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Bayou Justice (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"This is the first entry in a series revolving around the lives of the denizens of Louisiana's Bayou country. Alligator conservationist Coco LeBlanc discovers the body of the man who's recently served her family with an eviction notice and immediately becomes a suspect--along with her beau, Luc, in his murder. Their past history is one of deception--both had relatives in the KKK years ago--and both wonder if they can trust each other.
There's actually some pretty interesting Confederate history contained here, as well as (of course!) a romance between old loves. It was nice to see that Coco's Cajun relatives who practice voodoo were not treated as outcasts as well, although she doesn't condone their practices. Coco's younger sister, Tara, came across as annoying in a couple of scenes. However, the real star of the book is the bayou itself. "
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"The mysterious arsenic poisoning of detective Stan Shepard has his coworkers and friends worried--especially since most of them now know that his wife, Celia, had a first husband who died of the same thing.
The book lacks a decent plot and characterization. Allie and Mark, central to the first book, are afterthoughts here. Aunt Aggie, while charming in the first book, now is a vengeful shrew. Guessing the killer isn't hard and it feels as though Blackstock phoned this one in. Here's hoping the next entry in the series is stronger. "
Victoria (YSB) - IL wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Oh, I enjoyed this one! It was thoroughly fascinating with its array of ghosts, demons - not to mention mysterious intrigue. It was definitely original - one of the more original books that I have read in a while. I'll keep an eye out for this author, for sure!
I really liked the narrator, Felix "Fix" Castor. He had some great phrases and the dialogue was great, too. There were some holes (his friend, who was possessed, for instance) but overall, it was a good, thoroughly entertaining story."
Deep Blue (BECK EASTON ADVENTURE)
Author:
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Religion & Spirituality
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Religion & Spirituality
Book Type: Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Cave diving and history collide in this pleasant thriller about a Christian dive instructor, Beck Easton, who's hired to do research by a young graduate student named Jennifer Cassidy. Cassidy suspects that somewhere down south there's a fortune in gold for the taking. However, their plans are interrupted by a man who wants the gold in order to control Cuba.
One glaring mistake caught my attention: Jennifer is a second year MS student in information science (sleuthing out facts, as she puts it) and she doesn't know when the Nixon administration was? Come on. Elementary school students know this!
Easton practices karate one morning on a secluded beach. I can understand his learning this in the military, but consider this: The Economist magazine recently reported: "Most, if not all, of the martial arts are inextricably linked to the three main East Asian religions, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism." Another source adds: "Everything done in karate--every movement, every feeling--can be traced to some principle of Zen." Zen is a sect of Buddhism that emphasizes religious meditation. These religious roots pose a serious problem for Christians in view of the Bible's words at 2 Corinthians 6:17: "`Therefore get out from among [false worshipers], and separate yourselves,' says Jehovah, `and quit touching the unclean thing.'" How can you practice Christianity and link yourself with Eastern religions through martial arts?
There is a lot of history to wade through in this plot, and Morrissey does a decent job of weaving real life (he mentions the wreck of the Central America) and fiction. "
Bowden P. (Trey) - Jackson, MS wrote on 11/20/2009...
"After Some Golden Harbor I wasn't sure I'd continue reading this space opera series. After a gift certificate to a local used bookstore, I snagged this and I'm glad I did.
The book opens with the addition of new cast members, particularly Renee Cazelet the grandson of Adelle Mundy's beloved instructor in the Alliance. His family is out of sorts with the Guarantor, and his life is forfeit if he returns to the Alliance. He brings skills as a merchant spacer and data analysis almost equivalent to Adelle's.
Daniel Leary seems to be settling down a little. For him, the book opens at a dinner party that turns into a delicate balancing act between the Senate, the RCN and one of Daniel's old conquests... Fortunately for him, Miranda is with him and helps him through it with style. As a character, Miranda seems very aware and intelligent and even manages to charm Adelle.
From Xenos, capital of the Republic of Cinnabar, the duo are off on a mission to raise hell in the Bagarian Cluster, which has just rebelled against the Alliance. The hope is to tie up enough Alliance forces to raise the siege of Jewel. It also looks like an exile to the cluster for Daniel Leary.
As per usual, Daniel and Adelle succeed by being unconventional and frequently in spite of their allies. There are also several exchanges of how Daniel Leary and his crew could take over the entire cluster if they wanted to.
