Good Friday!

I didn't feel right about doing a book review on such a holy day. Have you watched the Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson? It has been banned in some places because of the violence and bloody gore and yet the Passion doesn't begin to show us what really happened. Isaiah says that even His own mother wouldn't have recognized Him. He was recognizable as being a man. They didn't pull out His beard, they didn't rip His body with glass, metal strips, or sharp rocks. They didn't beat Him with their fists. They placed the crown of thorns on His head but they didn't shove it on the way the soldiers did. So even this graphic tale of horror doesn't come close what the Son of God went through on this day. He did it all for me! He did it all for you! Isaiah 53:4  Surely He has borne our griefs (sickness, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains, yet we considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God. Verse 5, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and by His stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole. Verse 6, All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. (Amplified Bible)

He went through all the pain and suffering because He could look past the pain and into the future to see you and me. He took those stripes so I could be saved and set free from my sins, I could be healed and free from pain (Notice there is nothing said about a person's age.) and that I could have life and have it more abundantly.(He wants us to prosper) He did that for me. The horror of such a death we are not capable of imagining but I will praise Him all the days of my life.

To my brothers and their families I am a gullible Jesus freak but to my God I am his loving daughter and I will serve Him all my days. It is hard to understand how the God of the whole universe could look down and choose me to be His beloved daughter. The Word says He loves me as much as He loves Jesus, I can't fathom that. Jesus looked down and loved me so much He was willing to go through such horror that I could be His sister forever. The Holy Spirit loves me so much He has come and made His home with me, to lead me, guide me, and teach me all that I need to know. No this is no ordinary day and I can't just write a review I must write about how good is my God, my Lord and my Holy Spirit. How awesome is their Word.

Have a glorious weekend but forget the eggs and bunnies for a little while and Praise the God who made all things possible! God bless you all.

No Way Out by Susan Sleeman

My book review today is a Love Inspired Suspense Book, the third book in The Justice Agency Series, No Way Out by Susan Sleeman. I really liked this book, I really like the series. I don't think I have read one of Susan's books I haven't enjoyed. This book is very well written and I loved the Justice family. All of them were adopted but have become a strong family unit, that really cares for each other. Cole was one of my favorites.

Alyssa Wells is a young widow with a set of twins. She is out jogging and hears a conversation she wasn't suppose to hear; how her husband was framed and was set up as a drug dealer. She falls and reveals her presence and runs for her life. As she hides from her pursuers she encounters Cole Justice. Cole watched as she ran towards him and helps her to escape, he then brings her home to hide her from the men chasing her.

Cole and his sister Dani explain how they investigate for people who don't have the finances to hire help. They ask to help her, her children, and clear her husband's name.

Alyssa's marriage was rocky at the end. After her husband assaulted her, they had separated and then her husband was murdered but because of the evidence she was refused benefits so life was a struggle with two seven year olds. Nolan Saunders had stepped up and helped her, now she has learned he was the one who set up her husband and now wants her dead. Could she ever trust her judgement again?

Cole has issues of his own. He felt responsible for the death of his best friend in Iraq, the woman he loved wrote him a Dear John Letter while he was in Iraq, and he believed God had turned his back on him. His heart is frozen and he's not sure how to go on. He didn't understand Alyssa's faith in God through all she had been through but he saw a strength in her he envied. Could he trust the God his parents had shared with him? Would God forgive him and help him find peace? Could he make a new life with this family he is so drawn to?

I love the way faith is woven into the story.  God wants to help us through those hard times. Being a Christian doesn't mean things will be easy but God is always there to help us through. How great is that? He loves us so much. You can find out more about this book from Love Inspired or at www.susansleeman.com. You really need this book. God bless you.

