Yup. This is pretty much how I felt today. Apparently, I've always been a drama queen.
Sorry to repeat so many of these, but they make me laugh. Laughing is a good thing these days.
Father, thank you for the best parents, a great older brother, and a fairly idyllic childhood. I love you, Lord. Thank you for rescuing me when I strayed. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Writers often face times of not being able to put the words on a page. Sometimes it's under pressure when they know they have to perform, to write those elusive words. Other times it's after starting something and suddenly the words won't surface. And still again it's when the desire is strong but the creativity lags. This is the peril of being a writer.
When the struggle comes, and maybe for some it never will, I have no suggestions. If possible, take the break from words. Breathe deep. Pray. Continue however you must. If you can, ignore the quandary. If not, press on. Is there a foolproof solution? I highly doubt it, and I'm relatively certain there is no one-size-fits-all.
The words will come at some point. You know they will.
Father, please bless your writers and help them through every obstacle. Continue to reassure and lead us through all the struggles and all the joys. We thank you for the privilege of writing words. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Great song. Great question. The Doobie Brothers made so much good music.
Father, may you touch each one who sings and makes music and writes words. Remind them from whom their inspiration comes. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Record Keeper is the third book in Charles Martin's A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series, the meaningful and gut-wrenching stories of two men and unlimited numbers of their rescues from that horror of human-trafficking or "the flesh trade".
This review is going to be a short one for me. There are just too many ways to unintentionally give away spoilers, and that's the last thing I want to do. What I will say about this trilogy is to strap on your toughness cloak – or whatever you use to fight off heart-rending cases of emotional turmoil – because you will be challenged at your most basic level of despair over man's inhumanity to man. You will be given a close look at the sex/flesh/human trafficking/trade and the absolute diabolical, demonic filth of those who engage in it, use it for blackmail, and ply it to make money hand-over-fist as the saying goes. There is just no logical way to prepare for it.
Within the latter pages of this third installment, Charles, who is often vague and/or symbolic about faith/God issues in some of his stories, in The Record Keeper pulls out all the stops and uses what biblical scholars call a "type" when going through figures in the Bible that represent or show the characteristics of the Christ. If this awareness hits you any harder than it does "Murph", you will feel it deep in your spirit. There will be tears. Charles Martin's exquisite writing will bring you to your knees.
The Record Keeper is a story of all kinds of heartbreak, recoveries, and more heartbreak. To be truthful with you, I had to set the book down frequently and regroup, take a breather. I could've finished it faster had it not done what I suspect is its intent which is to feel it. It's not just another collection, another trilogy. It's a full-on contemporary identification and account of an ongoing horror and struggle that is taking place all over this world under none other than Satanic direction – because the trade is bona fide evil, and there's absolutely no getting around it. Buckle up if you're going to read it. I recommend you start at the first (The Water Keeper) and diligently press on through the second (The Letter Keeper) to get to this one. You need to know about this, and there's simply no way to "pretty" it up.
Lord God, you see it all, the horror and pain, the vile and evil. Many wonder why you don't "fix" everything, but they don't understand the workings of the curse of sin – and we always want to ignore our own capabilities to commit our sinful ways and inclinations. I pray you would continue to use the gift you've poured out in Charles, and fill him with more touching, meaningful tales that tell so many truths. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
"The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through the prophet Isaiah:
" 'Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn and I would heal them.'
"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"
Acts 28:25b-29 (NIV)
As you know, I'm a rabid fan of the late Vince Flynn and grateful that Kyle Mills has picked up where Vince left off. The primary reason for my love of the series Vince began is his hero Mitch Rapp. Even though there have been many of his "type" come after him, none has matched his status. He's my all-time favorite in the thriller genre – and beyond. Having said that, I've never been fond of the ladies who captured (Vince's) Rapp's attention/heart, so I've decided to create "The One" he needs to love above all others. (It turns out I need to write something while I wait for another story to take hold, so this is it.)
(To get to the beginning of this, go here.)
She stood, carefully judging her motive first and then her next move. "Mr. Rapp–"
"It's Rapp or Mitch."
"Rapp, would you consider having lunch with me? I'm starving and it would be good to have lunch in a non-professional environment. If you have time. I'm not the kind of girl who's going to analyze your every word and response in conversation. I usually eat alone. It would feel good to spend some time having a 'normal' lunch. Are you game?"
He gave her a look with a barely there smile. "Can I trust you?"
She let out an abrupt laugh. "I don't know, can you?"
Rapp started for the door and looked back, “Coming? I’ll drive.”
“We can go in separate vehicles if you’d be more comfortable,” she offered, suddenly feeling a bit intimidated by the prospect of having asked this man she’d long admired to lunch.
