closing down

I am going to be closing this blog and posting book reviews directly to my main blog at loopdeloops.blogspot.com.

They Shall See God by Athol Dickson

Suspenseful! I literally held my breath at times. Sometimes I would put the book down saying, "I just can't read anymore." And then I picked it back up and turned the page.

I love how Dickson writes. I think this book had one of the best hooks of any I've read. After the first chapter I was in.

The story is heartbreaking and nerve wracking. The characters are vivid and I just wanted to reach in and shake some of them. I wanted to hide from some and hug others.

It is full of bizarre events and imagery. Someone is murdering people in the most unusual ways.

The story revolves around the age-old conflict between Jews and Christians. Old prejudices. Ancient grudges. The author knows what he is talking about here because he has spent a lot of time in a Jewish Temple studying Torah.

It has beautiful spiritual lessons and depth. Beyond the suspense and sadness there is truth about love, acceptance, and what Christianity is really about.

If you read this book, it is quite possible you shall see God

Riever Rising by Athol Dickson

You've heard the term "weaving a story"? That's exactly what this author does. You see little threads come and go. Little pieces that give you just a bit of information, but leave you with more questions than answers, until the end where it all ties up beautifully and every piece makes perfect sense.

This story is history, mystery, and spec fic; three of my favorite genres. It is set in 1927 in the deepest of the deep south, the mouth of the mighty Mississippi. Blacks and whites hang out together at the general store, work together, eat together and shake hands like equals. But when it comes to the most important thing, they can't seem to come together.

This is a Christmas story, yet it isn't set at Christmas and never even mentions it. But it is Emanuel -- God With Us.

For me, reading this book was a bit like being caught up in a river. There were times that it was calm and beautiful and made me smile and then I went under and thought "No, I don't want to go there!" and I was bounced around a bit. Finally I was deposited on the shore at the feet of the one I love most, battered and breathless, but weeping for joy.

Suspicious Minds by Christy Barritt

Gabby St. Claire is a wacky redhead who cleans crime scenes for a living. Cool huh? Actually gross. I know someone who did that. Anyway, she finds a dead Elvis under a house and then proceeds to investigate on her own. She is going to school to be a Crime Scene Investigator, after all.

Of course she gets herself into trouble.
She has way too many cute men in her life.
There are two too many Elvis "Tribute Artists," a surfer, an animal rights advocate, a mystery writer and more.

There are laugh out loud moments, some romance, and contemplation of issues like loneliness and the meaning of faith.

This is the second in a series and I haven't read the first, Hazardous Duty, but it doesn’t matter, it stands alone well.

Women's Intuition by Lisa Samson

Four women learn what it means to really love.

Lark has carried a broken heart and a lie around for twenty years. Her life is ruled by fear that took root in the pain.

Leslie has secrets of her own and learns the secret to living before it’s too late.

Flannery has no secrets, but has to cope with the lies of others as she begins a life of her own.

And Prisma is a wise woman holding them all together with her wisdom and prayers. Unafraid to speak the truth when it’s needed, she helps them all find what they lack.

These women are so real and the relationships so precious that you can't help but love them. It isn't a heavy read, but does provide plenty to think about.

It may bring tears, but they are tears of joy. I cried a few times as I rejoiced over the characters' victories.

Gunfight at Grace Gulch by Darlene Franklin

Set in a small town in Oklahoma, this story weaves together an old feud and a new murder.

During the reenactment of the land run that founded Grace Gulch, one of the actors, Penn, is murdered.

Cici, owner of a vintage clothing shop, is concerned because her long time friend and would-be-sweetheart, Cord, didn’t get along with Penn and he was the actor who fired the gun loaded with blanks.

Or were they blanks? Cici’s sister, Dina, is in charge of the props and had a bone to pick with Penn.

She partners up with Audie, another would-be-sweetheart, and together they snoop for clues to the truth.

Small town gossip and politics, feuding and jealousy fill these pages. There's a bit of love and kissin' too.