Cuts Like a Knife by M. K. Gilroy

A serial killer is in Chicago, brutally murdering beautiful women.  But a tough detective, Kristen Conner, is one of Chicago's best assigned to the crimes.  The police team make their way through reams of information as this is not the first city the murderer has visited.  The investigation stalls and it looks like Kristen may be targeted as the murderer's next victim.


This is a great debut novel with a tough female police detective.  I am always a bit cautious of a male author writing a novel with a female lead character.  Kristen may be a little tougher than your usual policewoman, but not beyond being believed.  Her father was a cop and she grew up into the police role.
Check out Gilroy's website, http://www.mkgilroy.com/, to see that he has been in the publishing realm for decades and decided to finally write a book himself.  He crafted this one as character driven.  The reader gets to know Kristen as well as she wants to be known.  She is a woman with anger issues and difficulty establishing an open and honest relationship.
Kristen's brother-in-law is a preacher and Christianity is a big part of this book.    Kriste struggles with her trust in God as she tries to stop the murderer before he harms her.


If you like police detective novels and won't be bothered by some bloody scenes, this is a great one!  It's a bit long but every bit of the story is essential.  It kept me reading late into the night, a sure sign of a well written novel.  I'll be watching for the sequel. 


Worthy Publishing, 460 pages.

To read more about M. K. Gilroy and why he wrote this novel, check out his website: http://www.mkgilroy.com/ 
See the publisher's product page here.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Viral Jesus by Ross Rohde

When conditions are right, a fire can sweep through an area. Ross believes that conditions are coming together for a viral move of God in this generation. Global challenges, the economic crisis, cultural moral decline, technology – are bringing us to the point where the flames of God can spread with the Spirit's force.

Ross attempts to both develop and document how the church in the West can set the stage for a viral movement. He gives as an example the early church where the gospel spread like wildfire. “If we are ever to see a viral movement of the Spirit in the West, we need to recapture the spirituality and mind-set of our first-century brethren.” (xxvi)

He reviews the elements of viral Jesus movements, including the issues of stability and control.

He has a good review of how the early church functioned and ministered before it came under human organization. He shows how church buildings, hierarchy of leadership, etc., brought the church to the point of no longer practicing apostolic ministry.

He covers the various revival movements and why they did not go viral. He also describes the sustained viral movement in China. “What we are seeing in China is the most rapid and robust movement of the gospel in the history of Christianity.” (113) He notes the characteristics of the Chinese church: no buildings, no trained workers, no wealthy, evidence of supernaturalism and suffering.

He discusses the practical aspects of a viral Jesus movement, such as discipleship, church planting, and viral evangelism.

He writes, “In the biblical worldview, Jesus has to be the Lord of the way we gather as a church and the way we do ministry. He has to be Lord of every single thing we do, even the way we think. It is not merely a correct doctrine. It is a way of life. Only then, when we get the Greek philosophy out of our worldview and practice and start actually following Jesus as Lord, will we see a sustained viral Jesus movement once again in the West.” (56)

Ross and his friends long to see the gospel sweep through the West. However, he writes, “We will not experience a viral movement of the gospel in the West until every Christian is equipped and willing to participate in the Great Commission as missionaries.” (184) If every Christian must be equipped and willing to participate, then I think we won't see it anytime soon. If Ross had said fifty percent of Christians must be equipped and willing, I would have more hope.

In general, I agree with Ross, longing to see the gospel spread like wildfire. I do disagree with him in one area, however. I agree that we must have Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered sharing of the faith. (187) I disagree with his guarantee that such Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered sharing of faith will “be 100 percent effective in evangelism 100 percent of the time.” (184 and 191) In studying the life of Jesus (who was completely Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered), I see where even He was not 100 percent effective 100 percent of the time. Many turned away from Him or left Him. We must be realistic in our evangelism work. If Jesus did not win every one over, neither will we.

