In the Middle of the Mess by Sheila Walsh

In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for This Beautiful, Broken Life by Sheila Walsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. "As a follower of Jesus, there is power in your story when you don't hide it. Your authority lies in your scars. I can't speak to things I've never struggled with; I can only confess my story, invite Christ into it, then invite you into it too." Sheila Walsh invites the reader into her "mess" through this book. As a woman who has had her father taken from her through suicide as a young girl, and suffered a mental breakdown, she is well-qualified to give advice to many of us who struggle day to day. Reading this book draws the reader closer to the grace of the Father and whispers "it is okay not to be perfect, you may be in a mess right now, but I can use this pain for something good. Just trust me."

View all my reviews

My Name is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd

My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. The best part of this book was the characterisation. The characters seem to come alive, and strangely I felt myself wondering what was going to happen to them even when I wasn't reading the book!

Venus Black is a 13 yr old girl who is incarcerated for about 5 years for killing her stepfather. Meanwhile, her little autistic brother is kidnapped. Most of the story takes place after she gets out of prison. She changes her identity so that she can start her life over. We see Venus trying to live her life as an adult woman for the first time in her life after prison. There are many twists and turns throughout the whole book. The reader finds out what happened to the brother and is taken into the life of the brother's kidnappers. Venus finds a place to live in a house with a man and his young niece. Venus develops a mother-daughter type relationship with the young girl only to have her ripped from her life by the girl's aunt. There is even a possible romantic relationship between Venus and an attractive man she meets at the diner where she works. When Venus finds out he is a cop, she thinks there is no way she can continue with him.

Throughout the book, the author never truly reveals what led Venus to take the life of her step father, although the reader is given a few hints. When we finally find out Venus' motives, we are faced with the moral dilemma of siding with Venus or the law.

All in all, this book is entertaining and full of emotion. There is suspense, laughter, and tears wrapped up in this book. Highly recommend!!

View all my reviews