It Had to Be You but Susan May Warren

It Had To Be You

By: Susan May Warren

Genre: Christian Romantic Fiction

Eden Christianson is an obit reporter in Minnesota.  She also is her brother, Owen’s, biggest cheerleader.  Owen has just signed a contract with a big league hockey team.  Eden believes it is her job to take care of him and keep him out of trouble as he navigates the waters of the big league.

Problem #1: Owen doesn’t want Eden’s help unless it involves his laundry or cleaning his new apartment.  Problem #2:  Eden needs help from the team captain, Jace, to keep her brother in line.  Problem #3:  Eden doesn’t like the team captain because he comes with baggage and a bad reputation and he seems unwilling to help.

Through a series of events Eden and Jace find themselves on the same team.  They forge a tentative friendship in order to protect Owen and to help solve a mystery.  Will the friendship turn into something more? 

Throughout the story Eden struggles to find her identity as a child of God.  She believes that her worth comes from who her brother is or isn’t.   She feels like she ought to be writing bigger, better stories but she can’t seem to get out of the obit department.  Her life and her dreams seem to be hitting a brick wall.

I really like Susan May Warren books and this one doesn’t disappoint.  This may be the first book this summer that I couldn’t put down. 

Happy Reading! J

A Duty to the Dead (Bess Crawford Mystery) by Todd Charles

A Duty to the Dead (Bess Crawford Mysteries)

By: Charles Todd

Genre: Historical Mystery

Bess Crawford is a nurse serving for England during WWII.  While taking care of the soldiers, some who are dying, Bess would write letters home to their loved ones.  Arthur Graham lay dying and asked Bess to take his final message home to his loved ones.  He didn’t want to write a letter he wanted Bess to deliver the message in person.   The message: I lied. I did it for mother’s sake.

Bess finds herself home on leave and decides to visit Arthur’s family.  However, once there, Bess finds herself in a bit of a mess.  After delivering the message the family dismisses it.  No one seems to care that Arthur desired for something to be set right.  Bess is sure there is more going on.  Bess begins to ask questions.

People in the town of Owlhurst seem to turn up dead and the Graham family is somehow involved.  Then, after caring for Peregrine, Arthur’s older brother, he escapes from the local insane asylum imploring Bess to help him prove he is innocent of a 14 year old murder.  Could this murder have something to do with Arthur's message?  Bess find herself digging into this family that seems so ordinary on the outside but clearly has some serious flaws.  Someone does not want her poking around.

Bess is down to earth, smart, and caring.  She desires to see justice served.  I enjoyed getting to know her and found myself liking her.  The author introduces several characters throughout the story.  He does a good job of explaining them and their importance to the plot. 

I was sad to see this story end.  However, there are 5 more books in this series.

Forevermore - Cathy Marie Hakes

Forevermore

By: Cathy Marie Hake

Genre:  Historical Romance

                This story is about Hope.  Hope is a young lady who travels from farm to farm looking for people that the Lord wants her to help.  She seems to be wise beyond her years and relies firmly on the Lord’s leading.  They only things she owns are her donkey (who wears a hat) and a Sunday dress.

                She ends up at the farm of a German widower (there are many unexplained German words in this book). He has a sister who is pregnant and hiding from an abusive husband; a young child who is afraid of the dark after falling down a well; and a farm hand who is in love with the sister.  Hope is sure that God wants her to save this family. 

                Hope loves to use clichés and Bible verses while working around the farm.  The problem is that she often twists them.  However, her way of twisting them usually makes more sense.  Hope is also illiterate and doesn’t seem to mind that she is twisting them.  At some point the author mentions that Hope is only 24 years old but with all her cliché quoting and odd habits I kept thinking of her as a granny type character.  I never really connected with the character.

                She encounters this family at the harvest time.  Hope steps in to help this German clan fix up meals to serve their neighbors and day laborers as they bring in the harvest.  Jacob, the German widower is worried that all this work will not be good for his pregnant sister.   Hope seems to be the equivalent of a 21^st century superwoman.  She can cook, clean, dispense wisdom, and take care of laundry chores all on very little sleep.  She spends most evenings awake talking to God.  There is never a complaint from this characters lips.  I honestly did not find her to be a believable character at all.

                Now, you can’t have a good Christian historical romance without a widower who is unwilling to give up his first love.  Jacob is kind and thoughtful to all those around him and he soon finds himself smitten with Hope.  The problem is he loves his now deceased wife too much through three-fourths of the story and then one day in the barn decides he loves Hope.

