Thursday, December 27, 2018

Dead as a Door Knocker, By Diane Kelly


I love the character development that Diane Kelly gives us, especially of “Sawdust” the cat. Those tiny two page chapters giving us “Sawdust’s” thoughts is absolutely wonderful.

The story is about Whitney Whitaker and her attempt to flip a house and make a little bit of money for herself and her cousin Buck. But what she didn’t expect to find was murder, intrigue, disaster, and maybe bankrupt. 

Whitney purchases a home to flip from a client of her Property Management Company. Little did she know that he would take advantage of her by selling her a home that had some major flaws. As those flaws come to light Whitney gets a tad bit angry.

But when a murder happens her little fits of anger start to make it look as though maybe she murdered someone in an attempt to assuage her anger. How far from the truth could that be, she is a wonderful person, or is she?

Diane Kelly develops a plot line that keeps you guessing throughout the book. You along with Whitney think you know who did the murder, but then you are proven wrong. So, who did it? And why is someone still trying to harm Whitney?

The story is very different from anything I have ever read in that it is about a carpenter, a house flipper, a property manager. How interesting a life could Whitney really have. But then we follow her on this harrowing ride to try and prove her innocence and we realize how easily any of us could be accused of something terrible. How would we respond.

I also love the fact that “Sawdust” plays a major role in the story. I know, I know, creative writing class tells you to never tell a story from an animals point of view. But heck, Sawdust is not just any animal. Sawdust is a hero in disguise.

Enjoy the Book!


Lake of the Dead, by Susan Clayton-Goldner


In this next installment of the Winston Radhauser Series we will find our favorite detective plunging headlong again into a brutal murder that incorporates several social themes that will cause Detective Radhauser some major frustration and pain as he struggles to bring to justice the person who committed this crime.

The murder is of an aspiring author, Parker Collins. He is a college student who has a bright future ahead of him. His Creative Writing Professor thinks he is the most brilliant writer to come around, ever. He is almost done with his first full length novel and already has people waiting in line to read it. They are all sure it will be a blockbuster. But he is murdered before it can be published and much of his work disappears. Why? That is what Detective Radhauser has to discover.

One of the main characters of the novel is Rishima Reynolds who first appeared in the last book of the series. Rishima is a young woman who actually was born male. She was targeted in the last novel by a “hate” group who wanted to rid the community of all homosexual or transgender people. Detective Radhauser caught those people and put their group out of business, but not before they had terrorized Rishima.

Now she is back in Detective Radhauser’s life because, well, Parker Collins is the young man whom she has fallen in love with.

The story is very compelling. The details are amazing. The research is phenomenal. Susan Clayton-Goldner is again at her very best in bringing us a story that makes us stop and contemplate how we would respond to the people in the story. How would be relate to Rishima? Would we be prejudiced against her, or would we be supportive of her?

I must say that as I read I was wondering whether the book was a murder mystery or was a story about hate crimes? Was this an indictment of our culture for the lack of tolerance for people who are sexually confused, or was it a police detective novel of a hard to solve murder case.

While I am not a fan of the concept of, “we must all be tolerant of everyone’s cultural viewpoints,” and do our best to not offend anyone, I am still compassionate and empathetic enough to not want to be prejudice for a “lifestyle” choice that some folks make.

Let me be clear, as a Protestant Pastor I do have my moral convictions regarding sexual issues. I do hold a strong Biblical view of what’s right and what’s wrong. But my Biblical view also drives me to be accepting and loving of people who are different than I am. I embrace compassion and caring. I love a good dialogue. I despise those though who are willing to dismiss someone because of their lifestyle. 

This is not the forum for a debate. But I want my Blog readers to know what they are getting with this book. Frankly I loved the character development. I loved Sully “Sullivan” and his ability to see through social awkwardness and love someone regardless of that. 

This book will provide you with many themes to dialogue about with a book club. It will cause you to stop and ask yourself, “How would I act towards Rishima?” “Would I have compassion and a loving attitude, or would I just be quick to condemn?” 

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

A Silken Thread, by Kim Vogel Sawyer

At the Atlanta Exposition A young woman seeks employment for two reasons, one is to earn a little spending money, but the bigger reason is to be around lots of wealthy men whom she might come in contact with and maybe win the eye of one for marriage. 

Laurel Millard is the youngest child in her family. At eighteen she is the last child living at home with her widowed mother. Her other siblings expect her to take care of their mother until her passing. This seems difficult and especially cruel in the eyes of an eighteen year old who desires to marry and have a family of her own.

Laurel decides to apply at the Atlanta Exposition to hopefully find a wealthy husband to marry so that she can have a family and also have someone to provide for her mother. She gets hired to work the loom in the silk exposition. Little does she know that this will be an experience she will never forget.

The story is well written, excellently researched and documents not just this romantic search, but it also touches on the tender issue of race relations. This is after the Civil War, but still close enough to that time that people in the south are still harboring thoughts that African American people are sub-standard and should remain as slaves.

