, and we may or may not start another bog to review movies/TV, etc. We'll see.

Because I have in mind to review Blessed Child, and A Man Called Blessed, and other books I've read in the past that I think you should either read or not read. That will be up to you.

So - if you love a good book, but aren't sure which ones will be worth your while - just keep an eye on this blog and maybe you'll find a day where you can curl up with a cup of your favorite beverage and a good book. It may not even be a rainy day. It may be a sunny day on your back porch...