                This was a quick read and even a little funny in spots. However, I would not classify this as a book that I couldn’t put down.  However, if you are a lover of this type of story you would probably really enjoy it!

Isle Royal - John Hamilton

Isle Royale

By: John Hamilton

Genre:  Thriller

                This story is billed as a young adult fiction.  I think it is billed that way because 2 of the main characters are teens and have most of the action in the story.  There are several supporting characters and they are adults.  However, it kept my attention and I enjoyed it.  I was surprised to see it characterized on Amazon as young adult fiction.

                The book drew my attention because it is set on Isle Royal which is on the northern part of Lake Superior here in my home state of Michigan.  It started out slow and if I am honest rather dry.  There is a lot of description of the landscape and lakescape at the beginning of the book.  Once the characters were introduced things started moving along nicely.  The time period is the 1920s.  Some of the wording and slang was fun to read from that era.

                The story takes place on Isle Royal at the Wolf Point Lighthouse.  It is centered around the lighthouse keeper and his family.   The family is preparing to finally leave Isle Royal for the winter months.  However, the Lady, as Lake Superior is referred to in the story, has one more storm to throw at them.  As the lighthouse keeper prepares the lamp for the night a mysterious visitor appears at the lighthouse and gives him money in return for a favor.  The lighthouse keeper’s son sees the transaction between his father and the stranger not understanding what is happening.  He is rather indignant that his father would accept the cash.

                The stranger turns out to be a friend turned enemy from the lighthouse keepers past.  This man is a rum runner and is seeking to use the island as a meeting spot for his illegal activities.  He also has plans for the lighthouse keeper’s wife, who happens to be his long lost love.  Ian, the lighthouse keeper’s son and his friend Sally are caught in the middle.  Together, they must find a way to save the day.  They spend the better part of the book trying to thwart the bad guy.  They also encounter “ghosts” whom they believe inhabit the island.

                It was a quick read.  The author tied  up everything with a neat little bow at the end of the story.  It left me satisfied and happy with the conclusion.

 

I've Got You Under My Skin - Mary Higgins Clark

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

By:  Mary Higgins Clark

Genre:  Murder/Mystery

                LOVE THIS AUTHOR!  I also loved this book.  I think I have read all her books and have loved all of them.  She writes in a way that leaves you hanging until the last chapter.  I do not think I have ever figured out any of her books.  I am usually surprised by the ending.

                In I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Mary Higgins Clark actually writes about 2 murders while intertwining the lives  characters from each murder together.  The book opens with the murder of a 20 something doctor who is at the park with his son.  The murderer runs away while promising to come back and kill the son and mother.

                Laurie, the wife of the slain doctor, is a TV producer.  She is working on a new series that highlights old unsolved murders.  She decides to highlight the “Graduation Gala Murder”.  There are 5 suspects in this 20 year old murder but no one was ever charged.  The suspects have not seen each other since 4 months after the murder.  Are you wondering what the murder of Laurie’s husband has to do with a 20 year old murder?  I hope so!

                To tell you more would give away the story.  Mary Higgins Clark masterfully tells the tale of both murders.  Each chapter is from a different character’s point of view.

                This is a newer book so you may have to get on a waiting list for it at the library.  However, it is well worth the wait!

                Happy Reading! J

Finding Sarah - Terry Odell

Finding Sarah

By:  Terry Odell

Genre – Romantic/Mystery/Fiction

                Sarah is the proprietor of a small artsy sort of store.  Her husband died 18 months earlier.  She thinks it was an accident.  The police and insurance company say it was suicide and won't release the insurance money.  Now, 18 months later, Sarah’s shop is struggling and Sarah is hurting.  Enter her sister-law who wants her sell her shop and is bossy and demanding.  Then, there is her friend Chris.  He just wants to help Sarah by giving her money to keep the shop running.  

              Then, strange things begin to happen in the shop.  Randy, the local detective, is assigned to the case.  Randy and Sarah work together to follow the clues while also falling in love.  It seems they follow many clues but keep coming up empty handed.  All clues seem to lead to a dead end.

                Can Randy and Sarah unravel the mystery before Sarah loses the shop or is there something more sinister going on?

                This was a quick read and although I mostly had it figured out, I did not see the twist coming at the end.

                Just as a disclaimer:  This is not a Christian book and contains language and sensual scenes.

Happy Reading! J

Bridge To Haven - Francine Rivers

It has been a while since I blogged about the books that I read.  I have had several people asking me for book recommendations so I thought I would start blogging again.


