Astute readers of this site will be familiar with my affection for the Patrick Bowers Files, a series of novels by Steven James. I’ve reviewed The Rook and The Knight and have eagerly awaited The Bishop, the latest installment featuring FBI agent Patrick Bowers.

As I’ve stated in earlier reviews, James’ novels are not your grandmother’s Christian fiction. They are thrillers in every sense of the word. In fact, The Bishop takes the intensity to a whole new level. The bad guys are beyond bad; they are evil, disturbingly so. And yet, like The Rook and The Knight, James tells his story apart from gratuitous violence and language. He is not unnecessarily explicit and instead employs good storytelling. Really good storytelling. Here’s the publisher’s description:

The game is on.

FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers’s cutting-edge skills are about to be pushed to the limit. When a young woman is found brutally murdered in Washington DC, her killers continue a spree of perfect crimes in the Northeast. But with nothing to link them to each other, Agent Bowers faces his most difficult case yet–even as his personal life begins to crumble around him.

The Bishop is a gripping, adrenaline-laced story for readers who are tired of timid thrillers. Strap on your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride.

The Bishop, also like the novels in the series, is more than a good guy/bad guy tale. There is complex characterization and character development and smart and witty dialogue (and as usual Tessa gets most of the good lines). Certainly the suspense and mystery keep the reader engaged, yet the characters themselves and their interactions are just as compelling if not more so.

James does more than tell a good story. In this novel more so than the others, his characters (and thus by default the reader as well) wrestle with deep philosophical issues such as the problem of evil and man’s responsibility before God. In addition to (gruesome) murder, James touches on other hot topics like abortion and fraud. The Bishop is a complex story that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat but will also make you think. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to read more about Patrick and Tessa in the next novel in the series.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Revell publishers for providing the review copy of The Bishop!

Like Contentment, Joy is compact, a mere 104 pages. There are 42 devotions, each of them obviously brief, perfect for the woman “On-the-Go.” However, do not mistake brevity for a lack of spiritual depth or instruction. Also like Contentment, Joy will totally get in your business, exposing the real reason for our lack of joy, and carefully pointing the reader to the only source of true and lasting joy: Christ alone.

In the Introduction, Brownback writes:

Some of us find a perverse satisfaction in our gloom, much like a baby pitching a tantrum to get what she wants. But God doesn’t respond to tantrums. Our moodiness dishonors God and robs us of the happiness that lies right at our fingertips. If we want to change—to live with perpetual joy—we must pursue it, and in Christ we are guaranteed to find it.

The whole of the book emphasizes this pursuit. True, joy often seems elusive because of the difficulty of our circumstances. Brownback addresses the issues of Joy in Hard Things, Joy from Failure, and Persevering for Joy (all chapter titles). Brownback is careful to provide biblical support as she encourages her readers in the pursuit of God-glorifying, Christ-saturated, true and lasting joy.

I highly recommend Joy!

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Crossway publishers for providing the review copy of Joy!

Oh yes, indeed there is. It is to hesitant hostesses like myself that Sandy Coughlin writes her new book, aptly named The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman’s Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality. From the get go, Sandy offers gentle encouragement and inspiration to those of us who struggle with inadequacy and unrealistic expectations in the entertaining department. It’s Real Entertaining for Real People (coincidentally the title of the first chapter). Other topics included are: Overcoming the Pitfalls of Perfectionism, Simplifying Entertaining, Discovering Your Inner Martha, and The Heart of Hospitality: Conversation (all chapter titles). Sandy shares some of her favorite recipes as well as gorgeous photography from her own home.

Sandy writes with a contagious joy. It is obvious she loves serving others by opening her home. The real strength of the book is that it is both practical and motivating. She offers helpful tips like how to stock your pantry with basic entertaining essentials yet ultimately her purpose is to highlight the connection with people that hospitality fosters. It’s not about being perfect or spending a lot of money. Entertaining is not even all about the food. It’s about building relationships, a point Sandy emphasizes throughout the book.

The Reluctant Entertainer is a helpful resource for any woman, however reluctantly she may view entertaining. I for one greatly appreciate Sandy’s encouragement!

