No Greater Gift by Teresa H. Morgan

Title: No Greater Gift

Author: Teresa H. Morgan

Pages: 325

Release Date: May 1, 2016

Genre: Contemporary/Historical Mystery

Publisher: Mountain Book INK

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I had the wonderful opportunity to be one of the final proofreaders before release. I have written my honest opinion of this story based on that reading.

About the book:

     Grace Ryan works to untangle clues left by her late grandparents – clues involving a WWII conspiracy that could tear her family apart.

     History professor Grace Ryan returns to her hometown expecting to help her grandmother turn her journals and memories of WWII into memoirs. She arrives to find her grandmother being loaded into an ambulance. When she begs Grace to find the truth about a decades-old crime, whispers the word treason, then slips away forever, Grace is left to separate fact from fiction. Then, an unwelcome inheritance strikes at her already fragile family bond. Though God’s voice seems silent, He sends someone to stand in the gap for her.

     Erik Petersson, unjustly accused of infidelity, suffered through an unwanted divorce and the loss of his children’s love to his former wife’s bitterness. A physicist on sabbatical, he agrees to help Grace dig through her late grandfather’s scientific papers. As he struggles to win back his children’s love, he and Grace are catapulted into a quagmire of truth and lies that could destroy any chance at happiness.

My review:

     An intricately woven contemporary/historical mystery!

     I fell in love with the two main characters, Grace King and Erik Petersson. They had so many layers to their personal story that it was a joy to see how each of them had grown to be strong believers. Both of them had been horribly wounded by false accusations and the way that they have been treated by family members. Neither of them though had given up on God because of it though. I was so encouraged just by how they turned to Him with each hard thing that happened throughout the story.

     The plot was so well developed and presented that it kept my interest until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the sections from Gramma Annie’s journals that were interspersed within the contemporary romantic mystery story. They way that the two time periods connected with each other was very well done.

     This is an incredible book and I’m highly recommending it. It gets a 5 star rating from me. I will definitely be looking forward to reading anything else that this author writes.

Jesus and the Jihadis: Confronting the Rage of ISIS, the Theology Driving the Ideology

     Today I have a Guest Reviewer. He is giving his opinion on an important non-fiction book that he has read.

     Now I will hand things over to my husband, Ted Wilder.

Title: Jesus and the Jihadis: Confronting the Rage of ISIS, the Theology Driving           the Ideology

Author: Craig A Evans and Jeremiah J. Johnston

Pages: 176

Year: 2015

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publisher: Destiny Image

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

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

About the book:

     The book that Christians want and need for this urgent hour in history.

     As ISIS dominates news headlines, attention is given to the terrorist group’s ideology… when the true motive of their mayhem is actually revealed in their theology!

     Major General Michael K. Nagata of the Special Operations forces in the Middle East explains that “we do not understand the movement… and until we do, we are not going to defeat it.”

     The key to defeating ISIS’ regime of terror is understanding its theology.

     This is why two leading Biblical scholars offer this go-to guide to understanding ISIS’ distorted theology. Through fresh historical and Biblical insights, discover how ISIS’ acts of violence, terrorism, and persecution impact your life and your faith today.

     Get revealing answers to questions such as:

     How did three faiths come out of one man – Abraham?

     Who does ISIS utilize social media and technology for terrorist propaganda?

     Is ISIS Islamic and would Muhammad himself join this group?

     How do the Gospels and the Qur’an see Jesus differently?

     How does Biblical history address the development of ISIS?

     The question millions are asking is Why? Why the hate? Why the persecution? Why the murder? To find the answer, you will trace the origins of ISIS’ radical theology and discover why these acts of terrorism are happening, what they mean, and where they are taking us.

Ted's review:

     A no-spin look at ISIS.

     This book may not be an easy read. It is essential though if you are to understand ISIS, and all the other Islamic terrorist groups. This book is loaded with information, laid out in a logical format with lots of footnotes backing up every fact. It hits hard without being a “hit piece.”

     This book has several sections covering different aspects of the issue. First an introductory chapter presents the problem. Then there are several chapters on the origin of Islam – a must read.

     The story of the Bible is fully substantiated by archaeological evidence. There is no refuting the evidence. This is why ISIS is hell bent on destroying the ancient antiquities which refute their faith. Then the author gives us a fascinating comparison of the Bible and the Qur’an. And finally we get a great history of ISIS in modern times.

     The bottom line – Muslims and Christians do NOT serve the same God. Islam is at war with us, whether we like it or not. This is a tough, but necessary read. I am giving this book 5 stars.

Traces of Guilt (Evie Blackwell Cold Case #1) by Dee Henderson

Title: Traces of Guilt (Evie Blackwell Cold Case #1)

Author: Dee Henderson

Pages: 400

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     A riveting cold-case mystery from Dee Henderson.

     Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police Detective . . . mostly. She’s very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.

