Gathering Shadows

Finding Sanctuary #1

by Nancy Mehl

Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Christian, Romance, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

318 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2014

About the author

Nancy Mehl is the bestselling author of over 50 books. She’s won the Daphne Du Maurier Award, as well as an ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award and a Carol award. She was also a finalist for the prestigious Christy award. Her short story, Chasing Shadows, was in the USA Today bestselling Summer of Suspense anthology. Learn more about her at www.nancymehl.com and on her blog, the Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.
Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.”


Series: Book #1 in “Finding Sanctuary” series.


Spiritual Content- Proverbs 31:25-31 (paraphrased) at the beginning; Scriptures are read, remembered, quoted, & discussed; A few prayers & blessings over food; Church going, songs, & sermons; Being witnessed to; Many talks about God, being angry at Him, trusting Him, & forgiving; Talks about religion & religious people; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Wynter stopped going to church as a teen; *Spoiler* Wynter asks forgiveness near the end *End of Spoiler*; Many mentions of God; Many mentions of churches, church going, services, worship, pastors, & sermons; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessing over food; Mentions of talks about God & churches; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of Christians & faiths; Mentions of Amish, Mennonites, their beliefs, & churches; Mentions of blessings; Mentions of sins; Mentions of “religious nuts” & doubting; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of Heaven; A few mentions of Christmases; A couple mentions of miracles; A mention of Sunday School;
*Note: Mentions of a man not liking religious people & being agnostic; Mentions of shrines; Mentions of evil; A mention of a man saying he’s lived through hell.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shut up’, a ‘wimp’, two ‘idiot’s, three ‘stupid’s, and seven forms of ‘dumb’; Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Prologue is when Ryan was kidnapped/tricked (not violent, just a trigger warning); Being held at gunpoint & tied up (semi-detailed); Pain, being drugged, & passing out (up to semi-detailed); A car being ran off the road, pain, & blood/bleeding (semi-detailed); All about mentions of Ryan’s abduction/disappearance; Many mentions of murders, kidnappings, kidnappers, a serial killer, targets, crimes, criminals, bodies, & prisons (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of threats & blackmail; Mentions of a murder, body, & how it happened (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of killing (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of murders & a break-in; Mentions of pain, blood/bleeding, & injuries; Mentions of children physically abused; Mentions of child abductions & selling; Mentions of a drunk driver hitting & killing a child (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & bars; Mentions of drugs & growing marijuana; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking; Mentions of poisons & illnesses; Mentions of nightmares & screams; Mentions of divorces & parents walking out; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip; A few mentions of an accident & deaths; A few mentions of hitmen & Mafia bosses; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a puppy shot & almost drowned (it ends up fine though); A couple mentions of child killers & abuse in prisons; A couple mentions of vandals & graffiti; A mention of roadkill; A mention of the possibility of a dog being ran over;
*Note: Mentions of actors/actresses, movies, TV shows, & characters.


Sexual Content- a fingers-to-lips touch, a hand kiss, a forehead kiss, and three barely-above-not-detailed kisses; Touches & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes & flutters; Mentions of dating, dates, interest, boyfriends, & girlfriends; A few mentions of smutty video & book stores; A few mentions of a pregnancy out of wedlock; A few mentions of good-looking men; A couple mentions of women hiding from their abusers; A mention of children sexually abused; A mention of having a type; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of a baby that died during labor; A couple mentions of butting into another’s business.

-Wynter Evans/Emily Erwin, age 23
1st person P.O.V. of Emily
314 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
While at first, I was hesitate about reading this novel due to my strong dislike of the cover (I know, I know, that’s wrong) and the prologue being the abduction of Wynter’s little brother took me a bit by surprise, I did like this suspense novel. Overall it was a decent read. I wasn’t a fan of the insta-attraction of Wynter and the guy, it felt forced to me, personally. I did think it was neat, though, that this book was in first person point of view, which I don’t see too much for suspense books. There was also quite a bit of Spiritual Content, so that was nice! :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Mars · Rating 1 out of 5]

"You'll never believe WHAT she found in a little Missouri town!"
"7 things you should never steal from a hospital!"
"Woman looks for missing brother, and you won't believe what happens next!"

