Does Science Disprove God Part II: The Teleological Argument by author John Galt Robinson

 Last month I asked author and Dr John Galt Robinson, who is one of my new favorite authors - and an ER physician - if he would do a guest blog post on whatever he wanted. He picked the topic of discussing if science disproves God, and offered to do more than one post on it. (Last month's post here.)

(And my post about his books here.)

In his books, his fictional characters discuss this. The hero of his Joe O'Shanick Series is an agnostic or atheist at the beginning of the series, and I loved the discussions between he and Christian and ER doctor Christy Tabrizi.

So here is John's blog post for this month:

Does Science Disprove God? Part II

The Teleological Argument

By John Galt Robinson

Last month, we entered the debate over whether or not God, or a god, or gods exist, an argument that has permeated society throughout the ages. As we discussed last month, the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared; “God is dead.”. More recently, naturalists have asserted that science explains “everything” thus replacing the need for a god and have essentially declared the universe to be of natural origin with no evidence for any god, a worldview that has gained significant traction in today’s post-modern society. In fact, post-modernism goes so far as to declare that there is no absolute truth, only relevant truth.

So, is this the case? Last month we examined the Cosmological Argument which states that since science has proven that the universe - time, space and matter - had a beginning, that it is beyond reasonable to presume it had to have been created by something rather than nothing as it is illogical to conclude that something can be created from nothing. We further determined that, based on the evidence, whatever or whoever created the universe had to meet several characteristics. It had to be timeless, spaceless, immaterial, incredibly powerful, highly intelligent, and personable. All of the characteristics we would expect to see in a god. Now, this does not prove this to be the God of the Bible but He does meet all these criteria and is therefore on the list of possibilities. Continuing along this line, now that we have established that the universe was created and all creations require a creator, let us now look at the design of the universe and see whether or not that speaks to an intelligent designer. This is what is known as the fine-tuning or teleological argument.

Let’s begin with the fact that, even though the universe burst into existence, it should have disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. In fact, the universe shouldn’t exist and we should not be here. It’s true. The universe and the natural laws that govern it are so precise and highly fine-tuned that even the minutest deviation would make life on earth impossible and, in many cases, the existence of the universe impossible. Sir Isaac Newton attested to this when he wrote, “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being.” William Paley made the argument that every watch has a watchmaker. Imagine walking along a beach and finding an Apple Watch laying in the sand. Did the wind and the waves spontaneously create this watch over billions of years of erosion and the random effect of natural forces? Nobody would conclude that. Wouldn’t it be reasonable to conclude that the watch and each of it’s parts were designed by intelligent beings and crafted by other intelligent beings and with purpose? Our universe is much the same except even far more complex and far more fine-tuned. There are dozens of precise environmental conditions, many of them interdependent, known as anthropic constants that must exist in order for the universe and life to exist. In fact there are well over a hundred but we will touch on just a few here today.

1. Oxygen Level - the earth’s atmosphere is made up of 21% oxygen. If it were just slightly higher at 25%, conditions would be ripe for widespread fires that could begin spontaneously and make life scarce. Conversely, if the oxygen level were to drop below 15%, there would not be enough oxygen for human beings to live.

2. Atmospheric Transparency - if the atmosphere were any less transparent, too little solar radiation would reach the earth’s surface making plant life non-existent and conditions too cold for life. If the atmosphere was was too transparent, the solar radiation would be too extreme for life. This atmospheric transparency is dependent on precise levels of oxygen as described above along with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and ozone. Any variation among these and we would not be able to survive.

3. Moon - Earth gravitational interaction - if the gravitational component were any stronger, the moon would crash into earth or the tidal effect on the oceans would be too strong. if it were any less, there would be severe climactic instability.

4. Carbon Dioxide level - if it were any higher, we would have a escalating greenhouse effect and would all burn up. Any less and plants would not survive.

5. Gravity - if the gravitational force was off by 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000001 percent, our sun would not exist. Needless to say, neither would we.

