WHERE TREASURE HIDES by JOHNNIE ALEXANDER

I have just finished re- reading WHERE TREASURE HIDES by JOHNNIE ALEXANDER and can highly recommend the novel as an exciting and heart warming read, and for the strong Christian message. The story takes place during the Second World War, in both England and Holland.
Alison Schuyler received her artistic skill from her father, Pieter, and her love of art from her grandfather, Hendrik, and the people who work with him at the famous Van Schuyler Gallery of Fine arts in Rotterdam. She battles to overcome her father's seeming abandonment, and is afraid that she will never settle down with the man of her dreams because of the dreaded Van Schuyler curse.
Ian Devlin is a member of the British aristocracy and a lieutenant in the British army. He struggles with guilt over his older brother's drowning accident, which happened when they were children. He takes his faith seriously, and battles when he is forced to take a life to try and save a helpless woman and child.
The two meet at Waterloo station, brought together by a young Jewish boy and his violin, and it seems like love at first sight. Will Alison be able to let go of her superstitious fear of the family curse, putting her faith in the God whose perfect love casts out all fear, or will she allow it to ruin her life? Will she ever see Ian again or will he be killed in action?
I love the realistic way the Author describes the situation in occupied Holland. Alison is part of the underground, saving both precious Jewish children and priceless works of art from the Nazis. In spite of the horrors of war, there is an underlying hope, as courageous men and women literally go through hell to make the world a better place. For those of us who love the Jewish people and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it is a "must read"!
It is a story of courage and faith and of not allowing the past to ruin one's life. This book certainly gives one a great deal of food for thought and is beautifully written.



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WHERE SHE BELONGS by JOHNNIE ALEXANDER

In WHERE SHE BELONGS, JOHNNIE ALEXANDER shows us what really is important in life.
Shelby Kincaid is the daughter of missionaries and has never felt that she really belonged anywhere, excepting at Misty Willow, when she stayed there with her grandparents. Her grandparents had a strong marriage and she wants the same for herself. Recently widowed, she takes her two little girls and goes back to the place that was "stolen" from her grandparents by Sully Sullivan, to make a new life there.
AJ Sullivan doesn't feel the same way about Misty Willow, however, having been left the place by his unkind and unscrupulous grandfather. His grandparents' marriage was anything but idyllic, and neither was that of his parents. He shared a loving grandmother, Joyanna, with his worldly cousins, Brett and Amy. She had a lot to do with the three of them while they were growing up and was sad that the cousins didn't get on. When she died, AJ lost his sense of belonging, as she was the only real stability in his life.
These two unlikely people are drawn together by circumstance and an overlapping history. We follow their story, told against the backdrop of a small and caring community, as they learn to forgive, to love unconditionally, and to discern what really is important in life.
As they cling to the promises God has given them, we are made party to their struggles. It is a beautifully written story with a strong Christian message. I am reading the second novel in the MISTY WILLOW series, which I know I am going to enjoy as well.


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FOR SUCH A TIME by KATE BRESLIN

I have just finished reading FOR SUCH A TIME by KATE BRESLIN and all I can say is WOW! What an incredible book - I literally couldn't put it down!
The novel follows closely the biblical story of Esther and takes place towards the end of the Second World War in and around a prisoner of war camp in Czechoslovakia called Theresienstadt.
Whilst the Author has made no effort to sugarcoat the atrocities of war, and anti Semitism in particular, there is such a message of hope and salvation throughout. We are reminded of the truth of God's Word and His promises to His people. We see incredible courage in the face of horrific adversity.
This novel is one I will read again and that I put "up there" as one of the best books I have read.


