Davis Bunn: The Patmos Deception

By Kelly Bridgewater

Remember the controversial book, The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. Who doesn’t? The book made the front page news. Who wanted to read a book where the secret is saying that Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene? Christians were up in arms. Everything Dan Brown wrote about was not proven by history. It was all speculation.

But the question, I have to ask is: Did you actually read the book to see what the hype was all about? Come on, tell the truth. I DID! Even though I completely disagreed with Dan Brown’s theology, I loved the twists and turns of the story. From the first pages of finding a dead body in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France to England and all the way through the pages of history. The story was complex, and I remember reading the book in one day. It was thrilling and exciting. I was afraid if I put the book down, then I would miss something important.

When I read the synopsis of The Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn, I thought this could be good. An author who has hit the best-seller lists and would write something in the same biblical thriller genre like The DaVinci Code. I couldn’t wait for Bethany House to send me my complimentary copy. I wanted moments of breathless action and characters whom fell in love as they tried to solve the mystery of the Patmos Island where Apostle John wrote the Revelation letters.

But I was sadly disappointed. The book is labeled as Romantic Suspense on the back cover of the book, but there were no emotions throughout the entire book. As for the romantic feelings, Nick declares he begins to love Carey, but I don’t see how that was even possible. He never once showed how a little tingle up his spine affected him or wanting to spend time with Carey made him excited. Nick wandered around on the pages of the story not really doing anything. He used his journalistic skills at the end of the novel to help solve the mystery, but he didn’t do anything else. On the other hand, Carey used to have feelings for Nick when she was younger but seeing him again, she mentioned those feelings, but they never advanced to realistic love. To confuse the readers even more, Bunn made Playboy, Dimitri Rubinos, decide he could settle down and become real with Carey. I don’t understand how this was even possible. The relationships weren’t defined. None of the characters really spent time getting to know each other in order to pursue a mature relationship. 

The characters had no personality. Yes, they were passionate about their chosen careers, but other than that, they got excited about nothing else. First, you meet Carey Mathers, a student in forensic archeology, who wants to complete her Ph.D with field work in Greece, but the company she came to work for has folded shortly before she arrives. Then the plot introduces Nick Hennessy, who might be our hero I wasn’t sure, a journalist on the hunt for his next big story to make a name for himself. He calls on Carey, an old acquaintance from Texas where they grew up, to help him find stolen artifacts.  To throw a twist in, there is a subplot, which tangles up with Carey and Nick later in the book, featuring Dimitri Rubinos, who runs a tourist/ fishing business to earn money in Greek’s faltering economy.

As for the suspense, it took until page 117 to discover what Nick and Carey were looking for. It was described as “massive silver and gold frames decorated with gemstones.” But then the hunt turned to counterfeit money and then moved onto a letter from the scribe who wrote down John’s revelations. I was confused as to what they were actually looking for. In a suspense book, there should be moments of sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens, but this book did none of that. Never once throughout the first 257 pages of the book did Carey and Nick’s life become in danger. Suspense books place peril around the characters every chance they get, but I never worried about them because no one was chasing them, trying to stop them from looking for the artifacts. Even the ending had me tossing the book across the bed declaring that the book wasn’t that well written. Maybe Davis Bunn should read The DaVinci Code and see how to construct a biblical thriller that has the readers on the edge of their seat.

I was highly disappointed with this book. It does not live up to the genre of romantic suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and all the opinions are my own.

Gifts for Life

By Kelly Bridgewater

When I think of Christmas memories, they have changed recently. As a mother, Christmas has taken on a different meaning for me.

After a month plus of shopping, baking, decorating, and cleaning, Christmas morning has finally arrived. The alarm did not wake up the parents, instead the thundering beat of footsteps as they hurry down the stairs did. Then the silent and dark early morning hours rip open with squeals of delight. Lying in bed, I rolled over and nudged my husband.

“The kids are awake. It’s time to join them.”