These are just five anthropic principles that, if just one was minutely altered, life would not exist on earth and, in many cases, the universe would not exist. There are more. As we mentioned in last month’s article, according to the late Stephen Hawking, widely considered one of the most brilliant minds in physics, if the expansion rate of the universe was off by just one millionth of a percent, it would never have formed. That minute amount too fast and the galaxies would never have formed. Too slow and it would have collapsed back in on itself. THAT is how fine tuned our universe is. One can say it is still possible to believe that the universe could have defied the odds but, believing in a virtual statistical impossibility takes way more faith than it does to believe in a powerful, highly intelligent being designing the universe and ordering it in such precise fashion as to allow it to exist and function, let alone, allow for life to exist. And that’s just ONE anthropic constant! As stated earlier, there are over 100 of these precise anthropic constants, each of which is a statistical improbability or impossibility. If just one is not met, we wouldn’t be here. For the purpose of brevity, I will list just a few more. 

1. The centrifugal force of planetary movement has to precisely counteract the gravitational force. Otherwise, planets would not be able to orbit the sun without either falling into the sun or flying off into the universe.

2. If the speed of light (299,792,458 meters per second) were even minutely off, all of the laws of physics and constants be altered to the point where life on earth could not exist.

3. Similar to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, if water vapor levels were even slightly off, there would be a runaway greenhouse effect or the earth would be too cold to support life.

4. Jupiter the space magnet - Jupiter’s large mass creates a strong gravitational field that acts as a cosmic vacuum, attracting asteroids and comets that could otherwise strike our planet.

5. The earth’s rotational speed is so precise that any faster and atmospheric wind velocities would be too strong for life. Any slower and the differences in temperature between day and night would be too extreme.

6. The 23 degree tilt of the earth on its access is so precise that any variation would result in too great of surface temperatures.

7. If the thickness of the earth’s crust were any thinner, volcanic and seismic disasters would be too prevalent to allow for life. Any thicker and it would absorb too much oxygen from the atmosphere to make life possible.

So what can we conclude with this information? Using the earlier example, if we can look at an Apple Watch and conclude it was designed and created, how can we look at a vastly more complex yet exponentially more precisely designed and ordered universe and not draw the same conclusion. Every design has a designer. In regards to the laws of physics and the laws of nature, every law has a lawgiver just as every creation has a creator. One may still choose to believe this all came by random chance but the astronomical odds say otherwise and require a lot more faith. 

Now, some may argue that we are using the “God of the Gaps” theory in which they state we are injecting God into the things we do not know or cannot explain. To the contrary, we are arguing from what we DO know. Just as we cannot see gravity, we know it exists because we see its effect. From this effect, we can reason back to a cause, in this case gravity. Similarly, we see the effect of a created universe and reason back to a creator. In this article we see the immense precision and fine tuning in the design of the universe and reason back to a cause, in this case a designer. 

Even with this amazing evidence, we still have not proven this is the God of the Bible but it certainly puts Him on the list of possible gods. Whether or not it is the God of the Bible is a topic for a future discussion. For now, we must at least acknowledge that we are left with two possibilities; either the universe exists through shear random chance despite near impossible odds, or it was precisely designed to be able to exist and support life.

You may still be unconvinced and that is certainly understandable, but I hope this at least opens your mind to the possibility. In the next discussion we will delve into the evidence for God through life. For now, I will leave you with one question to mull over; If there is no god, how can anything exist?

Author’s note: nearly all of this information was obtained from the book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. If you would like to much more detailed and comprehensive study of this topic and much more, I highly recommend this book or visit Frank Turek’s website www.crossexamined.org

John Galt Robinson is a board certified emergency medicine physician practicing in South Carolina. He is also a published fiction author writing the Joe O’Shanick/Christy Tabrizi series as well as his soon to be published Nate Kelsey series in the suspense/thriller genre. His website is www.johngaltrobinson.com.

The Blooming of Delphinium , Moonberry Lake #2 by Holly Varni

Book description:

Making the perfect match is like arranging the perfect bouquet--and no one is better at it than Delphinium Hayes. Except when it comes to making a match for herself.

