My Father's House

Sometimes when you read a novel, you are taken back by some similarities you may have seen in a movie or read in another novel. My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson is much like that in the sense as you read through it, I was taken back to such movies like Sleeping with the Enemy or Enough with Jennifer Lopez. Both deal with domestic abuse and so does this one from a Christian perspective. While the Bible clearly reminds us not to be unequally yoked, Lily Rose Cates has dealt with enough loss in her life, that when a man comes around that looks and acts like the part, she falls for him without really knowing who he is.

She is desperate for someone to come along and take care of her, despite the fact that she has been doing it for herself all along. Even her wise Annie Ruth gets a sense of evil from the man, Manuel Valenti, whom is brought to her home to meet Lily's family. While he appears one way to Lily outside of the eyes of others, he is withdrawn and sullen around others. Claiming he is busy with his job as an attorney in Detroit, he is often too busy to attend to other things like establishing a relationship with Lily and her family. Despite all the warnings Annie Ruth gives Lily, she still decides to get married to Manuel without telling her or inviting her to the wedding.

Now the piper has come to call when that fairy tale like romance Manuel puts on for Lily is suddenly unveiled for the true person he is. He has her move in with him in Detroit and sell off all her belongings because they would just not fit in his modern home. He also advises her to sell her car, since he will provide one when they move to Detroit, something he never does. Now he has complete control over where she is, what she can do, and how far she can go. But when Annie Ruth's dog comes up killed after their recent visit, Lily can't help but wonder, who has she really married and even worse, how can she ever leave?

I received My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson compliments of Create Space Independent Publishing and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased and personal evaluation. Even though the story line is familiar, I was captivated once things started down the dangerous path with Manuel. You would have thought that Lily would have learned a thing or two, but I can understand how desperate some become in search for love. This is truly a story of looking for love in all the wrong places. Even though her conscience tells her to run, she refuses to believe all the signs laid out in front of her from the beginning, especially advice from those she trusts the most until it is too late. I would rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and while it is a Christian based novel, it isn't too over the top that readers might be turned off by the religious undertones. It's a lesson for all of us to be wise as serpents in the choice we make.

For more information about My Father's House, Rose Chandler Johnson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

My Father's House by Rose Chandler Johnson 

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Another Way Home

I have to say, Deborah Raney, you had me! By the time I reached the end of this novel I could not see the way you guided the reader through what God's plans had been all along for the Brooks family. By the time I reached the end, it all made perfect sense and that is the way life is. It may not make sense for us while we are struggling with trials and adversity in our life, until we get much further down the road and can look back and clearly see the fingerprints of God unmistakably on what we just went through without knowing why.

Another Way Home from Deborah Raney is the third book in the Chicory Inn series, involving Grant and Audrey, who have decided in their golden years to turn their much beloved home of raising 5 children who have now grown and moved on, into an inn for guests. The family still lives in close proximity to their parents and every Tuesday night boasts family night at the Inn for the family to get together and simply enjoy being a family over a well planned and prepared pot luck meal. Now that fall is approaching along with the holidays, Dallas and Danae have been attempting to start their family for quite some time. While the older sisters are well on their way, it makes each month difficult with they remain childless.

The couple have now resolved to look at more options such as infertility and even that seems to be working against their best laid prayers to God from both them and their family and friends. It has also placed a huge strain on the couple marriage as each new treatment offers initial hope, but ultimately another month of still no child in their future. Dallas is opposed to adoption being the by-product of such an adoption and he doesn't want the same thing he dealt with to happen to their future child. His own mother rejected him as unwanted when he attempted to contact her at 18. As that appears to be the only option left for them to start a family, the Brooks decided to take some time off from trying and instead pursue other passions. Dallas returns to work and Danae takes up volunteering at a nearby domestic shelter for mothers and women in abusive relationships looking for an out. What neither of them say coming would tragically change their lives forever.

