Hunter’s Moon by Don Hoesel

CJ Baxter is a bestselling novelist who is able to take experiences from his life and bring them into his books. He hasn’t been back to his hometown in over fifteen years, but his grandfather has passed away so CJ heads back home. He finds that there are things he has missed, and things he hasn’t. As CJ fights for the truth within his family, it soon becomes clear that there are things that are more important than blood.

This is Don Hoesel’s second novel, and he does a great job exploring the dynamics of a small town as well as the damage that secrets can make. CJ is able to really make some changes in his own life as he searches for the truth. The book can be a bit slow at times, but it really held my attention as I wondered what would happen next. While there are some parts that aren’t relevant to the story line, the overall plot is excellent and the story progresses well. I look forward to what Hoesel writes in the future. Highly recommended.

Review copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

FBI agent Brad Raines is attempting to track down a serial killer who is murdering young women. The killer leaves a veil on the victim’s head before leaving the body. He has been dubbed The Bride Collector and Raines is working against the clock to catch the killer before he strikes again. On a lead, Raines goes to a mental institution for the gifted and meets a young woman named Paradise. Paradise has a unique ability and Raines hopes that she can help him stop the Bride Collector. This is Dekker’s second mainstream novel and I believe that the book is much better than his last, Boneman’s Daughters. This book really touched my heart as Dekker was able to use much different characters who had experienced great hurt to work together to catch a killer. This is a book that is very enjoyable from the crime aspect as well as having a much deeper meaning. I look forward to seeing where Ted Dekker goes from here. Highly recommended.

(Review copy provided by Hachette Book Group)

Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

A 17 year old girl takes her dog out for a walk one morning and never comes home. A unique trio consisting of an FBI Special Agent, a Federal Prosecuter, and news reporter take the case. These three are good friends who use their resources to help find the girl. A U.S. senator becomes a main suspect, but no one can figure out what happened to this girl. These three women try to put everything together to solve the case. The plot of the story was intriging, but the book just seemed unrealistic, especially the ending. The idea that these three former high school classmates would be able to work together on such a high profile case seems a little far fetched. I did enjoy the book for most part, but the end left me wondering if the author really knows what she is talking about. Mildly recommended

The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan

The second book in the Homelanders series continues with the main character, Charlie West. Charlie woke up one day as a wanted man and he doesn't know why. Both terrorists and the police are trying to catch Charlie and all he wants are some answers. He goes home to try to find the reason behind the situation he has found himself in. His friends from home join Charlie and his quest for what has happened. The first book in this series was great and this book is a great continuation. It's a fast paced book leaving you wanting for more. Highly recommended.

The White Horse King By Benjamin Merkle

King Alfred is one of the most storied kings in Britian's history. He is most known for leading his people over the Vikings, but he did many other things for his kingdom. He changed the roadways and legal codes. He also restarted Christian worship and learning about God. History isn't one of my favorite subjects, but reading about this great king was very interesting. This is a man who we can look at as a great leader and a man of God. Recommended.

The Sweet By and By by y Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

All Jade Fitzgerald wants to do is get married and live happily ever after. But as her wedding approaches, she is faced with demons of the past. She has done everything to forget about her past and now she has to deal with these issues before she can get married. This was the first book I've read in this genre, but I really enjoyed it. It is a love story, but the plot makes it interesting for both men and women. One cool thing for me was that I live about twenty miles away from the location where Jade grew up. This is a story about dealing with the past and hope for the future. Highly recommended.

Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwein with Todd Hillard

Austin Gutwein was a 9 year old who wanted to make a change in someone's life. He created Hoops of Hope and has changed the lives of thousands of people in Africa. Jesus told us to help those in need and Austin has been doing that for many people. This was a great book that told an amazing story about a kid who wants to make a difference. It has inspired me to want to do some sort of mission and help those who are less fortunate. The book did a great job of using God's Word and showing how we need to take our best shot to help others. Highly recommended.