Ross Rohde is a house church planter and house church planting coach in the San Francisco Bay area. A missionary for nearly twenty years, he has worked as a consultant and speaker on the effects of postmodernism on the European church. He and his wife are parents to three daughters and grandparents to four grandchildren. You can follow Ross on Facebook.

Passio (Charisma House Book Group), 217 pages.

Publisher product page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

A Meal With Jesus by Tim Chester

Jesus spent lots of his time eating and drinking. That was an indication of his friendship with tax collectors and sinners. “In the ministry of Jesus, meals were enacted grace, community, and mission.” (14)

Meals should be an integral part of our Christian life. In this book, Chester shows how meals embody God's grace and give form to community and mission.

The early church met in homes, around a meal. It was not that sometimes they had lunch, or food before or after the meeting. “There meetings were meals.” (51)

“When your church family gathers together as a group of needy people and shares food with Jesus at the center and with Jesus as the provider, you glimpse God's coming world right here, right now.” (61)

Every time we eat we celebrate our dependence upon God. Fasting reminds us that we are dependent upon God for our physical satisfaction. Chester has an excellent section on God's intention for food and how we use it for other reasons.

Meals are a great way to talk to friends and neighbors about your relationship with Jesus. Evangelism does not have to be the task of “experts.” “...[M]ost people live in the ordinary, and most people will be reached by ordinary people.” (91) We have to eat. Three meals a day are opportunities.

“God created the world so we might eat with him.” (138) The future holds in it a great feast.

There is much food for thought in this little book. (Pun intended.) It is definitely worth reading.

Read his blog: http://timchester.wordpress.com/

Crossway, 138 pages.

Need You Now by Beth Wiseman

Darlene and Brad were concerned about the safety of their children so they moved their family from Houston to a small town, taking over the fixer-upper farm left to Darlene by her grandparents. The adjustment is difficult. Brad has a long commute. The kids have a difficult time adjusting to their new schools.

Darlene gets to know their neighbor, Layla, a middle aged woman managing a ranch by herself. Brad recognizes Layla as a movie star who left the Hollywood scene several years ago. As Darlene and Layla form a tentative friendship, Layla's hurt over the suicide of her bipolar teen-aged daughter comes to the surface. Layla is mad at God for the loss of her daughter and the marriage that could not be held together.

Darlene's own world begins to fall apart when she finds out that her middle daughter is a cutter, using a self-damaging way of coping with stress. The tension in her own the marriage increases. Then, when she overhears Brad's end of a phone conversation, she wonders if he is having an affair.

Darlene struggles with her relationship to God. She struggles with her feelings toward an attractive man who is obviously attracted to her. She feels she has lost the support of her family. Who can she turn to? Even God seems far away.

Wiseman has written a great novel that kept my attention through to the end. The plot is thought provoking. Who would I turn to if my world fell apart? How would my relationship with God be affected? Would I question God's will? Would I accuse Him of punishing me with the circumstances?

I learned about cutting and how many teens are turning to it as a means of using one pain to distract from another. Darlene had taken a job (another source of tension in the marriage) and works with a high-functioning autistic girl. So I also learned about autism.

Wiseman's characters are well done. I easily identified with their hurt and subsequent questions about God and His will for their lives.

The end of the novel might require you keep some tissues nearby, but don't worry, there is also glorious hope.

Thomas Nelson has made the first half of the novel available in e-book format for just 99 cents. You can go here to find out more. The entire novel will be available mid-Arpil.

Beth Wiseman is a noted author of novels about the Amish. This is her first contemporary setting. I do hope she writes more in this style. She was an award winning journalist when, through a personal crisis in her own life, her faith was so strengthened her agent suggested she write a Christian novel. She left journalism behind in 2008 to become a full-time writer of Amish fiction. She was the 2010 INSPY Award winner, 2011 Carol Award winner (American Christian Fiction Writers), and the 2011 Inspirational Readers Choice Award Winner.

To find out more about Beth and watch a video showing why she wrote this novel, go to her website: http://bethwiseman.com/

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 320 pages.  Publisher product page.