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WAVES OF MERCY by LYNN AUSTIN

I have been eagerly waiting for WAVES OF MERCY, LYNN AUSTIN's latest novel, and I have definitely not been disappointed!
It is a story that spans a generation, and when it starts we meet Anna, a wealthy young woman from Chicago who has come to Holland with her mother, hoping to get over a broken engagement. Her fiancé forbids her to attend a church which he feels is full of fanatics and undesirable characters who are making her crazy! However, she cannot keep away and does go back, drawn by the loving God who the preacher obviously knows personally. This church is not fashionable like the dead church that she and William attend with their parents, where God is portrayed as a cold and authoritarian figure.
We meet Geesje, an elderly Dutch woman, who came from Holland to settle in the Holland area fifty years ago with her parents and other members of the Separitist church. They had been badly treated by the government church and left for a new life in America, where they would be able to worship the Lord as they chose.
To put it mildly, they didn't have an easy time of it, and Geesje is very honest when she writes about it all. Her parents never seem to lose faith in the God they serve with their whole heart, but Geesje really battles at times. The novel is full of Scriptures whose truth is well brought out in the story. We get the strong assurance that, no matter what happens, absolutely nothing can ever separate us from the love of God!
Journeys by ship play an important part in this novel. Anna is terrified of boats because of a recurring nightmare she has had since she was a little girl, which becomes more vivid after a rough voyage across the lake from Chicago.
Anna is a lonely young woman. She has a lot of questions about God and life in general and knows she won't get any answers from the people she mixes with in the privileged life she leads. That is why she keeps going back to the "castle" church, and also why she risks her mother's and William's displeasure by making friends with Derk. Derk is a seminary student who is working at the hotel she is staying in, mostly taking tourists sailing on the lake.
Anna is adopted and feels rejected by her birth parents. There is a mystery about her birth mother that she is determined to find out about, even though she loves her adoptive parents dearly.
I really cannot recommend this novel highly enough. It is a heartwarming story that is hard to put down. The Author makes you feel the characters' joys and heartaches. It is also full of biblical truth.


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CROSSROADS BY IRENE HANNON

CROSSROADS by IRENE HANNON is a really good read. Not only is it full of Christian truth, but the story is very relevant to life today. 
Tess Lockwood is a single mother who has moved to a new town in order to start afresh after an abusive relationship with her ex husband. She has a new job, which takes up a lot of her time, and she feels guilty for not spending as much time as she used to with her teenage son, Bruce. 
Since moving to a new neighbourhood and a new school, Bruce has changed. Because he wants to belong, he is moving with the wrong crowd. 
Added to Tess's lack of self confidence, which is the result of her husband's attitude towards her and their son, she feels that she is a terrible mother and a total loser.
Mitch Jackson is the school principal. He feels terribly guilty for something that happened in the past when he was a law enforcement officer. Because of this he became a teacher, wanting to guide young people into making right choices, to keep them away from involvement with drugs and crime. He works long hours, has no social life, and the only person to whom he has ever opened up is his uncle.
It is not only Bruce that is at a crossroad in his life. 
This is a beautifully told story of second chances, of making choices, of redemption and deliverance. I highly recommend this novel.

TERMINAL JUSTICE and TARNISHED IMAGE by ALTON GANSKY

TERMINAL JUSTICE and TARNISHED IMAGE by ALTON GANSKY are two novels that really need to be read in sequence, although the fact that I read the second one first didn't in any way spoil things for me. This author has an amazing 

way with words - he makes you see what he is describing - and an insight into human nature that really makes one think. He tells things as they are in a fallen world, where companies like Barringstone Relief are trying to make a difference for good against all odds.
Dr David O'Neal is a former preacher who left his church after his wife left him for another man and now works for Barringstone Relief - first of all as A J Barringstone's speech maker and then as CEO. As he is exposed to unimaginable disease and poverty, and with the encouragement of both A J and the lovely Kristen LaCroix, his problems pale into insignificance and he regains his faith in God. He is a sensitive and upstanding man, loyal to a fault, and battles with his conscience in Terminal Justice.
In Tarnished Image he is set up by an unknown and unscrupulous enemy and has to fight, not only for his own life, but for the lives of those he loves and for his beloved Barringstones.
There is no simple answer to the problems in the world, largely brought about by selfishness and greed, but in these suspenseful novels we see the darkness being pushed back little by little by men and women who lay down their lives for others. There is a really strong Christian message and I highly recommend these books.




