Hiding Places - Erin Healy

Title:               Hiding Places

Author:            Erin Healy

Publisher:        Thomas Nelson

Market:           Christian

Genre:             Christian Fiction

Length:            368 pages

Pub. Date:       September 8, 2015

Description (from Amazon):

Eleven-year-old Kate Whitby leads an invisible life, the youngest member of her odd family. They live in their historic small-town hotel, where she is an expert at keeping everyone’s secrets: her sister’s a thief, her great-grandmother isn’t as crazy as people think, her mother lives in the past, and her beloved grandfather might have killed his best friend.

Devoted to the people she loves—more than they have ever been to her—Kate vows to protect each one.

Charlie Fuse has lived on the streets since his alcoholic father threw him out. When Charlie’s powerful street family tests his loyalty by demanding that he kill the son of a rival gang leader, he refuses. They frame him for the murder, forcing Charlie to run.

When Kate finds Charlie injured and penniless, she hides him from his enemies and her uncharitable relatives, unaware that he has a connection to her family as old as the hotel itself.

The murderous gang tracks Charlie down. To flush him out, they take the clueless family hostage and threaten young Kate. Even then, Kate keeps Charlie hidden, putting all her childlike faith in one terrible hope: that the family who has never been able to protect her before might learn how to do it now.

My Review:

When I saw that Erin Healy had a new book out, I was thrilled.  I enjoyed her previous books written with Ted Dekker.  But I believe that might have set me up for some disappointment.

This is the story of a young girl, Kate, who lives with her very dysfunctional, multi-generational family in their historic hotel.  And also the story of Charlie and his search for freedom and family.  Let’s also throw in the story of Fox, bent on revenge.  And we can throw in a pawn shop murder and a swindler for good measure.  Basically, there’s a lot going on in this book.  Too much to make it truly believable or enjoyable.

Kate is more precocious than your typical 11-year old; her character felt a bit over the top.  As did most of the characters and a lot of the situations and events they found themselves in.  It was just too much.

I think the book would appeal to more YA readers than it did to me.  However, a caution would be there is some drinking/drug use referred to, gang activity, and violence including murder.  None of it was over the top descriptive though.

Overall, I was disappointed in the read.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

***This review is also posted on The Christian Manifesto and at Goodreads

Pros:

• Easy and fast paced read
  
  

Cons:

• Caricatures more than characters
• Too much going on to fully develop anything or anyone

My Rating:      1.5 out of 5 (poor)

Hidden Agenda - Lisa Harris

Title:               Hidden Agenda

Author:            Lisa Harris

Publisher:        Fleming H. Revell

Market:           Christian

Genre:             Christian Fiction; Suspense

Series:             Southern Crimes #3

Length:            305 pages

Pub. Date:       January 1, 2015

Description (from Amazon):

Michael Hunt is alive--and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he's been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is the daughter of the man who wants him dead.

This nonstop chase from taut suspense writer Lisa Harris will leave readers breathless as they race to connect the dots before it's too late.

My Review:

When I picked up this book, I didn’t realize it was third in a series.  This happens to me a lot.  In this case, it was okay.  While I knew I was missing some details that might have enhanced the reading, I wasn’t not at all lost or confused in the text.

I liked the characters – both the heroic and the villainous. 

I didn’t find the story particularly suspenseful.  I felt enough clues were left along the way that I had most things figured out before they were revealed.  However, I think it was still an entertaining read.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Pros:

• Fast paced
• Interesting characters
  
  

Cons:

• Predictable
  
  

My Rating: 3 out of 5 (liked it)

Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee

From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch--"Scout"--returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise's homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past--a journey that can be guided only by one's conscience.

Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor and effortless precision--a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic.


I went into this book with a lot of expectations since I had followed a lot of the hubbub surrounding it's publishing. 


Is it the book that TKMB is?  No, of course not.  It was a first draft that was pretty completely reworked to create TKMB. And, as that, it is a worthwhile read.
Is Atticus a racist?  You know, this is probably what I heard the most about prior to reading - that Atticus does a complete 180 and becomes a racist.  And I really didn't find that to be the case.  Perhaps because I expected to read about him parading around in a white sheet.  Instead, I see him more as a man who is trying to deal with the changing times the best way he knows how given his background and society at the time.  Were some of his actions disappointing?  Yes.  But I think that's because this book shows him as human with flaws and making mistakes in a way that TKMB never did.  And I appreciate that because it also shows a lot about the character of Jean Louise. 