The story is fairly dull, the characters are two-dimensional smiley faces, the mystery bit is ruined by the fact that I genuinely fail to care about what happens to any of the characters (I was looking forward to some of them dying in hopes of seeing some genuine emotions out of those left, really) and the book is not engaging at all.

This is apparently supposed to be a romance novel (although internet archive classified it as pure Mystery - damn its lying bytes!), but the love story element is downright boring. Yes, fine, Wynter has a professed lack of being able to open up to people, which she keeps talking about but which we never actually see, as she tells her tale and entire backstory to everyone she meets. There is no tension, or conflict, or anything else to make the romance bits even a little bit interesting.

[Janet Marie Dowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honored to be a character in this book! I really enjoyed this book! Wynter Evans' brother was kidnapped as a child. She always believed he was alive. As a TV reporter, her job always allowed her to visit different places. This particular assignment takes her to the town of Sanctuary. Sanctuary is small Mennonite town in Missouri. She went to interview some of the people in Sanctuary, but the real reason she goes is that she saw a picture of a young man that "looks" like her brother.

She and a photographer take a road trip to Sanctuary where they are not accepted by some because they are outsiders. Someone who lives there tries to get them to leave because that person doesn't want some secrets revealed.

To find out if she finds her brother and to discover the secrets this person wants to keep hidden........ you have to read the book! Happy Reading!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gathering Shadows is built on such an interesting premise. The possibility that an abducted child could have been hidden away in an Old Order Mennonite family for ten years caught my attention and I knew that this was a book I wanted to read.

The story started out at a slow and steady pace as Wynter began making contacts and gathering information. I liked how we learned a little bit here and there from Wynter, and eventually from her father, about the details of Ryan’s abduction and of other interesting information from their family life. Every piece of knowledge the author allowed the reader to discover helped me to slowly place the pieces of this puzzle together.

There is light romance in the novel between Wynter and the honorary mayor of Sanctuary, Reuben King. However, their romance, although sweet, blossomed rather quickly and was not the driving force in the story for me. As I passed the halfway point in the book, the action and suspense in the story began to pick up and the romance began to feel like a good fit to me. I believe that the times of danger and trial could help two people, such as Wynter and Reuben, realize their feelings for each other very quickly.

I really enjoyed this story from start to finish and have to admit that for the last quarter of the book, I could not set it down! The author did a great job of creating a suspenseful story that kept me guessing over portions of the mystery until the very end. I was able to piece together part of what might have happened to Wynter’s brother, but only in the last couple of chapters were all of my questions answered, and they were answered in a very fulfilling way. I definitely look forward to reading more books in the Finding Sanctuary series.

How about you? Have you read Nancy Mehl's Gathering Shadows or any another suspense story set in an Amish or Mennonite community?

You can read this review on the Suspense Sister's reviewer page at:
http://suspensesistersreviews.blogspo...

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wynter Evans is asked to do a television documentary on little known towns in Missouri. She goes to Sanctuary, a hicktown that is predominately Mennonite. She discovers that even in a small town there are secrets. She sees a Mennonite boy that looks suspiciously like her younger brother who was kidnapped years ago. There are many layers of secrets to uncover. Why did someone give her a package of newspaper clippings about babies who were kidnapped from hospitals years ago and who is trying to frighten her out of town? This was an intriguing and suspenseful book that was hard to put down.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gathering Shadows is another great suspense filled novel by Nancy Mehl. I loved reading how Wynter struggled with her past and her determination to find her missing brother. There many events that happened in this book associated with her brother. You are left guessing "who did it" all the way to the end. What a shock! I did not see that coming at all. Fabulous read!
5 stars.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. I really did not guess who the villain was. Sweet ending! Another wonderful book by Nancy Mehl!!

[Lauren Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The suspense was good but the romance was lame.

[Dorothy Vandezande · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The mystery was well done and twisty and surprising. The character development was abrupt and extreme all the way around, with so much insta love and 180 degree redemptive behaviors. Oof.

