No One To Trust by Lynette Eason ~ A Suspense Book Review

No One To Trust

Hidden Identity Series, Book 1

Lynette Eason

Suspense

Back of the book:

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO SHE'S RUNNING FROM--AND THE MAN SHE LOVES MAY BE SOMEONE ELSE ENTIRELY!

Summer Abernathy wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, three men in her home intent on finding him, and the life she's been living based on a lie. Which Kyle Abernathy did she marry? The computer programmer she met in line at the bank? Or the one who was apparently using that image as a cover?

The search for her husband--and answers--takes Summer ever deeper into a world of organized crime where people are used one moment and discarded the next. And with her deepest relationship of trust already shattered, Summer doesn't know who to believe.

Always thrilling, bestselling author Lynette Eason outdoes herself in this taut, breakneck story of lies, loyalties, and love that will have you up all night to discover the truth hidden the shadows.

Take A Peek Inside The Book!

Reading Group Guide For Your Book Club

My thoughts:

Can you imagine being married to someone and sharing intimate moments and details with that person only to find out they aren't who you thought they were? Can you imagine waking up one morning to find a gun pointed at your face? That's the situation that Summer Abernathy finds herself in.

If that isn't enough to stir your interest let me back up a bit and tell you that in classic Lynette Eason style the prologue begins with a murder. It then skips ahead fourteen months and the race is on! The title No One To Trust is so appropriate. Summer can't trust her husband and she can't trust his handlers from the witness protection agency and she certainly can't trust the mobsters that are after them all. Even her own family leaves her with doubts about their trustability.

This is one of those books that you probably shouldn't start when you crawl in bed for the night. (Although I must admit that is my absolute favorite time to read suspense!) If you do you might as well fix a cup of coffee to go along with it because you are going to be up all night finishing it. The story is fast paced and continues to take unexpected turns right up to the very end. In fact there are fifty-eight chapters and at chapter fifty there is a major turn of events that made me gasp. The last four or five chapters are absolutely mind blowing because it involves someone you least expect. Finally with the very last chapter you feel like you can take a deep breath and start believing that they are going to live happily ever after. But then . . .

The very back of the book contains the first chapter of the next book in the series, Nowhere To Turn. I told myself not to read it but of course I did. Let me just say that this is going to be a heart-thumping series. We just have to be patient until the fall when book two comes out.

Connect with the author:

www.LynetteEason.com

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Twitter ~ @LynetteEason

Book Review ~ Last Light by Terri Blackstock

Last Light

Restoration Series, Book 1

Terri Blackstock

Suspense

About the book:

Birmingham, Alabama, has lost all power. Its streets are jammed with cars that won’t start, its airport engulfed in flames from burning planes. All communications---cell phones, computers, even radios---are silent. Every home and business is dark. Is it a natural disaster . . . a terrorist attack . . . or something far worse?

In the face of a crisis that sweeps an entire high-tech planet back to a time before electricity, the Branning family faces a choice. Will they hoard their possessions in order to survive---or trust God to provide as they share their resources with those around them? Yesterday’s world is gone. Family and community are all that remain. And the outage is revealing the worst in some.

Desperation can be dangerous when a killer lives among them.

New York Times best-selling suspense author Terri Blackstock weaves a masterful what-if novel in which global catastrophe reveals the darkness in human hearts---and lights the way to restoration for a self-centered world.

Read The First Two Chapters

My thoughts:

This is a re-release but somehow I missed it the first go around. If you missed it you should pick it up as well. It is a page turner of a read that will leave you pondering how you would survive in a similar situation.

Can you even imagine what it would be like if suddenly everything electric just quit? This isn't just the lights in your house but it is your car, your cell phone, your watches. All those everyday conveniences suddenly don't work. Think about this . . . even the water that comes into your house does so because of an electrical pump. How would you get water and how would you filter that water in order to drink it?

This is the scenario that unfolds in the story. The good, the bad and the ugly are all magnified in this tale. Some of the people resort to hoarding what they have and some continue to be giving people. Evil begins to take root causing everyone to arm themselves against the unknown. The more the situation deteriorates, the more people's true characters are revealed. 

The main characters in the story are the Branning family and we are allowed to see how their overindulged lives have slowly destroyed what God had intended for them. Through the worst of circumstances God begins to reveal to them what He intends. 

This is the first book in the Restoration Series. It is followed by three more and I can hardly wait to dive in to the rest of them to see how it all turns out.

