Review: The Good Girl's Guide... by Shelia Wray Gregoire

In 1993, when I got engaged, a friend gave me a copy of the 1976 edition of The Act of Marriage, a Christian classic of its kind. The 1976 edition was hopelessly outdated even then, so I was intrigued when I came across this title, The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex, to see if it was any more relevant.

It is.

The author is very open about the ups and downs of her own relationship, and these stories are enhanced by quotes from some of the hundreds of women (and men) she surveyed as part of her research. Her studies refute the common secular wisdom that practice with as many people as possible makes perfect. Her research showed that those who were least sexually active before marriage had the greatest satisfaction with their love lives.

Despite the title, The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex is not all about positions and moves (after all, the biology hasn’t changed). It is more about sex as a vital component of the marriage relationship. She emphasises the importance of our relationship with our spouse, spending time together and sharing hobbies. She also says “The key to a passionate marriage is not to be as sexually adventurous as possible, but to be as passionate about God as possible”.

What makes this book different, at least for me, is that it is real. The area where this struck me most forcibly was in the discussion around pornography. This wasn’t even mentioned in The Act of Marriage (which seemed to assume that the wedding night was the first time a good Christian boy would ever see a naked woman). But a changing world and the omnipresence of the internet means that this is now a real issue in many marriages.

If The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sexwas lacking in any area, it was in the struggle to maintain a healthy marriage when the children are young (although she has addressed this in her earlier books, such as To Love, Honor, and Vacuum). I was also a little confused by how she could recommend sexual role-play games when she had spoken so strongly against the fantasy element of pornography (the difference between a fantasy and a role-play is too subtle for me). Otherwise, I think this is an excellent resource for engaged or newly-married couples, and for those who have (ahem) been married for a little longer.

Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

In case you are wondering, I dont' really have a downer on The Act of Marriage, just on the first edition. It is now into its fourth edition, with the latest publishined in 2009. These new editions can only be an improvement.

Review: The Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman

“My name is Rachel Dunne. I am not a murderer.”

It’s a compelling opening line. Rachel Dunne, a healer, has been forced to leave her Irish home and find employment in London after being shunned following an accusation that she was responsible for the death of an ill child. She is hiding her past and hiding her background in healing from her new employer, Dr James Edmunds, a widower who is struggling with his own medical calling. He is also father of Amelia, who is being raised by his sister-in-law because he felt responsible for his wife’s death after childbirth.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find that The Irish Healerlived up to its early promise. It was very well researched and (as far as I could tell) historically accurate in its handling of the 1832 cholera outbreak in London. But I found the story difficult to get into, because I found both Rachel and James hard characters to like, and because I thought their ‘romance’ seemed to develop too quickly. I know some people marry soon after meeting and still manage to have long and happy marriages, but these are the exception rather than the rule (otherwise there wouldn’t be the saying 'marry in haste, repent at leisure’).

There were a also number of areas where the actual writing felt clumsy (odd choice of vocabulary, use of adverbs, use of first person), or where characters seemed to know things that the reader knew but the characters were not supposed to know. The Irish Healerhad a gripping opening line, but unfortunately I didn't find the rest of the novel nearly so interesting. It wasn't bad; it simply failed to interest me. However, similar novels by Liz Curtis Higgs and Siri Mitchell (both of whom have won Christy Awards) also didn’t interest me, so who knows? This may be another award winner.

Thanks to Worthy and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Review: Rainbow's End Novella Compilation

New Zealand readers will guess why I chose this novella collection to review: Rainbow's End is a popular theme park. But these stories are centred around Rainbow's End in the Missouri Ozarks, where four women arrive to participate in a geocaching hunt – will they find what they are looking for, or will they find love? (It's a romance collection. No prizes for guessing the correct answer, I'm afraid.)

Geocaching is like a treasure hunt with GPS devices. Participants are given GPS locations for caches, and, in these novellas, they also receive clues in the form of poems. The idea is to find as many caches as possible and leave a small memento to prove you were there. I’m not sure this is my idea of fun, but the four authors in this collection certainly manage to inject the challenge into their romances, which all take place over the same two-month period.