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TORN ASUNDER by ALANA TERRY

TORN ASUNDER by ALANA TERRY is a beautifully written love story with a very powerful Christian message.
When Simon and Hannah leave the Sterns' Secret Seminary in Yanji, going back into North Korea to spread the gospel, they are told to go separately, but Simon follows Hannah, wanting to protect her, and this puts them in great danger. Going into a country where it is dangerous to be a Christian to distribute bibles, takes tremendous commitment. The Author paints a vivid picture of how Christians are treated there, and what bravery is needed on the mission field.
The characters are very real and are not afraid to voice their doubts and fears - I find this refreshing. There is nothing phoney about them.
We see their courage and their failures, their passion for the Lord and for the spreading of the gospel, their joys and their fears. We see the Lord's faithfulness towards His children in the most horrific situations. We see how Simon and Hannah are sustained by their love for one another and for the One they serve.
The story is exciting and hard to put down. I found it challenging and it has given me a great deal of food for thought. I can highly recommend this novel.



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THE WITNESSES by ROBERT WHITLOW

THE WITNESSES by ROBERT WHITLOW is a legal novel with a really good Christian message.
The story starts in 1939 with Franz Haus, known as the Aryan Eagle, using his unusual gift of seeing into the future to help the German army. Although he has never killed a man he feels responsible for the deaths of many, and his disgust with himself and with what Germany has become, cause him to desert the army and escape to Switzerland and to eventually find his way to America.
Here he changes his name to Frank House and hopes to forget the nightmares that have plagued him for years. He is afraid of his past catching up on him, and doesn't like to talk about it. We meet him as an old man. Having been a commercial fisherman, he still fishes with his old friend Lenny. Fishing plays an important part in his life. He has also imparted this love of fishing to his grandson, Parker, with whom he has a close relationship, having looked after him after his parents were killed in a drunk driving accident.
Lenny, a veteran of the Vietnam war, has found peace in coming to know the Lord as his Saviour, and is always trying to get his friend to church.
Parker House is a promising young lawyer, who has "hunches" which he can't explain, which help him make decisions in his work.
Thomas Blocker, originally Blocher, is a very successful lawyer, whose overbearing attitude and controlling nature have estranged him from his photographer daughter, Layla.
Frank's gift of seeing into the future was passed down to him by his Godly grandfather by the laying on of hands when he was a young boy. Will he ever get to the stage where his unusual gift will be used for good, or has it gone forever? Has he left it too late or can the Lord use an old man like him? Will he ever be able to remember the good parts of his past life without feeling guilty about the things that he witnessed during the war?
The story is well told, the characters well portrayed and the Christian message comes through loud and clear. I can highly recommend this book as an excellent read.





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MERCY AT MIDNIGHT by SYLVIA BAMBOLA

MERCY AT MIDNIGHT by SYLVIA BAMBOLA is a book that I just couldn't put down! What a message and what a story!
Just when revival is about to happen in the prestigious church which he is pastoring, Jonathan Holmes, in obedience to God's call on his life, resigns his position and is led to reopen the Beacon Mission.
Cynthia Wells is a reporter who is obsessed with death and obituaries, and has not much faith in the human race. In fact she feels disconnected from reality. She ends up at the mission to get a story, and is prepared to use people in order to do so.
Stubby is a homeless man whose link to Cynthia's past causes her immense guilt.
We see clearly, in the Author's handling of the

characters, the truth that there isn't a man or woman alive that doesn't need God's mercy. It is in this mission, surrounded by gangs and drugs, living amongst the dregs of society, that God does an amazing work of redemption in those who call out to Him.
Stubby's response to Cynthia's remark that life is unfair really sums it all up when he says that it is all about the prize of having Jesus in this life and in the next - the devil doesn't want anyone to have this and will do anything to stop people from having this wonderful gift!
Jonathan's is not a "pie in the sky" ministry - he is under no illusions that it will take discipline, hard work, and much prayer, together with total reliance on the Lord, to reach the people in his care.
This is one of the most encouraging, true to life, novels that I have read. I cannot recommend it strongly enough for the exciting story and the Christian message on which it is based.