The Restoration Series

1. Last Light

2. Night Light

3. True Light

4. Dawn's Light

Connect with the author:

www.TerriBlackstock.com

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Twitter ~ @TerriBlackstock

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Book Review ~ Promise to Return by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Promise to Return

Promise of Sunrise Series, Book 1

Elizabeth Byler Younts

Contemporary Fiction/Amish

Back of the book:

When World War II breaks out, Miriam Coblentz's peaceful Amish world is turned upside down . . .

It's 1943, and Miriam Coblentz and Henry Mast are nearing their wedding day when the unthinkable happens--Henry is drafted. However, since he is a part of the pacifist Amish tradition, Henry is sent to a conscientious objector Civilian Public Service camp. When he leaves for the work camp his gaping avsence turns Miriam's life upside down. Little does she know it's only the beginning . . .

When Henry returns home, he brings news that shakes Miriam and their Amish community to the core. Henry believes God has called him to enlist in the army and fight for his country, leaving her to make an important decision: whether to choose loyalty to the peaceful life she's always known or her love for Henry.

Two worlds collide in this unforgettable debut novel, providing a fascinating and rare look into Amish culture during World War II. While Henry is battling enemies across the ocean, Miriam struggles between her devotion to Henry and her love of the Amish way of life. One question is at the bottom of it all: will she follow the rules of her religion or the leading of her heart?

My thoughts:

If you think you don't like Amish fiction, I would urge you to give this one a try before you write the whole genre off. To say it is different from the run of the mill Amish fiction book is an understatement. 

I never gave a thought to how World War II affected the Amish. I just assumed that since they were conscientious objectors that they would be exempt from service and then just carry on with their lives. In actuality, when an Amish man was drafted he had to go serve in a Civilian Public Service camp. Now if that isn't interesting enough, think about what would happen if an Amish man felt like God was telling him to join the Army.

That is the premise of this book. Henry Mast who has always been a caring and upstanding member of the Amish community has the deep conviction that God is requiring him to enlist and serve his country. This decision has very far reaching repercussions. He was just weeks away from marrying Miriam Coblentz when he was drafted. She was content to wait for him when he was at the CPS camp but now that he is going against the beliefs of the Amish community that she loves where does that leave her? What about Henry's parents and siblings? How will they withstand this shame that Henry has brought upon their family? What about when/if Henry returns from his service? How will he fit back in to the community?

This is an absolutely fascinating read. When I first began reading it I wasn't sure that I was going to like it at all. I am part of a very proud military family and the whole conscientious objector theme at the beginning of the novel just didn't set well with me. But the farther I got into the story the more I liked it. Elizabeth Younts' writing is captivating. Most likely this is because she is not only from an Amish family but she is an air force officer's wife. Both of those aspects bring an authenticity to the story.

For all the Amish fiction lovers out there this is a must read. For all the skeptics this is one to give a try . . . I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I'm looking forward to book two in the series. It will contain the story of Eli Brenneman from Promise to Return, as he serves in the CPS at a mental asylum. Sounds like another unique book in this genre!

Connect with the author:

www.ElizabethBylerYounts.com

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Twitter ~ @ElizabethYounts

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Book Review ~ The Machine by Bill Myers

The Machine

Truth Seekers Series, Book 1

Bill Myers

Juvenile Fiction

Back of the book:

WHAT IF . . . actual conversations in the Bible were recorded in surrounding rocks and pottery?

WHAT IF . . . we could play back those conversations and listen in?

Not only has Dr. Mackenzie's brilliant and quirky group of young scientists found a way to play them back, they've invented a machine that creates such super-realistic holographic images (when it's not fritzing out) that you actually think you're there. Imagine hanging out with Noah and his floating zoo, or seeing Jesus'miracles firsthand!

Then of course, there are the crazier inventions like the Cross Dimensional Folder, the Robotic Tennis Shoes, and the ever-popular Time Beam Generator. Inventions encountered by Mackenzie's twin kids, Jake (king of the egotists) and Jen (queen of the neat-freaks). Their mother has unexpectedly died and now they must pull up roots from comfy Malibu, California, and move to Israel. Here they learn to love a dad they barely know while Dr. Mackenzie faces the greatest challenge of his career . . . fatherhood.

With plenty of laughs and heart-touching moments, this new family, uncovers powerful historical scenes of the Bible while learning its important scriptural truths for living today.

