The Chase by DiAnn Mills - a review

The Chase, by DiAnn Mills is Christian Suspense at it's finest. This is the first book in the Crime Scene Houston Series and if the rest of the series is anything like The Chase, Ms. Mills will have a hit series on her hands.

This book is drawn from a real-life cold case and Ms. Mills brings the story to life with her passion for the real tragic event. Just as Ms. Mills wanted to tell the story, her heroine, Kariss Walker is passionate about telling the story within the book.  

Kariss Walker is a former TV news anchor that is now a New York Times bestselling author.  While working as a news anchor she reported on a case where an unidentified little girl is found starved to death in the woods.  The little girl becomes known as Cherished Doe.  Kariss hasn't been able to let go of the story and after writing women's fiction for several years she wants to write a novel about Cherished Doe in hopes that it can help solve the case.

When Kariss approaches her agent about changing genre and writing a suspense novel, her agent begs her not too and soon drops her as a client.  Kariss is determined and contacts an old friend with the FBI.  He pairs her up with his top agent, Special Agent Tigo Harris.  Tigo is not too happy about the match up and in time sparks are flying.  

With the help of Tigo, the Cherished Doe case is reopened and Tigo and Kariss work together to try to determine exactly what happened.  During this time Tigo is also working undercover to try to break up a gun running cartel.  Could the cases be connected.  Are they able to bring a solution to Cherished Doe's death.  All these answers are within the covers of this wonderful book.

If I have anything negative to say about The Chase, its the lack of romance.  Sure, sparks fly between Tigo and Kariss and they think to themselves that they are having feelings for each other but they never really 'get there' before the book ends.  There is a Chapter One of the second book in the series tucked in at the back of the book and Tigo and Kariss will be brought back.  My hopes are that they will finally express their love for each other somewhere within the pages of Book 2 (no name listed).

I would highly recommend this book for mature audiences only based on content.  

On a 5-Star scale - 4 Stars

I would like to thank Zondervan for my copy of The Chase.  I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson - a review

For me, when a book is good, really good, I connect with the characters at a level where I feel like I am part of the story.  In Melody Carlson's new book, The Christmas Pony, I experienced just that.  Little Lucy Turnbull, the lead character in this book came to life for me.  From the beginning, she pulled me into the story and held me there.

I must say, it's rare for me to put a real life person's face on a character in a book that I am reading, but in The Christmas Pony I envisioned Lucy as Rebecca Harrell.  If you don't know who Rebecca is, watch the movie Prancer.  Rebecca played Jessica Riggs who's character is so much like little Lucy Turnbull's.

The Christmas Pony takes place at Christmas in the year 1937. It is the story of 8 year old, Lucy Turnbull who wants nothing more than a pony for Christmas.  Not just any pony mind you, she wants Smoky, who is owned by a neighbor. Times are hard as Lucy's father has passed away and her mother and grandmother have started taking in borders and Lucy's mother does laundry in order to make ends meet.  The last thing they need is a pony to feed and board.

While in town one day, Lucy comes across a couple of people who's car has broken down and they are in need of a place to stay.  She invites them to her home and so the story begins.

Does Lucy get her pony?  Does Lucy's mother find love again? You'll have to read the book to find the answers to these questions.  This is a wonderful little book of 169 pages that is over before you know it.  I guarantee that you will find joy between the pages.  I loved this little book.

I would highly recommend The Christmas Pony to anyone wanting a clean, feel-good book to read.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

* Available Sept 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*

I would like to thank Donna Hausler and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of The Christmas Pony. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Soul's Gate by James L. Rubart - a review

I am a big fan of James L. Rubart's work. His new novel, Soul's Gate, is the first book in his "Well Spring" series.  It is a book about fighting enemy warfare in the supernatural.

The story is about four normal everyday Christians who are brought together to learn to fight for other people's souls.  The lead character, Reece Roth, is a trainer of spiritual warriors. Because of things that happened in his past, he hasn't rained anyone for many years.  But a prophecy spoken over him many years ago brings him out of "retirement" in order to train a new group of faith filled warriors.

The warriors are trained to enter a person's soul (with their permission of course) in order to war against the demons the person is battling. This is so they can bring healing and renewal to the person's soul. The warriors enter into prayer and work with the Holy Spirit in order to battle the enemy.

Through their faith, the warriors deal with issues of their own. Through their training they are able to bring healing to each other and open themselves up to help others.

I believe one of the main focuses of this book is to show us, the reader, that we need to help other's heal through prayer.  We need to pray strong prayers, not just, "please bless John or Mary" but really pray.  We need to open ourselves up to be receptive to the Holy Spirit and let Him know our hearts for the hurting of others.  This book has definitely changed my perspective on praying.

This is not a book for the faint in heart.  But it is a book that can make you think.  I would highly recommend this book to adult readers.

On a Five-Star Scale - 4 stars.

I would like to thank Litfuse Publising and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my review copy of Soul's Gate.  I received my copy for free in order to read and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,