[Rissi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

If the genre of a new-to-me-author is one that appeals, I’m all for the “adventure” of trying that new author. Nancy Mehl is an author who has had a slew of books to her name already, though none of those have found a way onto my reading list. After my mom talked about this one from an ad in the back of another Bethany House book, I happened to get an email about this one and one accidental click of the mouse later and I had this one in my mailbox. That’s my story, the actual novel goes like this. Wynter Evans has built an entire life reimagining herself. She no longer wants to be the teenage girl who lost her brother to a kidnapping that made national headlines, and is now working as a journalist at a station where she rarely has any contact with her stern father – a father who fell apart after his son’s disappearance. Thanks to her curious nature, Wynter happens to spy a photo of a young Mennonite man who resembles her brother and convincing her boss to let her and a photog, Zac do a story on the Mennonite, Wynter sets off for the small town of Sanctuary and its people – including her kindly landlady, Esther and the handsome mayor, Rueben – determined she won’t leave without returning with Ryan.

When you’re used to a certain kind of mystery novel, sometimes adjusting to a new premise is hard. That’s what I found in Gathering Shadows. First off, the prose is first person which is never a favorite (mainly because I rarely, if ever feel connected or as if I can get to know the other characters – and that is especially accurate of this book) and secondly, the premise is much “easier” to read than most in its genre. The first half of the book relies on a years old kidnapping and slowly builds up to the mystery that surrounds a sudden murder. I cannot say that I didn’t like the book because I did, it simply took me a while to correct my idea of what the story would be against what it actually was. And as with all books, there were things I liked about this one. First, the interesting relationship between Wynter and Zac is one of the best things; at first, they were definitely more colleagues who didn’t seem to care they were on a story together beyond the fact of each doing their respective jobs. That shifts at some point and leads to a strong, good kind of friendship that all too often a reader will crave in a book. The reason for this is because the romance takes up the better part of the story, as it should do if that is what the book is primarily about.

Those of us who love a good mystery with plenty of romance will feel let down. The boy-girl meet-cute isn’t anything near the same level of chemistry as some of its peers, although I don’t mean this as a gripe (aside from the ending coming across a bit too “neat” or more unrealistic than average) because, seriously, it’s refreshing now and again to read something that puts its heroine’s (or whoever its leading character is) emotional health above jumping into something more than friendship. In this, I think most readers will find that to be a truth. Everything is wrapped up, and we get the answers to the mystery, however as a parting caution, you might not get the same sense of satisfaction with this ending. I didn’t mind it, but if you like to be able to experience the fullest intricacies of the story – in this sense, some of us may not feel like what the entire book was about is totally examined by the end of the story just because time is cut short – then this might not be a book you’ll enjoy. If you like mysteries that aren’t all about reading with the light on (I loved that the danger of this book wasn’t elongated – there was a bad situation that started in one chapter and was over by the beginning of the next), then be sure to look into Gathering Shadows.

Note: my sincere apologies to the publisher and the author for the delay in reviewing this book.

Sincere thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it.

[Teresa Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great romance mystery from Nancy Mehl. The book grabs you from the beginning and holds your attention until the end. The characters are very well defined. Love Rueben and Wynter. The secondary characters were also good. The cover, unlike most, depicts Rueben and Wynter exactly as I picture them. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but I'm hopeful the story will continue in book two.

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time I've read this author and I really enjoyed the story. I read this book at a busy time and was frustrated that I couldn't just read it straight through without interruptions. It is a page turner and you won't want to put it down, I certainly didn't! Very intriguing mystery with progressive character development throughout the entire book. Loved the characters and their growth throughout the story. I'm looking forward to more books by Nancy Mehl.

[Stella Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gathering Shadows is a suspenseful novel from the very first page. It will keep you hanging on until the very end. Who kidnapped Wynter's brother all those years ago and why can't she let it go? Why does she insist the he is still alive when everyone else thinks he is dead? There is mystery, suspense, romance and heartbreak in this book that you definitely do not want to miss. Also many life lessons as you go along. I highly recommend this book.

[Patricia Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Nancy Mehl's Gathering Shadows. It kept me hooked until the end and I was surprised at how the killer was. Although looking back, there were clues pointing to the killer. Great job, Nancy! I will be reading the other books in the series.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things that I love about going through my backlog of books to read is when I find one that is timeless and so appropriate to the modern era we are living in. This year, I have spent a lot of time listening to news media sources and making discernment on good anchors versus politically motivated ones. I have also been reading more about the efforts of official sources in attempts to quell the horrible business of human trafficking. Both of these topics were touched on in this novel as well as a general desire to melt away from all the noise and live a daily life. Nancy Mehl writes really good escapist mysteries to my taste and I have liked every one that I have read even when the going was tough to get through the rough spots. I originally received this book through Netgalley, but it was not until later with my Kindle eBook purchase that I actually read it. I would definitely continue to read Nancy’s books and more in the series. I own a Kindle eBook.

