Hand of Fate- by Lis Wiehl

Hand of Fate is the first Lis Wiehl book I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last. The story revolves around solving the murder of an outspoken radio talk show host, who died after the release of poisonous gas delivered to him in a package. Soon thereafter the city is in a panic and people flee from the danger that a poisonous gas release and possible terrorist threat poses. Involved in the action are three women, known as the Triple Threat Club, whose occupations are FBI agent, crime reporter, and federal prosecutor. Not only are these women friends, but their professional lives are also intertwined as they deal with the aftermath of the tragic day in Portland. Whereas most of the novel focuses on the mystery of who murdered Jim Fate, the infamous talk show host, there are also glimpses into the personal lives of the three women. They each have secrets and face individual and family challenges.

Anyone who likes a good mystery, which is also full of action, will enjoy this book. It starts out with the same level of intensity one would encounter during an episode of the TV show, 24. The characters are individuals with very real lives and problems. It is not predictable like many whodunits, but rather, will keep you guessing as to the identity of the real culprit up until the time of the reveal. It is one of those books that you hate to put down because you really need to know what is going to happen next and how it will be resolved. I was glad I chose to read and review this book as part of Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze blogger program (http://booksneeze.com/ .)

The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville

The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville is a book that addresses and discusses an important element of life. I recently read it as part of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program, http://brb.thomasnelson.com/. Respect is something that figures into many aspects of a person’s life, and naturally plays a large role in our relationships with others. Norville’s book delves into how respect affects life at home, in school, in the workplace/business world, as well as inside oneself. At just under 200 pages, the book is divided into seven chapters. At the end of each chapter there is a list entitled “respect reminders”, which summarize the main points one should take from that particular section of the book. These lists can also serve as a quick reference to someone who would like a refresher on what is important to remember when dealing with the various people and aspects of one’s life.

This book is applicable to anyone and everyone, and therefore I would highly recommend this book, particularly to those seeking to improve interpersonal relationships. The examples provided in each chapter were excellent and served as wonderful reminders of just how important and influential respect can be in everyday life. Parents are encouraged to model respect for their children; spouses are shown the importance of respect in marriage and how it leads to trust; people in the workplace see how respect leads to greater productivity; and teachers and students are shown how respect contributes to a successful and positive learning experience. Of course, not every point applies to every person, since not everyone is married, some people are not in classroom settings, and some are not in the workplace. But each person can learn and discover through reading this book, and I enjoyed the chapters that were not personally applicable in my life at this time, too.

The Sweet By and By

Recently, as part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program http://brb.thomasnelson.com/, I read The Sweet By and By by Sara Evans. It is a fictional story about Jade, a young woman who is weeks away from getting married. She owns a small business and is engaged to marry a successful lawyer who is from a prominent Southern family. Seemingly, her life should be perfect. But right away, it’s evident that Jade has things in her past that are far from perfect. Jade has people and events that she has kept hidden, which are affecting her present happiness. The story delves into Jade’s past through a series of flashbacks and ties them in to what is happening on the days and weeks leading up to her wedding. Apart from a short epilogue, the story ends on Jade’s wedding day, where resolution finally occurs.

This was a good and fairly easy read. I thought it started out rather slowly and it took me awhile to become interested in it, but by the time I reached the halfway point, I was more interested in seeing how it all turned out. The story was based in the present, but continuously flashed back to various years in the past in order to explain the conflict occurring in the present. Secrets were revealed slowly and really supported the plotline in a realistic way, as well as keeping the story from being predictable and boring. Characters were well-developed and the reader can get a sense of most characters, including the secondary ones. The only thing I found slightly unrealistic was the seemingly quick and easy way that most characters (apart from the main character, Jade) forgave others. For instance, Jade repeatedly confessed parts of her past that she’d kept hidden from her fiancé and he hardly seemed to blink. There was no real conflict between them as a result of her lies and secrets. It just seems like it would have been more realistic if this aspect had been explored more and the forgiveness had taken longer to occur. Jade eventually came to have a relationship with the Lord, and various characters shared the importance of knowing Him, but there was not an overt spiritual emphasis in the book. The overall main theme that definitely stuck out to me throughout this book was ‘forgiveness’. Not only do you see the harm that comes from holding onto the past and not forgiving others, but also the pain that comes from not forgiving oneself, and from not seeking and accepting God’s forgiveness.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a spiritual element and/or for someone having problems with the issue of forgiveness in their own life.