Review: Found a new author...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 7, 2014
I completely agree with the other reviewers so I won't restate everything again.  It had everything I look for in a romantic suspense book.  Light on the romance and heavy on the suspense.  I liked that, since Sara and Matt were getting over the deaths of their spouses, their relationship had to evolve and was handled in an adult  manner.  I did have trouble keeping all the side characters straight in the beginning and at the end, had no idea who Lucy was.Several reviewers said that they liked that the Christian aspect was light and not preachy.  I am a long-time Christian and felt that God was very much a side issue and when He was given credit for working everything out, it didn't ring true.  If Sara and Matt are Christians, why did we not see any evidence of a personal daily relationship with God?  When Sara was taken hostage and was afraid, why did she not pray?  Why did Matt, and anyone else who was a Christian (it was hard to determine who else might be), not pray? Why was the pastor not around during this time?  He could have been a good presence for the kids.  It felt like, at the end, when he was surveying the congregation, that he felt satisfaction at a job well done when he was barely present.  I wondered how God had gotten Sara and Matt through the deaths of their spouses.  The counseling session Matt had did not include God or scripture or anything. When all the threads of the story were tied up, it was like, 'oh, by the way, thanks God.'  If  Sara and Matt were put on trial for being Christians, would there be enough evidence to convict them?  To reviewers who claim to be Christians and were relieved that the God aspect was barely present - would there be enough evidence to convict you?If you're going to write a Christian novel then make it that way- no apologies.  It does not have to be preachy and heavy handed but a relationship with God should be a natural part of the character(s) lives.  I know some will find this review harsh but it is a serious issue.  God wants to be first in the lives of His own.