Fear No Evil

I love old movies. I grew up watching the classics on the local public channel on Saturday afternoons. When my chores were done, Mom and I would watch them in black and white on the little tv in the kitchen. I had a huge crush on Gene Kelly and Bob Hope. I tried to impart this love on to my children, but the older two were never interested in them, although both are fans of Cary Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace. I recently started Mia on the old Disney movies like The Ugly Dachshund, which she initially didn't want to watch but ended up rolling with laughter throughout. Hopefully now that she knows that old color movies can be wonderful she'll realize that black and white ones are even better.

This month TCM is having a Summer under the Stars, where they feature a single classic performer each day and run his/her movies for twenty-four hours. Today is Bob Hope, so I'm enjoying the first six of his Road movies with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. I never understood why Bing always got the girl. Sure Bing could croon, but my heart always belonged to Bob who made me laugh. Tomorrow is Warren Beaty day (which I'll skip), but Tuesday is Kathryn Grayson day, and I'll be back for that!

Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll is the follow-up to Deliver Me from Evil. Lincoln Vailes is recovering from both a gunshot wound that damaged his knee and a broken heart from his best friend Brannon marrying another man. He's left the forest service to work as a police officer in Louisiana in order to heal his wounds and be with his father who is deteriorating from Alzheimer's in a nursing home. When a series of strange murders happen in the small town, Jade Laurent, a social worker who tends to get too involved with her cases, seems to be connected to them all. Lincoln and Jade have to figure out how her past has caught up with her while exploring their feelings for each other. The two have great chemistry in each scene as they fight and then can't stop thinking about each other. I was a bit disappointed in the plot about Jade's past; the ending was broadcast from the very beginning. But there's a strong message of faith and learning to trust in God, no matter how bad things appear, and Jade is a terrific heroine. Hopefully the next book will be back up to the quality of the first.

Thank you to B&H Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Today's pic is Mia doing her version of Dorothy Lamour.

Deliver Us from Evil

Something I discovered during my fast from books was how much I used them to cope with every day life. I read while I'm waiting in the doctor's office, at the bus stop for Mia, and on long car trips. I also have a book in my hand whenever I'm sitting down. I rarely watch television without reading too. As I was preparing for the fast, I had to turn down several blog tours that I really wanted to participate in. I have authors whom I follow closely and read everything they write. Turning down the opportunity to get their books for free was pretty difficult.

After the surgery, I ended up fasting from books again for about 36 hours. I felt so miserable during recovery, that while I had a book on the table next to the bed, I didn't have the strength or interest in opening it. I was teased by the doctor and nurses pre-surgery, because I kept a book in my hands right up until they wheeled me into the operating room! I really do love to read.

I couldn't wait to get back on the reading train, and I was thrilled that Jane Kirkpatrick would be one of the first authors I would break my fast with. I have found however, that just because I missed reading, doesn't mean that just any book would fill the void. I'm still just as picky, but I am working on expanding my comfort zone. I just finished a historical epic by Anne Perry, The Sheen on the Silk, that is a considerable break from her usual Victorian era mysteries. It didn't hold my interest as much as it could have, but I loved her examination of religion vs faith. I also have a mystery by Donald Westlake on my shelf, written mid-20th century, it's not my usual oeuvre, but I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

Deliver Us from Evil by Robin Carroll is the first book in an unnamed series about about law enforcers in the South. Brannon Callahan is good at her job as a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Great Smoky National Park. She's called in to rescue a downed chopper carrying a US marshall named Roark Holland who is bringing a donor heart to the only witness who can bring down a child trafficking ring. They end up on the run for their lives after a sniper takes out her chopper and kills another pilot and an EMT. I was a bit disappointed in the villain; he was obvious from his first appearance on the page (he was smoking in a Christian book, hello!), and many of the other plot points were equally obvious. Brannon and Roark's relationship is the saving grace of the story as they each struggle to let go of previous pain and fear and come together. I hope that in the sequel, Fear No Evil, Carroll has given more time to character and plot development. Her nail-biting action scenes will keep readers turning pages until the very end.

Thank you to B&H Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

Don't forget to drop me an email for the chance to win the children's book This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano and Mark Elliot!