REVIEW: Unveiling the Past by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Husband and wife detectives, Sean Eagle and Meghan DeFord, work in the same department. Normally, they are partners. A cold case for a missing person, results in the need for them to take different partners for a few weeks. Meghan is searching for a long-missing father and the bereft daughter insists on joining the case. Meghan, meanwhile, longs to meet her birth father as he has never been part of her life.

Sean works with a difficult co-detective who is fighting through personal issues that can make him even more gruff. The two cases are interesting to follow, along with how Sean and Meghan actually mature and have time to think when they are not partners on the job.

Thanks to Waterbrook press for providing me an ARC for a review in my own words.

REVIEW: For the Love by Jen Hatmaker

I’m so glad I was selected to receive an ARC of this book through the publisher.  Jen Hatmaker has a gift for explaining the ways in which someone can practice true Christianity.  Admittedly, her audience is most likely women with children in grade school up to young adults. And, her writing style is easy-to-read.  She gives her readers so many ways to relate to what she wants to convey. It’s incredibly helpful.  Each chapter is a gift as you wait to see what she’s going to reveal through her real world examples.  For me, I’d say 80% of the content was a direct application to my life.  That’s pretty good, I think.

For those who are not sure about God’s commission to his people, Jen breaks it down and tells how one can share the love in a myriad of different ways.

REVIEW: Silenced by Dani Pettrey

Silenced is the 4th book in the Alaskan Courage series.  It follows the give McKenna siblings.  This one focuses on health-nut Kayden and detective Jake from the East Coast.  I’ve enjoyed these books, but they sure have a lot of murder/kidnapping in the area of Alaska where the McKenna’s live.  Climbing and its close-knit community was the outdoor activity that I learned about in this book.  I enjoyed it, along with the glimpse of life in Alaska with its ferries, seaplanes, and disconnected cities.  There’s some Christianity mentioned in the book and the relationships of the main characters are wholesome.  The lifestyles of others in the story do seem true to real life and readers may relate to the authenticity of the characters.  I think this story is worth a read for the suspense and the lessons on climbing.

Thanks to Bethany House for providing me a copy for review.

REVIEW: The Sign Painter by Davis Bunn

Amy and Kimberly (Kimmie) are adrift as they travel from town to town in an old motorhome. An artist, Amy makes a living painting giant art signs for windows at places like grocery stores and car dealerships.  In response to a painting job, Amy stumbles onto Lucy at a shelter/daycare center.  Lucy and her team of “love in action” Christians help Amy find her footing.  Amy and Kimmie’s change of circumstances would make a great story on its own, however, Davis Bunn has placed these two in a neighborhood where the DEA is keeping tabs on some major drug deals.  There’s a lot going on in the story and it has an interesting and diverse cast of characters.  It is quick to read and its contemporary setting will instill some cheer in the reader when they see how some Christians very well could work to bring hope to the downtrodden.  Thanks to Howard Books for providing me an advance copy for review.

REVIEW: What Follows After by Dan Walsh

Confused by their parents’ separation, brothers Colt and Timmy Harrison run from home and head to their aunt’s house, out-of-state.  Unfortunately, the worst happens and everything changes for the family.  This is a great story about the way God can work a situation to bring about good from terrible circumstances.  Coastal Florida during the Cuban Missile crisis is the setting of the story and it adds a unique element to the seriousness of the situation.  This story is fabulous.  I don’t want to say to much and give away a spoiler.  You’ll be glad to find out what follows after.