Fall Reading Challenge Book Review #3 and #4

I've completed this little devotional book and it was very good although not as "meaty" as I was hoping it would be.  The title is based on the song "Blessings" by Laura Story, Christian singer/songwriter.

The book is a non-fiction devotional broken into 30 short chapters for one month of readings.

Each chapter begins with a short portion of Scripture (and I mean SHORT!) followed by a little anecdote by the author about her own experiences and thoughts on suffering, peace amidst storms, trials, etc.  Quite frankly, this book probably won't be as much as a "wow" book as One Thousand Gifts by the blogger Ann Voscamp. The daily readings were ok but I would have liked more depth to each reading. The author then follows the short anecdote with a page or 2 of quotes (based on that day's theme) by famous Christians, both dead and alive.  Then there is a page of Scripture based on the theme. It does make for a very fast morning devotional but if you are looking for a "meaty" devotional, then this book won't satisfy you.

I did like the style of the set-up: the Scripture followed by the author's original thoughts, although again, nothing really "deep" or thought-provoking.  I found many of the quotes by people like Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Elisabeth Elliot, etc to be very profound and thought-provoking.

This devotional  would make a nice gift for a person who has recently faced a tragedy or a loss of some sort but if you are thinking it will help to deepen your walk with Christ or help you grow more intimate with our Savior, it falls short. (in my opinion).  I've read much more "in-depth" devotionals.

I recommend this book for ages 12 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8.

I completed this book earlier in the week and I must say I do enjoy this series! (The Women's Murder Club series ).  This is the 11th book in the series and I have read them all.

It is a fast read as most of the author's books are.

I liked the plot line and as always, there was a sub-plot running through it as well. 

Story Summary

Lindsey Boxer, San Francisco homicide detective, is pregnant at last!  She and her husband are busy with their careers and her latest work involves a millionaire, Chaz Smith.  He is gunned down at his daughter's piano recital at a private music academy.  Lindsey discovers that the gun is linked to the deaths of 4 other San Francisco criminals.....drug dealers!

And...the gun was taken from her department's evidence lab.  ANYONE could be the killer-----is it one of her closest friends??

Meanwhile, she is also called to the crime scene that is very bizarre and creepy.  2 heads with no bodies are discovered in a famous actor's garden!  Five more heads are found buried in the garden and Lindsey realizes hundreds of heads could be buried there. But where are the bodies?? Who are the dead people??  And who is the person beheading these people??

We won't know until the 11th hour!

MY THOUGHTS

I loved this mystery/thriller.  But then again I like most mysteries and almost every Patterson book I have read, has been a great read for me.

The book was fast paced and easy. A definite page-turner.

I liked that we got to know more about Joe and Lindsey's marriage and I like the little twist that the author put into this sub-plot.  I also really liked how he resolved things in the end.

I also liked that we got to see a little more of the other 3 women who make up the Murder Club:  Yuki, Cindy, and Claire.  I especially have always liked Claire, the medical examiner. I kind of wish the author(s) would focus more on her in a future book.

I was a little surprised by the outcome of who the murderer was.....I won't reveal it in case you want to read it!

I recommend this novel for ages 16 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9.