Editorial Review

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut.Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. ... Read more

Reviews

Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conference) in Stuck In The Middle
Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.

As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.

This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.

Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.

Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle"
Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

very good
Once I got going (only a few pages in) I read it in one day. I was laughing hysterically at parts, and love a good heart-warming message with God at the center. Sending it onto my sister - the interactions of the sisters were very real - I have 3 of them!

Moving story about one woman's quest to break free
Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith is the story of Joan Sanderson and her boring, going-nowhere life. She's been dumped by her long time boyfriend, Roger the Rat, her older sister is pregnant, and her beautiful younger sister has a terrific job. Joan lives with her mother and grandmother, who is becoming increasingly fragile. When a hunky doctor moves in next door, Joan sees what she's been missing, but little sister Tori also wants him. This book is far more than just chick-lit. Joan feels alienated from everyone around her. Her father left her as a young teen, and she resents her mother for his departure. She can't relate to God, because she doesn't feel like He is reaching out to her, but when she hears a missionary speak at her church, she feels the need to know God personally. Joan is a Christian like so many; she believes in God and has faith; she attends church regularly and does all the right things. But she's not connected to Him and hasn't experienced His wonder, until some chocolate ice cream shows up at just the right moment. Joan realizes that she can't get things right with her mother, sisters, or even the cute doctor, until she makes things right with God, and that means examining things in her past. Joan is believable and sympathetic, her heartache shows on every page as she struggles to do what's right without really knowing what that is. Very often our relationship with God has been influenced by our relationship with our earthly father, and this book is an excellent lesson on how to break free from the bonds of the past and security to find God. ... Read more

Editorial Review

She's not your average crime fighter!Ivy Malone has a curiosity that sometimes gets her into trouble, and it's only aggravated by her discovery that she can easily escape the public eye. So when vandals romp through the local cemetery, she takes advantage of her newfound anonymity and its unforeseen advantages as she launches her own unofficial investigation.Despite her oddball humor and unconventional snooping, Ivy soon becomes discouraged by her failure to turn up any solid clues. And after Ivy witnesses something ominous and unexplained, she can't resist putting her investigative powers to work again. Even the authorities' attempts to keep Ivy out of danger and her nosy neighbor's match-making schemes can't slow her down. But will the determination that fuels this persistent, quirky sleuth threaten her very safety?"I laughed out loud. McCourtney's charming mystery debuts a voice both enchanting and startling."-Colleen Coble, author of Without a Trace"McCourtney's skill at blending whimsy, quirks, and questions into a lead character makes Invisible a must read."-Lois Richer, author of Dangerous Sanctuary"Invisible is a treat! Ivy Malone is a heroine with spunk and determination!"-Carol Cox, author of A Stitch in Time ... Read more

Reviews

A light mystery book with a heaping helping of religious sauce
"I'll just read the first few pages."

Or so I thought as I began Chapter One of INVISIBLE at 11:30 PM on a Tuesday night. But I hadn't figured the heroine-spunky Ivy Malone-or her humor-laced story, into my plans.

Four hours later, I was reading the last lines of the book through gritty, but determined eyes, wishing very much that I could claim Ivy Malone as my grandmother, or at least my next-door neighbor.

To say this book is delightful is hardly sufficient. Written from a first person point of view, which is a different voice from McCourtney's past offerings, INVISIBLE is an absolute triumph. Wit and wisdom, pathos and perseverance, and downright eccentricity flow from Ivy's first vision of Nixon in her tomato patch, to her race with flying bullets, really bad bad guys, and the Hound of the Baskervilles in a grungy auto wrecking yard.

And while the tone of the story is humorous from start to finish, a number of deep questions are also addressed. Questions about the goodness and reality of God in the face of death, loss, and injury. Questions about what's right and what's wrong when justice must be served. Questions about where and how to belong in a world that seems to have forgotten you, or perhaps never noticed you in the first place.

In Ivy Malone, readers will find a combination of wacky humor, endearing stubbornness, and unconventional sincerity. In Ivy's story, readers will slink through torn up gravesites, take a dive inside a murdered woman's closet, and watch the stars with a cute guy named Mac. And that's just the beginning!

INVISIBLE is a wild and highly entertaining ride from the first chapter to the last word.

I can't wait for the release of the sequel, IN PLAIN SIGHT, where I'm sure Ivy, and her big white Thunderbird, will cruise into more mayhem, mischief, and maybe even some good old fashioned romance.

Ivy, you go girl:)

A romping good mystery.
Ivy Malone, a spunky, grey-haired widow, realizes the world is passing her by, leaving her unnoticed and invisible. She, however, has no intention of silently growing old and passing away.

Deciding to put this newfound inconspicuousness to good use, she determines to snare some local vandals, who have been violating the cemetery. Little does she know that there are more forces at work than mere vandalism. Throw in the murder of a neighbor and soon danger is knocking at Ivy's door as well. Will Ivy's snooping land her in trouble too deep for her to handle? Or will the resourceful Ivy Malone be clever and "invisible" enough to not only save herself, but apprehend the bad guys, as well?

There's nothing invisible about McCourtney's irresistible humor, clever story-crafting, or delightful characters. After having read Invisible, one can't help but hope that this new series will be a long one. A romping good mystery.

Craig Hart - CraigHart.net/ChristianLit Magazine

McCourtney is a skillful writer
Lorena McCourtney is a writer of romance and mysteries. Hailing from the State of Oregon, she and her husband love the outdoors. She graduated with a degree in agriculture from Washington State University. She is a woman of faith and has dedicated her later books to Christian values.

Ivy Malone has just lost her best friend, Thea. Thea rented part of her home to a beautiful and circumspect woman who went by the name of Kendra Alexander. Just as Ivy is feeling like a LOL (Little Old Lady) who is invisible to most people, circumstances conspire to change her life. A country cemetery is vandalized, and when the short-handed police haven't the resources to investigate, Ivy engages in nocturnal sleuthing. But then Kendra's apparent disappearance sharpens her naturally inquisitive mind, and when Kendra's murdered corpse is discovered in a nearby river, Ivy goes into action:

"Well, I was here to investigate. The circumstances did not appear to be ideal, but I figured I may as well start investigating. I pulled my photo of the person

I knew as Kendra out of my purse. 'Do you know this young woman?'

'The woman shook her head. 'Who is she?'

'Possibly a friend of Kendra's.' I brought out the photocopy of the young man's photo. 'What about him?'

Another shake of the head. 'What's this all about?'"

For a woman who is on Social Security, Ivy Malone has guts. She also has a wry sense of humor, attracts fellow senior males easily, and isn't afraid to launch herself into dangerous, and at times, hilarious situations. She is constantly mindful of her faith, which could interfere with the story but doesn't. She is an inspiration to those around her, and it could be a sign of the times that even older women refuse to be shunted aside.

INVISIBLE is an entertaining mystery which is a whodunit, as well as a "who does this corpse belong to?" McCourtney is a skillful writer with definite ideas and an inventive mind. It is no surprise that she is a popular author. INVISIBLE is lots of fun!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Alot better than I thought it would be...
As a senior citizen most of the time society pays you little attention; to most elderly people this is peaceful, but to some like Ivy Malone, it is a great advantage to get want she wants. In Ms. Malone's case, it's useful for going unnoticed (hence the title "Invisible") during any of her investigations. So when a local cemetery where her aunt and uncle are buried is found vandalized, she plans to avenge her relatives and decides to spring into action.
Thea, the next door neighbor and best friend of Ivy Malone has just died. Before she went she rented part of her home to a young lady by the name of Kendra Alexander. During this time Ivy feels as though everyone in the world is passing by her, or as if she really has no importance in life. However, as soon as she learns of the police deciding not to investigate a local cemetery being vandalized she feels a great breath of inspiration and starts taking action by herself. Soon the investigation seems to get more and more dangerous for Ivy Malone, as shortly after deciding to take the case young Kendra Alexander is reported missing and eventually found murdered in a nearby river. Using her "invisible" status, Ivy Malone does some great sleuthing until she eventually finds the vandals and they are apprehended by the police.
There are many things that make Invisible good book. One of them is the fact that although it's a mystery, it uses a humorous tone all throughout. So not only are you pulled in by the captivating tale of the mystery, but also by the comedy that will keep you even more entertained. In addition to those reasons, the book also discusses deep topics on things such as religion and about where you belong in society. I would recommend Invisible to anyone willing to have a good read.

Lorena McCourtney does a good job of implementing comedy into her mystery. This comedy keeps the reader entertained while also making the reader anxious to continue to get a good laugh. Some examples of this humor are when she finds the Hound of the Baskervilles in a junk yard, when she envisions Nixon in a tomato patch, and when she has a race with flying bullets. The humorous tone of the book made me really enjoy it.
Ironically, a humorous tone is not the only thing included in Invisible, but also deep topics that make you think. For example, one deep topic is when Ivy Malone feels as though she is no longer important to society because she is an elderly lady. Is that necessarily true or not? Another is during the book, Ivy Malone still continues to praise God although all these bad things start happening in her life. Some people always speculate if there is a god then why do bad things happen to good people, and this shows another case of that. This attribute of the book makes it more versatile and attracts an even wider audience than the usual mystery and comedy fans.
The main reason I liked this book is because of the story of the mystery itself. I thought it was pretty cool how the author used Ivy Malone's old age as a way to go unnoticed through her investigations. I also liked how the motivation for the protagonist is set up, by having her uncle's and aunt's tombstones vandalized and her feeling inspired and vengeful.

Invisible uses a good mix of humor, mystery, and description that keeps the reader interested. In addition, it discusses deep topics that include religious beliefs and the difference between right and wrong. Overall, Lorena McCourtney's book is a well rounded mystery, while also incorporating in other genres such as comedy and religious writing to make it even more interesting and better.

(...) ... Read more

Editorial Review

What if America suddenly lost all its electrical power, its communications, its transportation, its financial system, its government leadership, and its media? What if an upper middle-class neighborhood of families who hardly know each other's names, suddenly had to form a functioning, self-contained community? How would people in the 21st Century, spoiled by microwaves and fast food, air travel and speeding cars, television and air conditioning, learn to function if they no longer had cars that ran, grocery stores, postal service, running water, computers, big screen TVs? If they had to hunt to eat or grow their own food? If they had to dig wells for water? If they had to learn to wash their clothes in the nearby lake? If they had to establish a neighborhood school and a neighborhood church? And what if the crisis created looters and killers who thought they could rob and murder without consequences? This series combines elements of Growing up Gotti with Little House on the Prairie. After an unexplained catastrophic event in the atmosphere knocks out all electronics in the world, these well-to-do families who've accumulated so many things are suddenly left helpless. Their Mercedes and BMWs sit in their driveways, useless. Their expensive, well-appointed homes have no electricity, no refrigeration, no phones. Even their battery-operated electronics don't work. No one is certain whether the country is under attack. Without communication, there is no way to find out. One family of Christians--the Brannings--realizes the needs of those around them. After wrestling with their own anger, fear and despair, and struggling in prayer with the Lord, they begin to realize that they have a job to do. They begin trying to unite the neighbors in a common effort to survive, and instead of hoarding, they realize that Christ has called them to sacrifice and give. But a couple is found dead in their neighborhood, and they realize that there is a killer among them. As they struggle to protect their own family and property, their 22-year-old daughter Deni falls prey to the killer, and takes off with him across the country, desperate to make her way to the East Coast where she thinks her life will be better. It doesn't take long for her to realize he's the killer and that she's in danger. But getting back home is more difficult than she ever imagined, and she is forced to turn back to Christ in repentance and humility, knowing He is the only One who can help her get home. ... Read more

Reviews

Not what I was expecting
I have to be honest, I had no idea "Last Light" was written by a "Christian Writer" when I bought this book. To be completely honest if I had known this book was written by a "Christian Writer" I don't think I would have purchased it. I would have been worried that instead of a taut Sci-Fi/Thriller that the book's jacket promised, I would be buying a 300+ page sermon. My normal reading fare falls more along the lines of Stephen King, James Rollins or Dean Koontz, which if they feature a character strong in faith, it's usually a precursor to the evil they do, and tells the reader they are not to be trusted. So when I got home and found I had bought novel by a "Christian Writer" I wasn't exactly thrilled. I started the book, and got hooked pretty quickly. The idea of living without all of our electric and mechanical conveniences was a pretty cool idea. The characters are pretty well drawn, especially the quick tempered Deni, who like it or not we all can relate to very easily. The pace of the book is quick, and the murder mystery carries the story along nicely. I see other reviews that say they didn't care for the murderer storyline, but liked the rest of the novel. I don't quite understand that, as the murder mystery is easily 1/2 the book if not more. Most of the key action revolves around who the killer may be, and neighborhood's reactions to the killer's presence. I believe Mrs. Blackstock gives an honest portrayal of they way people would react in the circumstances surrounding the catastrophic events that take place in her novel. I didn't plan on liking this novel, and there were a few times I felt the book got too "preachy", but "Last Light" kept me turning pages and coming back for more. And though this seems to be the first book in a series, it's not a cliffhanger. The story stands on it's own without leaving you with unanswered questions that require reading the next book in the series. I will most likely pick up the follow up novel, and recommend this book to fans of suspense novels.

Another great Blackstock series launched with "Last Light"
Those who have read any of Terri Blackstock's more than two dozen books can attest to the undeniable fact that she is truly an extraordinary writer. Her suspenseful novels meet or exceed the best of this genre; while remaining true to her deeply held Christian faith (her books are always '...lovingly dedicated to the Nazarene'). "LAST LIGHT," the first of four books planned for her current 'Restoration' series, sets an even higher standard, with her challenging theme of our planet being stripped of its electricity, and other forms of power which most of us take for granted. After reading "LAST LIGHT," the only disappointment is having to wait for the remaining books in what promises to be yet another great series! --RON HOWE (a.k.a. Toby Martin II).

Scared Me
I have read most of Blackstock's books and have enjoyed them a great deal. I was very excited when this one came out and started reading it right away. Although the murder mystery part was not as captivating as some of her other novels, I was totally drawn into the Brannings "new" world. It scared me at times just thinking about what could happen and at other times I wondered if that's not what we need to have happen. I loved the book and can't wait for the next one to come out.

A terrific read lots of suspense
I gotta say, Terri Blackstock is quickly becoming my favorite author with each new book that I read. I have read quite a few, and this one is excellent. I couldn't put it down, stayed up late to finish, if you like suspense, you will like this. Also, its great for giving you pause for thought about your own spirituality. As a christian, I am finding the christian suspense genre to be a wonderful reading category on dual layers. Get the book, it will be worth it.

Real-to-Life Fiction
If you remember Hurricane Katrina, then you will want to read "Last Light"! Terri Blackstock let her mind wander in late 2004 thinking of the "what ifs" if a major catastrophe were to strike America, only to find herself and her family thrust into that very reality on August 29th 2005 in her home state of Mississippi, along with their neighbors in Louisiana and Alabama. Her all-to-real fictional depiction of devastation will have you thinking what would you do if ever confronted with such a crisis in your community. In addition, as a mystery writer, Terri keeps you turning the pages as you wonder who is responsible for the needless deaths occurring under such horrific circumstances and why. "Last Light" is superb and definitely worth your time to read. Kudos to Terri Blackstock for a job well done!

Last Light
I watch for new every title Terri publishes. Each book of her many series stands alone, yet keeps you hungry for the next in a series. As soon as I finished Last Light I immediately ordered Night Light (Book#2.) Others have written about the Last Light story line, basically I concur. But I had a couple of issues with the reality side of such an event. The biggest disconnect with me was the failure of all engines with a computer chip, from cars to home generators. That's certainly true in theory. But I can't believe that even in a smaller community a few bright mechanics or engineers could not tinker with these things and figure out a way to by pass the fried electornics. In Book 2 someone finally gets a brain and realizes that older cars (classics) still run. In the Branning's upscale neighborhood, don't tell me that someone didn't have an old Porche or restored '57 Chevy in their garage. Granted, it would take a lot of tinkering to get a modern SUV running when the chip(s) goes bad, but a couple of shade tree mechanics with a lot of time on their hands and a big incentive to succeed could certainly gerry-rig a bunch of direct wires and fire that sucker up. It might run rough, but it would run. Same for the home generator. For the sake of the story itself, which was about the people dealing with the crisis, it was probably better for the author to ignore these ideas. Still, it hurt my reading enjoyment as I placed myself in the character's shoes. Oh yeah, I went and stocked up on batteries and other "Hurricane items" after reading the book.... just in case! Lou Sauer, Raleigh, NC

Riveting
The concept of this storyline is fascinating and made me realize just how complacent we have become in the world due to our modern conveniences. The characters are well-written and believable, and you can really fall into the story as if you are there. I find this to be the case often with this author's books. I really appreciate a novel that can bring tears to my eyes due to the realism of the characters.

I also appreciated the Biblical concepts and the way she applied them within the story. When challenged by hardships beyond our comprehension, how would we handle passages like James 1:2-8 or Matthew 5 & 6?

Recommended if you like adventure/suspense/mystery novels. I just ordered book 2 in this series.

LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT . . . GONE. NOW WHAT?
I'd heard of Terri Blackstock. Knew she was a Christian fiction writer. Figured she wrote prairie romances.
ZZZZZZ
As I became more involved in the business of writing and trying to create my own fiction, I sought out other writers works to read. I stumbled across this novel, Last Light, and was intrigued by the cover. Picked it up, read the back cover blurb thought it might be really interesting. Read the first few scenes and . . . bought the book.
A man and his adult daughter step off an airplane in Alabama. Moments later everything turns silent. Another plane crash lands on the runway near them. A second plane falls, bursting into a fireball.
How could I not by a book like that? What happened? I had to know.
The story follows the Branning family (specifically the oldest daughter Deni) as they learn to live without modern amenities. All modern amenities. Something has happened which makes all technology expensive doorstops. Various storylines develop to move the story along. The major one is a murder. Suspects abound and the community basically has to take matters into their own hands to catch the killer. This is book one in a series called Restoration, however, the major treads that weaves this story together are tied up by the end making it a somewhat stand alone novel. The only thing really unresolved is the power outage and Deni getting back to DC. The second book in the series, Night Light is out now.
Blackstock's writing as great. Here characters, believable.
If you like stories of technology gone awry and the relational struggles that ensue, this is a story for you. I look forward to seeing how the Brannings fare as the plot thickens over the long haul of a series.
One thing that really impresses me is reviews I've read by those who are no Christian fiction readers. They've had good things to say. I've always believed, and try to practice with my own writing, that if you write a good story (as opposed to a sermon masquerading as a novel) you'll reach a broader audience with a message of hope.
Well done, Terri.
... Read more

Editorial Review

A charming historical novel set in the late 1800s. Born and raised in the hills of Kentucky, Laura "Copper" Grace loves the wilderness of her home in Troublesome Creek. But when her stepmother threatens to send her away to boarding school to become a lady, Copper faces the possibility of losing everything that is precious to her. Copper must come to terms with her family and discover the true meaning of home. Nothing can drag her off the mountain, until the day she realizes that God has other plans for her life.

Reviews

can't wait for the sequel
I'll just go ahead and use the most over used line in reviews. It was a real page turner. It transplanted me in time and place, to the late 1880's in Appalachia. The scene came alive on the pages. The characters were real and the novel's twists and turns were, for the most part, unpredictable. The reader has no choice but to identify with Copper, the twins and the various other characters. Troublesome Creek did not read like the writer's first novel. I could feel her own real life experiences seep through, in the small, detailed descriptions that made this novel seem so "true to life."

I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel. Does married life fit Copper, especially in the "big" city and not the woods of eastern Kentucky? Keep writing Jan, you've found your niche.

Excellent book!
This wonderful book has it all: tragedy, romance, adventure, history, and a compelling story of a young woman coming of age in the hills of Kentucky.

a great read
I thought this book was a delightful read. I, too, liked the unpredictability and the reality of life experiences found in Troublesome Creek. I was strengthened by the characters' reliance on their faith to carry them through whatever life brought their way. I can't wait for the sequel! I can't wait to see what happens to these folks next and I've got a feeling Jan Watson has more to say.

A Very Pleasurable Read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Watson's style of writing was so refreshing; I loved her descriptions and her dialogues...especially the very amusing comments by Copper's twin brothers! I love how she put everything in this book: sorrow, laughter, mystery, tension, & romance.

This book tells a couple of stories, starting with that of Copper's father and mother. Theirs was a true romance that soon ended in tragedy. However, her father's decision soon after made Copper into the woman she came to be, the woman I so very much enjoyed reading about! The setting happens to be in the hills of Kentucky around 1881. It's not often you find a story depicted in that setting, and that is one of the reasons I loved it so much.

This book was more entertaining than any others I've read in a while. If you have ever read "Christy" by Catherine Marshall, and enjoyed it as much as I did, you'll love this book!

Leisurely book for a break from life's rush
This first-time novelist captures the reader's heart as pages quickly turn to reveal plot twists and a story of real-life family love. This is how Jan Watson, author of Troublesome Creek, debuts her work as a novelist. Main character Copper, a sixteen-year-old girl from the hills of Kentucky, struggles through her teenage years with her loving, but somewhat sewn askew parents. After an introduction to the existing Brown family, Watson takes the reader into the family's turbulent past, bringing more complexity to the story. Troublesome Creek, the nearby waterfront that Will Brown has loved for so many years proves to be loving and unforgiving all at once. A mountain cat herself, young Copper's outdoor-loving instincts come to battle against her mother's desire for her to become a "proper lady." Threats of boarding school and city life lead Copper to make hasty, unwise decisions that guide her into paths she would never have chosen otherwise. A story of true, tested love and the blossoming of youth into adulthood makes this a gentle but poignant story.

Watson gracefully leads the reader into the plot by the powerful use of flashback. Troublesome Creek is revealed to the reader one piece at a time, but leaves no questions about what is to come. Relationships between characters are unforgettable and feel hauntingly realistic. Although Watson's plot twists are unusual in everyday life, a reader cannot help but empathize when the characters find themselves in painful or awkward situations.

Copper is a young and fiery redhead who loves the mountains, her family, and her hound dog Paw-Paw. As the story progresses, Copper finds herself in love with John, a friend from her childhood. Stepmother Grace and father Will serve her with guidance and stability as she makes decisions as an inexperienced adolescent. Rifts between mother and daughter emerge, as can only be expected in a story of a growing family. But, ultimately, love pulls the family through the rough waters of life, as years around Troublesome Creek transpire.

After finishing Troublesome Creek, a reader comes away changed and in love with life. Although some plot holes and weakly-constructed dialogue mechanically hinder the story's impact, Watson's first novel hits home. The book is appropriate for both young audiences and matured readers because of its unobtrusive and family-friendly content. Written in an easy-to-read vernacular, first-time fiction readers and experienced crowds alike will appreciate the Watson's work. Troublesome Creek is a leisurely book for a day in the sun or a break from the rush of life. -- Michelle Faulconer, Christian Book Previews.com

Well written and grabs your attention
This book takes place in the late 1800s and is about a young lady and the challenges of growing up in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. The writing is so descriptive; it was like reading in color. I usually only read magazines and technical articles, but this book grabbed me and I kept reading until I finished it. Ed

A must read at any age!
I just finished reading Troublesome Creek and I can't wait to hear what happens next with Copper. This was the type of book that when I fell asleep reading it, I dreamed about it. Jan Watson's descriptions of the characters and setting were so real that I felt like I was there at Troublesome Creek. Her description of the budding romance was also so real that my stomach got butterflies right along with Copper. This is a great story that I would recommend to a 13 year old or an 80 year old.

Bob Anderson - Walton, Kentucky
This story was refreshing because it is a historical novel that expresses the true culture of the Appalachian people at the turn of the 20th century. Their pride, feeling of community, and ability to be self-suffecient in a hard living area was exactly as it was expressed to me by my mother who grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. Jan Watson's story made me feel like I was sitting in my momma's kitchen listening to her many stories of her childhood. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It's that time of year again, and with excitement and high expectations, Rose has planned the perfect Christmas for her family and friends. But when she feels them drifting away during a time that should celebrate togetherness, Rose is forced to slow down in the most unexpected way. In this whimsical, uplifting story, she discovers the true meaning of giving. ... Read more

Reviews

It's the most stressful time of the year
The Christmas season has come and Rose is busy, busy, busy with preparations for the holidays. She's worn out from doing all sorts of stuff for the church, cooking meals for sick friends, volunteering in the thrift shop, taking on prayer requests, etc etc. She doesn't have time for anything else including cooking dinner for her own family. Everyone else is getting grumpy and Rose is beginning to feel worn out. The Christmas season is starting to look not so jolly after all, but isn't a Christian supposed to put others first before themselves?

Ok so I know the Christmas season isn't for another 2 and a half months. But Sam's club already has Christmas trees and lights up! So what better way to get into this mood that this short novella from Lori Copeland. It's really a modern day holiday version of the story of Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus from the Bible. Christians today seem to think that they need to sacrifice their own needs and wants to make everyone else happy. I've seen many Christian families torn apart because they will go out and do things for others but not for their own children. Many pastor's and missionary spouses and kids suffer because of this type of attitude. This book showed that while there is a time to help others for the glory of God, you should also be careful of not trying to do things to make your own self look good. Know your limit and do not let false guilt take over you. The story is written really well and I enjoyed the characters and getting to know their busy hectic lives. It was funny at how Rose tried to figure all the different meals as she didn't have time to cook, who knew kids could get tired of pizza? I also liked learning more about the Advent with the tidbits at the beginning of each chapter. The only downside about this book is now I can't wait for Christmas to come. Even though this book is short, you will get a LOT out of it.

Wonderful Story!
I read this book in one sitting. It is the story of one who wants to help everyone and truly cannot say "no" to anyone. She takes on so much that her family never sees her and her health suffers. It's a message that needs to be spread: Know your limitations and don't allow your family to be left behind. A wonderful Christmas story!

Slow down and enjoy Christmas with family
Review
It's short, sweet and packs a powerful punch. Lori reveals through her main character, Rose, what loving one another looks like. Rose is challenged by another verse "Be still and know I am God." She is rarely still long enough to know God is God - too busy. Sound familiar? Another verse "Rest in His assurance." Rest? Who has time for that? Things women struggle with daily. Lori reveals God's love in action through Rose. This book will gently remind you in practical ways, how to love one another & rest in God's assurance at Christmas and always.

Before some chapters begin, Lori weaves the meaning of Advent, explains the symbols and what they represent. The treat at the end of the story is the Bergman's holiday traditional recipes talked about in the story.

Lastly, a powerful letter written by Karen Hancock titled Jesus Didn't Hurry. This letter sums up the message of Unwrapping Christmas. A must read.


Nora St. Laurent
Book Club ServantLeader
www.psalm516.blogspot.com

A Nuanced Story
What I really like about Unwrapping Christmas is that it is a nuanced story. It makes its points subtly. It doesn't just make the point "Service is good" but goes on to add: "Service is good, but make sure that in serving others you don't do it in such a zealous, all consuming manner that you do a disservice to yourself or those you love most. This is a story about priorities. It is well written and should be read more than once.

I also highly recommend Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--an excellent story about the impact of small acts of kindness. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Please God, if you're listening, keep Rachel safe." She couldn't turn her back on her family in their time of need. So when her sister was injured, financial expert Andrea Hampton traded the big city for Amish country to help turn her grandmother's house into an inn. But life with the Plain People took a treacherous turn when a string of accidents and pranks threatened her family. Someone didn't want the secrets the old house harbored to come to light. Trusting anyone—even the handsome carpenter who seemed so genuine—was a battle for Andrea, but her life depended on her ability to find the truth.

Reviews

Excellent start to the series
Andrea Hampton is used to the safety and security of her big city job. However, nothing will keep her from running back to her sister's side after Rachel is involved in a horrific accident. But helping Rachel and her grandmother open up a bed and breakfast? Ridiculous...and yet that is the position she finds herself in. Carpenter Cal Burke seems willing to help. Just what is going on with this rash of accidents plaguing the inn and its owners?

I read the first two books of The Three Sisters Inn series out of order, but the overall beauty of this series remains intact; HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is the first book and an excellent start to the series.

Marta Perry creates such beautiful settings for her tales. HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is set in the heart of Amish country. The peaceful setting provides a sharp contrast to the increasingly dangerous attacks on the Hampton family. In fact, the atmosphere accentuates the danger that lurks in this seemingly tranquil environment.

Marta Perry develops characters the reader wants to revisit over and over again. Andrea's transformation over the course of the book is a joy to behold. The issues of faith are sensitively addressed through the eyes of both Andrea and Cal. The importance of family and friends is especially notable in HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is yet another fantastic book from Marta Perry. I am quickly becoming a fan of both Marta Perry and the Love Inspired Suspense line as both evoke such strong emotions. Easily recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Romance and Suspense. Good Read
Andrea Hampton is the successful sister; important job, important opinions, important woman. Sister Rachel stayed home with their grandmother and is determined to turn the family home into a bed and breakfast. Andrea doesn't approve. But when Rachel is injured in a hit and run accident, Andrea drops everything to hurry to her bedside. You take care of family.
Unfortunately, Andrea has to swerve to avoid an Amish buggy on a dark road and ends up in the ditch. Calvin Burke rescues her and takes her to the hospital to see Rachel. Andrea is grateful until she learns he is her grandmother's tenant. Not everyone in town wants another bed and breakfast, and things begin to happen, some of them very dangerous. Andrea, who is used to doing everything herself, has to learn who she can trust.
Hiding in Plain Sight is a suspenseful story of intrigue and romance, salted with a strong faith message. Things aren't always the way they seem and it's easy to trust the wrong people. Fans of Marta Perry will enjoy Hiding In Plain Sight. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Rebecca Kauffman's tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly has custody of her two teenage nieces after her 'English' sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica's rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces, Rebecca feels as if her world is being torn apart by two different cultures, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God. ... Read more

Reviews

A Gift of Grace
Rebecca is an Amish wife who's been told she cannot have children. When her sister Grace dies, she leaves Rebecca her two teenage girls giving her the chance to finally be a mother. It sounded intriguing to me and rightfully so. The book had a lot of potential, a great plot and characters, just poor execution in my opinion. The entire first half was great, Clipston developed not only each character fully but also developed the relationships between the characters. She posed realistic conflicts between the "English" girls and the Amish community and made you sympethic to both sides.

One of the biggest conflicts throughout the book is between Jessica (the oldest daughter) and Rebecca's husband Daniel. Jessica is set on not conforming to Amish culture, and Daniel is trying to following the rules of his religion and expects anyone living under his own roof to do the same. Try telling a 16-year old girl that she can't use her IPOD and that instead of shorts and a tank stop she has to wear a full length frock. Anyone can see a conflict, but the conflict that had me the most intrigued was actually the one between husband and wife. Rebecca finally stood up to Daniel when he told her the girls should leave, and it almost tore her marriage apart. And the book goes on with each side holding their own views and not budging.

So up until there the book was exciting and enjoyable. My problem with the book came in the final few chapters Clipston resolved, or didn't resolve the conflict. You think the author is going to work out some type of compromise between characters as a resolution, but she doesn't. Rebecca has to give in and Jessica and Daniel both get their ways. I feel like the author takes the easy way out alongside her characters by not developing a better resolution. I felt like she built up this great conflict and then got tired of it so she just decided to let everyone have their own way. So a book with a lot of promise never reached its potential only because of the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book and would still recommend it to anyone that enjoys fiction dealing with family relationships, Amish, and/or motherhood.

wonderful read
I think that Amy Clipston has captured the struggles of the Amish verses the English lifestyle perfectly. How do you go from having all the luxuries of the modern world and go to living in the past? You get to see the struggles from both sides as Rebecca tries to welcome her nieces, who don't even know her, into her life and treat them as if they were her own. I only hope that the next book continues where this one left off. There are many things that I wish to have answered and can hardly wait for the next book. I just wish authors could write as fast as I can read.

Wonderful Book to Share
I live in Wichita, Kansas and our state fair is held each year in Hutchinson, Kansas. To visit the fair we travel through the town of Yoder, Kansas. I've looked at the Amish houses, bought their bread and wondered about their lives. What interests me in their lives is how the reconcile themselves with the modern world. This book is an insightful and very easy to read look at their lives. I truly enjoyed the look into their lives and find that I have a new appreciation for their desire for simplicity in life. As the mother of a 17 year old girl, I found myself relating to the dilemma that Grace's daughters found themselves in. The author did a fantastic job describing the characters reactions and emotions.

I eagerly await the publication of your next book. The book is making it's way around my family and I know my 95 year old grandmother will even enjoy reading it. In reading the book you learn about some Amish recipes. It is wonderful that the author has included some of them. I haven't tried the recipes yet but I certainly plan too!
Outstanding book! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Grant Borrows' life has just taken a drastic left turn. There's another man in the world wearing his face and living his life. What's more, the man he sees in the mirror is a stranger.

Somehow, he's been Shifted -- his whole life fundamentally altered, in the space of a single breath. But the changes don't stop at skin-level. Inexplicably, he's able to affect objects around him by simply thinking about them. And as he soon learns, he's become the central figure in a vast web of intrigue that stretches from an underground global conspiracy to a prophecy dating back over seven thousand years, that tells of his coming. Enemies and allies find him at every turn, but one thing they all learn very quickly is that you don't want to push Grant Borrows too far...

Can destiny be undone?

The players are ready. The game is in motion. And the pace is Relentless.

In the allegorical tradition of Tolkien and Lewis comes a powerful new myth for a new generation. ... Read more

Reviews

Incredible Debut Novel
Collin Boyd's life is unremarkable--his job, his apartment, even his clothes. But everything changes when he switches bodies with Grant Borrows. In one terrifying moment his entire identity vanishes, and he has no idea how or when it happened. All Collin knows is that when he stepped off the LA Metro bus, he became a new man. Now his name is Grant Borrows, a man with an entirely different physique, lifestyle, and bank account. And someone is trying to kill him and those he loves.

Running for his life, Grant rescues his sister, Julie, but she doesn't recognize him. When he finally convinces her he really is her brother, together they begin a quest for answers. Just who is Grant Borrows? How is he able, when provoked, to manipulate objects with his mind? And why won't the strange gold ring he's wearing come off?

It's only when Grant and Julie discover others who've experienced the same "Shift" that Grant experienced, that the puzzle pieces start dropping into place. Those Shifted have several things in common. They all wear rings like Grant's, and they all have unique abilities. From photographic memories, mathematical prowess, to the ability to convince others they're seeing things. But the real question for Grant is: why has this happened to any of them? And could Grant really be the one called the Bringer, prophesied about some 7,000 years ago?

