A Clown Did It Made It A Must Read

Truth Stained Lies
Terri Blackstock

Book Summary: When truth doesn't make sense, will lies prevail? Cathy Cramer is a former lawyer and investigative blogger who writes commentary on high-profile homicides. When she finds a threatening note warning her that she's about to experience the same kind of judgment and speculation that she dishes out in her blog, Cathy writes it off as mischief . . . until her brother's wife is murdered and all the 'facts' point to him. The killer has staged the crime to make the truth too far-fetched to believe. Working to solve the murder and clear her brother's name, Cathy and her two sisters, Holly and Juliet, moonlight as part-time private investigators. Juliet, a stay-at-home mom of two boys, and Holly, a scattered ne'er-do-well who drives a taxi, put aside their fear to hunt down the real killer. Stakes rise when their brother's grieving five-year-old son is kidnapped. As police focus on the wrong set of clues, the three sisters and their battered detective friend are the only hope for solving this bizarre crime, saving the child, and freeing their brother.


Review: I really enjoyed this opening series. I liked that it was so clever of a plot - A clown shot Jay’s wife. Truly a twisted twist and immediately made this a must read. I liked all of the siblings and can not wait for the next book. The book did not really over use any of the new characters. I found that the mystery did not take up too much of the book and yet it was fast paced and the mystery filled my head with who did it. The only thing that I did not understand is the connection between the murderer and why he wrote to Cathy….. Overall a must read for me and a quick paced mystery.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

A Truly Enjoyable Compilation

An Amish Miracle
Beth Wiseman, Ruth Reid, and Mary Ellis

Book Summary: Always Beautiful by Beth Wiseman
Becky Byler is eighteen and overweight. She is overwhelmed by the embarrassment she feels when comparing herself to other girls her age. Having lost all hope, she considers taking her own life. As she stands before rushing water, unable to swim, Becky begs God for a miracle. In just several months, Becky sees her prayers answered as food and temptation lose their hold over her. She's finally pleased with how she looks, but does she like the person she has become? And has the man she has dreamed of been right beside her all along, loving her exactly as she is?
Always His Providence by Ruth Reid
Widow Rosa Hostetler has one month to pay her delinquent taxes before the county auctions her farm. She's prepared to sell whatever is necessary to pay the lien, but she isn't willing to request money from the community's widow fund. She's embarrassed and refuses to admit she needs help. Rosa depends on income from selling eggs, but when that income is threatened, only a miracle can help Rosa accept the kindness of a neighbor.
Always in My Heart by Mary Ellis
Hope Bowman believes God is punishing her for giving up her firstborn son when she was a teenager. She's hidden this secret from her husband, who is thankful for their daughters but longs for a son. Hope prays desperately, but the son God sends her isn't a new baby but the fifteen-year-old boy she gave up years ago.
Includes Reading Group Guide and Old-Order Amish Recipes

Book Review: I really love these kind of books. They go by so fast. I really like visiting with all the new characters and as the stories progress you get to know these characters more and more. I really liked the start of this book with Hope. It set a wonderful tone for all the other stories. I could to wait to keep going. I look forward to many more of these stories. The over all tone of this series was so timely for me as a Christian because it is a season of trials and testing. It was especially meaningful to me.
I would like to thank Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

An Enjoyable Character Study

Lip Reading
Harry Kraus

Book Summary: She Could Save Millions, or Save Herself She just needs a little longer. She’s really close. Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a medical researcher, stands on the verge of a breakthrough that will transform medicine. But she soon discovers the reason behind the miraculous progress in her research, and it leaves her with a nearly impossible choice . . . and little time to decide. More than her research is at stake. And more threatens it than this latest revelation. Something she’s tried hard to cover up. There is a high cost to some things in medicine and it’s not always the patient who pays. Can Rebecca find the faith and wisdom she needs to make the right call? The clock is ticking and the pressure is on.

Review: I liked the characters and the plot. It started out with a bank and was a quick paced novel. I found Becca to be likable and the entire story to be a page turner. The ending was a teary eyed finale. Sean was a great lead character who was honorable and a great example of Christ. The story was full of my favorite thing about reading a fantastic character read. This book was full of empathy and the change that Christ brings to his people. The mysteries were minor, but held the story together and provided a great backdrop to the sacrifice that Becca made. It was well worth reading and great to spend time in the Shenandoah Valley within the pages of this book.
I would like to thank Net Galley and David C. Cook for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

An Engrossing Mystery

Not By Sight

Kathy Herman

Book Summary: The first in a new series from suspense author Kathy Herman. Set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Her Sister Couldn’t Be Alive … Could She? It had to be Riley Jo. She was certain. . .wasn’t she? But when Abby Cummings tells her mother she thought she saw her sister at the store, her mother quickly dismisses the idea. After all, Riley Jo and their father had been missing for years. Presumably dead. Yet Abby cannot ignore her intuition. Telling her friend J. D., they investigate. But J. D. may know more about the disappearance than he’s telling, or even realizes. And as they work to uncover what happened, all they have to go on is blind faith. Will it be enough . . . especially considering what the truth might be?

Review: I found this book to be very exciting. The characters were believable along with the story line. I liked the theme and the twists and turns throughout the book. It was a tragic story from the start. I liked how Abby had a nose to the grindstone mentality to finding her family. She was quick thinking for the most part and was a very determined young woman. I do not normally read stories where the main character is under 20. But this mystery was gripping and the development of the entire area, people and storyline was enough to draw me in deeply.
I would like to thank Net Galley and David C Cook for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.