Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl

Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl

Lis Wiehl, with April Henry, scores a hit with her novel, Lethal Beauty, another in the Mia Quinn mystery series.  The novel contains colorful characters, non-stop action and a fast-paced plot. The subject matter can be raw at times, however, and may disturb some readers. Mia, a widow with a problematic teenager and a four year old, is trying to hold things together after the curious death of her husband who might have been involved in illegal activities.  As a prosecutor and busy mom, Mia also has two men in her life who would like to be more than friends.  Then, her court trial results in a hung jury, a body washes up on a beach and her son becomes an overnight body builder, and Mia finds herself involved in the immigrant slave trade and real danger. The author weaves these details into a compelling story that keeps you reading and reading. The twists and turns are exciting; for example, a masked gunman enters a church and shoots the pianist—but why?  How does this seemingly isolated event fit into the plot?  But it does. I recommend this novel with a gentle warning: it deals with the topics of prostitution and abuse and contains occasional graphic language. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review, and the words here are my own.

A Thing of Beauty by Lisa Samson

Lisa Samson’s novel, A Thing of Beauty is a disjointed and often confusing tale of a dysfunctional movie star family. Burdened by deep set demons, Fiona Hume has divorced her parents, left her movie career behind, and found her own hiding place in Baltimore. She fills her days with conversations at the coffee shop or bicycle excursions to search for trash that she might turn into artistic treasures.  Fiona meets men for companionship and money, in a quite strange arrangement. Then, with a need to raise more money, she rents a room to a local tradesman who begins to redecorate the house.  Although I sympathized with Fiona’s plight and her abusive past life, it was difficult to find very many redeeming qualities in her—or in any other of the characters.  This novel is a series of happenings that are challenging to connect together. The language is disturbing.  Of course, the junk Fiona collects is a metaphor for her fractured life, and we can hope she creates her own brand of beauty out of the trash.  Unfortunately, it’s just not a pleasant read; this book is not highly recommended.

The Bracelet by Dorothy Love

Author Dorothy Love scores a major hit with The Bracelet, a novel set in pre-Civil War Savannah, Georgia.  Heroine Celia Browning donates time and resources to the Female Asylum to help homeless women.  She also assists her father with his prosperous shipping business, plans parties, and befriends her orphaned cousin, Ivy.  But her major desire is to become the wife of her longtime suitor, Sutton Mackay.  Strife between the North and South may delay their marriage plans—as also might a mysterious stranger with supposed knowledge of family secrets.  Mysterious clues such as a jeweled bracelet add to the intrigue.  The author presents here a masterful writing job.  In addition to telling a great story, she knows how to pique the reader’s curiosity and interest.  She tells us just enough so that we must read on.  As a reader, I became so involved in Celia’s story.  I anticipated her moves and tried to analyze the clues.  This novel was never boring or formulaic.  The setting in Savannah is colorful and realistic for the time period.  The characters are delightful, notably Mrs. Maguire, the housekeeper who serves up meals and mothers Celia with great humor. This is a fast paced historical love story with depth and suspense; I highly recommend The Bracelet.   I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review; the words here are my own.

Motherless by Erin Healy

One of the more unusual novels I’ve ever read, Erin Healy’s Motherless is an intriguing, but not pleasant, read.  This is a challenging story, but I read on trying to make sense of this dysfunctional family and their story as narrated by an almost-dead man.  Filled with guilt over the death of his wife sixteen years earlier, Garrett Becker drives his car into an excavation site to die.  He has long agonized over an affair he had with chocolate shop entrepreneur Sara.  He blames himself, and the affair, for his wife’s death; it is supposed that she drowned in the ocean though a body was never found.  Garrett has great concern for his almost-grown children, Marina and Dylan, and in his ghost-like state, he follows them about.  There is a thread throughout that is eventually tied up in an unexpected twist in the ending.  This story is bizarre and somewhat eerie.  It is often difficult to follow, as we jump about in different times and places from the chocolate store to the chop shop to the construction site.  Although I appreciate the author’s talent to write a suspenseful conclusion, I did not enjoy this novel.   I found the plot confusing and the characters shallow.  Perhaps I should not have been surprised—after all, the story was told by a half-dead man on the edge of eternity. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review and the words here are my own.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

