Sherlock Holmes Devotional Review

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

After a century, Sherlock Holmes mysteries still fascinate readers—and this devotional will delight them with spiritual truths drawn from the pages of the classic detective stories. A Sherlock Holmes Devotional contains 60 entries drawn from the characters, stories, and events of the classic detective stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. From 221b Baker Street to Reichenbach Falls, from Irene Adler to the evil Dr. Moriarty, from the pipe to the violin, this book investigates the spiritual truths we can discern from this enigmatic fictional character—a brusque, stubborn, and arrogant man who also shows honor, trust, and self-sacrificing friendship. 

My Review:

I LOVE Sherlock Holmes. As a major fan of Doyle’s popular detective, I couldn’t wait to read this devotional when I saw it come across the Barbour Publishing website. I love the BBC Sherlock and the dual movies featuring Robert Downey Jr. I look forward to cute shirts, posters, and figurines all with the iconic Sherlock Holmes hat and pipe.

Devotionals, in my opinion, draw a connection between either an event or a story, in this case, a Sherlock Holmes story idea, and tie it to a Scripture piece or truth in the Bible. Priebe does exactly that. In the beginning of each chapter, she includes a quote from one of Doyle’s writings. This is followed by a reminder or a short synopsis of the Doyle’s example that Priebe wants to bring to the forefront of the reader’s mind. Finally, she draws the connection to the Bible and how we, as Christians, are supposed to live our life. To end it all, she sums up the chapter with a couple of Bible verses to tie it up nicely.

Priebe is a mother and an editor who works for Jerry B. Jenkins and has one other book published entitled: Trust, Hope, Pray: Encouragement for the Task of Waiting. Recently, she has been contracted to write her first young adult novel.

I truly enjoyed being reminded of some of Doyle’s stories. It was nostalgic and brought a smile to my face. I enjoyed the different chapters and how they handled different aspects of a believer’s faith and walk with God.

However, I was confused a number of times with trying to find the connection between the Doyle’s writings and the Bible verses. I didn’t understand the parallel. I had to return to the beginning of the chapter and reread, still scratching my head in confusion.

In short, Trisha Priebe’s A Sherlock Holmes Devotional will bring a smile to loyal and obsessed fans of Doyle’s famous detective but drawing the association between the Bible and Holmes had me thinking twice.

I received a complimentary copy of Trisha Priebe’s A Sherlock Holmes Devotional: Uncovering the Mysteries of God from Barbour Publishing through Netgalley and the opinions stated are all my own.

Where to purchase A Sherlock Holmes Devotional:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

Your Local Favorite Bookstore

How many Sherlock Holmes books have you read? What is your favorite part of the popular detective?

What J. K. Rowling Means to Me

By Kelly Bridgewater

If you had been following my posts for the last two months, I have decided to share in how 12 different writers have affected me as a writer. First, in January, I started with C.S. Lewis who gave me the gift of imagination. Then, in February, I discussed how J. R. R. Tolkien taught me that conflict is necessary for a story. Now in March, I want to talk about world building.

From J. K. Rowling's Amazon Author Page

J. K. Rowling does a great job at creating a wizard’s world right alongside the world of Muggles. When the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone hit the shelves in America during 1997, I was only sixteen and didn’t pay attention to the books. I grew up in the church. I went to Bible quizzing and puppet practice while doing fundraisers to pay for the annual conference. Every time the church doors were open, my family was there, worshiping and learning about God.

When I turned twenty, I was a newlywed bride with a little baby boy to take care of. I worked at a Christian bookstore, which was my favorite job to date. We could borrow books and return them directly from the shelf. Great perk!  The Christian community was up in arms about this young adult series that allowed the hero, Harry Potter, to use magic. I remember the community, even customers that came to the store, downgrading this book series. As an avid reader, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

So I went to the nearby library and checkout the first one. By that time, J. K. Rowling had just released the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If anyone could get kids to read a 752 page book, how could the book be wrong? I devoured the book.  After reading all four of the books that had been released, I truly enjoyed J. K. Rowling’s writing style.

She had captured my attention with describing every detail of Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. Rowling has a great way of including her reader in the plot. Every person who read the book felt like they were in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, hunting alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they tried to solve the clues. I loved watching Harry and his friends mature through every book, including developing Harry into a hero when he defeated Voldermort.

J. K. Rowling also has a great way of writing sentences that defy every grammar book. I own a book, Grammar for College Writing: A Sentence-Composing Approach by Don and Jenny Killgallon that explains how J. K. Rowling wrote such masterful sentences. It includes other sentence structures by other great novelist. I have been working my way through the book for a while now.