Two young men, one white and one black, who have grown up as childhood friends also get jobs at the exposition. They face criticism and prejudice on many levels because of their friendship and thoughts.

Then there is the wealthy businessman who has an exhibit at the exposition from his father’s company and is attracted to Laurel.

Kim Vogel Sawyer weaves a wonderful storyline along with enough actual historical fact to make for an entertaining and enlightening read. 

Topics you will encounter will be loyalty, friendship, prejudice, brutal business practice, false accusations, difficult family relationships, etc. The story will provide excellent material for any book club.


Enjoy!

Sunday, December 9, 2018

All is Fair, by Dee Garrettson

This is an excellent young adult reader novel. It gives a very balanced look at life in England during World War 1 through the eyes of a young teenage girl. Lady Mina Thretheway is at boarding school which should keep her safe from war.

But her father and brother are heavily involved. The brother is declared missing and presumed dead. Mina has grieved over him for months.

One day she receives a telegram from her father. It is written in code, but only she knows that. Her father wants her to come home and help a "family member" with an issue.

Through a completely believable set of circumstances she finds herself aboard a war ship headed to the Continent and into the war. No teenager should be doing such. She goes in naive, but comes out with her eyes opened and understanding the truth about war, it is hell.

I love the character development. I love the story line. I really love the way you come from a state of disbelief and naïveté to a state of complete understanding how hard war can be.

Lady Mina is young, but smart. She is innocent. She is brave. She is completely loyal to her father and her country.

Your young adult reader will love the story and learn some truths about the first World War.

Enjoy!

Monday, December 3, 2018

Wade McClusky is an unsung hero from WWII. He was the commanding officer/Pilot of two squadron's of SBD Dive Bombers who found the Japanese Fleet on June 4, 1942 and pressed a surprise attack that sank three of the four Japanese Aircraft Carriers at Midway.

McClusky received high praise from the Navy and even the President of the United States. He was credited with changing the course of the war in the Pacific with the Japanese. But he hasn't always received the honors that he deserves from historians. Some historians felt he did not have a good sense of Dive Bomber tactics. But how can you argue with a man who lead the attack that sunk three of Japan's major air craft carriers and turned the tide of the battle of Midway?

David Rigby doesn't just give you a blow by blow of a "ten minute battle" that changed the war. Instead he gives you the background of who McClusky was and how he earned his "wings" and the gratitude of a nation, even though they didn't really understand what he did.

I found the book completely captivating. I finished it in two days reading. I couldn't put it down because of the intrigue of not just the Battle of Midway but the documentation of the founding of Naval Air Warfare and air craft carriers. This is a great history book that gives a great background into something that more American's should read and understand.

I hope you enjoy it.

Why I Love The Apostle Paul, by John Piper

John Piper gives us another excellent book. He details out the life of the Apostle Paul and better yet tells us why he loves the hard charging in your face Apostle. 

Many of us love the Epistles from the Apostle Paul and enjoy the story of how he went from condoning the stoning of Stephen to being an Apostle for the Lord Jesus Christ who's main task was to reach out to the Gentile Community. But he was a difficult character to understand.

He kicked the young disciple Mark off the team because Mark deserted him and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. But then later in his letter to Timothy he desires Mark to come to him "because he is useful to me in ministry." Hard charging, in your face confrontation, but then a softer side that makes us fall in love with him.

I can't imagine the thoughts running through Onesimus the run away slave when Paul sends him back to his master. But writes to Philemon that Onesimus is like a son to him and should be considered a beloved brother, not a slave.

Piper gives us a great look into the life of Paul and then tells us why he, Piper, personally loves the Apostle and was and still is challenged by him in how he does ministry.

If nothing else this will give you a glimpse into Piper's mind as well as that of the Apostle Paul.

Enjoy!

Glory Road, by Lauren Denton

Jessie and her daughter Evan move back to Glory Road to be near Jessie’s mom, Gus. She also starts a small garden/nursery shop for the people of their small home town. They are here to escape a bad marriage that Jessie had left and to find healing, friendship, love and a community that is warm and accepting.

Low and behold after they have been there for some time Ben moves back into his parents home just up the road along with his son. He also is there for healing and to repair and sell his parents home after they have moved to Florida. Ben and Jessie had once been close friends and should probably have married each other. But as happens, they left high school, went to separate colleges and met other people. The rest is history, but a history that is harsh and difficult for both of them.

Will they find themselves together again? That is a big question. Will their kids grow up differently in this small community feel? Absolutely.

The like a good Hallmark movie there enters another man to give Jessie someone else to compare Ben to. Sumner is wealthy, he is handsome, he is older. But he takes and interest in Jessie.

The novel does a great job of developing the characters and developing the tensions of relationships between people who are both familiar and comfortable, but also have baggage. Compare that to a new and refreshing relationship and Jessie has to wonder which man is best for her. What will happen is the real point of the story. Where will Jessie find true love and how will it change her.

Enjoy!