Charles Martin

Dear Readers,

 

Here is another one of those books that I saved reading until my book club read it.  Unwritten by Charles Martin.  I so enjoyed this book that I read it all in one day.  Of course the snow was flying, the temps were down and the book is a good story.

 

The two main characters are very flawed humans.  Neither one wanted to go on.  Sunday is a man who walked away from society years ago when he lost someone very close to him. That was when he decided he no longer wanted to get hurt.  Katie is a star, she is the Queen of the silver screen and she is tired of it.  There are too many secrets from her past and she is ready to leave it all. 

 

When these two hurting people are "put together like on a blind date" by the local priest, they find more than just a kindred spirit, but also healing.

 

I am not going to go on too long as this book has been out for a while and you have probably heard it all, but I have loved every one of Charles Martin's books. I have one thing to say to the person who told Charles that he writes like a girl...  "I for one am glad he does and I hope he never quits."  Don't read them if you don't like them. 

 

Happy Reading

Charles Martin

Dear Readers,

Most of you know what I think of Charles Martin's books.  I just love reading them; they make me want to be a better person.  Thunder and Rain, Charles' latest, is no different.  It is a story of two very hurt people finding each other and being able to heal with each other’s help.

I will admit that I have put off reading this book so I would have the time to enjoy and savor the story.  I don’t want to read it too fast or I may miss something.   It only took me a couple of days to read it, but that was a couple of very enjoyable days.

Tyler is a retired Texas Ranger, but as the saying goes, "once a ranger always a Ranger."  His father was a Ranger before him and his grandfather before that.  It is in his blood and it defines who he is.  He is that guy that John Wayne was trying to play in the movies he acted in.  Tyler's nick name fits him to a "t” - Cowboy. 

Sam is on the run.  She caught her newest love interest in bed with her 10 year old daughter.  When they take off,  they take evidence with them and he wants it back before they use it against him.  She has not been able to get on her feet and is just trying to survive as her faith in men has dwindled down to nothing.

This is not a "good" Christian book in that there is some swearing, and even some sexual content, but it does have really good morals in it.  Cowboy has them and sticks with them even when it is not easy.  I would say, be careful about putting this in a church library, but read the book as it very well written and every little girl should grow up and marry a man like Cowboy. 

One other note about this book, Charles does not use conclusions to stories that you think he should or would use.  I can’t say there are huge storyline twists, but they don’t follow the clichés that other authors and stories can fall victim to.  I really do like that in a book.  I don’t want to know the ending before I get there, and I really like being surprised by that ending. 

Happy Reading

Charles Martin - Where the River Ends

Dear Readers,

Any of you that have gotten my reviews of the past few years know how I feel about Charles Martin. I like him better than Nicholas Sparks. He writes good Southern genre books. I can pretty safely say, that if you do like Nicholas you will probably like Charles, if you haven't read him yet.

Where the River Ends has just hit the shelves. It is a tear jerker, without being a "chick" book. I think guys will be able to relate to Doss with very little or no problem. What he wants to do to help his wife is something most girls dream of their husbands doing for them if the need ever arose.

Abbie and Doss are soul mates. They are nothing alike and yet are madly in love. He is a struggling artist and she a super model ( don't worry it isn't about that). He is from a trailer park, her dad is a powerful senator. As you can see their worlds should never have met.

This is a love story. It is a sad love story, but it is a beautiful love story. Most of the book is spent going back and forth between what is happening present time and and their past, but it really adds to the story.

Abbie has a list of things she wants to do before she dies, and they don't have much time left. The one thing she really wants to do is take a 130 mile trip downt he St. Mary's River. She wants to learn about where Doss used to live and work. It could be a trip of a lifetime and it will be.
Charles once again tells a gentle story of two people in love even though society tells them they shouldn't be. He tells the story with great gentleness on a topic most of us don't want to deal with and yet he makes us face our own end. He is easy to read and it is so easy to fall in love with Abbie.

Ok, enough of the sappy stuff, but if you didn't already understand, I liked this book. It is an easy read. It is one that would fit well in a chair on the beach with a tall glass of sweetened iced tea - southern style.

Happy Reading
Chris