This nonfiction book read so much like a novel that I sometimes forgot I was learning while I was reading. Spot-on, authors! I liked that Mr. KilmeadeThis nonfiction book read so much like a novel that I sometimes forgot I was learning while I was reading. Spot-on, authors! I liked that Mr. Kilmeade narrated the book. His enthusiasm for the intriguing subject came through beautifully.
The cover of this one drew my attention. The novel’s premise sounded enjoyable. Yet, once again, profanities seeped in and sullied an otherwise beautiThe cover of this one drew my attention. The novel’s premise sounded enjoyable. Yet, once again, profanities seeped in and sullied an otherwise beautiful, complex story.
I did so love the twisty mystery hidden beneath the offensive language. The author has quite a gift for crafting a plot to keep the reader guessing and yearning for more. I just wish the story were clean!
Lynette Eason’s On the Run was exactly the story Daria and Ryker deserved. Such a sweet romance for those two lovable characters from other stories. TLynette Eason’s On the Run was exactly the story Daria and Ryker deserved. Such a sweet romance for those two lovable characters from other stories. The suspense was great, especially because both Daria and Ryker had to use their specialized skills to escape the danger that chased them. I loved the adventure and twists that peppered this story. The characters were strong and interesting, and the plot was well thought out and delivered superbly. This novella once again proved why Lynette Eason is my favorite suspense author.
There were some things I enjoyed about this story. There was a unique usage of a Halloween costume. The murder mystery was fun. It was neat that the lThere were some things I enjoyed about this story. There was a unique usage of a Halloween costume. The murder mystery was fun. It was neat that the lead owned a yard sale business. There were plenty of twists and surprises to keep me guessing.
There were things that I didn’t like too. Most revolved around sexual themes. No thanks!
Content: profanity, crude gestures, expletives, sexual perversion, prostitution, alcohol, premarital sex ...more
This was an intriguing kidnapping mystery. I especially enjoyed the creepy, Criminal Minds-esque tone surrounding the cruel, evil psychopath.
UnfortunaThis was an intriguing kidnapping mystery. I especially enjoyed the creepy, Criminal Minds-esque tone surrounding the cruel, evil psychopath.
Unfortunately, this book was packed with horrible language, always unnecessary, as well as lots of crude talk about women’s bodies. Because of those things, I will not be continuing the series.
Content: expletives (excessive), sexual perversion, profanity (excessive), tobacco, alcohol, crude talk, sexual innuendo, graphic violence ...more
I loved that the plot heavily involved the leading man’s son. That isn’t something I see done a lot in Gothic or Regency books.
The drama was perfect fI loved that the plot heavily involved the leading man’s son. That isn’t something I see done a lot in Gothic or Regency books.
The drama was perfect for the Gothic genre, and the emotions were rich and deep. I especially enjoyed how complex the plot was–superb for a debut!
My favorite line was: “You cannot think I would laugh at your tears.”
Another favorite was this exchange: Dorthea: What shall I do if you are killed too? How can I bear such guilt? Ella: You need not worry. I promise I shall not be murdered. Dorthea: One usually cannot prevent such a thing.
If it weren’t for the creepy, evil vibes surrounding psychic/medium-type experiences, I probably would have loved this story. As it was, though, the eIf it weren’t for the creepy, evil vibes surrounding psychic/medium-type experiences, I probably would have loved this story. As it was, though, the evil vibes clung hard and creeped me out the whole time I was reading this book. I’m glad to have done with it now.
It was also weird that several people in the FBI were concerned about germs on a piece of evidence and suggested the guy “toss it” into the garbage. Say what?! Germs are typically on all of their evidence. I have no clue why these people were such germaphobes in the type of work they’re in.
The kidnapping thread was superbly written. I rather enjoyed seeing how that portion unfolded. That was the thread that saved this book from being only a single-star read for me. The reunion angle helped too.
Content: replacement expletives, one profanity, a couple of expletives...more
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
The stunning cover and excellent premise had all the earmarFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
The stunning cover and excellent premise had all the earmarks of being a solid, emotional, right-up-my-alley read for me, but the story itself turned out to be anything but my cup of tea. My favorite things about it were that Nathaniel was a fantastic second-chance fellow and the history shared was an accurate depiction of what really happened in the past. I highly appreciate historical accuracy in fiction stories, so the author gets brownie points for that, definitely.