As far as hidden talents go, she is blessed with one of the more unique ones. With the slightest passing whiff, she knows someone's most admirable or weediest characteristic. This peculiar perception never fails to give her an advantage in understanding people--except for one man, whose scent doesn't seem to match his demeanor.

Prim and proper Elliot Sturgis, director of Moonberry Lake's Gardens Assisted Living and Senior Care Facility, carries the scent of violets--meaning love and loyalty--yet is strict and unwavering in his determination to stop a group of his wily residents from sneaking over to Delphinium's shop to play cards in the flower cooler. But the more glimpses Delphinium gets of the soft side beyond Elliot's harsh exterior, the more she understands his scent--and her intrigue deepens as sparks fly.

The crowd in her cooler isn't Delphinium's only problem. Behind on the mortgage payments and on the verge of losing her shop to foreclosure, Delphinium isn't sure where to turn for help. But God has a funny way of putting the right people in the place at the right time . . .

My review:
  I loved the author's debut novel, On Moonberry Lake, and was eager to see if she could top that one.

She did. In spades.

I was laughing within the first few pages, but when a flower shop owner finds retired men in pants and undershirts playing poker in her walk in cooler...you have to chuckle. 

There is so much in this book: feisty senior citizens pulling a coup against the retirement center they reside in, humor...lots of humor, romance.....and heart. I found myself thinking that many times as I read this novel in one sitting. This book has heart.

Although there was much to laugh out loud about at the shenanigans of the retirees, there was also the somber look into how much they need something to do. Delphinium was such an awesome character, and I loved how she dealt with the older people and loved them, and how they loved her. Though the way she reacted to some things - like in relation to Elliot - made her difficult to like at times.

Elliot was also a great character. With his being the guy running the retirement center the older people were intent on escaping, his and Delphi's relationship was not destined to be a calm and boring one. Far from it. 

The scent thing with Dephi was different. I Googled it, and it is something that exists. Interesting. 

As with the first book, there are humorous clips from the town newspaper, and Widgy makes a couple of appearances, the second appearance to drop a very unwanted gift off for Delphi. 

The town's reactions and actions in regards to Delphi's problems were awesome, and the protest of the retirees was awesomely funny. 

There was one "how could you?!" moment the author did towards the end of the book, but I still consider this an awesome read. It is difficult to give a book like this the kind of review it deserves, and I mean that. It was moving, it was funny, it made me laugh, it made my eyes water, it made me think, it made me smile. The author has a talent for weaving humor, small town happenings, interesting and unique characters, hope, and serious life changing moments and coming out with a story that is definitely worth reading. And a book that deserves more than the 5 possible stars. 

Special thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Holly Varni is the author of On Moonberry Lake. A native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, she was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Though she, her husband, and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast, where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at HollyVarni.com.

Check out the first book in the Moonberry Lake books

Over the Edge, Undaunted Courage #2 by Irene Hannon

Book description 

Someone is on a relentless campaign to destroy her credibility--if not her life.

Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn't fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she's in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but it also appears someone is trying to cast doubts on her mental stability.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body behind.

My review:
   I had the first book in this series, but it got buried on my shelf. I was up til 2 am this morning reading it, and thankfully this one had already arrived so I could read it. The first one was better, in my opinion, but this one was also an awesome read.

This trilogy is about adopted siblings. Jack was in the first book as the overprotective cop brother of Bri, the main character. So I already liked him a lot. In this book, he is the main male character, and was just as likable, along with Lindsey, the main female character.

Hannon did a great job on the plot and suspense. I didn't want to put the book down, and read it in one evening as I did the book before it. And it had a great lineup of suspects. Slight spoiler: there are a couple of guilty parties, which becomes obvious very early in the book...so not much of a spoiler. I had one suspect I was totally wrong on, and one of the guilty parties is one I slightly suspected....but the one of them was a total surprise. 

