Book Review: Christmas at Harrington’s

Written by Melody Carlson
Reviewed by Nora St Laurent –

Back Cover: Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret? This tender story about fresh starts will charm readers as all of Melody Carlson’s Christmas offerings do. Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington’s will be readers’ newest Christmas tradition.

Review:  Since I’m a huge Melody Carlson fan, I was thrilled to receive this review copy of Christmas at Harrington’s. Melody knows how to tell a story to prepare your heart and mind for Christmas. Reading this book is the perfect way to start the holiday season. This novel opens with Lena Markham heading to New Haven for a fresh start.

Lena quickly adjusts to this new town and finds herself helping out a neighbor by watching her daughter, Jemima, as she looks for a job. Lena discovers an unexpected job herself as Mrs. Santa for Harrington’s Dept store. Who’d-a–thought, her new life would begin as Santa’s wife. Not what she had planned, but the pay wasn’t bad and it was the only job in town.

As Lena played Mrs. Santa, she listened to the children and their Christmas wishes. She adored the children. Lena’s numb heart started to feel again. She realized, “Even though some people kicked me down, there where a lot who didn’t.” There are good people, many encouraged her even when they found out about her past. Lena was heart broken and lost her desire to fight for what mattered to her most in life.

When Lena told the Christmas story to Jemima and the kids, the message and hope was touching their hearts and hers. Lena said, “Santa has asked me to come here and talk to you, to remind you about Jesus’ birthday…I had told you earlier about how it’s impossible to be good all the time, remember?…God understands that. And that’s why he sent his Son to forgive us and teach us to forgive others. Doesn’t it feel good when someone forgives you for making a mistake?…So Santa and I want you to remember that when you’re thinking about Christmas.”

I love Melody Carlson and the stories she writes, and this one is no exception. Melody has unforgettable characters that I cared about from the beginning and the story line got my attention as it was very unusual. I had to see where all this would be leading. I hurt for Lena and the spiritual journey she had been on up until this point. It was heart breaking and fascinating all at the same time. This author has a unique way of writing a story that the reader can connect with, and then leave like they’ve just spent time with good friends. This is a meaningful, touching story that will become your families’ favorite; you’ll want to read it again and share with friends. Thanks Melody, for a story that touches the heart and shows the love we need to show each other all year long…not just at Christmas!

Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
www.bookfun.org

Book Review: Medical Error

Written by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.
Reviewed by Nora St. Laurent –

Back Cover:
Dr. Anna McIntyre’s life was going along just fine until someone else started living it. Her patient died because of an identity mix-up, her medical career is in jeopardy because of forged prescriptions, and her credit is in ruins. She thought things couldn’t t get worse, but that was before she opened the envelope and saw a positive HIV test with her name on it. Her allies are two men who are also competing for her affection. Dr. Nick Valentine is a cynic who carries a load of guilt. Attorney Ross Donovan is a recovering alcoholic. The deeper Anna digs to discover who’s behind the identity thefts, the higher the stakes. Finally, when her life is on the line, Anna finds that her determination to clear her name might have been a prescription for trouble.

Review:
I’m so thrilled to have received a review copy of such suspenseful medical thriller that reminded me of the movie, The Net with Sandra Bullock, but taken to a whole new level.

This book opens with Dr. Anna McIntyre performing emergency surgery on Eric Hatley. It was descriptive and I wasn’t sure where the author was leading the reader. But then the pace picks up and Dr. Anna McIntryre discovers her credit cards have been maxed out and it wasn’t by her. This was not a great way to end her horrible day!

On the same day Anna discovers someone has stolen her identity she also finds out she’s is being sued for malpractice. Could things get worse? Dare she ask the question? She had to find out who stole her identity—the police weren’t making her a priority. “Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? It all seemed unfair?” in Anna’s way of thinking, she wanted answers and she wanted them now.

Why had things gone so wrong, all Dr. Anna McIntyre wanted to do was be a surgeon and help people, she hadn’t signed up for all this. I quickly felt for Anna and her situation. The author’s casts of characters are colorful, likable and believable. I was quickly drawn in by how the author takes the reader to places they haven’t gone before. Dr. Richard Mabry’s experience in hospitals and the system makes this medical mystery scary and believable and has you look at the ER, doctors and the hospital in a whole new way.

