Book 2 in the Jack Turner Suspense Series 

Young history professor, Jack Turner, takes a retreat at a lakeside cabin just outside of Culpepper, Georgia to work on his doctoral dissertation. The cabin is owned by an ambitious state senator, an inheritance from his father. Inside, everything is exactly the way it was when the old man died ten years ago. While taking a break from his research, Jack snoops through the father’s books and finds an old photo album filled with black-and-white pictures of orphaned children. Intrigued, he continues searching and finds what appears to be evidence of murder and an old leather journal, handwritten entirely in German. Rachel Cook, Jack’s girlfriend, translates the journal for him. What it reveals instantly puts both of their lives in mortal danger. 

Besides his bestselling inspirational novels, Dan Walsh is quickly becoming known for "unputdownable" novels of suspense.


My review:

  Dan Walsh quickly launched himself into my top favorite authors with the publication of his first book, The Unfinished Gift. That is a bit unusual because he started out writing Nicholas Sparks/Karen Kingsbury style books. He has never shifted from being one of my favorite authors, and has started writing some suspense novels. This is the second in a suspense series.

  I enjoy a book series where a character or characters are brought back and featured in the whole series. Walsh has created a very likable character in Jack Turner, a young college professor with the propensity to find trouble, or be found by trouble.

  Remembering Dresden starts out in the present, and then goes back in history for a few chapters to the bombing of the German city Dresden during World War II. I probably studied that in school, but I don't remember of it..... so that was new to me. Walsh did a great job of presenting a word picture of the damage done by bombs and the terror and destruction.

 Then the book goes back to the present for the remainder of the book. The whole book was a great read, but the further I got into it, the better and more suspenseful it got. At stake is the discovery of crimes that are tied to an important political figure who will go to any lengths necessary to keep an old family secret buried. I found the book to be an excellent read that kept me turning pages until I finished it, all in one evening. I believe Walsh's strongest and best writing is done in his other writing genre', but this book and the one that follows it shows that he can hold his own in the Christian suspense genre' very well also.

 Although this is the second book in the Jack Turner Suspense Series, it can be read before book 1.

  I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of 16 novels including The Unfinished Gift, The Discovery and When Night Comes. He has won 3 Carol Awards (finalist 6 times), 3 Selah Awards and 3 of his books have been finalists for RT Review’s Inspirational Book of the Year.

Magazine and blog reviewers often compare his novels to Nicholas Sparks or Richard Paul Evans (although Dan has added writing suspense novels to his repertoire).

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Word Weavers International, Dan writes fulltime in the Daytona Beach area. He and his wife Cindi have been married 39 years. You can find out more about his books or follow him on other social media sites from his website at http://www.danwalshbooks.com.

Remembering Dresden is available from Amazon and the author's website.

Hidden Agenda by Steve Brown

Dr. Steve Brown invites Christians to take off the mask of hidden agendas in his new book.

We like to pretend that hidden agendas are just for self-important bosses or egotistical politicians, but we all have them. Deep down, we all have a secret plan for getting from where we are to where we want to be, even if we refuse to admit it to ourselves.

And if our hidden agendas aren't enough, we wear masks to obscure the truth even more. We put on these masks---like religion, appearance, power, politics, or protection---to drive our agendas. But all of this leaves us feeling phony, ashamed, guilty, and afraid. It's killing us and hurting those we love. But for most of us, it will be a cold day in a hot place before we will be fully honest with anyone else.

There is so much more to life than hiding, pretending, and never being loved. In fact, there is already one person who sees behind the masks we wear and the hidden agendas that drive us. It does no good to tell God that you're sick when you're drunk, that you love him when you don't, or that you didn't steal and eat an apple (with apple juice dripping down your chin). God always recognizes and loves the "you" behind the mask.

