A Melody for James (Song of Suspense #1) by Hallee Bridgeman

Title: A Melody for James (Song of Suspense #1)

Author: Hallee Bridgeman

Pages: 330

Year: 2013

Publisher: Olivia Kimbrell Press

Note: I received a free copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

     Captivating suspense!

     James Montgomery while still mourning the murder of his beloved wife has a chance meeting with beautiful Melody Mason. She is also dealing with her own grief at the time. As he saves her from a troubling situation they both feel an unexpected connection. Before they can see each other again disaster strikes and they lose contact with each other.

     Years later incredible events finally reunite them once more. By this time Melody has become the hottest female country singer. Together at last, they realize that the bond they felt at their first meeting has not died. They know that God paired them for a purpose. But sinister forces are threatening to destroy their rediscovered happiness. They must work together, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that binds their lives inexplicably together.

     I loved the great characters that Hallee developed for this story. They are easy to connect with. The plot is very intricately woven and kept my interest throughout the book. I was actually hooked by the story before I even finished reading the prologue. She also included a lot of details about what would go on behind the scenes at a concert that I found fascinating. A few of the twists that she included I was able to guess at but there were many more that caught me by surprise.

     I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. I’m giving this wonderful book, 5 stars.  I highly recommend it.

Uniform Decisions: My Life in the LAPD and the North Hollywood Shootout by John Caprarelli

Title: Uniform Decisions: My Life in the LAPD and the North Hollywood Shootout

Author: John Caprarelli with Lee Mindham

Pages: 210

Year: 2011

Publisher: End of Watch

Note: I received a free copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

     Fantastic memoir!

     February 28, 1997, Los Angeles, California – After a botched robbery at a Bank of America branch in North Hollywood, two robbers armed with fully automatic assault rifles and wearing full body armor fired more than 1,100 rounds as they battled police.

     Eleven officers and two civilians were wounded. The two robbers, Emil Matasareanu and Larry Eugene Phillips Jr., were killed by gunfire.

     Officer John Caprarelli was one of the first at the scene. Before a national TV audience he confronted one of the robbers, provoking a gun battle and exchanging numerous shots before the gunman fell.

     In this memoir, John gives the reader a rare glimpse into his private life along with vivid recollections of events during his 27-year career with the LAPD culminating in a detailed breakdown of his thoughts and actions during the infamous bank robbery.

     I don’t read very many memoirs. I am just more interested in fiction. I decided to read this one because I remember hearing about the shootout at the Bank of America in North Hollywood on the news. I’m very glad that I did read this memoir.

     It captured my attention before I even finished the prologue. The writing style was very simple and easy to follow and understand. The cover of the book draws attention to the fact that the North Hollywood Shootout is covered in this book. Yet when I started reading it I found that over half of the book tells about John’s path to becoming a police officer, his training and the rest of his years with the LAPD. I found the entire book to be very interesting and informative. When he got to the events of February 28, 1997 it was clearly written and exciting. I was very glad that he went on to tell how that one day affected his life and his fellow officers that were there.

     This book earned a 5 star rating from me. I highly recommend this book.

Take a Chance on Me (Christiansen Family #1) by Susan May Warren

Title: Take a Chance on Me (Christiansen Family #1)

Author: Susan May Warren

Pages: 393

Year: 2013

Publisher: Tyndale House

     This is a great story of what forgiveness can do.

     Darek Christiansen is almost a dream bachelor – oldest son in the large Christiansen clan, heir to their historic Evergreen Lake Resort, and doting father. But he’s also wounded and angry since the tragic death of his wife, Felicity. No woman in Deep Haven dares come near.

     Ivy Madison has moved to Deep Haven to take the job as assistant county attorney. Living in a small town and being a part of the community has been her dream. Suddenly her life has become more complicated. She simply doesn’t know any better when she bids on Darek at the charite auction held the first day she is in town. Nor does she know that when she crafted a plea bargain three years ago to keep Jensen Atwood out of jail and in Deep Haven fulfilling community service, she was releasing the man responsible for Felicity’s death. All Ivy knows is that the Christiansens feel like the family she’s always longed for. And once she gets past Darek’s tough exterior, she finds a man she could spend the rest of her life with. Which scares her almost as much as Darek learning of her involvement in his wife’s case.

     Caught between new love and old grudges, Darek must decide if he can set aside the past for a future with Ivy – a future more and more at risk as an approaching wildfire threatens to wipe out the Christiansen resort and Deep Haven itself.

     I love the small town of Deep Haven that Susan May Warren has created. I would love to be able to live in a community like it where everyone knows each other. This is the first book of a new series set in the same community. I quickly fell in love with the Christiansen family. It would be so cool to be neighbors with a tight knit family like this.

     This particular book is the story of the oldest son Darek. As with most people he has a lot of baggage to deal with from past decisions. I thoroughly enjoyed finding out how his parents helped him to work through some of that baggage without ever judging him for those decisions. There are many other characters whose stories intertwine with Darek’s that are also working through past baggage. The gentle nudges that they all get to look to God for help is incredible. They all have a journey to take to find forgiveness for themselves and others. The paths are so intricately woven that it was a joy to follow along with these wonderful characters.

     I give this book a 5 star rating and highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to finding out the stories of the rest of the Christiansen children in future books in this series.

Forgotten Road by Randall Arthur

Title: Forgotten Road

Author: Randall Arthur

Pages: 596

Year: 2012

Publisher: Self-published

Notes: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

     This is a moving tale of a man searching for God’s direction.

