I Still Believe

I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp

I love reading. I love reading great fiction. However, no one writes stories like God does and the truth in I Still Believe is so powerful.  I had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy Camp in his travelling around in a van days. As a matter of fact I watched him unload his van for a gig. A few hours later after completing the manual work, he lead 200+ teens and young adults into an amazing time of worship.

I Still Believe starts at the foundation with Jeremy's foundation - faith and family. The brief time with his wife, Melissa, is a powerful enough testimony. However, Jeremy's testimony begins when he chooses to follow the Lord. Dissatisfied with the emptiness the temptations of the world delivers, Jeremy sacrificed and chose to walk a narrow path. As a teen the call on Jeremy's life was vague but it was forming. Through the book Jeremy tells of moments of doubt, rebellion, confusion, and anger. Something that we all feel and yet as Christians we are hesitant to admit to.

There is so much in the pages of I Still Believe, but mostly it is a story of the reality of God's faithfulness. I'd recommend this book to new Christians, young Christians, old Christians, grieving Christians, wise Christians, and those who don't have a relationship with the Lord. You can't really summarize a testimony like Jeremy's. I Still Believe is a testimony; it isn't a story.

Rolling Stone

Dear Rolling Stone,

I know you've made a name for yourself pushing the envelope. You've chosen cover photos meant to create rumblings and mumblings. Well, you've succeeded again.

Only this time I think you've gone too far. The typical Rolling Stone cover usually consists of less clothing especially from the 18-30 range. I do commend you for refraining from photo editing the photo so he'd be shirtless. I'm glad to see you still possess some restraint. However, I don't believe your choice of cover photo is getting your point across.

Let me tell you. I haven't read the story. I have no desire after seeing the cover to read the story. It could be the most mind-altering story I'd ever read, but I won't read it. I refuse to even read it online because I will not support your decision.

If your desire was to showcase the other side of the story for a hate-filled terrorist, then I would suggest that perhaps you fire your marketing people and start over. I might have been interested had your cover featured someone that I wanted to read about. I might have even taken a moment to think about the point you were trying to make.

Let me tell you what cover stories I would have wanted to read:

• the story of a 911 operator working on 4/15-4/19.
• the thoughts of an American soldier who is fighting for our freedom overseas and watching the lock down of Boston as terror invades our streets
• the story of a Dunkin' Donuts worker who served  Boston's finest during the manhunt
• the countless heroes of 4/15 who came to the rescue of others by offering their WiFi, blankets, shelter, water, directions.
• the facts from the officer who arrived on the scene where Officer Collier was executed
• the stories of officers who delivered milk, bread, etc to residents shut in
• the doctors and nurses who worked the ER
• the crew who cleaned up the street after the crime scene tape came down

I'm sure there are many other ideas out there. Many other cover stories that would have created enough interest for you to be relevant again. Instead you created controversy in the hopes of making a few dollars. 

The last thing we need to do is spotlight the despicable actions of someone who chose to slaughter innocent people. If you wanted to create empathy, sympathy, or pity for a murderer then don't glorify him. It isn't worth mentioning his name. His actions were those of a coward. Whether he was a lemming following in his brother's footsteps or a mastermind, he isn't worthy of a photo on the front of your magazine as if he is the next Justin Bieber or Timberlake. 

Why do good children go bad? I hear that is the theme of the story. Well, it could be that an overlooked child sees the fame and notoriety that evil is awarded and they seek out their fifteen minutes. It may be that the bullied want to shed light on their situation and they go to extremes. It may be that adults take the irresponsible path and excuse bad decision making because of their circumstances. Could it be that rather than holding someone accountable we cover them in excuses and ploy on the sympathetic nature of many? 

I think we need to stop good publications from going bad by holding them accountable for their actions instead of allowing sympathetic minds to excuse their behavior.  Rolling Stone, you made the wrong choice. I don't believe you are evil at the core, but you made a poor decision and it is time for you take responsibility for that decision, apologize to those you've offended, and learn from your mistake.

