Church breakdown about ten years ago. I was using a carpet sweeper and chatting with the pastor. If I recall correctly, we were talking about Lorna Doone and how I loved hating Carver. That’s when I said it. “The best thing about fiction is that it’s not a sin to hate the bad guy.” I totally Continue Reading
Book Reviews
My Top 10 Genre Picks for Gift Giving This Year
“My wife [daughter, sister, brother, husband, uncle, aunt, friend, cranky neighbor, insert other person here] loves to read, but all I know is they like Christian fiction.” A question like that just begs one more. “Do you know their favorite subgenre?” Insert blank look here. “What’s a Continue Reading
Is Anything Better Than Christmas at the Inn?
The Facebook post appeared. A seemingly generic post about… something. I will confess now that I might not have read it right away had anyone else posted it. But Liz Johnson… Something told me I’d want to know. Something was right. My brain, tired from a long night of writing (or maybe from Continue Reading
3 Terrific Reasons to Read about Murder
Nancy Drew. Although her books usually focused on finding something stolen, finding something before it was stolen, or some other petty crime rather than murder, from those books I learned the joy of solving crimes—all from the comfort and safety of my own chair. In time, I stepped up the reading Continue Reading
The No. 1 Thing I Like Best about Shelter of the Most High
“I wish someone would find a way to write good Biblical fiction without delving too much into speculation about actual people.” My friend didn’t know why I was so bothered, so I tried again. “I just don’t like people that God chose to be a part of His Word speculated about quite so heavily. I love Continue Reading
3 Excellent Things I found in Strategem
“NCIS? Yeah. Love it. You?” I nodded. Despite watching each of my favorite characters leave, one by one, I still love the show. All of the shows, actually. “Yep. And Los Angeles—” “Yeah, that one’s okay. I like Hetty a lot.” So do I. I call her Edna Mode when I want to be silly. “She’s Continue Reading
Who Will Love These Stories the Most?
The stack of books wasn’t that tall, and there weren’t many kids who would want them—not when there were Barbies and Legos in the offing, anyway. Still, as they got to know the kids and tried to find the perfect gift for the perfect child, the woman’s lips stretched thinner. Tighter. Her heart Continue Reading
How Beating Cancer Inspired Me
“I hate sin.” It might be an unusual response to hearing that someone has cancer, but I say it every time. And for the record, I don’t think cancer is some Divine punishment for sin. That’s not what I’m saying. But because sin entered our world and corrupted God’s creation, we have things Continue Reading
What Did I Think Of Chosen People & Do I Recommend It?
I’ve read a lot of his work in the past, so signing up for a review copy of Robert Whitlow’s Chosen People was kind of a no-brainer. A story about a law firm going after terrorists in the wake of an American woman losing her life while saving her daughter’s? What’s not to love? So, once the Continue Reading
Is the Nantucket Legacy Worth the Time to Read?
Usually, when I hear anything remotely related to “Daylight Savings Time,” I want to throw things. Last night, however, it occurred to me that I’d have an extra hour to get my next review read--The Light Before Day. And that’s a good thing. Because when it comes to Suzanne Woods Fisher, I tend Continue Reading
Just How Did My Hours Get Spent Last Night?
One night of the year is “my night.” While the rest of the family is off doing their thing, I remain at home eating Chinese food, cleaning the house, and writing ridiculous parodies in an effort to bide my time for midnight. Time drags slower than it does when you’re five and it’s bedtime on Continue Reading
What Do You Do When You Want to Love a Book but Don’t
Sometimes, you get the chance to review more than one book in a series. It’s a gamble on several fronts. Often, the first book in a series is great, but the next one or two… not so much. Other times the first isn’t so good but subsequent ones in the series got progressively better—particularly Continue Reading