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MISSING by LISA HARRIS

MISSING is the second novel in LISA HARRIS' NIKKI BOYD FILES, and after reading VENDETTA, I was looking forward to the next book in the series. I was not disappointed. The novels can be read as stand alones, but I am glad I read them in sequence, as the main characters we meet in VENDETTA are further developed in MISSING.
As in all her books, the Christian message is strong. Nikki Boyd is a missing persons' detective, and is passionate about her job. Her sister disappeared ten years ago and she does her best to not let her grief and guilt surface while she is investigating a crime. In fact it makes her even more determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. We see how she calls upon the Lord when she is in danger, and how she wants to trust Him more in her private life as well.
Her best friend's widower, Tyler Grant, who has issues of guilt himself due to his wife's death, is trying hard to let go of the past. He is also at risk, as he finds Lucy Hudson's husband's body on his boat.
Looking into Lucy's disappearance is not what it seems and there is something very sinister going on. Certain people are willing to commit murder in order to cover their crime, bodies are piling up, and time is running out.
The plot is well worked out and the book is exciting and hard to put down. I can definitely recommend this novel and am looking forward to the third one in the series, which I believe is coming out next year.


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MARCIA SCHUYLER by GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL

I have just finished reading MARCIA SCHUYLER by GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL - what a truly delightful novel! I only wish the author was still alive so that I could tell her how much I enjoy her writing!
Marcia Schuyler is a young girl of eighteen who dreams of one day being loved by a man like her sister Kate's fiancé David Spafford, although she wonders if any man will ever love her as much as David loves Kate, being not blond and beautiful like her vivacious older sister.
Unlike Kate who is selfish and unkind, there is a child likeness about Marcia, who is unselfish and loving. In the two sisters we see the difference between unconditional love and living to please oneself. This theme is picked up throughout the novel with the different characters who are very well portrayed. I especially like Miranda, the plain little orphan girl who lives with her grandmother and who is willing to do anything for those she loves. She is more worldly wise than Marcia and puts her own life at risk to keep her safe.
Marcia is upset at the offhand way in which Kate treats David, and starts out her own married life at quite a disadvantage - with a man who loves another, with her sister's trousseau, and with a strong sense of moral obligation to honour the promise she made in order to save her parents and David from shame. It is truly a case of laying one's life down for another.
This is a beautifully told love story with a strong Christian message. I really recommend this novel, and in fact any novel written by this author. Many of her books are free on Amazon kindle which is an added bonus!


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CRIME SCENE JERUSALEM by ALTON GANSKY

CRIME SCENE JERUSALEM by ALTON GANSKY is a cleverly written novel with a solid Christian message. It is well worth reading and gives one a lot of food for thought. The story takes place in both modern times and biblical Jerusalem, and really brings the message of what Christ did for us on the cross close to home. We feel the reality of what He went through for us and are drawn to think about what His sacrifice means to us today and what our response should be.
Max Odom is a forensic detective who is suffering terribly from guilt and grief after his precious daughter is murdered. To keep him out of the way while they try and find the perpetrator, he is sent to Jerusalem to investigate the first century murder of Jesus Christ.
He doesn't want to be there - he wants to be involved in his daughter's case - he badly wants revenge! He is angry and belligerent.
He falls asleep in his hotel room and when he goes out to meet the driver who has been allocated to him, he finds he is in first century Jerusalem! The driver, Yoshua, takes him to places that Jesus has just been on His journey to Golgotha. He looks for evidence of murder. He meets witnesses, disciples, Pharisees and Romans, as he trudges through the streets, exhausted and terrified. One thing he knows is that he will never be the same again!
It is a well told story which deals with the importance of forgiveness, not only of others but also of one's self, of having compassion towards others in a sinful world, and of having faith no matter the circumstances.
We see that healing and peace are ours when we trust in Jesus and the finished work of Calvary.