Rowling has taught me to build a world that everyone will love, even if it is the most popular genre at the moment. Write what you love and what you feel inspired to write. If God allows you to have the desire and the skills to write it, then God will help make it a reality.  With her ability to story build and her sentence structure, I have improved my writing.

Did you read the Harry Potter series? Go back and look at some of her sentences. They are well-constructed. I have even used them in grammar lessons in my college classes.  What was your favorite part about Harry Potter?

*This blog entry was first published on Hoosier Ink on March 18, 2015.*

Sarah E. Ladd: The Curiosity Keeper

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop on Blinkett Street. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille has no choice but to accept help from the mysterious stranger who came to her aid.
Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content working as a village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may or may not be the answer to his questions.
Curious circumstance throws them together, and an intricate dance of need and suspicion leads the couple from the seedy backwaters of London to the elite neighborhoods of the wealthy to the lush, green Surrey countryside—all in the pursuit of a blood-red gem that collectors will sacrifice anything to possess.
Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, each will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

My Review:

I truly enjoy Sarah E. Ladd’s writing. Her books may be from the Regency era, and I usually don’t pick up books in that era, but Ladd’s writing and her gift in storytelling make me anxious for her next books. Ladd has a unique way of transporting me to this time and place.

In her newest book, The Curiosity Keeper, Ladd transported me to the early nineteenth century with her details of downtown London. I smelt the dirt lining the streets. I heard the fight at the saloon and brothel across the street from Camille’s father’s shop. I imagined the overcrowded shop full of junk and collectables intermingling in the dusty room. I felt like I was truly there, which is what a good writer does.

James and Camille, the hero and heroine, lingered around in my head long after I finished the story. James is a man who just wants to heal people but gets caught up in the affairs of his father with the missing ruby. He is sweet, caring, and intelligent. I truly enjoyed meeting and learning more about James. As for Camille, I really liked her too. She placed her parents on this pedestal, like most children do, but realized parents can make mistakes too. Camille is caring, innocent, and brave. A great combination to fit with James.

The conflict in The Curiosity Keeper has a little mystery to it. Where is the ruby? Why does everyone want it? From the first chapter, I am drawn into the story, wandering along with Camille, where is the ruby? The story kept my attention and held on. I finished the book in less than one day. It was a great plot with a twist at the end that I did not see coming. As for the romantic tension, the romance really didn’t make an appearance to about 70% into the book. It was not the driving force of the novel until later. Which I liked, don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed seeing James and Camille interact without falling head over heels on the first page.

I recommend this book for anyone who is fans of Julie Klassen’s latest book, The Secret of Pembroke Park. They are similar with the time period and the mystery. Both are great books!

Unique and thrilling, Sarah E. Ladd’s latest book, The Curiosity Keeper, has a mystery populated with a hero and heroine worth spending time with while transporting the reader to early nineteenth century London.

I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley and the opinions stated are all my own.

Taken from Sarah's Amazon's Author Page

Where to connect with Sarah E. Ladd:

Personal Website

Facebook

Where to purchase The Curiosity Keeper:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

Your Local Favorite Bookstore

What draws you into a Regency story? Is it the location? Is it the clothes? Is it the mystery?

Patricia Bradley: Gone Without a Trace

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts Livy concerning a missing senator's daughter who was last seen in Logan Point, she notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. But with self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of Jennings, Livy is finding this investigation an uphill battle. With her future in law enforcement on the line, can she find a way to work with a man who is her polar opposite?

My Thoughts:

I have read Patricia Bradley’s previous two Logan Point novels: Shadows of the Past and A Promise to Protect. I have enjoyed them immensely. They do what a romantic suspense books should do. Bradley’s newest release Gone Without a Trace has a swoon-worthy hero, a dynamic heroine, and a great mystery to follow with a setting that I have become quite fond of.

Bradley’s writing is grammatical sound and easy to follow. Throughout the whole story, I had no problem distinguishing between each individual character. Bradley started a new chapter in a different point of view or had a page break to signal a point of view shift. The dialogue dragged me along for the story while the prose moved the action along and helped me understand internally the struggles of Livy, Robyn, and Alex. I enjoyed how Bradley grabbed my attention with the prologue and never let go. I couldn’t wait to see who the kidnapper was. I really enjoyed the parts of the story where Bradley showed the villain and his personality. Helps me empathize with his struggles and understand his motive.

