book reviews

Take One, Above The Line Series #1 By Karen Kingsbury / Zondervan In the high-powered world of filmmaking, two unknown producers struggle to make a name for themselves. They have done the impossible – raised enough money to independently produce a feature film with a message they hope will change the world. With millions of investors’ dollars on the line, everything starts to fall apart and they realize they may be in over their heads, a couple of Davids in a world of Hollywood Goliaths. Is it possible to keep things above the line, to beat the odds and make a movie unlike anything ever done before? Or, will they lose everything in the process?

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This book is the latest by Karen Kingsbury and is the first in her new Above the Line series. Take One was a very enjoyable read for me.  The characters are genuine and it is easy to relate to them. The storylines are very good with though provoking issues interwoven throughout each one. My only “problem” with this book is that it left me feeling very unfinished. Which, obviously,  is a good thing since this is just the beginning of the series and more books are to come. I’m already looking forward to the next installment, Take Two, which is due out in early June 2009.

Where the River Ends by Charles Martin is a beautifully written story of love that prevails through adversity, illness and death. It’s the love story of Doss Michaels and Abigail Grace Coleman who come together and marry despite coming from completely opposite cultural upbringings. Doss was raised in rural Georgia in a trailer park. Abbie is the daughter  of a powerful governor turned senator in South Carolina and is, in essence, Charleston royalty. Abbie and Doss inspire the best of one another and their bond in love is deep. Ten years into their marriage, Abbie’s cancer is discovered. Doss is beside her every harrowing step of the way through various treatments and trials. When doctors determine that no more can be done for Abbie, Doss agrees to take her down the river as she has requested of him. He helps her to complete her list of items that she has always wanted to do and they do these in their very own way.

Abbie’s trip down the river with Doss isn’t always a quiet, serene journey. There are difficulties and hardships along the way. The way Charles Martin ties together the trials of the journey with the beautiful moments they experience together is a poignant reminder of marriage and life. There might be some tough times along the way, but it’s always worth fighting for when it’s real and true. That’s the attitude I read from Doss all along. It would have been so easy for him to abandon the journey down the river. To give up and just rest. But, he pushes through to the end because he promised Abbie that he would do that. He loved her enough to fulfill his promise even when it nearly cost him everything.

The river trip also symbolizes Abbie’s journey from life into death. The various twists, turns, ups and downs intricately weave together just like her journey through life with cancer.

This is another amazing work by Charles Martin. His way with words is powerful. The depth of his characters is so real and touching. A beautiful novel all the way through. Highly recommended!

Here is a video with Charles Martin where he discusses the book. Worth watching!

I just finished reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I usually read Christian fiction, but have wanted to read this book for awhile, so I finally did. This was a great read. I hated to finish the book in many ways. The story-telling was masterful, the character development was superb and the storylines all tied together flawlessly. Overall, I found this book to be incredible. There were some instances of crude language, violence and many sexual references. Those, to me, were just a part of the story that went along with the old west. A wonderful masterpiece of a novel!

Lonestar Sanctuary, Lonestar Series #1 By Colleen Coble / Thomas Nelson Fleeing a vengeful stalker and desperate to help her daughter, Betsy, speak again, Allie Siders finds a safe place for them at the Bluebird Ranch, a home for troubled children—and abused horses. Owner Elijah DeAngelo welcomes them, but foreman Rick Bailey is guarded. Can Allie and Rick put aside the past to save all they hold dear? 320 pages, softcover from Nelson.

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I liked this book. This was the second novel written by Colleen Coble that I have read and I enjoy her books already. I won’t say this one completely captivated me, but I enjoyed the building of the story-lines nonetheless. The depth of character in this novel is also well done. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment in this Lonestar series. A very good read!

Chasing Fireflies By Charles Martin / Thomas Nelson When paramedics find a malnourished 6-year-old boy near a burning car that holds a dead woman, they wonder who he is—and why he won’t talk! Chase, a small-town journalist, is assigned to cover the story and investigate the boy’s identity. But will his search unearth long-buried emotions about his own history? 320 pages, softcover from Nelson.

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Lately, I have been batting a thousand with my book selections. The trend continues because this novel was an incredible read for me. I absolutely loved this book!

I noticed it at my favorite local Christian book store. They have an area where they feature novels for $5 from time to time. This is something they do to get various books and authors some exposure. One of the sales ladies recommended this one, so I got it. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. What an excellent read!

Charles Martin has an amazing way with writing. His depth of character is outstanding. The characters in this novel absolutely come to life. It is so easy to make connections to them and their stories. The way Martin weaves the past and present together is masterful. Throughout my reading of this novel, I was torn between not wanting to put it down and wanting to slow down to savor the stories within it.

I won’t give away anything more about the plot than the summary did above. I’ll just say that this is a WONDERFUL book. I give it a whole-hearted recommendation. I’ll be reading more of Charles Martin in the very near future!