The Shack - By Wm. Paul Young

The Shack is written by Wm. Paul Young and is publishe by Windblown Media

Once again, my friends, this is a review of one of my all time favorite books. I have read/listened to the book 2 times, and will read it many more. I love this book so much, that I have currently given away something like 14 copies. I will ALWAYS be thankful for Mr. Young, and the way he showed the love of God to me in such an unconventional way.

The Shack is about Mackenzie Allen Phillips, known as "Mack", who have had a horrible tragedy in his life. While on vacation with his children the week before school begins for the year, his youngest daughter, Missy, goes missing. Evidence found in a shack up in the nearby mountains suggests that her life came to a violent end.

Thus begins "the Great Sadness" in Mack's life. He feels depressed and abandoned by God, even though his wife, though sad about the tragedy, has clung to her faith, and even calls God "Papa". As his depression deepens, he goes to check the mail on an icy day, and finds a suspicious letter addressed to him with no return address.

The note says "Mackenzie, It's been a while. I've missed you.
I'll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together.
- Papa"

Who would dare write him a note like that?! Is it the killer trying to lure him and his family into his trap, so that he can take more lives precious to him? Is it a horrible prank?

But, against Mack's better judgement, he decides he'll go to the shack and see what's going on. He can always turn around and come back. H secretly leaves for the shack, not telling his wife, Nan, so as not to worry her, to spend a weekend with Papa.

What will he find there? Will he see God, or find the killer waiting for him? If it really is God there, what will He look like? Will he be condemning? Will he be comforting?

I can tell you that what he does find there will change his life forever. As it has changed mine.

This book is a must read for all, whether you are searching for God, or already know Him. It will change your perspective of Him in ways you've never expected. It will take Him out of the neat little box that most of us have put Him in, and make Him real. It may even change your life!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SHACK !!!!

Blink of an Eye - By Ted DeKker

Blink of an Eye is written by Ted Dekker and is published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

I've had Blink of an Eye sitting on my shelf for over a year. If I'd known how great a book it was, I would have read it long ago!

Blink of an Eye is a story about a Saudi Arabian princess named Miriam running from an arranged marriage to a horrible man, and a certified genius, Seth who meet under unlikely circumstances in California.

No one would think that the life of a Saudi Arabian princess would be one to run from. But after seeing her best friend murdered by her own father for refusing to follow Saudi rules for a young wife, and then meeting the man to whom she is betrothed, even though she is in love with another man, Miriam thinks it really is time to run.

The reason for the arranged marriage is purely political, hopefully resulting in a coup. This is the worst thing that could happen in Saudi Arabia.

Miriam flees to California, where she meets Seth who saw her in a vision before she encounters the man looking for her.

Seth's "visions" of the future continue, and will throw the two of them together in a high-stakes chase in which they don't know who to trust and who not to trust. As they flee for their lives, with the enemy on their tails, and no time to sleep, will they make it through alive?

This is one of Ted Dekker's older novels, and I enjoyed it very much. If you like action, adventure, and a little romance, this is a book for you!

Thr3e - By Ted DeKker

Thr3e is by Ted DeKker and is published by West Bow Publishers

I must start out by telling you that Thr3e is one of my favorite stand alone novels of all time, and definitely my favorite stand alone novel of Ted Dekker's! As soon as I read it, I became a fan!

The book starts out with Kevin Parsons, genius and budding theologian, in his car, when he receives a very threatening phone call. Apparently a killer is after Kevin, and if Kevin doesn't tell his secret for the whole world to hear within 3 minutes, the killer will detonate a bomb in Kevin's car.

The only problem is, Kevin doesn't know what secret he's supposed to tell! He wracks his brain, but can not figure it out. 3 minutes later, the bomb explodes. And so begins the suspense filled novel that got me hooked on Ted Dekker, and many of my friends also.

As Kevin tries to figure out what the killer wants before the town in general, and he himself in particular, are targeted once again, he is joined in his search by Sam, a childhood friend of his, and by Jennifer, a law enforcement officer. Both ladies want to help protect him.

Join Kevin, Sam and Jennifer as the three of them try to solve the killer's riddles before it's too late. What does Kevin need to confess? How many more innocent people have to die? Read this page turner to find out!

Double Minds by Terri Blackstock

Double Minds by Terri Blackstock is published by Zondervan Publishers.

I bought Double Minds because of the title and cover art. As you will notice book covers tend to be one of the main selling points for me as a reader! I also chose it because I am a big fan of Terri Blackstock's suspense.

I must tell you that I didn't even read the back cover before I bought this book. I just thought the title Double Minds was referring to someone with multiple personalities or something like that. I was mistaken!

The title Double Minds comes from a Bible verse saying that a "double minded man is unstable in all his ways." It's also the title of the most famous of contemporary Christian artist Parker James' songs. You see, she is a song writer living in Nashville, TN, hopefully on her way to stardom herself. Right now, though, she writes songs for her best friend, Serene, to sing. Serene is the epitomy of an entertainer, having the perfect voice and the perfect body for the part.

But Serene has a secret. And it's Parker's job to help Serene see it for the destructive truth it is.

And someone is stealing Parker's songs, too! How can this connect with the dead body sprawled in front of Parker's desk where she would have been sitting if she hadn't traded nights with that girl?

Read the book to find out.

I would give this book 3 stars out of 5. It wasn't my favorite book of Terri Blackstock's but it's worth a read, especially if you live in or near Nashville, TN as I do.

The Edge of Recall - By Kristen Heitzmann

The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann is a Christian fiction book published by Bethany House Publishers

I chose the book because of the cover, and the intriguing captions on the back of the book.

The Edge of Recall is about a young lady named Tessa Young. Tessa is a landscape architect who specializes in labyrinths. She makes them out of anything from rock to flowers and hedges. She has chosen this profession because of the healing labyrinths bring to people. To Tessa, they represent a path to God, her search for Him amidst life's journey.

She is also fascinated by them because of one of very few memories she has about her father before he disappeared when she was 6 years old. She remembers flying with her father over a labyrinth, and talking to him about it. But that's where her pleasant memories with her father stop. The others are just on the "Edge of Recall".

What do labyrinths have to do with her dad? Why can't she remember more about her childhood? Was there something so traumatic that happened in a labyrinth? Or is a labyrinth really the path to her healing.

The answer will come to her when she takes on the biggest and most profitable labyrinth project of her life along with a future friend who betrayed her in the past. Will she find healing in the project? Or will her work with Smith make everything worse?

I highly recommend this suspense/romance book, and look forward to reading many more of Kristen's books!