Alex Jennings grew up a son of a district attorney and the grandson of a Senator, so he grew up with money. Alex’s greatest strength was his ability to know what he wanted out of life, even if his father and grandfather did not agree with it. He never once wavered from his decision to become a private investigator and a pilot. While on a similar vein, Livy Reynolds wants to be a detective, but she has to move on from her dilemma that keeps her from protecting her partner. Both of the characters have a lot in their past to overcome, but Bradley allows them to be strong and heroic when the time arises. The romantic tension between Livy and Alex rang true as they worked hard to find the kidnapper, so there love grew the more time they invested in each other.

One of my biggest issues with the story is the villain. When Bradley introduces who he is, I couldn’t believe it. There really was nothing that led me to believe it was him. Most mysteries leave a trial of clues, but in my opinion, Bradley picks someone out of the left field and allows him/her to take the fall. Not a believable villain for the crime. Along the same lines, Bradley wrote that after an argument between Robyn and Chase, Robyn runs into the woods. If someone is hunting you, why go into the woods? So typical. Made me want to close the book right there and stop reading.

I really liked the idea of someone being kidnapped from work and missing for two and a half years. It was unique and totally unpredictable. Most stories of someone missing usually have bad endings. Plus, Bradley allowed Robyn to share her fears and make them a reality for me.

Since the story really doesn’t have a lot of discussion about God, I believe the story would appeal to fans of mysteries and romantic suspense alike. There is no questionable content, so mystery fans of any age could enjoy this book. Gone without a Trace would be a great book for young fans of Nancy Drew. It was an okay mystery for me; One that I couldn’t wait to finish, so the antagonist would be revealed.

Thrilling, Patricia Bradley’s Gone Without a Trace has a swoon-worthy hero, a dynamic heroine, and a great mystery to follow with a setting that I have become quite fond of. While I believe the bad guy doesn’t fit the build-up, I still recommend this tale for fans of mysteries and romantic suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of Gone Without a Trace from Revell Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

****This review also appears on Booktalk where I am a regular reviewer.*********

Jen Turano: In Good Company

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well-received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position. 

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he's desperate for competent childcare.

At wit's end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance--with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children's parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?

My Thoughts:

I have never read anything from Jen Turano. The cover of In Good Company captured my attention and the blue dress on Millie Longfellow is beautiful, but I had no idea what type of writing style that Turano was. A lot of reviews said that she was funny, but I really didn’t come across anything funny when I read the book. I mostly don’t find any books funny when I read them. Overall, In Good Company was a well-written and captivating story filled with a remarkable romantic ending for any true romance fan.

The plot of In Good Company reminded me a lot of The Sound of Music. Both Julie Andrew’s character and Millie sided with the children and taught the children how to accept others and learn to love again. Both women make clothes out of curtains for the children to have play clothes. Also, both women have a strong faith in God, allowing them both to lean on God during the troubles affecting them. On the other hand, Everett and Mr. Von Trapp both are engaged to snooty, rich women when the story starts but they fall in love with the help, causing a lot of tension around the house.

Millie, the nanny and the heroine, was head strong and was not afraid to voice her opinions. She was raised in an orphanage, but she had to work for the wealthy, which caused a lot of tension. When accepting the job at the Everett Mulberry’s estate, the kids are wild and liked to cause havoc for the nannies, sending them scurrying away. But not Millie. She teaches them the importance of love and acceptance. Everett, the hero, is a man who first believes he must accept what society has pushed on him, but he begins to change that viewpoint as he sees the way the wealthy are not loyal to him or anyone for that matter.

I enjoyed how realistic Turano brought the rich world of Newport Beach to life for me. I loved seeing the fabulous homes and the expensive clothes worn by everyone. The world was inviting. I truly hated getting to know Caroline, the woman Everett is supposed to marry. She is a horrible person who ruins everyone happiness. She is very selfish and hurtful.

Overall, I truly enjoyed In Good Company and want to run out to my local library and find more books by her.

I received a complimentary copy of Jen Turano’s In Good Company from Bethany House and the opinions stated are all my own.

From Amazon

Jen Turano's Writing Bio:

Jen Turano is the acclaimed author of The Ladies of Distinction Series, published through Bethany House publishers. Her second novel, A Most Peculiar Circumstance was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Romance for 2013. Her fourth book, A Match of Wits, released in July, 2014, while a new series, A Class of Their Own, will begin hitting the shelves in early 2015. She is a member of ACFW and makes her home outside of Denver, Colorado with her husband and teenage son. 

How to connect with Jen Turano:

Personal Website

Facebook

Where to purchase In Good Company:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

Your local favorite bookstore

What is your favorite part about Jen Turano’s novels?