My plan is to read about 20 books this summer.  I will attempt (can't promise) to blog about each one and let you know what I thought.


Here is the first one!

Bridge to Haven

By: Francine Rivers

Genre:   Christian Fiction

                I LOVE this author. There are very few of her books that I have not truly enjoyed.  This one is excellent.
                Abra, the main character, is born under a bridge in the little town of Haven.  She is left there by her mother.  Pastor Zeke, while on his daily prayer walk, finds her.  Pastor Zeke and his wife Marianne take the baby in and caller her “Abra”.  There are many wonderful people who pour into Abra’s life as she grows up.
                However, Abra’s life is not an easy one, or so she believes.  She finds herself making choices that will affect her life for many years.  As with many of us, Abra cannot get past her own pride in order to make better choices.  The story is filled with pictures and messages of God's grace and forgiveness.
                I can’t tell you more without giving away the book.  I will tell you that the ending came as a bit of surprise J  I hope that entices you to search it out and read it!

Happy Reading!!!

Heiress by Susan May Warren

I really, really like this author.  This book is a departure from her normal genre.  Her other series that I love is a modern day detective series.  Daughters of Fortune is a historical fiction series with a bit of mystery thrown in.  Heiress, the first book in the series, was a quick read but very enjoyable.  I had to resist the urge to download the next book in the series!

Here is the rundown:

It is set in the late 1800s and the early 1900s.  The Price family is a part of the ultra rich in New York City.  Mr. Price is the publisher of The Chronicle.  Mrs. Price yearns to make an advantageous match for her oldest daughter in order to save the family fortune.

Esme the oldest daughter fancies herself a writer but the culture of this time period will not allow her to write.  She desires nothing more than to turn her back on what is expected of her.  Jinx the younger daughter cannot wait to be launched into society and live in the dream world of riches.  Her father, however, will not allow her to marry or "come out" until Esme is married.

Both girls make choices to achieve their dreams only to find that perhaps it was not really what they had hoped for.  Each girl realizes by the books end that what they really wanted and worked for all their lives was empty and vain.

Susan May Warren did a fabulous job of writing a great story with some twists and turns that I did not see coming.  I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading! J

The Body Departed by J. R. Rain

This is a book about a ghost.  

Here is the premise.  James, the ghost, is killed in his sleep.  He is shot multiple times.  James watched it all from above.  He knows what his killer looks like but he doesn’t know who it is.  James is now stuck in his apartment building.  He can’t seem to “cross over”.

Then there is Pauline, a medium who lives in the apartment building.  She can hear James and sometimes even see him.  It is Pauline who helps him figure out how to cross over.  It even appears at certain spots in the story that she loves James.

Ghosts apparently lose the memories of their real life.  James is beginning to forget events and people. He is bothered by this.  Then one day he reads an article about an elderly music teacher who is murdered.  James knows this lady and the church where she was murdered. There are no clues as to who did it.  James believes that solving her murder is his key to crossing over.

The only problem is that as an earth bound spirit he can’t leave his apartment building.  This is where Pauline comes in handy.  She is able to help him get to the Catholic Church where the murder took place.

I won’t give away the rest of the story.  I will say it was a good story.  There is a part in the story where James speaks with Christ.  Christ then explains how the afterlife works.  As a Christian I had some issues with this part of the story.  It is obviously fiction and not meant to be taken as truth.

This is not a Christian book and there is some unnecessary language in parts of the book.

Did I like it?  I will say that I have read better but it wasn’t so bad that I didn’t want finish it.  So, I guess I must have liked it at least a little. 

Happy Reading! J

Believe in Me: A Teen Mom's Story by Judith Dickerman-Nelson

This is a true story about Judith who finds herself deeply in love with her 17 year old boyfriend Kevin.  After a summer of dating, Kevin heads off to prep-school and Judith finds herself pregnant in her senior year of high school.

Judith tells this story through the eyes of a scared teenager trying to do the right thing.  The story basically takes place from the few months before she is pregnant until the baby is just over a year old.  Most of the chapters are short put packed with great story.

I read this book quickly because I found myself drawn into her story.  I was rooting for her to do the right thing and in doing so get what she desired most.  I had a hard time putting the story down.

Happy Reading! J

The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory Kaufman

This was a book that would be categorized as a young adult book.  This would be another departure from what I usually read.  That is the beauty of free books from Amazon.  I can easily take advantage of unknown authors without being out any money if the book is really bad.  I also don’t feel bad not reading the book because I didn’t spend any money on it.  J

If you have a Kindle and would like to know how I get my free books, let me know.  I would be happy to share.

