Two Crosses by Elizabeth Musser

I have read several of Elizabeth Musser’s previous books and enjoyed them.  This book seems to be a departure from her previous style.  It takes place in France and centers on Gabrielle, David Hoffman, and Mother Griolet during the late 1950’s when Algeria was struggling for its freedom from France.  Gabrielle is a student visiting France to learn its culture and language and she finds herself drawn by American David Hoffman into an operation to rescue children.  She must decide to forgive for secrets uncovered and trust God and David for dangers that are before her.

I enjoyed this book, but found myself disappointed at its ending.  The author leaves the story hanging at a pivotal point and I will need to read the sequel to have my questions answered.  I prefer her previous series of books, which are set in the United States, but learned some interesting facts regarding this time in history.  This book is historical fiction with a dash of romance and a smidgen of suspense, which kept me reading.  If you enjoy these genres, this book is for you!   

Making Piece by Beth Howard

Beth Howard shares her grief over the death of her husband Marcus, and how pie helps her come to peace with it.   She tells her story in an honest and candid manner.  Those who have suffered a loss as she has will no doubt identify with her pain, but will also experience hope of healing. 

Because she has lived an interesting and varied life, her book is easy to read.  Despite the difficult topic, she keeps the reader captivated.  Her writing style reminded me a bit of Ann LaMott—full of personality.  After completing the book I felt as if I knew Beth.  Read this book if you are dealing with grief in your own life or simply to appreciate another person’s life story.  Serve yourself a warm wedge of pie and dig in!  I am grateful to the publisher for the copy of the book and this is my honest opinion. 

Digital Winter by Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky

Jeremy Matisse, a colonel in USCYBERCOM, stationed in Fort Meade, must figure out what has caused the massive power outages that return the United States and most of the world to the 1800’s. Civilization grinds to a halt and yet no one seems able to determine what has happened. Will his life and the lives of the rest of the people on earth return to normal? What has caused these blackouts?

This book is a new take on end time events. The book’s premise seemed entirely too credible to me. It brought the prophesied events from the book of Revelation to a realistic conclusion. Having read all of the Left Behind series, I found this book to be interesting as well as different. It would appeal to those enjoying end time fiction, but shows how the technology we so depend upon could end up being a curse rather than a blessing. I enjoyed this book as I have Alton Gansky’s other books and would recommend it. I appreciate receiving a free copy from the publisher through netgalley.

Downfall by Terri Blackstock

Downfall is a quickly moving story of Emily Covington, a recovering drug addict and her family. She is targeted by Jack Tyson, a man whom she sent to jail for selling drugs. He fancies himself as the Avenger and plots to destroy her and her family for revenge. To carry out his schemes, he befriends her younger brother Lance and his friend April, and murders 2 of Emily’s acquaintances from the drug rehab center. As Emily tries to sort out the truth and warn others of impending danger, she is sucked deeper into Jack’s plot. The murders are pinned on her. Lance is drawn into danger by trying to rescue April from Jack.

The author kept me reading by moving the plot along quickly. Even though this was the third book in her Intervention series and I hadn’t read the first two, I still enjoyed it. Though I have little experience with drug addicts, she made Emily’s struggle believable. It gave me a greater appreciation for what some families must go through when a loved one is addicted. Readers who enjoy suspense and a page-turner will most likely enjoy this book. I am grateful to the publisher, who provided a free e-book for me to read and this is my honest opinion.

The Boy Who Met Jesus by Immaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin

Segatashya was a pagan boy in a small village in Rwanda. One day Jesus appeared to him and gave him a message to share with the world. He believed the apparition and began to share his message. He traveled to other countries to let others know of the message entrusted to him by Jesus and the Virgin Mary. In 1994 he was murdered in the horrific genocide in Rwanda. Immaculee, who had the privilege of meeting him, shares his story with the world.

Segatashya’s story was not one that I would have picked up in a book store because I would have leafed through the book first and seen references to the Virgin Mary and her appearances to him. I do not endorse the Roman Catholic beliefs in Mary. I read this book mainly to see if Jesus had appeared to the little boy in a small African village. Apparently the Roman Catholic church has or is investigating his story to see if the visitations of Jesus and Mary were true. However real they might have seemed to him and to others, I doubt the veracity of them. However, I did appreciate his simple belief in what he “heard” from Jesus and Mary. He obeyed what they told him and left his family and small village to do what they asked, which is a good reminder to me to obey what the Scriptures say, no matter the cost. I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Lit! by Tony Reinke

Lit! by Tony Reinke

Tony Reinke writes to encourage Christians to become readers. Despite demands on our time we must read and read well. He tells us why we must read, helps us outline a plan to discipline ourselves to read, and even goes into how to read a book.

I found his book challenging to my current pattern of reading and yet it was a very enjoyable book, one that would be worth purchasing to keep as a reference. Because of his recommendations, I have a few new authors to try and a new sense of adventure regarding reading which is already one of my favorite pastimes. This is a book that I would heartily recommend to other Christian readers because it asked and helped me to answer some valuable questions regarding reading and literature. I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Illusion by Frank Peretti

Dane and Mandy Collins are a very-much-in-love couple who have successfully made their living as magicians. Just as they retire, Mandy is killed in a tragic automobile accident. As Dane struggles to adjust to his loss, he meets a young woman who reminds him of his wife at age 20. She, too, is a magician with remarkable illusions. As the story progresses, we get to know Eloise and to understand what has happened to her. Gradually we come to understand that she is Dane’s wife, but that something astounding has happened to her. Dane continues to seek for the answers to this puzzle, but they don’t come easily.

Peretti writes of an interesting concept regarding time. Much of the scientific explanation, even in layman’s terms escaped me, but it didn’t cause the story to falter. I found that the story was a bit too long for my liking—I think he could have shortened it up a bit and not lost the punch. At times, I was tempted to quit the book, but I did want to know how he resolved it. His explanation did make some of the pieces of the book fit together. If you enjoy Peretti’s style and a science fiction read, you would probably like this book. I received a free copy from the publisher and this is my honest review.