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Downfall by Terri Blackstock

In this, the last of Blackstock's Intervention Series, Emily has been free from drugs for two years and is in college. Emily, her mother, Barbara, and brother, Lance, had all moved to Atlanta to be close to Kent.

One morning, as Emily starts her car to drive to college, Lance spots smoke under the car. Emily escapes the vehicle but a bomb, taped to underside of the engine does great damage.

Then Emily finds out that a murdered woman is the wife of one of the men in the rehab place where she had worked. She recalled hearing the husband and another man talking about killing each other's wives, just like in a movie they were watching.

What follows is a wild ride for Emily. She tries to warn the other man's wife and when that wife is murdered, Emily is a prime suspect.

In A Note from the Author, Blackstock says when she had started writing the Intervention Series a few years ago, she had come through a long journey with her own daughter who had addictions. The mother in this series was based on her own experiences and emotions as she tried to help her daughter.

This is a good novel showing the struggles young people have with the temptations of drugs in our society. Emily is portrayed as a strong person, finally coming to terms with her past and she hurt she caused others. Even though she is still immature in some ways, she has made her stand on drugs and does not waver. The novel does well in portraying the constant battle young people must go through to stay sober.

Even if you have not read the earlier books in this series, you will still enjoy this one. Blackstock has included enough back material that you would not be lost at all in following the character's story.

Zondervan, 304 pages. Go to the publisher's product page to read about Terri Blackstock and watch a video. You can also go to www.terriblackstock.com for more information.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

My Own Worst Enemy by Janet Davis

Women, we sometimes sabotage ourselves, don't we? Janet found out she did. She writes, “I had met the enemy and she was me.” (15) You are a nobody, she thought. You have nothing to say.

She knew her thoughts had become a hindrance to living out the fullness God had created her to be. Realizing that, she began a focused journey. She talked to other women. Many suspected the God-sourced light within them had become hidden. They realized their internal dialogue was harsh and they did not understand the enemy within.

Janet has gathered stories, modern and biblical, each illustrating an aspect of the struggle with self-sabotage. She writes about the unimagined life, the unworthy life, and the unlived life. She adds her own stories, highlighting the various seasons in her own struggle. Janet finishes her book by writing about healthy and proactive choices, choices offering freedom.

I really appreciated reading about the difficulties women have with self-awareness (living miserable lives and not even noticing), feeling unworthy (knowing the ugliness within), and poor identity (the crumbs are enough).

Janet reminds us we are called to creative and to shine. We can make the wise and healing choices that culminate in saying yes to God.

Thought provoking questions have been placed at the end of each chapter. We are asked to think about our own story, the pain, the emotions, the impact of others, etc. The answers to these questions could be very revealing and I would suggest they be answered in a group of trusted friends. One could also answer the questions privately, perhaps keeping a journal. In many cases, answering the questions were more powerful toward transformation than reading the text.

If you think you are your worst enemy, if you think you are a nobody or that you have nothing to offer God, read this book. You will find that God greatly values your gifts, your voice, and your womanhood. Janet's prayer is that by reading this book, “you will have experienced the lavish love of God for your feminine soul in new and deeper ways.” (248) It is time to get rid of the self-sabotage, to stand tall and shine like never before!

Janet Davis has a master's degree in spiritual nurture from Western Seminary, Seattle, and works as a spiritual director, writer, and speaker after many years in hospital chaplaincy. She and her husband live in Austin, Texas. Read more at www.janetdavisonline.com.

Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group), 253 pages.  Publisher's product information.  

I received a complimentary cop of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer

Amelia Gladstone had been corresponding with an American man for some time. Finally she was going to meet him. Perhaps there will be a wedding in her future. To make the voyage even more exciting, she would be traveling on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

What she didn't realize is that what would impact her the most wouldn't be the grandeur of the Titanic but who she would meet on its decks. (12)

As Amelia waits with her aunt to board the ship, she sees a potential stowaway thrown off the ship. Sensitive to his plight, she gives him the ticket that was supposed to be for her cousin who suddenly cannot go on the journey.

