The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

Ray Quinn has finally landed an investigating gig that will pull his business into the black, and keep his little band of quirky characters working for a few more months. As a former police detective turned private investigator, Ray Quinn, knew there would be challenges especially with his painful disability, but when his search for a fellow ex-cop uncovers more than dead bodies, Quinn isn't sure how deep the deceptions run.

Mynheir's creative characters, interesting plot lines and scintillating dialogue could not cover the multitude of grammatical and spelling errors in the book. I find it very annoying to have simple words mispelled and middle school grammar issues unresolved in a book that is going to be published for adult consumption. I'm sure this is probably a personality flaw on my part, but it seriously distracted me from the overall story. I hope that future copies of this book those errors are corrected so only Mark Mynheirs great storytelling remains.

Wondering how Mynheir comes up with these quirky characters and interesting storylines? Click here to find out.

Just another thought from the tub,
Lori

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead

 Kit Livingstone's life is going nowhere fast until his great-grandfather appears to him one stormy day in an alley that leads farther than Kit ever imagined. His great-grandfathers helps him traverse the ley lines that were once thought to be the stuff of fairy tales, but turn out to lead to other worlds and greater mystery and adventure than Kit thought existed in his future.

One traveler navigated the ley lines better than any others in history and worked out a detailed map printed on his skin. Those who find the skin map will have the link they need to discover untold secrets and to embark on a quest of imaginable consequences.

A master storyteller, Lawhead's The Bright Empire Series takes readers not only to another world, but another dimension in time. Definitely a read you can't put down, only get this book if you have several uninterrupted hours...days. to read it from start to finish. I enjoyed the reparte between characters and the quirky situations they found themselves in. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening Lawhead would take another ley line...so to speak. Grab this book today because Book 2 is already on the market.

If you enjoyed this spine-tingling novel by Stephen R. Lawhead, click here to find out more about his life and books.

Just another thought from the tub,
 Lori

Pattern of Wounds

Unfortunately for Roland March, snow in Houston occurs less frequently than murder. Working homicide in the city keeps a detective hopping even in the holiday season. When a young woman is murdered, one murder scene appears like another. The image of the original murder is burned in his brain. Is this a copycat murder or did he convict the wrong man years ago?  With a rift in his marriage and having alienated many of his collegues, March refuses to believe he put the wrong man behind bars and diligently searches for the real killer. The killer escalates matters by sending e-mails and then attacking March's wife. Searching for clues in the pattern of wounds, March works against time to put a face to the evil lurking in Houston.

Bertrand weaves a fine murder mystery. He keeps one guessing until the very end who the killer is and what his reasons are. Well-told and a great read, Pattern of Wounds is worth your time. Having read oodles of mysteries, I was glad to hear a fresh voice and new perspective from character Roland March. I look forward to reading more of the writings of Mark Bertrand.  For more information on Mark Bertrand and his suspenseful writing, click here.

Just another thought from the tub,

Lori

Pieces of Light by Julie Cave

As she's putting her life back together after losing her husband and son, Dinah Harris is making great strides in her walk with Jesus. She was fired from the Bureau, but her talents make her a great consultant and her contacts in the FBI need her help when churches in D.C. area start blowing up on Sunday mornings.

A troubled past coupled with a death in the family set off a bomber who seeks to send a message through action rather than words. As his message appears to go unheeded, he escalates his bombings and tries to send a clearer message through the local paper.

Dinah works hard to put the pieces of this puzzle together. She uses her experience in negotiating and what she has recently learned as a Christian to get inside the mind of the bomber and to bring a peaceful resolution to situation before more people are killed.

Julie does a great job of storytelling in this the third book in the Dinah Harris Mystery series. While some of the preaching is a bit long winded, most is woven into context and seems very natural...as it would happen in real life. I have not read her first two books, but after reading Pieces of Light, I look forward to more great books by this author.

For more information on Julie Cave and her books, click here.

Just Another Thought From the Tub,

Lori

Marvels of Creation: Breathtaking Birds by Buddy & Kay Davis

Are you looking for a great beginner book to introduce your child to the world of ornithology from a creation perspective? Than Marvels of Creation: Breathtaking Birds is the book for you. The pictures are beautiful and the information solid in this 80 page hardcover book. Attention to detail and interesting facts keep children's attention from start to finish. As an added feature, a special inset at the beginning of each chapter give a quick overview of the bird and a little known fact.
I had my 11-year-old read this book. He read it from start to finish in one sitting and enjoyed it tremendously. His one complaint was that it was too short.
Kay and Buddy--Great job!

Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd

Laura Ann McGehee tries to save the family farm in the only way she knew how but wonders if anyone in her small corner of Appalacia will understand. It appears her sacrifice wasn't enough and she might lose the farm after losing her father despite all she's given up.

Her good friend, Ian Stewart, has her back against impossible odds, but he can only do so much as a friend...even though he would like to be so much more.

When Laura's options appear to be at an end, the sound of gravel crunching under the tires of an expensive car peak her interest. When the woman driving the car steps out in professional dress and heals, Laura knows Sophia McQuistion is either lost or came here for a purpose.

Sophia's plan soon becomes clear to Laura, but what they to do with this information. A freak series of circumstances work to place Sophia's son in Laura's care. Laura's biological son is now hers to mother, but someone desperately wants to keep that from happening.

In this bioethics suspense novel, Austin Boyd takes us to the edge of morality and beyond. Nobody's Child is the first in The Pandora Files dealing with bioethical questions and where they might eventually lead. Well done, Boyd, I found the issues timely and delivered in a realistic setting which led one to wonder how does one get out of these sticky stituations created by our advanced technology but outside the bounds of morality.

Click here, to read more about Austin Boyd and his speaking, writing, The Pandora Files.

Just another thought from the tub,

Lori