Tortured Memory by Lawrence W. Gold

I was asked recently to review a book. I received the book and have just finished it. What I am about to say are my own thoughts and perceptions. The book is Tortured Memory, a Brian Hospital Series, by Lawrence W. Gold. This book really touched me. My youngest daughter suffered from bipolar and a social disorder and she went through much torture at the hands of doctors and eventually died by a drug that shouldn't have been given to her. This is not a Christian book. Usually I only read Christian fiction but I did find the book intriguing. For those of you who follow my blog you need to realize the situations and language is graphic in places.

Dr. Abigail Adler, a general psychiatrist, she had been abused by her father as a child and now centered her practice on girls who have been abused sexually. Two of her girls are murdered by the Chabot Park Strangler. Abby is concerned that one of her patients might by the killer.

Abby is found in her car in a catatonic state. She is taken to the Brier Hospital and then sent to Langley Porter Mental Hospital where she under goes all kinds of treatments. After several weeks, she awakens but is unable to remember any of the last few months. She struggles with nightmares and flashes of memory trying to force her memory to return.

Richard Haus is Abby's analyst. Abby has been with him for years but their road is a rocky one. David Adler, Abby's  husband doesn't trust Richard. Ever since Abby took Richard's son on as a patient their relationship has been strained. After each session with Richard, Abby seems worse instead of better. David tries to stop their sessions only to be told that is normal.

This is a complicated book but it is very well written. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to say I enjoyed the story when it's not really a story you want to enjoy. It is very horrifying in the fact that it happens every day in this world we live in. How tragic this world has become. Lawrence did a good job with the subject matter. I haven't read any of his other work but will look forward to reading more. You can find more information about this book and the others he has written at www.lawrencegoldmd.com. God bless you all.

The Cowboy's Surprise Bride by Linda Ford

My book review today is a Love Inspired Historical Book, one of the Cowboys of Eden Series by Linda Ford. I really enjoyed this book. I don't read a lot of historicals but I received this one in the mail and I do love Linda's writing. This one was humorous and captivating. I loved her characters, they were all so messed up and flawed but of course they all straightened up in the end and I'm sure they all lived happily ever after. I love the struggles they each had with their own desires and God's will for them. It's so nice to know that you aren't the only one who struggles with trusting God.

Eddie Gardiner was the adopted son of a wealthy Englishman. He has spent his whole life trying to be everything his father wants him to be. He has moved to Canada and started a ranch that would be the exact copy of his father's English home. Now he was ready to marry, he sent his request to a woman he had spent time with. He hasn't received an answer yet but has no doubt Margret will come after all, they had a connection, right? He sends her and a companion tickets to come to him without receiving an answer.

Margaret has no intention of crossing an ocean and living in a wilderness. She shares her letters with Linette Edwards. Linette's father has arranged for her to marry a fat, old man and she sees this marriage as a way out. She writes Eddie a letter saying she will take Margaret's place and puts it in Margaret's refusal to marry him. When the tickets come with a note to come before winter, Linette assumes he has received her letter and crosses the ocean and the country to come as quick as she can.

Eddie is shocked when Linette gets off the stagecoach and refuses to marry her. Linette turns up with an orphan who fears men and a recent widow who is miserable and has every intention of making every one else miserable too. They are unable to return to civilization due to weather so she sets out to prove that she will make his a good pioneer wife. Eddie doesn't want a pioneer wife but a lady of the manor. The struggle of these four in a tiny two room cabin is quite funny. I know you will love their adventures. You can find out more about Linette's books at: www.lindaford.org.

You need to run out and get a copy, I know you will love it. God bless you all. Have a great week end.

Fugitive by Shirlee McCoy

My book review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense Series, Heroes for Hire; Fugitive by Shirlee McCoy. I love Shirlee's books. She write great suspense books with beautiful love stories. This book is one of her best.

