BOOK REVIEW - "SHATTERED SANCTUARY" (THE ERIN DELANEY MYSTERIES BOOK ONE) BY NANCY MEHL

 

Mystery Writer and former police-officer Erin Delaney's only friend is an ex-FBI Behavioral Analsyst she has never met in person; will that friendship endure spending some time together in an isolated cabin? Oh, did I mention that there is a ghost walking around? No? How about the body the local police discovered?

"Shattered Sanctuary" is the first book in Nancy Mehl's new "The Erin Delaney Mysteries," and it is what you expect. A well woven mystery. Creepy villains. A nail abiting Psychological Thriller. And it delivers.

Longtime Mehl readers like myself (this is my 21st novel of hers I've read) will be happy to see Kaely Quinn-Hunter return early in the story; Quinn was the main character in a previous series and guested in another novel ("Dead Fall"). My interest piqued with the title "Shattered Sanctuary" because Mehl also had a trilogy called "Finding Sanctuary," and I wondered if there was a return to that small Midwest town. It didn't take me long to realize this was another small town called "Sanctuary," this time in the Smokies.

Yes, this is the first in a series, and usually there is no need to worry about if you're spoiling a story by reading it out of order, but would the return of Kaely change that? In my opinion, not at all. Yes, reading the "Kaely Quinn Profiler" series would help you get to know her, and the same is true with "Dead Fall," but it won't have an effect with enjoying this new tale.

As usual, I highly recommend this novel by Nancy Mehl. By the way, I also recommend the"Kaely Quinn Profiler" trilogy and for that matter, the Quantico Files trilogy, of which "Dead Fall" is the middle story. And I'll add the "Finding Sactuary" series to the list, though it's in a different genre.

AN EVENING HANGING OUT WITH PETER IN NEVERLAND - MOVIE REVIEWS OF DISNEY'S "PETER PAN" AND SPIELBERG'S "HOOK"

 You may have remembered that last year I spend a few hours, watching both Disney's '51 animated and '10 live action films titled "Alice In Wonderland." Well, this year I decided to watch Disney's "Peter Pan" ('53) and "Hook" ('91).

There is a noticeable difference between my Alice binge last year and the Peter Pan double feature: As I mentioned, both Alices were Disney pictures. "Hook" isn't a Disney movie. In fact, one thing that I noticed was there was an allusion to Tinkerbell drinking poison to save Peter's life, as in the original story and plays, as opposed to her rescuing Peter from a bomb in the Disney version.

When I was young, I loved Peter Pan. It was onc of the Disney albums telling the story with a short illustrated version that I had - probably my second favorite (Jungle Book taking first place). However, it wasn't until seeing this movie again that I realized  that Peter was a womanizing flirt, mad when jealous Tinkerbell tried to have Wendy killed, laughing when jealous bikini-clad mermaids tried to drown Wendy, and having Tiger Lilly dance for him.

While I didn't catch this when I was 10, I did pick up on the racial slurs towards Indians (would characters in an English story that takes place in a fantasy world accurately be called Native Americans?). Even as a kid, I cringed wht the "What Made The Red Man Red." This was the first exposure I had to racial prejudice.

I am surprised at my typing this review, but "Hook" is more of a family film than the Disney classic. I will say it had a slower start before the film picked up. But Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, and Bob Hoskins (playing Peter, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, and Mr. Smee respectively) did a great job in making this entertaining. 

Before I forget, I'll mention that my first introduction to Peter Pan was on the Disneyland dark ride (as was the case with Alice in Wonderland). This was the original version, where Peter was no where on the ride except for his shadow (the idea is for the rider to view themselves as Peter; same was true with the Alice, Mr. Toad, and Snow White rides).

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS.

 

Cartoon from James Lawson. Used by permission.

This week, I saw a couple of posts and and heard a podcast dealing with Thanksgiving. 

Let me start with this cartoon by James Lawson that has blessed me for years. I do, however, have an answer or two about why pilgrims are loved and Puritans are hated. It has nothing to do about doctrine, but rather who is the oppressor and who is oppressed. The Pilgrims are seen as victims to the bad Church of English who were persecuting them. The Puritans (at least some of them), on the other hand, were the oppressors. The existence of Rhode Island is proof of that, where Roger Williams and other Baptists fled to.

Switching gears but not leaving the cartoon yet... To be honest, I don't think the Pilgrims are as beloved as they used to be. Is doctrine involved here? Good question, but if it is, it's not that the hatred toward the Pilgrims/Puritans' Reformed Doctrine but the doctrine that is shared by all believers.

This is related to an article that was on the Indianapolis Public Library's website. There question is what indigenous peoples think, giving the answer that they see Thanksgiving as a day of mourning. They gave a link to see for the indigenous people's view of colonization. First, let me state that I don't think that the original residents of this country were treted right by some of our ancestors. Howver, should we have what has been a day of celebration of faith and family and for the unenlightened, football (the enlightened, like me, have the TV tuned to America's Dog Show) and feel guilty for something that we personally didn't do and something that we can't undo even if we wanted to (which I do).

Let me share a couple of thoughts I've heard before, but Al Mohler (President of The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville) reminded me. First, Thanksgiving is uniquely American holiday. Second, even the non-Christians are thankful, but to whom? Doesn't this show that we're not as secular as the world wants us to be?

Again, happy Thanksgiving. Hope your day is blessed.

JOIN ME ON A RIDE ON THE DARK RIDE SIDE

Fantasyland sign for the Alice in Wonderland Ride. Interesting fact - this ride is only at Disneyland.

 

It was rather recently that I heard the term "dark ride." My mind at first connected dark as, well, dark, as in dark comedy, dark music, etc. No, it didn't take me long to realize they meant rides that went into dark indoor adventures. 

