A Bounty of Books

Stranger Things by Erin Healy is an engaging suspense story based around the sordid world of human trafficking. Each character is somehow connected to this world, including the main character, Serena, a high school biology teacher who finds herself in a huge mess after allegations from a student surface. The main action happens over the course of four days and is showcased from a number of points of view.

I was first exposed to Erin Healy through Burn and Kiss, the novels she coauthored with Ted Dekker. I was excited to see how she did on her own, and I wasn't disappointed. Healy took a difficult and somewhat unrecognized problem, that of domestic sex trafficking, and built and engaging story around it that puts names and faces to the problem. First and foremost, Stranger Things is a work of fiction and it accomplishes the goal of entertaining quite well. However, the greatest works of fiction don't just entertain, but instruct as well. The thought that drives the characters in Stranger Things that fight against domestic sex trafficking is thinking "you are my sister" about every girl they meet. It's easier to ignore massive issues when we think of them as such - as massive, faceless, nameless issues. When the issue is seen through the lens of a person with a name and a story however, it is much harder to ignore. This is what Healy has done while still entertaining and without being preachy about it. My favorite part of the novel is that she used a physical location as a "thin place" an old Celtic concept where the line between the physical and spiritual world is nearly non-existent. It makes the house almost as much of a character as the people.

Stranger Things includes a list of questions for those who read through it as a group to discuss. The cover is attractive and an accurate representation of what is inside. The characters and dialogue are realistic and interesting. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of fiction with elements of suspense, redemption, relatable characters, or that brings light to major problems that exist in the real world.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

For those of you who like such things, I thought I'd pass this along. Moody Publishers is hosting a contest where the winner wins a year of books. What could be better? Not much. Let me know if you win!

Samson: A Savior Will Rise by Shawn Hoffman is one of the more difficult books I've ever read, because of the content. Most of the novel, which is based on true events, takes place in Auschwitz. Dr. Josef Mengele and his experiments are largely featured and several of the main character's family members are involved in them. The main character, Samson, and his family are amalgamations of people who were actually in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. The story follows Samson and his family from the incident that sends them to the camp, through the eventual demise of many of the characters, and the subsequent end of the war.

Hoffman does a good job of blending fact and fiction. While it is understood that the characters and the circumstances that brought them to the camp are fictional, everything else, including everything that happens in the camp is based on fact. When a particularly hard to believe incident occurs, Hoffman provides documentation that the incident actually happened in the form of a footnote at the bottom of the page. As familiar as I felt I was with the atrocities of the concentration camps, I was not prepared for some of the details of experiments Dr. Mengele performed. I appreciate the fact that Hoffman represented the historical figures with attention to historical detail.

The Holocaust in general, and what Dr. Mengele did in particular are difficult topics to discuss. Hoffman's creation of a fictional family that experiences these things actually helped ground them in reality for me. Some of them are so horrific and beyond human thought that had I read about them on their own, without the association of the narrative, I don't know that they would've had the same impact. Hoffman does a great job of providing historical fact while also telling a compelling story that raises important questions about faith and hope. While it is a difficult read that requires a mature reader, I would recommend Samson: A Savior Will Rise to anyone interested in WWII, the Holocaust, or simply important questions about how faith and hope are shaped among the worst of circumstances.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis is an enchanting story of the lifelong love of Gabe and Huck Alexander. Adam Colby, an estate broker, stumbles across albums filled with weekly postcards from the Alexander's sixty year marriage, each with an original poem written by Gabe on the back. Recently divorced and intrigued by a love that seems to eclipse anything he has ever experienced, Colby seeks out the only person who can help him fill in the gaps of the Alexander's story, their long time housekeeper's daughter Yevette Galloway.

The story of Gabe and Huck's love is told by Yevette to Adam in flashbacks told from both Alexanders' perspectives, though mainly through Huck's. Through this retelling, both Yevette and Adam discover some truth they've been seeking. Each chapter that tells the Alexander's story begins with one of the poems found on a postcard, as well as a place and date. Most of the story involves their early years, though the last four or five chapters cover stories that occur several years apart until Gabe's death.