I loved Logan Randal. This is a man who has been abused as a young child and teen but through it all he cared for the young daughter of the people who were abusing him and her. He helped her escape her abusive family and later manages to bring them to justice. Now a deputy sheriff he has been framed, arrested, and tried for a crime he was framed for. He is on his way to prison when the vehicle is ran off the road, one of the deputies are killed, and one is seriously wounded. Logan is wounded and runs for his life. It was snowing heavily but he sees a light and he heads for it. He pounds on the door and asks for help.

Laney Jefferson has survived her past and made a new life for herself. You have to appreciate anyone that can come back from the abuse she endured. Her husband has recently died and left her a cabin in the woods and her father has recently died and left her the farm. Now she is on a journey to deal with the properties so she can again start over. She is terrified when a wounded, handcuffed felon knocks on her door. When she recognizes Logan she sets out to free him and help any way she can. She owes this man her life.

These two damaged people set out to find who is framing Logan and why. It is an intriguing story and full of action.  It is difficult to understand people who abuse others. Why humans can literally destroy their own children. God didn't make people especially women to be that way. Women were made to protect their families even unto death and yet satan has turned them into women with unnatural affections(just as the Bible said they would be) You need to run out and get a copy of this book. I know you will love it. God bless you all.

Scent of Danger by Terri Reed

This book is next to last book in the Love Inspired Suspense Series Texas K-9 Unit, Scent of Danger by Terri Reed. I have loved this series so I was thrilled when I got my copy in the mail. Now I am torn between getting the next book and finding out who really is the boss and having to say goodbye to some of my favorite characters. I love the K-9 dogs they have been so cool, I just hope they save Rio. These dogs do such a great job as police dogs and get so little recognition.

Scent of Danger deals with Detective Melody Zachary, one of Sagebrush's Police Force and aunt to the first murder victim. Melody runs a youth center in honor of her nephew Daniel. Her new purpose in life is to help troubled teens. Now her youth center is under attack, someone broke into her office and attacks her on the way out.

Narcotics Officer Parker Adams and his K-9 partner, Sherlock, are sent out to the center with the CSU unit. Parker wants to believe that Melody is innocent but when the dog find a locker full of cocaine at the center it really looks bad for her. As in the other books the book is fast paced and full of action. Parker and Melody risk everything in their attempt to find out who is after them and what they want.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. Both Melody and Parker are fighting there own demons and are drawn to each other but fight that attraction with all they have. It is amazing how much they have in common as they are forced to work together.

I loved this book, I have loved this series and I am looking forward to find out how it all works out. It is amazing to me how six different authors can write a series and keep everything in line. Thanks to all of you great ladies. God bless you all.

Tested By Fire by Pat Patterson

My post today is a review of Test By Fire, He Sought Revenge - He Found Life, Medic-7 First Responders Novel, by Pat Patterson. I haven't red any of Pat's books before but I love the way he writes. I was so impressed with this story, so many authors and publishers think that miracles and healings are too controversial to put out there. The characters were very real and flawed as they moved in a world of violence, gangs, and bikers.

Sid Drake is a paramedic who recently accepted Jesus as his Lord and is now trying to share his love with others. In a revival tent he share his love for Jesus with a young gang member named Zee. Zee fearing for his life runs away from the new preacher. Sid goes looking for Zee but runs into the gang leader J-Rock. J-Rock beats Sid almost to death and then shoots him.

Jim Stockbridge is Sid's best friend and his partner. He doesn't share his friends new found religion, he copes with his life style with alcohol and drugs.When he answers the call to the Core, he finds Sid's broken body. Jim goes bezerk and almost kills two of the gang members and is ready to slit J-Rocks throat whe the police show up and threaten to arrest him.  Jim was wounded himself and was taken to the hospital where his girl friend Dr.Valerie Vick sews him back together.

In trouble with the police, his boss, and his girl friend, he heads home but stops at a bikers bar for a much needed drink. He is beaten by a gang of bikers and left out in the mud. When he comes to a man he had helped pulls him out of the mud and helps him. When he wakes again, he is in front of an empty building in only his boxers. Jonas has left him a paper sack with clothes and a note to come in and join him inside. It proves to be some kind of a church service where Jim has an encounter with God.

