Pros and Cons--A Texan's Promise

I caught Shelly Gray's A Texan's Promise  free on Kindle recently. I was immediately swept into the story from the first paragraph. The story has a great message, and for a good part of the book, a high amount of suspense. To give a complete and honest review though, I'd have to say that the middle lags just a bit when she sends the hero one way and the heroine another. She tries to keep them connected with letters, but to me the level of uncertainty and tension drops considerably. Another brief point I did not care for was when the heroine's brother prays for his deceased mother--which can't do her a bit of good (especially since she committed suicide).

I guess on scale of one to five I'd go for a 3.5. I have book two in the series as well, and I still think I'll give it a try to see if she has learned to improve her storytelling. After all, the writing business is one in which you can never learn enough.

Good Read--Over the Edge

Another wonderful book stayed glued to my hands recently--Mary Connealy's Over the Edge. If you haven't read The Kincaid Brides series, then I suggest you go out and get it (or download it--whichever :) ). All three are terrific reads.

Seth is an adrenaline junky with deep scars that plague him. Callie--the wife Seth has forgotten--can't decide whether to kill him or kiss him when she finally tracks him down.

It's surely a page turner you'll enjoy.

Good Read--Saving Hope

This past weekend I got to enjoy myself with a good book titled Saving Hope by Margaret Daley. Margaret is the current president of ACFW and as having met her at the ACFW conference last year, I can vouch that she is a very sweet lady. She's also a very talented writer. :)

I began reading this book thinking--probably because it'd been a while since I read the book description--that this would be a historical. Surprisingly, it's a contemporary romantic suspense. And a very good one at that. This novel kept me hooked to the very end. The plot has plenty of twists and turns that just beg you to continue flipping pages and occasionally hold your breath. :) Beacon of Hope School director Kate Winslow and Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan are wonderful characters that you can't help but root for as they try to find a missing student who formerly escaped from a human trafficking organization.

I give this book two thumbs way up and five stars to boot. :)

Go for the Gold

Life is a race. A steady climb for the top. Sometimes in this wearying battle, we forget what lies before us. This world is not the end. If we have given our lives to Jesus Christ, then we have a wonderful home in heaven to look forward to. If we have not done so, then our only expectations when we die are torture and torment in a hell that will go on for eternity. Often, we are too afraid to be this frank, but if we do not share this truth, how will people know.

I encourage you--make sure you're running this race for a home in heaven. A real gold worth obtaining.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB) ~ "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

2-4-6-8 Who Do We Appreciate?

In case you haven't heard, there has been much to-do about the stand Chick-Fil-A's president has taken in support of the traditional, biblical view of marriage. I agree that marriage is and should always remain a forever-binding union between one man and one woman.

I support Chick-Fil-A's stand and am proud to say my church is doing its part as well.

Assemblies of God Speaks Out on Chick-fil-A Controversy
Billy Graham Offers His Support to Chick-fil-A

What about you? Will you be a part of today's Chick-Fil-A appreciation day? Will you use your dollars as a vote for who you appreciate?

Remember--if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.