I expected this book to be Christian fiction, but I did not see any of the usual elements of faith in this book. It was a good suspense thriller, with undertones of politics and espionage, but I would not categorize it as CHRISTIAN fiction in any way. Georgie is a young wife and mother, a physicist dealing with the sudden death of her husband Sean. But all is not as it seems and the reader is hard-pressed to figure out what is really going on. The first third of the book is very fast-paced as the stage is set for Georgie to try to unravel the threads that will lead to the truth. Then the plot slows down and the story becomes a bit difficult to follow. Georgie knows that her life is in danger as she struggles to reveal the truth about Sean and her father who is about to be confirmed at the U.S. Secretary of Defense. The short chapters made the book easy to read, but the convoluted plot made it slow going for me. There was definitely a web of intrigue, but it was hard to understand what was really going on. The book is a suspense novel and it is an intense read, with lots of action happening quickly. This was my first book that I have read by this author, so I don’t know what her other books are like. I would like to try another one just to see if this is her normal style. Readers of suspense may enjoy this book, but it was just too hard to follow for me.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book is available now. Although it is published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, I did not find any mention of faith or any Christian elements in it. That was surprising and disappointing to me, but the story of espionage and intrigue was compelling enough to keep me reading.

As a fan of Patricia MacDonald for years, I really looked forward to this latest psychological suspense, and I must say that I was not disappointed. This was the story of two sisters who were sent to live with their very bad-tempered uncle after the death of their mom. Ellis didn’t want the girls there and made it clear that he considered them a burden. When Blair had her friend Molly over for a visit one day after school, everything goes very badly. Ellis sends Molly home, in the rain and through the woods and Molly is murdered. The murderer is behind bars, or that is what everyone thinks until Celeste, Blair’s sister, confesses on her deathbed that she could have given Yusef an alibi but was too afraid of Ellis to do that. So the wrong man is in prison and Blair spends the rest of the book trying to find who the real murderer is so that Yusef can be freed. After fifteen years, Blair faces a real challenge and enlists the help of PI Tom Olson. Following the clues is a twisted trail through the woods and into the lives of people who have moved on. Blair feels guilty because of Molly’s death and is absolutely determined to find the real killer. Her quest endangers her and the ending is a really stunning surprise. I really enjoyed this book and know that fans of MacDonald and others who love suspense will enjoy it as well. It does deal with the mature topic of abuse.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This chilling crime thriller is available now at your local bookseller or online.

Maria Furlough writes a book that all women and their daughters can relate to. All of us have felt “not enough” at some time and this book trains us with practical advice and steps to love ourselves in the way that God has created us. I really liked the challenges for moms and daughters at the end of each chapter as well as the prayer for moms to say. The author has great insight and wisdom into the yearning heart of females just to belong and be accepted. She addresses the lack of confidence that seems to be built into each of us in a way that is kind and empathetic. She also addresses issues like being overweight and anorexia. In short, this book is chock full of useful tips and encouragement told from a Christian perspective. I highly recommend this to anyone having difficulty with feeling that they are created to be special, particularly the moms of young girls. This is a book to be read with your daughter as it will help both of you come to terms with the best person that God created you to be.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book will be available at your local bookseller and online on August 20th. If you have a daughter, you need to get this book!!

This morning, I got my email from Dr. James Dobson’s organization and it had an excellent article that I want to share with you.

https://www.drjamesdobson.org/blogs/james-gottry/james-gottry/2019/08/14/horrific-shootings-are-the-symptom…the-heart-is-the-cause?sc=cb3

The author states succinctly and unabashedly that the problems that we have in the U.S. with violence are because there is a heart problem. Men have turned away from God and violated His statutes that command us to consider life sacred. More gun laws will not change that problem. We need to get on our knees before the Father of all life and ask for forgiveness for not revering what He created, seeing men as expendable, much like the old car in the garage that we plan to replace soon. Once a life on earth is snuffed out, it cannot be replaced. Fathers in homes that won’t be coming home again can’t be replaced. Mothers that won’t hold their children ever again cannot be replaced. Little children whose lives have just begun to blossom cannot be replaced. When will we learn the lesson that God is trying to teach us? Life is sacred from the moment it begins (I believe that is conception) until God calls that person home. Life is meant to be embraced, enjoyed and cherished. Blessings for you and your household as you guard your hearts and seek the One who created you!