The rest of the book is Jim's struggle to deal with his changing life and a man that is set to kill him. He experiences miracles as he prays for people on his calls but can't understand why God heals some but not others. A struggle we all have to deal with I'm afraid. As I said I really loved this book, it was action packed and  very difficult to put down. You can find out more about this book at www.answeringthecall.com. God bless you all.

Beauty in Disguise by Mary Moore

My book review today is a Historical by Love Inspired, Beauty in Disguise by Mary Moore. I don't read many Historicals, I try to stay in my own genre but this one was free so of course I had to read it. I really enjoyed it. I love the way Mary wove her faith in to the story, it was very uplifting.

Lady Kathryn is hiding from a season that ended in scandal nine years ago, disguised as Kate Montgomery. She is now a companion for Charity Dinsmore and is coaching the young, spoiled, rich girl to get ready for her first season.

Lord Christopher Dalton comes to Dinsmore Manor to look at some horses. The Dinsmores have their own agenda, to marry off Charity to Lord Dalton. Lord Dalton comes a day early and stays at the inn. On a midnight stroll he meets a beautiful young woman on the bridge. He is unaware that the beauty he meets is the love he lost nine years ago. Drawn by Kate and the woman on the bridge more than the spoiled brat they are trying to marry him off to he discovers her true identity.

Still drawn to the beauty he decides to punish her until he speaks with her and finds out he is as much to blame as she is. He goes to see her estranged father, only to find him at deaths door. Still not sure what he feels he sets out to reunite the father and daughter.

Katryn still loves Lord Dalton but can not bear to cause him shame. She refuses his advances and runs. She can't spend the rest of her life in the unbearable disguise.

This is a great read and I'm sure you will love it.You can find more about Mary and her books at www.marymooreauthor.com. God bless you.

Prime Suspect by Virginia Smith

I'm so sorry I wasn't able to post on Friday. My grandson's dog chewed through the phone cord for the internet. We weren't aware that was the problem. We spent most of the weekend trying to figure out the problem.

My post today is on the Love Inspired Suspense Book, Prime Suspect, the third book in the Falsely Accused Series. The book was written by Virginia Smith. I really enjoyed this series. I hope there is such an agency like this one because people are falsely accused everyday. This book was very well written and I loved her characters. Caleb was one of the men I loved in the first book and then again in the second. I was thrilled to find out he was the main character in this book. Virginia did a great job with this one.

Darcie Wiley is making a new start. Her mother has recently died and left her alone. She finds letters in her mother's things. These letters could be from her father, they were only one line and appeared to have come with money. She contacts this man and he gives her a job. On her first day a man is killed. She hears puppies and wonders over to see them. She meets Caleb Buchanan by the pool, painting. They both go to see why the puppies are barking so much and discover the dead body.

The police decide that Darcie is the prime suspect. Caleb moves in to protect her. Darcie wants nothing to do with men and Caleb is so big and strong, trust is a difficult thing for her. Caleb has issues of his own, his one love ran off and left him so he is not going to go through that again. Thrown together they struggle to forget the past and trust each other and find out who the killer is. Dead bodies and attempts on her life follow them where ever they go.

I loved this book and I know you will too. Check out her facebook page www.facebook.com/ginny.p.smith.
God bless you all.

The Interrogator's Notebook by Martin Ott

This book was sent to me to read and review by the author. It's not the kind of book I normally read but it was an awesome book. I usually read Christian books so I'm not use to the language, adult themes, or sexual situations but the story was intriguing. It's not a book you can watch TV and read at the same time as I usually do. It takes all of your attention to follow the story but I liked that.

The story is about Norman Kross who is a career interrogator. He has worked in some of the most dangerous places in the world. He has told his wife he has retired and is now teaching others his concepts. Struggling as a teacher, he is pulled into another case.This one will change his life.

