A Quirky Book from a New-to-Me Author

 Venus Sings the Blues by Buck Storm 

Bones is a lost boy in Paradise, Arizona. He ends up at the Venus motel and lounge because his foster home has kicked him out. His life, and the lives of the customers and owner of the motel are changed when an unusual stranger rides up on his Harley and wrangles his way into a job playing piano in the lounge. Although Jimmy plays jazz like a pro, his real claim to fame is the metal box he brings with him. The box makes anything placed inside it disappear. The box becomes the center of controversy, attracting a world-class illusionist, a despairing cowboy, a comical pair of thieves and a drunken but famous author. 

I loved this story! It had so many pluses. It had a plot that was interesting but not easy to guess. The characters were realistic, quirky and flawed. The setting was unique. The writing was excellent. The dialog made me laugh at times. The message made me think. As a writer, Buck Storm reminded me of Billy Coffey and Tedd Dekker, two of my favorite authors. I plan to read Buck Storms’ other books now. 

I highly recommend this book. I think it would especially appeal to non-Christian readers as it is not preachy but gives the reader a lot to ponder. It has references to alcohol and cigarettes and affairs, so it is not sanitized but handles these realistically.  I am grateful to the publisher for a complimentary copy of the ARC in exchange for this, my honest review.  

Complicated Family Relationships

 Walking in Tall Weeds by Robin W. Pearson 

Author Robin Pearson writes a family drama rooted in the south. It centers around Paulette, her husband Frederick, and their son McKinley. Paulette senses that something is not right about her family, and she tries her best to draw her son back into the fold of his family during the brief time he will be home for her birthday. Her son does have a secret that keeps him at a distance from his mother and she longs for the closeness they had when he was learning at her kitchen table. But not only does she feel distanced from her son, but things are not the way they should be with her husband either. As the story goes on, the reader realizes that this family’s relationships are further complicated by the secrets they keep.

 

Robin writes realistically about the relationships. She explores the relationship between a mother and her son, and about the relationship between a long-married husband and wife. She also explores the relationship between black people and white people and how their relationships are complicated by their past.

 

I enjoyed reading this book because it presented an unfamiliar point of view of black people in Christian fiction, as well as covering the more familiar topic of complicated family relationships. Readers of women’s fiction will enjoy this book. I am grateful to Tyndale House publishers for the complimentary copy of the ARC. 

 

New Mystery by Carrie Stuart Parks

 

Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks

Samantha Williams is a part-time art teacher whose life is interrupted by events rooted in her childhood that she can’t remember.  As she investigates, and struggles to thwart those trying to kill her, she finds disjointed puzzle pieces to the mystery.  Can she stay alive long enough to solve the puzzle?

Carrie Stuart Parks has created another novel set at Clan Firin, a place where first responders can come to heal from PTSD.  This novel reveals the beginning of the organization. 

Samantha is a character that readers can relate to and admire for her tenacity and resourcefulness.  I wouldn’t mind reading another book about her. 

The plot is well-paced and kept me engaged and had some twists that I didn’t see coming.  It was creative and fits well within the genre of Christian fiction. 

I enjoyed this book and received a copy from the publisher in return for this, my honest review.