Sincerely, 

ME

Avenged

Avenged by Janice Cantore

Police Officer Carly Edwards is back with a new enthusiasm for life. She has remarried her husband, Nick Anderson, and her only dilemma is whether to remain in a black and white or take the federal task force position offered to her.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon ends abruptly. Carly and her partner, Joe, respond to a call one night and find two gang members dead and another one critically wounded in an apparent execution. As the investigation progresses, the facts don’t line up with a gang war. The city stands on the brink of a gang war and yet the catalyst seems to be a personal vendetta against Carly. As the gang tension gears up, Carly is facing a battle of her own. She’s become the start of a reporter’s blog about corrupt cops. Ginny Masters is calling into question every arrest and investigation Carly has been a part of.

Cantore excels with presenting the facts in a cop-centered action-adventure. Unfortunately, her writing often times comes across as a police report. Her 20+ years as an officer has given her experiences to draw from and she lays out the mystery plainly. Avenged held my attention because I was eager to see how all the unrelated mysteries were intertwined. At the end of the story the threads were all tied together and were satisfactory. Much like many action-adventure movies, you stay for the excitement even if you don’t feel connected to the characters.

All In Good Time

All In Good Time by Maureen Lang

Dessa Caldwell has a dream. She wants to fulfill the mission of her mentor, Sophie Pierson, and open a home for women seeking shelter. Her goal is to give prostitutes an opportunity of leaving their lifestyles. She needs financing to buy a home located on the edge of the Fourth Ward in Denver where the nightly business goes down. An application for a loan brings her to Hawkins National.

Henry Hawkins is a successful banker and Denver’s own Scrooge. He avoids all social interaction and disapproves of business dealings that aren’t guaranteed to return a profit. Dessa’s enthusiasm and business plan aren’t enough to convince him that Pierson House will allow her to repay any loan. Fortunately for Dessa Henry’s uncle and business partner, Tobias, interfere and approve her loan.

Thus starts the journey of Dessa and Henry. Dessa’s passion for the woman of the Fourth Ward is matched only by Henry’s disapproval. In time Henry’s disapproval fades and Dessa’s passion finds results.   

All In Good Time was an easy read. I enjoyed the underlying story which is that we all have a past. We can’t hide from it. We can’t deny it. We certainly can’t always cover it up. To have a future we must accept our past. The beautiful thing about our past is there is forgiveness for our transgressions. Each character in All In Good Time has something they need forgiveness for. Which is the way for all of us. It is about admitting to our poor decisions and learning from them.

As is typical with historical fiction, All In Good Time has a happy ending. The events leading up to that ending are entertaining and well-written.

Tangled Ashes

Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix

In Lamorlaye, France there is a castle with a history that began in the 1940s and is about to be unearthed.

American Marshall Becker is at the top of his game professionally as his restoration business is going international. Personally Becker has never been lower. To fight his demons he's turned to alcohol and shut himself off from the world.

Becker finds himself completely out of his element as he works against the clock to restore the castle before the deadline Fallon, the owner gave him. The work isn't a problem. It is the presence of Fallon's twin six year olds and their nanny, Jade. Along for the ride is the interior designer, Therese, and a recluse who lives on the property, Jojo. Soon his drinking becomes in obstacle in getting his work done as well as a mysterious visitor who searches the castle at night.

Challenging him along the way is Jade. The energetic nanny with a unique outlook on life. She's pushing him to be kinder and face the alcohol problems. Her perspective on life increasingly aggravates him and then breaks him as he learns of the motivation behind her outlook.

As renovations continue, secrets are uncovered. There is a tie to the 1940s that is clear from the beginning. If you know history, then you understand the significance of the dates. WWII is underway and the castle in France has been occupied by Nazis. Soon history becomes present as an event 60+ years in the making happens.

I enjoyed Tangled Ashes, Phoenix wove an interesting tale. The main character in the story was the castle. She presented it beautifully, making me want to visit France and bypass the Eiffel Tower for Lamorlaye.

I must admit I was more intrigued with the WWII portion of the story. Despite seeing where it was headed early on, Phoenix kept me interested in the journey to get there. The modern day story was good. Becker is a hard man to like even as a fictional character. His growth came slowly and really it wasn't a marked growth by the end of the book.

As a personal taste - I could have done without the multiple paragraphs on the nightmares Becker was having. I'm not a fan most of the time of detailing dreams or nightmares. Many authors try to ambiguously haunt their characters in an effort to drive up the drama. As a reader this is infuriating. Phoenix may have hidden clues to Becker's demons in the nightmares, but I took to skimming them.