Originally posted on CreativeMadnessMama.com

[C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been a much more enjoyable read, if the excessive religious proselytizing and god-talk hadn't detracted so much from enjoying the story. :(

Too much like reading a sermon.

[Kari Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting this book I was wanting a light read, that's not what I got. The story is one that will work to build your faith up while allowing you to question why things happen. Wynter and Zac find themselves through the tragedy of Wynter's past in a quiet unassuming town called Sanctuary. A family torn apart begins to heal. However, the kidnapper was not who I thought.

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

23 year old Wynter Evans, (aka Emily Erwin) and the TV station's photographer take an assignment featuring Mennonite and Amish communities in Missouri. Her real motivation is to look into a boy in a picture her friend's mother took when she was at a Mennonite town who looks eerily similar to her brother Ryan who was abducted 10 years before.

The town is Sanctuary, Missouri, and it's a bit creepy. Members of the community do not want them there, they seem to be secretive, and then the warnings start.

One of the few welcoming citizens is the honorary mayor, Reuben King, who shows them around and assists them where he can, eventually getting embroiled in the search for Wynter's brother and the strange warnings.

Four thoughts about the plot with spoilers, so I'm hiding them.
Negative:
Reuben and Wynter suddenly declare they have feelings for each other (after about two days!). A bit far fetched.
Her photographer betrays her, then once he's caught and admits his part in the betrayal, he has an immediate turn around and becomes totally faithful. It was too sudden and Wynter totally trusts him and calls him her friend. Also a stretch.
Wynter is told by the station to not go to Sanctuary because of the negative reports from the town about reporters being nosy. Instead they are to go on to the other towns they were planning to write about, get the stories and be back in ten days. They don’t do what they’re told and stay in Sanctuary for quite a few days, risking their jobs. My thinking on this is why didn’t Wynter take vacation and investigate on her own time? She was being paid by the station but wasn’t doing her job. She was just investigating her brother's disappearance.

But on a good note, the book had an amazing faith arc. People rededicated themselves to the Lord as a result of the Christians around them, and because of a lovely, welcoming Mennonite woman they stayed with in town. This was one of my favorite parts.

All in all a pretty good book.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a new series, I loved being back in Sanctuary, and visiting with some of our old friends. This new series is awesome, and I had to keep turning the pages, as my heart went into my throat.
As you will learn from reading the back of the book, Emily, or Wynter, has been missing her brother since he was kidnapped, or murdered when he was seven. I can’t even imagine, the pain and hopelessness of such a tragic happening in a family. While Wynter has gone on with her life, and is now news reported with an St Louis TV channel, she is ever alert to finding her brother, the not knowing and seeing him in different places. She has another hunch and is now in Sanctuary, and a lot of people are not happy about her being there, and will she finally be right? Is there any possibility that this Mennonite town holds clues to what happened to Ryan?
Can a healing happen here, even if answers are not found, trying to comprehend what an event of this nature would and did do to a family. I did love how God placed his hand on all, even Zac the cocky photographer sent with Wynter. Of course, Wynter’s faith has been shattered with the pain that has happened in her young life.
Meet the honorary mayor Rueben King, which we have met before, who takes an instant like to Wynter, the career girl and rather lost soul. These people are such sweet caring individuals; they don’t even lock their doors. After some of the events that happen, maybe they should? Don’t miss this great suspense novel, and read more about the Old Order Mennonites.

I received this book through Bethany House Publishers for my read, and was not required to give a positive review

[Lynne Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! I was riveted to this book! I could not put it down! I love books with a mystery or a little suspense attached to them and this one did not disappoint! Definitely a page turner from the first chapter! For once I didn't figure out "whodunit" until it was revealed. I had my ideas but I was wrong!

Wynter/Emily has strong memories of her abducted brother even though she was a little girl at the time. His abduction tore her family apart. But could this photo be her brother? Or is she just grasping at straws? The news reporter in her says she needs to follow up om this so she goes to the tiny town of Sanctuary to pursue it. She soon finds there are many secrets in Sanctuary and someone doesn't want her to be there and they will do almost anything to keep her from finding out the truth. But will she find her brother? You will have to read the book to find out!

