Book Reviews

Trevor MacDaniel is a true hero to everyone but he cannot let go of the fact that he was the one that allowed his youngest brother to die all those years ago. A former Olympic gold medalist, his life changed when he was injured, but his lust for winning and the thrill of the race keep him in the adventure business with partner, Whit. After watching Trevor save her young nephew from an animal attack, Natalie, captures the moment in sculpture and a friendship/romance begins. But there are mysterious photos showing up at Trevor’s doorstep at work. He is haunted by his brother’s death and drawn to what Natalie is able to see. Her eidetic (or photographic) memory is a gift and a curse to her. Someone is stirring up trouble and thoughts of the past.

I was very impressed by the suspense and even surprised at the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and loved the characters. There were very interesting relationship dynamics between Trevor, Whit, and Whit’s wife, Sara. I didn’t realize that this book was part of a series but everything is explained pretty well so the reader doesn’t feel like they needed to read the other book. However, after reading this book, I do want to pick up Indivisible just to find out more about the town and the different characters.

The story of God’s healing is very subtle. I would have liked a little bit more but the characters are obviously still searching and processing who God is, so I understand that the message of redemption is loosely woven. I did enjoy the excerpts from Paradise Lost by Milton which brought me back to high school English class.

All in all, well written. Definitely would recommend this book to those looking for a good suspense thriller.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group where I was not required to write a positive review.

Finley Sinclair is still grieving the loss of her dear friend and brother, Will, after two years and therapy. She arrives in Abbeyglen, Ireland for her last year of high school as an exchange student and a fresh start. She meets a young, handsome and enigmatic movie star, Beckett Rush, and immediately puts him in his place, which only makes him more determined to get to know the girl who dares to be real with him. Finley is also dealing with being at a new school, making friends, practicing her violin and piano for a conservatory audition in 6 months, and a secret that might be life-changing.

I’ve only read one other book by Jones, Just Between You and Me, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed her writing. This Christian Romance is full of real characters and emotions and situations that draw the reader into the world of Finley and Ireland. I want to go visit Ireland after reading this book – the imagery is so beautiful. The message of hope and love in God is beautifully woven into the story as a young girl is forced to confront her control issues. As Finley searches for all of the places her brother visited while in Ireland, the author captures her journey and her heart. I absolutely would recommend this book to anyone who has ever had to deal with pain and loss and to anyone who loves an easy but inspirational read.

I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com with Thomas Nelson but was not required to write a positive review.

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead revolves around a series of characters that are searching for the Skin Map. What is the skin map? You’ll have to read the book to find out! This sci-fi, action & adventure story is fun, exciting, and full of interesting twists and turns that span different dimensions. Kit Livingstone must leave his boring and mediocre life behind to discover what his true talent is and where his destiny lies. Throw in time-travel and world travel over the span of mere seconds and you have a story that will keep you guessing and traveling space and time.

Lawhead is able to weave a very confusing tale about many different characters into a solid story of adventure and time-travel. Although I found the story was slow in the beginning, it definitely picked up after the first few chapters. While I did find all of the switching back-and-forth between characters and storylines to be very confusing, I also enjoyed the suspense that created with the characters. Some of Lawhead’s characters do not have a lot of depth but others were a pleasant surprise. As for the Christian angle, it was very subtle and not too preachy. There seemed to be a lot more myth than religion in the story, which goes along with the timeline of the story. If you like adventure with a sci-fi twist, I would definitely recommend the book.

I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com with Thomas Nelson but was not required to write a positive review.