Sunset Beach

 A good book for the beach should be easy to read but also absorbing; this has both of those qualities. Wrapped up in a beach house in San Diego are stories about families seeking solace from stress as well as  reconnections with each other.  Sunset Beach tells one of those stories.  What better location to find a dose of rest and relaxation than a beachfront cottage, where you can sit on the porch or walk the beach as much as you want?  The characters in this novel do both of those things, sometimes to escape each other! But, also sometimes to come together for conversation and to work out relationships that are broken.  This book centers around Sonny Miller and her desire to re-unite her mother and aunt, sisters who have not spoken in way too many years.  Trish Perry has included the right amount of sub-plots to hold your interest and works them in artfully connecting all the dots.  Sunset Beach is part of a series of four books co-authored by Ms. Perry and Sally John, based on an original concept by Sally John, The Beach House Series.  Separate stories with different characters all coming to the Beach House for vacation, all with their own "luggage."  Sunset Beach hits the spot and I recommend it as a good choice to toss in your vacation bag and bring along! Four stars for this. Here is a list of just a few good beach reads that I can suggest;
The Beach House and Castles in the Sand by Sally John
Beach Dreams by Trish Perry
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
Colony by Anne Rivers Siddons
Random Winds by Belva Plain

Thanks so much for being here and happy reading!  

Jeri

THE CHASE

In The Chase,  Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg have put their talent together to write a work that has the humor of Ms. Evanovich's novels, with the crime solving sluething abilities of Lee Goldberg's writing.  Con artist Nick Fox and FBI agent Kate O'Hare are partnered together by the FBI, at Nick's urging, to hunt and take down the world's most wanted criminals.  Their current target is a former White House Chief of Staff who heads up a private security agency.  He has a thing for priceless art and artifacts from around the world and uses his security firm to hide his thefts.  Reading this novel is a chase.  It is abundantly supplied with characters which aid and abet Nick and Kate and which, I found, were a chase to keep up with.  It took me on a wild ride, but I was not sure where I was and what was being chased at all times.  If you are familiar with Janet's Stephanie Plum novels, this is not like one of those.  The Chase is what would be called one of her "between the numbers" novels except that she did not write it alone.  I think her best work is done on the Stephanie Plum character and her adventures.  I found myself working to get this book "read", which is not what I look for in a good read.  It did not absorb me.  However, it certainly was daring. I did find myself thinking that they would not get out of the fix they were in on several occasions.  I would recommend this only if you like plots that are "hither and yon" and move from location to location quickly.  No moss under these stones.  I give The Chase three stars.  It is certainly not bad at all, but not my choice for a favorite.  Read more about this book at The Chase.

Come back next week for my "Summer Beach Reads" list and a review of  Sunset Beach by Trish Perry.

Thanks so much for being here~!

Jeri                                                                                       

Lost Mission

In Lost Mission, Athol Dickson begins the story with the experiences of Franciscan brother, Fray Alejandro Tapia Valdez in Assisi, Italy in 1767.  It only takes a few pages to begin sweeping the reader along on a mystery that defies solving for much of the book.  In his prayers, Fray Alejandro feels supernaturally compelled to travel to the New World to "Go and save my children."  Thus begins a story that Dickson entwines between new and old, past and present, historical and current day events, all related and indeed, all the same story. Lost Mission takes you along on the journey of Fray Alejandro and Mision de Santa Dolores in Southern California which collapses and many generations later is uncovered during the construction of a housing development.  The ensuing havoc from disturbing the ruins is totally supernatural and totally believable, making this one of the best reads you will have.  This is a work of fiction that demands focus of the reader.  The author moves back and forth between past and present so seamlessly that you have to pay attention.  I started this book twice before I became engaged and finished it.  That's not to say it is hard to read, just to say it is deep and you must be ready to be "in it."  Once you read a work by Athol Dickson, you know what to expect and it gets easier to get into it with each book you read.  I dare say, you will want to read all of his books after spending time with any of his books.  My first Athol Dickson work was "River Rising, which mystified me, and then I read "The Cure" and I was convinced this was a very special author with a real sense of spirituality that he brings to each writing.  Honestly, my personal mission is to read all of Athol Dickson's books and savor them one by one!  I highly recommend you discover his work.  You can read more about Mr. Dickson at www.atholdickson.com.
See you next time when I will review "The Chase" by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.
Thanks for reading, see you soon~!
Jeri

