"Deadly Intent" by Camy Tang

I just finished another "short read" from Love Inspired Suspense.  Camy Tang is a new author for me and I really enjoyed her book.  There is a murder at an exclusive spa and the lady in charge, Naomi, is being framed for murder.  Her faith is tested as she tries to figure out why the Lord would let this happen to her.  I would recommend it.
I'm sorry this review is so short today but I have a terrible sinus headache and I don't want to forget the book.  :)
Happy Reading!
Missy

"A Cloud of Suspicion" by Patricia Davids

When I started to read the book  "A Cloud of Suspicion" I first made sure that it was not a part of a series.  Guess what?  It is right smack in the middle of a series!  UGGGH!  It is part of the series "Without A Trace" by Love Inspired Suspense.  That is very frustrating wondering what is going on!
Aside from the "series thing", it was a great book!  Patricia Davids does a great job writing.  She weaves the mystery and her characters together beautifully!  The book is about three murders and the disappearance of another.  Shelby is a Christian and does not apologize for talking about God and inviting people to church.  More people should have her attitude.
It's a great book and I can't wait to read more by Patricia!
Happy Reading!
Missy

"Indivisible" by Kristen Heitzmann

Waterbrook - Multnomah sent me this book to review and blog about.  I was trying to hurry up and finish "Uncle Tom's Cabin" so that I could start reading Indivisible.  I took the book with me on my camping trip this weekend and finished it in two days!  I expected it to last me the whole weekend, but I could not put the book down.  The first couple of paragraphs used too many descriptive words to set the setting and my mind started to blur, but after the first page the book just took off. Kristen is great at giving you just enough information to keep you interested, but not enough to give anything away, you have to keep reading it to find out what happens.
She takes several people who have "issues" to deal with and are very different and throws them together to become great friends.  You have Jonah, the police chief who had an abusive father growing up, Tia, the smart girl who could never please her mother and was emotionally abused, Piper, the Barbie look-a-like who just wants a normal life, Sarge, a grouchy old man who yells at everyone, and Miles, who has a germ-a-phobia.  These people seem to have nothing in common, yet they help each other in a big way.  She sets the tone of the book with Piper finding two raccoons sewn together, they killed each other trying to get apart.  Jonah has to figure out what kind of sick person would do such a thing.
The book had an excellent story line, was well written and taught a good lesson.  However, it contains stuff that should not be in a Christian book.  Yes the characters go to church and pray, but it never mentions salvation or anything else.  They drink alcohol, listen to rock music, etc.  She even talked about Jonah liking a girl's boobs,and one of the characters say a bad word.  Philippians 4:8:  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  This is why I read Christian books instead of secular books, to keep my thoughts pure, I wish all Christian authors would honor
Here is an interview Kristen gave about the book.
that.http://www.multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/audio/Kristen_Heitzmann.mp3

Happy Reading,
Missy

Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly

I'm almost done with the book.  I have learned a lot of things about slavery they never taught in History Class.  They had men who would whip slaves for a living.  If a master or mistress was unhappy with a slave, they could be sent to these people who did nothing but whip slaves all day.  Often if the slave girl was pretty, the man would humiliate her in many ways. 
They had slave warehouses where slaves would be sent who were waiting for auction, and the warehouse owners would "fatten" up the slaves and make them healthy in order to bring more money at the "market".  Sounds like I am talking about animals, doesn't it?
Some slave owners would buy some women just to be breeders, so they could sell their children to make money.  This is kind of like what people do with horses, they would match them up with their best "bucks" to produce the best slaves.  Some men would buy the pretty girls just for their pleasure at home, and then sell their own children. 
"And behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter."  Ecclesiastes 4:1
Mrs. Stowe often talks about how these people will have to answer for their sins at the judgement seat of Christ, and she is absolutely right! 

Uncle Tom's Cabin Ch. 13-18

I think there is a lot of misconception about this book.  I have always heard that it was just about slaves being beaten, that is not true.  I am on Chapter 18 and so far she has only had slave owners who were kind to their slaves.  She also talks about how people thought of the slaves, that they were simple and lowly (The other title of the book is "Life Among the Lowly").  She doesn't realize it but even Mrs. Stowe believed they wer a "child like race".  Treat a human being like a child and they will act like a child.  She expresses that is why they were so slow, it is because they were suppressed into submission.  She also talks a lot about how people will have to answer for their sins at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Happy Reading,
Missy

Uncle Tom's Cabin Ch. 11 and 12

Chapter 11 and 12 reintroduce George and let us know what he has been doing.  He is mostly white and has passed himself off as a rich white guy.  Chapter 12 has Uncle Tom with Harley buying up more slaves and what happens when the negroes are separated from their families.  Mrs. Stowe uses a lot of sarcasm when talking about the negroes (I have chosen to use therm negroes since that is what is used in her book).  If you read the book please keep this in mind.
I now want to address how people would twist the scripture to "justify" owning slaves.  Here a few of the verses and arguments found in these two chapters:
"But you know how the angel commanded Hagar to return to her mistress, and submit herself under her hand; and the apostle sent back Onesimus to his master."  "Let everyone abide in the condition in which he is called."  "It's undoubtedly the intention of Providence that the African race should be servants, - kept kept in a low condition....'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be."    Yes they do quote scriptures and stories in the Bible, but it is all taken out of context and twisted around.
They didn't look at the part that says:  "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them."    "My friend, .... how can you, how dare you, carry on a trade like this?  Look at those poor creatures!  Here I am, rejoicing in my heart that I am going home to my wife and child; and the same bell which is a signal to carry me onward towards them will part this poor man and his wife forever.  Depend upon it, God will bring you into judgement for this."
God does not allow for people to take His holy Word and twist it around they wilol stand in judgement for it.
Happy reading!
Missy

Uncle Tom's Cabin Chapters 9-10

Chapter nine starts off with a senator and his wife in Ohio discussing the new fugitive slave law that he just helped to vote in.  Mrs. Bird (the senator's wife) does not like the law at all and is asking her husband whether or not he could actually turn them in.  She says that she doesn't know much about politics, "but I can read my Bible; and there I see that I must feed the hungry,clothe the naked, and comfort the desolate; and that Bible I mean to follow."  How right she is!  Yes we are "to obey the laws of the land" according to the Bible, but only as long as they do not go against the Bible.  She also says:  "Obeying God never brings on public evils.  I know it can't.  It's always safest, all around, to do as He bids us." 
In the middle of this discussion who shows up but Eliza!  Of course they help her, who could turn away a mother trying to protect her child?
Chapter is about when Harley (the slave driver) comes back for Uncle Tom.  It is a very sad scene in the cabin as they eat their last breakfast together.  His wife and children are crying.  Even though Haley has been assured that Tom would not run away he puts leg shackles and handcuffs on him.  Master George, the 13 yr old son, is very upset about Tom leaving also.  George tries to convinve Tom to run away, but he won't do it, because it wouldn't be right.
Happy Reading!