Christian fiction on art and forgiveness and second chances

Driftwoood Tides by Gina Holmes

Driftwood artist Holton Creary’s life is shattered.  His wife is dead and he feels he is to blame.  He descends into alcoholism and is in danger of losing everything he once loved.  His assistant Tess stays by his side, but she is powerless to help him.

A few hours away, Libby Slater struggles against her socialite mother to take back control of her upcoming wedding to Rob.  While getting some genetic counseling, she discovers that she is related to neither of her parents and her mother reveals that she has been adopted by her mother and father, and then abandoned by her father.  The adoption paperwork leads her to Holton Creary, the husband of her birth mother.

She tracks down Holton and passes herself off as a summer intern.  While she is there, she wants to learn as much as she can about her birth mother, without telling Holton who she really is.  She watches as his alcoholism spirals out of control and works with Tess to save him from himself.

Author Gina Holmes explores issues of life, love, forgiveness and second chances.  Her flawed characters grow and change as the story progresses. The story’s plot leaves the reader guessing what will happen next.  Her message of hope and possible change inspire the reader.  The artist’s vocation of one of her main characters gives the story depth and adds important details to her characters’ personalities.  I found this story kept my interest and the conclusion was unexpected and yet satisfying.  I would recommend this book to my fellow readers of Christian fiction.

Surprising Biblical Fiction on Bathsheba

Bathsheba by Angela Hunt

This novel is part of Hunt’s Dangerous Beauty Novels, which include Esther, Bathsheba and the upcoming one on Delilah.  Hunt is careful to handle one of the most delicate challenges in writing about Bible characters:  keeping her story true to the scriptural account, but filling in details with logical feelings, conversations and settings.  To my way of thinking, a Bible story novelization can be dangerous to read because it can put ideas or motives into the reader’s heart that are  not in line with scripture.  It seems that Hunt has avoided that pitfall with a plethora of research, which she includes in the references.

I found this book to be very engaging.  Even though I knew the story, it was the details that the author added that kept me reading.  I was fascinated by the motivation she gave the characters, especially Michal, David and Nathan.  And for the most part they were logical.

The book changed my opinion of Bathsheba as a woman of the Bible.  I credit Hunt with doing the research that allowed me to see Bathsheba in a new light.  The way that Bathsheba dealt with her lot in life was very encouraging.  She is a good example of growing in trust in God and allowing Him to be sovereign, even in life’s most difficult moments. 

This book is definitely worth the read.  I think that readers will be encouraged by the story of how God used a woman in a way she would not have expected. Be prepared to think about Bathsheba in a totally new light. This review is my honest opinion.  I received a free copy from Bethany House publishers.

 

Authentic crime suspense fiction

The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks

In this authentic novel, Parks continues the story of her heroine, Gwen Marcey.  Gwen stumbles into a murder investigation by finding a girl who has been tortured and temporarily abandoned.  The eerie thing about the victim is that she so closely resembles Marcey’s own daughter.  After putting some clues together, Gwen realizes that she is being stalked by a serial killer who is somehow related to the Christian identity movement.  Can she outwit the killer to save many lives including her daughter’s and her own?

The things I most enjoyed about this book were the flawed but unassuming main character, the unique job she held, and her courage.  The way Parks teased the reader along kept me guessing until the killer was revealed.  The ending of the book was rollercoaster fast and just as suspenseful.  Those readers who enjoy crime fiction with lots of suspense will find this book keeps them awake late into the night.  I really enjoyed it.

Well-written fiction

The Color of Water in July by Nora Carroll

Nora Carroll weaves a tale of Jess and her grandmother Mamie, which spans their lifetimes and their visits to the family cottage.  After Mamie’s death, Jess thinks that she is done with the cottage.  When she makes a trip back to Pine Lake at Wequetona Club, to get the cottage up for sale, she stumbles across letters that reveal pieces of the secrets of her family.  As she remembers her summers at the cottage, she realizes that she is disappointed with her life and wonders what would happen if things had been different.  The visit changes her in ways that she cannot imagine.

The author skillfully takes the readers between the events of Jess’ life and Mamie’s life.  She slowly reveals the secrets and allows the reader to understand both Jess and Mamie.  Carroll’s writing pulls the reader into the story and causes the reader to long for Jess to be able to find what she has lost.

I very much enjoyed this story and the author’s ability to forge a tale spanning 90 years.  She kept my attention by strategically revealing the family’s secrets.  The ending was satisfying, even though not entirely a surprise.  I highly recommend this book.