Angela Hunt's Latest Biblical Fiction

 

A Woman of Words by Angela Hunt

Mary, mother of Jesus now resides in Jerusalem.  She feels impressed by the Holy Spirit to record stories and teachings of Jesus.  She asks Matthew, one of the twelve to help her.  Their work will affect Christianity for years to come.

Angela Hunt uses her sanctified imagination and copious research to recreate the world of first century Christianity in Jerusalem.  The reader catches the feel of the political climate, the personalities of the apostles and the customs of the day.  Granted, some of this is imagined by the author, but it was still fascinating to read about and envision.

Hunt’s books never fail to deliver.  The characters were relatable and seemed realistically drawn, given the facts that we know about them. The plot moved steadily and held some surprises. Best of all, this book made me want to investigate the circumstances of the writing of Matthew’s gospel.

In short, a reader who enjoys biblical fiction will find much to enjoy about this book.  I am grateful to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book, and this is my honest review.  

Sean Dietrich's Latest Southern Fiction Novel

 The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich 

Sean Dietrich or “Sean of the South,” is an incredible storyteller, who creates a real world that readers won’t want to leave behind.  Moab, Florida, is the setting for his latest story.  The sleepy little town is populated by unique and interesting characters starring Winston Browne and his friends.  He is the sheriff, coroner, errand boy, and father-figure to the residents.  His life and death change the course of the little, baseball-crazy town. 

Dietrich’s description of small-town life is very authentic.  The characters are unique, flawed, but very real by the time the book is over.  The lessons Winston learns are readily passed along to the readers for their benefit. The plot is at times a loosely strung collection of short stories which gives the reader more insight into the characters, but suspense is waiting in the shadows. 

This book is so well-written that I had a book hangover after I finished it. 

Readers who enjoy small-town southern fiction will love this one!  I heartily recommend this book! 

 

Terri Blackstock's Latest Romantic Suspense

 

Aftermath by Terri Blackstock

Jamie Powell, a lawyer, gets an unexpected call from an old friend who needs her legal skills.  Even though they were close friends as children, she hasn’t heard from Dustin Web in years.  He has been framed by someone who set off an explosion killing 26 people.  It will take all of Jamie’s legal expertise to free Dustin and find the real criminal.

This is Terri Blackstock at her trademark best:  suspense, plot twists, and a touch of romance.  The real bad guy was a surprise to me, and the addition of a victim out for justice only added to the suspense.  The romance between Jamie and Dustin was sweet and appropriate as the culmination of their long but interrupted friendship.

This book is for those readers who enjoy Blackstock, Colleen Coble, and the romantic suspense genre.  I am grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.  In return, this is my honest review.

Seasoned Author Cynthia Ruchti's Latest Novel

 

Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti

Mara Jacobs is “every woman.”  She doesn’t need any help, thankyouverymuch.  But life seems to be caving in on her, beginning with a call from her youngest son’s principal.   

Her husband is overseas on a humanitarian mission for another year.  Her oldest son is on house arrest, her middle daughter has had a miscarriage, her youngest son sorely misses his father.  And her life only goes downhill from there. 

Cynthia Ruchti seems to have her finger on the pulse of today’s wives and mothers.  Mara is overwhelmed, stressed, and struggling.  But life and God are stepping in to help her to grow.  Despite the disasters in her life, she learns to trust God and others and to admit that she occasionally needs help from her friends.  It is a tedious process, with plenty of help from the people in her life, especially forever friend Ashlee.

This book really spoke to me and Mara was so relatable.  I think that the author has a valid message for today’s women, but she communicates it in a very palatable form.  She touches on living with grief, overcoming life’s challenges, parenting, and the value of friendships.

I really hope that there will be a sequel because I want to know what becomes of Mara and her children.    This book is well-written, the characters are so real, and the message is amazingly pertinent.  I received a free copy from the publisher and am happy to give my whole-hearted recommendation.

 

Suspense from a new author

 

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill

Amara Alvarez is a new homicide detective who is charged with finding the murderer of Zachary Coleman, who died at a water park with some friends.  As she digs into the case, she discovers that the teenager was involved in a serious crime spree, which his parents were unaware of.  Amara keeps investigating and discovers that even Zachary’s friends aren’t what they seem to be.  Can she find the truth despite the deceit?

This is the second book in this series by Tom Threadgill and I followed it fine, despite not having read the first one.  I enjoyed the understated humor presented by Amara and her co-worker, Starsky.  I liked Amara for her quirkiness—how many detectives do you know that have a pet iguana—and her gutsy-ness.  She had a compassionate side, which was endearing, too.

This book left some questions unanswered:  what about her mother’s cancer diagnosis?  What happens when she is assigned to be Rutledge’s partner?   Will her relationship with Starsky continue?  And just why is he nicknamed Starsky?  So obviously, I hope there is another book to answer these questions.  And while I am at it, I think I will need to read the first one, Collision of Lies.

Readers who enjoy suspense with a touch of humor and romance will enjoy this book.  I am grateful to the publisher for a free digital copy in return for my honest review.