Loved the parts where the bad guys set it up to make Lindsey look crazy. And as was the case in the first book, I loved the siblings' relationship with each other and their determination to be close and support each other. Family can add a lot to a book and series, and this series has that great aspect.

The book had a great suspenseful ending that started earlier than I expected. There wasn't a ton of pages left, but there were more left than I expected when things really started happening. And in the end, Jack had to face his fears. 

This was another great novel by this great author. She never disappoints, and this may be her best series yet. 

Special thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Learn more at IreneHannon.com.

Over The Edge is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy. 

               Book #1

Series/author spotlight: Secrets of Whispering Pines Series by Holly Bowne

 I don't normally feature non-Christian fiction on my blog, but I read a clean suspense series recently that impressed me. I actually thought it was Christian fiction at first. It came up a suggestion comparing the author to some of the Christian authors I read. The clean fiction has pretty much become a genre' all on its own. There is no cursing - too bad all Christian authors can't accomplish that - and no sex.

The author is Holly Bowne, and the three book series is Whispering Pines. Unfortunately, those are the only books she has written so far, and all three books came out this past May and June. It is about three brothers: Jake, Noah, and Wade Riley. The first book is about the youngest, Jake. The second book goes up to the oldest, Wade. And book #3 is about the middle brother, Noah.

I loved the series. Although all three brothers didn't appear in any of the three books, Jake and Wade were in the second book, and Noah and Jake were in the third. All three books had great plots, a lot of suspense, and humor. There were some senior citizens that were in the series who were downright hilarious.

My favorite book in the series was the last one, Forbidden Whispers. Noah and Maggie keep running into women that Noah went on one date with, but the date was so bad that the women never wanted to see him again. Add to the mix that he woke up in the house of the woman he had gone on a date with and couldn't remember anything about the date....or how he ended up with a Porsche in his name that he had never seen before.

Plot of Forbidden Whispers:

Maggie Milena is a professional matchmaker who can match up anyone but herself. Noah Riley can’t manage to get a second date…with anyone. When Maggie applies her trademark skills, the results do not go as planned. And now both of their lives are in jeopardy.

No one looking at the gorgeous Noah Riley would ever believe he’s the embodiment of love’s misfortune, plagued by disastrous first dates and an uncanny/a confounding inability to secure a second. He seeks a change of fate by enlisting the matchmaking expertise of Maggie, his old high school crush who still secretly makes his heart pound.

But destiny takes a cruel twist when an evening orchestrated by Maggie ends in the mysterious disappearance of Noah’s date, leaving him in the crosshairs of suspicion. As they race against the clock to exonerate Noah and unearth the missing woman’s whereabouts, danger escalates, testing their resolve and rekindling a love that can no longer be denied.

The books are very well written, squeaky clean, with a Christian worldview,  and I barely noticed they are not Christian fiction.

About the author:

Holly Bowne is the author of the Secrets of Whispering Pines romantic suspense series. She’s worked in advertising, journalism and as a freelance writer. And she finds inspiration everywhere, from movies, TV series, the news, conversations with her friends and conversations she’s eavesdropped on (shhh!). She currently lives on a beautiful lake in Michigan where she dreams up new stories, falls down research rabbit holes, and witnesses the beauty and song of God’s creation every single day. She’s happily married to her college sweetheart, mother of two grown children along with a daughter- and son-in-love, and passionate Gigi to three adorable grandchildren. And she’s not biased about this at all.

Check out her website at HollyBownebooks.com 
If you sign up for her newsletter, you can download a free prequel to the series, Whispers of the Heart.

Covert Past, Hope Island Securities #6 by Mary Alford

Book description:

 It takes a spy to know one. . .

As the newest member of the Hope Island Securities team, Boone Langston knows a spy just by looking into their eyes. And Ellie's reflects awful things . . . just like his. He’d spent most of his military career as a Navy SEAL working for the CIA’s Special Operations Unit. And the past three years trying to forget everything he’d done.

When he accidentally runs into Ellie in front of the Hopeful Coffeehouse, the look in her eyes, the constant scanning of the foot traffic in front of the shop, all seem to hint she is living the nightmare as well . . . until Ellie's past catches up with her removing all doubt.

