Another month has passed and another month of slippery-sloped reading time. I am making my way through the 47 full-sized novels by J.D. Robb, the In Death series. But, I'm intentionally adding in various non-fiction pieces that have been setting, seemingly abandoned from being un-read, on my color-coordinated shelves - and one re-read for review. Non-fiction, in particularly non-fiction Christian is my favorite genre, so I was glad to have added a couple of those titles to my reading list. When I read non-fiction books I generally have pen (usually pen, sometimes pencil) in hand because I, inevitably, will be taking notes in the margin, bracketing paragraphs, and underlining quotes. Sometimes, this exercise spurs on further study, but, it helps me 'find' easily the parts of the book that spoke the loudest, to me.
Here we go:
Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb. If you're unaware, J.D. Robb is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts only Robb's works are darker and grittier. Loyalty is definitely darker with a high body count and evil murderer. All of the In Death novels revolve around homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her billionaire husband Roarke, and her trusted sidekick Officer Peabody. But, the tremendous supporting cast of characters continues to grow as Robb grows Eve's character. Because these books are set in the not-so-distant-future in the late 2050's, Robb is afforded great liberties with technology and she uses it well in this exciting terrorist-driven murder mystery. 17/100 books in 2018.
Witness in Death by J.D. Robb. Lieutenant Eve Dallas' psyche had a work over in Witness, highlighted because of the current homicide she was investigating. It was a really good, and intricately woven story of a murder in real life on stage during a murder being acted out on stage and Lieutenant Dallas was a witness to the murder. Just as it was difficult for Dallas' to deal with, some of the content was especially disgusting but connected the motive to the murder. 18/100 books in 2018
Shaken by Tim Tebow. I'd heard such good things about Tebow's book, Shaken; and, while I know who Tim Tebow is and that he is a Christian and seems to live that life out well, I really didn't know much about him. This is not necessarily a biography, but there is glimpses of his younger life - and through the years. And, while this isn't a memoir, there are individual stories with individual testimonial lessons-learned. We may know Tebow as a successful collegiate athlete and Heisman Trophy winner and this may seem like he is un-relatable. But, Tebow the man, is very relatable. He exposed himself so we could see beyond who and how the world sees him, instead we see how Christ sees him - and how Christ sees us, too. 19/100 books in 2018.
Judgment in Death by J.D. Robb. In a club owned by Roarke a cop is bludgeoned to death. Motive is a mystery. Robb weaves in an intense and intricate storyline - and investigation for Eve. This one will keep you guessing. Some frustrating parts when Internal Investigations gets involved but a bit of a spice is captured with Eve and a former lover who happens to be IAB. Shake things up a bit, relationally. 20/100 books in 2018.
Grace by Max Lucado. There is more to grace than we ever imagined..."Behold the fruit of grace: saved by God, raised by God, seated with God. Gifted, equipped, and commissioned. Farewell, earthly condemnations: Stupid, unproductive, slow-learner, fast talker, quitter, cheapskate; no longer. You are who He says you are: Spiritually alive. Heavenly positioned. Connected to God. A billboard of mercy. An Honored Child. This is the aggressive forgiveness we call grace"...so good. 21/100 books in 2018
Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb. One of Robb's more disgusting and vicious serial killers woven into revenge and betrayal that you do not see coming. Lots of players and a couple story lines to follow - but, easily followed and all pertinent to the murder mystery. 22/100 books in 2018
Many Thorns Yet Still Roses by Jessie Gallaher. I read through this new release by my friend Jessie who writes an excruciatingly brutal and revealing exposé on her and her husband's first year as adoptive parents to 5 siblings and the intense highs and lows they experienced adopting children with troubled pasts. We had the opportunity to befriend this couple - and these kids while they lived near us and went to our church. While I heard tell of some of their experiences it was nothing like I could have ever imagined. This book is not for the adoptive faint at heart. If you come into contact with adoptive families in any way, especially if those families adopted older children then this book is for you. If only to keep you from 'putting your foot in your mouth' when you attempt to tell an adoptive family how they should be doing something different. Because, truthfully, unless you are in the middle of it - you have no idea. But, Jessie, helps us see with clearer vision the struggles. 23/100 books in 2018