What I struggled with the most was the antagonists. Both of the main bad guys read as two-dimensional brutes rather than the nuanced, sophisticated men they were supposed to be. I found them unrealistic and unbelievable, and I wasn’t sure why they were trusted to be in charge of anything. They made it impossible for me to enjoy the majority of this novel.
I also struggled to understand why the leading lady couldn’t see the obvious abuses and cruelties her fiancé threw in her face and against her person when she could so easily see through everyone else. She readily excused his behavior as her fault, becoming even more a victim to his tyranny, but she was always bold and independent with everyone else. She was a conundrum I couldn’t figure out, and that made it difficult for me to root for her.
Why did the leading man have a pet rock in his pocket? I get the reason he tried to give me toward the end, but throughout the whole story, it just came off as immature for a Secret Service agent to be dependent upon clenching his fist around a rock in order to cool his temper. Maybe he wasn’t cut out for the career path he chose.
I did like that somebody was called to task about “compromis[ing] [their] convictions” at one point. This is something I don’t see often enough in most Christian fiction books I read today, so it was really refreshing to see that play out here.
I’m sad that I couldn’t enjoy this one, as the first chapter hooked me in and many of the plot twists were well delivered and surprising. The author’s voice was pretty solid and quite expressive, so I’m sure she’ll gain lots of fans in her career. I hope there will be better character development for future bad guys so that they will be a lot more realistic than these ones turned out to be. And do please keep that historical accuracy coming!
Content: bullying (excessive), skimpy clothing, prostitutes, gambling, brothel, tobacco, saloon, alcohol, replacement profanity, one profane word, derogatory terms, swearing “by all that is good and holy”...more
My favorite story in this collection was Lynette Eason’s On the Run. It was exactly the story Daria and Ryker deserved. Such a sweet romance for thoseMy favorite story in this collection was Lynette Eason’s On the Run. It was exactly the story Daria and Ryker deserved. Such a sweet romance for those two lovable characters from other stories. The suspense was great, especially because both Daria and Ryker had to use their specialized skills to escape the danger that chased them. I loved the adventure and twists that peppered this story. The characters were strong and interesting, and the plot was well thought out and delivered superbly. This novella once again proved why Lynette Eason is my favorite suspense author.
Deadly Objective by Lynn H. Blackburn was my least favorite of the trio of stories in this collection. The leading man, who was a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the VP’s son, seemed hyper-focused on Emily to the detriment of his job. He also called his coworkers “yahoos,” which was highly unprofessional. He also called Emily “baby” long before the relationship felt stable and established. The term was also way overused throughout. Emily was sweet but quite pampered, so the way she easily accepted the camping trip seemed out of character, particularly since she said early on that there was no way she’d ever go camping. I expected her to throw a fit or complain or something, but she simply slipped into the outdoorsman role instead. She also seemed to ask the questions of the situation that Liam, the Secret Service agent, ought to have been asking. Their roles seemed quite reversed at times. And how dare she tell a teenager that he was toasting marshmallows wrong! There is no wrong way to toast marshmallows, as far as I’m aware, and it was just plain rude to degrade the kid in such a fashion. Mason was quite spoiled and bratty at first, but his character had the best arc of the entire story. He gained so much maturity through the misadventure he went through. His growth was the highlight of the story for me.
Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters was tense from the jump. I really liked that the leading lady’s allegiance was called into question. That’s an angle I hardly ever see in Christian fiction, so it felt refreshing and kept me flipping pages. I also enjoyed the fact that the leading man was chivalrous. That is something muchly needed in today’s society, and I’m glad this book put it on display. The scar burning situation was odd. I have a few scars, and none of them ever burned after they healed. Maybe others have more experience with this sort of thing, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed more like the leading lady’s memories were what seared her, but the pain was attributed to a scar. It just came off weird to me. And why did the leading characters ogle each other when they were supposed to be doing their jobs? That’s always so awkward to me. As were the physical reactions that stood out enough for me to jot a note about them as I was reading.
Content: On the Run: tattoos Deadly Objective: crude nickname, crude sexual terms, replacement expletives, vaping, replacement profanity Caught in the Crosshairs: alcohol, tobacco, drugs, replacement profanity, tattoos, unwed pregnancy mentioned, marital affairs
Ratings: On the Run: 5 stars Deadly Objective: 2 stars Caught in the Crosshairs: 3 stars...more
This story had one issue that really bugged me, but the story was fantastic.