My thoughts:

Finding a book that appeals to a tween yet meets the approval of the parent is often a difficult task. But with the name Bill Myers of the cover of this book you are sure to meet those standards. Kids and adults alike should enjoy this newest adventure by the award winning author.

The story begins shortly after Jake and Jennifer Mackenzie's mother has died in a car accident. The twins have been living with their aunt in Malibu, California but their absentee father has suddenly decided to bring them to live with him in Israel. To say that the twins are reluctant is an understatement.

Another thing that is hard to find is a book that features a strong father figure. This one has that in spades. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between the father and his children. Dr. Mackenzie is such an interesting person and leads an even more interesting life. This eventually appeals to both kids. Jennifer is impacted on the intellectual level and Jake is appealed to on the adventurous level. 

The story line is driven by the scripture found in Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." The events that the characters are put through really bring this truth home. Mr. Myers does a great job of balancing humor and seriousness. Some of the subjects addressed are very serious in nature and they are dealt with head on, but not to the point of  making the book so somber you want to put it down. The author's sense of comedic relief makes the story come alive and the pages just seem to fly by. 

I'm looking forward to continuing to share this series with the tweens in my life. If you have a tween I think you will find that this book has a very broad appeal to them. It may even surprise you at how much it will appeal to you as an adult! The next book in the series, Choices is scheduled to be released in May 2014.

Connect with the author:

www.BillMyers.com

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Book Review ~ Sweet Olive by Judy Christie

Sweet Olive

Trumpet & Vine Series, Book 1

Judy Christie

Contemporary Fiction

About the book: 

Camille Gardner is trapped in the middle when a unique Southern town collides with the 'outside world' and big oil. A talented negotiator, Camille Gardner agrees to take on one last field assignment for her uncle before she settles down to pursue her real passion---working at an art gallery. But she'd rather be anywhere than Samford, Louisiana, the small southern town where she once spent the worst weeks of her life. To fulfill the obligation she feels to her uncle, Camille needs to entice a group of rural landowners to sell their mineral rights---and allow use of their precious water for the drilling of natural gas. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the local folk art created by those same landowners and attracted to Marsh Cameron, the attorney representing the landowners. The charming residents and the traditions of this small community leave Camille conflicted about her family obligations---and her own plans for the future. Perhaps she needs to give Samford a second chance.

My thoughts:

Judy Christie is back with a new series! If you enjoyed her Green series you are sure to delight in this new tale. Judy's books are very character driven and the personalities that make up the town of Samford, Louisiana are a great mix.

This is a story of a group of eccentric artists that take on a big oil company. The artists are represented by the beloved local boy Marsh Cameron. Camille Gardner is representing her uncle's oil company. The oil company is interested in acquiring rights to the minerals and water of the artist's land. The artists are very leery of having oil rigs on their land. They've seen what can happen when the oil companies come in and they don't want to risk losing what they have in Sweet Olive.

Camille is known for her amazing abilities to close a deal. Unfortunately for her uncle she's also very interested in art and the people who produce it. As she gets to know the residents of Sweet Olive her heart becomes torn and she has to choose to do what is right, which isn't always what her boss wants.

I really enjoyed the dynamic relationships that were formed during this first book in the series. We are given a brief description of the corner of Trumpet and Vine and I am looking forward to seeing what all takes place in that location. This was a great start to what promises to be a wonderful series!

Connect with the author:

www.JudyChristie.com

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Twitter ~ @judypchristie

Book Review ~ Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

Born of Persuasion

Price of Privilege Trilogy, Book 1

Jessica Dotta

Historical Fiction

Back of the book:

She never imagined securing her future would require delving into the past.

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston's position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia's first choice--to marry her childhood sweetheart--is denied. Then a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, opening a realm of possibilities.

Treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, however, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother's mysterious past. Before she knows what's happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country's most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own.

But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

Read The First Chapter

My thoughts:

In some information I've read about Jessica Dotta it said she loves the humor of Jane Austen and the dark drama of the Bronte sisters. I believe she's done a marvelous job of capturing both in Born of Persuasion. The character of Mrs. Windham rivals that of Mrs. Bennet in Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Her daughter Elizabeth could easily be compared to Emma Woodhouse when you take into consideration her matchmaking skills.

The overtones in this work are deliciously Gothic in nature. From the sinister old house to the eerie happenings, the feelings of doom pervade the story. Mr. Macy makes the perfect dashingly handsome yet dangerous beau. The romantic tension that plagues Julia's relationships with both Mr. Macy and Edward is tastefully written but it still leaves you a bit breathless. The added mystery of the unknown guardian just adds to the mystic that surrounds the whole tale. 