I spent the first 9 1/3 years of my life in Fullerton, California. This meant every other holiday I went to Disneyland and the other found us (Mom and Dad and I) at Knott's Berry Farm. The high-light for me was the Calico Mine Train Ride at Knott's and a quartet of Fantasyland dark rides at Disneyland. This repritoire expanded in Disneyland with the "20,000 Leagues  Under the Sea" walk-through, "Adventure Through Inner Space" (which replaced the previously mentioned Walk Through, "It's A Small World," "Pirates of the Carribean," and parts of the Submarine Ride, 'Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland" (replaced by Thunder Mountain Railroad) and the train that circles Disneyland which ends with "The Grand Canyon and Primeval World." Yes, all of those were Dark Rides I grew up with. (Yes, "Space Mountain" and "The Haunted Mansion" came shortly afterward, but that was after I moved from California and didn't attend there as often.) 

While I enjoyed all the rides mentioned above - plus some outdoor rides like the Antique Cars (aka Tijuana Taxi) at Knott's or Disneyland's Jungle Cruise) - my favorite part was getting to Peter Pan, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and this is where I'll focus. 

Knott's Berry Farm's Calico Mine Train Ride.

Before I do that, however, I need to give a shoutout to Calico Mine Train. As far as I know, there is no movie that this is based on, but just a creative ride that tells its own story. And while it has a last minute thrill when there's a danger of an explosion, the train gets out of the mine and out to the bright sunny (or starry at night) sky. One other note - both this and the above mentioned "Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland" have caverns, but while Knott's looks artificial, it is more realistic than the Disney version.

Back to the Disney rides. In the original version, the only time you see any of the titular characters is the large cast painting on Peter Pan, Snow White, and Mr. Toad. The philosophy of these rides is that the rider is seeing through the charcater's eyes. Of course, in the first decade of my life, I was acquainted with the concepts of philosophy and understood exactly what they were doing. You believe that? Me neither. By the way, another fact is the rides weren't retellings of the movie but were in essense their own story. 

Jeremy Thompson - https://www.flickr.com/photos/rollercoasterphilosophy/51240734807/

Of course, every story has a happy ever ending, right? Well, not these rides. Snow White' conclusion was the witch trying to roll a boulder on you. Peter Pan had the crocodile snapping at you. Alice in Wonderland had you exiting the Mad Hatter's Tea Party to a flash and going through four consecutive doors before you went down a long vine - a little better than the previous two. But the kicker is Mr. Toad, where you end up in hell with a batch of noisy demons.

Each of the rides have creative vehicles. Snow White has mine cars with the Dwarves' names on them. Peter Pan has a track above the car, to give the illusion of flying over London and Neverland. Mr. Toad has antique coupes, while you get to visit Wonderland inside Caterpilar cars. 

Peter Pan's Flight. To the left is Mr. Toad.

While each had its scary moments (driving with a terrible driver like Mr. Toad or having Mr. Smee shoot at you before the Crocodile pops up), "Snow White and Her Adventures" had the reputation of being the scariest. They put a note in the ride descriptions warning parents, and by the '80's it was called "Snow White's Scary Adventures." I don't know why a pair of vultures and the witch offering you an apple would be called scary. However, I've learned from a Yesterworld You Tube video that mentioned the Disneyland version was nothing compared to its equivalent in Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom. 

Is it saying something that the rides featuring a female lead were the scarier ones? "Alice in Wonderland"s original design gave it a run for its money, with a creepy Chesire cat and a giant Mad Hatter calling you rude. By the time I got to remember the ride, it was toned down some. It did become my favorite, even though I didn't see the movie until the late '80's (and that was the hour long edited version). Come to think of it, after rewatching the original version, that might be why I liked it. While you saw the White Rabbit (blowing a horn at you), the Chesire Cat, the flowers (including an angry Dandy Lion), the birds, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse, there was no Caterpillar (you were riding him), Tweedledum and Tweedledee, or Queen (and King) of Hearts. And this ride, part of the same building as Mr. Toad and Peter Pan, didn't have the portrait with all the characters like the other rides. By the way, Disneyland is the only Disney park with this ride.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, By SolarSurfer - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5635296

So you can say that these dark rides lived up to the dark. None had a real resolution. You were off kilter with loud noises that may or may not have belonged (such as Goofy's voice as you're going through a collection of doors shrinking in size on Alice). I've grown up, but I do remember feeling "is this all there is?" Now, not all dark rides have that darkness (nothing dark about "It's A Small World").

In the early to mid '80's, Fantasyland had a major makeover. It ended with a fifth ride added to the Dark Ride collection ("Pinocchio's Daring Journey"), and a complete renovation of the original four rides. With the exception of Mr. Toad, the title characters showed up on the ride. (Pinocchio and Alice with the White Rabbit also are singing along on Disneyland's "It's A Small World.") Alice's ride now has the missing characters. Likewise, the rides are a little closer to the original stories (except Mr. Toad).

The beginning and ending of the Alice In Wonderland ride, with the now defunct sky buckets. If you look carefully, the track goes into neither of the openings in the back. They've taken out part of it's next door neighbor Mr. Toad to end the ride with a Tea Party and a band from the White Rabbit.

How about the endings? Pinocchio has a happy ending. Snow White now ends with her revived with her prince. Peter Pan has Peter piloting the pirate ship back home, while Captain Hook is trying to avoid being swallowed by the Crocodile, and Smee is rowing to the rescue. Alice's ride took some of Mr. Toad's real estate to have an extra couple of scenes which include her at a tea party with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, as well as the White Rabbit lighting what's either an unbirthday candle or a bomb. 

And Mr. Toad? Uh, some things stay the same, and some get worse. In other word, you still have the fire and brimstone ending, except it's a little longer. 

READING MILESTONE - I HAVE BROKEN THE CENTURY MARK READING LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE NOVELS!

Regular blog readers know I regularly post reviews of Love Inspired Suspense books. Many of those know that it is an imprint of Harlequin Romance, yet nobody has asked me to turn in my man's card. Yet.

How did I get started? Well, I had gotten into reading Christian fiction, and during that time between 2010 and 2018 there were authors I wanted to read: Virginia Smith, Camy Tang, and Rachel Dylan. In each case, the book I located was a Love Inspired Suspense title ("Scent of Murder," "Gone Missing," and "Picture Perfect Murder" respectively. I enjoyed all the stories, but these happened to be more of a focus on particular authors.