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Bethany House publishers for providing the review copy of The Reluctant Entertainer!

JENNIFER

• In This Way I Was Saved: A Novel by Brian DeLeeuw appealed to me because he’s a young first time novelist and it is supposed to have a strong voice. I think it’s a little heavy, but I do generally love young first time novelists (see Finny — Okay, okay, I’ll stop mentioning it, if you’ll just read it already) and House of Tomorrow).
• I downloaded some great titles on my Kindle for my tween, Amanda, that I found on the free list this week. They are all Christian YA series, and I can’t wait for her to check them out. The books offered free on the Kindle are one of my strongest arguments for buying a Kindle.
  • Katy’s New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer — I actually want to read this one myself. It’s about a Mennonite girl who enters public high school.
  • Melody Carlon’s first two books in the Carter House Girls series, Mixed Bags and Stealing Bradford.
  • Nancy Rue’s Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink and Lucy’s Perfect Summer
• Kyle, 6, thought that Belly Up was for him. He loved the cover, and I do think that it’s the kind of novel that will appeal to him when he’s older, combining a mystery with some solid hippo facts, but Amanda, 11, is more likely to read it now (after I do).
• Another awesome book for boys that I’ve already peeked into is a collection edited by Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: Funny Business.

NANCY

I’m happy to report my first set of books to review:

• Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson – I dove into this book about a NYC chef as soon as it arrived.  Review will be posted soon.
• Wild Soccer Bunch – this series is wildly popular internationally and has now arrived in the US with the first English language installment, Kevin the Star Striker.  With the fall soccer season closing in on us, I look forward to reading this with my own soccer star.
• Stay by Allie Larkin – A woman adopts what she thinks is a German shepherd puppy off the internet, but when the dog arrives it turns out to be an enormous Slovakian police dog, who she names Joe.  Dealing with Joe helps take her mind off her love life problems and as expected, helps her meet someone new.  I’m a big dog lover and looking forward to what sounds like a fun read.

DAWN

It was a slow week, but two books in the mail is always better than none! My nightstand post from the other day actually included these titles already, because my summer reading craze has knocked my pile down very low, so I’m predicting that these books won’t take too long to go from doorstep to final review.

• One that arrived this week but already has a bookmark firmly secured a few chapters in is Sarah Pekkanen’s The Opposite of Me. A story of life changes and personal transformation? Exactly my style.
• Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie sounds like it will be a mysterious but fun read, complete with kids in need of adult love and care and an old house in need of an exorcism! Can’t say that I’ve read anything like that lately.

LISA

• I am so excited about receiving Steven James’ newest thriller featuring Patrick Bowers, The Bishop! I’ve read (and completely enjoyed) the first three novels in the series The Bowers Files and I canNOT wait to begin this one!

We here at 5 Minutes for Books love to hear your thoughts on what we are reading, and what book reviews to come might be of interest to you, so please let us know in the comments.

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Houston homicide detective Roland March was once one of the best. Now he’s disillusioned, cynical, and on his way out. His superiors farm him out on a variety of punishment details•until an unexpected break gives March one last chance to save his career. And his humanity.

All he has to do? Find the missing teenage daughter of a Houston evangelist that every cop in town is already looking for. But March has an inside track, a multiple murder nobody else thinks is connected. Battling a new partner, an old nemesis, and the demons of his past, getting to the truth could cost March everything. Even his life.

Some of the endorsements for Back on Murder employ such praise as: “an astonishing and powerful mystery” and “extremely well crafted” and “grit and tension of a great crime novel.” While I sometimes take such endorsements with a grain of salt, here I can tell you that they do not lie. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Back on Murder and will be eagerly awaiting the next Rolland March mystery!

Intrigued? Here’s an excerpt!

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Bethany House publishers for providing the review copy of Back on Murder!

Treasure is found in the most unlikely places.

The envy of all her friends, wife and mother Saphora Warren is the model of southern gentility and accomplishment. She lives in a beautiful Lake Norman home, and has raised three capable adult children. Her husband is a successful plastic surgeon–and a philanderer. It is for that reason that, after hosting a garden party for Southern Living magazine, Saphora packs her bags to escape the trappings of the picturesque-but-vacant life.