It wasn't spectacular, but I'm glad I read it.

Pros:

• a look at Scout all grown up
• an interesting perspective on how Lee's writing changed
• a realistic picture of the times
• flawed characters

Cons:

• I think some of the media surrounding the book will drive some people away from reading it
• I really wasn't fond of grown up Scout

Rating:  2.5/5

Curiosity Keeper - Sarah E. Ladd

Title:                Curiosity Keeper        

Author:            Sarah E. Ladd

Publisher:        Thomas Nelson

Market:            Christian

Genre:             Christian Fiction; Historical Fiction

Series:              Treasures of Surrey #1

Length:            352 pages

Pub. Date:       July 7, 2015

 

 

Description (from Amazon):

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whomever possesses it.”

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop on Blinkett Street. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille has no choice but to accept help from the mysterious stranger who came to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content working as a village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may or may not be the answer to his questions.

Curious circumstance throws them together, and an intricate dance of need and suspicion leads the couple from the seedy backwaters of London to the elite neighborhoods of the wealthy to the lush, green Surrey countryside—all in the pursuit of a blood-red gem that collectors will sacrifice anything to possess.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, each will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

 

My Review:

I requested this book from NetGalley based on the description and, yes, I also judged the book by its cover.  I expected an intriguing mystery about a lost jewel and two people searching for it (and growing) together. 

The mystery wasn’t that intriguing.  It was fairly easy to figure out all of the twists and turns and final conclusions.  Nor does Camille or Jonathan seem particularly interested in finding the missing ruby.  They both seem to be moving on with their lives, both individually and together.  However, even though my expectations weren’t really met, I still enjoyed the reading of the book and think it was worth the time.

The prose and dialogue flowed nicely.  While there were a few inconsistencies in the text, it didn’t interrupt or really detract from the overall story.  The story structure itself was also satisfying.  I wasn’t lost at the beginning but there also wasn’t so much background information that I grew bored before getting to the meat of the tale.  There were some lengthier descriptions.  These were well written, though, so even they were engaging.

Both Camille and Jonathan (as well as many of the supporting characters like Jonathan’s sister and father) were well-developed.  They were multi-faceted, changing, and growing characters throughout the book.    The story is driven forward based on their personal struggles and the issues surrounding the missing ruby and its effects on their lives.  I did feel like the romance portion moved a little too quickly.  But overall it, too, was believable. 

Sarah Ladd seemed to be well-versed in the period in England she chose as her setting.  There was nothing to jump out as glaringly impossible or inaccurate.  It was a satisfying read in all aspects.

The spiritual aspects of the book were handled appropriately.  Camille struggles some with her faith while Jonathan is more a solid rock believer.  Through situations and circumstances, Camille grows in her trust in God and His good will. 

The only elements that might not appeal to ultra-conservative readers are the mention a few times of the drinking of wine and some smoking.  However, I believe that these customs were very true to the times represented.  So they are not really endorsed or offensive. 

All in all, this was a pleasant book to read.  It was not as gripping from a mystery or suspense standpoint as I had hoped.  Regardless, the characters and the writing style made it enjoyable. 

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Pros:

·         Sweet romance
·         Likeable characters
·         Wonderful descriptions
 

Cons:

·         Not much of a mystery
·         Back cover/description promised more than the book delivered
 

My Rating:      3.5 out of 5 (Good)

The Crimson Cord - Jill Eileen Smith

Publisher:        Revell

Market:            Christian

Genre:             Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction

Series:              Daughters of the  Promised Land #1

Length:            368 pages

Pub. Date:       February 17, 2015

 

Description (from Amazon):

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution by Dabir, counselor to the Syrian king, Rahab despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime. In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

 

My Review:

Rahab is not a person from the Bible I have really spent much time thinking about.  I know the basics:  she saved the spies and she’s in the lineage of Jesus.  That’s about it.  So I found it fascinating to read Smith’s take on the story.  She fills in the details of Rahab’s life in a way that is believable even if speculative. 

