Taken by Dee Henderson

 

Taken by Dee Anderson tells the story of Shannon Bliss after she reappears elven years after disappearing at the age of 16.  She goes to see private investigator Matthew Dane to help her recover and reenter back into society.  She will only tell him her story and doesn't want to talk to the other people who come forward to help her.   She uses what she knows to help bring down the crime family that had taken her.  She knows that the will do anything to silence her and needs to overcome her fears.  

As her story unfolds of what has happened to her in the last eleven years, she also learns what has happened to her family.   She learns the truth about what happened when she taken and who arranged to have it happen.  Matthew does all that he can to help her, even when the secrets that come out can only hurt her.  As he helps her, he can't help but realize that he is starting to feel something different towards her.

Dee Henderson did a great job at this story line.  It does keep you in suspense about what has happened to Shannon and who orchestrated her kidnapping when she disappeared.  The romance is subtle between the two main characters, but you can also see it between the other characters who are in the story as well.  I am eager to read previous stories by this author to read the stories of the minor characters that were in this book.  

I received this book from  Bethany House Publishers and Baker Group for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

How to Love Your Neighbor without being weird by Amy Lively

Amy Lively helps you to overcome your fears about getting to know your neighbors.  She talks about practical ways she had used to meet your neighbors and share your faith.  She describes what works and what might not work. Throughout the book she uses Scripture to talk about several points.

Ms. Lively gives very good points on how you can get out and meet your neighbors, both if you have a house and for those that rent. (Though most of the book is for those who own a house.)  They are simple and easy to put into use.  She give great encouragement through the book to put them to use, and the end of each chapters gives you a "Next Best Steps" where she asked questions you can answer and apply to yourself.

I was agreeing with what she was saying EXCEPT when I got to the chapter on spiritual gifts.  I had to disagree with some of what she said.   The biggest one being is that you can NOT give back the gift God has given you!  You can ignore it, you can not use it, but you can NOT give it back.  I also didn't fully agree with how she described Martha and talking about her service. 

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the sole purpose of this review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.