You can learn Dr. John Maxwell’s leadership principles, based on his many years of writing and speaking, as you study God’s word.   In The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Dr. Maxwell writes, “I want you to learn from the best leaders who ever lived—the men and women in the Bible.”  Saying that we should all see ourselves as leaders, he adds “Leadership Highlights” and other words of wisdom to each book of the Bible.  For example in Matthew 27, one of the 21 Qualities of Leadership is “Responsibility.” Here, Dr. Maxwell explains how Pontius Pilate failed to be a leader; he finds nothing wrong with Jesus but gives into the demands of an angry crowd. Pilate washes his hands of responsibility because he has problems with foundations, futility, fear, failure and focus. Leaders must make decisions. I am currently in a Bible study in Exodus, and in the 5^th and 6^th chapters, Moses goes to Pharaoh to ask for his people to be released. Dr. Maxwell explains how this required strategy and planning ahead, qualities needed by leaders. Leaders also need an “inner circle” as Moses needed Aaron. This helps me understand Moses’ situation and make a practical application to life today. This NIV version is presented in an easy to read format.  Scripture passages are uninterrupted; boxes on pages share the leadership laws, “Profiles in Leadership,” and other helpful notes. I highly recommend this Bible.  A pleasure to read, it will be an amazing tool to aid Bible study and personal growth.  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.

The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles F. Stanley

The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley

In The Spirit-Filled Life, pastor and author Charles Stanley discusses the Holy Spirit: who he is and how he works in the lives of believers.  Although we receive the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation, many of us don’t understand His work.  And, as Dr. Stanley points out, the Holy Spirit is a “He” and not an “it.”  Dr. Stanley explains how he himself came to a personal understanding of the Holy Spirit, this after he was already a successful pastor.   He tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles in Acts 1 and says that upon Jesus’ crucifixion, the veil of the temple was torn in two: “… God had left the temple in Jerusalem and through the person of the Holy Spirit, had moved into the hearts of His people.”   Also discussed are the fruits of the spirit, the difference between the flesh and the spirit, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit (which has been greatly misunderstood).  This same Holy Spirit can give us daily guidance; we don’t just have to do “the best we can.”  Throughout the book, Dr. Stanley gives examples from his own life and church. Of course, just studying about the Holy Spirit is not enough.  Each Christian needs to surrender to Him and experience the joy of truly living a spirit-filled life. Dr. Stanley does not just educate us; he tells us how to yield to the Holy Spirit in total dependence.  I highly recommend this book; it will answer questions and promote actions.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in order to write a review. I was not required to write a positive review and the words expressed here are my own.

The Confession by Robert Whitlow

Noted Christian mystery writer Robert Whitlow takes the reader on a journey of twists and turns (and a few hairpin curves) in his novel, The Confession.  An outstanding work, and a must read for mystery fans, The Confession tells the story of a small town assistant district attorney trying to prosecute criminals while hiding his own secret past. Holt Douglas has a full life.  He has a promising law career , a beautiful girlfriend who owns a prominent beauty salon, and even a Jack Russell terrier who hunts squirrels.  But when Holt begins to delve into the supposed suicide of a wealthy town citizen, he opens up trails that lead back to a tragic high school accident that also is not what it seems. Whitlow has a true gift of characterization. For example, I rooted for one important character through many chapters, but as the plot unfolded, I began to dislike this person, and then after a few more chapters, to understand and to appreciate the final unraveling. This was an unexpected, but thoroughly satisfying, mental reading journey. A Christian witness is evident throughout the novel. A confession is required of several people; scripture is prominently mentioned. Whitlow is a master writer who leads plot and subplot to a satisfying conclusion. The Confession will not disappoint, although at the end I wanted a sequel. I did not want to let go of Holt, Angelina, Trish and the others.  I received a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and the words expressed here are my own.