As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:32-35 (NIV)
Five "Series" novels I've especially enjoyed . . .
Going way back: The Black Stallion Books by Walter Farley
Recently: The Juniper Grove Mystery Series by Karin Kaufman
Several years ago: The Michelli Family Series (Secrets, Unforgotten, Echoes) by Kristen Heitzmann
A few years ago: Ty Buchanan Legal Thrillers (Try Dying, Try Darkness, Try Fear) by James Scott Bell
Not too long ago and presently: The Jack Noble Series by L. T. Ryan
*Honorable Mention (because she wrote a good series, and she knows I'm not crazy about Women's Fiction): Coming Home Series by Brenda S. Anderson
Father, please continue to meet the needs of your diverse writers. May they always know who gives them the words and the perseverance to keep writing their stories. We're all desperate for you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
(From WIP Race, Chapter One)
Next I needed to ascertain Mr. Wonderful’s whereabouts the previous night and wait for the determination of cause of death. Turned out his name was Roman Diego, the assistant trainer for Walter Casey who was kind of a local big-shot, perennially in the top five leading trainers. Lying on his right side at the edge of the bed, Roman’s only clothing was the beige sheet covering his manhood, no blood anywhere, and it looked like he fell asleep—or passed out—and never woke up. Long dark wavy hair obscured his face, but his torso and left arm bent at the elbow and resting on the mattress were well-muscled which made me think he probably exercised the Thoroughbreds at his barn.
The crime scene tape forbade entrance to the immediate area which would surely annoy the people who had to work at this end of the barn and live in the neighboring tack rooms, not to mention spook a few Thoroughbreds with its unfamiliar yellow color flapping in the cool breeze.
Death always presents an inconvenience.
Father, apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you for every word. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
For those who love the greener gardens and lots of space.
Thank you, Lord, for your beauty in the land of the living, reminding us of your divinity. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Good looking group with a great sound and telltale lyrics.
Father, thank you for the beautiful sounds of music and those who perfect them. Apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
(Juniper Grove Mystery Series Book 7 by Karin Kaufman)
Mystery novelist Rachel Stowe accompanies her boyfriend Chief of Police James Gilroy to an unusual evening party hosted by a couple (Stuart and Lauren) who've been friends with Gilroy for a number of years although they don't see each other often. Included in this so-called party are a few other guests who don't seem to know each other well and who the Chief and Rachel do not know. When they get to the host's spectacular home, the small group gathered in another room appear to be having a heated discussion while Lauren looks on in discomfort.
Stuart offers to show Rachel his impressive green house since Gilroy had noted her love for all things gardening. However, after an innocent inquiry by Gilroy about Stuart's Venus Flytraps, Stuart leads them to the plants while giving them a strange philosophic soliloquy about how the plant operates leaving both Rachel and the Chief uncomfortable and suspicious of his intent after having made odd disparaging comments about his other guests.
Suffice it to say there is a murder which illogically casts suspicion on Chief Gilroy and leaves him out of the investigation as a result of the mayor's insistence. With his deputies Underhill and Turner in charge, Rachel and her super-sleuth mystery gang with its latest member, Julia's boyfriend, add information that explodes in the Chief's office.
With background misinformation, suspicion of theft, vengeance, and twisted intentions, Chief Gilroy and the group come to the sad conclusion of the curious investigation.
If you love cozy mysteries, you simply must indulge in the Juniper Grove Mystery Series. Book 7 is just another captivating addition to the group who live, work, investigate, and play in the small town of Juniper Grove. Karin has done an excellent job of creating the endearing characters in this series. Rachel Stowe, her self-deprecating personality, intuitive investigative skills, and her developing love for the man she initially contested at every meeting moment, holds the other characters together in friendship and adventures. The Queen of Cozy Mysteries is at again in Death Trap.
Father, you know exactly what Karin needs on a day to day basis. You know the hurt she's recently experienced. You know all things about her life and the good you intend to provide for her. Please shower her with your abundance and inspiration. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Spirit says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV)
Five reasons why I hated 7th grade:
I got the worst haircut of my life in 7th grade. I wore a scarf over it for a few days.
I started biting my fingernails in 7th grade because of the tension I felt. Never kicked the habit.
I was in an accelerated math class which I should not have been – probably the main reason for the nail biting.
Everyone wanted to grow up. I still wanted to be a kid.
I had no classes with my closest friends.
Did you have a year of school you deemed the worst?
God, somehow you got me through those rough times without my knowledge of and reliance on your beloved Son. You've been so gracious to me my entire life in spite of me, patiently waiting for my heart to realize my need for Jesus. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
(Originally posted on June 13, 2014 as the "Unexpected death in . . . Skeleton Canyon".)
I decided to venture outside the CBA market for a little break just to see if it was possible to read a decent (as in not immorally saturated) crime novel from the talented and prolific bestselling novelist J. A. Jance. I picked up in the middle of her Joanna Brady Series with Skeleton Canyon because this particular back cover copy gave me just enough to entice me, and I never felt like I'd missed too much history by starting in the middle. And, lo and behold, it was not a God-less novel!
Much to my surprise I learned J.A. Jance spends divided time between the Seattle area and Tucson, Arizona, so could justifiably be called a "snow bird". This Sheriff Joanna Brady novel primarily takes place in Bisbee, Arizona.
With clear illustrations of the local terrain and weather patterns affecting the crime solving, Jance weaves an interesting and complex tale involving the beautiful but challenging daughter Brianna (Bree) of an older wealthy paraplegic man David O'Brien and his former nurse Katherine. O'Brien married Katherine after slowly recovering from a fatal accident which cost him his first wife and their two children. Brianna is keeping her first love a secret from her disapproving parents, finding her father impossible to please.
"Nacio" Ybarra faces similar prejudices from his family for wanting to be involved with the white girl, so they take secret periodic breaks and meet at a designated camping spot in Skeleton Canyon for their short weekend rendezvous. Nacio had received a full scholarship for his football skills until he shattered his leg in the local game with Brittany's high school. He had hoped to become a doctor. And they planned to go away to college and finally be together without having to hide.
But the intersection of multiple crimes results in a murder and makes solving it a heavy weight on Sheriff Joanna Brady. Dealing with the arrogant and angry David O'Brien is a feat in itself when Brianna comes up missing and her parents discover she didn't go where she said she was going.
When Sheriff Brady's air conditioning on her personal vehicle requires a quick fix, she learns of a Freon smuggling situation so she calls a contact to share her information.
When her friend (Angie) with a checkered past takes Joanna's advice to accompany a bird expert (Dennis Hacker) to watch hummingbirds, that meeting ends in disaster in multiple ways.
All these seemingly unrelated events culminate one evening in a chase and crash during another desert storm. How everything ties together in the end is skillfully done, tragic, emotional, and almost hopeful by the end of the story.
J. A. Jance proved to be an entertaining storyteller who keeps on point but injests meaningful and defining revelations of her characters. There was even an element of faith in the background which gave the story a deeper level of purpose without the emptiness of secular writing.
If you need a fast summertime read that moves along quickly and allows you to feel the searing heat and the pelting rain of the Arizona desert, I highly recommend J. A. Jance's Skeleton Canyon. I'm fairly sure her other novels will fill the bill as well.
Father, I pray your continued blessing and inspiration over J. A. Jance. You know her heart. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Spring garden anyone? Can you imagine the planting and maintenance? Just wow! Very pretty and lots of spring varieties.
Again, Lord, your creativity is beyond description. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
