The Perfect Blindside

Huntress by Julie Hall

An Unexpected Role

ILLUSION by Frank Peretti

Frank Peretti is one of my favorite authors, and he didn’t disappoint with “Illusion.”

The story is about Dane Collins, a retired magician who loses his wife of forty years in a horrendous car accident.  He’s struggling with his grief when he encounters Eloise Kramer, a budding new magician who shares an uncanny resemblance to his late wife, Mandy.  Dane takes Eloise under his wing and teaches her what he knows.

What Dane doesn’t know is Eloise might be crazy.  She escaped from a hospital, and has been hiding out ever since.  Her one fear is that she’ll be tracked down and dragged back to the hospital.

There’s so much more I want to tell you about this awesome book, but I don’t want to spoil anything for you.

Put simply, I couldn’t put this book down.  I had to find out what was really going on, and how everything would turn out.  I cared deeply for Dane and Eloise.  They were simply lovely people whom I bonded with quickly.  When it looked like things were not going to end well, I was afraid to read the book in public.  I was sure I would burst into tears if anything bad happened to either Dane or Eloise.  I loved them that much!

There is only one bad thing about this book:  It doesn’t belong to me.  I have to return it to the library …

The Field Trip

Moving From Broken to Beautiful Through Grief

“Moving From Broken to Beautiful Through Grief” by Yvonne Ortega

When I heard that my son had cancer for the third time, my attitude wasn’t very good.  I was angry with God and Satan and everyone who annoyed me in the slightest.  So when I found this book was available to me, I decided to read it.  Hey, what could it hurt?  I was feeling grief (among other things) over what my son was going through.

I would say Ms. Ortega had every right to write this book.  Seven years ago, she suffered the loss of two aunts, her mother, and her only child within a seven-month time period!  Can you imagine?  So I’d say she is an authority on grief management.

Yvonne put a lot of work into this book.  There are activities, affirmations, Bible readings, prayers, music recommendations, and moments she shares with the reader.  She wants so much to help you through your grief, you can’t help but appreciate her giving spirit.

You learn to identify the “Wound Salters” from the Comforting Angels.  You learn how to handle the anger, tears, and regret.  You learn how to make it through the holidays without your loved one at your side.  You learn to not fight the new normal.  You learn the dangers of self-medication.  You learn to hold on to your faith instead of allowing it to fade.  And you see how you grow through grief.

I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with grief.  It’s easy to feel alone in your despair, but Yvonne has been where you are right now.  She longs to take you by the hand and lead you through this valley. (Jesus will take your other hand!)

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookCrash.

God Does Provide What We Need!

I just wanted to share this experience with you.  I live in Burbank, and my niece asked me if I would take her to the LAX Flyaway in Van Nuys.  I had been there before, but it was a long time ago.  We took the freeway to get there, and she made it to her bus with no problem.  When I got back to the parking lot, I decided to take surface streets to get back home.  I was pretty sure I was supposed to take a left at Van Owen, so that’s what I did.  It didn’t feel like a mistake, but I wasn’t 100% sure I was going in the right direction.  I live by an airport, so I thought, All I need is to see an airplane heading towards the airport.  Then I’d know I’m going in the right direction.  As soon as I thought this, I noticed something in the corner of my eye.  I looked out the window, and there was an airplane flying the same direction I was going!  God also has a sense of humor.  On the radio was the song “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Mercy at Midnight

Mercy at Midnight

By Sylvia Bambola

When you start reading this book, you step into a world of crime and mystery.  Since I live in L.A. county, I can relate.

Reporter Cynthia Wells is haunted by a past deed that will not let her rest.

Pastor Jonathan Holmes is sent in a direction he never would have expected, and one he feels ill-prepared to handle.

Homeless man Stubby White loses two friends within a few days of each other, and now the killer is after him!

These three lives collide in an unexpected way.  They soon find that this life was never meant to be lived alone, and we all need God as our guide.

I came to like these characters, which isn’t always a good thing.  The more you care, the more you worry.  And believe me, there was plenty to worry about!

The plot held together really well, weaving these three lives into a perfect tapestry.  There were no boring snags along the way.  The story remained interesting from start to finish.

I also liked the way the author let me know immediately whose skin I was in.  She established the viewpoint character in the very first sentence every time there was a new scene.  Readers appreciate little courtesies like that!

I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes mystery and suspense, with a Christian view and a world view going head-to-head.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookCrash.

THE POWERFUL BOOK THAT’S OVERLOOKED

So I’ve been memorizing the books of the Bible so it will be easier to find the book we’re supposed to turn to on Sunday morning during church.  I was going along fine until I got to Ecclesiastes.  How in the world was I supposed to remember that book?  Of course, I’ve heard of it before.  But I couldn’t tell you anything about it.  I decided I better do a little research if I was ever going to remember that Ecclesiastes comes after Psalms and Proverbs.

What I discovered is that Ecclesiastes is a powerful book!  It was written towards the end of King Solomon’s life, around 940 – 931 B.C.  Yep, Solomon wrote this book!  I didn’t know that!  Did you?

I also learned that Ecclesiastes means “an official speaker in an assembly” and that it’s considered the fourth book in the wisdom series. (Proverbs is another wisdom book.  Can you name the other two books?  Neither can I!)  In this case, the “official speaker” is Solomon.

When he strayed away from God, Solomon learned a thing or two about life apart from God.  It is a valuable lesson that we all should heed.  We don’t have to learn things the hard way, people! A wise man (or woman!) learns from the examples of others.  Only a fool insists on taking his knocks from life when it isn’t necessary.

Solomon was searching for satisfaction.  In this wonderful book, he shares his discovery:  Life without God is a life spent in vain.  You can’t find meaning and satisfaction in a life void of God.  The life this world dangles in front of us may seem appealing, but it’s really empty and meaningless.

Another shocker:  There is a well-known Bible verse tucked inside Ecclesiastes!  Here it is:  There is a time for every purpose under heaven.  The time is NOW to read this amazing book!  Don’t put it off another minute.  You won’t believe the wisdom to be found in this overlooked book.

The Rector

The Rector by Michael Hicks Thompson

When I sat down to write this review, I wondered how in the world I was going to stuff so much content into one review. Although the novel is 342 pages, so much happens that it seems longer.  But don’t get me wrong!  The story doesn’t plod along like a slow work horse.  The pace is fast and suspenseful.  I couldn’t put the book down!

It all begins with the sudden death of Calvary Episcopel Church’s rector. Since he is a young man, the death seems suspicious to the town’s newspaper owner, Martha McRae.  She sets out to find the truth about the rector’s death.  Unfortunately, one of Martha’s friends from church is married to her prime suspect, and uncovering his guilt might also uncover Mary’s sordid past – a past that Mary wishes fervently to keep buried.

The arrival of the new rector doesn’t bring the peace the small town is craving. Something about him just doesn’t sit well with Martha.  Her doubts about him are justified when his actions prove he isn’t the wholesome, down-to-earth man the church was hoping for.

More deaths follow, which shake the town to its core. Martha and her friends cling to the hope that good will triumph over evil.

This novel is perfect for anyone who loves a good mystery. There is plenty of suspense and action to carry the reader along on this gripping ride.  It held my attention from start to finish.  I highly recommend it.

I’m so happy I discovered this marvelous author, and I look forward to reading more books by him.

BookCrash provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.