So what can we do about the hidden agendas we have and the masks we wear? How can we gather the courage to be real? "Being real" has to start with your relationship with your heavenly Father. God already knows you inside and out. But God doesn't know you in order to "out" you to your friends. His unconditional love for his own is reason we can pray to our Father without fear of rejection or judgment. Knowing God's love, knowing that your heavenly Father is for you not against you is the only reason to give up your masks and develop the type of authentic relationships you never thought you could have. 

My review:

   This book is subtitled "Dropping the Masks That Keep Us Apart".  I have written a few blog posts about wearing masks, so this book interested me as soon as I read the information on it. The book covers the issue much better and in more depth than I ever have. There is a lot of information in this book: why we wear masks, who we try to wear them for, how to and when to take them off, who to take them off for, and everything in between.

  The book is extremely well written and interesting. It isn't a self help book filled with mumbo jumbo, but is filled with reasonable and common sense, yet Biblically based facts about this whole wearing masks idea. He uses a lot of Scripture and presents Jesus as the ultimate help in taking off our masks and being real.

 I found the book not just an enjoyable read, but also a convicting and interesting read.

 This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Steve Brown is the founder of Key Life Network, which exists to communicate that the deepest message of the ministry of Jesus is the radical grace of God. Having spent 25 years as a pastor, Brown now devotes much of his time to the radio broadcasts Key Life and Steve Brown, Etc., which are currently heard on more than 600 outlets.

Brown has a B.A. in philosophy and religion from High Point College and an S.T.B. degree from Boston University School of Theology. He is a visiting professor of practical theology at Knox Theological Seminary and at Westminster Theological Seminary. Brown is also an in-demand speaker and the author of numerous books, including A Scandalous Freedom, How to Talk So People Will Listen, and Approaching God. His articles have also appeared in many top Christian publications.

Additionally, Brown is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Religious Broadcasters and a current member of the Board of Harvest, USA. With such varied experience, Brown refuses to be a "guru," doesn't want to be anyone's mother and gives, in his teaching, the freedom to think. He lives in Florida with his wife, Anna. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Excerpt: read an excerpt from Hidden Agenda here.

Writeyboard Re-Fillable Low Odor Premium Dry Erase Markers Eco-Friendly, 4 Pack

QUALITY FIRST: Chisel-tip for smooth writing. Erases cleanly from all whiteboards. Low odor.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Reloadable, refillable cartridges mean less plastic waste in landfills and less wasted money.

CELEBRITY BACKED INNOVATION brand with Mark Cuban of Shark Tank.

EASY USE AND REFILL means NO messy experience or reduced writing quality.

4 PACK OF PREMIUM MARKERS Writeyboard whiteboard cleaner and additional cartridges sold separately.

My review:

  I was given these in exchange for my honest review and to go with the calendar I reviewed in my previous review.

  These come in a pack of 4 different colors: black, red, green, and blue. They are refillable, and the process seems very easy... you just screw off the top, pull out the old cartridge, and put in a new one. Amazon does not seem to carry the refills, so I don't know the price or where you'd buy them.

 The markers come in a convenient clear plastic carrier with a snap fastener. They work great, erase very well, and are a great marker for erasable boards or calendars. They write well, and the easy to hold grip style makes them comfortable to write  with.

Whitey Board Monthly Calendar, Dry Erase Marker and Squegge

ORGANIZE ANYTHING with this convenient whiteboard for work or home schedules. Perfect for college dorm, kids' chore chart or homework list; even use in the kitchen for menu planning! At a glance month view with writable block space.

EASY INSTALL IN SECONDS with no wrinkles or bubbles. Peels from paper and sticks onto walls smoothly and easily. Adaptive foam backing creates a smooth writing surface.

CLEAN SIMPLE REMOVAL: Just unpeel from wall and roll up for true portability with this simple to use technology. No sticky residue or mess!

CELEBRITY BACKED INNOVATION from Mark Cuban of Shark Tank. EZ install and removal for on-the-go mobility. Great dry erase markers erase with ease. Eco-Friendly.

RE-WRITABLE AND DURABLE for repeated use. No need to constantly replace cheap whiteboards.

