Fired Up

You'll be...

 

Fired Up

By Mary Connealy

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a couple of months, and have pre-ordered the hard copy version, but I jumped at the chance to read it when the publisher offered it for review. I devoured the story, reading it in less than 24 hours. A couple days later, I read it again to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I loved it both times.

            It’s the sequel to Swept Away, the second book in the Trouble in Texas series. It shifts the attention from Luke Stone and Ruthy to Dare and Glynna. If you read the Kincade Brides series, Luke Stone is Callie Kincade’s (from Over the Edge) brother. This book focuses on Doctor Dare Riker and Glynna Greer from the first book. Dare doesn’t think of himself as a doctor, but he just can’t help himself. He is, even though he has no formal education.

Poor Dare (short for Darius). Someone’s trying to kill him. They tried three times in Andersonville during the war, and now someone has tried three times again, inflicting injury each time – through avalanche, through fire, and finally stabbing him with a kitchen knife in the night. His Regulator friends Vince, Luke, and Jonas can’t protect him 24/7, even though they’d like to. His romance with widow Glynna Greer has a lot to overcome, including her son Paul’s intense hatred of any man who comes close to his mother. Is he the one trying to kill Dare or is it a raving lunatic?

Dare is a vulnerable, yet very strong, hero. So what if he’s hurt, he’s still on his feet and helping others. Glynna finds strength she didn’t know she had through helping Dare. She is the self-proclaimed “second-best doctor in Broken Wheel.”

I hope in future stories more of the Regulators’ story in Andersonville comes out. Seeds of a possible third book are planted in this one between Vince and Jonas’ sister. That looks to be interesting as well. I actually hope there will be four, so that Jonas the preacher can find someone too.

The thing about all Mary’s books is the language she uses, like “mangy polecat” and “squawked like a startled chicken.” She breaks a lot of writing rules. (At least I can’t get away with ‘em.) But the humor makes you give her a break and enjoy the story just as she tells it.

I really liked this book as I liked Swept Away, and many other books by Conneally. In the past eight months, I’ve read nearly all of them.

Storm Warning by Billy Graham

Storm Warning
By Billy Graham

            I’m a bit late in getting this review in. I received this book for review from Thomas Nelson three years ago – about the time I got too busy to review for a while.

            With terrorists, bad weather, natural disasters, and global economy crashes, Billy Graham paints a serious picture of our planet and of mankind. He discusses the cults of spiritual deception, in other words, we believe not the truth, but other belief systems or embracing other religions. He talks of the cult of self, me, myself, and I – we put ourselves first, and others possibly not at all.

 

           He talks about the changes he has seen in his lifetime, just in Russia, for example. When he began his ministry, it was part of the U.S.S.R., and now not only has communism fallen, but there is a revival of sorts brewing.

            Using the book of Revelation, Mr. Graham goes through the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the red, the pale, white, and the black horses. Each has their own meanings. The red horse rides and there have wars, rumors of wars, and aggression from Third World nations.

            He then goes through the seals, and we can be sealed in Christ to weather the storm. This book comes as a warning to be sober, aware, and to acknowledge the truth.

            Mr. Graham has a practical style of writing that mirrors his preaching. He lays out his points, and explains them in easily understandable language. That’s just one of the reasons he is a beloved evangelist, preacher, and author.

            Even though this book is three years, because I’m late in writing this – I won’t be late when Christ returns for us in all His glory.

            I’d give this book five stars. It’s still applicable today.

 

A Home in Drayton Valley

This novel is set in 1880 New York City but quickly moves to northeast Kansas - to a lovely place known as Drayton Valley.

 

     Tarsie Raines, an Irish-woman, hopes to help her friend Mary, Mary's husband Joss, and the

two children find health and happiness in Kansas.

 

     Before they get there, however, tragedy strikes, and the rest have to go on to Drayton Valley

alone.

 

     Joss and Tarsie marry, but theirs is a marriage of convenience.

 

 

 

     Tarsie takes care of the two children, while Joss works, making their small shack more of a home, as much as possible. Things go along for awhile, but Joss doesn't believe God cares about him and he drowns his sorrows in drink.

 

     Tarsie's faith is sorely tested, but she receives encouragement and friendship from Ruth, and her husband Simon, a precious Negro couple. Simon works with Joss, and teaches him how to be the man of the family, and encourages him to trust the Lord for his life.

 

     Eventually the two begin to fall in love, but they don't share their feelings. Things build to a head, and Tarsie leaves. Can Joss find her and get her back?

 

     I received this book free from Bethany House in order to write a review. My opinions are my own. Speaking of which...when I first read it, I wasn't terribly impressed. I've read a number of historical romances, and it seems that this was a bit contrived. I know in the old west a lot of marriages of conveniences occurred. As a reader, you know who is going to end up with whom, the only question is how does the author bring them together? In this book, the author uses death, the death of Mary.

 

     All in all, I'd rate this book a little above average. The best characters were the Negro couple Ruth and Simon. I loved the scenes they were in, and I loved their characterizations.