     Gabriel Thane is a lifetime resident of Carin County and now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he’s sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have. . . .

     When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it’s to help launch a new task force dedicated to reexamining unsolved crimes across the state. Spearheading this trial run, Evie will work with the sheriff’s department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she reexamines old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths a surprising connection . . . possibly to a third cold case. Evie’s determined to solve the cases before she leaves Carin County, and Sheriff Thane, along with his family, will be key to those answers.

My review:

     This is an intricately woven mystery.

     The character development couldn’t be better in my mind. I am always amazed at how many characters there are in Dee Henderson’s books. I really like seeing how many characters from previous novels make brief appearances in each new book. She truly seems to have “a small world” scenario going on even crossing over from series to series. Along with that she has a marvelous talent for revealing personal information in a subtle way so that it feels like it comes out of a clear blue sky.

     The cases that are being reexamined in this book are quickly summarized as each one is initially discussed. They over the course of time they are slowly picked apart and looked at from every possible angle.

     One of the aspects of the search that is covered is the search for cadavers using specially trained dogs. The way that a handler works with a pair of dogs was described in great detail. I was fascinated by the information given.

     I do want to warn that this is a very heavy book to read emotionally. The subject matter of two of the cases made it a difficult read. On top of that there is a great deal of focus placed on one of the family members who is looking for closure, and the emotions that she has been dealing with for years. I found myself having to take breaks from my reading just to work through the feelings that were stirred up in me for what the characters were dealing with. To me though that is just proof of how good the writing is.

     This book is getting a rating of 5 stars from me. I do highly recommend it. I would suggest having something light to read after this one. I’m looking forward to seeing what Evie tackles as her next cold case.

Strands of Fate (Creative Woman Mystery #1) by Linda Kozar

Title: Strands of Fate (Creative Woman Mystery #1)

Author: Linda Kozar

Pages: 251

Year: 2012

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Annie’s Fiction

Format: Hardback (also available in eBook)

About the book:

     Loosening the strings at the closure revealed a delicate, old-fashioned locket accented with emeralds and amethysts. It took almost no pressure to open the piece. A lump formed in Shannon’s throat as she stared at the picture inside. Now she knew there had been no mistake, the package was truly meant for her. For the black-and-white photo of the little girl with curls trailing down to her ears was a baby picture of her own mother . . . who had vanished without a trace decades ago.

     Meet Shannon McClain – accomplish jewelry maker, loving mother, and recent widow.

     Shannon runs her own custom jewelry business from a workshop next to her home in Scotland. While she works hard to ensure her teenage children get the attention and guidance they need, the money from her late husband’s insurance policy is nearly depleted, and she struggles to make ends meet.

     When a mysterious package arrives from a law firm in the United States, Shannon is shocked to learn she’s been listed as a beneficiary in the will of Victoria Paisley, a wealthy stranger who claimed to be her grandmother.

     Shannon never knew her maternal grandmother because her own mother vanished from her life when she was four years old. Her father wouldn’t discuss her mother’s disappearance, and Shannon could never understand why.

     To claim the unexpected inheritance, Shannon must travel from her home in Scotland to the coastal town of Apple Grove, Oregon, and attend the reading of the will. Upon arrival she finds new friends among the townsfolk, including the women of the Purls of Hope knitting circle. But she also finds danger. It seems not everyone in town is happy she’s there. Someone will go to great lengths to try and make her leave before she can claim her inheritance . . . or unearth a dark family secret.

     Is Shannon willing to risk her life to finally learn the truth about her family? And can she trust the handsome investigator who offers his help? Join Shannon and her friends as they unravel the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance and discover the identity of the one person who would like nothing more than to see Shannon disappear as well.

My review:

     This is a delightful cozy mystery!

     The development of the main character Shannon McClain is incredible. I was able to connect with her from the very beginning. She is surrounded by numerous friends by the end of the book even though she has picked up and moved from Scotland to Oregon fairly early in the story. We are introduced to each one and slowly learn more about them and their lives. I think that this will continue throughout the series.

     The mystery is a fairly light one. No one has been murdered. No one has been kidnapped. There are simply questions from the past and a trail of clues that was left intentionally to find a hidden piece of jewelry. It was very entertaining to follow Shannon and her friends as they worked to follow the trail and beat the bad guy to the prize.

     The small town of Apple Grove is a charming setting for these books. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the series goes since each book is written by a different author.

     I’m giving this sweet mystery a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it.

