House of Mercy

Bethany Borzoi is a young adult who loves horses. Her family owns a ranch that has been in their family for several generations. House of Mercy is the story of Bethany.

House of Mercy is the latest novel offering from Erin Healy. The book starts with the main character, Bethany Borzoi, stealing a saddle to help someone care for their horse.  Right off the bat I knew I would have issues with this book. I am opposed to any book that glosses over sin and shows no consequence for it.

I was also unsettled when Bethany appears to have the ability to heal animals because of the presence of a grey wolf. A wolf that had attacked her and disappeared.

 

I honestly found the book to be extremely odd.

 

I received a free copy of House of Mercy from the publisher for the purpose of review.

 

Star!

Sometimes I fear it appears all I do is read and blog, blog and read, read and blog. I can most heartily assure you that is not at all true. I seem to run around from sun up to sun down. I have just come across a lot of really good books lately.

Yesterday afternoon saw me escaping from the heat to my recliner with my nook. I had downloaded a book from Book Sneeze and spent an enjoyable Sunday afternoon lost in the world of teenagers.

Yes, the above book, Starring Me by KristaMcGee is a young adult novel and quite honestly is the best YA novel I have read in a long time.

Kara McKormick is a teen age girl who dreams of acting. She had appeared in a reality show much like the Bachelor. She had competed with other girls to win a date to the prom with the President’s son. Kara wasn’t picked but that didn’t stop her from trying out for a new show on a brand new network.

After the reality show, Kara meets a young pop singer and of course, develops a crush on her. Isn’t that every girl’s dream? What Kara doesn’t know is this singer is going to be the star of the new show.

Can Kara survive the meanness of the other girls who are also trying out for the role? What will she decide when her father has a heart attack? What will she do with Jesus?

You’re going to have to read the book to find out!

I loved that this book didn’t have much of the boy-girl relationship. There was a relationship but it wasn’t mentioned much and when it was the boy and girl were praying about what they should do before proceeding with the relationship. I just don’t like reading a book for young adults and finding it to not be any different than the books I read for adults.

There was one and only one part of the book I didn’t like. One of the girls pretends to be a Christian so she can win the role. She tells Kara that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe something. That thinking has infiltrated the church and I hate it. I know God hates it! He clearly states He is the ONLY way to heaven. I wish the author had more clearly pointed out the fallacies of this line of thought.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of review.

Addison Blakely, Confessions of a PK

I don’t remember how it happened and which one sent a friend request first, but on facebook I am friends with an amazing woman who is a daughter, wife, Momma and author.   I love learning about her little family and commiserating with the antics of her little daughter, affectionately called “Li’l Miss”.  So much of what she posts on facebook I can vividly remember. Of course I’m able to laugh at it now.

Betsy St. Amant is her name. I have reviewed a couple of her books for adults and found them to be delightful. When she wrote a young adult novel, Addison Blakely, Confessions of a PK, I wanted to be the first on her review list.

There was a little trepidation mixed in with my excitement over this book. Trepidation because…well I just wasn’t sure she could pull off a young adult novel.

Boy was I wrong! I couldn’t have possibly been any more wrong! This book is a delightful read! I found myself reading and reading “just one more chapter”.

Addison Blakely is obviously a PK (or Preacher’s Kid). She lives alone with her Dad, the pastor, after her mother passed away.  Her dad has several rules in place for Addison’s behavior and for the most part Addison obeys them. She struggles with knowing God really desires a relationship with her when her dad for the most part is silent.

But what will she do when Wes comes to town and starts showing an interest in her? What will she do, and how will she answer his questions of why she does what she does?  Does she do them because she really believes or simply because her dad says it is the right thing to do?

Can Addison take her dad’s faith, her dad’s God and make Him personal?

That is a struggle we all must face. Betsy navigates the issue with grace and really points young adults to Jesus. She shows that faith has to be made personal or we will forever struggle with the questions of why. “Why do we do this? Why do we not do that?” etc.

As a mother there are a few things I wish was not in the book. I wish Addison didn’t sneak out at night to ride Wes’ motorcycle when she knew her dad would not allow it. I wish there had been a consequence for that disobedience (James 4:17 niv, “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”).

This is a book I was really hoping I could pass on to my children to read. Because of some of the boy/girl issues (that most all teens/young adults face) are beyond where my children are, I don’t feel they are ready for this book yet.

But if your children are older, or even if you’re looking for a cute, fun, light book to read. I can’t recommend this one highly enough! I give it 4.5 turning pages.

(I received this book free from the author for the sole purpose of review)