Protective Custody by Lynette Eason

Carly Masterson, a deputy U.S. marshal, has been ordered to guard the judge that let a criminal go free, a criminal who murdered her mentor right after being released. Can she put away her anger to protect Nick, who she has a strange attraction to despite his role in her mentor's death?

I enjoy Lynette's books, and this one is no exception. The plot is interesting and well-developed. The characters are unique and likeable. Carly is a strong character who battles between her heart and her duty, which is a conflict a lot of women face. The idea of judges being paid off for a verdict or even threatened for a verdict is an interesting one, and I have to wonder how many cases are influenced by outside sources. What I like about the Love Inspired Suspense books is that the romance is not the main storyline. It is a nice bonus, but solving the mystery drives the story.

If you enjoy Christian suspense with a little kick of romance, check out all of Lynette Eason's books.

Beyond all Measure by Dorothy Love

     Looking for a fresh start after the death of her father and the end of her engagement, Ada Wentworth flees to Tennessee to become a companion for an elderly lady and to start working on her dream of making hats for ladies. What she finds in Hickory Ridge is a small town divided by prejudice in the aftermath of the Civil War: prejudice against black people and Yankees. To further complicate things, Ada seems to be falling for Wyatt, the nephew of the woman she cares for. Can she become a successful businesswoman without losing her heart? Or is the price worth it?


     I enjoyed this book. The time of the Civil War has always been of interest to me (I even took a whole class on it in college), and I liked the way Dorothy Love handled the topic of race and regions and the prejudices people have towards one another. It was a great side storyline in addition to the romance. Ada and Wyatt are great characters (I’m a character-driven reader). Sophie, a young orphan girl who is racially mixed, and Lillian, the stogy old lady Ada cares for, are excellent supporting characters and breathe a little humor into a tough time period. The plot was well-developed and was realistic for that time period in American history. I was surprised when the person terrorizing Ada was revealed, but I won’t spoil that for you.

This was the first book I’ve read by Dorothy Love, but I will check out her other books. I recommend this book for any Christian fiction fans.

I received this free book from Booksneeze for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reviewing Books

     I know people probably have different ways of reviewing books, so I thought I would post mine.
I don't review every book based on my personal opinions, which is odd. I read an eclectic range of books, so I try to review the books based on the intended audience.
     Yes, I love young adult books, but I don't review them based on my feelings about it. I review it based on my years of teaching middle schoolers and how the book fits with them. When I read a mystery written for kids, I can't expect it to have the twists and turns that a Ted Dekker book has.
      When I read Love Inspired books, I read it as the intended audience. The Love Inspired series has very strict requirements for their books, so I know they will have a predictable storyline because that's what the publisher requires.
      So, while everyone has their own way to evaluate a book, I choose to review it based on the intended audience. I think about whether I like it for that genre and for that audience.

Possession by Rene Gutteridge

After the DC sniper case, Vance is hiding secrets...secrets that could cost him everything. As he and his family move across the country for a fresh start, his secrets can no longer stay hidden. Can he save his family and their possessions, which have been taken for ransom?

I'm a fan of Rene Gutteridge's books, and this one is no exception. However, I felt the book's characters and plot were not developed as other books. There were too many stories--Vance healing from the sniper case, the move, his former partner's secrets, Vance suffering from post tramatic stress disorder, Vance and his wife's lack of faith and their trust issues, their possessions have been taken for ransom, and the list goes on. There were so many storylines that they were not developed as much as they should have been. Therefore, it was hard to connect with the characters.

Overall, Possession is a good read, but Listen still ranks as my favorite by Rene. 

Small-Town Moms by Janet Tronstad

     Maegan Shay is desperate to find her long-lost niece. Having grown up in foster care, Maegan understands what it is like to be alone in the world and doesn’t want that for her niece. When she comes to the small town of Dry Creek, Montana, she finds Lilly is well-taken care of by her uncle Clint Parker. Both Maegan and Clint want the best for Lilly. Does the best include the three of them as a family?