My husband grunts, pulling up the blanket over his head. The red numbers of 3:55 shined like a siren across the bed. It was really too early, but I knew that if we did not join the children, we would miss the most important morning of the year. Excitement coursed through my veins. I had been waiting for Christmas to arrive too but for different reasons than my boys.

After wrapping my robe around myself, I stomped downstairs where the children had already dumped their Christmas supplies of candy, toothbrush, and toothpaste from their individually hand cross-stitched stockings, which I made when I carried each boy, preparing for their arrival. The floor littered with evidence of Hershey Kisses and Reese’s Cups, as the boys leaned over, comparing their stashes with each other.

I turned on the coffee pot and poured two mugs after the pot brimmed with ebony liquid. I crept into the living room, turned on the Christmas lights, and double-checked the camera battery, blinking green across the room, which would capture the shredding of the wrapped and decorated presents spilling out from the under the tree.

This was it! This was what the children were waiting for all December. Wanting to know what they received for Christmas.

One by one, the boys broke into their packages, wrapping paper flying through the air as each child is overcome with delight at the equally thought out presents are revealed.

The oldest boy enjoys building from Legos and Kinex’s, so I picked out Lego Ninjago kits and Kinex treasure chests teeming with straight and curved pieces to advance his building creativity.

The middle boy benefits from anything musical, so we purchased him a drum set because he’s been hinting at wanting to learn a musical instrument, which happened to be a drum. There goes the quiet in the house.

The youngest boy steals my smartphone whenever he can and beats Angry Birds all the time. Being fascinated with the latest electronics, we purchased a Nabi tablet to advance his learning skills while playing games to advance his reading and math skills.

As the next couple of days go by, I spied on the oldest, as he built a lawn mower that actually moved with a flick of a lever. The middle child banged away at the drums, drowning out the quiet in the house. The youngest sits for hours, playing with his tablet, learning with laughter ringing through the air. “I won, Mom.” He says, as he rushes over to show me his latest high score.

My heart jumps with excitement as I observe my children using their gifts for the intended purpose, improving their creative and learning abilities.

This year as I examined my children, it gave me a thought about our spirititual gifts. Our pastor, Ric May, just completed a three-week lesson on “The Calling.” He posed the question to our congregation, “are we doing what God has called us to do or are we allowing our gift to collect dust?’

Does God feel like me when I spend a whole month scrutinizing my boys for the perfect gift to bring out the most joy and their natural God-given talents? He has endowed every person with a gift to bring him glory, but how many of us walk around and ignore the gift that God wants us to use?

How would I feel as a mother if I spent the whole month of December hunting for the perfect present and the boys open the wrapped gift only to toss it in the closet, knowing it's there, but not actually doing anything with it? Maybe the boys do not want to break it. Maybe they do not want to be made fun of it if they bring the gift out into the opening for others to notice.

When God created each of us, he bestowed a gift on everyone to bring Him glory. Whether it is writing, teaching, serving, worshiping, helping, giving, or whatever God has given to you.

Even Paul knew how important the gift of God was to the church. He wrote in 1 Timothy 4:14, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you” and in 2 Timothy 1:6, he repeats, “Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you.” The urging from God provides us a deep satisfaction and longing as long as we use it to further God’s kingdom and do not hide the gift in the closet.

I imagine, like me, God smiles when we use His gift that He knew would be perfect for us and has planned to further His kingdom.



This post first appeared on "Thinking Thoughts" at eahendryx.blogspot.com on December 22, 2103 where I was a guest on Emilie Hendryx's blog. But I liked the message, so I borrowed my words again for this Christmas season.

Denise Hunter’s The Wishing Season

By Kelly Bridgewater

What does a restaurant, a home for eighteen-year-old foster kids, and sparks have in common? Nothing unless you just finished Denise Hunter’s latest book, The Wishing Season.

The story takes place in Indiana in a small town called Chapel Springs. This is the third book in the Chapel Springs series. The first two books are titled Dancing with Fireflies and Barefoot Summer. While the first stories featured the stories of sisters Madison and Jade, The Wishing Season tells the story of PJ McKinley, the youngest sister.