Let me back up a little and go to the time I was a member of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and took a class on point of view taught by Virgina Smith. In it, she mentioned "Scent of Murder" had four point of view characters, and she told how she justified having that many. That was the first Love Inspired Suspense book I read, and also the last one that had more than two point of view characters (the main protagonists).

Then, in 2019, Becky picked up "Undercover Protector" by Elizabeth 
Goddard. The story took place at a Tiger sanctuary. For a person who as a kid rooted for the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Wildcats, I read it and loved it. A month or so later, Becky  brought home "Dead Run" by Jodie Bailey. By the end of that year, I had read nine Love Inspired Suspense stories (including three by Jodie Bailey) and was ready for more. Allow me to add that Bailey would have a novella and two novels set at the Grand Canyon, enough to make me homesick. One more thing - one of those first Love Inspired novels I read was written by Meghan Carver, who was a fellow member of the Indiana chapter of ACFW when I belonged to the group.

Besides Bailey, I also discovered Jessica Patch. All the authors were great at giving you characters you cared about as well as exciting, twist filled stories, but there are several characters (main and secondary) that stood out and catch my interest. For example, Wilder Flynn from "Dangerous Obsession" (the first Patch story I read) made an impression by liking to tell stories and being obseessed with his hair. He made it to my 20 favorite fictional characters back in 2020. At this point, I've read 19 books by Bailey and 15 by Patch.

Right before COVID hit in 2020, I caught on that they had an annual 9 part multi-author K-9 Unit series each year. The story lasted from April to November, with a new book coming out each month, and in December they had a two novella release. From January to March, they would release new entries to their Search and Rescue series, though unlike the K-9 series during the year, this was basically a collection of stand-alone novels taking place in the wilderness. I've now read 60 of these K-9 books. Yes, I'm a dog lover, though I know that the dog is basically a supporting character (I've seen Amazon reviews where the reader wanted more of the dogs). One other note - I discovered another of my favorite authors - Terri Reed - from these K-9 series. Jodie Bailey joined the rotation in '21, and Jessica Patch followed suit two years later.

I'll admit that this series is very formulaic. I mentioned that aside from Virginia Smith's "Scent of Murder," all of the stories are told from the point of view only of the male lead and the female lead. The action usually starts by the end of the first chapter. In the midst of running for their lives and solving crimes, somewhere in the middle the main characters kiss and immediately determine that should never happen again (of course, by the end of the story they changed their minds and fell in love). 

These definitely consider these Christian novels. The characters pray. Sometimes, one of the leads has no interest in God; other times, they're convinced God has no interest in them. It's never preachy - it focuses more on those who are having their faith tested than those who are unbelievers.

In case you haven't noticed from the top, there are six new Love Inspired Suspense books each month. I used to suggest most of them for purchase from the library the first couple of years. I'll confess that they are a bit repitive, so I'll typically suggest one or two books a month (including the multi-author K-9 series), and rarely getting up to three. 

Will I ever burn out on these? Who knows. But it is nice light, positive suspense.

 

REVISED BOOK REVIEW - "LIFE OF JESUS IN 30 DAYS" BY TREVIN WAX

Yes, I have already reviewed this book. So why am I reviewing it again?

Earlier this year, I got this book from the library. However, I had to return it before I finished it, so I went ahead and wrote a review. I thought by that point I had enough of the flavor of this book to review it. After all, it was a collection of readings

Here is what I had previously written from my review, posted April 1, 2025 (no April Fool's Day jokes here). 

"Definitely the best liturgical book written by a Southern Baptist I've read.

"'Life of Jesus in 30 Days' is a devotional book compiled by Trevin Wax, Vice President of Research and Resource Development of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. He also has followed a similar format with book on Psalms and the Letters of Paul.

"Each day is divided into three readings: morning, midday, and evening. The middle section is shorter, and Wax says it could be combined with the evening reading if your schedule does not allow the middle reading, though the midday is the shortest of the three. Each reading is highlighted by a passage from the Gospels (not in order nor exhaustive), but also has other thoughts from Scripture, creeds (the Apostle's Creed is there at least three times), and readings from the Common Prayer Book. Each of the 90 readings also includes the Gloria Patra and the Lord's Prayer.

"This is a little more liturgical/high church than I'm used to. But this book and the other two I mentioned are good at helping you have a developed devotional time. I do recommend this collection."

So again, why am I revising the review? I noticed something that won't (for most people) affect your views on the book. However, since most of the book is reading through Scripture, I noticed an inconsistency that I wanted to point out. Not enough to invalidate the book, but something I caught.

This concerns questionable sections. I'll give you credit for knowing that there are 5,000+ Greek manuscripts, with a whole lot of variations between those texts, with some putting the weight on the most common reading and most favoring those in the earliest texts. There are three examples in the Gospels: those early texts do not contain the benediction of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 ("For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever), the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11, and the long ending of Mark 16.

I have noticed inconsistencies in the readings. Wax includes John 8:3-11, but does not include Mark. Why include one and not the other? Also, 29 of the 30 readings include the Lord's Prayer, complete with the benediction. The 30th reading is where it covers Matthew 6:1-18, which includes the Lord's Prayer, but here it leaves the benediction off. This is author's prerogitive, and it's not a legitimate reason to not use this book or the others in the series. I just found it interesting.

BOOK REVIEW - "STANDING WATCH" (DAKOTA K-9 UNIT BOOK 3) BY TERRI REED

 Why is this long-haired guy attacking K-9 Unit Task Force Agent Zach Kelsey's Park Ranger wife Eden at the Mount Rushmore observation deck? And why did he strangle one of Eden's co-workers? Can Zach - with help of his K-9 partner Amber - protect his wife and their unborn child from the killer and salvage their crumbling marriage?