Robin Parrish has been compared to Ted Dekker, and I can see the similarities. They both know how to create vivid and imaginative plots. Both can hook readers on page one and never release them until the last paragraph. But frankly, I enjoyed Parrish's writing style even better than Dekker's. Where Dekker often seems to thrive on shock value and how far he can push the envelope of violence, Parrish shows a little more restraint, which I appreciated. There's just enough backstory woven in that we understand and care for the characters, but not so much that it bogs anything down. Grant Borrows is the type of guy you want to root for, and his villains you want to hate. But then again, looks can be deceiving as to who's a villain after all...

Bending genres, Relentless' speculative, almost sci-fi plotline is reminiscent of The Fantastic Four movie, but it could also be classified a thriller. As many Infuze readers know, the story upon which this book is based originally appeared at Infuze as a serialized novel called Prodigy. The finished product does sometimes have a serialized feel as practically every other chapter ends with a twist, which makes for fun reading indeed. And although it might seem slightly muddy in the middle when Grant tries to grasp the reality of what's happening to him, perhaps this was an intentional way to mirror Grant's uncertainty.

There's a reason why this novel is titled Relentless. With each page I found myself sucked deeper into the vortex of Relentless' F5 tornada pace, never knowing for sure what was around the bend. This is blockbuster movie material, folks. And lucky for us it's also Book I of a trilogy. Laden with adventure and intrigue, you're sure to be begging Robin Parrish for the second installment, due next summer.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze magazine

You Won't Want to Put Down This Fantasy Thriller
On that particular rainy morning, Collin Boyd was walking down a rainy street on his way to work and sees himself across the street. We're talking the same clothes, same briefcase, everything. As Collin runs to catch up with himself, he catches his reflection in the mirror and sees...a complete stranger staring back.

As he stares at the new him, a woman appears and warns him and he is now part of something huge. He must figure out who are his friends and who are his enemies because there is an assassin after him. And with that warning, she vanishes.

Thrust into a world he hardly knows, the now named Grant Borrows must figure out what is happening to him and how to control the powers he suddenly seems to have. Because the answers hold the key to a long ago prophecy that he just might fulfill. If he can stay alive long enough, that is.

I've had this book since it came out, but only picked it up recently. I wish I had picked it up sooner. I was hooked on page one. And just when I got one answer or Grant survived one problem, two more took their place. As a result, I had a very hard time putting it down. The characters were interesting. And the multiple view points added to the story.

This is a fantasy novel of sorts. While most of the action involves fantasy, it takes place to real humans in modern day Los Angeles. I certainly enjoyed the aspect of watching the action take place in a world I knew. And there is a conspiracy behind things that I have a feeling will become much bigger in future books.

The only weakness is the writing. It was obviously a first novel, and at times it could have used a tad more polish. But it was still highly readable. I certainly flew through the pages.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next two books in the series and see where Grant's path truly lies.

Birth and death? This COULD get interesting!
So, is there is mystery behind all the 4 star reviews for this? Probably not, because this did indeed end on a cliff hanger, and I'm ready for a lot more of Robin Parrish! So, I've seen the 4 star reviews, and at least one of them is fair. Maybe one with less might come off a bit jealous, but hey! I loved it! And I really don't buy the talk about this being like Star Wars. X-Men I never really got into, (I actually HATED X-Men) so that means I actually got to read this with an OPEN MIND!!

What the heck would YOU think if you wondered off the local bus, and saw yourself standing across the street? HUH? Well, Grant Borrows will answer that question for us. He's been given quite the unusual gift, and he uses it quite well. He knows how to fight too. Lots of fists and kicks and blood in this. But that's not exactly the main idea here. Go take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, "WHO AM I?" If you can grasp that concept, you just might get the idea. And while Grant certainly has his enemies, he also has his allies, some he might not have a clue about.

Fans of Ted Dekker shouldn't be let down by this. I didn't know what to expect going into it, but I really enjoyed it! Robin Parrish has stepped into a most unusual octagon, and when the referee commands, "LET'S GET IT ON!!!" Oh believe me, it is on! If you listen closely, you might here the sounds of both birth and death. You listening? Oh yeah, this could get quite interesting! Robin Parrish is indeed RELENTLESS, charging on at a FEARLESS pace!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sara is terrified. She's doing the one thing she cannot afford to do: fall in love with former pro-football player Adam Black, a man everyone knows. Sara's been hidden away in the witness protection program, her safety dependent on staying invisible—and lo ... Read more

Reviews

Suspense at its finest
Sara Walsh is living her present with an all too real threat from the past. As the daughter of an ambassador, she was at risk. The memory of the abduction of her and her twin sister lives on in her mind and the the threat of the kidnapper who still stalks her has made her a prisoner in her own life.

When a twist of fate lands her in an elevator with Adam Black, ex footbal star, things change. Adam is instantly aware of the connection they share and with the help of their faith, he is detemrined to have a life with Sara.

The couple are faced with more than their share of obstacles, but the they share two common bonds; love and their faith in God.

Though this is an inspirational book, it will appeal to all readers who enjoy a true romantic suspense. The characters are so vivid you should be able to reach out and touch them.

Dee Henderson has a writing style that carried her story so smoothly you won't know it isn't happening to you. I am awed by her ability to write a story so emotionally charged and yet gently inspiring. I recommend Dee Henderson as a a writer everyone will enjoy for as long as always. Danger in the Shadows is a remarkable book. Truly remarkable.

Suspense and romance finally get equal air time!
I'm officially a Dee Henderson fan, after just one book! Unlike some other reviewers, I found this to be a very quick read. It could have been shorter if some of the descriptive and introspective paragraphs were spliced out, but I personally wouldn't want them to be. Ms. Henderson uses description to enhance, rather than stifle, her story; and it's refreshing to read a novel this thick in which neither suspense nor romance is slighted by the other. She has a pleasing writing style (despite a slight tendency toward comma splices) that makes reading her stories feel like vacation, not work. In addition, both Adam and Sara are likable, decently developed characters that carry their story well. Sara's fear and flawed relationship with God actually strengthens her as a sympathetic heroine. I grew to love and understand Sara, and the two "parts" of her personality (Sara Walsh and H.Q. Victor) is a wonderfully haunting way to explain the impact the kidnapping had on her. And for those who complain that there is too much romance and not enough time developing the Bad Guy, please remember this is the Palisades Romance Series, not the Dangerous Shadows Series. Go into these books *expecting* romance, and when one of them (like this one) delivers so much more, you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised.

A perfect suspense romance--beautifully written
DANGER IN THE SHADOWS is a wonderful book. Dee Henderson has shown a strength in plotting and writing that had me glued to my seat for hours to finish the book.

Sara walsh was abducted when she was a young child, and after 9 days of captivity in a dark basement she is found. The man who kidnapped her never is, but he is still terrorizing her. She is a protected woman, living with FBI protection and moving constantly to keep a step ahead of the insane man who wants to control her.

Her life is a terror, always watching over her shoulder, always being watched and never getting close to anyone. Adam Black is a sports hero, high profile, now retired. He meets Sara and wants her, unaware of her need for privacy and security. As much as she pushes him away, he is drawn to her and her situation, but struggles to understand what she went through and how it's affecting her as an adult.

Adam and Sara are meant to be together but the roadblocks in the way of a relationship working are enormous. There is a man walking free who has put Sara through the most unimaginable nightmare and it's time she took her life back. They both have their faith, and knowing that God was watching over them gave them the strength to face the terror.

I loved this book. The terror was so subtly drawn, so carefully laid out that it pulled me in slowly and before I knew it I was jumping at shadows and suspicious of every noise. The romance between Adam and Sara had to be so strongly written to keep afloat with the suspense but Dee has done it very well.