Overall, this is a formulaic RCN space opera novel. That's not a bad thing mind you, and it entertains. Drake's characters are human, flawed, heroic, brilliant and lucky, but human. Adelle continues to pay a price for her talent for killing. Daniel grows. Heck, even Tovera seems to be almost human."
Victoria (YSB) - IL wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Hmmm... I haven't completely made up my mind whether or not I liked this one. It was certainly pretty exciting, but it wasn't terribly well executed. The main character had a lot of issues, or not enough of them to be really intersting... And while the whole physique of most of the characters wouldn't have stuck out that much to me if Ndugu hadn't have pointed it out, it did become a little distracting the way that "good" people were pretty and the bad were very ugly. Mostly, the book was a big crack against mothers, as there wasn't a good one to be found in the whole book! The killings were rather unmotivated to me, other than I suppose, greed... On top of that, the whole thing was a rather a let down from its very exciting premise. Another female serial killer was a nice change for the drama, however."
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Blackstock's Newpointe 911 series is a somewhat melodramatic series revolving around 911 responders (firefighters, paramedics, and police) in a sleepy little Louisiana burg. The book starts with the local Calvary Bible Church being burned to the ground with the son of one of Newpointe's finest, Ben Ford, found dead of a gunshot wound in the building. The mystery deepens as another church is burned and, later, a young black teen is beaten severely.
The pastor/firefighter of Newpointe, Nick Foster, is having a hard time dealing with the loss of his church as well as the discovery that he has not-so-platonic feelings for unbelieving paramedic and party girl, Issie Mattreaux, whose cousin Jake is somehow involved.
There are a few subplots revolving around what affect the death of a child has on a family (Susan and Ray Ford's rejection of God is all too realistic) as well as what affect a teen's friends have on him (Jake's realization that his friends are KKK-influenced cultists). There's a birth as well (Stan and Celia Shepherd, whose pregnancy was revealed in the last book).
The Nick and Issie subplot is the most interesting by far, since it deals with the Christian concept of being "unevenly yoked". It's very important, from a Christian standpoint, that both mates have common beliefs and principles. Marriage to someone (like Issie) that doesn't share Nick's faith in God would make it more likely that there would be severe disharmony. Mutual devotion to the Creator is the strongest basis for unity, and this is seen reflected in the marriages of Mark and Allie, Stan and Celia and, eventually, Ray and Susan.
Blackstock makes her points very well in this book without it being overly preachy (which happens all too often in her Cape Refuge series). This book is, for my money, the best in the series. "
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
"This is an excellent read for high schoolers as well as adults. Jake Rivers, owner of a mountaineering/adventure travel company in Colorado is hired by a man, Mr. Jelem, ostensibly to find his daughter Claire, last seen in the company of one of Jake's college pals, Alec. However, once Jake begins revisiting his college friends, someone tries very hard to stop Jake from finding out what really happened.
The book's narrative flips back and forth from Jake's early 1990s college years (alt-rock bands are name dropped excessively) to 2005, when Jake begins his investigation. There's also a romantic subplot involving reformed party animal Jake and his college sweetheart, Alyssa.
The concept of reformation is nicely handled. The reader sees Jake's drunken antics in college and his turning away from alcohol later. The college, Providence, is a Christian college, yet the behavior of Jake and his friends well illustrates the apostle Paul's point "Bad associations spoil useful habits."
"
The Terror: A Novel
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Victoria (YSB) - IL wrote on 11/20/2009...
"This was a long and quite interesting book. I think I would've enjoyed it more if it hadn't been suggested as a similar book to Frank Schatzing's _The Swarm_...
This book was detailed and seemed quite well-researched. Some of it was very horrific, but it did have a some surprisingly happy moments. The ending did involve a bit of a disappointing twist, that seemed rather unnecessary. The last two chapters were little more than explaining away the previous 600 pages of the book, which was very disengaging. However, I will watch out for his work because he has a real skill in crafting sentences... the books of his that I read will just be subject dependent, that's all."
Victoria (YSB) - IL wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Oh, I just loved this fun chick lit novel! At first, it was a little "too English", but as soon as it got going, I started to really like it. It had some hilarious parts - like the way the main couple first met as children and it even had parts where I cried (partly because I was home alone with Buns and it involved a missing dog). All in all, it was great fun and a fast and enjoyable read. I will definitely add her to my list of authors to look out for!"
