"Never Alone" by Elizabeth Haynes

In Never Alone by Elizabeth Haynes, Sarah lives with her two dogs in a farm house.  She has money problems, but when an old friend moves into the guest house and pays a very generous sum, her problems seem to be over!  However, nothing is ever as it seems!  This book is like a slow burn.  You know something is going to happen, you just do not know to whom or what it will be.  This book reminded me of a soap opera with such little action, but somehow it worked for me!  I really cared for Sarah and wanted things to go well for her!  The writing was good. 

(Gerard’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 23:  She won't admit to it, if you ask.  She won't tell you.  It doesn't matter; you know better than to push someone when they're in that vulnerable state.

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"walk it out" by Tricia Goyer is Inspirational Non-Fiction

walk it out--The Radical Result of Living God's Word One Step At A Time by Tricia Goyer is  her story about how God's Word made a difference in her life.  It is inspirational and covers many different topics that the Bible covers.  It challenges the reader to live out their faith by completely surrendering to God and actually obeying his word.  It is full of true examples of how the author lives out her faith and what true Christianity looks like.  At the end of every chapter are a few questions for reflection.

I liked how Tricia shares her life with the reader and is truly a servant of God.  She is pretty amazing and has a very interesting story to tell.  I also liked how she worked in scripture.  I was just a bit disappointed that it didn't have more about her family.  The Cleveland City Mission is having a "Stand In" event on Public Square, Saturday, June 29 to help raise awareness of almost 3,000 children in Cleveland and to learn what can be done to help.  At first, I wasn't going to go, but after reading this book, decided to participate.  Homelessness is an issue close to my heart so here is an opportunity to become involved in a solution.  You can pre-register for Stand in at www.thecitymission.org/stand-in.
(Karen's review4 stars)

Teaser from page 45:  When the topic of abortion came up in church or Bible study, I sank deep into my seat, especially when people spoke doggedly against it.  My stomach knotted up, and I was certain everyone within twenty feet of me heard the frantic pounding of my heart.

Visit Tricia Goyer's blog.

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"The Cornwalls Are Gone" by James Patterson & Brendan DuBois

The Cornwalls Are Gone by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois is a page-turning thriller about the kidnapping of Amy Cornwall’s husband and 10-yr-old daughter. Amy is an Army intelligence Captain who comes home from work to find a strange cell phone and an odd message on her dining room table. She has just 48 hours to locate and liberate an unknown man in Texas or her husband and daughter will be killed! She lives in Virginia and has no time to waste. She blows off her 8 a.m. meeting at work and sets off who kidnapped her family and why. She is determined to complete this mission and get her family back no matter what and finds out she is dealing with an extremely dangerous man!

This book grabbed me from page 1 and never let go! It moved along quickly and had no dull parts. It has mystery, suspense, adventure, betrayal and fighting. I think this book could be improved if the authors developed the characters of Tom and Denise before just jumping in with the kidnapping right away. It is okay the way it is, but I think I would have been even more invested in the story if I felt I actually knew Tom and Denise. I would like to have seen a bit more character development.
(Karen’s review 6-18-19, 5 stars)

Gerard's review:
In The Cornwalls Are Gone by James Patterson, Amy Cornwall has 48 hours to follow instructions given to her, or her husband and daughter will be killed.  She is instructed not to tell anyone.  Amy was a really good character.  The other people in this novel were never really developed.  The last 30 or so pages is when the bulk of the action takes place.  This book is worth reading.
(4.5 stars)

Teaser from page 7: I read and re-read the message, clear and to the point, and I’m in the middle of reading it for the third time when the strange phone rings, jolting me so hard that I nearly drop my weapon.


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"Saving Meghan" by D. J. Palmer -- Can you love someone to death?

Saving Meghan by D. J. Palmer is contemporary fiction.  Some people would say Becky should be "Mother of the Year" since she is focused on her only child, Meghan 24-7.  She has to be because Meghan is ill but countless doctors cannot figure out what it is.  Becky will do whatever it takes to find out what is wrong with her daughter!  Carl is the father.  He wants what is best for Meghan, but thinks he knows what the problem is, and it is not medical!

I enjoyed this book very much.  The characters were brought out really well and the story flowed along.  Throw some twists in the book and at times I laughed out loud at some parts.  Try to figure out how all this plays out.  I am guessing you won't just like I couldn't.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page 27:  I could tell by the way he looked at me with sadness and sympathy that he'd do anything and everything to make me well again.  But there was a deep sense of loss in that look, too.  He was sure he lost me to her--to my mom.    

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"No Exit" by Taylor Adams

In No Exit by Taylor Adams, Darby Thorne gets caught up in a blizzard.  She is able to get to a rest stop and once there, will find out that the snow will become the least of her problems!  This book is a real page turner.  Darby and the other characters were developed very well.  The action was good and I loved the ending!
(Gerard's review, 5++ Stars)

Karen's review:
No Exit by Taylor Adams is a thrilling suspense about Darby, a college girl who has been a big pain to her mother all her life. Darby gets caught in a blizzard in Colorado on her way to see her mother and make things right before she dies. When Darby stops at a rest stop, there are only four people inside—a creepy guy named Lars, a guy about her age named Ashley who was a chatter box, an older alcoholic veterinarian named Ed and his cousin, Sandi. Once Darby discovers Jay, a 9-yr-old girl locked in a cage in back of a van in the parking lot, she decides to help save the girl.

The suspense gradually builds as this book slowly moves along while the four at the rest stop wait for the snow plow to arrive in the morning. Wow, what a thriller this is! Darby comes up with plan after plan as one fails and she has to think of something else. This winds up with Darby giving the kidnapper a lot of trouble and almost getting herself killed on several occasions. I liked this book and although a couple things were really far-fetched and didn’t quite add up, I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspense. (5 stars)

Gerard's Teaser from page 22:  She stepped away, leaving a handprint on the door, feeling her heartbeat pounding in her neck.  An intensifying rhythm.

Karen's Teaser from page 23: Oh my God, there’s a kid outside in that van.
Locked in a cage or something.


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