The ending has a nice wrap up that leaves you satisfied yet eagerly waiting for the rest of the story to unfold. I am looking forward to reading the next two installments in this Price of Privilege Trilogy.

Connect with the author:

www.JessicaDotta.com

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Twitter ~ @JessicaDotta

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Book Review ~ A+ Attitude by Stephanie Perry Moore

A+ Attitude
Stephanie Perry Moore
Morgan Love Series, Book 1
Juvenile Fiction

About the book:

The Morgan Love Series is a chapter book series written for girls, 7 - 9 years old. The series provides moral lessons that will aid in character development. It will also help young girls develop their vocabulary, english and math skills as they read through the stories and complete the entertaining and educational exercises provided at the end of each chapter and in the back of the book.

Morgan is sad and mad at the world because things are not going the way she wants them to go. Why does my daddy have to leave again to save the country? Why do I have to go live with mommy and her new husband? Why does my mommy have to have a new baby? Why do I have to go to a new school? Why do I have to make new friends? Why? Why? Why?

If Morgan got a grade for her attitude and her actions it would be an F. But after her mommy gets really sick and Morgan thinks her mommy is going to die she starts to feel bad about her attitude and realizes how mean she's been to almost everybody. Though she is having a hard time adjusting to all the new things in her life, especially her new baby brother and stepdad, Derek, Morgan makes up her mind that no matter what is going on, she is going to have an A+ attitude.

My thoughts:

My oldest granddaughter is now reading chapter books so I've been looking for some series that might interest her. I came upon this Morgan Love series and decided we would give it a try. We spent several nights snuggled up reading it together and truly enjoyed it.

The main character, Morgan, has a heap of change going on in her life. Her parents have divorced and her mother has remarried. Her father has been deployed with the Army and leaves at the very beginning of the book. Morgan's mom and step father are expecting a new baby and Morgan is resenting it. To top everything off Morgan has to go to a new school.

I was impressed with how real the characters felt. The dialog wasn't stilted in the least. Ms. Moore did a fabulous job of describing the very real emotions of a little girl going through all these changes. On many occasions Morgan was less than lovable and it came through as authentic. But my favorite part was the way the adults, especially the grandparents, handled her attitude. Everyone needs grandparents like Morgan's.

The only awkward part of the book for us was the reference of Morgan's grandmother as Mama and her mother being addressed as mom or mommy. I just self-edited when I was reading and inserted grandma where appropriate. It was much less confusing to my granddaughter that way.My granddaughter and I are really looking forward to reading the next four books in the series.

Morgan Love Series

Book 1 ~ A+ Attitude

Book 2 ~ Speak Up

Book 3 ~ Something Special

Book 4 ~ Right Thing

Book 5 ~ No Fear

Connect with the author:

www.StephaniePerryMoore.com

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Twitter ~@spmoore

Book Review ~ Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

Rules of Murder

Julianna Deering

Drew Farthering Mystery, Book 1

Mystery

Back of the book:

Introducing ~ Drew Farthering

From the tip of his black homburg to the crease in his cheviot trousers, he’s the epitome of a stylish 1930s English gentleman. His only problem? The body he just discovered.

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate.

With the help of beautiful and ship-smart Madeline Parker, a guest from America, Drew proposes to use the lessons he’s learned reading his mysteries to solve the crime. Before long, he realizes this is no lark, and no one at Farthering Place is who he or she appears to be—not the butler nor blackmailer, the chauffeur nor embezzler. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer—and trying harder to impress Madeline—Drew must decide how far to take this dangerous game.

My thoughts:

Many of the things that I have read about this book compare it to the style of Agatha Christie. I have to say that I would agree with that comparison. Of course Ms. Deering has her own unique writing voice but the plot twists and turns are reminiscent of those wonderful classic mysteries from the 20s and 30s.

From the beginning I thought that I had figured it out. But I was wrong. Then I thought that the plot involved multiple people. I was wrong again. As I was nearing the end I thought that I had surely figured it out, but I had not. Up until the complete scheme was revealed I had no idea who the real culprit was. In my opinion that is the sign of a well written murder mystery.

So if you are a fan of the old murder mysteries or if you are a new devotee to Downton Abbey I really think you will fall in love with Rules of Murder. I am looking forward to reading more about Drew Farthering and seeing what case he will solve next. According to the author’s website, the second installment Death by the Book is due out in Spring 2014.