In Topaz Treasure by Valerie Comer, Lyssa Quinn is soliciting sponsorship for the Rainbow's End Treasure Hunt being organised by her church when she meets Kirk K, her ex-college professor, who is helping run his brother's new shop.  Although she recognises Kirk immediately and remembers his very anti-Christian stance, he does not remember her and does not understand why she is so antagonistic towards him when he asks her out.  My favourite part of this story was the point at the end about how we are all parts of the same body, and not all of us are called to be the mouth.

Beneath the Surface by Annalisa Daughety is the story of Madison Wallace, who has returned to her home town in time to enter the geocaching contest with her sister. However, an accident means that Madison is soon working on the geocaching competition with the home town boy next door, who is everything she never wanted, and who seems to disapprove of her too. But spending time together forces them both to overcome their preconceptions about each other. 

In Welcome Home, Love by Nicole O’Dell, Hadley Parker has returned to Osage Beach after thirteen years to take part in the geocaching competition. She is flattered to be asked out by handsome Brad, partly because that takes her away from Noah who she liked as a teen. This story had a couple of loose ends that meant it didn’t work as well for me, but it still illustrated an important principle in that we need to ensure we are following our own calling in life, not trying to live someone else’s.

My personal favourite was the final story, Love’s Prize by Cara C. Putman, because it had a suspense element and I really enjoy romantic suspense. Reagan Graham is spending an extended vacation with her brother, Gerard, and his new college roommate, Colton.  They have come to remote Osage Beach and the geocaching competition to escape a stalker who has been plaguing Reagan. But they might not have managed to escape after all. I liked the development of the romance in this, and I especially liked the twist at the end that I really didn't see coming. 

With the exception of Topaz Treasure, these were not so much Christian romances as clean romances with Christian characters, but they were still enjoyable. I find the Barbour 4-in-1 romance novella collections are always a light-hearted and easy-to-read, perfect for a lazy afternoon when I want a short read with a happy-ever-after that will leave me with a smile.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Review: Secrets of Roux River Bayoux by Kathy Herman

Today's review is actually the three books in the Secrets of Roux River Bayeux. The murder plots are stand-alone, the subplots are related and I would recommend reading the books in order, back-to-back, as there is a large cast of characters that can become confusing. I know the author has thought of little other than these books, but they each appeared six or seven months apart, which means I had forgotten some of the first book before I read the second (I learnt, and read the second and third together).  
Ten years ago, Shelby Sieger changed her name and left her home, bound for Lafayette and a new life…

Vanessa and Ethan Langley have just moved into Langley House, with the intention of turning it into a B&B. But Langley House has a six-generation history that includes its share of ghosts.  Meanwhile, they are renting an apartment from Zoe and Pierce Broussard while Langley Manor is being renovated. Pierce and Zoe run a cafe together.

Trouble begins when a white man, the simple-minded Remy Jarvis, is lynched just 200 yards from Langley Manor. Meanwhile, Zoe starts getting anonymous notes, each the same five words cut from the newspaper: I know what you did. Her past is a secret from everyone, including her husband.  Does someone know? If so, what do they know? And what will she do to prevent her secrets becoming known?  The answers to these questions are slowly uncovered as the story progresses.

 

Dangerous Mercy begins around three years after the end of False Pretenses, which could have been made clearer. The story opens with the discovery of a murder victim, a businessman who has been found dead in his own bathtub. More disturbingly, “#1” has been written on the wall, -implying there will be more victims—and there are. As in False Pretenses, Zoe B’s restaurant becomes the central area where all the community characters meet and discuss what is happening in their town, especially when one of the victims is more closely related to them.

(I have to say that the North American convention of referring to # as the pound symbol annoyed me. I call it the hash symbol. To me, the pound symbol is 'lb' for weight, or £ for currency. And # is a hashtag on Twitter). Dangerous Mercy finishes with a clear gospel message without being saccharine or preachy. Overall, it was a good read, but was weaker than the first book in the trilogy.

