The Mountains Bow Down

The Mountains Bow Down, by Sibella Giorello is part of a series about Raleigh Harmon, an FBI Special Agent. This book has Raleigh on a cruise ship in Alaska with her mom and her aunt, for the purpose of taking a break from her work and her personal life at home in Virginia. But, right away, the wife of a movie star (who is on the ship to shoot a movie) is found dead and Raleigh refuses to believe it is suicide. She sets out to prove the woman was murdered, and much to her dismay, the assistance sent to her is in the form of another agent, Jack Stephanson. The two are forced to work together to find the killer before the ship docks and a murderer goes free. Complicating matters is the fact that Raleigh’s mom, who has a fragile mental state, doesn’t know that her daughter is an FBI agent. There is also the matter of Raleigh’s fiancé, back in Virginia, who doesn’t appreciate that Raleigh is away, that she is too busy to contact him, or that she has been drawn into working on a case with a certain other FBI agent.

Whereas this book is part of a series, it does fine as a stand-alone novel, as well. This mystery had me baffled most of the way through, which was refreshing. But, at the same time, I will admit that it was not a real page-turner for me. It seemed to start out quickly, but then progressed kind of slowly, before being resolved rather suddenly at the end. I did appreciate that it was not a predictable plot, and I also liked that there was not a resolution to the romance side of the story. It seems likely that this part of Raleigh’s life was left unresolved for the purpose of continuation in future novels. I recently read this book as part of Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze Blogger program (http://booksneeze.com/) and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an intriguing mystery with a little romance thrown in.

Heart of Ice - by Lis Wiehl

I just read Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl as part of the Book Sneeze Blogger program (http://booksneeze.com/blogger). This was another title in the Triple Threat series, wherein the stories involve three main characters who are friends and whose professional lives also intersect as they deal with various crimes. In this story, the women encounter arson, theft, fraud, and murder, all at the hands of a master manipulator- a woman who becomes part of their lives and is not as she seems. While the three try to figure out the connection between the crimes, they are unaware of how close they are to the source of the danger. Little do they realize the threat she poses to them and their families. Not only is it suspenseful, but like the previous books involving this trio of friends, there are also back stories in each of the women’s personal lives, that lend an emotional slant to the book.

This book dove right into the action, but then seemed to bog down for a few chapters, causing my interest to wane. Thankfully, I kept reading, because the storyline suddenly picked up again and drew me in once more, this time for the duration of the book, making it an overall quick read. Wiehl always does a great job with character creation, making the people in her novels incredibly realistic and believable, and this book was no exception. The three main characters encounter and deal with issues and problems in their personal lives, such as a miscarriage, weight struggles, a recovering drug addict sister, and a cancer diagnosis, all of which bring a certain depth to the overall story. The villainess was a woman easy to imagine knowing, with multiple layers and reasons for them, causing me to wonder if I could fall prey to someone like her. Whereas I enjoyed the last book in this series more, Heart of Ice is definitely worth a read for people who have enjoyed Wiehl's other books or who like realistic, suspenseful stories.

Save the Date- by Jenny B. Jones

I recently read Save the Date as part of Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program (http://booksneeze.com/blogger). The story is about Lucy, a girl who grew up poor, raised by a single mother who cleaned houses for Charleston’s elite. Lucy was looked down upon by her peers all through school and suffers from low self-esteem. To make matters worse, instead of the proposal she expected, her steady, dependable boyfriend broke up with her. Two year later, the home that Lucy runs for less-fortunate girls, is in danger of closing due to lack of funding. In exchange for the financial help she needs to save the house, Lucy desperately agrees to pose as fiancée to wealthy ex-football player, Alex Sinclair, in order to help his political aspirations. Alex and Lucy are opposite in so many ways, leading to numerous complications as they deal with acting like an engaged couple, Lucy must try to fit into the world she has avoided because she felt like an outcast, while Alex strives to put his public image of spoiled playboy behind him. The two grow closer and then have to deal with the eventual reality that it is only a temporary arrangement.

Although this was the first Jenny B. Jones book I’ve read, it will most likely not be the last. This book had many humorous parts scattered throughout, but there were also numerous times when the characters’ feelings and what was in their hearts spoke to issues faced by many people. Among these was the need to let go of past hurts and feelings of inadequacy; the need to face fears and move on; and most of all, the need for forgiveness and the freedom it can provide. What began as a typical Christian romance became something deeper and quite memorable, with a few unexpected twists and revelations. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys humor and a good romance, but also welcomes the opportunity to think about some deeper, personal issues along the way.

Same Kind of Different as Me

I just finished reading Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore as part of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com .It is an inspirational, true life account of the authors’ lives, from their early years to how their lives intersected and became intertwined. Chapters alternate between the two men’s lives; and later, when they are part of the same story, they alternate between the men’s viewpoints of the same events. Denver Moore was a black man, who grew up poor in Louisiana, where he suffered prejudice and heartbreak. Ron Hall was a white man from modest beginnings who went on to experience success as an art dealer. Denver tired of his life and hopped a train out of Louisiana, eventually ending up in Ft. Worth, Texas. Ron met his future wife Debbie while in college in Texas, and through a series of events in their marriage, they ended up in Ft. Worth, as well. The remarkable story of how Ron’s and Denver’s lives not only crossed paths, but became connected is so incredible, that I hesitate to even share any more details, for fear of ruining the experience for someone else.

It was difficult to read this book at first, as it was slow-moving and kind of confusing to follow. But I am so glad I stuck with it, as about 50 pages in, I became more interested and invested in the story and the people’s lives, and soon thereafter could not put it down until I had finished the whole book. It is a story that addresses the issues of prejudice, homelessness, faith, and forgiveness, in such a compelling and raw manner that it had me in tears. I highly recommend that everyone read this book, as it will speak to your heart and inspire you to love people unconditionally, in the same way that God loves us.

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.