He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “I thought you said you wanted a ‘normal’ lunch. I’m taking you to lunch. Is that ‘normal’ enough for you?”
She walked quickly toward him. “Yes, sir, it is.”
He gave a rare laugh and held the door open for her. She walked out in front of him.
Once inside his armored BMW X8, he asked, “Where to?”
“It’s fairly out of the way. You like Italian food?” she asked hopefully.
“I do.”
“Head south.”
He noticed as he repeatedly and routinely checked his mirrors she did the same. Conditioned probably from an early age by her father and now because of who her father was. Rapp knew there was simply no way you could hide from everyone. No matter how much you wanted to or how hard you tried.
“How long have you known Irene?”
She cut her gaze away from the mirror to look at him and followed it with staring out the windshield. “About 18 years or so. I don’t get to see her often, but we try to communicate fairly regularly and if possible to have lunch once a month. Doesn’t always happen, but it’s always good when it does. She’s recommended several clients over the years. It’s rewarding to have someone like her have that confidence in me. Truthfully, for her to recommend me to you? Priceless. I didn’t think you’d show up.” She quickly shot a glance at his profile.
“Not sure why I did,” he replied after a few moments passed.
She gave him further directions. He pulled into the tiny parking lot and backed into a spot near the entrance to what resembled a small restaurant where he once had dinner in Rome. Strange to have that memory surface.
Christine collected her purse from the floor and began to open the door.
“Sit tight, Doc.” He got out and did a careful but casual assessment as he rounded the front of the car to open her door.
Father, only you know what happens tomorrow and today. Help me to do what you ask today and tomorrow. And to honor you in what I do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
My first year at the track. The now defunct Longacres Racetrack, Barn 4B. Many years ago . . .
Father, many more years later you rescued me from myself and gave me purpose. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
FBI Special Agent/Interpol/DGSI Adele Sharp is still healing from the brutal stab wound done to her by a mysterious intruder in her apartment. Agent John Renee, her partner and boyfriend, has been making sure she takes it easy. When their boss (Foucault) assigns them a case and asks to make sure Adele is up to the task, she does her best to cast any doubts aside. The truth is she's still hurting, and it feels like certain simple moves are ripping her stitches open.
The case involves a murder with evidence left in a locker room at a train station in Paris. A single finger and a burner phone provide little evidence to this killer's agenda.
The parallel mystery running in the background has revealed to the reader who Adele's attacker is and his objective. He's filled with hatred for Agent Renee, blaming Renee for his present condition from a distant past action and determined to execute his vengeance. Neither John nor Adele has any idea about the identity of her attacker.
The case Renee and Adele are working takes them from Paris to Germany where the killer is quick to repeat, leaving a different body part in his next murder. When a vague connection is made to a particular jewelry line which is now out of business, the macabre revelation of the former owner finally produces a viable lead.
There are few authors as prolific in their story writing as Blake Pierce. With multiple series and many books in each one, I'm sure readers have picked favorites from the long list of novels written by this author. The Adele Sharp Mystery Series has been my favorite of the few others I've started, but things are changing for this couple in this series, and these last two installments have ended with extreme cliffhangers. Left to Harm seems shorter than previous books and leaves more than one plot point unrealized.
As I said, this series is my favorite, but it seems it might be nearing its end.
Father, you are the soul searcher, knowing what you will find, and still desiring to rescue each one from sin. Thank you for rescuing me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Here's an oldie by Gene Pitney for the back to romance theme. A big hit back in the day.
Father, thank you for music that brings valuable things to light, for those you've gifted in all aspects of the musical arena. May those who create in this venue know the One who's given them their abilities. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
I haven't had an interim like this in a long time. While in the throes of writing my first mystery Race where I was completely out of my element, I froze up on the story several times greatly intimidated by the thought of making a mistake in the police procedural parts of it even though I had sterling help and encouragement from a detective when I needed it. During those episodes, I started two different novels which eventually were completed after I regrouped and finished and published Race. Those two novels were Seeing . . . and . . . in a love song.
So what am I doing now writing-wise in the interim of finishing and publishing Then . . . you? Playing with the character I've long imagined Mitch Rapp to meet and fall in love with (since I'm from the contingent who has mostly despised his loves in the books) in a Fan Fiction endeavor. From the standpoint of value? It has none. No point. Do I actually expect this character to be noticed by the Mitch Rapp powers-that-be? I do not. But wouldn't that be fun!
I do have a chapter started in a potential new story, but . . . not sure yet. Waiting is not my specialty. I do have a title for it if it ever morphs into a book. Funny how I can get titles before the stories . . .
That's where I'm at . . .
Lord, please give me my next step, those words you inspire. Lead me in what you have for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