This author shows the non-glamorous side of being a doctor along with all the red tape they go through and how it can be horrific at times. Doctors don’t have lots of time and information to go on when a patient arrives in the ER unconscious! They have to depend on their medical experience, information in the computer of their patience and what they are told about the situation the patients got  into before they arrived.

Richard Mabry did a great job of pacing of the events that unfold, allowing me to experience this story to the fullest. Richard’s plot twists and turns definitely kept me up late wanting to know what happened next. I enjoyed and was surprised at the wit and humor used by this author. He had masterfully woven well timed humor into the suspenseful parts of his book. I didn’t expect to laugh out loud while reading a medical mystery. I loved it.

Dr. Anna McIntyre is forced to take a look at her life and tries to figure out what she holds dear. She worked so much she hadn’t stopped long enough to have this thought before. I was intrigued with her journey through this process and beyond. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this medical suspense thriller with heart. It’s made me want to check out Richards’ first book Code Blue. I’m also looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Diagnosis Death. This is one author I’ll be keeping an eye out for. You will too.

Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network
www.bookfun.org

Book Review of Priceless

Written by Tom Davis
Reviewed by Nora St. Laurent

Back Cover:

Photojournalist Stuart Daniels has found purpose in life. After suffering the fallout of a tragic assignment, Daniels rediscovered his faith while helping a young African orphan. Now his photo work carries a greater mission: To educate people about social injustice happening around the world.

Daniels’ next assignment carries him back overseas and into the heart of Russia. Once there, Daniels is persuaded by an old friend to help save two girls from a desperate situation. Soon he becomes a key player in a dangerous campaign to rescue helpless women trapped in the sex-slave trade. What Daniels encounters during his journey will shake his faith, test his courage, and even threaten his life. Yet as Daniels gets deeper and the stakes get higher, he will discover that hope can be found in the darkest of places.

My Review:

I’m thankful to have received a review copy of this captivating, surreal, suspenseful book that could have been ripped out of today’s headlines. It was horrific to think the topic of this book is real and happening in current time. Although the story concentrates on the sex-trafficking business in Russia, this unthinkable industry is thriving world wide. Tom Davis states in his book Russian girls are taken and sent out of their country with promises of going to America, to enjoy the good life. Only one catch, they do go to American but end up in some of the booming sex-trafficking places such as Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle.

You might be tempted not to read this book because of the subject matter and the fact that it might make you feel uncomfortable. It’s not easy to read about little girls being promised one thing and forced into another. My heart ached for these dear ones as these evil doers promised them the moon, only to get sold into a lifestyle of no return. The only way out was death.

Stuart Daniels returns in this book and is sent on another job. Stuart agrees to go to Russia because he feels this assignment is not as life threatening as the one he went to in Africa (in the last book Scared). After meeting his contacts in Russia, he’s whisked into an unthinkable mission – one he can’t turn down – not after having his world turned upside down in Africa, after meeting Adanna.

“Adanna may not have meant much to many in this world. But meeting her was the beginning of life for me. It changed the way I saw God. It changed the direction of my life. She taught me that the small things I do matter. My decisions today can save a life tomorrow.”

I believe I’ve been disturbed to the core of my being while reading this book and I hope that you are gloriously disturbed too. Just as bothered as Stuart was when he met Adanna.  Troubled in such a way it moves you into action and keeps you from turning your eyes and pretending this isn’t happening to innocent children every day. Stuart Daniel’s describes Adanna (above), a child he met in Africa who rocked his world, I pray your world is rocked as mine was and you begin to tell others about this novel and its message in hopes of bringing awareness to this global disturbance – a disturbance of epic proportions. Author Tom Davis lists ways we can get involved here in the states and overseas in the back of Priceless. He gives practical ways for us to love our neighbor as ourselves and shine the hope these children desperately need. Be Jesus’ hands and feet! I believe Priceless is a must read novel for everyone.

Find Nora St.Laurent at The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org and Finding Hope Through Fiction www.psalm516.blogspot.com.