"Standing Watch," written by Terri Reed, is part 3 of 9 books in the Dakota K-9 series. The collection is looking at the formation of a task force to stop guns from being smuggled into the Dakotas from a crime ring that murdered one of their fellow officers and the young girl Joy who was dropped off at her unknowing relative, ATF Special Agent and Dakota Gun Task Force director Daniel Slater with a note. This book looks at the story of Zach and Eden Kelsey and, of course, Amber the Labrador K-9. 

As already mentioned, this is the third story in this series. Can you start with this book if you missed the first two books and not feel lost or ruin any surprises? Technically yes: The authors do a great job trying to keep the reader caught up with the story. However, considering I'm writing this review after reading the first six novels of this collection, I would strongly advise to read all the books in order. I can't say more without spoiling some of the coming surprises.

Now to this story. I really enjoyed the development of Zach and Kelsey (and no, I can't leave out Amber). Additionally, there are some twists and turns in this story.

I highly recommend this book and the full series (saying this without reading the final three books of the Dakota K-9 Unit.

BOOK REVIEW - "RADICAL LIKE JESUS: 21 CHALLENGES TO LIVE A REVOLUTIONARY LIFE" BY GREG STIER

If you want a challenge to live a Christian life that accomplishes something, this book fills that category. This book is designed to be a 3 week motivator to stretch out of the norm and take steps to walking in Christ-likeness.

This book has 21 chapters, between 8 and 12 pages each. They start with a story - most of them autobiographical. It then deals with the subject, giving Biblical illustrations (mostly from the life of Jesus, as you'd guess from the title of the book). It concludes with an assignment, with the difficulty level of each of these.

I've read several challenges on living a more revolutionary, life-changing life. One distinction of this one is having a short 21 day format (a similar book, "Pray & Go" by Thom Rainer, is a 30 day exercise). This book is also full of humor and humility on the author's part (including when he had an argument with his wife prior to a Bible study and was rebuked for his part). While similar, this book has no connection to David Platt's classic "Radical" and it's follow-up "Radical Together."

If this book looks like something you want to tackle, go for it.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "DEADLY BADLANDS PURSUIT" (DAKOTA K-9 UNIT BOOK 2) BY SHAREE STOVER

 Why has Protected Witness Cameron Holmes been incommunicado? How does the person who attacked U.S. Marshal Gracie Fitzpatrick outside Holmes' ranch know Cameron's real name? Could it be a powerful politician, or could it be a rogue U.S. Marshal?

"Deadly Badlands Pursuit," written by Sharee Stover, is the second installment of Love Inspired Suspense (a Harlequin imprint)'s annual multi-author K-9 series. Stover does an excellent job both with the continuing stories of finding the leaders of a gun-running operation who murdered one of their fellow officers and the mystery of an abandoned girl left with Daniel Slater, the director of the Dakota Gun Task Force.

Allow me to answer a couple of questions you have. First, is this a book you'll enjoy? If you want a suspenseful story full of mystery and plot twists and characters that are engaging? Absolutely. The action starts early and does not let up, and there are plenty of surprises, including... no, I'm not going to give a spoiler here.

Second, do I need to read the kick-off novel of this series, "Chasing A Kidnapper" by Laura Scott, before I start this one? I won't say "need to," but I would advise it. I'm currently reading book 6 of 9 in this series, and there are some major twists at this point, so to enjoy it better, I'd recommend not only reading Scott's book before this one, but to commit yourself for the full set.

I highly recommend this story and the series.

ALBUM REVIEW - "STORYMAN" BY AMY SHREVE

 I am so excited to see a new project out by Amy Shreve. We first were acquainted with her when she and her husband Gary Wixtrom ministered at a Voice of the Martyr Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana back in 2003. Becky and I had the honor of having them perform in two different churches we attended.

It has been a while since I heard a new, original music project, and "Storyman" is worth the wait. From the strong start of "I'm Still Dreaming," each of the eight songs grab you. Included is an alternate version of the single "Eden," which was previously released 3 years ago. Also, Gary does the lead vocal on the concluding "Better Country;" this isn't the first time he sings the final song (he did "Fortress" on the classic album "Haven"). 

What are my favorite songs on this project? I can honestly answer "all of them," but I'll mention which ones stand a little above the others: "I'm Still Dreaming," "How the Story Ends," "Eden" (though I like the single version better) and "Better Country."

BOOK REVIEW - "CHASING A KIDNAPPER" (DAKOTA K-9 UNIT BOOK 1) BY LAURA SCOTT

Who is vandalizing policewoman Trisha McCord's house and attempting to kidnap her six month old child? Is there a connection between these attacks and the two state gunrunning ring K-9 officer Wes Cole and the newly formed Dakota K-9 Unit are seeking to close down? And who does this abandoned ... hold on. I'm not spoiling this end-of-the-story plot twist.

This is the first installment of the Dakota K-9 Unit series. Like the continuity series of the last two years, Laura Scott has the honor of kicking it off. The characters are ones you can care about, as normal, and the plot will leave you guessing, with a couple of surprises waiting till the end.

One thing I like about this story: normally in these series, the K-9 team (both man and dog) are introduced in the chapter, already organized. In this one, you get to read about the organization of the team in about the 3rd chapter. Of course, you'll want to read the first two chapters to know why the K-9 unit is established.

At this point, I've read the first four of the series (as typical, written by different authors) and I highly recommend both this novel and the series (which will release a new story each month until November).

MY THOUGHTS ON THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK AND THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

 

Copy of Charlie Kirk's profile photo on Facebook

On the morning of September 16, 2025 - six days following Kirk's assissination - I was at a men's prayer meeting at church, with six participants. The moderator asked us to go around and share our thoughts on Charlie Kirk; half of the attenders never heard of him before his death, including me. 

At this point in time, I had a blessing - my computer went on the fritz on September 2 and we didn't get it going again until the 19th. Why is this a blessing? I wasn't inundated by posts and replies on my Facebook Feed! 

