Debbie Fuller Thomas’s Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon ~ Reviewed

30 May 2008 Author: admin In: Book Reviews

TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE BLUE MOON
By Debbie Fuller Thomas
Published by Moody Publishers
ISBN#978-0-8024-8733-9
367 pagesBack Cover:

Switched at Birth – and then switched back.
When Marty Winsolow’s thirteen-year-old daughter dies of a devastating genetic disease, she discovers the truth – her precious middle child had been switched at birth. After learning that her actual biological daughter was recently orphaned, she decides to fight for custody. Winning the court case was the easy part.This still-grieving, single mom is torn between memories and realities. And wants desperately for God to heal her family.

For Andie, tall and blonde like Marty, being forced to live with strangers is just one more reason not to trust anyone. Her soul is a beat up as the rundown Blue Moon Drive-In the family owns. But Tuesday night is family night at the Blue Moon. And as Andie’s hopes fade, healing comes from the last place she wanted or expected – the hurting family and loving God she fought so hard to resist.

Read the rest of this entry »

Claudia Mair Burney’s Zora & Nicky ~ Reviewed

29 May 2008 Author: In: Book Reviews

Zora & Nicky
Claudia Mair Burney
Paperback: 389 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (April 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0781445507
ISBN-13: 978-0781445504

Product Description

Zora Nella Hampton Johnson knows exactly where she comes from her daddy won’t let her forget. Of course, for that privilege, he keeps her in Prada and Kate Spade. He chooses her boyfriend, her car, her address and ignores not only her mother, but her own love of painting, art and the old ways of her granddaddy’s soulful AME church. Her daddy may be a preacher, but somewhere among the thousands of members, Zora has lost God. And she wants him back.

Nicky Parker, a recent graduate of Berkeley and reformed playboy, also suffers the trials of being a preacher’s kid, and he can’t remember the last time he saw eye-to-eye with his white, racist, Republican, Southern Baptist father. What he does remember and it will be forever burned in his brain despite myriad prayers to Jesus is the way Zora looked the first time he saw her.

When they meet at a Bible study far from their respective home churches, the first churlish, sarcastic sparks that fly sizzle with defensiveness. But God has a special way of feeding the flames, and though from different flocks, these two lost sheep will find Him and much, much more.

My Review:

Congratulations to David C. Cook for seriously stretching the boundaries of Christian fiction with the publication of Zora & Nicky.

Those who have been clamoring for realistic Christians between the covers of Christian fiction need look no further than Nicky and Zora, pastors’ kids who carry baggage and attitudes into a “walking on eggshells” friendship.

Two vastly different and too similar backgrounds coupled with intense physical attraction ignite a relationship between a white, Baptist reformed playboy, and a name-it, claim-it trained, coddled African American Princess.

Claudia Mair Burney writes first person twenty-something male and female perspective with brutal honesty and with much grace. A handful of rag-tag friends who support the new couple make for colorful and creative teaching moments. Burney instructs on purity, immorality, beliefs, traditions, brokenness and grace through the characters who offer support. On the flip side are those characters who have heaped material goods,selfishness, hate and well-intentioned abuse on the couple.

The story veers from convicting to poignant to beautiful to raw. There were moments that I was overwhelmed with poignant writing and had to stop and catch my breath, only to cringe at the rawness that lurked on the next page.

I must warn sensitive souls, this novel contains sexual situations and if you have a diet of nice romance novels or inspiring reading, Zora & Nicky may knock your socks off in a not so pleasant way. But as I mentioned earlier…those of you that clamor for reality and grit…you need to get your hands on a copy.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Original post by Kelly Klepfer

Tina Ann Forkner’s Ruby Among Us ~ Reviewed

28 May 2008 Author: In: Book Reviews

Ruby Among Us
By Tina Ann Forkner
Published by WaterBrook Press
ISBN 978-1-4000-7358-0

Description:
Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art—but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty, can shield her from the memory of the mother she can no longer remember. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide from the past as Lucy is to find it.

From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento, to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search for a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.

What she finds is enigmatic and stirring in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.

Review:

In her debut novel, Forkner explores the relationship between three generations of mothers and daughters with the sensitivity of a seasoned novelist. When her young, single-mother dies, eight-year-old Lucy loses her memories of Ruby. Grandmother Kitty moves in to raise Lucy. But as Lucy grows up, she’s no longer satisfied with Kitty’s memories of Ruby. Lucy wants her own and begins to search for them.
Forkner does an extraordinary job of drawing the reader into the mystery surrounding Lucy’s heritage and her grandmother’s past. As she struggles to regain some memory of Ruby and delve into the secrets everyone else seems to know, you’ll feel as if you’re walking beside Lucy, discovering each piece of the puzzle with her.

I loved how Forkner resisted telling too much before Lucy discovered it, which created a very credible tale. If you’re a mother or a daughter, you’re going to love Ruby Among Us. I give it a high recommendation and look forward to more from this author.
Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan

Bonus Review:

This is a very thought provoking and moving book. Tina tells a tale that is intense. The plot is intricately woven with many twists and turns. The curiosity, pain and deep yearning of Lucy to get to the truth of her life, her mother’s life and her grandmothers kept me reading this book every chance I could get to see if the truth would ever come out. This book showed me a word picture for John 8:32 which says “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Lucy longed to be free of the family secrets but how?

Kitty was the keeper of the family secrets. Her heart was broken and her spirit crushed by the storms of life. Kitty felt that she had to hold onto these secrets to survive. This book showed another word picture for Psalm 34:18 which says “The Lord is close to the broken hearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

This story also is about forgiveness, redemption, and new beginnings. I was compelled to keep reading this rich story to find out if Lucy could put the pieces of her life together. The life she never knew she had. Her Heritage. It’s definitely a page turner!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

Original post by Kelly Klepfer

Paul Robertson’s Road to Nowhere ~ Reviewed

27 May 2008 Author: In: Book Reviews

Road to Nowhere
Paul Robertson
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (April 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764203258

Book Description:

For years, Wardsville, North Carolina, sat nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, a peaceful small town. The kind of place where neighbors care for each other. But that’s until unexpected funding arrives to build a road into town. Suddenly, this quiet town becomes torn in two, with everybody looking first to their own interests.and somebody willing to commit murder to make sure things go their way.

My Review:

You know someone is a talented author when he can write a novel about a road and make it a page-turner. Paul Robertson has done just that.

A small county made up of small towns, mere blips on the state map, situated miles from everywhere else suddenly receives the possibility of a chance to connect, change and grow. A road. This opportunity lands in the lap of the county government members and the folks in their jurisdiction soon make their wishes and demands known.

Who is behind the road? Does someone feel strongly enough about it to kill? What is the right decision?

I read this novel with the same sense of wonder I felt watching the interactions of the 12 Angry Men. Road to Nowhere is a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts and triggers and behaviors of people caught up in a cause. It is also a finely crafted novel nothing like his other impressive work, The Heir.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Original post by Kelly Klepfer

Pages (109): « 1 2 3 4 5 » ... Last »

About Bookhaunts

Bookhaunts is your online source for the latest book reviews and information about upcoming books. Check out our online store powered by Amazon where you can order books right from your computer!


Sponsors

Categories

Sponsors

Copyright © 2008 - Book Reviews - Your Online Source for Book Reviews!