Thicker than Blood

Written by C.J. Darlington

Reviewed by Nike Chillemi

Do we lovers of Christian fiction ever think of the book in our hands, the object itself, as having value—a first edition perhaps? In C.J. Darlington’s Thicker Than Blood, Christy Williams works in just such a place, Dawson’s Book Barn, where costly works have recently gone missing—stolen. There have been deceptions. Even her hands have not been clean.

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Book Review Of: Compelled By Love

Written By Heidi Baker

Review By Donald James Parker

Normally I review one book at a time. In this situation, I’m going to lump three books together since they are written by the same author(s) and there is an overlap in the content. All three are delightful and dovetail together, so I decided to include all of them. The other two titles are Always Enough and Expecting Miracles and are authored by Heidi and her husband, Rolland. I can guarantee that if you desire to be a lukewarm Christian, you won’t want to read these books.

There are two main components to a book – the contents and the presentation. After hearing stories about Heidi and Rolland Baker’s exploits in the financially challenged areas of the world, I expected to encounter some wonderful content in their books. I definitely was not disappointed. My expectations for the presentation of those inspiring stories was not high (I was unaware that Heidi and her husband both possess PhD’s) and my tolerance level was set accordingly. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that their writing was invisible most of the time and became conspicuous only when the author decided to wax poetic. The prose in those situations usually provided a diversionary side trip which lasted for a moment and then gave way to the harsh and sometimes jubilant realities of their life of service to God and the human race. I strongly believe that in delivering a message via the printed word, invisible writing is the most efficient style. If no flaws in syntax or phraseology exist, and the author does not put on an extravagant display of multisyllabic vocabulary which causes even educated people to scramble for a dictionary, the reader can focus on the significance of the author’s content. And when Christians encounter the full thrust of the message delivered by the Bakers, their life will be impacted to some degree. I know that mine was touched deeply. I used to sing that song “Please, Don’t Send Me to Africa,” but after reading these books, I’ve been pondering a missionary trip to Mozambique.

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Final Warning

Written By Sandra Robbins

Review By Nike Chillemi

Publisher: Steeple Hill (August 11, 2009)

ISBN-13: 978-0373443529

Chilling emails in rhyme taunting “let’s play a game” and a serial killer is on a roll. What more could you ask for in a thriller?

In this fast-paced, action packed romantic suspense, local radio talk show host, C.J. Tanner’s skin crawls. She’s received the first email riddle in a demented killer’s deadly game. In round one, Fala, the killer, demands C.J. solve the riddle in order to stop the first murder.

No matter how hard she tries, she’s unable to do that and is horrified when the first victim of this sick game is her elderly next-door neighbor. Without getting graphic, author Robbins lets the reader know the murder scene is gruesome through the reactions of the officers who congregate at the crime scene. C.J.’s heart breaks, recalling the cups of tea she shared with the gregarious older woman. Then the killer phones in as a caller on C.J’s radio show, his high-pitched, screeching voice taunting her and blaming her for the old woman’s death. By this time, I was hooked.

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Blood Bayou

Written By Karen Young

Reviewed By Lena Nelson Dooley

ISBN 978-1-4165-8750-0
Howard Books
Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Back Cover Copy:

To Save a Victim, Camille St. James May Have to Become One Herself.

Seven years ago, tragedy ended the troubled marriage of Camille and Jack Vermillion. Now, as head of the Truth Project, her life safe and orderly, she focuses her lawyerly skills on freeing wrongly incarcerated individuals on death row.

Jack paid a bitter price for his mistakes. No longer a high-powered corporate attorney, he’s now pastor of a small church in Blood Bayou. Unsure of her own beliefs, Camille is highly skeptical of the conversion of this man she hasn’t seen in seven years.

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Reclaiming Nick

Written By Susan May Warren

Reviewed By J Renee Archer

Tyndale House

ISBN-13: 978-1-4143-1017-6

Reclaiming Nick is the story of Nick Noble and his return to the family cattle ranch. His father’s death and the threat of losing the ranch cause Nick to return home after a 10-year absence. Once at home, Nick realizes he needs to claim his mistakes and make amends. Being back on the ranch, he has to face the people that he hurt and that hurt him. As relationships heal, family secrets are revealed.

A rugged, yet charming, cowboy is someone most girls have dreamt of falling in love with, making them excellent romance novel characters. Most readers have never met a cowboy or experienced life on a ranch which means we like to read and dream about that lifestyle. We enjoy reading about a way of life that differs from our own. These elements alone are enough to capture the reader.

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