My review:
    It may sound dumb to admit what drew me to this series was the lighthouses on the covers. Plus I had read the author's books and knew she was good.

 This one started out differently than the other books in the series....or should I say started out in a different location: Tel Aviv, Israel. And the main female of the story was a former Mossad agent on the run.

 The book was a great read with plenty of suspense and drama. I wasn't totally surprised at the one part at the end of the book, as my mind had gone there....but I wasn't sure enough and was a bit surprised.

Ellie and Boone were awesome characters, as were the rest of the team that has appeared in the other books. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Mary Alford, loves giving her readers the un-expected, whether it be in a rugged mountain setting or a peaceful Amish community.

Her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestselling List, Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling List, and have been finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards.

Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter or any social platforms listed at www.maryalford.net.

Covert Past will release on October 29.

Check out the rest of the series:

                                                                  Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

Guest blog post by author Sharon West Dunn

 

A little background first:
   Harlequin Publishing has a Christian imprint: Love Inspired Romance and Love Inspired Suspense Romance. 

 They have done several series of books, usually 8-9 about K-9 teams. Each book is by a different author, and has the same main characters and their dogs throughout the books. There is one continuing mystery that runs throughout the whole series, with each book also having an individual mystery that gets solved.  It has intrigued me from the first ones I read how multiple authors do this. 

Their latest K-9 series is The Mountain Country K-9 Unit Series. I reviewed the 8th book in the series, Search and Detect by Terri Reed. It was the book where everything was resolved, though there is a 2-story series finale coming next month. (That review is here, along with a list of all the books in this series.)

I happen to be Facebook friends with one of the authors who writes for Love Inspired Suspense, and who wrote the 7th book in this series, Tracing a Killer. I asked if she would tell a little about how they do these series, and about her books if she wanted. She graciously agreed. Her book was really good, by the way....and any of hers I have read. Onto what Sharon wrote:

Behind the Scenes: What goes into writing the K-9 series for Love Inspired Suspense

By Sharon Dunn

My newest book, Tracing a Killer, is number seven in a series of books called the Mountain Country K-9 Unit for Love Inspired Suspense. There are eight books and two novellas in the series. Each one is written by a different Love Inspired writer. Each book is complete in itself in that the suspense story and the romance is wrapped up by the end of the book. But there are subplots that carry through the whole series, from a missing dog to the search for a serial killer. In addition, reading the whole series gives a person an opportunity to see the growth in each character. 

Obviously, there’s a lot of co-ordination and communication required to ensure that the story line and the characters remain cohesive. I’ve been asked many times what the behind the scenes picture looks like for putting together such a series with so many moving parts. The first thing that happens is that once the writers are assigned which book they will write, they receive what is called the bible (small b). Unlike the Bible (capital B) this bible is far from perfect, but it does contain the series overview, a list of supporting characters and sometimes descriptions of key locations along with photos. The bible also contains a four or five page summary of each book that ends with a list of the subplots that carry over from story to story and what needs to happen with subplots in that particular book. The plot summaries also outline basic descriptions of hero and heroine and the K-9 along with photos. The bible runs about 70 pages and I usually have to read it two or three times start to finish to get my head around the story. I reread my own summary more times than that and if there is time, I like to read the whole bible once my book is ready to hand in. 

All the authors are put on an email loop so they can communicate with each other as they write. Like I said, this bible usually has flaws. Sometimes what works in summary doesn’t work when you try to flesh out a story from it. Any changes are discussed on the loop and then run by the editor in charge of the series. Each author “owns” the hero and heroine for their particular book so to speak and we want to make sure that even if someone else’s character plays a part in a different book, that the character is consistent in personality and appearance throughout the series. So much of the email loop discussion is about sharing scenes where other people’s characters make an appearance or just letting the other writers know what their character experiences in each book if it will affect the character in another book, like being shot or injured in some way. The books take place about a month apart, so a character who suffered an injury in one book shouldn’t magically be better in the following book. 