I'm off to find Dee Henderson's other books now. Can't get too much of a good thing.
~sue
~~~~~~~~
Sue Waldeck
Road to Romance

Prequel of a series that can stand alone : )
I discovered this book about 4 years ago after starting to read the O'Malley seriesThe Negotiator (The O'Malley Series #1). I really liked it - and sorry, I'm not going to summarize the story. Just tell you that I enjoyed it - I think others will enjoy it. If it's no longer a "free" book when you read this, well I found it well worth my money when I purchased the paperback at my local bookstore.

A lot of times free Kindle books are prequels or the beginning of a series - so you get interested and want to read more. This book can stand alone (and it did until the full O'Malley series rolled out) or is a great beginning to reading Dee Henderson books.

Yes, it's a "Christian" book. Meaning the author and the publisher are Christians, and some of the characters in the book are as well. But it's not a beat-you-over-the-head-with-it proselytizing that you often find. The focus of the book is the STORY. It's gripping suspense, with interesting characters.

Just Plain Awesome...
I read Danger In The Shadows after I read The Negotiator. I was pleased with The Negotiator and I just had to read what Dave was like as a brother. Dee Henderson has a wonderful way of blending a real life problem along with romance, faith and mystery. You just have to love the way she ties all the ends together.

Danger In the Shadows is no different. I love the support Adam gave to Sara, through thick or thin. This is a must read book; you will not be able to put this book down. I was not disappointed with Dave in this book either. He turned out to be an awesome brother and if you haven't read The Negotiator please get it too. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Brodie Hayes is a former rodeo star, now a rancher—a cowboy, through and through. But when he finds out some shocking news about the circumstances of his birth, he begins to question his identity. Luckily, private investigator Alexandra Donovan is there to help him find the truth about who he is. Along the way, he discovers that even a man who thought he'd be alone for the rest of his life can fall in love.For Brodie, love was something you did once—and for always. But is Alex the type of woman who can take on a stubborn man like him? Because there's one thing about him that will never change, no matter what they find out about his past—once a cowboy, always a cowboy.

Reviews

3.5 Stars - loved the characters, February 11, 2007
ONCE A COWBOY by Linda Warren
February 11, 2007

Rating 3.5 Stars

ONCE A COWBOY is an engaging story of a man who finds out that he's not who he thinks he is. Alexandra Donovan works with her father as a private investigator, but on occasion, she picks up missing persons cases such as this one. A woman, Helen Braxton, approaches her, asking to help verify the identity of a cowboy she thinks is her missing son, Travis. The resemblance of this man to her husband is uncanny. Alexandra knows that these cases usually do not pan out, and the odds of Brodie Hayes being the woman's missing child was near zero. Despite the odds, Alex agrees to take on the case.

Alex decides that she needs to find a way to get a sample of his DNA without him knowing she's investigating him, not wanting to upset him in case he is not Helen's son. She manages to get into his house by pretending to need to use his phone while wandering lost in his neighborhood, and voila - she is able to find a comb with a few of his hairs in his bathroom. When the test results come back positive, that Brodie is indeed the son of George and Helen Braxton, Alex is afraid of the reaction she will get from Brodie, especially when he discovers that she's violated his privacy by stealing his comb to do the DNA testing. She is also worried about tearing apart a family despite the fact that Brodie is really someone else's son.

ONCE A COWBOY deals with Brodie and his need to find himself and his true identity. He also has to deal with a mother, who is not in the best of health, who had lied to him and his now deceased father about the fact that she had taken a baby from another woman. He grapples with this moral dilemma, because despite the fact that all his life he felt he didn't quite fit in with the family, always trying to please them but failing because he had his own life to lead, he still loved the woman that raised him.

Alex has her own issues to deal with. She has never gotten along with her father, who raised her by himself. She never knew what it was like to have a mother, and wishes she and her father were close. At the very least, she would have liked to be able to get along with him. And while her father disapproves of Alex's methods when it comes to her missing persons cases (she gets too emotionally involved), she goes against his advice once again and falls for Brodie.

This reviewer enjoyed the story about a stolen baby who was raised by parents who were not biologically related to him, and the repercussions it held for all involved once the secret was out. However, the chemistry that supposedly was felt between the two main characters didn't seem to exist for this reviewer. However, the characters by themselves were interesting and intriguing enough for the reader to want to finish the book. The story line was in a way complex, in that it dealt with both sets of families that were affected, and it made for one interesting book. However, the romance between Alex and Brodie didn't quite ring true, and it seemed that these two really had no business getting together, nor did it make sense that Brodie would even want to be with a woman who gave him such bad news. ONCE A COWBOY had a great story line about a man's identity, but the romance was not as credible as this reviewer would have liked it to be. - Courtesy of Love romances and More - M. Lofton

Good plot, but predictable and, April 18, 2009
simple. It's a quick read with enjoyable characters...love Naddy, she rocks! I liked the ending, but I knew how it would end from the first chapter. Not bad for a free book. If you're looking for some easy fluff, this is it. This is one of those books you read after you've just read something really heavy and thought provoking, which this book isn't.

Cute love story, April 2, 2010
This was a pretty good read, especially since it was free. I live in the Dallas area so it was nice knowing where the towns were in the story. I stopped reading romance books about 5 yrs. ago but since this one was at a very good price (free) I decided I needed a break from my usual serial killer/murder mystery books .
Of course you know they are going to fall in love and live happily ever after, but they do have some emotional obstacles to over come before that happens.

Surprisingly good!, June 19, 2010
As a guy who reads primarily Stephen King,this is not the kind of book I would normally pick up. But thanks to the vast amount of material for the Kindle I'm reading tons of various stuff between King's books.

Which is how I ended up reading this little gem one afternoon. 'Once A Cowboy' is a fast, easy read. The story never dragged but more importantly the characters were likeable from the get go. I really enjoyed Ms Warren's writing style.

I'm unsure what was going on with the people who complained that some situations in the book were unbelieveable. Really? Did they miss the fact that they were reading fiction?

If you're reading for enjoyment this fits the bill.

Lovely love story, June 11, 2010
I am usually not so much interested in books about cowboys, but this one was so interesting and an amazing love story. Loved it!

A surprisingly feel-good story!, March 12, 2010
I haven't read a Harlequin book in years and years. Linda Warren's Once a Cowboy was a great story and really surpassed all of my expectations (which to be honest were pretty low). This story isn't just about a cowboy (despite the title), or about family/personal identity, or about the love between a cowboy and a city girl - the story is about all of it. For such a short story, it's really thorough and keeps the reader interested. The ending was definitely a surprise, but a completely appropriate plot twist. Reading the descriptions of Warren's other books, I'm guessing this was one of her better-written stories (despite the sometimes robotic dialogue). I'm interested in reading Tripp and Colter's stories, but sadly those aren't available as Kindle editions... too bad. And I agree with all the other reviewers about Naddy - by far, she was the funniest character I've read in a long time!

Once A Cowboy, October 17, 2009
This was predictable but still enjoyable. I wouldn't mind reading about the "Cowboys" but I doubt I would purchase the sequels.

Good, Quick Read, August 19, 2009
For a free download, this was a good short story. I would probably not pay for this author as the writing was less refined that I like, but the story was okay.

A romance novel., May 27, 2009
This book is on the order of a Harlequin romance. When you have read one, you have read them all. It is a good story to read when you don't have to use your brain. Sometimes you just don't want to think.

There Needs To Be A Sequel: Nattie Is Awesome, July 27, 2010
Typical romance novel. Pretty, thin girl meets gorgeous, successful guy. Went fast. Typical characters. Exactly what I expected.

However. The main characters Grandma needs her own book series; ADVENTURES WITH NETTIE because Nettie was awesome. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Montana Territory in 1883 was a dangerous place—especially for a blind woman struggling to make her way through an early winter snowstorm. Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death.And yet this was no stranger.

Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.

Reviews

A wonderfully written inspirational western romance., January 31, 2008
Seventeen-year-old Noelle Kramer was filled with the hopes and dreams of first love, believing that in Thad MacKaslin she had found the man she would spend the rest of her life with. But on the night they were to elope, she learned he had left town without a word, and she believed she would never see him again. Although her heart was broken, she planned to marry another and at least have a home and family of her own, until a tragic accident left her parents dead and Noelle blind, destroying her plans for the future.

Now, five years later, in the winter of 1883, Noelle lives a quiet life with her aunt, uncle, and cousins. Her blindness has caused her to give up all her dreams of love, marriage, and children. On their way home from town during a blizzard, Noelle and her aunt are almost killed by a runaway horse, but a stranger saves them - a stranger Noelle soon realizes is Thad MacKaslin, who has returned to their hometown of Angel Falls, Montana. And although both Noelle and Thad try to deny it, they still have feelings for each other. Has God given them a second chance at love and happiness together?

This book was one of the most enjoyable historical romances I've read in a while. Fans of western and inspirational romances are sure to enjoy this story of two people who had given up on a future together but are given a second chance to realize their dreams. The love story was incredibly sweet and emotional, rather than so many romances which focus on the physical romance but neglect the emotional side of a relationship. I'd highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a sweet and emotional romance without all the graphic scenes.

Not A Good Read, March 6, 2009
I almost could not finish this book. It was so-o-o repetitive that I think the whole story could have been written in about 20 pages. When an author repeats words, descriptions and conversations, it's as if the reader isn't smart enough to "get it" the first time. Insulting. I suspect the repetitions were to pad the story for more pages.

Besides having the story line drummed into your head, the plot was so predictable that I was almost embarrassed for the author. Free is too expensive for this book...my time is worth more.

Repetitive. Poorly written., March 3, 2009
The story line was o.k., but completely predictable. The author repeated herself in her descriptions causing me to get irritated at the writing. I'm glad this was free.

BIG waste of time!, May 19, 2010
I love Inspirational Historical Romances, but this one is the worst I've read. I did manage to finish it, but there were so many repetitive descriptions and "fluff" I can't believe the thing got published! It's really a page or two of story, no real character development, and awful dialogue. Please, don't bother.

Well worth $00.00 and not a penny more, March 9, 2009
The author was able to stretch an idea to fill the whole book by interminably repeating every thought. The characters were all there, but failed to step forward. Avoid this.

Couldn't finish it, April 14, 2010
The repetition in this book is a complete turn off, not to mention frustrating. The plot was weak and proceeded at a sluggish pace. I made it more than half way through when I decided it wasn't going to get any better so I didn't even bother finishing it. I didn't want to waste anymore time or effort.

I thought it was just me, but..., March 7, 2009
I thought it was just me, but other reviewers noticed the same things I did. It was predictable, and the author repeated phrases numerous times throughout the book. I figure it was about 5% introduction & background, 90% conflict development, and 5% resolution. I think more than half of the part leading to the resolution could have been omitted and would have made for a better novel.

Would you repeat that again?, July 8, 2008
My first read of Jillian Hart. I will probably read more, but I have to say that I was disappointed in how she repeated herself so many times when she brought attention to the hero. (Please don't use "baritone" in your next book, Ms Hart.) I also noted that her conflicts became repetitious in the story with horse and buggy incidents. I was impressed with the idea of a blind heroine. You don't see that often, and many editors won't look at those kinds of stories. Ms Hart worked that in well.

I also found the ending to be too humdrum.

Other than that, she did a nice job.

Quite Possibly The Worst Book I've Ever Read, June 12, 2009
I am a fan of romance novels - they are like candy for your brain. Not too good for your intellect, but yummy when you get the hankering. I downloaded this book to my Kindle 2 because it was free (I have downloaded other free books and purchased their sequels if I liked the freebie). It turned out not to be free. Never one to stop reading a book I've started, I plugged away at this piece of garbage for several days. (I'm a book-a-day reader). This book cost me valuable time and brain usage. Oh my gosh, the author heavy-handed with the WORST similes I've ever seen. I was laughing out loud as I read them. They were not only sappy and long-winded as heck, they were also repetitive, making them that much worse. The characters were 1/2-dimensional (not even a full dimension for these folks) and the dialog, conflict, romance - all the things that make up a fantastic, though formulaic, romance novel - were pure drivel.

Seriously, this book isn't worth the one-click to purchase it. Don't waste your time.

Not good...so glad it was free, October 23, 2010
I'm a new Kindle owner and have been stocking up on free books where I can find them. Knowing they were free I have specifically told myself not to expect much - after all, they must be free for a reason, right? Having said that, this book was not that good at all. I felt like it was written by a FAN of historical romances, rather than an actual AUTHOR. An author wouldn't have made so many rookie mistakes, but a fan might. I have never read the author before, and most likely will never again. I only gave it two stars because the Kindle version was well formatted (only a few typo errors) and it was a quick mindless read. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It was the surprise of a lifetime for recluse Molly McCreight when single dad Ethan Hunter entrusted her with his infant daughter while he delivered medicine to an elderly man during an ice storm. Past experience had taught Molly how fragile life could be, but she was touched by this stranger's faith in her abilities. Once the storm had passed, though, and her guests returned home, normalcy eluded Molly. The Hunters' presence had brought much-needed joy to her quiet world, but their absence threatened to crush her forever. Still, was she ready to admit that this tiny family held the key to the future she'd always secretly craved?

Reviews

Strong Christian romance!, March 19, 2010
I liked this one because it was written from two christian point of views. IT lacked sex scenes which I found quite refreshing. It also shows that their can be a hot romance without sex. Happy endings all around. I loved this book and will read it over again.

Worth the read, February 19, 2010
I have to say that I am disappointed by the reviews and ratings this book has received. I thorougly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick, feel good read. For those who feel that religion was being forced upon you in the book, open your eyes. It is not overly religious...it just shows how the two main characters deal with issues from their past. I am not a religious person and do not feel as though it was forced upon me. Absolutely worth the read!!

worth it!, June 26, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. In contrast to other reviews about feeling preached to, I did not feel that way. Great story and definitely worth the read!

wonderful, sweet christian romance, May 22, 2010
It was wonderful to read a book that revealed how faith in God and his love for us can conquer all. I love that the characters are not filthy rich with fairytale lives, but are down to earth people with real situations. I hope there will be many more of these books published. I am already looking for my next Linda Goodnight book to read.

Good Book, April 20, 2010
This was a really good Christian Romance Book. I liked the main characters very well. Both had suffered tragedies in their life and seemed to be afraid to trust. This books tells about how they learned to trust again. Very good. I recommend this book.

A good heartfelt story, March 14, 2010
While I was surprised at the Christian faith based storyline, I was not offended nor did I feel preached to. I liked it. There should be stories for everyone's taste or preferences.

A Bit on the Cheesy Side..., March 22, 2009
***** Spoiler Alert *****

The first half of this book was strongly written in my opinion. You come to find the female lead has a tragic secret (her sister blames her for the death of her child) and her mother and sister have turned their back on her.

Then when you get to the middle of the book, you come to find out that the reason her sister is blaming her is logically explained. The baby died of SIDS.

Although I can understand people are illogical when they blame you for things you're not guilty of, I couldn't believe this particular issue--not due to the blame coming from the sister, but because Molly (the heroine) knew of this issue and still blamed herself to an illogical degree. So it wasn't that she blamed herself... it was the intensity of her blame that I found was not believable.

Molly (in my opinion) simply allowed herself to be accused by her sister unjustly. I found it ridiculous and a subtle ploy just to keep the plot moving. She was way too ok with allowing herself to be blamed wrongly when obviously the death would've occurred anyway. She goes so far as to have no life so her sister doesn't feel "burdened" by her presence.

Her entire choice through the entire book is to be a doormat. Not get upset... not even once. I can venture to guess that most people might feel some guilt but would also be quite peeved at being unjustly accused when there's a reasonable medical explanation for the death of a seemingly healthy baby. One that doesn't implicate you.

Again, I get some guilt, but this woman was just immersing herself in it and just being a doormat her sister could walk all over. She had my sympathy all the way up until I realized the death could be logically explained and all of this supposed self-recrimination was just her playing the victim. How about standing up for yourself a bit? I don't believe God would mind that as long as you did it in a decent, upstanding manner. Come on now. If she had attempted to do that some, I would've found the plot more believable.

Also as the plot moves along she gets more ridiculous and acts silly about her relationship with Ethan. She continues to play the victim and it begins to get annoying.

I believe what was initially a good plot gave way to predictable scenes and a wobbly story-line after the halfway point. I commend Linda Goodnight for trying, but I think her book would've been quite a bit stronger if she'd pushed the heroine to own up to a believable set of events.

This is why I gave it 2 stars. Because it's a book that relies heavily on unbelievable actions in order to keep the book going. And also because the wrap-up along the end of the book between the sisters was lacking in depth and not the best way (in my opinion) to go about resolving the issue. It was too predictable and weakened the story's strength.

I couldn't finish this book., May 22, 2010
If you're Christian you might love this book. Don't get me wrong I don't mind god being mentioned in passing but this book shoves It in your face. Which made the book unreadable for me. I got a few chapter in and gave up.

Apart from the god stuff I really enjoyed the story. It had potential but I don't read these sorts of books. they lack logic. I guess since I don't think this was I didn't understand the charter motive and actions. Seemed very strange to me.

For example the Hero insists on sleeping outside because he doesn't want to compromise the Heroine honor. I might understand this if it was a regency romance but it's a modern one. The hero also dumps his baby girl on a complete stranger and seems to believe that god will keep the girl safe. Just didn't sit right with me. I can't like a hero like that.

I thought that it should be mentioned in the blurb what kind of book this was. Some people don't believe in god/christian god and don't want to buy a book and find out it's all about that. I understand you can intimate this from the online website but the kindle store does not display as much information.

a good plot gone bad, April 6, 2010
I honestly bought this book because it was free and i was desperate for something to read, that being said i had no idea it was a religious Christian book until i started to read. And though i am religious and practice Christianity i was appalled by this book and the authors writing, though i am religious i don't like to hear about God/Church/Religion in every other sentence, I also NEVER want to hear how anyone FORCES a woman to have a child when she doesn't want to.

The book could have had potential with the plot and the author could have even made it a Christian book, but she wasn't able to mix it together and create something that is worth reading

ash

Beyond Dreadful, March 8, 2009
I downloaded this for my kindle because the price was right. I am a Christian, but not one who believes that my beliefs are more important than anyone else's human rights (or religion). And I don't really think it makes enjoyable reading when they are praising God ever few lines, talking about Church endlessly, etc. But when I got to the part of the story where the really sweet guy who is single and raising a baby alone and is so helpful to others told how he forced the woman who was pregnant to have the child she did not want, I wanted to throw up. Sure, once a baby is here on the earth we should love it and cherish it, and I would not personally have an abortion, but forcing that decision on anyone else, is so very wrong. WWJD? He would respect the rights of the one who had to carry the baby and give birth. I read romances to escape the harshness of reality, not get my blood pressure up from the morality police who want to impose their opinions on all of us. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In a dark, medieval land, good and evil battle it out. Trapped between his master's evil commands and his persistent conscience that tells him to do otherwise, Tahn Dorn finds himself in a twisting plot that threatens not only his life but also that of the lovely Netta. After kidnapping Netta from the comfort of her home and burning her castle to the ground, Tahn realizes he can't turn her over to Samis, his evil master, as was originally intended. But as Tahn launches a plan to outwit Samis, he realizes he must also face the evils within himself.