I cannot wait for Book 2 in this series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a really good page turner. I read this book in about 4 hours. I couldn't put it down, it was that good.

[Carol Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books by this author and this one was just as great as the rest. after seeing some pictures, Wynter Evans talks her boss into letting her do a series of stories about places in Missouri that people would not know about otherwise. She winds up in a town called Santuary and soon finds herself with more than she anticipated. I liked how the story didn't follow a standard that everyone is good or changes right away. I liked seeing the growth in the characters and how they sorted out why they thought the way they did and were willing to look into things differently as time progressed. This was one book that I finished very quickly and had to stop myself several times from turning to the back to see how it would all turn out. I especially liked the cats in the book as they remind me of my own. Maybe all homes away from home should come with some.

I received this book free to review.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Gathering Shadows" is a Christian mystery novel. Most of the story was about finding the lost brother and Wynter finding healing for her broken family relationships. There wasn't much suspense, and romance wasn't really developed. They move from "I want to get to know you" to thinking about marriage within a few days, and I'm not even sure why they were so attracted to each other.

The mystery was interesting and had a number of twists. There were clues, but I didn't recognize most of them as such until after whodunit was revealed. Mostly I just enjoyed watching her try to put the confusing pieces of the past together to understand what happened. The characters were interesting and nice, and I cared what happened to them.

The Christian theme was mainly about forgiveness. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that slowly builds in intensity as the chapters move forward. The mystery is on the page almost from page one, but doesn���t acquire suspense pacing until the last quarter of the book. And there are many layers to the story and mystery. They all weave together artfully in the end. Gathering Shadows also has the small town charm of Nancy Mehl���s prior romantic mystery series and the wide cast of appealing characters which will bring readers back for the next installments in the series. There is romance in the story, but it didn���t quite fit for me. Given more time in the story���s timeline, I think I would have enjoyed that part. Still this book will be a pleasant read for those who love a romantic mystery set in simpler settings like the Mennonite Sanctuary.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a fan of Amish style novels but I do like Mehl's works. This novel has a good combination of mystery, suspense, and romance. It has enough twists, turns, and revelations in it that I avidly kept reading. I appreciate that the town of Sanctuary, while appearing to be a quiet and restful town on the surface, held deadly secrets. This is a good novel for those who like Amish style fiction but will be appreciated by mystery lovers as well.
See my full review at http://bit.ly/1poTSgc.
I received a complimentary egalley of this novel from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

[Karen Brazelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding book

I read a LOT of books and, by far, this has been the most captivating book I've read in a long time. It masterfully wove a story of mystery of kidnapping, murder, lies and deceit with finding faith, family and love. I literally couldn't stop reading until I had read the last paragraph. If there had been a Sanctuary Book #2, I would have wanted to get my hands on it to continue to find out the next chapter in the lives of the characters I found in Gathering Shadows.

[Ogz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never heard of the Mennonite but this story was absolutely thrilling and beautiful!! It kept me turning the pages and sometimes I would get too scared for Wynter to continue reading. I kept making up the story in between reads. I knew there would be someone unusual who'd be connected with missing Ryan. I didn't expect who it was. This story of forgiveness, mercy and love is a beautiful Christian story. The town of Sanctuary sounds like a nice place too. Very good read if you like crime sprinkled with Christianity and loaded with suspense.

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by Nancy Mehl. I loved the mix of English and Mennonite. This is a nice quiet small town that can still have problems like the big cities. Both of the main characters learn a little bit about learning to live better lives. I look forward to the next book in this series. Had a hard time putting this down.
I received this from Bethany Hoouse blogger for a fair and honest opinion.

[Donita Corman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could easily be made into a movie on Hallmark or Up tv. I'm looking forward to the next book. Nancy has written a mystery filled with endearing characters. I felt like I was personal friends with them. Highly recommend this book

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery and story of misjudgments.

This story keeps you wondering until the end. You learn to not assume you know people or what they are doing and why. Lots of interesting characters that you would like to meet and spend time with.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time author for me. I enjoyed this book and can definitely see reading more books by Nancy Mehl. I love it when I can come across a book that really speaks to me, that in some fashion or another expresses thoughts I've had myself just never voiced.