The book is written as a journal, telling a story of this middle aged man. Who he was as a child, who he became as a teen, and how he became the man he is now. A story of techniques, tactics, and manipulation used to uncover the secrets of the people he interrogates. He is a master at seeing into other people souls but is unable to see his own family falling a part. All in all a fascinating read. You can find out more about this book at www.martinottwriter.com

Hidden in Plain View by Diane Burke

My book review today is a Love Inspired Suspense, Hidden in Plain View by Diane Burke. I love Amish books and I love suspense books so this book is a no-brainer, of course I would love it, right? Well, I did, it was a great read. I had a seizure once about forty years ago. When I came to, I couldn't remember who I was or where I was. I still remember the terror that filled me. In this book our leading lady has that problem. Mine only lasted a few hours but hers lasted much longer. I'm glad Diane allowed her to remember her faith in God.

Sarah Lapp sets off for the school house to deliver a basket of apples and cheese, what she finds is a man, John Lapp running for his life. He gives Sarah a bag of diamonds to hide. As she pinned them to her skirt, a cold blooded killer enters the school and shoots John, Peter, Sarah's husband, and Sarah. Sarah awakes at the hospital with all of her memories lost. Sarah had been raised Englisch and was adopted by her Amish grandmother, now she didn't seem to belong in either world.

Samuel King is an undercover cop. An ex-Amish man he returns to the ways of his people to protect the young widow. The Amish allows Sam to stay with them to help Sarah and her unborn child. The killer tries to find Sarah by destroying the community around them.

This was an intriguing story with great characters and a fast moving story line. It was hard to put down and I loved every minute of it. I know you will too. In her letter, Diane talks about adoption and how she once gave up a child only to be reunited with that child later. It really spoke to my heart. My youngest daughter gave up a child and I one day hope to be in her life. She's seventeen years old now and I hope to meet her at her graduation. I can hardly wait.

Amish Short Stories

My review today is on three short stories I received from Amazon. I really enjoy Amish stories and these were good, fast, and easy reads. I know you will enjoy them.

The first one is An Amish Winter Surprise, Volume one, Delivery in Paradise by Faith Grace. Elmer Yoder is the surprise gift. He is left with Abraham to raise, unfortunately Abraham didn't want this gift but did raise him. To Lizzie, who grew up with him he was just plain mean. He beat her at everything. Then one day his mother stood before the church and confessed she was his mother, and repented. Lizzie was so touched by what happened she listened to one of her friends and decided to kiss the poor boy. She managed to make a total fool of her self. She was so embarrassed, but when her grandmother fell unconscious, Elmer was the one that she called. He told her what to do and then came to help her. Although it was quite short it was cute and I really enjoyed it.

The second book was Amish Winter Love, Volume one, A New Life, by Faith Grace. Marrissa Miller lost the love of her life. Now several years later her family was pushing her to get over grieving for him. Didn't they understand she still loved him? Levi Bender goes to work for her family as they attempt to match make. Levi dreams of making Marrissa his wife. This book was short and was a good story of finding a new life.

The last book was Amish Snowflakes: Volume one, Winter Letters, by Sicily Yoder, Rachael Zook writes love letters to Jeremiah Troyer, Rachael's new love, her first love was Elijah Yoder. Elijah had been shunned and had left the community, so now Jeremiah was courting her. Jeremiah and Rachael had a child out of wed lock and had given the child a way to a nurse. Jeremiah gives the letters to his mother who gives them to the bishop and Rachael is shunned. Rachael finds out that the baby is with Jeremiah's mother and has been all the time. Jeremiah confesses that the child wasn't really his. He and Elijah had gotten her drunk and he had left her with Elijah. Elijah finds out about the child and searches for her. We find out at the end there is three babies. It was a very good story, I'm sure you will like it.

I hope that you enjoyed this post I know it was different. God bless you all.