 A lot of commiserating, encouraging and prayer support take place on that email loop as well. Personal struggles that are affecting our ability to write are often shared. I think that is one of the reasons I like working on a series like this. Writing is such a solitary activity so getting to work with a team of authors is a nice break from the solitude. 

Books are turned into the editor in order. The editor reads them and gives feedback and usually there is at least one other editor who is reading the series looking for inconsistencies. 

I love working on the K-9 series not only for the connection with other writers but knowing that readers have eight books to get to know characters and be a part of their world as they catch bad guys and fall in love makes me feel good about writing.   

Sharon Dunn is award winning, USA Today bestselling author who has written over 30 books for Love Inspired Suspense as well as humorous mystery series for other publishers. You can learn more about Sharon and her books and sign up for her newsletter at www.sharondunnbooks.net.

Alaskan Cyber Hunters #3 by Kimberley Woodhouse

Book description: 

Buckle in for the bone-chilling finale!

The Cyber Solutions team has managed to stay one step ahead of the madman who has killed so many, stopping him before reaching his ultimate goals. From the original 26 Below cyberattack in Fairbanks to the 8 DOWN serial murders in Anchorage and beyond, they matched wits with the killer and won in the end.

But final judgment is coming. And this time, there may be no stopping him.

David "Mac" McPherson has a personal stake in making sure this predator stays down for good. His family died in the Fairbanks attacks. Mac knows that God says "vengeance is mine"--but surely an exception can be made.

Surgeon Tracie Hunter is determined to stay sober and keep saving lives in Fairbanks, Alaska--even if it means being a little obsessive. After all, that same kind of determination is how she kept Mac alive after the monster attacked him. And she won't let Mac run himself into the grave looking for payback; he's come to mean too much to her.

Then someone hacks into the system at Tracie's previous job as a medical examiner and frames her in a murder cover-up. There's no one else skilled enough to create a digital trail this incriminating--the killer is back in action, exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses that will destroy lives. Can Mac stay focused and stop the next attack when his own personal vulnerability is exposed? Or will his need to make someone pay for his pain allow the maniac to pull ahead and win at last?

Kimberley Woodhouse takes readers on another intense thrill ride in this epic close to her cybercrime series based on real-world possibilities.

My review:
  This is definitely the best series this author has written, though I feel like tossing all of my electronics and joining the Amish after reading this riveting series. 

  8 Down, the previous book was one diabolically clever novel that may have put the author on some kind of watch or no fly list. But this final book in the trilogy also is complete brilliance. 

 There is so much cyber stuff in the book, but she did an excellent job of keeping it in terms the average reader can understand. At least I did. 

 And her bad guy. Yikes, what an evil disturbed human being. He has been in all the books, but played a more active and visible role in this book. Did I mention he was an extremely evil and disturbed person?

All three books had awesome and likable main characters, but I personally liked the ones in this book the best: Mac (David MacPherson) and Tracie. There's something about messed up imperfect people in a book that I identify with and can relate to. Mac was really struggling because of the bad guy killing his wife and daughter a couple of years before this story. He was extremely messed up, had walked away from God, hated the man, and didn't want to live. Tracie battled with alcoholism. 

Woodhouse, as she always does, had some Biblical truths and lessons throughout the book. The big one was forgiveness. Mac and Tracie both had to forgive to move on and be the Christians they needed to be. (I don't get Christians who don't want a lot of Christian content in a Christian novel. Maybe I need this stuff more than they do.)

It seemed like something happened on every page. The author indicated the time and location every time it changed, which made it very helpful.

And then there was the end. And it was an ending worthy of the book, of  the whole series. I took issue with one thing.....I felt the team, and Mac especially, should know something that they were not informed of. But then I read the author's notes at the end of the book, and I was  like "Ah. That makes sense." (Yes, I always read whatever the author writes before and after the actual story.) Hint: It has to do with forgiving.