I loved the way this story wrapped up the various loose threads in the triThis story had one issue that really bugged me, but the story was fantastic.
I loved the way this story wrapped up the various loose threads in the trilogy. Obviously, I can’t talk about those things, but they came to satisfactory ends for me.
The thing that bothered me was the excessive sexual innuendo layered in throughout. It felt awkward and inappropriate. I understand these characters were married, but it still felt like entering the bedroom with them. They weren’t the types to flirt so overtly in company, so why were they doing it in mine? If not for that, this book would have easily been a five-star read for me.
The engineering, turning bridge, and familial drama were all sorts of happy for me. I loved how these aspects were all intertwined and overlapping. The faith thread was woven well among it all, and that was definitely the icing on the cake. The sisters and their mom were still the highlight and center of the story, but I loved how the fellows the girls chose were added in naturally and brought depth and extra spunk to the adventure.
Content: alcohol, sexual innuendo (excessive) ...more
Ooh, I can hardly wait to read the final book in this scrumptious trilogy!
I love that this series is completely intertwined. Each book builds upon theOoh, I can hardly wait to read the final book in this scrumptious trilogy!
I love that this series is completely intertwined. Each book builds upon the previous one, and each features all three sisters, though one takes the lead every time. It’s wonderful to see such intelligent sisters learning to rely not only upon themselves but on men (and, more importantly, God) for protection and assistance. So far, this has been on beautiful display, and I’m eager to see how it plays out in the next book.
This book, like its predecessor, was loaded with family, faith, adventure, and danger. And I loved every second of it! Between the family issues and the gold find, there were lots of things to enjoy. I especially enjoyed that the leading lady was a scientist putting her hands to inventions. How this was presented was lovely and consistently pushed the story forward. I liked the nuggets of mathematics in one of her sisters. I’m hoping that comes into play even more in book three.
The danger and adventure in this one were spectacular. Attacks, kidnappings, an almost-gold rush… My, my, it was quite difficult to catch my breath at times! That is not a complaint, because I loved every inch of adventure that caused the breathlessness.
The ranch was a beautiful setting, and I also enjoyed the scenes in the city. Each new scene built wonderfully to create a memorable adventure that I’m hoping to revisit many times in the coming years.
What a journey! I adored this book and was riveted from the beginning.
I like that this series, Love on the Santa Fe, is connected via the railway lineWhat a journey! I adored this book and was riveted from the beginning.
I like that this series, Love on the Santa Fe, is connected via the railway line Santa Fe rather than by connected characters. That’s different and refreshing in a Peterson series. I do love when her series follow a specific family or group of friends, but this series is becoming a nice change of pace.
It was interesting to see the leading lady in this one was the complete opposite of the one in the previous book in the Love on the Santa Fe series. In that one, the leading lady was respectful of her parents even as she stopped enabling them. In this story, the leading lady was disrespectful of her parents when the book opened. She was spoiled rotten from never having difficult challenges or even household chores to keep her hands busy. I loved that her journey was to discover a new respect and love toward her parents as well as to think of other people before herself. It was a journey toward maturity, and it was very well written.
The plot was delightfully complex. The number of interesting players was good, and they each had their own goals and problems to deal with. The plot twists were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the one at the Founder’s Day picnic.
The thread about the cologne was superb! I loved how this was speckled throughout the story. It was just the bit of humor and coyness this story needed.
The cover might be absolutely gorgeous, but the faith threads were divine. From learning to honor one’s parents to repenting from one’s sins to gaining reconciliation, there were plenty of deep topics to dive into. This felt like a trademark Tracie Peterson book for how strong and bolstering the faith threads were. Very encouraging!
Content: gambling mentioned, prostitution and promiscuity mentioned, illegitimate children mentioned ...more
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This was the most atmospheric, immersive book I’ve read allFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
This was the most atmospheric, immersive book I’ve read all year. It held a Gothic overtone throughout, which lent a creepy harmony to compliment the Victorian melody of the tale set in Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum. The musical aspects of the story played well against the madness within. It was a beautifully intricate tale that was exquisitely discordant in all the right places. I was mesmerized from the early pages and even felt myself going a bit mad right alongside Vivienne in certain moments.
There were plenty of shocking twists that kept me guessing and flipping pages quickly. Even the one thing I thought I foresaw from early on was flipped on its head eventually, which delighted me to no end. This was one of those books that had me wishing I had no other obligations than to read, for I was easily lost to its charms and dramatics and the trap that was Hurstwell. If not for work and some post-Wuhan-Virus symptoms I’m still dealing with, I would have easily swallowed this story whole in a single day rather than having it dragged out over a month’s time. I suspect my first reread of it will be one large, satisfying gulp.
