False Pretenses by Kathy Herman

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFalse PretensesDavid C. Cook (March 1, 2011)byKathy Herman



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.

Kathy's husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.
ABOUT THE BOOK

Zoe Broussard loves the life she and her husband Pierce have built in her beloved Louisiana hometown. She owns a thriving Cajun eatery in South Louisiana and is married to the love of her life.

But it’s about to become hell. One day, out of the blue, she receives a series of anonymous notes that sends her life into a tail spin. Five simple words, “I know what you did.” Zoe has a secret so terrible it could leave the business in shambles and tear her marriage apart. Unbeknownst to anyone, even Zoe’s husband, Pierce, she has a past—a past she had covered so well she never thought she would have to confront. How could anyone know what she did? Can she find the courage to face her past?


If you would like to read the first chapter of False Pretenses, go HERE.

My review:
Since reading Kathy's first novel, Tested By Fire in 2001, she has been one of my favorite authors. She started out well, and has only gotten better.

This is the first book in a new series, Secrets of Roux River Bayou, and what a great start to the series. She has a few characters from her previous series in this book, something I like when an author does, especially when I liked the characters.

Like her other books, this is a great suspenseful mystery, yet with no inappropriate content or language. The plot involves secrets, blackmail, murder, all combined to make an excellent story.

Also like Kathy's other books, this book is Christian in content and in the story. She shows that an author can write a great suspense/mystery novel, and keep God at the center of it.

I unfortunately started reading this before Sunday evening church, and had to put it down to go to church, but picked it up as soon as I got home, and man, did I enjoy reading it.

In addition to a great plot and characters, the story also involves secrets, and the results of keeping them - the constant lying one has to do and keep up with to make sure the secrets stay buried, and how much better it is to live an honest life with no lying. The author also shows the difference in lives fully committed to Christ, and those living a shallow Christian faith.

Some suspense novels, even done on the Christian market, are very gritty and violent. This novel does not fall into that. Yes, there is a murder and some violence, but this is the type of book a person can read who doesn't like a suspense book to scare them out of their wits - and yet a very enjoyable story.

I highly recommend this book, and any by Kathy Herman. She is a great author, and a very gracious lady.

Thanks to David C. Cook and the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for the review copy.