Now about The Bronze and the Brimstone.

The book is set in the 14^th century.  The main characters are 3 time traveling teenagers from the 24^th century.  This is actually the 2^nd book in the series but you do not need to have read the first to follow it.  I didn’t read book one and had no troubles.

The main character Hansom is being sought after by the man who is the head of Verona.  This man believes that Hansom is a savant because he has brought the idea of a cannon and gun powder into the 14^th century.  Hansom can share these ideas because he has an artificial intelligence that guides he and his 2 friends.  

Hansom has convinced the head of Verona that he can be the next emperor if he only follows the plans that Hansom is sharing.  In the end Hansom’s desire to make himself important to this man causes a great deal of trouble.

Hansom has fallen in love with the daughter of his master.  The master has taken the 3 teens in (this happens in the first book) and taught them to be lens makers because Hansom has introduced them to corrective lenses.  The head of Verona, however, wishes for Hansom to marry his beautiful daughter and form an alliance. 

Now, because the main characters are teenagers they tend to behave as teenagers from any century would.  This causes all sorts of conflict throughout the story.  The author also uses it to connect with you the reader.

I did enjoy the way the book ended.  At about chapter 19 I could not figure out how the author was going to wrap it up with a neat little bow.  Then he did it and left me asking for more.  I love it when that happens in a book. J

I enjoyed the book and was a little bummed to discover that the next book in the series has not been released yet.  If you enjoy a bit a time travel, young love and teenage angst then this is the book for you.

Happy Reading.

Sing and Claim (Novels of Colorado Series) by Lisa T. Bergren

I have finished the series.  I really like it J 

In Sing, the 2^nd book in the series, Moria and Nic are chasing their demons.  The book opens with Moira on the stage in Paris singing.  She soon discovers that her manager has emptied her bank accounts and she must now fend for herself.  She sets sail for America hoping to find a place in the American opera in New York.  She meets up with 2 men who will be a part of the rest of her story.  Her only desire is to feel appreciated and loved for who she is.

We find Nic in South America fighting.  He is kidnapped by a ship’s captain as payment for a lost fight.  Nic, who is still trying to find himself, does not enjoy his trip aboard the ship and decides to head for his sister Odessa in Colorado as soon as he gets off the ship. It doesn't seem to matter what happens he can't control his temper and he is not sure if wants to.

Odessa has a sweet baby boy but things at the Circle M are not doing well.  She and Bryce soon discover how much they really love each other.  They must also make some hard choices for their family.

In Claim, the last book in the series Moira has come to terms with her life in Colorado. Finding solace in the peace and quiet and her new found relationship with Christ.  Odessa and Bryce are on a more even keel and are excited to have Moira with them.

Nic is the last wanderer to return home.  He meets a young boy named Everett and his father Peter.  Peter asks Nic to partner with him at his gold mine.  Things turn desperate when Peter is killed on his way back to the mine.  Nic is left to decide if he wants the mine and the responsibility of this young boy. Can he set aside his wander lust and anger issues?  Cue the cute neighbor, horrible neighboring mine owners and a mine collapse and you have the makings of this final book.

All in all this was a good series.  If you are a lover of Christian fiction then I think you will enjoy these books.  Lisa T. Bergren does a good job of connecting you with the main characters of these books.  I read them all in about 5 days mostly because I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.  I found myself cheering for them and cringing when they made choices you knew were going to end badly.

Happy Reading! J

Breathe: A Novel of Colorado by Lisa T. Bergren

I fell for Amazon’s trick of making the first book in a series free in the hopes that you will get hooked and then purchase the rest of the series.  Well, I read it and was hooked and have now purchased the next 2 books in the series J

This is really your typical Christian Historical Fiction and I liked it.  I don’t usually like them but this one I did.  The author does a great job of presenting Christ without preaching or going overboard.  I appreciated that as she kept the Christ parts relevant to the story.

There are 3 siblings in this series.  Breathe centered around Odessa who is suffering from consumption.  Odessa, her sister, Moira, and her brother Dominic open the book on a train headed for Colorado.  They are chasing the cure for Odessa’s consumption.

Odessa is the sweet older sister.  Moira is the carefree baby sister and Dominic (Nic) is the brother who has been given the job of taking his sisters safely to Colorado.  The problem is that Odessa is the only one in the family who seems happy about this trip.  Moira would rather be on stage singing and Nic would rather be doing anything except living under his father’s directions.  Once there, Nic and Moira have been tasked with opening a book store to sell the books from their father’s publishing house back east.  A job neither of them is looking forward to.