Connect with the author:

www.JuliannaDeering.com

Book Review ~ Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock

Truth Stained Lies

Terri Blackstock

Moonlighters Series, Book 1

Suspense

About the book:

When truth doesn't make sense, will lies prevail? Cathy Cramer is a former lawyer and investigative blogger who writes commentary on high-profile homicides. When she finds a threatening note warning her that she's about to experience the same kind of judgment and speculation that she dishes out in her blog, Cathy writes it off as mischief . . . until her brother's wife is murdered and all the 'facts' point to him. The killer has staged the crime to make the truth too far-fetched to believe. Working to solve the murder and clear her brother's name, Cathy and her two sisters, Holly and Juliet, moonlight as part-time private investigators. Juliet, a stay-at-home mom of two boys, and Holly, a scattered ne'er-do-well who drives a taxi, put aside their fear to hunt down the real killer. Stakes rise when their brother's grieving five-year-old son is kidnapped. As police focus on the wrong set of clues, the three sisters and their battered detective friend are the only hope for solving this bizarre crime, saving the child, and freeing their brother.

My thoughts:

Starting a new series by Terri Blackstock is definitely on my favorite things list. The story for this installment centers around four siblings that collectively have a difficult background. They are preacher’s kids that had to endure the backlash of their father’s affair with his secretary. They also each have a difficult individual story and that is what we learn most about. Cathy has lost a fiancé to a senseless murder in which the murderer got off on a technicality. Jay is going through a difficult divorce that he doesn’t want. Julie is a stay-at-home mom with what seems like a picture perfect life . . . but something just isn’t right in her marriage. Finally we have Holly who has been the family mess for as long as anyone can remember.

The story begins with a mysterious note and some questionable email exchanges. A murder is committed and Jay is framed. His story is just unbelievable to the police. His siblings and a former cop turned investigator set out to prove his innocence. Now here’s where it gets good and turns into a quintessential Terri Blackstock novel.

By the halfway point I figured out who the murderer was. Did that ruin the story? Not in the least. By about three quarters of the way I even knew the motive and the means to the killing. Did that ruin the story? On the contrary it enhanced it. You see Terri has a way of telling the story that lets you in on it but keeps you completely intrigued. She does a marvelous job of developing her characters. She tells the story from different perspectives so you find yourself tensing up for a character because you already know what is going on but the character doesn’t!

This was a great start to what promises to be a riveting series. If you need a book that you can finish in a relatively short time pick this one up because it is definitely a page turner. I’m looking forward to the next installment. Let’s just hold our breath that the next book comes out very soon!

Connect with the author:

www.TerriBlackstock.com

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@TerriBlackstock

Contemporary Amish Fiction ~ Courting Cate

Disclosure *I was given a copy of this book. All thoughts are from @FitzysMom of Rambles of a SAHM

Courting Cate

The Courtships ofLancaster County, Book 1

Leslie Gould

Contemporary Fiction/Amish

Buy it on Amazon! 

Back of the book:

When this couple gets to courting, sparks will fly!

In Paradise, Pennsylvania, Cate Miller is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance. Her sweet and flirty sister, Betsy, on the other hand, seems to have attracted most of the bachelors in Lancaster County!

But the sisters’ wealthy father has made one hard-and-fast rule: Cate, as the oldest, must get married before Betsy can do so. Unfortunately, untamable Cate has driven away every suitor—until Pete Treger comes to town, that is.

Prodded by the men of the area, Pete turns his attention to winning Cate’s hand. But is his interest true or is there a scheme at play?

About the author:

Website: www.LeslieGould.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lesliegouldauthor

Twitter: @lesliejeangould

Some of my strongest memories from childhood include stories—and how those stories connected me to my family and friends. As a preschooler, I remember playing Island of the Blue Dolphin with my three siblings and the neighbor kids, my father reading A Street of Flower Boxes to us before bed, and my mother reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on long car trips. I also soaked up Bible stories and accounts of grace and redemption during Sunday school and Good News Club. Along with my love of stories, my love of writing began in those early years with my very first written word—S-K-Y.

Even though I knew I wanted to write fiction by the time I was in the sixth grade, as I grew older I pursued other things instead, such as majoring in history and communications, and then working as a museum curator, then a public relations specialist, and finally as a magazine editor. Once I finally started writing fiction, it was another ten years until I sold my first novel. By that time I’d been married for nearly 20 years and had four children of my own to read to.