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VITAL SIGNS by KATHY HERMAN

VITAL SIGNS by KATHY HERMAN is the third book in the BAXTER series, but it can be read as a stand alone novel. I have done just that. Having read and enjoyed many of Kathy Herman's books I haven't had a chance to read the other Baxter novels yet, but have put them on my Amazon wish list!
All hell seems to have broken loose in the little town of Baxter! A missionary couple returns from the Amazon bringing with them an unidentified virus and fear is rife. We see how the different people react and how they deal with the fear and feelings of insecurity that come to light in their lives due to these difficult circumstances, and how the Lord comes through for those who choose His way by giving them peace in the midst of chaos.
A militant group feels that the authorities are not being honest with the public and we see their reaction to the fear of contracting the disease. Their answer to the problem is in violence and murder.
Dennis is forced to face his fear of fatherhood and commitment when his ex girlfriend Jennifer gives birth to twins. Jennifer and her parents are young Christians and we see how they face the situation they are in. Jen's father, Jed, understands Dennis, having quite recently had a real turnaround in his own attitude towards his daughter.
We see the medical staff trying to stop the panic by giving out all the positive news they can, as opposed to the media frenzy that is threatening to break out.
We also see the love and support that abound in this close and caring community.
This story is not only exciting but gives the reader much food for thought. The Christian message is strong as the author answers the often-posed question "why do bad things happen to good people?" by showing the goodness of God the Father, who brings good out of the bad things Satan throws at us when we trust in Him. All in all, it is a faith- building book and leaves us without a shadow of a doubt that God is still in control! I can highly recommend this novel.



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ANCHOR IN THE STORM by SARAH SUNDIN

ANCHOR IN THE STORM is the second book in SARAH SUNDIN's WAVES OF FREEDOM series. I have read all this author's novels, and once again I am definitely not disappointed. I enjoy the way she writes, her characters are very real, and the setting during the Second World War has obviously been well researched. There is no doubt about the main message in this novel - when we have Christ as our Saviour, He is our anchor in the storm!
In this story we get to know Jim Avery's sister, Lillian, who has qualified as a pharmacist and gets a job in Mr Dixon's drugstore in Boston. She lost a leg when she was young but manages with a prosthetic leg. We see her friendship with Jim's best friend, Arch Vanderberg, and watch as they are slowly drawn to trust one another.
Both Lillian and Arch have put up walls, due to the hurts they have experienced in the past. Lillian is very insecure because of her disfigurement, and feels unworthy. In fact she appears cold and unfeeling, being afraid of letting go. Arch is afraid of his father's wealth and sees his future in the navy rather than having a "cushy" job in his father's firm. He is scared of being trapped by a woman who is after his wealth and social position. They both feel their jobs make them normal and worth something.
They are good fro each other, and they come to look at what is inside a person instead of at outward appearances, the barriers gradually come down.
This is a love story which takes place in difficult times, with a fair share of suspense, as drug addiction and drug rings are uncovered. The problem of dealing with the traumas of war in the navy is brought to light as we see how Arch and others on his ship react to the horrors they have lived through.
I can highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to the third book in the series which is coming out in 2017.



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THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE by ROBIN LEE HATCHER

THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE is one of ROBIN LEE HATCHER'S earlier novels which has just become available on Kindle. What a delightful book! The story is really good, the characters very real, and it is full of biblical truth.
We have the prodigal son, Gabe Talmadge, whose return to Ransom is met by even greater hatred from his father than that which sent him to prison fourteen years before. We see how he gradually allows the Lord to break down the prison walls that he brings with him to the outside world.
Akira, whose name means "anchor", is a true child of God, who hears His voice and loves His Word. She has inherited her godly grandfather's sheep farm and is the shepherdess who longs to lead the lost to the Good Shepherd. She is a disappointment to her socialite mother, but Akira realizes that she needs to be true to the person God created her to be.
When this innocent young woman and the ex convict get together the rumours are rife in the small community of Ransom.
We see the importance of forgiveness, not only towards others but also towards one's self, of standing strong, dressed in the full armour of God, and of trusting the Lord no matter what one is faced with. We are reminded that we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness. As we are drawn to the love of the Good Shepherd we are able to show His love and acceptance to others.
I really enjoyed this novel and cannot recommend it highly enough.