     Nashville music star and family man, Cole Michaels, is persuaded to embrace an “American Dream” theology that promises comfort, happiness, and success. But when the unimaginable happens, Cole blames God and abandons his faith. More vulnerable than ever, he is clueless that an evil character with an unspeakable secret is using every available resource to find him.

     Can two old sages, a beautiful blonde, a violin called the Mysterious Lady, and a Triumph motorcycle help prepare Cole for his ultimate trial?

     This book is beautifully written and has a wealth of Biblical truths woven throughout the story. The “American Dream” theology that Cole has been taught is carefully examined by Cole along with the sages that step up to walk beside him and help him to learn what God and the Bible truly have to say about how mankind should live. It was an absolute pleasure to go on the journey with Cole. 

     There were many aspects of the Christian life within a church body that Cole discusses throughout this book that I was able to relate to having seen in my own life experience. I have been a Christian for over 35 years and have attended many different churches due to frequent moves with my husband having been in the Air Force for over 20 years.

     I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman

Title: A Marriage in Middlebury

Author: Anita Higman

Pages: 304

Year: 2013

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Note: I received a free copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

     Great Christian contemporary romance.

     Charlotte Rose Hill enjoys a comfortable life serving up country delicacies, uniquely blended teas, and down-to-earth advice for her quirky, devoted customers. The only thing lacking is someone special to share it with.

     At eighteen she denied Sam Wilder’s marriage proposal after his family convinced her to walk away from their relationship. They both moved on . . . or so she thought. When Sam walks back into her life more than a decade later, Charlotte is surprised that her heart still quickens. But is it because of his presence? Or is it because of the presence of Sam’s new fiancée?

     A second chance at love doesn’t happen often, but their past may keep them apart. Is it too late for Sam and Charlotte?

     When I started this book I immediately connected with Charlotte. I would love to have her as a friend. She is a very compassionate and comfortable character. Most of the other characters in the book are equally well developed. I liked the variety of personalities that are included in this small town. It is just like you would find in any town or neighborhood that you can go into. The people look out for each other and help each other when something happens.

     In many ways I felt challenged to take time and think about my own relationships with the people I know. I really enjoy books that not only entertain me but have the ability to help me grow to be a better person.

     I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys Christian fiction.

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

Title: Every Waking Moment

Author: Chris Fabry

Pages: 376

Year: 2013

Publisher: Tyndale House

Note: I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads, First Reads giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.

     Treha Langsam is a mysterious young woman who has fallen through the cracks, much like many of the elderly people she works with at Desert Gardens. But Miriam Howard, director of the assisted-living facility, sees her extraordinary gift and untapped potential. Treha is a whisperer of sorts, calling those who have slipped into dementia back to a life of vibrant, if only temporary, clarity.

     When a documentary team stumbles onto Treha’s story, her gift is discovered and the search for answers about her past begins. As the truth slowly unravels, Treha and those around her must each tackle a difficult question: if this is as good as life gets, is that enough?

     The elderly characters are very believable and well-written. I had a little trouble understanding the character of Treha. I believe that it is just because she is an unusual character and I’ve never known anyone like her, not a problem with the writing. The development of the story seems to be a little slow at the beginning. By the time I finished I realized that it is just because the author took time to do an in-depth development.

     I did struggle with the inserted sections that were script-like for the documentary crew. This felt very uneven and it seemed to distract me from the story. This is the problem that kept me from giving this book the full 5 stars. I give it 4 stars.

     I do recommend reading this book. It takes a good look at what life has become for many elderly people, as well as others who are different from most people.

For Every Season by Cindy Woodsmall

Title: For Every Season (Amish Vines and Orchards #3)

Author: Cindy Woodsmall

Pages: 323

Year: 2013

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Note: I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads, First Reads giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.

     A small group of Amish has moved to an orchard outside of Unity, Maine. They are trying to get a new Amish settlement going while also trying to rehabilitate an old orchard. Rhoda Byler is established as an expert in caring for plants and trees. Her business partner Samuel King grew up on the family orchard and has moved to Maine after the family orchard was nearly completely destroyed. They are both fully committed to making King Orchards Maine a success. But an impulsive decision has created an unexpected strain in the relationship with her beau, Samuel’s brother Jacob, threatening plans for the orchard. Yet amidst the mounting tension between the three of them, Rhoda finds that this fledging settlement feels like the home she has long hoped for and she begins to embrace the God-given, heightened intuition that has always felt like a burden to her. She longs for Jacob to fully be free of his past, so they can work toward the future together.

     As Rhoda uses her gift to unpack an old secret with her Englisch neighbors, it is not her beau but the unlikely ally who cheers her on. With the orchard on shaky ground and Jacob’s plans in question, Rhoda is determined to see things through to harvest. But can she trust her insight to direct her path in matters of the heart?

     This is the first book that I have ever read by Cindy Woodsmall. I enjoyed this book very much. One thing that she does that I really appreciated, since I had not read either of the previous books in this series, was the short synopsis she had at the beginning about each of the first 2 books. It helped me immensely in understanding what had happened previously.

     Her characters were very well developed and learning each one’s personality was very enjoyable. There was a wide variety of people just as there are in real life. Each one had something in their life to deal with. This was very realistic yet in the bounds of a book, at times, I was having a little trouble keeping people and issues straight in my mind. This is the reason that I’m giving this book 4 stars.

     I do want to go back and read books 1 and 2 for this series. Then I will re-read this one and see if knowing the backstory more fully will help with this. I do recommend this book for those who enjoy Amish fiction. I would suggest that you read the first two books before reading this one though.