An Open Book #anopenbook September
Today I’m joining Carolyn Astfalk and Catholic Mom for An Open Book. Here’s what I’ve been reading and working on for the past month.
A Hero Such as Heaven Intended (#6) by Amanda Lauer
Synopsis: As the Civil War grinds on, Theresa Lundgren’s world unravels in besieged Atlanta. Trapped by encroaching Union forces, a desperate act costs her step-brother his life, and forever alters her own, and that of Sergeant Joseph Laurent, a Cherokee soldier, questioning his loyalty to the Union cause. Their meeting at the scene of a crime is far from ideal. Theresa, an ambitious Southern spitfire, and Joseph, a man torn between conscription’s demands and his pacifist roots, couldn’t be more different. Yet, as Atlanta braces for General Sherman’s devastating March to the Sea, an unexpected bond forms between them, fueled by a shared faith, perilous circumstances, and perhaps something deeper. With the city under siege and their lives in jeopardy, can Theresa and Joseph bridge their divide to survive the war’s final assault? Or will the flames of conflict consume their chance at love?
This last installment of the Heaven Intended Series comes out on September 8 from FQP!
A Serpent’s Pursuit by M.P. McBride
Coming in December from FQP:
Synopsis: George Abiola, a Nigerian boy, is nicknamed Blos (blessed little old soul) due to his wise, positive, Christian approach to life. His chosen life’s path brings unwanted attention from a dangerous antagonist, an evil presence who mysteriously appears throughout George’s life.
At a young age, he joins his grandmother in America, setting him on a trajectory destined for both humble service… and fame. After George has unwillingly gained international notoriety, the manifestation of his antagonist is further motivated to destroy the innocent target of its hate.
George must gain the courage to confront evil face to face. Who will prevail?
Blood Lines by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille
Synopsis: In this “highly entertaining” New York Times bestseller from Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille, Army CID Special Agents Brodie and Taylor “are the modern warriors the world needs” (Bookreporter), and they’re on the hunt for the cold-blooded murderer of one of their fellow agents.
Army Criminal Investigation Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor have been separated for five months following their last assignment, a dangerous mission in Venezuela to locate and detain an infamous Army deserter. Now, in Berlin, they are reunited and tasked with investigating the murder of one of their own: CID Special Agent Harry Vance of the 5th MP Battalion, an accomplished counterterrorism agent who had been stationed in western Germany, and whose body was discovered in a city park in the heart of Berlin’s Arab refugee community.
The authorities suspect this is an act of Islamic terrorism, but Brodie and Taylor soon believe there is more to this case. The reason for Vance’s presence in Berlin is unknown, and as Brodie and Taylor work to discover what the murder victim was doing in the days and weeks preceding his death, they become immersed in the many conflicts and contradictions of modern Germany—the Arab refugee crisis, the dark legacy of the Cold War and the Stasi secret police, and the imminent threats of a rising neo-Nazi movement. At the same time, they are butting heads with the authorities—both German and American—and facing a possible threat from American intelligence agents who fear that Brodie and Taylor might have learned too much about US clandestine operations during their mission in Venezuela.
Ultimately, Brodie and Taylor realize that the murder of Harry Vance was merely the prelude to a much more sinister future event—unless they can unravel the mystery in time to stop it.
My review: I picked this up for 2.99 (Canadian!) the other day, and with Nelson DeMille, you can never go wrong. Great characters, witty dialogue, and a compelling story. Recommend!
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
Synopsis: The Problem of Pain by C.S Lewis is a philosophical and religious exploration of the nature of sorrow and its relationship with the existence and goodness of God. In this book, Lewis deals with the centuries-old question: If God is all-powerful and all-loving, then why is there pain in the world? They argue that pain is an essential result of independent desire, and that suffering can lead to spiritual development and deep dependence on God. Lewis’s nature, the collapse of man and how pain and pain in the plan of God for human development fit. He suggests that pain, while hard and sometimes unbearable, may be a tool for the human soul to awaken to the presence of God, love, and eternal life. Through logical logic and Christian theology, Lewis provides insight into how believers can understand and cope with sorrow while maintaining faith in a philanthropist God.
My review: This book was mentioned on one of the social media platforms and was only 1.46 to download. It’s a bit thick theologically, but I would expect nothing less from C.S. Lewis. Suffering, that is, emotional and physical pain, can work toward our redemption and awaken our soul to the presence of God, love, and eternal life. Recommend.
Incarnate by Antony Barone Kolenc
Synopsis: October, 2007. Joshua Christiansen thinks he’s just an ordinary teen, ready to graduate high school and infatuated with his best friend, Rachel…until Agent Samson shows up and tells him who he really is. Now, while dodging ruthless zealots and evading government plots, he must test the limits of his mind and body as he seeks the truth about himself.
Was he truly cloned from the blood of a Eucharistic miracle? Does he really have the power to trigger the End of Days? Or will he be killed, captured, or brainwashed by one of the many people who want to use him for their own ends before he can learn the truth?
My review: I’ve just started reading this book by fellow Catholic Teen Books author Antony Kolenc. The premise of this book is fascinating, and I have no doubt that the book will be as compelling and intriguing as Kolenc’s other books.
Synopsis: 6 September 1949, East Camden, New Jersey. The shocking true story of the first recorded mass shooting in America. In less than twelve minutes, twenty-eight-year-old Howard Barton Unruh shot thirteen people dead on his block on River Road. Why did he do it? Could someone have stopped him?
The sky was cloudless the morning twelve-year-old Raymond Havens was sent out to get a haircut. He walked across River Road to the barbershop and was just settling into his seat when his neighbor, a quiet, gentle man, Howard Unruh took out a Luger and opened fire on the customers.
The shooting struck panic across small-town America. In the local community of East Camden, schools and stores closed. Little Raymond couldn’t sleep. What led his friendly neighbor to become a killer? While he set about trying to figure it out, Howard’s mother, vilified by the victims’ families, struggled to make sense of the horrific acts her son had committed.
The lives of those that had survived Howard’s killing spree were blown apart and they continue to have repercussions today. Several decades after Howard Unruh shot his deadly bullets, a gunman opened fire in a high school and a young girl hid in a closet – just like her grandfather did that fateful day on River Road.
A compulsive page-turner about a shocking crime that has become a heartbreaking part of everyday life in America, Murder in the Neighborhood will have you asking—how well do we ever really know those around us? Are we ever really safe?
My review: As someone who grew up in the Camden/Philadelphia area, the reported story of these events was well-known to me. What wasn’t well-known was the backstory and the reasons that a recent World War II veteran, a person who before the war was considered sensitive, kind and caring, went on this murderous rampage. Very insightful and compelling true crime reading. Highly recommend.