Here, compelling characters deal with the real-life struggles of redemption and forgiveness. It's good versus evil in a way you've never experienced before. ... Read more

Reviews

A well-told story, September 26, 2005
In The Princess Bride, Inigo Montoya speaks the famous line: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." While reading Tahn, I kept hearing that line echo through my head. The setting in Tahn is quite similar to The Princess Bride, being some medieval time that's still our earth while not fitting into any timeline we know of. And this novel could easily be classified as a fairy tale for adults. It's an exciting and fun ride at the beginning, though it slows down a lot toward the end.

Leisha Kelly has written several Depression-era novels (Rorey's Secret, Julia's Hope, etc), but for this novel she's chosen to go a different route and thus the name change to L.A. Kelly. Tahn is definitely not one of those historical books she's known for.

Lady Netta of the House of Trillet is awakened in the middle of the night by a somehow-familiar stranger attempting to kidnap her. What makes it even more bizarre is his claim that he's trying to save her. In shades of Oliver Twist, Tahn Dorn is an orphan raised a mercenary by a cruel man named Samis. But rather than pickpocketing, Tahn learns to kill. When he finally reaches the age he feels he can stand alone, he tries to break from his brutal lifestyle and save Lady Netta in the process because she has been targeted as the next to die.

As the story progresses, Tahn takes in the small band of orphans he himself was supposed to train and tries to protect them as well with Lady Netta's help. But when Netta realizes that Tahn is the man who killed her husband years ago, things get rough. Can she forgive the man she swore to hate forever?

As I said before, Tahn is a great adventure story that starts out with a bang and runs for a long time off of it. Both Tahn and Netta are well-crafted characters, and Samis is just plain mean. The kids are well-written for the most part as well. The problem comes in the fact that almost every character has some sort of internal struggle with forgiveness. Tahn worries about his past and how could God ever forgive him for that. Various other characters have their own struggles as well, including several last-minute additions to the cast who really seem to serve the sole purpose of slowing the story down. You'll breeze through the first half of this book, but it may take a little bit of effort to finish it-and I highly recommend you do. The ending is a good one.

While there are shades of romance in the story, this isn't a romantic novel per se. There's enough action to keep most readers happy. The biggest stumbling block in the book is the budding romance between Lady Netta and Tahn. I understand that being a Christian means forgiving one's enemies, but falling in love with her husband's killer is a bit of a stretch.

Tahn is a good book for the most part. Despite the slow second half, the story as a whole should keep you into it. And it's a pretty short read, so it won't take long to finish it.

Couldn't Finish..., November 1, 2010
The beginning of this story was absolutely fantastic; I was captivated and submerged into the story. The beginning encompassed both mystery and a great style of writing.

About 30-40% of the way through the book, however, the dialogue becomes rushed, and I felt like I read the same message about God's mercy at least 50 times per chapter. I am an extremely passionate Christian, but the forced dialogue ruined my motivation to continue reading. The characters had great potential to be well-developed, but the author neglected many details which would have made everything more realistic.

It's a shame because it started off so great. You'll become immersed in the story from the beginning, but don't expect it to get any better; you'll more than likely end up disappointed as I did.

Beautiful adult fairy tale, December 1, 2004
Tahn kidnaps Lady Netta Trilett from her bedroom, but allows her to scream so that she awakens her family so that they will have a chance to save themselves because someone is going to torch the manor house. Tahn is supposed to take Lady Netta to his master Samis's fortress but he can't do that to a woman he cares about, a noble whose husband he killed. Netta fears him until he sneaks into Samis's stronghold and rescues the children that Saamis took off the streets so that he can train them to be assassins.

She learns Samis took Tahn in as a child as he did many other children, made them fear him and then got them addicted to opium so they would not leave him. He raised a fearsome group of mercenaries who would kill for him.

Baron Trent hired Samis's men to kill the Triletts because they were in the way of his being crowned king as they are widely beloved for their kindness and piety. Most of Netta's family died in the fire or were hunted down by the mercenaries. Tahn risks his life to keep the children and Netta safe; he knows Samis's thugs will eventually kill him, but for love it is worth it even if he believes it is unrequited.

This historical romance is a fascinating work in which even the greatest sinner can be redeemed if he truly repents his misdeeds. Tahn is a tough warrior but also a shy and introverted man who always expects to be friendless and hated because he is an outsider. Netta's love warms his heart and he realizes that redemption and death are only a heartbeat away. L.A. Kelly writes a beautiful adult fairy tale with a deep moral message.

Harriet Klausner

Tahn, January 8, 2005
Terrific--I couldn't put it down. I loved every page of this book. My 13-year-old is now reading this book and is completely captivated.

Hell disguised as a novel., November 29, 2010
This "novel" is largely a waste of time. Characters are poorly developed, almost cartoon-like, melodramatic stereotypes. Consider the image of the good guy getting shot in the heart, and then taking 14 minutes (or 22 pages) to die, all the while orating about the grief of living, the ultimate success of "the good", the Grace of the Lord, and the price of chopped liver. Tahn suffers to a degree that becomes farcical, all the while denying and seeking God, while the "Lady" twit who inspires him comes across as a religious bozo. The plot is a crude morality play, fit for 6th graders, maybe, if one wishes to damage their psyches. Serious Christian questions are answered only on the elementary school level, yet manage to resolve the deepest mysteries and unbelievable suffering of the characters. Pure melodrama, but not particularly interesting. I propose that the greatest suffering about Tahn will be on the part of the reader.
Caveat emptor.

Too much Christian preaching for me, November 28, 2010
I should have read more of the reviews. I'm not familiar with the author. I didn't realize that this was as religious (Christian) as it is. I never finished it. I loved the first half, but got rather tired of the preaching. Probably read 2/3 of the book and quit. Thank goodness it was a free book.

Mix Bag, November 19, 2010
I have to say that I did enjoyed the basic storyline of this book. If the Christian characters hadn't tried so hard to change every none believer into a believer, I would have given it a much higher rating but all the proselytizing was way over the top. That took away from the storyline for me and because of that I didn't enjoy the book as much as I feel I could have! I consider myself a Christian but I do not like it when writers write that if you ONLY turn your life over to God your life will be perfect. I guess the thing that I have the most problem with in this book is that when Tahn and Vari gave themselves to God their Opium addiction is cured but not only that they kept telling all the other assassins that all they have to do is give themselves to God and they to will not have the addiction anymore. Faith writing like that drives me crazy.

Good story but...., July 29, 2008
I picked this book up at the library based on its interesting cover and write up on the back- I love medieval era fantasy. I had no idea though that it would be so full of proselytizing! There is no indication of this on the book anywhere. I can barely read Netta's self righteous rantings. The book has a great plot though and I am going to continue reading hoping her character matures.

Tahn, December 10, 2010
There should be a warning that every paragrah is about God and the glory. It is not for the casual reader of Christuan fiction it is very overdone.

Great Read, February 5, 2006
Man! I am an avid reader, but I mostly read books on tape because otherwise I may never finish them. Usually the printed versions don't hold my interest long enough. However, I couldn't put this book down. I had to find out what happened next. L. A. Kelly is a great author: very creative and a very good writer.

This book has a lot of adventure and even some romance. However, it is really nice because the romance does not get in the way of the adventure. The characters are also very relatable.

Enjoy!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Fans of Randy Alcorn will applaud this soul-stirring story of two college friends who reconnect after twenty years. One is living life apart from God in comfortable corporate America while the other is living for Christ under intense persecution in China. This stunning page-turner will convict the hearts of readers to live in the light of eternity. Royalties from sales of this book will be donated to support the persecuted Church. ... Read more

Reviews

Don't Judge This Book By Its Title, September 10, 2001
Let's face it, the title "Safely Home" has a placid, unappealing sound to it. In fact, before seeing the cover, I thought perhaps Randy was delving into the Christian romance market.

That all changed when I saw the Chinese writing on the dust jacket. Having travelled in China, smuggling Bibles and sharing my faith, I was intrigued. Then, I peeled back the jacket to discover the amazing picture of a Chinese believer held in Jesus' arms. Standing there in the bookstore, I was hit with emotion, with moisture in my eyes. Suddenly, the title "Safely Home" made sense. The persecution of the Chinese church is real, and Alcorn shows clearly the difference between the state church and the underground church. I've met some of these underground believers. Alcorn captures their heart for God in ways that I've never seen in fiction before. He captures much of the Chinese believers' humility and struggle in this heartfelt novel.

The contrast between two former college friends, one a Chinese doctor, the other an American businessman, is credible and lends itself perfectly to the contrast in their levels of faith. Through the looking glass of this story, Alcorn forces us to weigh our own faith. Do we know what it means to stand for our beliefs? Do we know what it means to pay a price for our integrity?

Although Alcorn can come across as preachy at times, he always has something worth saying. By mixing a fascinating cultural and spiritual struggle in a fictional form, he opens our hearts to hear the truth...The response is up to us.

Too many late nights!, December 27, 2003
We could not put it down. My wife and I read this book in about a week. That week was one of the hardest weeks of our lives simply because of the fact that we couldn't wait to read some more. Even though we are asleep most of the time by 10 pm, we were up until 3 am on at least two occassions. If the un-put-down-ableness were the only thing going for this book, it would be occassion enough for the five-star rating. However, the fact that this book stirred up in us both a passion to share the Gospel, instilled a greater love for God, and humbled us greatly makes me want to give it six stars. Amazon, unfortunately won't let me.
I don't normally read Christian fiction...I don't normally read fiction at all. I usually would prefer books like Piper's "Desiring God", Stott's "Cross of Christ", and Mahaney's "Cross-Centered Life," but this book has made me aware of a whole genre of life-changing books which I would have downplayed had it not been for my encounter with this one. Please read it, enjoy it, and then pass it on.

Informative, captivating, and challenging, September 7, 2001
An insightful look into Christian persecution in China (and in the US, if you can call it persecution). The book presents a look into the life of the Chinese house church Christians and wraps it in a fictional, but very believable, story. As an Asian-American, I appreciated how well Randy Alcorn immersed the reader into the Chinese culture. The use of pinyin for key phrases throughout the book really made me believe I was there listening to them speak (though I believe "Zhen jin bu ba huo lian" should be "Zhen jin bu PA huo lian"). There's a lot of interesting information throughout the book about Chinese history and culture, language appreciation, persecution, and governmental corruption. It also takes on addressing several issues such as human rights, civil disobedience, God allowing suffering, and what is heaven like. While reading the book, it was apparent a lot of research and prayer went into it.

The book has personally challenged me to live a life of picking up the cross daily and to pray for those around me and the persecuted Christians throughout the world.

If you want to learn more about China and be challenged in your Christian walk, I'd highly recommend Safely Home.

One of the best books I've ever read, November 28, 2004
I had "Safely Home" in my bookcase for at least a year before reading it, which is amazing considering how much I loved Deadline and Dominion by this author. I've just never been too interested in the Orient, and when I saw that the story took place in China, I kept putting other books ahead of this one. Thank God someone happened to mention how good it was. I was completely captivated from the beginning. Li Quan lived and breathed for me...this hero made me really stop to think about courage and commitment to God. Watching the slow conversion of his visiting classmate from college days was so satisfying. Li Quan was the kind of man who preaches a sermon silently, through his manner of living and coping with hardship. The persecution of Christians in China is a sad reality. I honestly cannot see how anyone could help but love this book. The story line is exceptional, the characterization is superb, and the message is life-changing. You simply can't close the cover of Safely Home and not look for a charity that distributes Bibles to the Christians in China. Another thing you can't do is ignore the message: God may require the supreme sacrifice from those who truly love Him and follow Him with steadfast faith. Few of us will ever be called to give our lives for our faith, but we must be WILLING to do so. And it is our eternal destination that really matters. Safely Home will entertain you immensely, but that is the least of what you'll gain by reading it! Please do get this book, and pass it along to a good friend after you've read it.

A Must Read Book, August 24, 2001
Safely Home is a must read book. As always Randy takes us places where we should go more often and think about more frequently. He takes real facts and truth and weave's them into a very thought and prayer provoking fictional story. I was unaware of the Chinese Chrisian history as well as the persecution that they are under and endure. Safely Home is a very sobering and kind message for me, a Christian in such an affluent land of the free. I love Randy's charactures and excellent perspective of heaven. Safely Home, as well as his other novels never cease to make me laugh, cry, or well up with joy over the areas of my heart he obviously (no doubt from experience) knows how to touch. Another excellent Alcorn novel.

Incredibly, wonderfully good, October 9, 2006
Not being someone who is easily moved, I could never have anticipated the effect this book would have on me.
I stayed up two nights in a row until 3AM to finish it. I almost literally could not put it down.

Randy Alcorn follows an interesting style of interweaving numerous facts about how God is moving in China and the nation and culture itself with the storyline. The story was relentlessly compelling, the characters were incredibly real, and the perspective changes between earth and heaven were unique and dangerously joyful.

Be careful reading this, it -will- change your life. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone, I thank God that I read it, and plan on circulating my copy as much as possible.

Open the Eyes of Your Heart, August 16, 2001
This book is much more than a story you can't put down, it has opened the eyes of my heart to the cry of the persecuted believers in China. I had no idea to what extent the Chinese have to suffer for their faith and Randy's book moves you there to experience their life of courage and pain. Not only do you feel transported to another compeletely different country but you are given a glimpse of heaven's perspective on our trials and of the glory that awaits those who have stood the test and suffered for their faith. This book has changed my life by opening up my heart to my brothers and sisters in the faith who live so passionately for Christ. I realize my responsiblity to pray for them and to share my faith when I have much less at stake. I am utterly inspired.

WOW! Get Ready for A Life Changing Experience!!!, October 23, 2001
Randy Alcorn has written his BEST novel ever!!! I have read all of his novels and "Safely Home" has climbed to the top of my list and is neck to neck with "Deadline" also by Alcorn and in my top ten list of best Christian Fiction books. I too was initially skeptical by the title of the book "Safely Home" and also was distracted by the Chinese Characters written on the cover of the book. PLEASE DO NOT let that stop you from reading this LIFE CHANGING novel!!!!

The story centers around two old college friends who were once roomates and bestfriends. Ben is an American living in the US and is now a promonient, wealthy business man and a divorced father of two. Li-Chen is Chinese, who after studying in the US, moved back to China and has been living there as a locksmith's assistant with his wife & son in a one-room cottage. The two men are reunited during Ben's business trip to China. Ben, who originally introduced Li-Chen to the Lord, has grown cold in his faith and his life focus has shifted to wealth and material things. Li-Chen has grown tremendously as a Christian in China where Christianity is illegal and punishable by the law. When the two friends reunite after many years, the Lord works miraculously in both men's lives and they are changed by their experiences and the work of the Lord in their lives forever.

This book will make you angry and will also bring you to tears...but most importantly- this book will really make you examine your own personal relationship with God and what true "SERVICE TO THE LORD" is really about.

If we are not living each day in light of Christ's return, we need to step back and re-examine our lives. The characters in Alcorn's novel will stay imprinted in your heart and mind forever. This is truly a deep and life-changing novel! Run, don't walk and get a copy of this book and read it! When you finish, pass it on to someone else who is not saved or who needs a "kickstart" in their walk with God. Hopefully, this book will encourage all of us to live our lives in light of eternity, with the goal of making it "Safely Home."

First-rate, read at your peril, December 29, 2006
Lord, make me what You will
I put myself fully in your hands
Put me to doing, put me to suffering
Let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you
Let me be full, let me be empty
Let me have all things, let me have nothing
I freely and with a willing heart
Give it all to your pleasure and disposal. Amen.

Reading "Safely Home" reminded me of this prayer. At church, the pastors give us the option of whether or not to recite it - as one might imagine, it is a "dangerous" prayer, because God could take our word for it, and "put us to suffering", or "lay us aside", or "let me have nothing"!
The story of Li Quan and the Chinese church seems very much like that. Though he topped his Harvard class, could have eked out a very comfortable existence in the US or China (as an atheist), he professes his faith at his job interviews and fails to land any job that pays well. In China, there is a real price to pay as a child of God, again, a reminder that the "middle class" Christianity we think is normal is not normal at all in some countries.
I finished this book in 2 days, couldn't put it down at all, cried at parts, and will now be buying copies to give away. It is one of the most transformational books I've read! It's making me re-examine my life in the light of eternity. Martyrdom is a big theme throughout the book, and while most of us would not be called upon to lay down our lives for God, nevertheless, if He should, are we willing? In short, Safely Home is sobering, uplifting and inspirational all at once. Highly recommended!

Thought-provoking study of friendship and true Christianity, May 24, 2002
When I first started reading this book, I thought that Ben Fielding's character was rather one-dimensional. "Christian 'outgrows' his faith, then rediscovers it" can be rather formulaic and poorly-written. But Fielding's transition is gradual; there isn't one defining moment that makes him realize he's chasing after nothingness. In perhaps the strongest example of this, while Fielding's pursuit of human channels to correct problems is noble, his *reliance* on them (and not God) is vain. Li Quan knows this immediately and intimately; Fielding takes the whole book to discover this.

Li Quan's friendship is incredible. He truly loves Fielding, not with just phileo, but with agape. Although it takes him a while to realize that Fielding has abandoned his faith, when he does, nothing changes (except the emphasis of Li's prayers).

What is most striking, though, is Li's faith (and that of his friends and family) in the face of increasing adversity. The book reveals the (real) snowjob that the Chinese government is giving the rest of the world. Life for Christians in China is *not* getting better; if anything, it's getting worse. "Safely Home" gives a jarring, thought-provoking picture of what it means to be a Christian in China, and the opportunities we are squandering on a daily basis in America. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare.What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?"The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him.You'll want everyone you know to read this book! ... Read more

Reviews

No Flannel-Graph Jesus, January 27, 2008
In the book world, it's hard to explain "the buzz." What causes word of mouth to start spreading? What turns an unknown author and novel into a surprise bestseller? Even more inexplicable for the book snobs is when a story fails to meet their literary standards and yet touches the masses in an undeniable way.

"The Shack" is the buzz book of the past few months. I hadn't even heard of it in November, but by the end of December I'd had relatives, friends, and online pals from across the country telling me I "had" to read this one. I've been burned by such recommendations in the past, particularly in relation to spiritually oriented titles. (Can anyone say "The Prayer of Jabez" and "Left Behind"?), but I was willing to give it a shot.

William P. Young's book has an intriguing premise. Years ago, a father name MacKenzie Phillips took his children camping and lost one of them to a man who has kidnapped and killed others. Mack has grieved since then. His marriage has struggled. Understandably, his relationship with God has suffered. Then, one wintry day, he receives a note in his mailbox inviting him back to the woods, to the shack in which his daughter's dress and bloodstains were found. The note, it would seem, is from God.

From this simple yet effective premise, Young leads Mack Phillips back to his point of despair and anger. The encounters he then has with God there in "The Shack" serve as thought-provoking moments for both Mack and the reader. This is not the God of stodgy Sunday school classes. This is not a flannel-graph Jesus. This is not limited to a fluttering dove of the Holy Spirit. The descriptions here are startling, while remaining true to the nature of God's love and grace as portrayed through Scripture. Not only are they startling, they're wise and moving and beautiful.

Some might argue that "The Shack" has little theology or accuracy to it, but the very argument is what Young is trying to melt away. I earned a Bachelor's from a Bible college, and the majority of Mack's godly encounters could be wrapped up in biblical theology: redemption, grace, forgiveness, propitiation, etc. Do I agree with every line of the book? Not necessarily. Yet, while never sounding like trite religion (because they're not and never should be!), the words spoken by God in this book are full of vibrancy and life.