In the decade since my first contract I’ve written fifteen books, from Beyond the Blue, a story about international adoption set in Vietnam, to Courting Cate, a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. No matter what I write, I aim to reveal truths about God’s love, beauty, and redemptive work in our lives. My goal is to connect more deeply to God, family, and friends through my writing. My hope is that my stories encourage readers to deepen their own connections too.

My thoughts:

If I had to sum this book up in one word it would be clever. Why clever you ask? Leslie has taken the skeleton of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew and fleshed it out in her own unique way. It is kind of like Old England meets Lancaster County.

I am a big fan of Shakespearian literature so when I first heard about this book I kept wondering how Leslie was going to stay true to the storyline yet keep it an Amish based book. I was pleasantly surprised at how closely she stuck to the original.

The thought of an Amish woman being a shrew just didn’t fit with my perception of how I think they conduct themselves. The character of Cate really does start out as a shrew. It is very interesting to read about why Cate has developed such a churlish attitude. The contrast between her and her sister Betsy couldn’t be more apparent. The whole community loves Betsy but many tend to avoid Cate. Of course if you know the original story you already know that Betsy isn’t all that she appears to be. Cate’s motives are about self-preservation while Betsy’s are just selfish.

The second book in the series, Adoring Addy was just released and I look forward to snatching it up as well. It is based on the story of Romeo and Juliet. If it is even half as witty as this book it will be worth the read. 

Disclosure: The opinions expressed in this review are those of @FitzysMom from Rambles of a SAHM. A book was provided free of cost in order to facilitate this review. This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"

Readings for Holy Week & Quest for the Nail Prints Giveaway #TimeTravel

Readings for Holy Week

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week for Christians around the world. In our family we spend some time daily meditating on scripture that takes us through the events that begin with Palm Sunday and lead up to Easter.

This year we are using John Piper’s Love to the Uttermost: Devotional Readings for Holy Week. 

Here is a link to download it for free if you are interested in using it for your daily reading. 

I’ve also come across a wonderful fiction book that depicts Holy Week. The book clubs that I am involved with were given copies to read and review. Here are the details:

Quest for the Nail Prints

Don Furr

Fiction/Time Travel

Book 1

Buy it! 

Back of the book:

Three ordinary people are chosen by God for an extraordinary experience, one so incredible that even they have a hard time believing it is real. Through unrelated circumstances, the three travelers find themselves sharing a journey to the Holy Land when suddenly they are thrust back in time nearly two thousand years, coming face to face with the rugged radical Nazarene known throughout the land as Jesus of Nazareth.

This is the story of how a personal encounter with the living Christ in His time creates the journey of a lifetime!

About the author:

Website: QuestfortheNailPrints.com

Facebook Page

Don Furr, an accomplished author and playwright has lived in the Memphis area for more than fifty years. Don and his wife Karen have three grown children and three grandchildren.

And time travel is his passion . . .

My thoughts:

From the moment you pick this book up you know there is something different about it. For starters there is a hole completely through it. One other thing that stands out is that it is Christian fiction but from the sci-fi genre. Yes there are other Christian sci-fi books, but in general they are few and far between.

I am not personally drawn to science fiction but my book clubs were asked to read and comment on this book so I obliged. I am grateful that I complied.

The story begins with three ordinary people from different walks of life. For different reasons they are each traveling to Israel. Through a series of events that are written in a manner that make them feel plausible, they are thrust back in time to the beginning of Holy Week. Make that the original Holy Week where Christ is making his way through the streets of Jerusalem.

The story continues through Holy Week and we get an up close and personal view through the eyes of our three travelers. I was amazed at how drawn in to the story I was. Don did a great job of staying accurate to scripture while adding in these new characters. The further you get into the book the more poignant that nail hole becomes. I’ve always thought it would be interesting to have been there. What would my reaction have been like? Would I have stayed to the bitter end or would I run and hide in fear? Expect to ponder these questions and more as you read this very intriguing tale.

Quest is the first book in the series and will be followed up by Peter’s Quest. I’m looking forward to reading it just so I can find out more about the three travelers and how all of this impacted them when they returned to their families.

Giveaway:

Two winners will win a copy of Quest for the Nail Prints. Open to US only! Fill out the form below to be entered! Giveaway will end on 04/08/2013

Disclosure: The opinions expressed in this review are those of @FitzysMom from Rambles of a SAHM. A book was provided free of cost in order to facilitate this review. This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"

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