     The story of Maegan and Clint is part one of a two-part book titled Small-Town Moms. Because it is only 114 pages, the characters are not as developed as they would be in a whole book. I really like the characters—Maegan is a strong woman who overcame great odds both emotionally and physically to become a successful lawyer. Clint works hard to provide for a girl who isn’t his. Lilly is a shy but strong girl herself. The three characters have great potential, but because the book is so short, I felt a little bit was lacking in their development. I’m a character-driven reader, so I enjoyed the book because I really liked the characters.

     If you enjoy the Love Inspired books, you will enjoy this sweet story of a man and a woman who are willing to sacrifice everything to give a little girl a good home.

Dot.com Dating by Les and Leslie Parrott

    

     Dot.comdating explores the world of internet dating from a Christian perspective. The book is set up in an easy-read format, dived into three parts: The Six Big Myths of Online Dating, Six Ways to Know Whether Online Dating is for You, and Five Questions You Absolutely Must Ask before Signing Up. Under each part, there is a point/idea, an explanation, and then a few things to remember as you try online dating. The book tackles the preconceived notions about online dating and provides logical reasons why online dating can be the way for a person to meet the one God has for him or her.


     The easy format makes the book a quick read. The points made by the authors, who are both relationship experts, are backed up both by research, personal examples, and most importantly, scriptures. I recommend this book to single Christians who feel ready for a mate. As a single woman, the book explained some of the ideas I had about online dating. I may give their website a whirl after reading this book. :)


I was given this book by Tyndale for the sake of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

No Place like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe

     
      When Griffin Sharpe is sent to stay with his uncle at 221 Baker Street, he is convinced he is going to stay with the famous Sherlock Holmes, which is perfect since he plans to use his ability to notice every tiny detail to become a detective one day. When he arrives at the home, he is saddened to learn that his uncle is really a cooky man with a strange knack for inventing astounding devices who lives in 221A while Sherlock Holmes lives in 221B. When Holmes is not available to take a case, Griffin and his uncle must step in and take the case, which takes them on an exciting journey for truth: both about the crime and their family. Will the two unlikely heroes save the day?


      This book is a great read for younger readers. The story is fast-paced and full of adventure and excitement. Griffin is an eccentric but likeable hero. His uncle has a rough exterior but the reader finds out why and sees his true heart beneath. The added element of Sherlock Holmes is catchy. Biblical truths are throughout the book as Griffin is put in awkward or difficult situations and must rely on God for help. This is a good series for young readers who love adventure.

     The added mini-mysteries in the back are a bonus for any young budding detective.

I received this book free from Booksneeze for the purpose of reviewing it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell

The year is 1918. The place is Boston. World War I is raging, and three immigrant girls are struggling to find themselves. Julietta, strong and bold, must choose between true love and exciting love. Annamaria, quiet and obedient, falls for a boy from the other side of the street and must choose between love and her parents’ prejudice. Luciana, alone and carrying a secret, must choose between love and safety. Working together at a dress shop, the three girls’ lives are woven together in a historical tale of prejudices, loyalties, and both the love of a man and of God.


This is the first historical fiction book I’ve read by Siri Mitchell, and I enjoyed it. Boston is my favorite city in America, and I was happy to see it as the setting for this tale. I loved the Italian culture that filled the pages. Although there are myriad characters in the book, they are all well-developed and accurately portray the women of that generation. Each girl’s story was unique but shared the common theme of finding love despite all obstacles. The side storylines of Madame Fortier’s lost love and the political and social issues of the time deepened the overall theme.

Although the ending was predictable, the journey there was enjoyable. I will definitely check out the other historical books by Siri Mitchell.

I received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing.