It is the old west so there must be a sheriff.  Is he a good guy or a bad guy?  Then there are the outlaws who are after the mine that has been left to Odessa by a fellow consumptive who has died.  Add in the rich man who runs the town and everyone in it and you have all the makings of a western novel.

There is a predictable plot to this story but it was a quick read. (it took me less than a day)  I enjoyed the simplicity of it and am looking forward to finding out what happens next in the family story. 

Happy Reading!

Barefoot: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand

This was a chick novel from the first word and I loved it. J

It is the story of 3 women spending the summer on Nantucket.  Each of the 3 women is trying to escape something back home.  Vicki has lung cancer and hopes that the chemo and sand on Nantucket will bring healing.  Brenda is having some legal troubles as well as some romantic ones.  Melanie is pregnant but hasn’t told her husband because he is having an affair.

In steps Josh, a 21 year old Nantucket native.  The women need a babysitter for Vicki’s 2 young boys.  Josh needs to escape his job at the airport.  He is a budding writer and senses he will find a story with these 3 women.  Josh seems to rescue each of these women over the summer while finding that any good story comes at a price.

Of course, what happens over the summer is what one would expect in any good chick novel.  There is a little tension, a little romance,lots of places to shed tears and a satisfying ending.

This was a quick read but left me feeling good at the end.  This book is not a Christian book and has some language and romantic scenes.

Blue by Lou Aronica

Blue by Lou Aronica

Loved this book!

Chris Astor is a divorced dad who loves his daughter passionately but feels like he is losing her since the divorce.

Becky Astor is a 14 year old girl who loves her parents but can’t figure out what her dad wants from her.  She is also experiencing some health issues that remind her of the cancer she had as a young girl and she is scared!

Miea is the queen of Tamarisk the imaginary world created by Becky and Chris to help Becky through her cancer.  Tamarisk is in danger of becoming extinct.

These 3 people have to come together in order to help Becky face the toughest challenge of her young life and to save Tamarisk.

This book probably fits into the fantasy genre.  I don’t usually enjoy this type of book but I loved this one.  Lou Aronica poignantly shows the emotions of a father fighting for his daughter, a young girl who desperately wants to live and a queen who wishes to save her kingdom.  I had a hard time putting this one down!

Quick read – great for the beach J

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

This is historical fiction set in the time of King Henry VIII.  I don’t know much about this time period so it was fun to read. 

There are 3 main characters in this story.  Each chapter is written in first person from one of the 3 characters. 

Jane Boleyn – Sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn the now dead queen.  She serves as a maid in waiting to the new queen of England.  She works for her uncle gathering information about the queen.  Her goal is to keep the Boleyn inheritance.

Katherine Howard – 14 years old at the beginning of the book is young, greedy and ditzy.  Her hope for her life is to gain money, men and an inheritance.  She also desires above all else to be loved and admired by all.  She is thrilled to be called to serve the new queen.

Anne of Cleaves – Abused by her brother, ignored by her family and on her way to be the new queen of England.  She wants only to be a good queen and serve the people of England.

These 3 characters get caught up in the madness of King Henry VIII.  Some days they wonder if they will make it out alive.

Book Pros:

1. The chapters are short.  Each chapter is written first person from one of the main characters.  No chapter is longer than 5 or 6 pages.  This makes it easy to pick it up when time is short.

2. This author also had a way of leaving you hanging sometimes at the end of a chapter.  It made me want to skip ahead to that characters next chapter to see what would happen.

3. The author does a great job of character development.  By the time the book was done I really had connected with each of the main characters.

4. There is a good amount of dialogue.  Sometimes historical fiction tends to go into too much detail for me.  This author had a good balance.

Book Cons:

1. It is a very long book, 558 pages.

2. Detail can get overwhelming in some chapters.  I know I said there was a good amount of dialogue but occasionally the details of the countryside, people’s clothes or how a person was feeling got a bit much for me.

3. The author does use some historical vocabulary that I was not familiar with.  This did make some parts hard to figures out.  Usually after a few paragraphs the meaning became clear.

Overall I really enjoyed this book.  I learned from the info at the end of the book that this author has other books about King Henry VII’s wives.  

All For One by Ryne Douglas Pearson

One amazing teacher, 5 great kids, and 1 dead bully.  The question is – Who did it?

