Michelle Lynn Brown's Blog, page 2
October 9, 2018
Review – Delayed Justice, Cara C. Putman
Delayed Justice by Cara C. Putman deals with a tough subject – but I was not connected to any of the characters, the story, the message, or the outcome.
[image error]Summary:
She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.
Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.
Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.
This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.
My Review:
My expectations for this book were high, as I know Ms. Putman is a well respected author. Maybe that is why I was so disappointed. I wanted to like this book and I tried hard to connect with the characters, but I couldn’t.
As I read, I felt very detached. The story drags with long unneeded descriptions that do not move the story forward or provide a means of pulling you into the story or the characters. There is one exception: when Tiffany was on the stand and her feet were moving over Aslan – that was the first time I felt pulled in. I could see her, feel her hesitation. That felt real. Unfortunately, it was near the end.
The military aspects of the book were well done. As a military spouse, I’m really irritated when someone does not accurately depict and research military life. The author did well on this aspect.
I was not deeply moved by the faith message either. Maybe that is because I wasn’t invested in the characters. It felt detached as well and lacked depth.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend the book. Maybe if you are a fan of her writing and read the rest of the series, it would be a good buy for you. However, I cannot give the book more than two stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 16, 2018
Shedding Self-Sufficiency
[image error]I was talking with my mother-in-law the other day. She shared a story about how she obediently – instinctively – followed 1 Peter 5:7 and cast all her cares on the Lord. It was a small concern, an everyday annoyance. One of those speed bumps in life, things you are aware of and simply slow down and accommodate for.
I said instinctively, because that is how she is. She casts ALL her cares, from not being able to get a stove to work to a report from the doctor. It all belongs in God’s hands – not hers. It isn’t just something she works hard at doing, it has become who she is.
As we were talking, we discussed how the small cares and the large cares are all important to God. But then it hit me – by casting our cares on Him, we show how important He is to us. It also hit me that doing so sets up a pattern of living that helps us shed our self-sufficiency, operate in wisdom and discernment, and get to know Him more.
[image error]Our natural instinct is self-sufficiency. “We’ve got this” is our mantra – until we don’t. Until life throws us a curve ball and we find ourselves on our knees seeking God. The little things we take on begin to multiply. The “I’ve got this” increases our self-sufficiency instinct. The problem is we are not sufficient. We are needy and messed up people – the Bible is very clear about that. We have an amazing God and the Bible is very clear where we should seek help. Psalm 68:19 says He – not us – is the bearer of burdens. By casting our cares onto the Lord – even in the little things – we learn to shed this self-sufficiency.
Casting ALL our cares on Him means we do not react to life. We process our thoughts, emotions, and justifications through the Holy Spirit. The outcome – wisdom and discernment. Purposeful acts that glorify and honor God.
[image error]By casting ALL our cares on Him, we get to know God more. The more we cast our cares, the more He acts. This isn’t a declaration that your speed bumps will be smoothed out. This is just saying that He acts. He moves in our lives, and the more we tune into that, the more we get to know Him. We see His love, His faithfulness, His mercy and grace. We fall more in love with Him and seek to draw closer to Him. We trust Him – which means we lay even more down. We we see how faithfully He moves in all the the little speed bumps that crop up in our life. And when the mountains appear on our horizon – the ones that shake us to the core – we know exactly who to turn to.