Is it the best crafted novel ever? No. In many ways, it could be encapsulated in a non-fiction treatise. However, in sharing this remarkable tale in a fictional form, Young has breathed wonder and wisdom into a story that will continue to buzz around for years to come.

A poorly written, philosophically bankrupt, theologically challenged airport novel., March 18, 2009
Wow am I really going to feel like a wet blanket. I hate to say it after all of these awesome reviews of this book, but I really didn't like it. Not just on a theological level either. I just didn't get to the destination that others have. I really don't want to be negative, especially when others have been so impacted by it. But here is what I think about The Shack.

First of all, being a former literature teacher, I actually am shocked by the comparison with Pilgrim's Progress. You are talking about the most popular book in human history second only to the Bible. Pilgrim's Progress is known for its emotional impact more than its literary accomplishment, so they are similar in that. But I think that is where the similarities end. The Shack is not well written at all and focuses on only one primary issue. PP covers the entire Christian walk and does so in a most unique way. It is not only the pinnacle of Christian literature, it is the best of an entire genre (allegory). PP relies upon the everyday Christian's ability to relate to the character Christian and his entire adventure. The Shack relies almost completely on the effect of trauma done to the characters.

Secondly, the theological problems are difficult to overlook. I don't understand the mentality that says, God is pictured as a lot of things in the Bible, so why can't I picture Him/Her as whatever I feel comfortable with? Well, because one of the most devastating forms of heresy is to give God identifiable form, hence the graven images commandment. That's why Jesus was described as one that we would not find outstanding by Isaiah. I have discussed this topic earlier in the year on my podcast, Christian with a Brain. We are not supposed to put God in a box, whether that box be an old, bearded, caucasian male, or an overweight African-American female, it doesn't matter. The truth is that when even an angel enters the scene, people fall on their faces in awe. Making God a poker buddy isn't going to improve my relationship with Him.

This is also part of what I believe to be the humanization of God. We are trying to fashion God in our image, and this book simply reinforces that idea. We have gone from one extreme (God is an impersonal force that wants to punish me) to the other (God blows smoke rings, listens to punk rock and is my buddy). This is exactly like the enemy. He beats us up with one wrong image of God, then he shoves us all the way off the other end of the shelf by presenting a completely different, wrong image of God.

God is my Father, my Abba, my Friend, my King, my Deliverer, my Redeemer, my Fortress, my Strong Tower, my Mother Hen, my Alpha and Omega, my Bread and my Savior and the Word tells me that this is indeed so.

Finally, the philosophy in this book is very weak. In fact, I still don't know the conclusion. If you were to try to communicate the lesson of this book in a syllogism, what would it be? I have an 8 year-old daughter and I hate to sound harsh, but this book terrified me and then never really gave me any satisfying resolution. I believe the problem of evil to be the best arguement in the atheist's arsenal, but this book did nothing to dull its sting. I believe there are powerful and effective answers to address the problem of evil, but in my opinion, this book didn't give them to me.

Wow. I really sound like I hated this book. I hope I haven't offended anyone. But I also have a commitment to communicate what I believe to be true. If you were one of those who really didn't understand the powerful love of God simply by reading the Gospels, then this book was probably a blessing. But other than that, I think it fell way short and may even be destructive for many.

This Book Restored My Faith-Crystal Clear, January 27, 2008
This is probably the most profound and best book I have ever read in my entire life. It has brought me totally back to God. I have never felt better. I totally identified with Mack and the Great Sadness which has been in my life also.

I am a Viet Nam combat vet. In Viet Nam I had forsaken God. I could not believe that God would permit such things to happen on Earth. But as I learned more about WWII and Korea and other World events my lack of disbelieve just strengthened. Until about six and one half years ago I felt a need to come back and test the waters. My oldest son was in 9-11 as a paramedic (he went in on his day off) and I was so proud of him, but I felt a need to find my faith, because he had found it. He was a block away from the second tower when it collapsed. He went on to fulfill his lifelong ambition to become a New York Fire Fighter and actually entered into the prestigious Squad One. But oh, what a price for him and his family to pay. So much death to witness, and all of those funerals to attend. I wished I could have protected him from that, but I could not. I failed. I hold myself accountable for this lack of ability to successfully fulfill my mission in life as a father, just like I do the men I sent to their deaths in Viet Nam and the hundreds of people I have killed. I have lived with Viet Nam inside me for over 35 years until recently. These are only some of the crosses I bear. This book has brought me full circle. It has helped me to restore my faith. I have helped several people to purchase this book and I will continue. But I now know what is important and what is not so important.

My Step-daughter Lisa recommended I read this book after she read a Christmas message I sent to all of my children, step-children and special friends over and over again. I had sent a picture of Arlington at Christmas that had touched me very close to my heart. So I wanted each of them to see this and understand this was the price of liberty and that there were men and women who were willing to give their lives on foreign soil to guarantee their rights under the constitution of the United States. I penned a personal message to each of the couples or person along with the general message.

To John and Lisa, who are House Pastors for a local church, I was sorry I was not stronger for them when Kelsey their newborn went to heaven. Kelsey was born with a small aorta and Dr. Starr in Portland, OR was going to fix that. He was the best. I felt we were fine, but I had no faith, just my gut instincts that had gotten me out of every other jam before except a couple that resulted in loss of life. I went to the hospital every noon to see Lisa and Kelsey and got to hold Kelsey and she was so innocent.. So the day came, Dr. Starr entered the waiting room with the bad news. Kelsey had not survived. John went to pieces and Lisa was helping him because she seemed stronger at the time. My wife was asking me if I was going to go to John and help him. She said this several times. I was standing up, but I was not there. I was near a river west of Danang trying to get two of my men out of a jam that I had ordered to stay back and lay down fire so we could extract some wounded. The smells, the visual, the noises were all real. My men were dead and so was Kelsey. I never told anyone about that until I wrote that letter. So Lisa read that over and over and recommended I read "The Shack". I am so glad she did too!!

I never loan books, so I gave it to a close friend. I purchased the hardbound edition for keeping and rereading.

Since reading "The Shack" I have never felt so whole in my entire life. I have redevoted my life to Jesus and I have laughed with him in his presence. Thank you for the Great Book. Thank you Paul for introducing me to Mack. He made me realize I was not alone. Be careful when they make this into a movie. I am not sure how they can do it justice.

One more thing. Take your time reading this book. Take time to smell the roses. If you cannot, then read it again.

Remember who is writing this review!! As Paul Young told me, live one day at a time and live in the moment. It is the only thing that is real. Enjoy your life!!

A portrait of God that gets His love right, BUT..., January 30, 2008
You'll find over a hundred superlatively glowing reviews of this book on Amazon.com, and I think it's because in two of its primary aims -- to challenge your notions of God's "personality" and to assert that He, in all three Persons, loves you deeply and wants an actual relationship with you -- it succeeds vividly. Its colorful language and poignant approach, not to mention its straightforward, "why-didn't-I-think-of-that?" theodicy, are apparently helping to change multitudes of people's minds about what God is like, thankfully liberating them from soul-constricting religion along the way.

Its vividness and popularity are unsettling to me, however, for the book is but one man's fictional and very incomplete depiction of God: God is love, yes, without doubt -- hallelujah! -- but what of the God who kills Ananias and Sapphira for lying (Acts 5:1ff)? Or He who has His angel strike down King Herod because he doesn't properly ascribe praise (Acts 12:19ff)? Let alone the God who "deals out retribution to those who do not know [Him]" in the form of "eternal destruction" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) and the Jesus who, robe dipped in blood, mouth filled with a sharp sword, eyes like a flame, "judges and wages war," "strike[s] down the nations," "rules...with a rod of iron," and "treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God" (Revelation 19:11ff).

Without even a passing reference to God as ineffable King or worthy Judge, The Shack, despite its merits, is a simplistic, untrustworthy portrait of God. I think part of the reason for the growing hoopla surrounding the book is that in its pictorial writing style, The Shack is all too easily consumed and adopted by people who want their ears -- or eyes, to fit the mode of the prose more accurately -- tickled with images of a doting (if powerful), permanently good-humored god who makes them pancakes on the weekends. Certainly, it's easier to follow a God like this, but it's also delusional, if you take the Bible as truth.

Don't get me wrong: William Young's appreciation for and ability to communicate God's lovingkindness is wonderful, and necessary to a Christian world choked with Law. Nevertheless, if my criticism of The Shack is overly forceful -- and it is; I do like this book -- it's because I see the book being embraced with nothing but naive, uncritical, and untempered enthusiasm.

Adolescent prose, way overrated, December 14, 2008
I really wanted to love this book. Halfway through, I really wanted to LIKE it. In college, we used to call Astronomy 101 "Physics for Poets". This is "Poetry for Physicists". Way too bland and painfully adolescent in it's prose. Then Young tries to explain the Godhead as if speaking to six year-olds. I'm 100% okay with using a comforting, readable storyline with a unique, metaphorical look at the trinity. In other words, I am not offended, just bored. Thing is, this book (A) uses a very heart-wrenching subject matter (the abduction of a child), (B) mostly ignores that important storyline in favor of a almost comical twist, and (C) wants to tie it all up in a neat little bow. The writing is too simplistic for me. I don't need to be dazzled in a "literary" way, but geeze, this should have fallen into the category of pre-teen fiction, not adult fare. In the end, it made me sad that books like this make the bestseller list and create so much buzz.

Christian beliefs or not..., March 12, 2010
...this book was so poorly written as to be painful. I actually purchased this book because I, myself, have lost a child to extreme violence and suffered with my own great sadness, and the glowing reviews that I came across for it whispered to me of a measure of comfort. I couldn't wait to get a copy and dive in. I needed to feel that kinship with God, even if it was through fiction, that had been lacking since He let my child be brutally murdered and taken me for reasons that I can not fathom. Needed to know that I wasn't alone in my pain. I did find great comfort in C.S. Lewis's "A Grief Observed," for example, so I knew that it was possible for me to seek and find a measure of solace in other people's shared sorrow. I understand that reading a story (that's what it is, a work of fiction) about one man's relationship with God can bring comfort to many who are broken, but dear Lord, this book was a crap salad. The author's lack of writing skill, the syrupy tripe, the ridiculous foreword - Our Hero left home at 13 and 'ended up' overseas somehow for the next part of his life? Coming from farm folk that probably never thought to get him a passport? Oh, please - how stupid does the author think his audience is? The trite "tin box full of worldly possessions" - how overdone a device does the author need to inject into the first few pages? At least I can say that I was forewarned, yet I trundled on, blindly - mea culpa, mea massima culpa. And it only gets worse from there. The author's need to dress almost every phrase with overused similes or metaphors made reading this book distasteful. I actually said to my husband, 'the people that urged this person to pursue a career in writing should be forced to read literature as penance."
Let me just say before I sum up: Please don't take offence if you read this book and you loved it. I'm not attacking you. I'm opining, which is what this space is for. If it changed your life for the better, good for you. I truly am happy that it did. The world needs more people who look at the bigger picture and do their damnedest to love one another. There's too much hate and anger simmering in the general populous. Just don't attack me because I didn't like it.
So here's my review in a nutshell: this book is poorly written drivel that will appeal to the under-read and under-educated who don't know to seek meaning in books of superior structure, quality, and constitution.
Peace.

In Loss Find Peace, In Confusion Find Answers, February 13, 2010
Eugene Peterson said, "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his." I am not sure about the masses but The Shack written by Wm. Paul Young allowed Papa to mend my heart as a mom's cool breath on a scraped knee. It was easy to read and the pages passed so quickly they almost turned themselves.

The theme of The Shack is of redemption and healing. It is a fictional story about a typical American family who encounters great loss. The Phillips, a family of five, experience a tragic event when their precious daughter is abducted while camping in Oregon. Young skillfully exposes a father's guilt and takes you step-by-step through his journey to peace. Nothing in this story is typical or mundane. It gives a new glimpse into God and a refreshing separation from religious obligations. For any parent who has asked why or anyone who thinks they have been abandoned, Young has a message for you written in the pages of The Shack.

In my personal time of sadness Young offered me a hand out of the pool of questions. This book is an education, a life lesson and a simple message all wrapped into one. Put aside all your judgments and appreciate Young's creative mind and allow the Great Spirit to dance off the pages in front of your eyes. If you listen ever so close you may hear God whisper, "I am especially fond of you."

Christianity Lite for the New Age, January 13, 2009
Purportedly, this book will help the reader answer the question "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?". Unfortunately, the book's storyline has "god," in the form of a large African-American woman, residing in a mountain shack with the gardner Jesus and an ethereal, tear-collecting female being representing the Holy Spirit. The lack of theological or Biblical basis for this odd scenerio has one asking why churches have not risen up in the same wrath as was directed at "The DaVinci Code."

Mack, the story's main character, is a man who is haunted by his own personal past, as well as by the disappearance and probable death of his child at the hands' of a serial killer. Spending a weekend at the shack with the unlikely trio, Mack is able to come to terms with his emotional turmoil and to solve his daughter's case. However, he only does this after a near fatal automobile accident which occurs just after he leaves the weekend retreat.

A dear friend recommended this book and gave me her lending copy. She said the book had a profound effect on her. Further, it had helped her to deal with a very unsettling personal situation. I was told to be prepared to weep while reading and to keep a box of Kleenex handy. Understanding that each individual might be affected differently, I was not expecting a spotlight from heaven to shine down while I was reading. Nevertheless, I did expect some thoughtful and thought provoking writing.

Instead, I found the writing in this book to be less than satisfactory. Simplistic and, somewhat trite, it did not inspire me nor did it have any transformational impact. The first third of the book consisted of the basic story and only rated an average review. The second third of the story was implausible and, to Christian believers, probably heretical. Had I based my review on these two parts of the book, it would not have rated above two stars. The third portion of the book had some interesting inspirational thoughts and for that reason caused me to rate this book three stars. The best part of this book was the quote from different historical figures that headed each chapter.

This book is not one to give to individual seeking an answer to their faith questions or to individuals seeking to find a faith. Better choices would be books by John Ortberg, Max Lucado, or Michael Newman; all these authors bring a deep faith and a way of expressing it so that the layperson can reach an understanding of the subject matter.

"The Shack" is not a book that should have been promoted by the press as anything other than a mediocre story with New Age spiritual overtones.

Bad Theology Meets Bad Writing, December 24, 2007
I read this book to see what all the fuss was about. What I found was a book that has the potential to do a lot of harm and very little good.

I'll leave the plot summaries to other reviewers. Instead, I want to address three serious flaws in the book: (1) it does not deal in a helpful way with the problem that is supposedly at its heart, (2) it portrays God without reverence as a being who is not holy, just, fair, or better than humans, and (3) the book is consistently anti-intellectual and basically ignores the human aspects of the relationship between God and mankind, while pretending to explain it in a few little catchphrases.

First, the book is about healing - it is supposed to explain how the main character, Mack, found healing after suffering "The Great Sadness," the horrible murder of his daughter. The first fundamental flaw is that it never does this in a useful or helpful way. While much of what William Young says about God and God's attitude towards people is true, the neat and tidy solutions the book presents are irrelevant to almost any real-world pain.

Rarely is justice served in the here-and-now, complete with restored relationships, an absence of pain, and direct reassurance from God that our loved ones are safe and happy in heaven. God rarely, if ever, works that way. Pain and suffering require better solutions than a fictional story about how God fixed almost every hurt in one family's life through a miraculous intervention. Miracles are the exception; pain without God directly speaking to us is the norm. A book about God's relationship to us in our pain and suffering which fails to recognize this is worse than useless; it is misleading and actually capable of creating more problems than it solves.

Second, the book has an even greater flaw: it simultaneously portrays God as too much like us, while presenting a God who doesn't care much what we believe or what we do with our time on Earth. The Jesus of the Bible says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). He also says, "Broad is the road that leads to destruction" (Matthew 7:13). The Jesus of "The Shack" says things like, "I am the best [as opposed to only] way any human can relate to [the Father] or [the Holy Spirit]" (page 110), "I'm not asking you to believe anything" (page 119), or, when asked whether all roads lead to God, "Most roads don't lead anywhere" (page 182).

Further, the god of "The Shack" is not holy or just - while the God of the Bible feels anger over the sins of the world, even while forgiving sinners, the god of "The Shack" never gets angry. The real God tells us to have faith, work hard, love each other, and be content with what He gives us; Young's god tells us she doesn't care about faith, or what we do on our own, or our love for each other unless it's really about her, or contentment with social order. No, Young's god will submit to *us* in the same way we submit to her. Young wants radicals who devalue work, authority, and respect, and refuse to acknowledge that God does not usually take care of everything, without our participation.

Third, the book is consistently anti-intellectual. In "The Shack": seminaries are portrayed as godless, dead places, which teach nothing about love or relationship; reading the Bible is unimportant; regular prayer is unimportant; theology is unimportant. The Jesus of the Bible asks us to come to Him and trust Him; our justification before God depends on it. The Jesus of "The Shack," however, will chase us down and is unconcerned with faith. It's far easier to do what Young has done and paint seminaries, theology, authority, and the wisdom of the Bible as useless and old, than it is to try to understand the real, holy, and timeless God, who does not always explain His actions to us.

Perhaps the best indicator of how flawed Young's theology is can be found in the fact that he embraces the theology of Jacques Ellul, a self-described "Christian anarchist." Ellul rejects the existence of hell; all people, regardless of faith, he says, will be saved. This is not the biblical God. Ellul's god is firstly human, secondly divine. The God of the Bible, in contrast, is the only being who exists independently, the "I AM." God is not human; far from it.

All in all, "The Shack" is a dangerously flawed book. People who need answers would do far better to turn to the Bible - the book of Job is a great starting place - a pastor, or even a good friend and a cup of coffee.

An atheist writes..., September 6, 2008
As an atheist, I just want to say...wow. Is that the best you've got?

The blurb on the cover says "THE SHACK will leave you craving for the presence of God." Genuinely curious, and with an open mind, I started reading.

So you get four chapters of folksy family fun, culminating in what appears to be a shocking murder -- these scenes are rendered well enough, and I (the father of a young girl myself) felt the protagonist's anguish well enough to keep reading.

Then, abruptly and with a deafening grinding of gears, the book veers off into the weeds, where it remains firmly wedged for the balance of its page-count. Ponderous and inpenetrable, jargon-heavy and utterly lacking in anything resembling a narrative, it's sort of like a cross between a Thomas Kinkade painting and the second & third Matrix movies -- winsome and twee, but utterly tangled up in the minutiae of its own mythology, blundering blindly forward with its shoelaces tied together, firing platitudes and cod-philosophy around in the vain hopes that some of it might hit home. Whole pages, whole chapters go by, with the author staggering around in a kind of fog of theology, apparently trying to resolve age-old questions but instead writing things like "Guess that's jes' the way I is" and "Don't confuse adaptation for intention, or seduction for reality."

And so it wears on, chapter after chapter of clunky dialogue about ill-defined concepts which are picked up and dropped like the toys of a hyperactive child, apparently seeking to clarify but succeeding only in obscuring all meaning in a lavender cloud of unicorn farts. By about chapter 6 or 7, the Missy plot seems like a distant memory, and the reader's only concern is to get out of this book alive.