The leading lady, Vivienne, was one of the best unreliable narrators I’ve ever read. I cherished her point of view for that very reason. This very much felt like a psychological thriller in certain respects, Vivienne’s unreliability being the key one and the setting of Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum being another. I would love many, many more books like this one—ones that keep me off-kilter, on the edge of my seat, and deliciously unsettled until the final page.
Bridget was quite the conundrum for me. I truly wanted to love her. In some ways, I absolutely did. She was thoughtful, kind, encouraging… many traits I try to apply to my own persona. Yet, in a couple of other respects, she felt estranged from her own upbeat, inspirational personality.
In the first, she stated, about melancholia (depression) that it “doesn’t matter what you believe about the Almighty or anything else. You can’t climb out. No one can pull you out. [The wave of it] just has to roll over you till it passes, then you stand up and keep going. Until the next one.”
I disagreed with this outlook, because my personal experience has shown me that God does still perform miracles where depression and melancholia are concerned (as well as in other areas of life). I have lived in the midst of debilitating depression that was as dark as a moonless night. If not for God Almighty, I would have drowned in it. Yet, He held my face above the waves and eventually drew me up out of the stormy waters entirely, setting my feet back on the Rock of Salvation (Jesus Christ) and showing me that even in those dire circumstances I faced, I could be content and joyful and happy rather than depressed and sinking in melancholia. Jesus once said that we should “be of good cheer,” because He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJ). Overcoming the world includes beating depression—Jesus beat it! There is hope that God can help a person overcome their melancholia and depression, because our God is still a God of miracles; He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NKJ), which means if He did miracles in Bible times, He’ll still do miracles today. I stand as a witness to many already in my life and am always on the lookout for more, because where God is, His miracles tend to follow; one just has to look for them. God can and does help people beat depression. I know; I’ve lived that experience; He beat my depression—without aid of any medication—and it has not returned in over a decade. I am living proof of Jesus’s words in John 16:33 and of Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-12, in which he states that contentment may be found no matter how much or little we have or which situation we find ourselves in. My depression has been replaced by true contentment, thanks in full to God Almighty and His compassionate, healing touch, and that keeps joy in my heart—and the darkness of depression out.
The second of the outlooks that contradicted Bridget’s core personality was that she implied at least twice that Apostle Paul was her husband with wording such as “me dearest Paul” and by speaking of him with the fondness of a beloved spouse rather than with the brotherly respect due an apostle of Jesus Christ. It felt awkward and disrespectful that Bridget had spoken of Apostle Paul in such a way that Vivienne mistook him for Bridget’s personal friend—and I, as a reader, mistook him for her husband. And rightly so, as she referred to her actual husband as “my Michael”—not so dissimilarly as to how she referenced Paul.
I rather enjoyed Bridget’s positivity in such a depraved setting as the asylum, so there were definitely perks about this character. I feel like she would have been my favorite if she were more consistent in her belief in these lines: “… nothing happens without the Almighty’s say-so” and “Alls I know is the dark has lasted far too long here.”
Her backstory did lend itself perfectly to melancholia, but I was unable to follow the logic that she’d find sudden optimism in an asylum with absolutely zero healing taking place at that point. I would have liked to see either more consistency in her perspective or a more clarified explanation for her healing from melancholia in such a dreary, darkness-laden place.
Another small oddity of the book was that among the famous musicians quoted to begin each chapter, there were seven quotes included by the leading lady of the book. Now, she was entirely fictional, so this felt like the leading lady quoting herself rather than using another classic quote from a real historical person, such as Beethoven or Rossini.
The final thing I didn’t like was that the only noted historical figure in the book had his name altered simply because the author didn’t want to use his true middle name of “Kill,” as noted in the Author’s Note. One cannot help the name one is saddled with, but to accurately represent history, it’s crucial that one’s name is recorded correctly. This was very disappointing.
Those few negatives about this book were mere hiccups in the midst of an excellent symphony of heartache and loss, broken people and healing souls, and music and hope all strung together into the beautiful tapestry of a journey well traveled for the sake of following wherever God led, however unusual the destination.