This whole series was some of Woodhouse's best writing. All three books were awesome - no exaggeration....and this final book in the trilogy made it worth reading the whole series. The guy got the girl, and the good guys got the bad guy. And I loved the camaraderie and support between Mac, Jason, and Scott.  

And the author shows she can rock at historical fiction or suspense.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it was well worth the wait.

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author: 
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty-five books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Her books have been awarded the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Reader's Choice Award, Selah Award, Spur Award, and others. A popular speaker/teacher, she's shared with over 1,000,000 people at more than twenty-five hundred venues across the country. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she's traded in her hat of "craziest mom" for "coolest grandma." 

More about her and her books at KimberleyWoodhouse.com 

70 North will release on October 15.

Check out the rest of the series, and definitely read them in order. 

                                                                  Book #1

Book #2

Search and Detect, Mountain Country K-9 Unit #8 by Terri Reed

Book description:

 A bomber with a deadly agenda…

and a K-9 team determined to catch him.

When single mother Zoe Jenkins and her baby are caught in an explosion that destroys her home, she’s saved by FBI special agent Chase Rawlston and his K-9, Dash. But who set the bomb? Fearing that the notorious Rocky Mountain Killer he’s been investigating has the mother and daughter in his sights, Chase takes them under his protection. But can he uncover the killer’s identity before more innocent lives are caught in the crossfire?

My review:
   I love these K-9 series from Love Inspired Suspense. If you are not familiar with them, each book is written by a different author. There is a plot/mystery running through the whole series, but each book has its own mystery and romance.

 These series intrigue me, because the same team of people appear in each book, so the authors have to know what is going on in the other authors' books. And this is the book where all was revealed. (There is one more book, but it is a Christmas one with two stories and takes place after the big mystery has been solved).

 Reed is one of my favorite Love Inspired Suspense authors, and she did a great job on this book where the series long mystery is finally solved. And it has been a long time coming. The first book, Baby Protection Mission, came out in March. 

This book features the leader of the task force, Chase, and his K-9 companion Dash. I loved the book and the characters - new and old - and the new and old mystery as Chase did his best to protect Zoe and her daughter while also trying to bring the Rocky Mountain Killer to justice. 

A lot happened in this little mass market book, and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it. It was an awesome read, and I loved everything about it. Especially finding the identity of the killer after so many books, and seeing him brought to justice. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Award winning, multi-published author Terri Reed found solace from a chaotic childhood in the pages of books that took her far away to different realms and realities. When she discovered Christian fiction, she also discovered her own story telling voice. Now she writes books of heart-warming romance and heart-pounding suspense infused with faith. Her romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher's Weekly top ten and Nielsen BookScan top hundred lists, and have been featured in USA Today. She's a member of the Honor Roll of Romance Writers of America. Her books have finaled in Romance Writers of America RITA contest, National Readers' Choice Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. One of her romance novels was adapted into a Hallmark movie for Christmas 2019. Terri resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and running the agility course with her Australian shepherd.

Search and Detect releases October 22.

The rest of the series, best read in order:

                                                                 Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

Book #6

Book #7

Book #9, coming November 26

Unexpected Witness by Penny Zeller

Book description:

 If she can identify one person, she could bring down an entire crime network.

Nurse Mila Casey did not expect to witness a murder in the clinic’s parking lot. Nor did she imagine seeking protection from the at-large killer would land her on a secluded ranch owned by handsome, but standoffish, Roarke Brenneman.\

Mila finds herself in the center of ever-growing danger as the police are unable to locate the suspect. When the protection of the ranch is compromised and Mila’s location is discovered, can she, with Roarke’s aid, stay one step ahead of a crazed murderer who intends to silence her forever?

My review:
   I have come to really enjoy Zeller's prairie/historical novels. She has written a couple of contemporary novels that were also good. This is her first foray into Christian suspense, and I was very curious what it would be like. 

 Three words: She nailed it. The book is the kind to keep you on the edge of your seat, reading as fast as you can. 