Redeeming Love

Francine Rivers is an excellent story teller; and this is a grand story.  Ultimately, it is the picture of God's love for His people.  It is a symbolic retelling of the story of Hosea in the Bible, which is history based on the fact of God's refusal to give up on us, His people.  Angel was sold into prostitution at the age of ten.  That in itself  is enough to ruin a child and her trust.  And that is what happened to Angel.  Micheal Hosea is a farmer who listens closely to his Heavenly Father and he knows that Angel is to be his wife.  The ensuing battle between Michael and Angel is tumultuous, emotional, heart-breaking and exhausting in a good way!  This book started a little slow, but once the background was put in place it really picked up and I (almost) could not put it down until I read the last page.  It is very thick, very detailed and one big chunk of reading, but well worth it.  With warm weather upon us, this is exactly the kind of book to sit down with a tall glass of iced tea and read on!  (or whatever cold drink you prefer!)

Thanks for being here! Hope you will visit again.  I will return with my review of Lost Mission by Athol Dickson.  

See you soon!

Jeri

Cane River

In Cane River, Lalita Tademy writes history as if she was there when it took place and saw all events happening.  Indeed, she feels this history because it is personal.  It is the history of four generations of women in her family.  The story of Elizabeth, Suzette, Philomene and Emily is a story of enduring strength and spirit.  Spirit that keeps these women up when life would beat them down.  I was engrossed in this book because of it's readability, it is very well written, but also because the chronicle of their lives is the result of detailed research by Ms. Tademy, who is the great-granddaughter of Emily. This research gives an authenticity to the Cane River account which begins with the Civil War and ends in 1936, with the death of Emily.  It is simply put, an epic "page turner."  Cane River is a New York Times Bestseller and was also a choice of Oprah's Book Club.   I highly recommend this engaging saga as one that should be on your "to read" list; in fact, it should be at the top.  Read more at lalitatademy.com.
Thanks so much for being here!  Up next, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  Hope you will return!

BONEMAN'S DAUGHTERS

Commander Ryan Evans was a husband and father who had been disenfranchised by his wife and daughter.  He no longer had the right to live in their home, or relate to them as husband and father,  the result of putting his military career first for 15 years.  Rarely home, out of touch.
But when the serial killer called BoneMan invades their home and takes his daughter, Bethany, all bets are off.  BoneMan intends for Bethany to be his 7th victim.
Ryan's release from special assignment as an intelligence analyst finds him struggling to reconnect with civilian life after two years in the Iraqi desert.  The killing spree coincides with Evan's return home; by design of the killer.  Ryan's panic along with evidence placed to implicate him, cause the FBI to believe the killer is Ryan Evans.  It doesn't help that the killings have begun again after a break of several years, just when Ryan returns home.  Bethany's abduction awakens his fatherly instinct which he has had to push down for many years.  He is determined he will find BoneMan and will reclaim his daughter and their relationship. I have goosebumps writing this, remembering how it pulled at my heartstrings in the midst of a heinous murder mystery!
The story plays out with a host of underlying plot lines and connections between characters.  I was in from the first page because Ted Dekker writes this story like a real life situation and that pulled me in and kept me reading.  He is an expert at writing life from the viewpoint of a warped mind.  The details of the abduction and the killing of the girls is at times graphic and hard to read, but the story is so compelling that I had no choice but to read through and keep going to get to what I knew had to be a happy ending!  I had to stay focused to keep track of the action and get the most out of the details that were clues to the Bone

Man's train of thought.
I highly recommend this if you like murder mysteries with layers of plot twists and edge of your seat good reading!
Up next-Cane River by Lalita Tademy.
I look forward to sharing this with you and hope you will return!
Jeri

Real Reviews for You

Having been an avid reader all my life, I have a passion for a "good read."  This is my first post on a new blog.  I hope to inspire you to read a book you have not thought of reading.  I want to also be a good source for you to turn to when you would like to read a real, honest review on a volume before you buy or borrow it.  My focus is Christian authors who write with an edge, fiction and non-fiction.  I will also review secular writings including some best-sellers and well known authors.
If you share this passion, then I hope you will come back for a real review.  Or, if not, maybe my reviews will spark an interest in a new hobby.
By the way, I also test and review some of my favorite cookbooks.  You can find those reviews at jerisfoodthoughts.wordpress.com  So, while I am not new to blogging, this blog is a new endeavor for me, but a very familiar subject.
  My first offering will be a review of Boneman's Daughters by author Ted Dekker.  Spine chilling and absorbing.
So glad you are here!  Thanks for reading, see you soon!!
Jeri