The switches upon switches upon switches in this book was one of my favorite things, and they made this quite the memorable story. The romance in the latter chapters that especially had to do with those switches won back the fifth star in my rating. I also adored how exquisitely the music and faith threads were so naturally woven into the story and characters, creating such beautiful life to this story.
I would love another book in this series (this book is the sequel to A Midnight Dance, even though they were marketed as stand-alones, as they have three or four characters in common). I would love to find out what happens to Bridget and Rosamond and how they continue to blossom in the light of God’s movement in their lives.
Pretty great addition to the series. The search for Shauna’s siblings continued, and I was delighted to see the turn of events. It was fun to see somePretty great addition to the series. The search for Shauna’s siblings continued, and I was delighted to see the turn of events. It was fun to see some Asian connections in this one. I particularly liked that there was a Korean character. The romance wasn’t great for me in the first third, as it was manipulative and antagonistic, but it grew on me well in the back two thirds.
A veterinarian I’ve had experience with in the past told me that it’s tricky to know which gender kittens are, that it’s not as simple as checking its underside. This book made it look super simple, by just flipping the kitten upside down, but that isn’t at all what my real-life experience and research have shown me about young kittens.
I’m eager to see the continued sibling search in book three.
This book would have easily been four stars if not for one thing: the leads platonically lived together prior to marriage, and this was heavily emphasThis book would have easily been four stars if not for one thing: the leads platonically lived together prior to marriage, and this was heavily emphasized throughout the entire book. Also, there was a child involved, so this would teach him that it’s okay to live with a girl prior to marriage. I am not okay with this message.
While some details (nearly-black hair, hair “product”) quickly became redundant, most of this story was quite enjoyable to me. I loved that it featured two pilots, one of a helicopter and the other of an airplane. I loved that there was a little boy to be concerned about. I loved that it was an action-packed thrilled with a mystery to solve. I loved that it was full of twists that I never saw coming. I loved that it had a character in default of payments for something, which was completely realistic but isn’t often featured in books I read.
Content: skimpy clothing, alcohol, alcoholism, replacement profanity, platonically living together before marriage (heavy emphasis), sexual phrase...more
The cover of this book is one of Lynette Eason’s best to date. The yellow tone is gorgeous, and I love that tree-packed landscape too.
A hostage negotiThe cover of this book is one of Lynette Eason’s best to date. The yellow tone is gorgeous, and I love that tree-packed landscape too.
A hostage negotiator was featured, and that job, when well written, is a huge magnet that draws me in. This one was spectacularly done. I especially enjoyed how many times the negotiation came up throughout the novel. It did not feel glossed over in the least; instead, it was presented in a way that made it feel like the author had personally experienced such events. That’s the sign of a great writer, if you ask me.
While this book was packed with action and suspense, there were some sweet moments that allowed me to catch my breath too. The sock-tossing scenes were entertaining, and the moments between the sisters were some of my favorite of the calmed-down scenes.
As with most, if not all, of Mrs. Eason’s previous books, this one was family oriented. The leading lady was the guardian of her little sister, which is a familial experience not typically highlighted in Christian fiction. It was handled so well here that the bar has been moved higher for those sibling-guardian books that will be written from here on out.
School shootings were featured but not in the typical way. One was in memory form, while the other was not a mass shooting event but rather more targeted. It was interesting to see this take on this type of social tragedy, because it presented very personal cases of what it can look like to see cries for help before these sorts of events happen as well as different ways in which they may be resolved.
It was fantastic to see how Dottie dealt with a bully during a crisis. I can’t really say more than that without spoiling anything, but my heart melted and tears gushed to the surface so that I had to blink fast and hard to be able to continue reading. That moment near the end of the book was a prime example of how a caring heart can make a huge difference in the lives of those around us.
The insanity one character was immersed in was so well written that it gave me chills and made me check my own mind after reading certain scenes. I loved how exquisitely this character was written, and this added a richness to the story in a different sort of way. It was perfect for this book’s plot and definitely made it one to remember.
There was one point of view that felt completely random. However, I felt like that was on purpose even as I was confused by it, because Mrs. Eason doesn’t do random. She always has a design in play, and I knew that would be the case here. I’m so glad I reserved judgment until the end, because when I figured out the connection on the page before the final chapter, my brain exploded and every moment of foreshadowing flashed through my mind. I kept thinking, “You foreshadowed it here… and there… and again here!” I loved that moment! This is a book I will read again with the intent to study how Mrs. Eason so exquisitely layered in the foreshadowing so that I didn’t see that big revelation coming. Hopefully this is something I can learn to apply in my own writing as well, because it was something I really enjoyed about this book.