I did get to hear several podcasts about Charlie Kirk and of the Memorial Service September 21, most of which were ones I regularly listen to (Al Mohler's "The Briefing," Alisa Childers, and Natasha Crain, and others I was familiar with to find out their slant ("Good Faith" with Curtis Chang and "Wretched Radio" with Todd Friel). I also had a couple of friends whose post was shared on my wall which I noticed once I got back on-line, and I looked up two other friends who I had a hunch would take a different (i.e. negative) perspective.

One last comment before I got started - this has taken me QUITE a while to write. At first, in late September, I thought of writing a blog on why I hadn't posted and following it up with one on Charlie Kirk. A day later, I thought Kirk was the hot story and was going to focus on that angle. I then went back to plan A, finishing the other blog on October 10th. And I felt a struggle getting back. Was that a hint that I shouldn't worry about it? Or was it telling me that this wrestling meant I was supposed to complete it? Well, if you're reading it, it's completed, so you can let me know your thoughts.

Allow me to start with two facts:

1. Charlie Kirk was a Christian. On Curtis Chang's "Good Faith" podcast - the most negative of those on Kirk himself - guest David French stated repeatedly that he disagreed strongly with Kirk on several issues, that Kirk was definitely a Christian. 

2. EVERYBODY is not quite the person their dog - or their greatest fans - think he/she is, nor as terrible as their opponents make them out to be. With all the info I've looked at - and I could find much more - I have a mostly positive impression of Kirk with some flaws, and the same with the Memorial.

Allow me to now give a rapid fire thought on several things concerning the Memorial.

• I was saddened by a pair of Christian friends who gave a "10 Spies" report on the Memorial. One was three one-word-sentences, all words negative; no mention of Erica Kirk's speech on forgiving the killer. The other mentioned Erica, but neither mentioned that Christ was preached, or that people are going to church now after the killing. Very sad.
• About Christ being preached - Todd Friel (Wretched Radio) played all the segments from where Memorial speakers spoke about Christ. He pointed out there were things from some of the speakers he disagreed with (e.g. altar calls, Arminian theology) but said repeatedly that Christ was preached, Christ was preached, and he rejoiced. It's sad not all Christians have that mindset.
• Pastor/Christian musician Steve Camp pointed out something interesting and without explanation: while Kirk's widow spoke, his parents and sibling didn't. Why not? No, I have no idea.
• On the theological end, there was a mixture. Alisa Childers gave five quick facts on the Memorial, and the final 3 were "There were wolves (i.e. false teachers) there, there was bad theology there, and there was good doctrine there. Dawn Hill, hostess of the podcast "The Lovesick Scribe", has focused on the first two episodes in a series on the Memorial that there was definitely false teaching there. 
• Okay, more about Kirk than the memorial, but on September 26, my Release Update had three songs about Charlie Kirk. No new ones since. One especially bothered me - "Godspeed Charlie" by Patriotic refers to him as the eternal patriot. No, I don't think so. Charlie's now in God's Kingdom. 
  
• This leads me into "Christian Nationalism." What is Christian Nationalism? Is it when one equates Christianity with their nation? Or is this a name bullies use to silence those opposed to progressive/liberal ideas on abortion, the alphabet soup group, etc.? I always cringe when Patriotism is considered a virtue; in Russia, this means praying for victory over Ukraine. If we qualify patriotism to be righteous nations, what if our nation becomes unrighteous? And yes, persecution can arise here. The assassination, the martyrdom, of Charlie Kirk shows that possiblitiy.

Okay. I've gotten that off my chest.

AND I'M BACK! HOPE YOU DIDN'T MISS ME TOO MUCH

No, I don't know what kind of flower/tree this is, but it's at Hopewell House, Louisville, KY.
Yours truly took the picture.

Yes, I only posted one  blog in September. However, technically, I shouldn't count that: the September 2 post was actually posted before hand and was scheduled for September 2. So allow me to catch up a little.

There's a ministry called Further Still headed by Kurt Souder, who also has a radio program/podcast titled Solid Steps Radio, which is focused on men. He also hosts a day long "Desert Days" once a month at Hopewell House in Louisville, KY, where you can get away with other men (or women - there's a monthly Desert Days for the ladies as well) can write, meditate on Scripture, pray, and if necessary nap. Most of those who come are from the Louisville area, but I've taken a couple trips down, the most recent being August 13, 2025.

My arrival was not indicating a good start. I got there a few minutes late ... Actually, I turned into the next door neighbor's long driveway, and when I got turned around, I was blocked by a landscaping truck. He asked me to wait when he got his mowers out and I had to ask if I could get around him. Then, I reached in the back seat for my notebook and realized I left it on my dining room table two and a half hours away. Ugh.

Praise the Lord, the time was useful. I ended up in the library room as I did five years earlier (in the midst of COVID). Then, some of my meditation was looking through all the books, but there were two blessings. The first was the tree with white flowers that was right outside the window. My grandparents owned a nursery before I was born; Dad did not inherit any of that botanical knowledge, and I took after him. But that tree for me was a sign of hope, a blessing that calmed me from my hectic morning.

The second was a white board with multi-colored dry/erase pens. I found writing on the board and erasing/editing when I needed. By the time lunch was done, I did a lot of brainstorming that came in handy. (No, it's not neat, but as long as I could read it...

Why am I sharing this? I didn't think of sharing this until a few days ago. And the reason I thought of this was because on September 2, when I turned on the computer, I got a blue light, which turned into an orange light, which again became blue, and then orange and orange and orange... it didn't stop flashing until I unplugged it, but when I turned it back on, the orange flashing resumed. It took us two and a half weeks before I got the computer taken care of. 

The bad part was that I wasn't able to keep up with the blog. However, it kept me from being inundated with pro and con remarks after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Of course, half the world is wondering what my thoughts are on this (can I take my tongue out of my cheek now?), so I'll share them in the next blog.