Quentin is from a wealthy American family. While a child he was instrumental in his mother's death. As a troubled young man, he asks for his inheritance and makes a fortune in England – and then loses it. He is penniless but hopes to make a new start in America.

Amelia finds out Quentin's father and older brother are aboard the Titanic, having been to England searching for Quentin. As Amelia begins to fall in love with Quentin, she is convinced he must be reconciled to his family.

She must think about her own situation too. The Titanic is nearing its destination and she has no idea what she will tell the man she planned to meet in America, now that her heart belongs to another. Her aunt has wise words for her. “Will you become all God made you to be if you join with him in marriage? And in the joining will you help him be all God made him to be?” (177)

This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. This novel contains a wealth of information about the ship, its structure, the opulence, the classes of passengers, etc. And the way Tricia has woven into the plot the experience of a prodigal son is wonderful. Even the angry older brother...well, I don't want to give it away, but within the midst of tragedy one sees great efforts of self sacrifice.

This well written novel kept me reading way too late. I didn't want to put it down. What's missing? There is no reader's discussion guide and I would have loved to have had a CD of the song!

Tricia Goyer lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband and four children, including a newly adopted daughter. She has written more than thirty books, fiction and nonfiction combined. See more at www.triciagoyer.com.


See the book trailer here.


Barbour Publishing, 319 pages.
To buy this book, please visit your local Christian bookstore.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.

An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller

I usually don't like books with an Amish theme but I'm glad I took a chance on this one. I really liked it!

Grace is a military nurse formerly stationed in Afghanistan. She has just returned to rural Ohio to help care for her grandmother recovering from heart bypass surgery.

Her grandmother's farm is next to one owned by a member of the most conservative and isolated of all the Amish sects. The Swartzentruber Amish refuse indoor plumbing,education beyond the eighth grade (done within their own community), and the “decoration” of the reflective triangle on the back of their black buggies.

Grace gets thrust into the family when an intruder kills the Amish father and wounds the pregnant mother. Grace begins to have affection for the oldest brother, Levi, a strong young man, now head of the family. And he for her. But they live in separate worlds. If he were to follow his heart he would be shunned – even by his own mother and brothers.

When the murderer returns, many lives are placed in danger.

In this well crafted novel, I experienced the conflict those in this very conservative Amish sect might experience when confronted with a very different world. Levi is a man who wants to learn so much more than was offered in his limited education. He is nearly banned when it is discovered he was reading some old textbooks he had found discarded behind a used bookstore. He would like to see his mother have running water and be able to visit with her sister – forbidden because she is of a less conservative sect.

I also sensed the conflict in Grace's life. She is attracted to the simpler life of the Amish. The children are well behaved and generally seem content without TV and electronic devices. But she is also disturbed at the strict legalism. She nearly drives into the back of a black buggy at night and doesn't understand putting children's lives in danger for the sake of a rule.

I do like it when reading a novel is a learning experience, and reading this one was exactly that. I was introduced to another aspect of the Amish community and was given the opportunity to think about a life uncomplicated by the electronics of our culture. But I also thought about Christianity and legalism. The Swartzentruber sect may read the Bible only in the old German edition, a language many do not understand. The word of the elder in the community has the force of law and must be obeyed without question. I thought of churches in my city in the Pacific Northwest exhibiting similar behavior. I highly recommend this enjoyable yet thought provoking novel.

There are discussion question at the back of this book and it would make a very good choice for reading groups. There would be much to discuss, including what aspects of the Amish society could be incorporated into life.

Serena B. Miller has written for many periodicals and is the author of two previous books. She has spent years partnering with her husband in ministry. They live on a farm in southern Ohio near a thriving Amish community. You can find out more about her and read her journal at serenabmiller.com.

Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster), 330 pages. Publisher product information.

(A note about the book's cover: the main Amish character is a man!  The cover image chosen for this book, I think, misrepresents its content.)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.