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I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

Aug16

The Truth Will Out

I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay is a thrilling contemporary suspense that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep!

The past has a way of catching up with us. Hidden secrets sooner or later rise to the surface. Consequences need to be faced.

Within the book there are heroes and villains. They look alike on the surface but underneath they are very different.

Greed and lust for money always corrupts. We witness the fallout when the local drug lords are crossed.

A dark secret must be protected at all costs. Whatever it takes, the truth must stay buried.

We see a kind hearted, brave character whose actions, through no fault of his own, mean his life is heading for a fall. The actions should have been applauded, and not hounded.

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Cold Vengeance by Nancy Mehl

Jul24

One Breath, One Heartbeat

Cold Vengeance by Nancy Mehl is an absolutely cracking contemporary Christian suspense. It is the third book in the Ryland & St Clair series but can be read as a stand-alone. For maximum enjoyment I recommend reading the previous two books first, especially as there is a story thread that runs throughout the three books.

River Ryland is a newly returned Christian. She is learning to trust God to do the things that she cannot. “She… asked God to take over.” Giving God the driving seat of our lives is always a wise thing to do.

We all have a past. Sometimes we are still hurting from our pasts. “When she let God back into her life, healing had begun.” Surrendering our lives to God is always the best thing that we can do.

We all have scars. Some are visible, others are not. “Wounds can leave scars… Give yourself some compassion.” Scars speak of where we have been, not necessarily where we are going. We cannot alter the past but we can learn from it. “I can’t fix the past, but maybe we can build something new.”

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Night Falls On Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

Jul23

Hope In The Dark

Night Falls On Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright is a marvellous Christian dual timeline novel that completely consumed me.

The action alternates between 1901 and present day. It is written in the first and third person, mainly from two alternating points of view, and also of ‘her’ – whom we need to guess the identity of.

Stories in both time periods run parallel. They are similar but different. Both have sisters in them, are haunted by events, and there is a necessity to find the perpetrator of evil acts.

Within both time periods, there is fear. “Fear is a lack of hope.” Different characters fear different things. They need to let go, and let God guide their lives. A glimpse of hope in the dark is all that is needed for lives to change.

We see that grief paralyses. “She had barely learned to survive.” Grief keeps us rooted in the past. “The notion that time healed and lessoned pain was a myth. Time merely mocked the absence.” We cannot live in the past, we need to move forwards and learn to live again. “Don’t be afraid to live… I’m not afraid to die.” When we know God, death is no longer a foreign country to fear.

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Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl

Jul3

Totally Gripping

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl is a totally gripping, contemporary Christian suspense. It is the second book in the Ryland & St Clair series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading book one first in order to see not only character progression but there is a story thread carried over.

It was good to meet up with familiar faces. The pairing of Ryland and St Clair work well together. There is a chemistry simmering between them. They both had very different upbringings but River Ryland is welcomed and feels at home with the St Clair family.

We see the importance of faith and spreading God’s love. “Instead of the judgmental religious spirit she’d been raised with, the St Clair’s operated in love and grace.” Souls will never be won by Bible bashing. We are called to be Jesus’ representatives on earth. We are His hands and feet, His eyes and ears. We need to show His love to a hurting world.

Everyone wants to be loved and to belong. “I’m not special” … “To God, all His children are special.” God loves each and everyone of us. His love is big enough for us all.

God doesn’t wait until we are qualified to call us. He equips those whom He calls. God looks for willing hearts. “Tony wanted to be available to Him if He chose to use him.”

Forgiveness is important. If we withhold it, we risk becoming bitter. “She knew God wanted her to forgive him… but how could she?” If we cannot forgive in our own strength, we need to ask God for help and forgive in His strength.

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