My review:

   This was a bit bigger than I expected. It measures 3 feet by 25 inches, and comes in a tube that looks like a gigantic marker. The back is adhesive that is supposed to peel off of surfaces and leave no residue - I didn't test that. It could also lay flat on a desk or be thumb-tacked to a wall. There is a plastic covering for the back to use when the calendar is peeled up and put in storage.

  The calendar is very easy and convenient to use. It does come with a black marker that has an eraser on one end, but there are other colors of markers available for use. This is a great idea to use instead of the paper ones that have to be torn off and replaced yearly.... and the fact that it can be erased is an awesome option over most calendars.

 I received a calendar for my honest review.

The Gift For All People by Max Lucado

A New View on the Old Rugged Cross


Are peace, joy, and significance on your wish list?  How about redemption, forgiveness, the salvation of your soul?  Each of these descriptors bring us to the main event:  grace.  Saving grace, God’s immeasurable gift intended for all.  Regardless of accomplishments or station in life, despite sins of the past, anyone can receive the free gift of grace. 

Yet too often we take God’s incomparable gift for granted—despite the fact that God’s very Son paid for it with his body, breath, and blood. Understandably, we often find ourselves caught up in the daily routine of life, not taking time to reflect on the enormity of God’s mercy.

So here’s a suggestion:  give yourself the gift of a few moments spent in the world of God’s grace.  Read pastor Max Lucado’s unique, stirring insights into God’s role as grace-giver. Spend some time reflecting on the gift of grace, in all its magnificent meaning.  

Let grace, the gift for all people, speak to you personally through these pages.

My review:

   The subtitle of this book is "Thoughts on God's Great Grace", and that is what the book is about. The chapters are short, only going two or three pages, all on different aspects of Jesus coming and dying for us. Though it is not advertised as such, it would make a great devotional the way it is set up.

 As with all of Max's books, the pages are interspersed with personal stories and anecdotes to get his point across. It is an interesting and helpful little book, and it helped bring afresh to me the reality of what God has done for me and how immeasurable His grace is.

This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

In just under two decades of writing, Max Lucado has accomplished more than most writers hope for in a lifetime. Most of his books have appeared on one or more best seller lists, including those published by the "New York Times," "USA Today," "Publishers Weekly," and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). Aside from hardcover books, Lucado's writings have also been published as children's books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, music CDs, mass paperback booklets, apparel, giftware, bookmarks, calendars, study Bibles, workbooks, curricula, and plush products. In spring 2003, Hallmark/Dayspring Cards launched a new gift card line featuring excerpts from Lucado's writings--and has already sold more than one million cards.

All this success has drawn more than a little attention to a previously low-profile Texas author and minister. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including "USA Today," "Larry King Live," and "NBC Nightly News." He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. He has traveled with internationally renowned musicians as a special speaker on their music tours, such as the highly successful "Come Together & Worship Tour" (sponsored by Chevrolet) with Grammy Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day.

Journey to the Top
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

Secret to Success
From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.
 

  The Gift for All People is available from Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing.

Thanks to Multnomah for the review copy.

My Mother's Quilts by Ramona Richards, with a contest

A quilt is love that serves a purpose.

The devotions in My Mother’s Quilts are inspired by family heirloom quilts, some more than 100 years old. With humor and sincerity, Ramona Richards shares her memories and lessons learned from the quilters whose legacies live on in their work. Rich, personal, sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, each reading provides a lesson and encouragement from the faithful women who crafted the quilts. Together, these devotions depict the enduring legacy of faith, family, and beloved traditions. Includes full color photographs of each of the 30 quilts!


My review:
   I am not a mother or a quilter, and this book is definitely a woman's devotional; but I do occasionally review books that don't pertain to me.

