Love in Disguise

Carol Cox's novel Love in Disguise blew me away. I have never read anything like it in Christian fiction before. This probably has to do with Christian authors being hesitant to address the issue of theater and acting. Cox, however, dives right into the issue.

Ellie Moore grew up in the theater community. It's all she knows. So when she loses her job as a wardrobe assistant, Ellie has few options left to her: starve with her dignity in tact or lose even that to put food in stomach. That is until she hears of an opening at Pinkerton Detective Agency. She is given the job eventually. It is a job which will truly test her acting abilities.

Throughout the novel, Ellie's perception of God is challenged - how can He be both wrathful and loving? - as well as her choices for the future.

Cox integrates all these questions naturally into the story without ever preaching. Her strong characters all but walk off the page.

*I was given a free copy by Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review.

Submerged

Submerged by debut novelist Dani Pettrey is an excellent read. I started it the day I received it in the mail and had finished it by the next day.

The baggage Bailey carries with her about her past is well portrayed and realistic. It may have gotten a little redundant at times, by repeatedly bringing up the same issue as Bailey faces her past, but if I were under the same circumstances, I know I would be dwelling on the same thought and be hard pressed to let it go as well. With this in mind, her confrontation with her past is done even more accurately than I had originally though. And the whole issue of facing the past is relevant to nearly everyone.

I had never read a Christian suspense novel before and I was thrilled with the way Pettrey keeps the readers in the dark till the very end while weaving the aspects of Christianity throughout the story and not getting too preachy.

I cannot wait until the next book in the series, Shattered, comes out in February 2013!

*I received a free copy of Submerged from Bethany House for an honest review

Prize of My Heart

Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato is a refreshingly straightforward novel. It seems in want of some depth though. The characters' motives were solid, as was the overall plot, but I thought the end was obtained too easily - that it didn't have quite as many twists as I would have liked. One of the main things which kept me engaged in the story was that the plot described in the synopsis was resolved about halfway through the book and I was curious what else there was to write about. It is a good read if you're looking for something simple and lighthearted.

Lorena is a shipwright's daughter of whom Captain Talvis has commissioned a large vessel. They met under odd circumstances involving mistaken identity and a boy under Lorena's charge. This boy is the key to why Talvis chose Lorena's father to build his ship: the boy is Talvis' long lost son. In order to win the heart of his son, he must win the heart of Lorena, whether or not he is ready to give his heart again.

*I received a free copy of Prize of My Heart from Bethany House for an honest review

Sixty Acres and a Bride

Sixty Acres and a Bride, by Regina Jennings, reminds me a lot of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. But instead of telling the tale of Hosea, Jennings told the story of Ruth and Naomi.

I greatly enjoyed this debut by Jennings. It is a quick read that is witty and original. And relateable.

All of the emotions Rosa feels are genuine in her situation: a widowed Mexican come to Texas with her mother-in-law to find a large amount of taxes waiting for them to pay; as the two struggle to come up with the money, Rosa wonders if she will every be truly loved.

This is similar to many present day situations. After all, people question their value and whether anyone will love them everyday.

I recommend this book to everyone and look forward to Regina Jennings next book.

*I was given a free copy by Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review.

The Rose of Winslow Street

The Rose of Winslow Street is a phenomenal second novel by Elizabeth Camden. It is very original and has characters who might as well be real. Having just returned from being abroad, I can personally vouch that the way cultural differences are described in the novel are extremely accurate. These differences are very important to the plot and the characters' development. I also loved how Camden makes her female characters go against the 19th century's image of what a woman should be.

Libby Sawyer is a spinster still living in the house her father put years of time and labor into repairing. Michael Dobrescu is a foreigner who invades the house while Libby and her father are vacationing. Needless to say, stereotypes come into play and create for some intriguing drama as the Sawyers fight to regain their house.

I can't wait until I can read it again and look forward to Camden's third novel Against the Tide coming out in October.


*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers to give it an honest review.

House of Secrets

My complementary copy of House of Secrets was read in an afternoon.

Words cannot describe how accurate House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson is in showing the affect schizophrenia and depression has on family members of those affected by those diseases. I have personal experience, as my brother suffers from both. I will always cherish this book because it expresses how I have felt on many occasions.

Bailee Cooper and her sisters struggle to deal with their emotions about their mother and her disease. All of them are very skillful at putting up walls and keeping people at a distance. However, Bailee did not bargain for Mark Delahunt's persistence on tearing down her walls.

This is the first book by Tracie Peterson that I have read and it will not be the last.

Veiled Rose

My on the house copy of Veiled Rose was read quickly.

Anne Elisabeth Stengl has done it again! Veiled Rose is as good, if not better, than the first book in The Tales of Goldstone Wood series - Heartless. It is a beautiful blend of fantasy and Christianity. The trials Rose Red undergoes to keep her word and stay true to herself is something everyone should take to heart: the easy path is not always the best path and trusting Him is all one can do at times.

Stengl continues her series by telling the tale of Leonard the Lightening Tongue, the jester from Heartless, and his unusual friendship with Rose Red. Leonard is more commonly known as Lionheart, crown prince of the Southlands.

I can't wait until April comes and with it the next Tale of Goldstone Wood: Moonblood.