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MIRIAM by MESU ANDREWS

MIRIAM by MESU ANDREWS is the second novel in the SECRETS OF THE NILE series, following after THE PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER, which I reviewed on the 26th April 2015. I recommend reading the books in sequence, although of course they can be read as stand alones.
Once again the author has given us a well researched, sensitively written, bible based, account of one of the most amazing and miraculous events in history. I find it especially significant that this novel, which speaks of Yahweh's deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt at the first Passover, has been released precisely at the time that believers are celebrating the greatest Passover of all, when our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, died and rose again to set us free from sin and death!
The story is told from Miriam's perspective, and I really enjoy the way her emotions are described as she feels abandoned by "her Shaddai" who seems to have changed. He is now speaking to Moses instead of her. She has faithfully served Him all her life as His prophetess, and to start with she feels set aside and useless, and even a bit jealous.
We see each of the characters struggle in one way or another when they are faced with the manifestations of God's power. In fact, if we are honest, we can see ourselves in some of their fears and reactions!
We see jealousy, unforgiveness, disobedience and pride giving way to peace and love when a person chooses to obey Yahweh. We see the arrogance of Pharaoh, who is worshipped as a god by the Egyptians, and the fear he instills by his bloodthirstiness and hatred, as opposed to Moses' complete trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The fictional characters help to make the novel flow and definitely do not take away from the truth of the biblical story.
This novel gives a person much food for thought with its refreshing way of telling the story of redemption, and it is way "up there" as one of the best Christian novels I have read.
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THE REAL ENEMY by KATHY HERMAN

THE REAL ENEMY by KATHY HERMAN is the first novel in the SOPHIE TRACE TRILOGY, and is not only an exciting thriller, but it is a very touching story of a family in crisis. The Christian message is really good and I like the way the author deals with the characters' emotions - they are very real people with very real struggles.
Brill and Kurt Jessup have moved to Sophie Trace from Memphis with their nine year old daughter Emily. Brill is police chief and is hardly ever at home, but there is more to their problems than Kurt being practically a single parent and Emily missing her mother. Eighteen months before their move Kurt confessed a one night stand with the prom queen who he had had a crush on at school. In spite of Kurt's abject remorse, Brill makes it clear that she is prepared to stay married in name only and will never forgive him. Kurt is devastated, especially as their farce of a marriage is upsetting their children, particularly Emily, and is determined to overcome Brill's bitterness towards him by loving her and being good to her. He takes his commitment to the Lord and to their family very seriously and is determined to "overcome evil with good."
Brill finds it impossible to deal with her relationship with her husband and the effect her unforgiveness is having on her children, at the same time as trying to solve the kidnappings, murder and gang problems that are causing havoc in the small town. To cap it all, there is also the legend of the red shadows that some people are convinced are causing people to disappear.
This is an excellent read with a really good plot. We are made to think about the fact that our attitudes, particularly when we harbour unforgiveness and bitterness, can affect others as well as ourselves. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can highly recommend it.
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THE BABEL CONSPIRACY by SYLVIA BAMBOLA

I have just finished reading THE BABEL CONSPIRACY by SYLVIA BAMBOLA and can highly recommend the novel, especially for those who are interested in end times prophecy and the establishment of the New World Order.
Trisha Callahan is distressed at the way the world seems to have gone mad, with riots and explosions devastating the country. She has always taken God's word seriously and is obedient to His command to pray for America, waking up an hour earlier to do so every morning. That is not her only act of obedience - we see her fighting against the temptation of falling for a married man and also against harbouring unforgiveness and bitterness.
She is head of research and development at Patterson Aviation, and as they come up with a plane that is totally nuclear powered, all hell is let loose against those who head up the project. This is combined with corruption at the highest level of government - Anti-Semitism is rife, with Islamic terrorists working hand in glove with the president and oil companies such as Tafco Oil.
We are made aware, in no uncertain terms, of the lengths to which unscrupulous men will stoop when led by hatred, greed and religious fanaticism. Yet throughout there is the encouragement of God's word, of His promise of salvation, of His presence and the peace only He can give. It is a choice each individual must make for him or herself, and we see how some of the characters make this choice, while others remain rebellious to the end.
This book really gives us food for thought and is a must read for those who are serious about their Christian walk and who honour Israel and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.