I'm behind on a lot of things as well. One of my most recent blogs (meaning in August) mentioned the upcoming Love Inspired Suspense Dakota K-9 Unit series. Since then, I've read the first four of nine, and yet to review any. There are a couple of other books I haven't reviewed yet either, as well as a review of the long-awaited new EP by one of my long-time favorite singers... no, you have to guess until I share it. You may have missed interviews - I'm  behind on that as well. 

Two related highlights. On September 21st, we had our first annual missions fair at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Becky was with friends behind the table for Child Evangelism Fellowship, while I was asked to host the table for World Missionary Press, which publishes literature for missionaries around the world. Others involved were Right to Life, Kid's Hope (headed up by a friend from church that ministers in Nigeria, CRU (previously known as Campus Crusade for Christ), Gideons, Crossroads Association (the local part of the Southern Baptist Convention), Send Relief (a joint venture of the North America and International missions), Metro Baptist Association, and Covenant Foods (Northside's pantry ministry). 

The other highlight was the same morning. Outside the side door are a pair of steps heading to a square "porch" with a rail. When I headed that direction, I saw a squirrel sitting on the porch. He looked at me, then he hid his head behind the rails, not realizing that while I couldn't see his head I could see the rest of him. He looked my direction to see if I was still there, hid his head behind the railing again, turned back to looking at me, and then  ran off.

I'm glad to be back blogging, and glad you're reading it.

Yours truly at the World Missionary Press Table. Photo by Jim Myers.

BOOK REVIEW - "TEXAS SMOKE SCREEN" (BOOK 3 OF QUANTICO PROFILERS) BY JESSICA PATCH.

 Who is setting fires with the victims still inside, and is it to get the attention of a local newscaster? As FBI profiler Vera Gilmore helps homicide detective and former fiance Brooks Brawley solve the case, is there a chance of a different sort of fire rekindling? 

"Texas Smoke Screen" is the third and final book of Jessica Patch's Quantico Profilers scenery, and it's a hot one! There are so many twists and turns, you don't know who to trust. 

As usual, Patch introduces us to characters that are unforgettable and enjoyable. This novel is no exception - Brooks' (can I call him Brooksie?) 12 year old daughter Katie is very well developed and adds a lot to the story.

I highly recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW - "THE INSPIRATIONAL STUDY BIBLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (NKJV)" BY MAX LUCADO

"The Inspirational Study Bible" by Max Lucado does a great job of being Inspirational. But as a study Bible? Not as much.

This book has an introduction to each book of the Bible. As you go through it, you will see on the margins a life lesson or two developed from the Scripture covered on the two pages you're looking at. This volume is strong on giving applications to God's Word. 

But what do I expect in a Study Bible? 

• A column containing cross references so you can see how a topic is dealt with through Scripture. This edition does not have cross references.
• Notes that deal with exegesis of the original languages, a look at the culture of the Bible time, and an explanation of difficult passages (though study Bibles and Commentaries all too often skip those tricky passages, because the author doesn't know the answer any more than you do).  This edition has some applications, but not the same kind of study notes.

I would call this a devotional Bible, but definitely not a Study Bible. This doesn't mean it lacks value. But if you want to study Scripture, I'd recommend other Study Bibles like the Scofield Bible, the Geneva Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible, the Ryrie Study Bible, or the International Inductive Study Bible, all of which have cross references and notes.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "GAZING INTO DARKNESS" (QUEEN CITY HEROES, BOOK 1) BY HEIDI GLICK

Why did someone try to burn down EPA CID agent Stacey Sanderson's apartment ... with her in it? Will her partner Chance McPherson ever see her as his equal? Or could there be darkness in his past that is haunting him?

"Gazing Into Darkness," Book 1 of Queen City Heroes by Heidi Glick, is an exciting romantic suspense novel. Chance McPherson is one of my all time favorite fiction characters. Also, while I'm used to the usual suspects of law enforcement, I learned getting to see characters in the EPA CID. 

One honor I had was working as a critique partner of Heidi's while I was a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) from 2011-2014, which is my first introduction to Chance and Stacey. I'm very excited to finally see it in book form.

I highly recommend this book.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "TRANSFORMING CULTURE WITH TRUTH" BY LEN MUNSIL, PRESIDENT OF ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Question: If individual believers in Jesus, local churches, and Christian institutions dedicated themselves to living out the Gospel unashamed, would it not also impact society?

I'm a graduate of Southwestern College in Phoenix in the early to mid '80's, when the enrollment was between 150 and 200. Southwestern is now Arizona Christian University (aka ACU), and hit an enrollment of 1400 in Fall '24, making it the ninth consecutive year of record enrollment. Let this sink in - this consecutive record streak continued DURING the COVID pandemic. How in earth could you explain this?

If you think the President of the University would be a factor, then you'll be looking at Len Munsil, an attorney who ran for Arizona Governor in 2006, and has been the President of ACU since 2010. The story is told in "Transforming Culture with Truth" (1st edition in 2015; 2nd edition, which I'm reviewing, in 2020). 

In 2012, Munsil brought a set of principles, called ACU's Core Commitments, to the Board of Trustees. This book looks at each of these 9 Commitments in the 8 chapters and Conclusion of this book. His goal is to make ACU the number 1 Christian worldview college in the country.

Nobody should be surprised if those Commitments are illustrated by what's going on at ACU, but there are other anecdotes which would help a church or a Christian organization to implement the same ideas. 

After I graduated in '86 from Southwestern, I moved gradually east till I arrived in Indianapolis in '95, so I have not been following the transition of the school. However, after reading this book and hearing Munsil interviewed on the Natasha Crain podcast, I'm excited to be a Southwestern College/ACU graduate.

BOOK REVIEW - "UNDERCOVER COLORADO CONSPIRACY" BY JODIE BAILEY

Who is bilking money from would-be adoptive parents? Military agents Thalia and Phillip Campbell are posing as a married couple to uncover who's doing the dastardly deed, but has their cover been blown ... on day one? And is the danger from someone they just met, or from one of the agent's past?

