Review of "Journey to Riverbend" by Henry McLaughlin

A solid first offering from new author Henry McLaughlin, this book had many things I enjoyed and only a few I perhaps didn't.
Our main characters are Michael Archer (who has come to town solely to deliver a message from a dead man to his estranged father) and Rachel Stone (a former prostitute - she was essentially forced into the lifestyle following long term molestation and abuse), who has an incredibly close relationship with Christ.  They are both well defined examples of redemption and forgiveness - I loved how really, the majority of the town embraced Rachel - and those who sterotypically judged her were frowned upon, interesting for that time period (1878).  I also enjoyed learning more about the 'search posse' - I understood the concept, but the author clearly illustrated how people really stuck their necks out for another, because it was the right thing to do.
I could have lived without some of the uber-descriptiveness of the shall we say, romantic interludes and even the violence - some things (totally my opinion) would have been a bit better left to my quite active imagination.
As a whole, although I can't say I LOVED it, found it to be a good read.

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Review of "Nicolae" by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins

Book number three in the Left Behind series.  Nicolae Carpathia has declared himself the Grand Potentate of essentially the entire world, whom he has dubbed the Global Community.  Rayford is still employed as a pilot by GC and as such has access to important information for the Tribulation Force.  We meet some new characters (Mac, Ken Ritz, Amanda) and Hattie returns....
Where book number 2 was my transition book, Nicolae is full of action.  War and bombings everywhere, a major worldwide earthquake occurs (which kills about 1/4 of the world's population), our main Trib Force members are scattered all over the world and major chaos ensues.

I resisted reading this series for the longest time and when I finally got started, had trouble stopping.  However, I was ultimately glad I waited - because by then I wasn't forced to wait until the "next" book came out to keep going!  :)

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Review of "Tribulation Force" by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins

The second book in the Left Behind series focuses again on our main characters: pilot Rayford Steele and his daughter Chloe, reporter Cameron "Buck" Williams, and pastor Bruce Barnes.  They have formed their own band of believers, they know that Nicolae Carpathia is the Antichrist, and now what will they do?

Rayford and Buck begin to work for Nicolae and his regime (Nicolae creates "Global Everything") and quickly realize that their status as believers is best kept undercover so they can keep working with the other Trib Force members.  Some personal relationships are further developed but seem a little awkward in their interactions.

To me, this was sort of a setting the scene book.  It is necessary to get from one place to the next, just was not my favorite of all of them....but, I enjoyed it just the same.

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Review of "Left Behind" by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins

The first in the Left Behind series, what has become a New York Times best selling phenomenon (and in my opinion, a well-deserved one) - this is where it all begins.

Pilot Rayford Steele's wife has been telling him how much he needs Jesus, and that "someday" it will be really important to him...but he has been ignoring her.  The book begins with what turns out to be the Rapture, and Rayford begins a search for the truth.  The initial scenes where passengers disappear from the airplane (who does *that*?) is telling to him of what is really going on - it's not a hoax, it's not aliens....it's the beginning of the Apocalypse!  -and we are off! On a huge adventure.

One of the things I love most about this entire series is that they are able to mix in humor with what could be such overwhelmingly scary scenarios, but this is told in such a way that you are moved not by fear, but by their courage.  It made me think.

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Review of "The First Gardener" by Denise Hildreth Jones

I'm not sure I can say ENOUGH nice things about this book, but here goes.

Let me preface this by sharing that Denise Hildreth Jones is one of my all time favorite authors.  I have read every book she has written.  Some more than once (I can't get enough Savannah...I laugh out loud - even in the second and third readings....but I digress) and "The First Gardener" truly exceeded my expectations.  It's true, I was prepared to like it, but really, I *loved* it.

We begin with the enviable and lovely life of the first family of the great state of Tennessee.  They are beautiful inside and out, successful, in love, kind to others...the happy list goes on and on.  They long for many children but have only one, their 5 year old daughter, Maddie.  She is the light of their lives and a delight to all.  Jeremiah Williams is the Head Gardener of the governor's mansion and has been tending the first families' gardens for 25 years.  He has a special place in his heart for this entire family.  When tragedy strikes and all of their lives are forever changed, he is an integral part of their healing.

The entire story is handled in ways that I found realistic without being hopeless; funny, yet never irreverent; and most importantly, it communicated biblical truths without being even a little trite - especially in the face of such major heartbreak.  At the risk of sounding a little dramatic, The First Gardener actually changed my life.

I can't recommend it enough.

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Review of "Springtime of the Spirit" by Maureen Lang

What a interesting time period of history -Maureen Lang has done her research and has written a lovely book about political unrest and sensitivities, as well as romance - in the aftermath of the Great War.
Former soldier Cristophe has returned home to Germany only to find it is not the country he once knew - or even what he thought he was fighting for.  He is requested by a long time family friend to locate their daughter, Annaliese, who has left home for reasons unknown (to her parents).  He finds her right in the heart of the new political scene, scorning her wealthy upbringing and fighting for the working class and women's right to vote and contribute to society as a whole.  Eventually they fall in love....but all of the political unrest and war between the classes will stand in their way.

I haven't read a book (fiction or otherwise) about this specific decade in history and found it very interesting.  It was great to learn about politics and much more in Europe for this particular season of time.  I look forward to reading more of her books.

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Review of "Desert Gift" by Sally John

Whew! This was a sometimes challenging book to read.  Ultimately, I enjoyed it....but there were moments....Jillian, a marriage communication "expert" and her husband have been married more than 20 years when he blurts out that he wants a divorce - right as they are leaving to go on a part work (to promote her new book on, you guessed it, husband/wife communication), part vacation.  He pushes her out the door with this new information and off we go on a journey of self discovery, re-learning how to relate to each other - Jillian becomes more and more aware of how she is perceived, and that good intentions do not always make wonderful results.  I know I found myself relating more to her than her husband (who frustrated me - he spends years being a doormat, and then boom! 'I'm mad at how you've been treating me and we're done', instead of *saying something* as time passed) in this conflict. 
I thought the recipe idea that is mentioned in Jillian's book is cute and that this would probably be a good book for those needing to be reminded that a: how we see ourselves is not always how others do, and b: just because a couple has been married for a million years, does not always ensure long term success - like every other relationship, it takes constant work, healthy communication, and concentrated effort.  But will be worth it in the end!

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