Relentless Pursuit begins two years after the events in Dangerous Mercy. More murders are occurring in Belle Fourche, this time as a result of poison injected into locally-bottled water. This gives the police two problems: catching the culprit based only on a grainy security camera photo, and ensuring that all the bottles of water sold are located before anyone else dies.

While the murder hunt is going on, there is a visitor in town - Zoe’s brother, who has returned to find the sister he abandoned many years ago. They had an abusive father, and Zoe has to work on forgiving her brother for not taking her when he left. Even though she has been a Christian for many years, she still finds this difficult.

Overall, I enjoyed this series, even though the concept of a murder mystery where the police force where not the main character was a novel concept (if you will excuse the pun), and I did work out who did it before the police in two out of the three books, and I prefer that the culprit not be so obvious. The books are well-written, the characters are strong and likeable, but not perfect, and the setting is well done. These are solid mysteries with underlying themes of faith and forgiveness.

Kathy Herman is now working on another trilogy, Tales of Foggy Ridge, which will be set in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, and will contain some characters from this series. Thanks to David C Cook and NetGalley for providing free ebooks for review.

New Releases for May 2012

Sax Landry left home at seventeen to escape his father’s abuse, leaving his mother and sister to fend for themselves. Now, twenty-eight years later, both parents are dead, and guilt compels him to find his sister and make peace. His search leads to Les Barbes, Louisiana, where authorities fear a bio-terrorist has injected cyanide into juice cartons and fresh produce at the grocery store. People are dead. It’s not safe. Sax stays, fearing death less than living another day without peace. A divine appointment is about to change all that forever. Relentless Pursuit will be reviewed on 4 May
Moved by the desire for adventure and a yearning to help the Ute Indians, Shiloh Wainright accepts a teaching position at the White River Indian Agency. The new job, however, isn't what she imagined it would be, and Shiloh soon finds herself caught in the crossfire between the Utes, their unyielding Indian Agent, and the demands of the US government. Her unexpected encounter with Jesse Blackwater, an embittered half-breed Ute and childhood friend, complicates matters as they battle their growing feelings for each other. Book 2 in series.
Susan Hostetler a young Amish woman who had left her community for life in the outside world, returns home with her English friend, Teresa Long, and Teresa’s newborn, fatherless son. Deacon Ray gets wind of the situation and forbids the unwed mother from attending the church services, fearing she will pollute the young people of the community. Susan’s estranged boyfriend, Thomas Stoll, who still has hopes of winning her back, fears the trouble with Teresa will drive Susan back into the English world. Book 2 in series.
The prophet Nehemiah's cousin can speak numerous languages, keep complex accounts, write on rolls of parchment and tablets of clay, and solve great mysteries. There is only one problem: she is a woman. Sarah is catapulted into the center of the Persian court, working too many hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and solving intrigues for the Queen. Ironically, it isn't failure but success that causes Sarah to lose her only source of external validation. Sarah soon learns that she has something of worth to offer beyond her ability with languages and sums.

Adrift in the world without a family or a home, Hope happens across the town of Salvation on her escape from past disappointments. She finds it a charming town with inhabitants whose generosity stems from an inner source. Michael, a compassionate lawyer, offers her a job, and Faith, the owner of a bed and breakfast, provides her with a home. And then she meets Jake, a widowed father of a young son who welcomes her and allows her to openly share for the first time about her abusive childhood.
The only man pragmatic Lilly Hart needs in her life is a six year old. Widowed two years ago, Lilly leaves the shelter of her intrusive in-laws' home to stand on her own and provide for her young son by working for the summer as a cook at Lake Manawa. Little does she know she is about to begin the ride of her life. I found the first book in this series exceedingly average, so would be interested to know if they have improved at all. Just not interested enough to buy it without a recommendation. Anyone?