Am I the only one who finds the cover of "Undercover Colorado Conspiracy" by Jodie Bailey exciting? The covers for these Love Inspired Suspense novels sometimes focus on the characters (human or animal) posing in front of a picture of the setting, while others - like the above - are a "shot" of the action in the book. In this case, this is showing you what's happening on page one. Ready to strap yourself in for an exciting story?

This is the 16th book I've read by Jodie Bailey, and they are consistently filled with plenty of plot twists and characters that you care about. Add to that a strong Christian story-line for those who aren't bothered by that.

I highly recommend this book.
 

BOOK REVIEW - "ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.: A DEVOTIONAL OF REST AND MOVEMENT" BY JOSH STONE.

 The past several weeks, I've been blessed by reading "Ask. Seek, Knock," a Devotional by Josh Stone. This volume comprises of 48 devotionals and 4 poems, allowing you to either make it a weekly reading for the next year or be like me and spend seven weeks reading it.

I had the honor of meeting him at a music festival, where he performed as a spoken word artist, "Outward Conversations." The emotion he expressed in live performance also is evident in print in this book.

These devotionals vary from being inspirational, encouraging, and challenging. I will definitely be using this devotional again.

BOOK REVIEW - "CASE FILES VOL. 1: MURDER AND MEANING," BY J. WARNER WALLACE & JIMMY WALLACE

 

What connection is there between 25 year veteran detective Michael "Murph" Murphy and the serial killer who bashes his victims' heads in and then brands them? Is there a method to the murderer's madness, or is it better put "a message to his madness?" And since he does it the same day of the week, can Murph and his "A-Team" find out who it is and stop him before he strikes again?

"Case Files Vol. 1: Murder and Meaning" is a graphic novel written by Homicide Detective/Christian apologist/Author J. Warner Wallace and his son Jimmy Wallace (also in law enforcement), with great illustrations by Steve Crespo and Dario Formisani. The plot follows seasoned detective Murph, easy going Pete Leota, hard-working young mother Ashley Perez, and self-proclaimed hot shot Marco Russo as they try to catch a serial killer who keeps calling to talk to Murph. 

This story gives me a realistic view of what police-work is like. For example, Leota asked Murph if they used chalk like on TV in the old days, and the fact that the members of a team may have other cases to work on besides the main one. I'll admit that it wasn't the most joyful and enjoyable novel I've read, but the writers did a great job with the plotting and with the character development. And since this is Volume 1 and having read the ending, I'm sure there will at least be a volume 2. And I'm looking forward to it.

LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE BOOK SERIES CRITIQUE - MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT (2024)

Some of my writing friends have a 5-star policy in reviewing fellow authors - if it's not worthy of a 5-star review, they don't review it. The purpose? To encourage authors and recognize the work it takes to make a publishable book. While I feel as a reviewer that I have at least as much (and probably more) responsibility to be honest enough in the reviewing to warn readers of things that will take away from their enjoyment, I give most novels 5 stars because they have done a good job writing the book, even if it's not one of my favorites. 

But this is not a review of the series, meant to strengthen the interest in a books. This is a critique. So this has spoilers. And I'll point out my opinion even if it is negative. And I'll go ahead and state - my favorite series is the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit and my least is the Mountain Country K-9 Unit. No, I don't think it's a bad series - I gave all the books a deserved 5 star - but there were several small things that made it less enjoyable.

However, let me start like I usually do, and give you an overview of the three main storylines, though in this case, two are intertwines immediately. The focus is on the Rocky Mountain Killer (aka RMK), who killed three young men of a seven person group a decade earlier, two more just before the story starts, number 6 in the middle of the series, and "saving the best for last." The group (or most of the group) had mistreated and humiliated a young lady ten years ago, so someone is taking revenge. In fact, the Mountain Country K-9 Unit was created specifically for the purpose to bring RMK to justice.

The second theme is the suggestion Ashley Hanson, the  rookie of the K-9 unit, to train a therapy dog for the small town where the killings were centered, and the designee was named "Cowgirl." Well, by the time the first book ends, RMK dognapped Cowgirl and got her a collar with "Killer" on it, showing up on occasion to taunt the good guys. During that 6 month course, Cowgirl gets pregnant and has pups, which RMK puts in a place where the K-9 Unit will find them, so they don't get in his way.

The third continuing storyline involves the tech guru Isla Jimenez, who wants to foster care and adopt this young boy. But someone calls the adoption agency and gives false accusations of Isla being on drugs and putting the adoption on hold. Then, that person locks up Isla's bank account. If that's not enough, Isla's house is set on fire. And is that the end of it?

Here are the books in the series:

1. "Baby Protection Mission" by Laura Scott.
2. "Her Duty Bound Defender" by Sharee Stover.
   
3. "Chasing Justice" by Valerie Hansen.
4. "Crime Scene Secrets" by Maggie K. Black.
5. "Montana Abduction Rescue" by Jodie Bailey.
6. "Trail of Threats" by Jessica Patch.
7. "Tracing a Killer" by Sharon Dunn.
8. "Search and Detect" by Terri Reed.
9. "Christmas K-9 Guardians" by Lenora Worth and Katy Lee.

Allow me to say there are things I applaud the writers of this series for. Of course, each story has thrilling plot twists, great romance, and interesting characters. For example, Jessica Patch repeatedly introduces me to characters I absolutely love, and Rocco and Sadie in "Trail of Threats" are prime examples. Also, most series introduces you to the main stories in book 1, and on rare occasions book 2, but only give reviews and updates until at book 7-8 (maybe as far back as book 6), while the authors focus on their individual stories. Not so here. The RMK is suspected to be involved in several crimes that he isn't. And unless if you count finding the puppies in book 7 a wrap up of that storyline (I don't, because Cowgirl is still in RMK's clutches), none of the story-lines are resolved until finale book 8, where unit chief Chase Ralston has to deal with RMK's plan to kill his final victim, the person troubling tech guru Isla Jimenez, and a person who's trying to kill a mother of a young girl.

For those who love youngsters as well as K-9s in this story, this will be your series. Six of the eight novels and one of the two Christmas novellas have a minor involved (two feature teen-agers, and one is approaching the 9th month of her pregnancy at the story's start).