Bring in the Kiddie Catcher from the closest big city who thinks he knows who did it.  He just has to get close enough to the suspects to get one of them to talk and spill the beans.

The problem – things aren’t what they seem.  It starts to look even worse when one of the suspects turns up dead.

Mrs. Austin is sure her students didn’t kill the class bully but she can’t prove it.  The Kiddie Catcher is sure that the students are hiding a secret and he works hard to get to the truth.

Who killed the bully?  You must read this book to find out!

Being an avid reader I often figure "it" out fairly quickly into the book.  However, this one kept me guessing for longer and then ended in a way I never expected.  I highly recommend it.

This is not a Christian book.  There is some language throughout the book.

After the Leaves Fall - Nicole Baart

Loved this book!  It is, however, a tear jerker.  So, if you don’t like stories that make you cry – steer clear! 

Julia, the main character, starts the book at about age 9 and when the books ends she is only 19.  She lives through her share of heartache, grief and poor decisions.  Her father and grandmother have taught her about God but she can’t believe that a loving God would have allowed the things that have happened to her.  She pulls herself up and decides to be the captain of her own destiny.

The best part of this story is that you can see a little bit of any teenage girl in her emotions, decisions and conversations.  I saw a little bit of me as this story unfolded.  I really connected with this character and was sad when the book ended.  In fact, although the ending was perfect, I found myself going “WHAAAATTTT!” because I wanted to know more of Julia's story.

So, what is the book about?  It is about Julia who loses her mother, her father, her best friend and her college career and at the end of it all finds God.  

Genre – Faith Based Fiction

Summer Reading - Asenath by Anna Patricio

Upon checking my Kindle account I discovered that I had about I have about 450 books on my device.  That seems a bit over the top to me J  So, I decided to do three things:  organize the books I have alphabetically, stop obtaining books, begin with A and read through as many as I could this summer.  That’s what I did!  After I alphabetized them (actually the app did that) I looked through the As and Bs and chose the ones that I really wanted to read.  When I have read those I will move on to the next letter.

Now, as I blog about them this summer you should see that the titles will appear in ABC order.  I am determined to stick to this plan, but we will see how disciplined I will be at not obtaining new books or skipping ahead in the alphabet.

Here is the first of the books on my summer reading list!

Asenath by Anna Patricio

This book is the story of  Asenath who married Joseph in the Bible.  Little is said in Scripture about this woman so Anna Patricio, the author,  took the liberty to create her story.

The story begins when Asenath is a young child in her fishing village on the Nile. Life changes quickly when Asenath is kidnapped by raiders who hate Egypt.

Life is not easy but Asenath eventually winds up in a major Egyptian town in a home where she meets Joseph.  At this point in the story you will begin to recognize some of the story from the Biblical account of Joseph.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book.  Each played a significant part in shaping Asentath.  It was a short book and part of me really wished that the author had developed portions of the story a little more.

Asenath is a quick read but I couldn’t put it down.  So far this is my favorite book of the summer J

Michal's Window

This post is about the book Michal's Window by Rachelle Ayala

                Ok, so this book falls into the Christian Fiction genre.  There is scripture quoted in every chapter.  It is the story of King David and his first wife Michal.  However, it also reads like a harlequin romance novel with some steamy love scenes in it.  Would I put it in the Christian Fiction category?  Probably, with an asterisk.   So, did I like the book?  Not sure! 

                I liked the story line.  I enjoy Biblical fiction.  After I finish one I like to go back to scripture and see how it compares.  Scripture does not give us much information about Michal so much of this book is the work of the author’s imagination.  The story line is great.  The way she plays Michal like a sex starved woman was a bit of a turn off.

                Michal meets and falls in love the handsome shepherd boy David.  David, who plays the harp to calm King Saul, falls in love with Michal.  It seems that David will do anything to have Michal.

                King David is written as a weak man, who can’t make up his mind about anything except the fact that he loves his wife Michal.  History tells us that David had many wives.  This book has each wife but none of them can hold a candle to Michal in character or beauty.

                The author also places 2 other men in Michal’s life and she can’t decide if she loves them or the now King David.  All 3 men have multiple love scenes with Michal.  Michal seems to best like the one she happens to be with in that chapter.  I just had a hard time getting my head around all the sex.

                So, would I recommend this book?  If you like a light read and don’t mind some love scenes then you will enjoy this book.  If you are looking for something of substance or great writing, then perhaps you will pass on this book. 

                Happy Reading! J