  This is a very attractive book that would make a great gift for quilt lovers. There is a total of 60 devotionals in the book. Each one starts out telling about the quilt mentioned, along with a photo of it and a spiritual application. The devotional ends with a prayer starter, a short prayer. Every devotional has a color picture of the quilt being discussed, and 30 of those devotionals have a full page photo of the quilt. Although most of the focus is on the quilt and the spiritual application is usually short and no deep theological discourse, they are interesting and helpful.

 The book is hardcover with a dust jacket. It is available from Worthy Publishing.

I was given a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the review copy.


About the author (in her words):

I started making stuff up at 3, writing it down at 7, and selling it at 18. I've written 10 books. My Mother's Quilts, a devotional based on the quilts I inherited from my mother, is my latest. Memory of Murder, from Love Inspired is the latest novel.

I'm also an editor, with more than 400 publications to my credit. My specialty is fiction, although I've also worked on CD-ROMs, magazines, non-fiction, children’s books, Bibles, and study guides. Lot of publishers have helped my bottom line, such as Thomas Nelson, Barbour, Howard, Harlequin, Ideals, etc.

And, as I say on Twitter (@RamonaRichards), I'm Rachel's mom. Music nut. Film buff. Lifelong geek. Former Bible editor. Usually a fun person to eat a burger with. And I love living in the ongoing street party that is Nashville.

Check out her website at RamonaRichards.com

CONTEST OFFER!

Win one of the quilts featured in #MyMothersQuilts by Ramona Richards. Also up for grabs: loads of other prizes including quilting hand warmers, coloring books, and 25 signed copies of Ramona’s book. Winners will be emailed after the contest ends on June 30, 2016. Click here to get started!

Medical Judgement by Richard L Mabry, M.D. and e-reader giveaway

Dr. Sarah Gordon lost her husband and daughter. Now she's about to lose her life.

After losing the two people she loved the most, Sarah Gordon doesn't think life could get worse. But, after a fire in her garage is ruled an arson, she begins to realize someone is after her---and that person wants to see her dead. But first, they want to see her suffer.

Her late husband's best friend, Kyle Andrews, and a recovering alcoholic detective, Bill Larson, are trying to solve the mystery before it's too late, and they're both trying to win her heart, too. Not only does Sarah feel torn between two men, she also feels as though she cannot trust anyone.

With creepy threats that become more and more sinister, Sarah finds herself in constant fear, but even the best home alarm technology won't protect her. Who is doing this, and why are they after her?


My review:

  I have been hooked on Richard Mabry's books ever since I read his first published novel, and am always happy to see a new book coming out by him.

  This novel is a stand alone that can be read independent of his other novels, and it is a great read. I took the book on vacation with me and stayed up one evening devouring the book. It is the type of book you don't want to put down. I liked the main characters, the suspense, the romantic dilemma of two men interested in the same person, and the medical drama. As usual, Mabry combines suspense, romance, and medical drama to make a great novel. He is a master at "dumbing down" the medical terminology to not cause a reader's eyes to glaze over who doesn't work in the medical field.

 The plot was great. I had an inkling of what the real motive was before it was revealed, but enjoyed having that insight before the characters did....as odd as that may sound. And I even enjoyed the surprise on the romance front...I did not see that coming.

 When I closed the book after reading the last page, I had that very satisfied feeling that I get after reading a great novel. It was time well spent.

About the author:

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes "medical suspense with heart." His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers' debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and Romantic Times' Reader's Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.


  Medical Judgement is available from Abington Press. Thanks to Litfuse Publicity for the review copy.

Giveaway:

  Just what the doctor ordered: heart-thumping suspense and intrigue, courtesy of Richard Mabry’s new medical drama, Medical Judgment. Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They’ve stalked her and set a fire at her home. Trying to recover from the traumatic deaths of her husband and infant daughter is tough enough, but she has no idea what will come next. As the threats on her life continue to escalate, so do the questions: Who is doing this? Why are they after her? And with her only help being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really trust?

Join Richard in celebrating the release of Medical Judgment by entering to win an e-reader!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Medical Judgment
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 21st. The winner will be announced June 22nd on the Litfuse blog.