Kate Willis's Blog, page 79

Book Review: Kate’s Dilemma

[image error]“Kate can’t stay with the team any longer. She has worked for too long to keep the walls around her heart and around her past to allow the team to tear them down now. She doesn’t think they can handle what is behind them; she’s not sure she can. Heading to Charleston with the team on one last case, she and Brian go undercover as brother and sister to find out if a young musician is profiting from illegal activity.

Patrick is going undercover as a summer student at the University of Charleston. He tries to befriend the sister of a suspected drug runner, but nothing is coming easily. The sister won’t trust him, leads keep drying up, and tension in the team is building. When things begin to fall apart, Patrick is convinced that he can fix things, but can he?” (from Goodreads)

Wow, I missed this series. I am ridiculously excited to have read book three now. I love the characters, setting, inside jokes, and solid Biblical truth so much. It was a little bit like coming home.

Meet My New Project!

It’s been a very long time since I’ve started a brand new writing project that wasn’t a short story.

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society

[image error]“‘Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?’

Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they’ll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you’re gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.” (from Goodreads)

I had vaguely registered my friends’ glowing reviews of this book, but since it had been compared to something I don’t care to read, I always passed it by at the library. Until I found a copy at the thriftstore and decided that maybe now was the time to give it a try.

Praying for Fictional Characters

“Wow, I keep almost praying for these characters! This book is so intense!”

It’s a joke, a compliment to the author, and a way of expressing that a book is very engaging. We feel rather sheepish even saying it, but I recently realized, it’s actually not that weird.

What if we actually did pray for fictional characters?

Every story is based on something–a character, a place, a situation. Behind every fictional character who evokes your compassion is a real person or at least a real type of person. Let the Holy Spirit prompt you to pray for a real person in a real situation like the one you’re reading about.

Today I started reading Threads of Blue by Suzanne LeFleur (sequel to a big favorite Beautiful Blue World). It’s a moving story involving the suspense and danger of wartime, the unique problems of being a refugee, and tough, relationship-straining decisions. It’s got some hefty stuff for such a little book when I think about it.

The Return of the Dueling Book Stacks

Remember this amazing stack of library books?

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That stack. ^^ (From this post almost three months ago.) I just recently finished reviewing the last of these, and now I feel ready to share my thoughts about them.

Dueling Book Stacks–UPDATE ;)

Remember this amazing stack of library books?

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That stack. ^^ (From this post almost three months ago.) I just recently finished reviewing the last of these, and now I feel ready to share my thoughts about them.

Short Story Review: Code

[image error]A sinister threat. A shocking betrayal. A single rose.

Jan has poured her grief over her brother’s death into finishing his work—crippling the terrible system they’d unknowingly helped to build. But when a strange gift beckons her to seek out Kevin’s betrayer, will she find the answers she needs? Or will hate and anger shatter everything she holds dear? (from Goodreads)

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

After enjoying another short story by this author, I jumped at the chance to read and review this. It certainly did not disappoint!

The main character, Jan, had quite a loving soul, and I liked her bravery and attempts at peacemaking. The whole theme of computer hacking was awesome, and now I need more techie books in my life. My hands-down favorite part of this book was the sibling relationships (both by blood and by marriage) that stood strong despite politics, mistakes, and betrayals. I teared up a little bit at that part in the shaft.

I would have loved a little more physical description of the characters since I got them a little bit confused at first and never got a good handle on how old they were.

Just a note, it is mentioned that an evil man SPOILER ALERT! oversaw the execution of his underage stepson.

Best quote: I study his face, wondering why people can’t be scanned and fixed as easily as simple strings of code.

Altogether, I enjoyed this short story, and I look forward to reading more of Angie Thompson’s work.

Another Blue Book

I love looking at my Goodreads reading challenge and admiring all the pretty colors and designs of the covers. But this year it’s been amusing and chagrining me just how many of the books I’ve read are blue. Seriously, it’s crazy! (Take a look for yourself.

Translation

I was just thinking about how I’m not a hugger. I don’t hate hugs, but I also don’t “get” them. It means much more to me for someone to make eye contact, smile, and ask me what I think about the message of The Wizard of Oz and if the book or the movie was better.

I still give hugs, though.

I was also thinking about how I almost never say “I love you” or “I missed you” or even “Goodnight”. “What are you thinking about?” and “You looked nice today” and “That was a really fun time we had”, again, mean a lot more to me.

I still say (or at least try to) those words to people.

People use hugs as greetings, goodbyes, thank yous, I’ve-been-thinking-of-yous, apologies… you name it. People love those short sentiments so much they write them everywhere and pass them on to their dearest friends and family members.

Our words may be different, but at their core, they mean the same thing. But there’s still a language barrier.

We need to learn to give of ourselves and put in the extra effort to “translate” so real communication can happen. Our words are not just our own, they are for others too. So, I will continue to say words that feel strange on my tongue and awkwardly hug my friends because I want them to know what I’m thinking and feeling in a way they will understand.

That said, goodnight, everyone, and what do you think of The Wizard of Oz?

Short Story Review: Love Blind

[image error]“Was Danna the only one I’d been blind to all these years?

Returning home from a disastrous ski trip, Jake is quick to trace Mel’s hand in the welcoming touches scattered throughout his apartment. But when a closer look reveals more than she intended to show, Jake’s world is turned upside down. Can he somehow prove to Mel that he’s woken up at last, or has he lost the chance forever?” (from Goodreads)

So, that was too adorable! I read it earlier today, and it’s sweet, light-but-meaningful tone was perfect for what I was looking for.

It was cool to see Jake’s thought process/working with God in how blind he had been and how he was beginning to see what and who was important in his life. I enjoyed the hint of a mystery and the gradual way we got to know the characters. The story didn’t feel rushed at all even though it was so short, and the ending was adorably sweet.