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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Timely Legal Novel

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney finds herself back in her hometown in the center of a crisis as a young man from her community lies in a hospital fighting for his life.  The white police officer who shot him needs legal representation and Adisa must confront her prejudices and those of her community to help him.  Her budding relationship with the out-spoken preacher who demands justice in the situation, only complicates matters.

This timely novel demands that we put aside our prejudices and pursue justice, love and reconciliation—no easy task.

For the most part, I thought the plot was interesting though predictable.   It did have a satisfying twist at the end, which surprised me.  The results played out in the community a little too perfectly, but it made for a great ending.

The characters were grew and developed within the story.  Aunt Josie was well-written and familiar.  Adisa was a little harder for me to relate to.  I think the characters could support a sequel, especially if the author developed the relationship between Adisa and Reggie.


Fans of Robert Whitlow will enjoy this even if it is a bit predictable.  I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

The Sound of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Judd Markley’s life has changed forever with the cave-in at the mine that took his younger brother’s life.  He decides to take up his brother Joe’s dream and go south where he plans to get a job in the timber business.  He finds a job in the thriving town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Advancing through the ranks of the company, he finds the eye of the owner, Mr. Heyward, on him for more than one reason. Meanwhile Larkin Heyward, the boss’s daughter catches Judd’s interest.  She is so full of life that he realizes that he can dream again after his brother’s death.  But their dreams are pulling them in opposite directions.  Is their love strong enough to pull them through?

 Set in Appalachia and Myrtle Beach in 1954, the author gives interesting information about Hurricane Hazel and the impact it had on Myrtle Beach.
    
The characters were realistic and interesting, especially Granny Jane.  I did find it a bit implausible to think of Granny Jane, who had been on her death bed, making the trip for the wedding.


The book was a pleasant but not riveting read.  I have read most of Thomas’ other books and found them a bit harder to put down.  However, if the author decides to write a sequel, I would be curious to see what happens to Judd and Larkin.  I received a free copy from the publisher for this, my honest review. 

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Practical book on praying for adult children

Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children by Jodie Berndt


Written with compassion, humor, insight and lots of personal examples, this book should be called a handbook for prayer.  I found it to be very practical and encouraging.   Jodie includes scriptures for parents to pray for themselves and then scriptures for parents to use in praying for their adult children.  The topics include prayers for relationships, jobs, finances, protection and freedom from addiction.  I couldn’t think of any topic that she didn’t cover.  The book’s size allows pray-ers to easily carry it to use with prayer groups.  The author also has a study guide.  I think my copy will be well-used and I am grateful to the publishers for a free copy in exchange for this review.   

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Not a favorite

Steal Away Home by Billy Coffey


I am a fan of Billy Coffey and have read several of his previous books.  This one, however, was not my favorite.  I am not a baseball fan and the main character was a baseball player looking back upon the happenings of his life in his senior year of high school.  The story drifts between the past and present.  I read the parts that were not about baseball.  It was written in his usual style and also had his usual touch of the supernatural.  Because of the subject matter, it didn’t keep my attention and I had to force myself to finish it.  I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.  

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Secular murder mystery

Weycombe by G. M. Malliet

American Jillian White lives with her titled English husband in the exclusive little village of Weycombe.  When a real estate agent is found murdered, the village is shaken.  Jillian, at loose ends because of losing her job at the BBC, works on solving the murder.  Her investigation gives the reader an intimate glimpse into the lives of the people living in Weycombe and turns up a very surprising conclusion.

The characters were well-drawn and their motivations were studied.  The author kept me guessing as to who had “done it.”  She saved the best twist until the end and then still left me wondering what Jillian would do.

I enjoyed this book even though it is a different genre from what I usually read, which is Christian fiction.  Although the language was a bit crude, the plot was good.  Readers who enjoy a good murder mystery with a surprise will enjoy this one, too. 

 


    

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Beneath Copper Falls by Colleen Coble

Dana Newell, a 911 dispatcher, returns to Copper Falls hoping to find a more peaceful life away from her abusive ex-fiancé.  She moves in with her step-brother and looks forward to life with her old friends in Rock Harbor.  But her past is beginning to haunt her and threatens the future she had hoped for.  She has weathered many storms and is stronger for it, but will she be able to survive the storm headed her way now?

Beneath Copper Falls is a continuation of the Rock Harbor novels.  The series was vaguely familiar to me (I had read an earlier book in the series), but I could still follow the plot twists.  The book did manage to surprise me with a few turn of events, too.  I enjoyed getting reacquainted with the characters and look forward to seeing what happens in their future.


 There was a nice blend of romance and suspense, which is Colleen Coble’s trademark.  I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in return for my honest review.  

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Perennials by Julie Cantrell

Forty-five year old Eva seemed to have an idyllic childhood with her sister Bitsy and parents in rural Mississippi.  But when she was old enough to leave home, she fled and returned home very seldom.  Now her parents are asking her to come home—in the middle of the most important deal of her career.  They are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary and want her help with the arrangements, even if her sister Bitsy does not.  Eva reluctantly gives in and goes, despite knowing that Bitsy will make life there miserable for her.  As it turns out, this is a life-changing trip for Eva.

This book explores the relationship between two sisters and the past that made it so.  The author does a good job of developing the sisters’ personalities.  Their sibling rivalry isn’t always understood, but the author keeps peeling away at the layers of the past until the reader and the characters finally understand it.

Besides the complexity of the sisters’ relationship, the book also explores marriage relationships.  Eva’s parents have an enviable marriage, while both Eva and Bitsy struggle unsuccessfully to replicate it.  Eva is recovering from an abusive relationship and Bitsy’s husband is chronically unfaithful. There is hope, however, for Eva to have a happy marriage with Fisher.

Yoga figures prominently in this book, which surprised me.  Eva is a yoga instructor for seniors and she teaches her parents some of the poses.  Her ninety year old friend, Marian, practices yoga with her and is also a spiritual guide, walking her around a medicine wheel.  Given that opinions on yoga are a bit contentious in some Christian circles, I am surprised that the author included it so prominently.
 
Perennials is well-written like the other of Cantrell’s novels.  It addresses family and relational issues that many readers are sure to identify with.  If you are a fan of Julie Cantrell, don’t miss this one!  I received this free copy from the publisher for my honest opinion.