M6 Blushing Expressions of Love in Poems and Letters

Janeczko, Paul B. 2004. Blushing. New York: Orchard Books. ISBN: 0439530563.
     In this collection of poems, Janeczko organizes the poems to follow the rhythm of love: Beginning of Love, In Love, Alone in Love, the End of Love, and Remembering Love. The poets represented range from the past (Shakespeare and Bradstreet) to the current (Angelou and Merwin), representing the timelessness of love and the feelings associated with having and with losing it.


     As Janeczko writes in the introduction, “only the intensity of poetry could convey the intensity of what I was feeling, of what I had experienced” (x). While prose has more words to express the feelings and thoughts of a character, the brevity of poetry often speaks louder. The author chooses the style, the rhythm, and even the length and spacing to express an exact emotion or feeling. Each poem is unique just as each love is unique yet similar.

     The combination of old poems with new ones bridges a gap in poetry and thus in poetry lessons. With the common theme of love, teachers and librarians can pair read a poem by a nineteenth century poet and one from recent years. For example, “Time Does not Bring Relief” by Edna St. Vincent Millay’s powerful final lines and “Separation by W.S. Merwin are written in different time periods but reflect the same sorrow of lost love.

“Time Does not Bring Relief”

And entering with relief some quiet place

Where never fell his foot or shone his face

I say, “There is no memory of him here!”

And so stand stricken, so remembering him.

“Separation”

Your absence has gone through me

Like thread through a needle

Everything I do is stitched with color.

     The book is a beautiful look at love, both the passion and the pain of giving your heart to another. It’s a great resource for a teacher or librarian to have to pull poems for class discussion or analysis. For poetry lovers, reading the book is like reuniting all your old friends (Langston Hughes, John Donne) with your new friends (Angelou and Lady Sono no Omi Ikuha).



M6 Out of the Dust and Turtle in Paradise

Hesse, Karen. 1997. Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0590371258.

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN: 9780375836886.

     In 1935, America was in the middle of a depression. Two girls, Billie Joe and Turtle, live in different parts of the country, but they both struggle to find their place in a world that is uncertain and scary. In Turtle in Paradise, Turtle is sent to live with her mom’s sister in Florida since her mother cannot afford to take care of her. There, the only child becomes a part of a big family full of mischievous boys who have their own babysitting service where they are paid in candy. Through funny situations, Turtle comes out of her shell and realizes that even when money is a rare commodity, family is even more valuable.

     Across the country, Billie Jo is fighting her own battles in the free verse novel Out of the Dust. After a terrible accident that takes the lives of her mother and unborn brother, Billie Jo has become a stranger in her own home, afraid to talk to her father or face her own feelings. Through music, Billie Jo finds healing and a way back to her father and to herself.

     While both of these books are moving tales of young girls finding themselves during a difficult time in American history, they are even more powerful when read together. The common themes of the Great Depression (great historical depiction of the harsh reality of life then), family, and survival are elegantly written and pack an emotional punch. Turtle in Paradise is a Bluebonnet nominee for the 2011-2012 school year. Because of its nomination, thousands of kids across Texas will read this book next school year, and it’s a perfect opportunity for teachers and librarians to pair read (which is on state tests) the two novels. Literature circles as extension of a research project on the Great Depression would work well with these books. After reading the books, the two circles could compare historical information from the book as follow through with their own research on the time period.

     While the two girls are in different parts of the country, but their feelings echo one another. In Turtle in Paradise, Turtle writes, “My heart swells like a sponge. Maybe the real treasure has been right here on Curry Lane the whole time—people who love Mama and me. A home” (177). Billie finds herself as well in the poem titled “Music” .

“I’m getting to know the music again.

And it is getting to know me.

We sniff each other’s armpits,

and inside each other’s ears,

and behind each other’s necks.

We are both confident, and a little sassy.

And I know now that all the time I was trying to get

out of the dust,

the fact is,

what I am,

I am because of the dust.

And what I am is good enough.

Even for me” (222).