I can hardly wait for the next two books in the Extreme Measures series!
My big beef with this book was that there was zero warning that it dealt with prostitution. I don’t mind reading about it in certain cases, but I loveMy big beef with this book was that there was zero warning that it dealt with prostitution. I don’t mind reading about it in certain cases, but I love having warning about it right in the back-cover blurb so that I can decide whether or not I feel like investing my mental and emotional energies into such a tale. Some days I do; some days I don’t.
For some strange reason, I seem to be drawn to those books that feature a love triangle where one of the guys is completely abhorrent. I have no idea why this is, and it drives me nuts every time, but I stumble across this trope time after time after time…
I’m getting worn out on racial-issues-fueled books. I’ve simply grown beyond them and prefer not to read books in this trope very often anymore.
The first memorable moment of faith came at the 40% mark. That felt way too late in the game. Even after that mark, the faith thread felt practically non-existent for most of the story. It was much too light for my taste.
In the audio version, the transition between time periods was abrupt at times. Context helped to sort out which era each scene was in, but I did wonder a few times if there was a smoother way of transitioning from one era to the other.
I loved Audrey’s brother! He was so charming and delightful.
Luca was amazing. He was the type of hero I could root for: chivalrous and gallant to the core. My heart broke for his sister and how his story ended.
The Tennessee Centennial Exposition setting was so enjoyable! I love settings like that when the authors are able to bring them to life, which Mrs. Shocklee was able to do here. This aspect of the book was my favorite.
The scrapbook was phenomenal! I love how this was incorporated into the story and brought the leads of the 1960s’ era together.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
Murder mystery with group amnesia? I was totally in for thaFTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.
Murder mystery with group amnesia? I was totally in for that premise. I liked that the story brought together a group of former friends that had fallen apart after a summer none of them could fully remember.
I didn’t like the trashy nature of certain events. This was very much a Hollywood B-movie teenage drama.
It’s too bad the carnal desires of the teens were featured rather than more intelligent and emotional connections.
Content: tobacco, crude sexual terms, profanity, alcohol, replacement expletives, teen vaping, teen drinking and drunkenness, teen partying, crude “jokes,” expletives, replacement profanity, tarot phrase, crude dance move mentioned, drugs mentioned, comment about needing a cold shower, gambling mentioned, marital affairs, skimpy clothing (including swimwear), dirty magazines mentioned ...more
My goodness, but this story wrecked me. In a fantastic way, but still… I’m weeping while I write this, as this story was that beautiful (I finished itMy goodness, but this story wrecked me. In a fantastic way, but still… I’m weeping while I write this, as this story was that beautiful (I finished it moments ago).
Cassie’s search for the truth of a mysterious manuscript as well as her own past is such a masterpiece of brutal honesty and hope and dysfunction and healing and poignant losses that my emotions couldn’t help but get completely wrapped up and utterly lost in the beautifully tangled web this story turned out to be.
Little Lark was a complete charmer. She had me – and every character in the book – wrapped around her pinkie after about half a second. Such a cutie! And her nickname, Larkie-bird, was so adorable!
I cannot describe well enough the amazingness that is this story’s plot. It was rife with mystery and hope and doubts and faith and family and heart. It made me cry and laugh and oh so happy. I especially loved a certain reunion. That really got the waterworks going!
My heart ached so much at seeing a sweet character fade so quickly. Oh, how her caregiver must have felt! I related so much to these characters even though I haven’t been in either’s position before. Signs of great writing, I’m sure.
While I’ve only read two books by this author, I am confident in saying Mrs. Christina Suzann Nelson is becoming a favorite. This book is a shining example, because I absolutely love heartfelt stories that move my emotions to new depths. I love a good, emotional tale! I can hardly wait to read the other one I have in my ever-growing to-be-read stash.
Content: suicide attempt, suicide by overdose, marital affairs, profane acronym, crude sexual term...more
What a fantastic early story by Tracie Peterson! The bad guy was well written and easy to despise. There were lovely conviction of sin and true repentWhat a fantastic early story by Tracie Peterson! The bad guy was well written and easy to despise. There were lovely conviction of sin and true repentance on display. There was fantastic devotion to God and family. The climax was tense and gripping, hardly letting me breathe until everything had been concluded. The ended was abrupt, but it was still very good....more
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