The Five Times I Met Myself ~ A Book Review

by Alycia W. Morales
@AlyciaMorales

5 Reasons You Should Read The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart:

1. The cover resembles a Christmas gift or Valentine's chocolates. Maybe it's the red. But by the end of the book, you'll know you've found a sweet gift in the pages of this book.

2. It's all about relationship. Our relationship with God the Father. Our relationships within our families. And our friendships.

3. It's about how our personal decisions don't only affect our lives. They affect others just as much. Because there are many people we touch with our words and our actions (or lack thereof). And unlike Brock Matthews, we can't go back in time and talk to our younger selves to try to fix our past mistakes to make our present better. All we can do is live in the moment and hope to make amends.

4. It's about forgiveness. We all make mistakes. We're sinful by nature. But GOD. But JESUS. But LOVE. When we can look at others the way God sees them, it's far easier to love them and to free ourselves from the deadly root of bitterness unforgiveness will harbor.

5. The story is pure genius. Of course, I would expect no less from my friend Jim. His stories always are. It will leave you thinking for a good long while...

And if you're a fan of his novel, Rooms, you'll love this just as much! (Or, if you love this, check out Rooms.) For more on Jim, visit James L. Rubart.com.

Double Cross by DiAnn Mills - A Book Review

by, Alycia W. Morales  @AlyciaMorales

I'm all snuggled in with my coffee, Double Cross, and ... Hey! Who's that lurking in the background?

One of the things I love about DiAnn Mills' recent release, Double Cross, is that she talks about the value of life even when someone has aged and developed dementia. This topic hit home for me due to the recent loss of my father-in-law, who had dementia but wanted nothing to do with medical assistance or outside help. As his children, my husband, sister-in-law, and I didn't necessarily understand why he wouldn't let us help him, but we did understand his desire to pass in his own environment on his own terms. And we respected that.

In Double Cross, FBI agent Laurel Evertson has to work with a man who she put in jail years before. Morton Wilmington claims to have found faith in Jesus while incarcerated and says he has forgiven Laurel for sending him to prison. The question throughout the novel is whether or not Wilmington's faith is legit and whether or not he can be trusted. I won't give away the ending, but I will tell you it was one of the best I've ever read and extremely satisfying.
Meanwhile, Houston Police Officer Daniel Hilton is working hard to protect his grandparents from the enemy, who is scamming the elderly. Two of his grandparents' friends are already dead, and no one seems to think there has been foul play. Daniel works alongside Laurel and Wilmington to uncover who is behind the murders and the false policies.

The pace of this novel was a little slower than Firewall, but it was fitting considering the focus on the elderly and various characters' hesitancy to trust other characters. Don't quit reading. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Especially since every time you think you know something, DiAnn throws in a plot twist that takes you down another path and leaves you wondering whether or not you'll ever figure out who did it. Double Cross is a masterfully woven tale that will keep you turning pages until a very rewarding end.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of Double Cross to review. However, I never let that fact sway my review. And I would let you know if I didn't recommend reading it. In this case, I highly recommend you read it.