As a novel, then, this is a laughable effort, but I know it is not primarily intended to be a novel -- it is intended to be a recruiting tool, aimed at winning non-believers over into the theist camp with a sort of warm-n-cozy new-agey version of Christianity, in which the Holy Trinity are a kind of nonthreatening multicultural sitcom family, a trio of irascible kooks with hearts of gold, etc. etc. There may, I suppose, be some hypothetical atheists who are so close to rock bottom that they glimpse some sort of salvation or meaning in this book. But seriously, I doubt there could be more than a few dozen.

So go ahead and feel free to give this book to a 'lost'/'seeking'/'fallen' friend or family member. Make them part of your secret 'Missy Project' (as touted on Young's website), earn a few more bucks for the author and rack up some points with the man (sorry, woman, er, no, I mean women, or do I?...) upstairs. Just know that the lucky recipient will, the next time you see them, give you an amused (or bemused) look, and say something like "Um, yeah, thanks for the book and all," while backing slowly towards the door.

If this kind of arcane, ill-constructed, mush-mouthed tripe is what passes for serious Christian writing these days, I'm quite happy to leave you to it, dickering over the True Nature of the Trinity or the exact temperature of Hell -- instead I'll smilingly opt to brush off a copy of Middlemarch or Howards End, or maybe a spot of Vonnegut or Wodehouse, and get a bracing, swooningly beautiful dose of the real meaning of life.

Good day.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Ever wonder how a little old lady with possum-gray hair could wind up on a homicidal hit list? Well, nothing is too outlandish for Ivy Malone. She's back and she's brought her mutant curiosity gene with her. And ever since the evil-intentioned Drake Braxton and his family threatened to make road kill out of Ivy, her life has been crazier than ever!With the ever-present threat of looming Braxtons, Ivy decides to get out of Dodge for a while. But for someone who slides down banisters and drives a T-Bird, hiding from the mob does not come easily. And when strange things start happening to her new neighbors, Ivy's snooping sense kicks into overdrive. Will she unravel the mystery? Or will the threats to her safety scare her away? With Invisible, readers laughed so hard they cried. In Plain Sight, the second Ivy Malone mystery, promises to be even better! ... Read more

Reviews

The Murder Magnetic Ms. Malone - Strikes Again....Yay!, June 1, 2006
Ivy Malone picked the wrong family to mess with in Invisible, and she travels to a neighboring state to avoid the threats and retaliation attempts. She manages to hide out for awhile, and relaxes into life with a teenage niece. However, it seems that where Ivy is, there's a mystery to be solved.

Ms. McCourtney crafts compelling plots as well as her quirky heroine. A unique murder weapon awaits discovery and the book is full of little twists and turns. Ivy's thought life is rich with excellent and amusing word weaving. A realistic faith thread enriches the story and gives it nice depth.

A small thing comes to mind that would make this series almost perfect; Ms. McCourtney could work on increasing the speed of production of future books, as I am all of a sudden feeling a bit of melancholy. Where is Ivy and what's she up to now?

In Plain Sight, October 3, 2005
Wonderful, funny series. This book and the first one in the series "Invisible" are wonderful. You can't put them down. They are humorous, exciting and inspirational all at the same time. I can't wait till the next one in the series comes out!

Another Ms. Marple surfaces, June 21, 2005
Having been a fan of Agatha Christie for years, this was a surprising new series. The widow, slash detective, slash renegade is without a doubt a great new character. She is a senior citizen that has gumption. The author has created a lovable character who has a great deal of wit, charm, and of course cunning detective skills. The book is both entertaining and most assuredly not boring. If you would like to see a modern day version of "Ms. Marple", the incomparable Ivy Malone will not disappoint you. Looking forward to the next installment

wonderful amateur sleuth, May 25, 2005
Ivy Malone now appreciates being an invisible LOL (Little Old Lady) since avenging Drake Braxton begins to carry out his threat towards her after her testimony convicted his brother of murder. At first she ignores Braxton's harassment knowing from solving the murder of her best friend Thea (see INVISIBLE) that the police cannot help her. She no longer can ignore him when her house caught fire with her inside. Ivy consults with the Lord and decides it is time to go invisible again.

Her niece DeeDee Harrington and family are off to Hawaii so Ivy moves into their isolated family property near Little Tom Lake, Arkansas. An unfriendly enigmatic loner, Leslie Marcone, thinks she is the Harrington housekeeper and Ivy fails to correct him; he hires Ivy to be his housekeeper, which she accepts as she wants to uncover his secrets. Meanwhile two former lovers arrive while police sergeant Yates plays matchmaker between Ivy and his widower dad that is when he is not considering arresting her for interfering with an investigation that could leave her dead.

Everyone's favorite amateur sleuth LOL is back in a wonderful tale as she is as visible in the Arkansas side of the Ozarks as she was in the Missouri side. Ivy is as nosy as ever uncovering everyone's secrets, which places her in danger, but is comforted with her knowledge that the Lord is with her. Fans of a strong regional amateur sleuth tale with a subtle Christian message that augments understating of the heroic LOL on the lam will appreciate this fine tale that will surely bring Lorena McCourtney IN PLAIN SIGHT of the sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner

Great Mystery Series!, November 14, 2010
If you like mysteries with fun, heart, and LOL's (Little Old Ladies - according to Ivy), this series is for you. :)

What a pleasure to read these books. Yup, I've read all 4 of the series (hope there are going to be more!). The first book, "Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery)", is currently "FREE" on Kindle, so why not jump on it now? In the last few days, I've read/bought the other 3 books in the series, too.... "In Plain Sight", "On the Run", and "Stranded."

I am happy to recommend this series. Thank you for reading this review.

One little old lady you don't want to mess with, January 15, 2007
Ivy Malone has left her hometown in fear of the Braxtons who have threatened her after her testimony which convicted one of them for murder. She decides to stay with her niece and her family in Arkansas in hopes that she will be able to once again become a little old invisible lady again. Ivy stays with her grandniece and is prepared to enjoy a peaceful vacation away from the worries that follow her. Unfortunately she is mistaken to be a housekeeper and gets hired from a reclusive woman who turns up dead after firing Ivy. The reader snoops along with Ivy as she tries to find out who has committed the murder while unsuccessfully trying to get herself into any more danger.

I have become a huge Ivy Malone fan. Who knew little old ladies could be so much fun? This book is very like Murder She Wrote where the heroine is not someone you would expect to go around getting involved with murders. Ivy is not afraid of anything! I loved the twists and turns in this story. I love how Ivy takes advantage of getting away with almost anything because people prejudge her because of her age. This was a hilarious read also as Ivy manages to always get caught in unsuspecting situations and has to explain why she happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I also know how she felt when she got the chance to catalogue the library. I would loved to be able to sort through all those boxes of books with her. I did like also how the generation gap between Ivy and her grandniece was never a problem. I think that Ivy was more able to accept teenagers because she knows what it's like to be judged by other people, therefore she does her best to accept them for who they are. Ivy is a great character, I like her especially because she refuses to fall into the stereotype of a little old lady. I can't stand books where LOLs are gossipy, snoopy, crabby characters. Ivy is none of those things. This book is highly recommended for anyone who likes mysteries and having a good fun time while reading it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Keep some tissues on hand for this holiday story that is sure to be a Christmas classic!

Where had it come from?Whose money was it?Was I to spend it?Save it?Pass it on to the someone more needy?Above all else, why was I chosen?Certainly there were others, countless others more needy than I...Her reporter’s intuition insisted that a remarkable story was on the verge of the front page.

Rising newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the secret behind the "Christmas Jars" – glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously given to people in need.But Hope discovers much more than she bargained for when some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness and brings above a Christmas Eve wish come true. ... Read more

Reviews

You don't have to be Christian to love this book, March 14, 2007
This is a fantastic little book with a tremendously moving story. We have bought and distributed at least a dozen copies to friends, family and strangers. The story inspires each reader to perform a specific random act of kindness (remember that term?) in the form of a Christmas Jar. Immediately after everyone in our family had read the book and checked out the true Christmas Jar stories on the Internet (don't do so until you read the book), we set up our first Christmas Jar (Chanukah Jar). Imagine, Christian or Jew, it is still a "CJ." Our CJ will be one of our "Mitzvahs" or good deeds for the 2007 holiday season. Every night when we empty our change into the jar, we contemplate who we might give it to this December. Our book gifts have sprouted other CJs and hopefully when the movie hits the theaters this fall there will be a tremendous response and many more CJs for deserving souls.

Little Book, Big Message, November 23, 2007
Christmas Jars is a little book with a big message about the Christmas season. In an age when Christmas gift giving has become more of an expensive routine than a heartfelt pleasure for many people, Jason Wright offers an alternative that recaptures the spirit of the season.

When young newspaper reporter Hope Jensen experienced one of those horrible Christmas Eves that are often written about in newspapers like hers, she had no reason to believe that anything good would come from the experience. Getting through her first Christmas without her adoptive mother was going to be hard enough already but, when she returned to her apartment wanting nothing more than to sleep the rest of the day away, things would get worse. Hope found her apartment trashed by burglars, something that seems to happen all too often on Christmas Eve.

Finding herself somewhere between bursting into tears and throwing a tantrum, Hope was saved from doing either when she discovered a small jar stuffed with coins and paper currency that had mysteriously appeared just inside her apartment door during all the excitement. There was nothing to indicate its source or why it had been left for her. Smelling a newspaper story, and in need of something pleasant on which to focus, Hope Jensen decided that she would solve the mystery of her Christmas jar.

What she discovered about the Christmas jar tradition in her town, and what she learned about herself in the process, is the heart of this Christmas story. It is a story about strangers giving gifts to those who need them most, and how those who received the jars on one Christmas often gave Christmas jars of their own to others on the next.

Christmas Jars is a tale reminiscent of a 1940s black and white movie in the way that many of its characters are a tad too perfect and too ready to forgive. The length of the book, a short 122 pages, does not allow Wright to flesh out his characters or their story and that is a shame because he has created characters worthy of more attention. Perhaps that is meant to be part of its charm but the book would have been much stronger and would have had more of an impact on the reader if its characters had been more completely developed. But the real point of this book is its message, an inspirational one that will be retold this fall as a "major motion picture." Here's hoping that Christmas Jars and its movie version start a new tradition of Christmas Eve giving that is passed from one generation to the next.

The power of giving., April 16, 2007
What a wonderful tale about giving and receiving. Perfect for Christmas time. It tells of a little baby that was left inside a Chuck's Chicken and is found by a single woman, Louise, who raises her. Hope one day wants to become a journalist for the paper. Just as her dream is about to come true, her mother passes away from cancer. She is robbed, but the night of the robbery someone leaves a jar full of change.

Curious about who did this kind act, Hope sets out to investigate, and write a column for the paper, hoping to make it big with this wonderful story about others giving jars full of change and money to others. What she embarks upon is something different.

You will shed a tear with this one, and it will stay with you forever. What a neat idea!

Christmas Classic, November 11, 2005
A friend of mine told me about the book so I quickly ordered one for myself. It is just as the back cover says, destined to become a new Christmas classic. As I read, I found myself consumed with not only the story, but the characters. The ending was a bit of a surprise which is not usual for me. The giving spirit of Christmas finds new hope in this book, just as Hope (the main character) finds the kind of treasure that can't be put in a jar.

Christmas Jars, January 2, 2006
I was very grateful to receive this book as my Christmas gift. I was inspired to reach out to others in need in a unique way. It only takes a spark to get a fire going and I believe this little book is a spark. When reading this little book, it was like being there. I could hear their voices, see the expressions on their faces and feel what they were feeling. I was deeply moved. Thanks to the author, Jason Wright.

You Won't Be Disappointed, December 19, 2005
I don't usually read Christmas novels, but for some reason I was compelled to read this one. I am so glad that I did. I absolutely love the novel from beginning to end. I was surprised to read the negative comments that were left. Don't let these discourage you from purchasing this book. Some good reasons to buy this book: it's a great book to inspire your family to begin your own Christmas Jar or similar type of tradition; it reminds you that Christmas isn't all about shopping to buy presents for your family and friends, but it's about giving to those who are sick, afflicted, or poor; it helps you understand the effect you can have on the world by performing one charitable act for someone; it's an affordable book; it's a quick and easy read; and it makes for a great Christmas present. It reminds me of the parable of the good Samaritan in which it teaches us that we should give to those in need, regardless of whether they are our friends or not.

Heartfelt Christmas read......a great tradition!, November 7, 2005
This is a simple yet 'hearfelt - feel the Christmas spirit on every page' book. I really enjoyed it. The idea of a Christmas Jar is just brillant. A great way to keep the Christmas spirit all year long. It's such a short story that to tell any details almost gives the entire book away. So I have to just say read it. Give it to your friends, family, teachers and anyone else you know. Make it a tradition. I plan to.

A Christmas StoryYou Will Think of Every Day of the Year!!!, December 14, 2005
This story helps our family keep the spirit of Christmas alive all year long. This has to be my favorite Christmas book ever. The story is a gift to us all on the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you Jason Wright. My 15 year old daughter couldn't put the book down. I know our family will think of this story every day of the year as we drop our extra change into our Christmas Jar. My kids can hardly wait to decide whom we should give the Christmas Jar to next year. A must read for everyone!!!

PERFECT TALE FOR THE SEASON................!!!, November 27, 2007
When Hope Jensen is adopted by her beloved mother--after having been abandoned in a neighborhood restaurant on Christmas Eve--she leads a charmed life, with a mother who until taking her in had remained unmarried and childless. When her mother passes away from cancer, Hope feels as though a part of herself has died also. But now a successful young woman pursuing her love of journalism, she believes that she can be as successful as she would like to be...as her mother always told her. When she returns home one evening to find that her home has been burglarized, Hope feels devastated and violated. But when she discovers that some kind soul has left her a jar overflowing with money on her doorstep, Hope is touched...and determined to find our the story and the source behind the Christmas Jars. Hope's search brings into her life a warm and loving family...and leads to perhaps the greatest discovery of all......

A wonderful, jewel of a story and book...perfect for the season and restoring one's faith in humanity.



DYB

The Christmas Jar, January 11, 2006
I'm one of the many people who heard about you on the Glenn Beck program. I ordered the book for our family, and received it after Christmas, which was fine. I read the book almost immediately and can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. The true testimony is from my husband. We've been married almost 40 years and I've never seen him read a book. He just finished it this morning. Couldn't put it down. I don't think he'd mind me telling that I could hear him blowing his nose and coughing at the end of the book. He also hugged the dog! It's a truly wonderful story. It makes you want to start your own Christmas Jar to start a new tradition in your own family. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Since the publication of her bestselling memoir, Going Rogue, in 2009, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has traveled the country extensively. She has visited cities and towns in almost every state, dropped in on military bases, given talks and speeches to small groups and at massive rallies. Throughout her travels, she has had the privilege of meeting thousands of Americans—ordinary men and women who have shared with her their hopes and dreams, their love of country, and their fears about what lies ahead. Governor Palin, inspired by these encounters, celebrates in her new book the enduring strengths and virtues that have made this country a beacon of liberty and hope for the rest of the world.

America by Heart is a highly personal testament to her deep love of country, her strong roots in faith, and her profound appreciation of family. Ranging widely over American history, culture, and current affairs, Governor Palin reflects on the key values that have been such an essential part of her own life and that continue to inform her vision of America's future.

Reviews

She tells it like it is!, December 28, 2010
While not everyone agrees with Sarah Palin's views, my opinion is that the woman is sure not fearful in standing up for what she believes in - and that belief is that America is terrific!

Ghost-written, December 27, 2010
After reading a few dozen pages, I seriously doubt that the woman who has demonstrated problems speaking coherent sentences in public is able to communicate effectively with the written word. Sarah Palin did not write this book. In addition, she offers nothing new. For her, parroting patriotic slogans, attacking her opponents and promoting failed policies from the past is what passes for political discourse. Astonishing that so many Americans consider her seriously. Her public should love this book. For everyone else, read it for light amusing entertainment.

Signed Edition-not!, December 26, 2010
No way these books are signed personally by Palin. I ordered two and the signatures are identical-stroke for stroke.Must be signed by a machine.

She borrowed a lot from another author/book, November 29, 2010
Reading this I was starting to wonder if Palin was a true student of political history, and how she had found the time to do so much heavy reading that she quote and discuss Alexis de Toqueville, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson along with Calvin Coolidge and someone as obscure as John Witherspoon. Really, how had her breadth of study and knowledge not been known - was she hiding this in 2008 or has she spent the last 2 years studying - in between book tour, Tea Party and speaking appearances, filming a reality show and being a FoxNews commentator?

But then I checked out a source she mentioned a few times - the book WE STILL HOLD THESE TRUTHS by Matthew Spalding - and saw a lot of commonality, including the de Toqueville and Coolidge and Witherspoon references. Now it seems apparent (to me) that she read and relied heavily on Spalding's book, adding those folksy touches that her fan base loves. They won't question her originality, anyway (but Spalding should).

Palin neatly separates progressives and DC people from the patriotic Americans she is so proud of - her base will love it but I found it insulting and distasteful to imply that people who hold different beliefs are somehow less patriotic or "American" than those who agree with her. She considers the term "American exceptionalism" to mean American superiority, when the term really came from an observation of the country's unique ideology. She criticizes some of the leading voices of modern feminism, and admits she's a feminist, but seems oblivious to the societal differences of the 60s and 70s, as well as their contributions to the societal changes that have allowed her to take advantage of opportunities that she wouldn't have been given then.

I thought Palin's first book was more authentic; this one seems more like a less academic version of Spalding's book. Maybe she can get back to something original next time.

Who wrote this book?, November 26, 2010
I've read both of Sarah Palin's books and the "voice" in this book is different than the "voice" in her first book. This book reads like a sales pitch and a 300-page infomercial for the author. I can't tell if she's setting herself up for a run in 2012 or to continue her wildly lucrative speaking business. Either way this book is purely money in her pocket and not at all worth the time I wasted/lost reading it, and complete waste of trees.

Condescending; doesn't raise level of discourse or present new ideas, November 28, 2010
When I read non fiction, I want something that raises the level of discourse, stretches my thinking, presents new ideas, challenges my old ones, and expands my horizons. I have found none of these in this book because it's all the same old ideas she's hashed over since she was introduced to the nation, and they weren't new ideas then. I admit I haven't finished this book, nor will I for the reasons already stated and because the writing is condescending, boring, and, along with that, written on about a sixth grade level (I know; I teach sixth grade, and I did several reading level tests on it.) I want a book that treats me like I'm intelligent and can understand new concepts and constructs. This book does not. It doesn't present any solutions except in platitudes we've heard over and over like "take our country back." Back to what? How? Or stereotyping all liberals. I hold many liberal views, wanted to learn more of Palin's views, and only got shot down by her for being liberal. Why? I'm not shooting her down; I'm trying to learn more about her, more about how she would run a nation. Why not anything about how capitalism is changing and how that might affect our democracy? How about ideas for how we should change to energy sources not based on oil because even if we drill we will run out? Where's the level of discourse that she so admires in the Declaration of Independence and which would help establish common ground for solving national and world difficulties? If she thinks we should invade Iran, how would she do this with more success than in Iraq, and how would she balance the budget at the same time?

