Widows & Orphans

(Rachael Flynn Mystery Series #1)

by Susan Meissner

Published by Harvest House Publishers (2006)
280 pages

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

That is the verse Rachael Flynn’s ministry focused brother, Joshua Harper, chose to live his life by: to aid widows and orphans. Unfortunately, in doing so Joshua frequently found himself on the wrong side of the law, most of which were petty misdemeanors committed to aid someone, thus he believed, for the greater good. So when Rachael, a Manhattan attorney, receives the call that her brother has once again landed himself in jail she is not surprised…until she learns the reason behind his incarceration: a confession to murder.

Naturally, Rachael cannot believe her brother capable to be of murder so she returns home to Minneapolis and sets out to discover why he would confess to such a crime—who is he covering for? Her eyes are set on the sisters, ages 15 and 12, who had been forced into a childhood prostitution ring by the murder victim. She believes Joshua would sacrifice himself to help the sisters and tries to convince her brother that he is not helping them by letting them live a lie.

Both Rachael and the St. Paul police officer in charge of the investigation know that Joshua is not being completely forthright. There are too many unanswered questions. Still too much evidence points to Joshua’s guilt.

Rachael employs some unorthodox methods to unearth the truth, but when the truth is revealed, will she be able to accept it?

Susan Meissner has put together a compelling murder mystery. Her scene descriptions are complex but not overly stated. The characters are well developed, believable and likeable, including the eccentric friend, Figaro, who is quirky without being a caricature.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller

by Sharon Hinck
Published by Bethany House (2006)
304 pages

"Faster than a speeding minivan, able to leap piles of laundry in a single bound, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s ... Supermom!"

We all know one of those types of mothers, right? The soccer mom who also volunteers for church, school and the local Rotary. Who always make perfectly healthy meals, her house is immaculate and her children are model students and role models. Well, maybe not, but this "Supermom" persona seems to be the one so many moms aspire to be - the one Becky Miller aspires to be.

Becky Miller’s main goal is to do great things for God and she has all her plans in place to achieve that goal. When life happens and her plans seem to fall apart will she turn to the One who has other plans for her?

New author, Sharon Hinck, bursts onto the Christian fiction scene with a humorous yet poignant story of a mother who tries to do it all for God. She is able to take the seemingly mundane tasks motherhood requires and make them interesting and important.

The story is a fun and fast read for mothers and future mothers and even non-moms of all ages. (It wouldn’t hurt the husbands to take a peak either!)