Annie Beiler seems to have it all—a loving family in a tight-knit Amish community and the affections of an attractive and respected young man. But when she learns that she was adopted after being found as an abandoned newborn, she sets out on a journey to find out who she is. Her father is strongly against her decision to leave, as it could mean Meidung, or excommunication from the community and even her family. But Annie knows she must find “the path that has her heart.” As Annie’s search brings her into the fast-paced world of modern life, she is confronted with all of the temptations she was warned of. Can she make her way back to the order and security of her family? Or will she remain an outsider—torn between her two worlds?

At their sixtieth anniversary party, Adam Carlson asks his wife, Elizabeth, for their customary waltz. After the dance they gather the family and share their story—a story of love and courage overcoming adversity and thriving in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s the summer of 1946, and Adam has just returned from the war to his home in Reunion, Montana. At a town festival he meets Elizabeth Baxter, a young woman going steady with his former high school rival and now influential banker, Nathan Roberts. When Adam and Elizabeth share a waltz in a deserted pavilion one evening, their feelings begin to grow and they embark on a journey, and a dance, that will last a lifetime.

One piece of the skin map has been found. Now the race to unravel the future of the furture turns deadly. Kit Livingstone met his great grandfather Cosimo in a rainy alley in London where he discovered the reality of alternate realities. Now he's on the run-and on a quest-trying to understand the impossible mission he inherited from Cosimo: to restore a map that charts the hidden dimensions of the multiverse. Survival depends on staying one step ahead of the savage Burley Men. The key is the Skin Map-but where it leads and what it means, Kit has no idea. The pieces have been scattered throughout this universe and beyond.

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a lifetime. Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the Regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future. Christian Regency Romance - interesting... On my wish list

Welcome to The Designer Bag at the Garbage Dump. It's a fish out of water story about how God turns 32-year-old Julie's manicured, pedicured, self-absorbed designer life upside down. Julie, a nominal Christian, heads to New York for a weekend shopping binge. On a deserted train, she sits next to a stranger who turns out to be Jesus. When she gets off the train she's in India. Her charmed life is shattered--she must care for 12 "filthy orphans" living on a dump before she can return to her comfortable life. She lives on the street and overwhelming new challenges arise daily.

Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands. As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her.

Samantha Owens' estranged stepfather has died, leaving her his cottage in Nantucket-a place she fled years ago, never planning to return. As a single mom, Samantha can't afford to pass up a financial windfall like ocean-front property. So she travels home to fix up the house and sell it . . . never suspecting that Landon Reed still lives two doors down. As their long-dormant romance begins to bud again, Samantha must face a past that separated her from the God of her childhood. And she must tell Landon why she fled the island in the first place-a secret that could tear them apart. Is Landon's love really as unconditional as he claims? And will Samantha finally realize that the God she found all those years ago never abandoned her?

Disfigured with a hideous scar from his stepmother, Zeph Walker lives his life in seclusion, cloistering himself in a ramshackle bookstore on the outskirts of town. But Zeph is also blessed with a gift—an uncanny ability to foresee the future,to know peoples’ deepest sins and secrets. He calls it the Telling, but he has abandoned this gift to a life of solitude, unbelief, and despair—until two detectives escort him to the county morgue where he finds his own body lying on the gurney.



No product description on Amazon, but written by a member of Christian Writers Downunder. Book 3 in series.






A routine mob hit lights the fuse on an explosive collision of ambition and deception inside the Windy City's corridors of power in this softcover edition of The Ambition. Lee Strobel reveals an insider's tale of power, politics, and payoffs ripped from today's headlines. When a down-on-his-luck lawyer must bribe a federal judge to fix an upcoming mob trial, he secretly tapes the exchange to protect himself. After the dirty judge becomes a finalist for an open U.S. Senate seat, the incriminating tape isn't the only thing standing in his way.

Vivian is a young woman with a will of her own, and made some decisions back in Portland that have begun to haunt her. The youngest Sinclair sister is determined to make her own way, so when she’s offered a job as a hostess in a sporting house, she takes it, thinking the position is appropriate for a tainted, unlovable woman like herself. Although she’s convinced she’ll never be asked to entertain privately, Vivian keeps her employment a secret from her sisters, knowing they’d be mortified. Book 3 in series.

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