As a heroine, PJ just wants to stop being noticed as the youngest sister who always chooses the wrong guy or the wrong career. She wants her family to be proud of her and see her in a new light. When the opportunity arises for her to buy the Simmons’ old historical home, she puts a bid in with a presentation to make a bed and breakfast with her dream restaurant on the main floor. PJ is the type of heroine who is strong and stands on her own two feet. Even though she knows she had made some mistakes in her past, PJ wants to change her situation and improve her life. Hunter did a good job at creating a character with strengths and frustrations like a normal person. I enjoyed the character of PJ and would love to meet someone like her in person.

Cole Evans. What can more can you ask for? He’s ripped, handsome, and cares about kids. I loved how Hunter created Cole’s back-story as the reason for wanting to make a transition home for foster kids. Cole carried around a lot of guilt from his past, but he kept moving, also trying to improve his situation and other kids in the foster care system. His heart for the children and PJ made me swoon and wished every guy behaved like him.

Hunter’s latest book had an interesting plot idea that I haven’t come across in any romance novels. I’m not a big fan of romance books unless someone is getting killer or kidnapped in them, but being the first book I had read by Denise Hunter, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cover drew me in, but the story kept me glued to the pages. I couldn’t wait to see how PJ and Cole would make their relationship work while ironing out the kinks to their pasts.

I highly recommend this book to any reader.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley, and all the opinions mentioned are my own.

How Do You Write During Christmas?

By Kelly Bridgewater

Christmas is my favorite time of year. There are many moments for making memories such as tree decorating with lights, garland, and bringing out the homemade ornaments from Christmas pasts. I even get a little misty eyed when I bring out my boys’ Precious Moments Baby’s First Christmas Ornaments.  My oldest son Elijah’s has been dropped a couple of times and super glued back together. Poor guy.

I love baking from sugar cookies to peanut butter fudge and brittle. I really liked watching my boys as they spend over ten minutes making the perfect snowman or reindeer cookie. My favorite part is making all these goodies and then taking my boys to deliver them to some of the widowed and bachelors in the neighborhood. The joy on their face reminds me of the real reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.

My family loads up in the Suburban and visits the Christmas lights around town after dark with the carols blaring from the radio station. One street in our city has every house lit up. They put Chevy Chase’s house to shame. I can’t imagine the light bill for those houses, but we always make a trek to see their brilliance.

We enjoy attending live nativity especially the one that gives out bags of cookies and hot cocoa to everyone before watching the theatrical piece.  

We gather as a father and watch tons of Christmas movies in the evening while eating homemade Carmel popcorn. There are a number of them that we look forward to such as Elf, Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, and Holiday Inn.

But with all this fun stuff occupying the majority of my free moment, I wonder if I actually work in time to do what I have been called to do? Do I actually write in the month of December? Do you?

It doesn’t have to be a complete manuscript like in November for the NaNoWriMo, but do you write 500 words or less. Honestly, I don’t think I do. I need to make it more of a priority during the holidays. Even if I only write blog entries for next year, then that will be less to have to worry about when I start editing my 90,000 word manuscript.

Maybe if we all wrote a little every day then our writing would improve just a little bit more.

I’m going to try to write a little every day to keep my skills sharp and in use.

How do you include writing among all the festivities? Comment below to give me some suggestions to use.

Liz Tolsma: Daisies are Forever

By Kelly Bridgewater

I couldn't imagine living in a world where bombs are going off constantly, and you have to live in constant fear for your life. But millions around the world face this reality every day. Back in World War II, millions around the globe felt threatened by the Nazi Regime and the Russians who wanted to conquer everything, including trying to make the perfect race.

Liz Tolsma created a fictional world out of her grandmother, Lillian Tolsma's past. Listening to the stories told by her grandmother and her older relatives, she learned firsthand how the Germans and Americans tried to survive the onslaught of destruction at the hands of the enemy. I find World War II history fascinating, and lately, I have been devouring a number of books in this genre. I love all of Sarah Sundin's World War II novels and Kate Breslin's book, Such A Time As This. I keep downloading a number of books in the genre to my Kinde, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. Hopefully, some day soon.

