The Lightkeeper's Ball

I have a horrible habit - I almost always read the last few pages of a book after I've read the first third of a book or so. Usually that way, I find out who the villain is, and look for clues through the rest of the book that hints at the eventual unmasking of the villain. However, in the case of The Lightkeeper's Ball, by Colleen Coble, reading the last three pages still left me with a surprise in store. I won't say what it is, but it was great to be surprised by an ending!

The story revolves around Olivia, whose sister mysteriously dies in the first chapter. She journeys west to San Francisco to find out the real story, find out if anyone killed her sister, and find out more about her enigmatic fiance, whom Olivia is leery of. While on the way to San Francisco, Olivia is attacked, thrown overboard, and left to drown. The person who saves her is an unlikely hero: her sister ex-fiance! The rest of the story revolves around finding out how her sister died, her ex-fiance's secrets, and finding out who is trying to kill Olivia.

I enjoyed this book immensely - I've always been a big Colleen Coble fan, and this one did not disappoint. I know it's part of a series, but it worked well as a stand-alone book. It takes a while for it to get going, but once you're in, you're hooked.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Max on Life

I expected Max on Life to be a certain kind of book. I expected there to be questions I had heard before, followed by the typical answers that most Christians will tell people who have these questions. Instead, I found it to be a thought-provoking, gut-wrenchingly honest look at life in the 21st century.

Few of the questions found in the book are easy questions. The questions range from questions about Jesus, marriage, and the afterlife, to genuine worries of people. Parents worried about their children, about their jobs, how they will provide for their families - not much is held back. And for each question, Lucado has a Biblical answer, with his own thoughts interspersed. I appreciated the way he handled sensitive topics, yet also was unafraid to call people out on their own faults (such as when he told the couple who are in debt because they always buy new gadgets to simple STOP BUYING THINGS).

While this book is not one that you'll sit down and read for a story effect, I have a hunch that it will be useful as a reference book for me. I recommend it, especially if you're a Max Lucado fan. This one's a winner.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”