A Matter of Trust by Lis Wiehl

Weaving mystery, suspense and a young widow’s attempt to rebuild her life, Lis Wiehl has crafted a novel that is hard to put down.  Mia Quinn has returned to her job as prosecutor at the district attorney’s office.  Not only does she juggle several law cases, but she also must deal with massive debts left by her husband whose financial lapses were discovered after his death.  Mia must also single parent her two children.  Gabe is fourteen and facing teenage issues of body image and peer pressure.  Brooke is a four year old who awakens in the night screaming.  Along with her personal problems, and another demanding case of a teen’s suicide, Mia decides she must take on the case of her best friend who was brutally murdered.  Teamed with Detective Charlie Carlson, Mia dives into an investigation that eventually places herself and her children in grave danger.

The characters are realistic and identifiable. Mia is the working mom who agonizes over her children’s problems while she searches for clues in an empty house.  Gabe is a modern teenager caught between a desire to fit in with a crowd that raids convenience stores and a desire to keep his little sister safe. Nate Dane is the chain-smoking father whose son committed suicide after being bullied on social media. Colleen Miller, the victim, is the ex-wife of a man whose new wife wants more money.

The plot of this novel moves swiftly with numerous unexpected twists and turns, but it lacks the profanity and sordid detail of other modern fiction.  Just when you think you have identified the killer, the plot takes another direction. The ending is unexpected but not disappointing.  This novel is contemporary; it deals with today’s problems. It was a fascinating read and one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the comments on the book are my own.

Unglued Devotional

How do you react when the airline loses your luggage, when your daughter colors picture on your freshly painted wall, when the dentist advises a root canal? In Unglued Devotional: 60 Days of Imperfect Progress,  Lysa TerKeurst presents everyday problems and scriptural solutions.  In this excellent, down to earth book of sixty brief devotionals, this Bible study teacher and author uses her own personal experiences, as a wife and mother of five,to shed light on building relationships. Too many times, we women tend to compare ourselves to others, stuff our emotions, or react in anger—we become “unglued.”  Lysa writes of keeping focus on the Lord and seeking his wisdom in prayer. She shares her own battles with resentment, fear and a lack of confidence.  Each devotional contains a daily scripture verse and a “thought for the day.” The text’s appendix has an assessment to determine your own reaction type.  But the strength of this devotional book lies in Lysa’s forthright and authentic sharing of her own real life experiences and her own spiritual growth.  We all have similar fears and disappointments.  And we, by allowing God to work in us, can overcome these.  This Unglued Devotional provides great advice and encouragement and is highly recommended.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the view expressed here is my own.

The Great House of God

With The Lord’s Prayer as a framework, Max Lucado’s The Great House of God: A Home for Your Heart infuses the reader with warm blessings.  A literary visit to this house takes us through the foundation, into the living room and up the stairs to the observatory.  We visit the study, the kitchen, and the Chapel.  We even see the hallway, the walls, and the family room.  Max uses the house metaphor to describe the amazing love and care of our Heavenly Father who indeed wants us to be in His eternal home. 

 Max Lucado writes in a clear and down to earth style. He relates stories of his own family; he tells of a shopping trip to buy two desks. His young daughter did not want to wait for delivery, so she implored her dad to load the furniture in the trunk.   Recalling his child’s request and relating this to God, Max states “He is not only willing to hear us, he loves to hear us.”   This well-known pastor and author uses humor effectively. His anecdote of the skiing lady who needed to visit the restroom made me laugh out loud.  And the kitchen table stories can be appreciated by everyone who has ever filled his plate.   The engaging stories help us to understand the great love of God and his house “where we feel safe and secure.”

The text also includes a substantial study guide for individuals or small groups.  I recommend this book highly; not only is it a credible treatise from a trusted servant of God, but it is also a delightful visit to The Great House of God.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own.

 

The 5 Money Personalities

The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language by Scott and Bethany Palmer

Did you know that you can commit financial infidelity? Or that money fights are not about the money? Or that you have a “money personality”?  These questions and other marital and money concerns are addressed by financial planners and writers Scott and Bethany Palmer in their book, The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language.  This is an easy to read, enthusiastic how to manual that would benefit couples of all ages. The Palmers avow that everyone has a money personality; actually we have primary and secondary personalities.  An online address is given for you to discern your own Money Personality through a short quiz.  In another website, couples assess their money handling to find their Financial Relationship Index.  Citing examples of couples they’ve counseled for many years, the Palmers explain how a lack of financial communication and understanding can hurt a relationship.  The little daily decisions such as buying generic or name brand cereal can negatively impact a spouse who views purchases differently.  Thus knowing your and your spouse’s money personality will allow better understanding. The authors encourage us to “own” our own money personality in order to see our own errors. They advocate a “Money Dump” to get negative feelings out and “The Money Huddle,” a time to make decisions.  The 5 Money Personalities is a refreshing addition to the bookshelf of financial advice.  The reader will find himself saying, “Yes, that’s so true,” or “That’s me, all right!”  But the Palmers don’t just identify the problems; they give workable, practical solutions.  An enjoyable and instructive read, this book is highly recommended.