The Guardian's Mission (The Sinclair Brothers Trilogy, Book 1) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #111)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Martha (Marti) Gabler heads to the mountains for a weekend but unexpectedly becomes involved in an ATF sting of a band of gunrunners. Tristan Sinclair, an ATF agent, assigns himself as her bodyguard after she becomes the state's key witness against the real bad guys, including one who's determined to silence her forever.
There's some snappy dialogue between Marti and Tristan as well as between Tristian and Brian, Marti's former fiance. Tristan's brother Grayson ("The Protector's Promise") shows up as well. The author makes a point of determining what God's will is before rushing into anything (including a relationship) or making a decision. "
Karen L. wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Really a great child's book about Fairies. It has a lot of "interactive"type things such a lift the flap, open the envelope etc. Would be great to leave under the pillow when the tooth fairy comes to take the tooth!"
Lynn W. wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Kind of extra light...at this point, getting a little tired of the repitition."
The Cowboy's Bride (Ever After Love Inspired Collection)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Book Type: Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Joe Brewer is a horse trainer who is forced into taking over a rundown ranch that his brother inherited from their deadbeat father. He keeps his life as simple as possible and fends off attracted Christian women who are attracted only to his looks.
Joe later meets Rebecca Stevenson at his bank; she's related to the bankers who are negotiating a loan for his ranch and she's also recuperating physically and emotionally from an accident that's left her with a slight handicap. She is everything Joe isn't: wealthy, polished, and professional.
One of the better scenes in the book involves both Joe and Rebecca standing up to her family, particularly Joe's dealing with her status-symbol-obsessed sister, Jenna (who really needs to re-read 1 Timothy 6:9,10) and her parents, who assume that Rebecca can't handle living on less.
For a Christian, wealth isn't necessarily bad. Jesus stated that it would be easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom, meaning that most wealthy people want only to keep their wealth and obtain more; they don't see the true value in spiritual things (Matthew 6:33). Money isn't the root of all evil; the love of money is. "
On A Killer's Trail (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #135)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"A sweet, elderly woman is killed on Christmas Day with no apparent motive. Another elderly man is later killed, and a woman's cat is shot at. Detective Neil Alexander tries to piece together the crimes with the aid of his former girlfriend and reporter, Kate Richards. The subplot involving Neil and Kate is good, since he's a new Christian and they broke up over his insistence that abstinence isn't all it's cracked up to be. The plot eventually reveals the motive (which is a neat twist) behind the killings. Davis also wrote another Christian suspense novel, "Witness", which is also very good. This book is a good fireside read. "
Evidence of Murder (Murder Mystery Series, Bk 1) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense, No 137)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Decades-old photos of a multiple homicide are found in Samantha Reid's newly refurbished dry cleaning store. Horrified, she takes them to the police and later discovers that the last surviving memeber of the family, houseboat entrepreneur Ryan Davidson, wants to know who killed his family and why. The mystery plot is top-notch and the romance moves along slowly, since Ryan's given up on God but Samantha hasn't. The concept of "why bad things happen to good people" comes up again--as it does in many Christian books--and is handled well. "
Victoria (YSB) - IL wrote on 11/20/2009...
"I actually enjoyed this shark book quite a bit. Parts of it were a little dumb, but overall, it was an exciting, shark-full read that was very adventurous. There's not much to say, as this was a straight-forward book. I will definitely keep an eye out for his other books - they are quite thrilling and great for summer."
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"The reader returns to Newpointe, Louisiana, for the fifth time and it's still a pleasant little burg to visit. Allie and Mark have a baby; Jill and Dan are settling in as newlyweds, as are preacher Nick and his paramedic wife, Issie. However, their idyll shatters when a 30-story building in New Orleans becomes an inferno thanks to three bombs placed at interval levels. Jill is taking a deposition when the explosions occur, and of course Dan and all of the Newpointe 911 responders offer their services.
Blackstock throws in a minor subplot about Iranian students being held for questioning (mostly due to racial profiling following 9/11) and this feels racist here. The bomber's identity is a neat plot twist. Jill's semi-adoption of a ragged, insecure girl whose mother was killed provides part of the story, as does her husband Dan (who is missing and presumed dead at the start)'s loss and eventual recovery.