I'm not generally a fan of romantic fiction of any sort, in any medium. However, the constancy of a man writing his wife a postcard every week for six decades intrigued me, which prompted me to request to review this book. I'm so glad I did. Forever Friday is a powerful story of the kind of love a man and woman can experience when they are completely devoted to one another and their relationship is founded in faith. This was a retelling of a simple, rich, and powerful romance without any of the sap and frivolity that ruins many other stories. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance stories, simple stories of how people relate to one another, or anyone interested in the history of the Houston area in the early 1900s as this is where the majority of the story takes place.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Though Heart Failure is not edge of your seat suspenseful, it is fairly entertaining and keeps the reader guessing. There are enough red herrings thrown in that do a good job of obscuring the truth of who is behind the attacks and why until the end. Adam and Carrie share equally in the narration, with the perspective sometimes shifting mid-scene. The balance provides good character development and gives the reader insight into both main characters and their thoughts and motivations. The other characters are entertaining and add to the uncertainty both the main characters and the reader feel as the story progresses. The faith of both main characters is developed as more of a background theme than a dominant one. The romance between Adam and Carrie is a key part of the story, though I think calling Heart Failure a romantic novel would be a stretch.

I'd recommend Heart Failure by Richard Mabry to anyone who enjoys a solid story with some twists and turns. Those who enjoy reading novels told from one than more perspective will especially enjoy this. There is a little something for those who enjoy suspense, a touch of romance, or modern day stories.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Hopelifter by Kathe Wunnenberg is a mixture of advice and encouragement about the powerful ways God can work in the lives of women who offer hope to one another. The first part discusses what hope is and the different arenas in which it can be found such as people, places, or objects. The second part discusses ways to overcome discouragement, the need to offer hope to those who usually fill that role, and the importance of spreading hope. The third part is a collection of 100 unique ways to offer hope in common situations women face. There is also a discussion guide and a collection of Bible verses about hope included in the back.

Having founded and run Hopelifters Unlimited, an organization dedicated to spreading the hope of Christ in the lives of women, Kathe Wunnenberg is uniquely qualified to offer advice on the subject of hope. Many women want to help one another and offer hope and encouragement during a difficult time; however, many find it difficult to know what to say or do in the face of a situation that is so daunting and sometimes unfamiliar. Another thing that makes Wunnenberg a great source of information on this topic is the fact that she has gone through many of these situations, including miscarriage, adoption, and the loss of a job among others. Wunnenberg openly shares her struggles and what was helpful to her during these times.

The 100 Recipe's of Hope are the most unique feature of this book. Almost every one is written by someone who has experienced the situation being addressed. (The rest are written by women who have been directly involved with someone who has). Each recipe offer a simple, yet creative way to bring a bit of light to a dark situation. Oftentimes, the most difficult step is the first one. Having such  a solid starting place to launch from will help many women come up with even more creative ways to offer hope to those around them.

Overall, Hopelifters is a fantastic resource for anyone, but especially women, who has ever wanted to reach out to someone but just didn't know how. Wunnenberg's honesty about her own struggles, and the numerous examples she shares of how God has moved in her life as well as the lives of those around her make everything discussed very accessible and easy to grasp. I'm excited to put some of what I read to use, and I encourage any woman who has ever needed a little jump start in offering hope to someone to keep a copy of this handy.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Breaking out of his normal legal thriller genre, Robert Whitlow's The Living Room tells the story of the dreams of Amy Clarke and how they affect her family life and work. Amy is a mother and wife who used to work as a legal secretary. Over the last couple of years, she has stayed home to write inspirational romance novels. The source of these novels are special dreams she has had since childhood where she is directly in the Lord's presence.

When the reader meets Amy, she is finishing her second novel and her life enters a time of flux. She goes back to work part time, her daughter faces a new threat at school, and her dreams change from something she can keep private, to something that directly get involved in the lives of those around her.The Living Room tells the story of this time in Amy's life.

The Living Room is a pretty good read. It has the same kind of tension that Whitlow's legal thrillers have that keep the reader guessing what will happen next. However, the story, characters, and dialogue are not as organic and natural feeling as they are in Whitlow's other novels. It was obvious he was out of his element writing from the point of view of a housewife. I don't think it is because Amy is a woman while most of his other novels feature a male as the protagonist; his Tides of Truth trilogy has a female lead and is just as good as any of his other stand alone novels. I can't quite put my finger on it, but for some reason, even though it is still a quality read that I would recommend, The Living Room lacks the natural flow that is normally one of Whitlow's strongest assets.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255