I received Another Way Home by Deborah Raney compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of the book to review, for my honest opinion. This is such a perfect title to sum up the entire scenario that Dallas and Danae have to walk through in their married life, and it was one that captivated this reader's attention from the time I picked up the novel until the very end. I am happy that this is not the conclusion of this amazing series and family and readers get a sneak peek at the upcoming novel, Close to Home, at the conclusion of this one along with a reader's discussion guide that is just perfect for book clubs. I had never considered how difficult it would be for a couple to try for a child only to not be able to get pregnant while everyone else in their family is able to do so without really trying. I love the way this one turned out in the end, not the happy ever after ending you would expect, but than again real life never goes according to our plans. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Another Way Home, Deborah Raney or where you can pick up this novel today, please click on the links below:

Another Way Home by Deborah Raney

You can find Deborah Raney on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Another Way Home, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.

Wings of Glass

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach

"He always said if I left he would kill me, but there are far worse fates than death. Guess I hadn't known that until I met and married Trent Taylor. I didn't mind the cuts and bruises half as much as the insults and accusations. Whoever said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" has never been on the other end of a tongue that really knows how to cut.

I hope you never know that kind of pain, Son. More than that, I hope you never cause it. How could you? You have such a soft heart. My sweet Emmanuel.

Surely by now I've told you your name means "God with us." Because he was, Manny. He is. Even if you haven't realized it yet, you're lucky to have such a wonderful name. I used to hate mine - Penny - because that's exactly how much I felt I was worth for most of my life. But God used you to change all that.

It's important to tell you before I begin this story that it's not my intention to make you hate your father. He's a man - fallen, like the rest of us. But I know you'll ask about him, and I decided when you were old enough, I would share with you all I know. That day hasn't come yet - you're just beginning to talk! - but I best write it down while it's fresh in my mind. Although some of it, I know, will fade.

Reading this won't be easy, and please don't feel you have to if it's too much. I'm not one to believe all truths need to be spoken, but just in case you want to know, need to know, I'd rather you hear it from me as a whole story than get bits and pieces of the puzzle from others and not be able to make them fit together quite right.

Besides, your grandmother told me long ago the best way not to repeat history is to know it. I think that's probably right. " (Prologue).

This is the story told from the eyes of one who lived what most of fear. Penny Carson was abused by a man, she had once loved and who believed that control was a necessary part of his life, Trent Taylor. It is told as if you are reading it as a journal of sorts written for her son Emmanuel when he was old enough to understand.  It is a difficult one to read, but also once that compels you forward in her story to know why some one would stay in a relationship that has no real ending to it. The 'whys' we often ask when confronted with a situation of domestic abuse often seems to be an easy answer to most of us. Just leave, right? Only for those who have been at the beginning, at some point their views on their situation shift and at times they feel justified by the abuse. It's sad when the only hope Penny can manage to find is when she learns her husband has had an accident. She was hoping he might die, but instead her only thoughts were, " Great. Now he's going to be even meaner."

But this is a story of hope found in the midst of darkness. It comes in the form of two ministering angels,Calle Mae Johnson and later Fatimah Wek although like most victims of abuse, it takes Penny awhile to gain enough courage and confidence to confide in them, although she never lets on that Trent is hitting her. She continues to come up with excuse after excuse to cover for his behavior but at some point Calle and Fatimah share their own secrets with Penny. Even then, it's still too hard for her to admit the truth. But will she take a risk if it means placing her own baby in danger?

I received Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Allliance and Tyndale Houe Publishers for my honest review and received no compensation to provide a favorable review. The opinions expressed are solely my own. This is a difficult novel for some, but also one I believe we all need to read, if more than to know a little bit about what goes on in the world even if we would love to pretend it doesn't. For the victims of domestic abuse, it provides a voice and offers hope to those that might see things different by reading this novel. It takes courage to share what Penny has to endure from the beginning and you see the early signs that should have been red flags for her. How she innocently passed them off as simply jealously or a sense of belonging to Trent. The journey is filled with tears, understanding, and hope and one I am personally glad I got the opportunity to take through Gina's words. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Wings of Glass, Gina Holmes and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes

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