For those that agree with her, I imagine that reading it was fun and affirming, but it didn't do anything to help a dialog between left and right, nor did it raise the level of discourse. We don't need another cheerleader book meant to rally those already on "our" side. In addition, there are many areas that don't ring true to her voice; googling certain passages has revealed that she or her ghostwriter have lifted sentences or passages with minimal editing without giving credit to the original author. I want my politicians to be honest, to be able to express their ideas in their own words, and to give credit where credit is due. There's a bibliography of sorts at the end, so maybe these "lifts" are included there. But they should be cited where she uses them. I expect that of my sixth graders. I also expect being highly above board of someone who calls themselves a Christian.

I am not comparing her to anyone else; I am simply saying that I have certain standards I expect my elected officials to meet and surpass, and I expect certain things of those that call themselves Christian. She has fallen far short in both these areas.

Ms. Palin, you've disappointed me.

As in Going Rogue, a lot of lies, misstatements & stretching the truth, December 2, 2010
Here I go for a second time and although my feelings have not changed since I first read the book, I'll have to change the review a bit. I was told that someone complained about the quotes I used. Strange as it may be, those quotes backed up my assertions that Mrs. Palin lied or stretched the truth by omitting certain parts of quotes that would change the meaning of what she wrote.

Palin references American's exceptionalism and yet, in doing so, she had to try to tear down her President's words about the exceptionalism of the country he leads. When she spoke of our President and his alleged non-belief in America's exceptionalism, she omitted a large portion of his quote. When the quote is read in full, you'll find that our President said he believed in our country's exceptionalism just as citizens of other countries around the world believe in their individual country's exceptionalism, using Greece and England as two examples. Was he denying American exceptionalism? Absolutely not. He went on to speak of our allies during WWII and our invaluable help that was provided which aided them greatly in becoming the strong, dependable countries they are today. We can count on the help of their military in our fight against terrorists whose greatest desire is to see us fail. Our President spoke with pride in regards to our unmatched military strength, the values found in our Constitution, our love and regard for equality and freedom for all people. He said that the recognition of other countries strength and admiration for them in no way lessens his pride in his own country as Palin would have us believe.What Palin has done is quite typical of the things I've seen on Fox countless
times. She's learned well from Sean Hannity as he does this nightly on his show. It's not misleading, it's LYING. How can anyone call Palin admirable when in order to boost her own self-esteem, she attempts to tear down our President's
character and does so with an outright lie? What does her character assassination attempts towards the President of our country say about her? That she is not patriotic. In fact, anyone who loves this country, despite disagreement with our President would still respect the power of the office and all it stands for. You are not considered patriotic if you find it necessary to lie about our President in order to try to attract attention for one's self or boost your own overinflated ego.

Palin complains on page 263 about Obama's enemy-centric policy is coddling our enemies. In using this phrase here
in the book and in a speech she gave earlier this year, it's obvious she doesn't know what enemy-centric means. For instance, Bush was criticized for using an enemy-centric policy in Afghanistan early on which only caused our enemies to
move to a different location. Enemy-centric is not a term meaning friendly towards the enemy as Palin indicates in her writing. What does her mistake tell me? That she's picking phrases out of books or earlier speeches and using them
for herself but not knowing what they mean. Rather than copy the lengthy passage, I've given you the page number or you can do a search for the term here on Amazon.

Palin has revealed herself to be a phony many times. These are just a couple of instances, in fact, I could give you hundreds. If you have any interest in seeing her become President, you might be wise to do some research on websites
prior to 2008 (then you can't blame them on Obama) before deciding to rally around her. If you're horrified at the thought of her attempting to lead our country, you already know what I'm referring to."

she has no clue, December 22, 2010
I read the first three chapters of this mess and wow, this woman is clueless about real America.
She blatantly stole ideas from other authors. Also, is it possible for her to not use sappy and pointless cliches?
Save your time and money and get something substantial, not this tome of mediocrity.

Sarah's #2 BOMB, December 26, 2010
This woman as I wrote about her last book....She is a Con. Making money after she got a taste of the limelight thanks to McCain, she has wasted no time, quitting her job as governor and making oodles of money off of people who buy into her rhetoric. Trust me, she is NO THREAT to Liberals. Plus she is not a woman who should even be considered a Feminist! P.S. She doesn't even write her own books. L. Rudzinskas, Denver, Colorado

The book only deepens the mystery..., November 27, 2010
First I'll acknowledge right up front that I worked for McCain-Palin, in Alaska, during the first two weeks of her VP run. At first I was thrilled by her as a result of her reputation in Alaska, and the potential lift to the sagging GOP ticket. However once she began to speak publicly, without a script, I got very nervous. It was clear she had a lot of catching up to do on current events and important historical contexts.

So I've been following her closely since, believing that with a little reading and thinking she could be a serious contender. This book should have been the proof that she is the full package. Instead it read to me like a pamphlet distributed at a college campus political rally, not anything substantive that would electrify conservatives or give birth to a movement, much less have any meaning on a world stage.

While it is worth a read to get an updated view of of Palin, I think it is a missed opportunity for her to be substantive and reach a bigger, more thoughtful mass of the electorate. Perhaps she is too green to be substantive. Either way, this hyper-partisan brand is solidifying around her and this book may seal it.

There is a anti-partisan rebellion building in the U.S. and I doubt there will be little tolerance for hyper-partisan candidates in the next election, so why she has chosen this path is a mystery to me. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Wendi Stratford's job as an accident reconstructionist is just one more enviable reflection of her ideal life. She's got it all---perfect career, perfect looks, perfect husband, perfect home, perfect faith. There's just one problem: it's all a sham, right down to her bleached-blonde hair.So Wendi hatches an impulsive and exhilarating plan to break free of the lie she's been living---only to watch her hopes die in a terrible accident. But as she sifts through the wreckage, Wendi comes to a shocking conclusion. This was no accident.The quest is on to learn the truth, but the truth could be deadly. And now someone is leaving Wendi clues at accident scenes, clues that could lead her straight into a killer's hands. With her life on the line, Wendi must find strength in a faith that until now had been merely an accessory to her storybook life.With engaging characters swept into a millrace of mystery and suspense, Harry Kraus' new novel is. . .perfect. ... Read more

Reviews

Great book!, August 19, 2008
I couldn't put this book down! It was suspenseful and emotional and grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I think all of us can relate to feeling "fake" sometimes and the desire to break free from our "perfect little images" and be real. Wendi has to put on a "show" to a level where it makes her feel like it is killing her to be so pefect all the time. Wrapping herself in blame and shame and feeling that God is disappointed with her. She has no concept of grace. Her world begins to unravel as strange events begin to occur around her. But it is in the unravelling of her life that she finally finds the answers she's been looking for. A terrific book that spoke to my heart and my own longings to drop the masks and live with freedom in God's love. So not only was it a good suspense and story, it was a story that packed in a powerful message of grace.

A Great Read!, June 14, 2008
I just finished reading Perfect. What a fantastic book...full of suspense, as well as speaking of God's grace. I just want to encourage everyone to read his books....they are all great. I can't wait to read his next book!

Suspense and themes of grace and forgiveness wind throughout Kraus's latest thriller, July 14, 2008
The talented Harry Kraus (COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE?) crafts this absorbing, suspense-filled story of a doctor's wife who has the perfect life and everything money can buy --- but finds it is not enough to quell her guilt over her past.

Trophy wife Wendi Stratford is the daughter of a minister who works as an accident reconstructionist. She is frustrated with her high-driving surgeon husband, Dr. Henry Stratford, and in love with her piano teacher, Jack Renner. She's also carrying a boatload of guilt over an incident in her past that helped land her mother in a wheelchair in a nursing home. Add to that her pressure over being the perfect child, and Wendi is about to leave everything and do what she wants --- and have the man and the adulterous fling she desires.

But events intercede. After Jack is hospitalized in a horrific accident and slips into a coma, Henry does the surgery necessary to bring him back from the brink of death. Then, Jack's parents and fiancée, Yolanda Pate, show up and end up bunking at Wendi's home while Jack recuperates. Jack wakes from his coma but seems to suffer from amnesia. When Jack's fiancée dies in Wendi's bed --- from an overdose of pills prescribed by Henry --- evidence begins to point to Wendi, or possibly Henry, as the murderer.

Henry has his own set of problems. Frustrated by his wife's lack of attention, and vulnerable to temptations that lurk right around the corner, he's ripe for an affair. When his resident physician, a sultry blonde, flirts with him and then is killed under mysterious circumstances, the plot thickens further. Do we really know who Henry is? Drugs, affairs, amnesia and guilty cover-ups all wind throughout the plot until its chilling conclusion.

One complicating theme is Wendi's sister Rene, the typecast rebellious daughter, who shows up pregnant and HIV-positive on Wendi's doorstep. Wendi, who is unable to bear a child of her own, must decide if she wants a new start with Henry and adopt her sister's child, or continue to wait and see if Jack regains his memory --- and if they'll renew their fledgling affair. And her marriage is not easily dismissed. Henry's attentions toward her prove confusing. She muses during one scene, "Yes, he worked late and made me fight for second place, but he was compassionate and thorough with his patients, something that gave me comfort since he was the one in charge of Jack. The pendulum of my heart stood still, threatening to arc in the opposite direction from the one I'd been on: an arc towards loneliness, emotional isolation, and divorce."

Point-of-view changes are smooth, and there are some surprises lurking in every chapter. Kraus portrays Henry as a multi-faceted character impossible to dislike, even when he's covering up his myriad mistakes and obsessive compulsive in his mannerisms. The author does a great job showing, not telling. One interesting way he does that is to have Henry check himself in the mirror every morning in the same sequence (hair, tie, jacket, pants and zipper. Then his zipper again.) It's these kinds of scenes that tell us more about the characters than if he spelled out all the details for us about their personalities.

When Wendi gets involved in the investigation of Jack's crash, it unleashes a hornet's nest of troubles. Right up until the end, we're never quite sure if Henry is a sympathetic figure, or something more sinister. The ending is complicated in that it neither wraps up all the loose ends neatly nor leaves us hanging in a satisfactory or unsatisfactory way --- you decide. Faith fiction readers who enjoy a good tale of suspense will find plenty to like in Kraus's latest novel.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

good story for cheap, November 18, 2010
i bought this book when it was free a few weeks ago and i loved it! it was definetly very good especially for being free... but i think its still worth the $6 it is now. its about a "perfect" family that keeps up this image of having no problems whatsoever, when in reality, they have more problems then most families. the husband ends up having an affair with his co-worker & the wife feels like she cant keep the image any longer & decides she wants to run away her slightly younger piano teacher. but right after she tells the piano teacher her plans... he gets in an accident & has amnesia. so the rest of the story is her trying to figure out whos trying to kill her.

Good suspense, November 11, 2008
I picked this book up not realizing it was Christian literature. When I did realize it in chapter 2, I was disappointed because I had recently finished another Chistian novel which had prejudiced me against this type of writing. What I didn't want was a story where the author used the hand of God to resolve the story's problems rather than have the characters manage using their own resources. Fortunately, no magic tricks were needed as the protagonist worked through the events in a realistic manner and came to a new understanding about her faith. Good writing and high on the can't-put-it-down scale.

Far from Perfect, November 19, 2010
Perfect is far from it. The story is really contrived and stretches the boundaries of believability. Wendy Stratford discovers that her husband is having an affair and her response is to launch an affair with her piano instructor and run off to the Caribbean (at least it wasn't the pool boy). But when her boy toy is in a terrible accident that leaves him with amnesia, she launches her own investigation into the accident and discovers someone may be trying to kill her. Yes, this is a weird plot. And it gets weirder because it seems like the author can't decide if she is writing Christian fiction, chick lit, or a cheesy Lifetime Network movie of the week. The husband is a surgeon, so of course he is the one who heroically saves the piano instructor's life after the accident. Wendy's day job is as an accident reconstructionist. How very convenient for her.

Entertaining read., November 17, 2010
This is not your typical Christian book - most of which are sappy romances. I liked it as it was set not far from were I live in Virginia - a nice treat. The two main characters have long been more concerned with their perfect facades - perfect looks, perfect clothing, perfect house in a perfect neighborhood across the street from the perfect church. The story concerns what happens when cracks form in the perfectly constructed lives and how God's forgiveness and Grace can heal all.

That being said, most of the reason for a 4-star is for the slopping Kindle formatting. There wasn't even a few lines separating totally different parts in a chapter. Suddenly the next paragraph skips to different people doing different things and it required a major mind jerk to reorient.

Good book, recommended read, sloppy in Kindle.

ho-hum, November 16, 2010
I read various reviews which said "riveting" "suspenseful" "fantastic" . . . I think I must have been reading a different version. The book had its moments but unfortunately it was more predictable and poorly written than any of the other descriptions.
One reviewer said it was a bit monotonous- I can agree with that.
My biggest issue was with the page layout, or editing. Often there would be a change in perspective (different character) without even a change in paragraph, I found this quite distracting and it didn't allow a smooth flow of the story.
I'm glad it was free, even a dollar would have been too much. I felt like I was reading a High School kids extended creative writing project.

Almost Perfect, November 6, 2010
Since this was a Kindle freebee, I wasn't expecting a lot. However, it was a page turner. I love mysteries. As a Christian, I did like the Christian message, but as an avid reader I enjoyed the author's writing style. This is a novel with complex characters, a plot that moves things forward, and no simplistic answers. The fact that the author is a physician adds realism to the medical settings and characters when they appeared in the book. A good read for Christian and non-Christian alike. I recommend it. There is no question that I will be reading other novels by Harry Kraus, MD--even if I have to pay for the pleasure.

Exciting page turner, November 3, 2010
Just downloaded this as a kindle freebie. It is an exciting pageturner that you just don't want to put down till it is finished. I had never read any books by this author before, but will definitely be buying more by Harry Kraus. A medical thriller that keeps you on edge till the very end. ... Read more

Editorial Review

2009 Retailer's Choice Award winner!
In this compilation of the five books in the best-selling Lineage of Grace series by Francine Rivers, we meet the five women whom God chose—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Each was faced with extraordinary—even scandalous—challenges. Each took great personal risk to fulfill her calling.Each was destined to play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. ... Read more

Reviews

Amazing!, October 25, 2009
These are amazing stories told by an incredible author. Rivers makes the Bible more understandable and interesting to women through this book. It is beautifully written and draws you to the heart of God more and more each day. The scripture and questions at the end of each "book" are great for individual devotions or Bible studies. They are great to dive deeper into the Bible for further understanding and application. This is a must-have, along with any other Francine Rivers books. My favorite--Redeeming Love.

Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers, January 4, 2010
In Lineage of Grace we follow Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary through their lives as they are each intricately woven into the Lineage of Christ. Tamar shows the story of a woman betrayed, yet a woman determined to do what is right in the eyes of God. Rahab, a harlot, shows that no matter the sin God can still do wonderful things in each of our lives. Ruth, a love story of epic proportions...we see love given from daughter-in-law to mother-in-law, but we also see love shown from man to woman as Ruth takes her rightful place as the wife of Boaz. With Bathsheba, we again see how God can turn a sin into something that is for His glory, if only the participants are willing. And finally with Mary we get an interpretive look into the live of Jesus' mother and the struggles she went through watching her son, who she knew to be the Christ, grow up and be rejected by a world that was supposedly waiting for his arrival. We see with Mary how God can take the most illogical person to be someone that is important to His plan.

This book, Lineage of Grace, is a compilation of 5 separate books written by Francine Rivers several years ago. Each book (then called Unveiled, Unashamed, Unshaken, Unspoken, and Unafraid) included a section at the end called "Seek and Find" where the reader could take a deeper look at the Scriptures pertaining to each story. There were questions to consider and ideas to ponder in order to gain a better understanding of the story itself, but also of how the story and the Scriptures might apply to the reader's spiritual life. Thankfully, the "Seek and Find" sections are included in this new publication as well! Granted, each book is a fictional expansion of what the Bible gives to us, with Rivers using her imagination to add details. But the details added are historically accurate and do not take away from the basic story told within the Scripture. Rivers simply takes the verses from the Bible and puts the story into `real life' for the reader to gain a better understanding of what it might have been like to actually live that life.

I read this set of books when they first came out and loved them...but I gained new meaning and learned different things reading them again. They are easy to read and are the kind of book a person could read every few years and gain something new from them each time. Francine Rivers did an excellent job in her research for these books and in writing them. I look forward to reading her other series based on men of the Bible called "Sons of Encouragement."

Biblical characters come alive, October 26, 2009
These books really brought this women of the Bible alive. Although they lived in very different times and faced different physical and social challenges than women of today, their spiritual and emotional lives were much like ours. My favorite was Mary's story. The mother-son relationship between her and Jesus was much like that of other loving mothers and sons, yet all the time she recognized He was the Messiah.

better than I could have imagined., February 14, 2010
I bought this book for my wife to read for her bible study group. I read a few pages then couldn't put it down. It gives the passions and talks about what the women were thinking that caused them to do their actions. I had to read it. It is absolutely fantastic and easy reading. It sheds a lot of light in how people think in that part of the world as far as respect and how it is even still viewed today. Really worth reading.

A collection of spiritual tales that will lift the spirits of many Christian women, highly recommended, January 16, 2010
The will of woman has the power to change the world. "A Lineage of Grace" is a collection of Christian fiction from Francine Rivers as she presents the tale of five women and their relationships with God. Tragic pasts, oppressive environments, obedience, and more, "A Lineage of Grace" is a collection of spiritual tales that will lift the spirits of many Christian women, highly recommended.

Fantastic books! A must read!, December 10, 2009
The Lineage of Grace series is fantastic. A few of my friends and I read it together as a book club/Bible study type thing and it was great. We really enjoyed it. You can't go wrong with Francine Riv [...]. she's great! And it's wonderful that you can buy all of the series together in one larger book. Definitely a must read!

Great Bible Study, November 20, 2009
We are using this book in our ladies bible study class. It has been a very eye opener, helping us to look at the stories in the bible from the point of view of the women involved. When you here the stories of women in the bible, you very rarely think about how hard their lives were and what life was like for women in those times. This gives new perspective in a way that brings the women to life. The writing is detailed and the questions at the end of each story is a wonderful guide to use in a bible study.

wonderfully presented christian text, July 21, 2010
Wonderfully presented Christian text and content that is appealing for the mind to absorb and enjoy. This is a great adventure and a cominig of age book with great descriptive text on environment and living conditions. A light story mingles with the facts and the growing up issues of being human. Aster Waiting

Great Book, July 13, 2010
Frances Rivers does a wonderful job of making the bible come alive. Although the stories are in novel form she is careful to stay as biblical as possible. I don't always think about what the women in the bible may have gone through to be used by the Lord and the author really makes you think about it. This is a wonderful book to help you understand the biblical woman in her culture. The questions at the end of each story help you to apply what these women went to your life as well as helping you to stop and think about how God used those around these women. It is a great book for a book study or woman's bible study.

One of my favorites - to share with friends, June 15, 2010
I love to share the books in this collection with my friends - they are all in one volume - easier to share! This series really helped me to understand these Biblical women. Even though the details are not all from the Bible, the books are very well researched and "could" have happened (based on historical information). I like how the Biblical story is included and discussed after the fictionalized version. ... Read more