Fiction Chicks

Just a reminder to myself of the list of books that I wanted to review soon. If anyone is interested in one (or more) in particular, make sure you comment, and I'll do it first.

A Man Called Blessed, Bill Bright and Ted Dekker
Bad Heiress Day, Allie Pleiter
Premonition and Retribution, Randal Ingermanson
Double Vision, Randall Ingermanson
The Martyr's Song, Ted Dekker
My Life as a Doormat (in Three Acts), Rene Gutteridge

"Madeline Weaver is putting everything on the line. Her hometown is dying, and she will stop at nothing to save it. Using her fortune to buy up the town's land, she holds a national contest to give away the property, piece by piece. As modern-day pioneers apply for a place in Madeline's hyper-controlled world, she chooses only those who spark her interest and seem suited to her own designs.

There's an egotistical banker from Manhattan, a Jewish retired couple from Phoenix, a hometown boy turned cop, and a family from Arkansas running away from grief. In spite of Madeline's best efforts, the lives of these new residents quickly weave together in ways completely out of her control.

Now faced with long-buried secrets, Madeline finds herself at
the ultimate crossroads, where she must make the most difficult decision of her life..."

Thus shares the back of this most recent read of mine...And the concept held my attention, but not without my grumbling along the way:
~Did every family have to have someone who was not liking the changes?
~Couldn't we read about a winning family who was utterly thrilled and fulfilled by it all?
~There were more gaps in the story than I wanted - I wanted to see the interviews, know more about the town and the jobs that were available. I wanted to PICTURE more.

But for the most part, the creativity of the story-line did hold me - it was unique and most of the characters were enjoyable, although some were more thinly developed than others. Seth's character (the cop), for one, was a bit boring and unnecessary; but if the author had decided to share more about Seth's "work" as the sheriff in a town where crime was minimal, it could have been a very enjoyable character to read about.

[Spoiler Warning:] One more thing. As I rate books, I will on occasion note whether or not the particular book is appropriate for younger readers or not. Having 2 daughters that read voraciously (and they're always intrigued with what I'm reading), I pay particular attention to content in this light as I read. I anticipate some debate on this from time to time, because I'm sure that some will find some topics appropriate for their kids, where I will not, and vice versa. That's life, and I think we can still get along, don't you?

In light of this, I want to mention that there is a particular topic in this story-line (adultery) that I would want to keep away from my daughters' minds. I don't want seeds of interest or knowledge planted at this young age (or ever, but the topic is inevitable at some point!), and while there was repentance demonstrated, I viewed it as only partial-repentance, and therefore not complete enough for any redemptive value in my mind.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Worth a read, but be prepared for some plot and character disappointments.

I am excited for this group. I love to read and am always looking for a good recommendation! Can't wait hear from my fellow fiction chicks.

--April