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DANGEROUS PASSAGE, FATAL EXCHANGE & HIDDEN AGENDA by LISA HARRIS

I had never read anything by Lisa Harris before reading the three novels in her SOUTHERN CRIMES series, DANGEROUS PASSAGE, FATAL EXCHANGE and HIDDEN AGENDA - in quick succession, I might add! Not only are the stories exciting and well told, and the characters interesting and well portrayed, but the Christian content forms the basis of the novels, rather than being added on as an afterthought, which to me is very important.
These detective stories cover a lot of ground and deal with themes such as the importance of forgiveness, sacrifice for the greater good, family relationships, and much more. There is also a generous dose of romance in each novel. Although I feel it is better to read the books in sequence, the novels can be read as "stand alones".
In DANGEROUS PASSAGE, the particular evil that is uncovered by Avery North and her team of law enforcement officers, with the help of Jackson Bryant, the handsome medical examiner, is that of human trafficking. It is awful to see how far criminals will go to hide their crimes. That is not all, throughout all three novels there is the fear of at least one mole in the police department, and the problem of whom to trust.
In FATAL EXCHANGE, Emily Hunt, Avery's sister, a dedicated teacher, is forced to show incredible courage in a hostage situation. Things are not as they seem and we are kept guessing right to the end.
In HIDDEN AGENDA, we see Michael Hunt, who has been working undercover trying to bring down one of the biggest criminals in the drug cartel, fighting for his life after being saved from certain death by his enemy's children. Will he have any credibility with the police when he gets home, and will his family ever be able to forgive him?
We are reminded throughout the series that each person is responsible for the choices he or she makes, and that one's choices affect others as well. It is important to be able to leave the past behind, especially when one has had an unusual childhood, as was the case with Olivia and Ivan, who only found out the truth about their family when they were grown up.
I can highly recommend these novels for enjoyment and for the strong Christian message. I will definitely be reading more books by this author!








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UNTIL WE REACH HOME by LYNN AUSTIN

I thought I had read all of LYNN AUSTIN's novels and was delighted to find UNTIL WE REACH HOME, which I have just finished reading. It is the beautifully told story of three sisters who leave Sweden for a new life in America during the late 1800's.
Elin and Kristin have shameful secrets which they try very hard to keep to themselves. They each feel very guilty and feel they no longer have a right to expect anything from the Lord. They take a long time to accept His forgiveness and to forgive themselves.
The sisters have always been very close and have always shared everything. Elin, as the oldest, feels responsible for her sisters and feels she has let them down. What she has been through makes her fearful and quite bossy. To start with Kristin resents this, until she recognizes the extent of Elin's sacrificial love for them.
I love the way the author brings in relevant Scriptures throughout the story, and we see how Sofia, the timid baby sister, after being devastated by the death of her parents and losing the only home she has ever known, draws strength and guidance from God's word.
We see the contrast between the harsh treatment they received from their so-called Christian aunt, Hilma, and the treatment they received from their worldly employer, the rich Mrs Anderson.
Exploited by those who should have loved them, the girls finally find love and acceptance when they choose to trust God to guide them. They realize that He has always been with them and that He will lead them home.
This novel is well worth reading for the lovely story and the biblical truth on which it is based. I can highly recommend it.



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COLD SHOT by DANI PETTREY

COLD SHOT is another action packed novel by DANI PETTREY. The story is riveting from the beginning, and we are kept guessing right to the end. It is the first novel in the CHESAPEAKE VALOR series, and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Ranger Griffin McCray and Dr Finley Scott meet when some treasure hunters unearth a recently buried body at the Gettysburg military cemetery. As they work together, and learn more about each other's past, we see the Lord at work bringing healing, the ability to forgive, and renewed faith into their lives.
This novel has interesting characters, an excellent plot, and a fair share of romance. There is a good Christian message and the struggle between good and evil is well brought out. I enjoyed this novel - it is a really exciting read.


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