Chappy's Weight Loss Solution by Chaplain Dick Phelps

Title: Chappy’s Weight Loss Solution

Author: Chaplain Dick Phelps

Pages: 68

Year: 2015

Genre: Non-fiction

Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing

Format: eBook (also available in

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

About the book:

     Are the classic images of firefighters as healthy, fit, and strong still accurate? Although firefighters’ bravery and commitment to public service has never been in doubt, a chilling epidemic has been slowly developing in the fire service which threatens their ability to effectively respond to the emergencies and disasters that will inevitably occur in our country. As in our nation at large, the number of individuals who are overweight, obese, and unfit has risen to alarming levels in fire departments, both volunteer and career, across our nation. In fact, the best evidence suggests that rates of the overweight and obese are higher in the fire service than in the general public.” Chappy’s Weight Loss Solution offers targeted help that has proven to work in the Firehouse.

My review:

     I am going to start off by admitting that this is not a normal type of book for me to read. Therefore I struggled a little bit with figuring out what to say in a review for it.

     The suggestions given are solid.

     Chaplain Dick Phelps is very honest in this booklet about his own struggles with weight and fitness. He is obviously very passionate about wanting to help firefighters learn to control their weight and stay fit. He shared a number of different methods of trying to control his eating and talked openly about the need for each person to figure out what works for them. It does point out the possibility that weight loss problems can stem from an overeating addiction. This is one aspect of the problem that I have never considered before.

     I think that the only reason this booklet didn’t get a higher rating from me is that it seemed to be very repetitive in what information it gives. I am giving it a rating of 4 stars and recommending it as a way to start learning about weight loss and fitness.

Risen by Angela Hunt

Title: Risen

Author: Angela Hunt

Pages: 320

Year: 2015

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

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

About the book:

     The story of the Resurrection as you’ve never seen it before.

     Epic in scope, yet deeply personal, this novelization offers a unique perspective on the story of the Resurrection. Roman Tribune Clavius is assigned by Pilate to prevent the radical followers of the recently executed Yeshua from stealing the body and inciting revolution. When the body goes missing despite his precautions, Clavius must hunt it down.

     His investigation leads him from the halls of Herod Antipas to the Garden of Gethsemane and brings him in touch with believer and doubter alike. But as the body still remains missing, Clavius commits to a quest for the truth – and finds answers that will not only shake his own life but echo throughout all of history.

My review:

     An incredible biblical fiction story!

     The characters of Clavius and Rachel are fictional and extremely well developed. I really enjoyed both of them and seeing their different viewpoints following the crucifixion of Christ. Their backgrounds are clearly described and how they are affected by events is easy to understand.

     I was captivated by the story and completely caught up in reading how Clavius’ search for truth would play out. I am fascinated by the ability of writers to take biblical accounts and add depth and descriptions to them. Knowing the story from the bible itself didn’t take anything out from my interest in reading this book. I credit that to the ability of both the writer of the screenplay and Angela Hunt to weave a magical story.

     This is the first time that I have read a novelization of a motion picture before ever seeing the movie. I look forward to seeing the movie to see what additions were made in this book to make it novel length.

     I am highly recommending this wonderful book and giving it a rating of 5 stars. It was time well spent.

     You can find out more about Angela Hunt and her books on her website: http://www.angelahuntbooks.com/

Tailspin (Mountain Cove #5) by Elizabeth Goddard

Title: Tailspin (Mountain Cove #5 / Love Inspired Suspense)

Author: Elizabeth Goddard

Pages: 224

Release Date: April 1, 2016 (eBook), April 5, 2016 (paperback)

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Diving Into Danger

     Nothing can stop Sylvie Masters from scuba diving to find her mother’s downed plane – except possibly the hit man determined to keep the truth from surfacing. When brave bush pilot Will Pierson comes to her rescue, she knows she can still reach her goal, but she needs his help. Will wants answers about the crash, too, especially since his mother was the missing plane’s pilot. He’ll be the hero Sylvie needs, but can he ever trust her? Sylvie is shrouded in secrets that keep leading her back to Mountain Cove. Secrets someone will kill for. Will may protect her, yet no one can persuade her to end her search . . . not even a killer.

     Mountain Cove: In the Alaskan wilderness, love and danger collide.

My review:

     I was hooked by the 5^th page!

     The suspense story in this novel is a stand-alone plot line. One of the main characters does carry over from the previous books. The main characters from the earlier books in the series do make appearances and there are details of their lives that are caught up. That said you get to decide if you want to treat it as part of a “true” series or not.

     I absolutely love both of the main characters in this book. Their individual life stories are slowly revealed and really explain their hang-ups and doubts. They both have trouble trusting others and yet they are thrust into a situation after situation where they have to trust each other even though they have just met. Danger stalks them around every corner. They both had deep seated fears that they had to face and overcome. It was wonderful to watch their struggles and learn to trust.

     The plot is incredible at keeping the reader focused and turning the pages. I knew all along that something major had happened before the start of the book and I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I knew exactly what it was. Before the revelation of it there was a major shift that I wasn’t expecting. I loved it though.

     Excellent job Elizabeth! I have to highly recommend this fantastic book. It gets a rating of 5 stars from me.

     You can learn more about Elizabeth and her books on her webpage at: http://elizabethgoddard.com/