Dan's mother is a caricature of a spoiled heiress and adds nothing to the story, except to irritate the people of Newpointe, Jill in particular. Dealing with grief and loss after a tragedy are handled fairly well, although I am truly sick of Christian authors having their characters state that they don't understand why good people suffer. Anyone who has studied the Bible can explain this fairly easily. "
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Journalist Matt Caldwell returns to his family's enclave at Caldwell Cove, seeking some well-earned R&R following a bombing in which a friend of his was killed before his eyes. He has part ownership of a local paper, currently being run by a single mother, Sarah Reed, and the two elect to be coeditors and copublishers.
Their relationship goes from professional to personal rather quickly, and there are obvious repercussions. Matt learns about a family feud between his father and his uncle that he eventually becomes involved with, and Sarah learns that her late husband Peter (who sold part ownership of the paper to Matt) wasn't the saint she made him out to be. It's a fairly fluffy, sweet romance. "
His Healing Touch (Love Inspired)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"Fifteen years ago, Adam Thorne participated in a Halloween prank that resulted in a man's death. Now, he's a successful cardiologist in Baltimore who is rapidly falling in love with the dead man's daughter, Kasey Delaney, who owns her own floral shop. Can she forgive and forget and find love with Adam?
There are some excellent points made on forgiveness. Could God forgive Adam and the others who pulled the prank? Remember that God forgave David his sins of adultery and murder involving Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah; he also forgave Paul (formerly Saul), who was an accessory to the stoning of Stephen.
My only complaint is that they meet and barely weeks later, they're courting. I had this same compliant with Lough's other book "Suddenly Home". Most people do not fall in love that quickly; that's infatuation. "
A Dark And Stormy Night (More Than Men) (Harlequin American Romance, No 702)
Author:
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
Robin M. (robinmy) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"While a hurricane is approaching the Maine coast, Katie Flynn is looking for shelter. Suddenly she sees a girl in white standing on the road and swerves to avoid her, almost going over the edge of a cliff. Luckily she is saved by a broody recluse named O'Neal who takes her back to his house to wait out the storm.
Lots of paranormal elements in this romance...ghosts, shape-shifters, murderers. My rating: 3 Stars."
Frontier Courtship (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical, No 4)
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
"I have a very idealized, romanticized vision of the Old West and what it must have been like to live and explore there. I blame this on "Little House on the Prairie" primarily, but it always seemed very exciting to live in a relatively unexplored world. Valerie Hansen is a good author and I've enjoyed some of her other books, but this one isn't her best.
The plot centers on a wagon train heading to California during the heady days of the Gold Rush. The train's nefarious Captain, Ramsay Tucker, has plans for 16-year-old Charity Beal that involve stealing her inheritance. Her 19-year-old sister, Faith (I assume that there's a third sister, Hope, somewhere) has promised to see Charity safely to California to find their father following their mother's untimely death from a tornado.
Aiding Faith is mountain man Connell McClain, who is heading west to search for his missing fiancee, Irene. Connell blends in well as he was part of an Indian tribe for awhile and even married an Indian woman (who was killed during a raid). Hansen adds a nice touch of rivalry here, as Faith must deal with the fact that while she's attracted to Connell, he's engaged to Irene.
As another reviewer pointed out, Irene and her Indian suitor are more interesting characters than Faith and Connell. Charity is simply an idiotic teenage girl who elicits no sympathy from the reader. It's a decent read, with a lot of details concerning life in the Old West and Indian tribal customs, but it's not a keeper. "
Barbara L. (Barbllm) wrote on 11/20/2009...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
"Another reviewer summed up my feelings about this book pretty well. The dialogue is good, particularly between Jade and Cameron (Kai), the protagonists of Heitzmann's novel. The book could have benefited from some judicious editing, but overall the story flows along nicely, like a stream exiting a mountain.
The one nagging problem I had was with Jade (aka, Gentry Fox, an actress). Why on earth would any Christian assume that he or she could immerse themselves in the world of acting, film and television and spend countless hours with nonbelievers and come out unscathed, faith intact, given what Paul wrote at 1 Corinthians 15:33 ("Bad associations spoil useful habits.")? Given that this culture in particular idolizes actors, why would any Christian put themselves on a pedestal this way? How is Christ honored by people screaming your name?
Anyone who belives, as Jade/Gentry does, that their faith will remain intact in spite of their chosen occupation and the risks it entails is delusional.
I finished the book in one sitting. It's really not that bad, considering some of the truly idiotic Christian fiction out there, but it's not the greatest novel I've ever read. I'm hoping some of Heitzmann's other books are better. "
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