As mentioned, this is not a bad series, but I do have a list of things that took away from the story in my opinion. They may not be negatives to all readers. So here goes.

• What is the difference between Mountain Country and Rocky Mountain? Both are separate series with no overlaps, but it is the same geography, with one story in New Mexico but mostly staying north. By the way, the two series ends with the respective K-9 units becoming permanent, though via different roads (Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit earned it in spite of sabotage by overcoming the various battles; permanence was not a goal of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit, but they received it by being successful in their main purpose.)
• While this series has three good covers ("Crime Scene Secrets," "Montana Abduction Rescue," "Search and Detect," the infant on the cover of "Baby Protection Mission" doesn't look realistic to me. By the way, neutral rather than negative, Laura Scott starting this series with the threat of kidnapping is not the first series she kicked things off with that plot - she did the same with Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit's "Shielding the Baby", the immediately previous series - nor the last - she's launching the next series, Dakota K-9 Unit, with "Chasing a Kidnapper. How long a streak will this be?
• Some of the individual stories had twists that I didn't care for. I never care for stalker stories, where the victim has to play along to keep alive, as in the climax of "Trail of Threats" (otherwise one of my favorites). Then in "Search and Detect," Chief Chase Ralston three or four times made a good case on why he felt one of the two main suspects was the killer. Surprise, surprise, he guessed wrong. Sorry, but I thought that could have been done better.
• The top reason I was disappointed in Mountain Country K-9 Unit was what I sensed as a greater than normal dose of sadness mixed in with the happy endings. The rookie ended her story on desk duty after shooting the villain (who survived that shooting). One male lead started the story handcuffed being transported to where he'd face trial, and he was temporarily in custody at the end until they officially recognized his innocence. The cousin of another female lead's cousin found out the woman he loved and was going to marry was a serial killer and a thief. And one of the other heroines learned that her brother was the RMK and hade to deal with that. 

I want to close a little more upbeat, though. There were several stories I enjoyed. As mentioned above, Rocco and Sadie were one of my highlights in Jessica Patch's "Trail of Threats," (book 6) and while Rocco wasn't as fun when he appeared in following stories, Jodie Bailey did a good job of showing the promise of Rocco being entertaining in "Montana Abduction Rescue" (book 5). The RMK was also an entertaining villain, a cold-blooded killer who took good care of the dogs he stole.

I hope you noticed with the warnings of spoilers and my disappointment that you read this series, and that you liked it better. As for me, this weekend I'll be starting the third-in-a-row-baby-abduction-Laura-Scott-K9-Series-Kickoff, book one of the Dakota K-9 Unit series. (And hoping sometime they'll have an Arizona series.)

 

LOVE INSPIRED SUSPENSE BOOK SERIES CRITIQUE - PACIFIC NORTHWEST K-9 UNIT (2023)

For your information. Regular readers may notice that typically my font style changes from column to column, but it hasn't been in this series. That's because while I'm writing reviews on K-9 series, I'm using the font Blogspot calls "Underdog." 

Another confession. I wasn't thrilled to see a series on the Pacific Northwest. True, it's more due to the politics of the urban parts of that region, not the wilderness that this series focuses on. Did the writers win me over? I'll get to that later.

This series starts out with a bang... actually, two. The co-owner of a hotel chain and her new boy-friend were shot and killed in the open. The co-owner is the sister of the hero of book one, a widowed father with an infant son. The new boy-friend is the former boyfriend of Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit Crime Tech Mara Gilmore, who's seen running away from the crime scene. Is she guilty? Or is she being framed. Of course, you have to read the whole series to get the answer to that question.

Two other questions. First, who stole three bloodhound puppies that were going to be trained to be K-9s? Second, which of the four candidates vying for two openings on the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit is sabotaging the work of their three competitors?

Remember that there WILL be spoilers, as in the rest of these critiques. Here are the books in this series:

1. "Shielding the Baby" by Laura Scott.
2. "Scent of Truth" by Valerie Hansen.
3. "Explosive Trail" by Terri Reed.
4. "Olympic Mountain Pursuit" by Jodie Bailey.
5. "Threat Detection" by Sharon Dunn.
6. "Cold Case Revenge" by Jessica Patch.
7. "Undercover Operation" by Maggie K. Black.
8. "Snowbound Escape" by Dana Mentink.
9. "K-9 National Park Defenders" by Katy Lee and Sharee Stover.

Ready for a pair of items different? First, this is the first time I've read the Christmas novella duet. Second, I point out my two favorites. Why two? Well, I look at my year-end lists of favorite novels, and include those which made the list, which was two each in the previous four series. In this series, though, five out of the nine qualified! So my favorites were "Shielding the Baby," "Scent of Truth," "Olympic Mountain Pursuit," "Threat Detection," and "K-9 National Park Defenders." Out of these, "Scent of Truth" would be the top dog (sorry, couldn't resist), where the heroine is fighting a foe that looks just like her.

The main story in this series has similarities to the one from Alaska K-9 Unit a couple of years earlier. Both have a damsel in distress on the run, with the villain and his sinsiter henchman becoming apparent in the mid section of the series, and with a shining knight on his white ... uh, K-9 to rescue her in book 8. Yes, there are definite differences, but I caught some common ground.

My suspicion with the four candidates was that it was none of the four doing the sabotage, and all four would be accepted. Well, in book 7, it was revealed which of the four was trying to sabotage the others, and was dismissed. I still held to the thought that the others would all be accepted and an extra spot would be corrected, and I was right.

As far as the cute bloodhound puppies, which you see on the cover of book 7? Uh, would bloodhound puppies be that small when it took six months to find them? One Amazon reviewer mentioned they lost it when the heroine picked up all three puppies and ran. 

In spite of an easy mystery and some ignorance on how quickly puppies grow, this was definitely my favorite series out of those I've read (there were other series before True Blue K-9 Unit). And the novella duet gave me the closure I thought it was meant to do.