What drew me to Liz Tolsma latest book was the cover of her book, Daisies are Forever. The cover on this book and the preceding one, Snow on the Tulips are artistically beautiful. I love the dark background with white and black images filtered with a little bit of tan and yellow in the lamp post. The image of Gisela, the twenty-year-old heroine is in full color and staring into the great unknown. A great eye catching cover.

Tolsma created a strong, motivated heroine in Gisela who carries the guilt of leaving family members behind as she escapes to safety. Gisela makes decisions which affect others around her, including saving the life of Mitch, a run away ex-soldier, by claiming he was her husband. On the other hand, Mitch is a strong hero who fights and protects Gisela and the two little girls who belong to Gisela's cousin, Ella, who she left behind.

The plot shows the graphic nature of how horrible the Nazi's and Russians were as they tried to dominate the entire European continent. The story features the long passage of traveling across a frozen lake to hiding out in bomb shelters for days as they have to listen to loud music and the sounds of a number of women being raped by the Russian soldiers. My favorite part was watching Gisela and Mitch learn how to forgive their own personal guilt and move on in the love and grace of God while learning to fall in love with each other.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley and the opinions are my own.

My Hero

By Kelly Bridgewater

On October 14, I introduced my heroine, Chloe Walker. This week, I’m introducing my hero, Devin Sanders. I attached a picture of Nick Stokes from CSI because he was always the silent, smart, and attractive science guy.  Stokes was dependable and a great guy. I thought he would fit the description of Devin well. Plus, he’s handsome. Who wouldn’t want to follow Nick Stokes around for a thousand pages? I would. So here is Devin Sanders bio. At least, what I know about him right now.

27 years old

BS in Criminology

Oldest child of three. Has two younger brothers (Cole, whose 24 years old, and Matthew, whose 20 years old.) His parents are still married. About to celebrate their thirtieth anniversary.

Biggest fear: Watching a loved one die because of the nature of his job.

Biggest lie: I don’t measure up.   Also, can’t recover from Chloe and him breaking up. It has hindered all his past relationships since her. Every girl is measured to her and doesn’t make the cut.

 

Preferences:

-Loves Dr. Pepper

-Mexican food

-Rock Music (Bon Jovi, Poison, Metallica)

-Clothes: Anything that moves quickly, for instance, khakis, jeans, polo shirts, pull-over sweater.

-Hair: Short, but not bald. Enough to run his fingers through.

-Loves the way he looks. Works out at the gym or runs every day to stay fit especially for his job.

-Extrovert (Loves being the center of attention, but knows when to calmly have a conversation with someone)

-Organized (Probably from his police training, but everything has a place and everything should be there)

-Biggest Pet Peeve: Hate seeing men treat women like their not worthy of their time.

-Risk Taker

-Been hurt in the past by Chloe Walker, so he doesn’t get that close to woman in relationships.

-True romantic at heart. Find what the girl likes and pursues her through her interests. Loves spending time with his significant others.

Character’s abilities: Can read people really well. Knows when someone’s lying or something wrongs. Loves solving crimes for a living. Using his knowledge of science and police work to put the guilty person behind bars.

How do you handle frustration? Not afraid to get in the person face and tell them they are doing something wrong. Not afraid to start a fight when he believes he’s right.

What stands in the way of your happiness right now? No kids. No wife. He always imagined marrying Chloe and starting a family. On the other hand, he’s glad he’s not married because if he was then every time he encounters a crazy person and put them behind bars, he would have to worry about his wife and kids ending up dead.

Current relationship with God: He has fallen away from his relationship with God. Why believe in someone who would allow Chloe, the love of his life, to walk away? God didn’t care, so why should he care about him.

If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be? I would never have let Chloe Walker walk away.

Have you ever done this for a character? Are there any suggestions I should include to fully develop more heroine more realistic for my characters?  Here are the ultimate questions: Do you like or dislike Devin Sanders? Could you see yourself spending time with him in a three part book?