Zachary Bartels: The Last Con

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA WERE THERE WHEN JERUSALEM FELL, THEY WERE THERE WHEN THE TEMPLARS DISINTEGRATED, AND THEY’RE THERE NOW . . . WAITING IN DETROIT FOR A BORN-AGAIN CON MAN TRYING TO SAVE HIS FAMILY.

Former con man Fletcher Doyle is finally home after six years in the pen. He’s working a menial job, regaining his bearings in the world, and trying to revive his relationships with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter. No easy feat.

But when Fletcher and his family go on a mission trip to Detroit—in the company of the condescending church leader who also happens to be his landlord—Fletcher finds his old life waiting for him. Within hours of arriving in the city, he’s been blackmailed into doing a job for a mysterious criminal who calls himself The Alchemist.

A series of relics hidden by the Knights of Malta, as ancient as they are priceless, are in the sights of The Alchemist. What he needs is a gifted grifter with a background in ecclesiastical history . . . what he needs is Fletcher Doyle.

Between hiding his reawakened criminal life from his wife and trying to hide her from their relentless landlord, Fletcher is ready to give up. But when his family is drawn into the dangerous world he can’t shake, Fletcher is forced to rely on his years in the game to save the only people who mean more to him than the biggest con in history.

My Thoughts:

I read Zachery Bartels first book, Playing Saint and loved it. When I heard that Bartels had written a second book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. The Last Con reminded me a lot of James Rollins, Dan Brown, and the Indiana Jones movies. There is a hunt for a Biblical artifact, filled with a bunch of twists and turns throwing me for a wild ride.

The writing was tight, powerful, and helped keep me glued to the page. I didn’t have to worry about losing my attention because of misplaced grammatical errors and glaring misspelled words, which is nice for a grammar Nazi like me. There is a nice balance between the spoken dialogues between each character. There are not a lot of internal monologues because majority of the prose moved the action forward. Most of the dilemma is spoken aloud by the various characters.

Fletcher, the main character, is a recently converted Christian who has just been released from prison for stealing a Biblical artifact from a church. I enjoyed watching Fletcher struggle to reconnect with his wife and young daughter, Ivy, which rang true for me. The really only romantic tension is between Fletcher and his wife, and how he wants to earn his wife’s trust again. Fletcher wanted to prove himself by changing, but overall, I didn’t know if I really liked him or not. The minor characters in Andrew, his ex-partner, and other grifters rounded out Fletcher’s support team. They grounded Fletcher and helped him along the way. A word of warning: One paragraph I was in Fletcher’s point of view, then it jumped into Andrew’s, but only for one paragraph. There was a line break, but sometimes, I had to go back and remember whose point of view I was currently in.

The pace started off kind of slow in the beginning. However, the plot picked up and moved along faster as the hunt for the artifact became more important to the climax. The story features two different timelines: one in the present and one in the late eighteenth century. For a while, I had no idea what the significance of the historical timeline had to do with the present story, but at fifty-five percent in, it came obvious what the connection was. I just wish it was sooner. The Last Con was plot-driven, not character driven, so the characters felt stiff for my taste.  One of my major problems with the story was the ending; for me, it did not satisfy the huge buildup. It had a quick ending, and then flipped to the historical timeline and everyone walked off the page. I wanted to throw the book across the room.

A strength of the story is Bartels research into the historical significance of Cagliostro and the Freemasons. The information wasn’t dumped on the page, instead Bartel uses the dual timelines to show me the historical significance of Cagliostro and why the Alchemist wants the historical piece. The spiritual thread was more subdued-less preachy for this time of book, but it was mentioned and came across naturally.

Fans of Rollins and Brown should already be used to the grittier side of treasure hunters, but Bartel really doesn’t show a lot of the visual questionable content for the CBA audience. A number of chapters provide a pretty rare glimpse into the seedy underworld of grifters. As for violence that is common in these type of books, it has about the same about as the movie National Treasure starring Nicholas Cage. Nothing too dramatic for younger audiences.

In short, Zachery Bartels, The Last Con, is a thrill-ride, action-packed ride on the hunt for Free Mason treasure in his latest thriller. With another impressive blend of strong characters, high stakes, and heroism, The Last Con is a book for fans of James Rollins and Dan Brown stories, set against the backdrop of Michigan. I honestly could not read the last forty percent of the book fast enough. I couldn’t wait to figure out who the Alchemist was, which I solved way before he mentioned who it was in the book.

I received a complimentary copy of The Last Con from Thomas Nelson publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.   

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

****This review is also on Booktalk where I am a regular reviewer.****