Photo courtesy of webmd.com

I live in a very rural area. In fact, when we first moved here twenty years ago, my husband got a big piece of plywood and spray painted a sign on it in bright orange, “Vickie, Turn Here” just so I could find out driveway when I came home from work. I tell everyone that we live between the trees and that is pretty accurate. Once you make the first turn onto our little road, then you have to be careful to bear left between the trees in order to arrive at the correct house. It’s very complicated, but people who want to find us can. We used to have a sign put at the beginning of our part of the driveway that said our house number, but it didn’t last long because the neighbor drives a big truck and knocked it down. So delivery drivers just have to know where the house is. Some find us and others leave our packages at the front house, with the neighbor who has the big truck. What I’m trying to say is that it takes me or my husband giving very detailed directions for people to find us.

Now, relate that to finding Jesus. You have to tell people about what He has done for you for them to find their way to Him themselves. And it is not an easy road to find; it takes searching the Scripture with an open heart and being willing to admit that you have sin in your life. People who really desire to find Jesus can! So many people in today’s world are lost, really lost. They have found their worth in things like socializing, a career, family life, and pleasure. They are losing out on God’s great gift of His Son because they are following the way of the majority of the world; they are lost, but they don’t know it. Some will want to know, and it is our responsibility to tell them. Others have no desire to change their lifestyle and become what God wants them to be. No matter what, we are to tell all about the Lord and let them choose the way that they will go. We give the directions to Jesus, but they have to choose to follow them.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Sometimes it seems that our sharing the Gospel is just not getting us anywhere. The people that we talk to aren’t changing; they haven’t accepted the Lord as their Savior. In my frustration, I have been known to say, “Well, if you want to go to hell, that’s your choice, but it isn’t what God wants for you.” Harsh? Yes, it is, but sometimes I get weary of giving the same directions to the same people. Nevertheless, that is what we are supposed to do, hoping and praying that God will open their eyes to the narrow way that leads to eternal life with Him. I have many family members who don’t believe in the Lord and in eternal salvation. That’s not okay with God, but that is their choice. I still share my faith with them and live in such a way (I hope) that they will see the change in me and want something more in their lives. I can’t take people down the narrow road that leads to life everlasting, but I can show them the pathway to take and leave them with the choice to go that route or not. That’s what the Christian life is all about, making wise choices daily and continuing down the narrow way.

Bless you all who read this to the end and who are continuing on this journey with me! I hope that your way is narrow and that you have found the way to His gift of eternal life!

I read. A lot! In fact, since my retirement, I read about six hours each day. I also review books and one of my pet peeves is an ending that doesn’t go with the rest of the book or one that doesn’t give enough lead in for the ending, It just sometimes seems that the author got tired of writing and just ended the book. So annoying!

One of the books that I read daily is my Bible. I am doing a devotional plan with the You Version App, so I use that to make sure that I read through the entire Bible during one year. I also read other devotionals as I need them. Anyway, I am saying this to point out that the Bible has an ending and it’s a good one, at least for those of us who call Jesus our Savior and Lord. One of the sayings that I have heard in the church is, “I’ve read the end of the Book and it’s good!” Well, I have read through the Holy Bible numerous times and it is a good ending. But it is also a sudden one, and it is not a good ending for everyone.

Sometimes I wonder if this global warming that the environmentalists keep warning about is a foreshadowing of what God has planned for the end of the earth. His wrath is real, just as real as His love. So, although this particular Scripture verse can be scary, it shouldn’t be for those of us who have found salvation in the person of the Son of God. This judgment is not for us!

Those of us who know Jesus as our Savior have been adopted into the family of God. He is our Father and He does not enslave us but frees us to be all that He created us to be. We cry out to Him and He answers us, not with wrath, but with the love of a Father for a beloved child. That is why I do not fear the sudden ending that is promised in the Bible. I don’t fear the triumphant return of Jesus. I look forward to it…to the end of all sin and death. Now, that is an ending that I can really savor! Blessings to all of my readers and prayers that all of you know the freedom and hope that comes from knowing Jesus!

I have always been a worrier. I worried about the weather, plans for the day, my health, my husband’s health, etc. You name it, I have worried about it. But God has a different plan. He wants me to turn over everything to Him and trust Him for the outcome. I like His plan a lot better. That’s not to say that I don’t still choose to worry sometimes, but I really try not to because God doesn’t want me stressed. I think too much stress led to my stroke. After all, it was during exam time and I was tasked with getting over 140 exams graded and all of my grades averaged in less than a week. So, stress! So, now, when I see stress coming, I close my eyes, focus on God and His goodness and love for me and work on being worry free.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Blessings, my friends, for a wonderful day and a safe and happy weekend!

Once again, I have been blessed with friends who traveled out west and allowed me to use their photos with Scriptures. Be blessed, my online friends, even as God has blessed me with the vision of His wonderful world!

Photos courtesy of Terri Ruff McCormick and Michael Allen McCormick.