I was given this book free of charge by the publisher to review. I am not required to give a positive review and the opinions expressed here are only my own.

 

The Reason by Willam Sirls

I sympathized with the characters, I agonized with their heart wrenching traumas, I appreciated the Christian testimony— all until I came to the last chapter. The Reason, by William Sirls, is a novel replete with contemporary problems and relatable characters, but I was disappointed with the shocking conclusion.  The story centers on single mom Brooke Thomas who is raising her son, Alex, in the home of Pastor and Mrs. Lindy.  When a lightning bolt shatter their church’s cross, staff from the local hospital join the family’s repair efforts.  Also volunteering to help is an unknown carpenter whose recurring appearances begin to affect each character.  Problems abound: Brooke’s son develops life-threatening leukemia, her best friend is an alcoholic, and Pastor Lindy is blind with a disabled son.   Such issues are not that improbable given today’s society. And a Christian message of faith prevails.  However, the story’s conclusion is hardly believable and, to me, appears inappropriate. In The Reason, author Sirls demonstrates a knack for dealing with modern day situations of addiction, illness and relationships.  Christian belief plays an important part of this story.  However the seemingly contrived sci-fi that concluded the story disappointed me. We all need to deal in faith with the discouraging, even devastating, realities of life, and on earth, there are not always happy endings.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review; the words expressed here are my own.

Michael Neale’s The River delivers a poignant story of a young man’s coming of age and coming to terms with his father’s tragic death.  It is an interesting read with engaging description and several riveting sections, but the lack of a clear Christian message somewhat disappoints.  Neale frames this narrative as a tale told in an airport by a world travelling whitewater guide.  Journal entries by the guide and others are sprinkled through the novel.  The story centers on Gabriel Clarke, who at the age of five, witnesses his father’s rescue of a careless kayaker.  Dad John Clarke saves the kayaker’s life but loses his own, and Gabriel is devastated.  Through the years, Gabriel harbors a resentment  toward  the kayaker who lived and for the river that took his dad’s life. The story follows Gabriel as he grows up with a mom he has hardly known, and as he searches for answers in unlikely places with surprising results.  Neale’s descriptions take the reader into the rugged outdoors. We can almost hear the rushing water and feel the craggy rocks under our sneakers.  We can smell those sizzling rib eyes on the campfire.   We can empathize with Gabriel’s plight because we’ve all searched for life’s answers.  However, this story does not cite Christian answers.  Redemption is a theme, but it is not clear that it is Christian redemption.  This novel is recommended as a compelling story, but it lacks the message expected from “Christian fiction.”  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the words expressed here are my own.

 

 

Michael Neale’s The River delivers a poignant story of a young man’s coming of age and coming to terms with his father’s tragic death.  It is an interesting read with engaging description and several riveting sections, but the lack of a clear Christian message somewhat disappoints.  Neale frames this narrative as a tale told in an airport by a world travelling whitewater guide.  Journal entries by the guide and others are sprinkled through the novel.  The story centers on Gabriel Clarke, who at the age of five, witnesses his father’s rescue of a careless kayaker.  Dad John Clarke saves the kayaker’s life but loses his own, and Gabriel is devastated.  Through the years, Gabriel harbors a resentment  toward  the kayaker who lived and for the river that took his dad’s life. The story follows Gabriel as he grows up with a mom he has hardly known, and as he searches for answers in unlikely places with surprising results.  Neale’s descriptions take the reader into the rugged outdoors. We can almost hear the rushing water and feel the craggy rocks under our sneakers.  We can smell those sizzling rib eyes on the campfire.   We can empathize with Gabriel’s plight because we’ve all searched for life’s answers.  However, this story does not cite Christian answers.  Redemption is a theme, but it is not clear that it is Christian redemption.  This novel is recommended as a compelling story, but it lacks the message expected from “Christian fiction.”  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the words expressed here are my own.