Saphora’s departure is interrupted by her husband Bender’s early arrival home, and his words that change her life forever: I’m dying.

Against her desires, Saphora agrees to take care of Bender as he fights his illness. They relocate, at his insistance, to their coastal home in Oriental—the same house she had chosen for her private getaway. When her idyllic retreat is overrun by her grown children, grandchildren, townspeople, relatives, and a precocious neighbor child, Saphora’s escape to paradise is anything but the life she had imagined. As she gropes for evidence of God’s presence amid the turmoil, can she discover that the richest treasures come in surprising packages?

Okay, true confessions: I had tears in my eyes a couple of times while reading The Pirate Queen. Hickman writes with honesty and tenderness about the nature of regret and second chances, and while there was one coincidence that seemed a little too convenient, on the whole this is a thoroughly enjoyable, deeply moving, beautifully written story that I highly recommend. Read it if you like a Southern story well told. Read it especially if you like any story well told.

We have a copy to give away to one of you (U.S. shipping addresses only). Please leave a comment if you’d like to be entered to win. We’ll announce the winner on August 11.

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Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Waterbrook Multnomah publishers for providing the review and giveaway copy of The Pirate Queen.

So, why a book attempting to address this seemingly obvious issue? Gilbert responds by asking: how firm a grasp do you think most Christians really have on the content of the Christian gospel? And, bringing it home: how would you answer if asked what’s so good about the good news of Christianity?

In fact, Gilbert asserts, and rightly so in my opinion, that many of those who claim faith in Christ would answer this most basic of questions with a response that falls short of the Biblical gospel. In the Introduction to What Is the Gospel? Gilbert excerpts various answers to that very question found on several evangelical websites and books, some of which were not only incomplete but even mutually exclusive.

What Is the Gospel? seeks to identify a clear answer to the question, an answer supported by and based upon what the Bible teaches about the good news that Jesus saves sinners. Those who already belong to Christ will be prompted to greater worship and praise for the Lord’s mercy on their behalf. In fact, one of my favorite quotes from the book occurs in the Introduction: “An emaciated gospel leads to emaciated worship.” Hearts full of the joy of the gospel will be hearts full of rejoicing in the Savior!

I appreciated both the concise nature of What Is the Gospel? (only 121 pages) as well as the timely reminder of all that Christ accomplished for me. Remembering the gospel—my sin and Christ’s sacrifice—not only moves me to greater joy but also prompts me to share the good news with greater boldness and passion. I highly recommend this book!

Lisa thanks Crossway publishers for providing the review copy of What Is the Gospel?

What Evil Haunts the Shadows of 1870s Paris?

Baron Ferdinand Harsanyi — After his wife’s mysterious death, this Austrian attaché holds control over mines whose coveted ore could turn the tide of war.

Therese Harsanyi — Swept up in new romance and the spectacle of Paris, the Baron’s daughter is blind to the dangers stalking her family and the city she loves.

Rudolph Harsanyi — Unsure whom to trust, the Baron’s son’s grief over his mother’s death twists into growing anger and a desire to break free.

As France and Prussia plunge toward war, one family is caught in a web of deceit, political intrigue, and murder that threatens to tear them apart.

I’m a big fan of Robertson’s smart wit and clever writing and I wanted to like Dark in the City of Light. Don’t misunderstand, I did like it but not nearly as much as I anticipated. The premise is interesting and the history obviously well researched yet through much of the novel I felt confused, in the first half particularly. The second part of the novel moved at a faster clip despite some rather too coincidental coincidences and a shifting timeline. Robertson’s beautiful prose is evident here in this novel as well, though missing some of the wit and intelligence that marked his earlier novels. His descriptions of Paris in its glory and later in its siege capture the stark contrast between the opulence and the resulting devastation. Despite the complicated plot, Dark in the City of Light is still an interesting novel and those who enjoy a historical mystery will find much to like. Personally, I still prefer his earlier novels, According to Their Deeds in particular, but Dark in the City of Light is not without merit.

Interested? Read an excerpt here.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa thanks Bethany House publishers for providing the review copy of Dark in the City of Light!