She created some great characters that were genuine and likable:
Mila: nurse and innocent bystander who unfortunately witnesses a murder
Roarke: Reluctant protector at first, not extremely happy to bring danger to his mom and to his nephew he is raising, but agreed to his sheriff brother's plan to keep Mila at his ranch.
Brodie: Sheriff determined to keep Mila safe, and taking it personal when crime happens in his county.
Xander: Last, but not least. Orphan nephew of Roarke and Brodie, being raised by his uncle Roarke. Awesome little boy who added a lot to the book.

  The book is filled with drama, suspense, attempted attacks, bad guys,  and of course romance. I was surprised at the identity of a couple of the bad guys......and the book had more than its share of them.

 Zeller has created a great suspense novel that competes well with the books by seasoned Christian suspense authors on the Christian fiction market. Hopefully she writes more in this genre'. Brodie at least needs his own story. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, www.pennyzeller.com

Unexpected Witness releases October 22. 

Sniffing Out Justice, Canine Defense #2 by Carol Post

Book description:

 A witness in peril. A K-9 protector. A fight for survival.

After witnessing her best friend’s murder, Kristina Ashbaugh-Richards and her search and rescue dog, Bella, find themselves targeted by the killer. Kris can identify the criminal — and she’s exactly what he looks for in his victims. Her high school crush, Detective Tony Sanderson, vows to protect Kris and her son, but as they try to outwit a dangerous murderer, no place is safe to hide. With her life at stake, Kris’s only hope of survival is to catch the serial killer before he catches her.

My review:
  I am not a dog lover, but I love a good K-9 suspense story for some reason. And this is a really good K-9 suspense novel. It is also a serial killer story, so even better. :)

  I am always amazed at how much Love Inspired authors pack into these little books. It comes in at 208 pages, but the author got a lot into those 208 pages. Non stop suspense, romance, really bad weather, and a really, really bad guy. And even a cold case solved. 

  I loved the book. It had great and likable characters, including Gavin, Kris' son. And it is refreshing to read novels occasionally where the couple already knows each other and has had some kind of romantic relationship or attraction.

 The book also had a great lesson. Kris thought she knew what had happened between her father and Tony's father, and had carried a lot of bitterness and anger towards his family.....only to discover she didn't know everything. And I loved how his family helped her after how she had felt towards them.

The book had a great climatic ending to it. Oh you know in these books the main characters aren't going to die, yet a good author can write parts like that so you are still on the edge of your seat hoping for rescue. And it also had a great ending on the romantic aspect of the book. :)

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol's résumé reads as if she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She started as a child writing poetry for family and friends, then graduated to articles and finally novels.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida and writes fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense. Her books have received a 2016 Royal Palm Literary Award and been nominated for a 2016 RITA® award and a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics. Besides writing, she enjoys sailing, hiking, camping—almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of a fat and sassy black cat and a highly-spoiled dachshund. 

 Check out her website: CarolJpost.com

Sniffing Out Justice will release on October 22.

                                                 Book #1 Searching for Evidence

Book #3 Uncovering the Truth, coming  January 2025

  

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson

 

Book description:

Christmas is the perfect time for old memories, new beginnings, and second chances

When Madison McDowell returns from teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, Madison's former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break her heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.

With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there's only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will require a ton of hard work--and some help from an unlikely ally--to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a Christmas miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.

My review:
  Melody Carlson has been writing a Christmas novella every year for several years. I always look forward to reading her newest one, and this one was a delightful Christmas read. 

 I like stories centered around Christmas tree farms, so that was a bonus for me. The book has it all: reunited lovers, squabbling sisters, absent mother, romance, jealousy, secrets, reminiscing of days gone by, and hope.

 Madison takes on a huge project of getting the Christmas tree farm ready for Christmas, and for future Christmases, while her sister fights her every inch of the way. Madison's hope and determination truly made the book what it was - a great read. Everything else was just things that made it extra great.

I enjoyed the book, and it made me want to visit a Christmas tree farm....but it is only October. :)

If you only read one Christmas story this year, you may want to check this one out. 

Special thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author: 

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at MelodyCarlson.com.