Rahab as a character is multi-dimensional.  She is shown with her flaws as well as her growth through those flaws.  The interaction of characters is dynamic and interesting.

I will say that some of the supporting characters seem a bit flat.  But that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book as a whole. 

In conclusion, an interesting take on the story of Rahab, based on the information found in the Biblical text and expounded on from there. 

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

 

 

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Choosing - Rachelle Dekker

Publisher:        Tyndale House Publishers

Market:            Christian

Genre:             YA, Fiction, Dystopian

Length:            464 pages

Pub. Date:       May 19, 2015

 

Description (from Amazon):

Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.

But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within.

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

 

My Review:

I received this book as an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

I have been reading Ted Dekker’s books for years and have read most of them.  They are intriguing.  So when I came across a book written by his daughter on Edelweiss, I knew I wanted to read it.  Regardless of what it was about, I wanted to see how her writing compared to her father’s.  

While there were some similarities between the two, Rachelle shows in this book that she is more than capable of standing on her own and writing a story worth reading.  I was very pleasantly surprised with the story telling, character development, and overall message targeting her Young Adult audience.

The book jumps right into the action of a Choosing Ceremony.  While it was puzzling to jump right into the middle of a scene and a character’s thoughts, it certainly made me want to keep reading.  I wanted to follow Carrington as she is questioning all that is occurring as well; I was putting the pieces together to understand what was happening.  This book was definitely a page turner from start to finish.

I will say the text was full of typos, and that is probably the main negative I have to say about the book.  However, since I was reading an ARC, I imagine those have all been fixed in the final copy.  Additionally, the story was so engaging that I was able to overlook the annoyances, even as a former English teacher.  That is rare for me.

The story is very smooth flowing between dialogue, character interaction, character introspection, and description.  I would say the only thing that broke the flow was when the first few chapters each ended with retellings of the society’s history.  While this was necessary for an understanding of the story world, it was jarring at times.  I was glad when those history lessons dropped off early in the book.

Carrington was a very dynamic character.  She has a very visceral struggle between all she’s been taught to believe as truth versus what her heart tells her truth really is.  What is her worth?  Where does her value come from?  How do you navigate what your life is to be?  What do you do when you work so hard but don’t get the results you expect? 

Her challenges were portrayed in a very realistic way.  The other characters were equally as realistic and their motivations as believable.  I could feel Carrington’s father’s emotion for her and her pain.  I understood Larkin’s feelings of loneliness at her ostracism.  The whole set up of The Authority and its cast system was troubling to its very core.  The growing feelings between various characters (including Carrington’s own conflicting emotions) were handled in a manner appropriate to the intended audience and in a true-life manner.  All of it together drew me in to the story world and kept me captured. 

While I did find parts of the story line predictable, like the mystery behind the murdered Lint girls and the budding romance, that didn’t detract from the overall story for me nor did the predictability detract from the well-developed characters and plot.  The much needed message of value and worth just because of whom we are and WHOSE we are (children of God) more than compensated for the predictability. 

Scriptures are quoted throughout the book.  At times, members of The Authority twisted them for self-serving purposes or to justify actions.  This showed that if you don’t know the Word for yourself you can be easily led away from the truth by those in leadership. 

There is some violence in the book.  It is not gratuitous in any way. 

I look forward to having both my tween and teen daughters read it and discussing the book with them.  I think the book definitely reaches its target audience of young adult girls and can be an opening to important conversations.

I did feel the book wrapped up too quickly.  It left several threads loose.  I am hoping there will be a second book to carry on the characters and their story.

Pros:  an important message packaged in a story that is intriguing and focused; kept me up late nights turning pages

Cons:  I want a sequel  J

 

My Rating:  5 out of 5 stars (near perfect)

A Bit of a Sabbatical

With a new little one soon to join our family, I have much to do in the next few weeks and then even more to do afterwards as I adjust to a new normal.  That being said, I probably will not be posting full reviews on here for a bit.  I will be trying to keep up with some short few paragraph reviews of what I'm reading.  And you can always check in on what I'm reading on Goodreads.  At the very least I'll be keeping track and giving star ratings over there.

~becki