A Matter of Trust

When Mia Quinn's husband, Scott, died in a car accident, she had no choice but to return to work at the King County District Attorney's office as a lawyer.  Talking on the phone one evening to her co-worker and friend, Colleen, Mia is considered a "witness" to Colleen's murder when a gunshot cuts that conversation short. Feeling she has no option but to remain on the phone line, she hands the phone over to her teen son to listen to Colleen's labored breaths, hoping Colleen will reveal what has happened, while she hurries to Colleen's aid.  But Mia was too late.

Having lost both a husband and friend in such a short time, Mia is devastated.  But since Scott's death, there have been many surprises and secrets revealed, none of them good. So when Mia is asked to find and prosecute her friend's murderer, she feels she has no choice but to accept the job.  But balancing work and being a single parent proves to be quite the challenge, especially with a teen son who is desperately trying to fit in at school and a preschool daughter who has recently been having what appears to be terrible nightmares and waking up screaming.

Christian murder mysteries aren't all the numerous and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with Lisa Wiehl's new series introducing Mia Quinn and police detective Charlie Carlson who works with Mia to find the killer. Ms. Wiehl will keep you guessing until the end as to who the real killer is, leaving nuggets of evidence along the way leading the reader to that revelation.  I loved both the main characters, Mia and Charlie, even if the teen son Gabe did bug me a bit.  I just wanted him to show his mother the respect she deserved as his parent.  I look forward to reading additional books in this series.

A Matter of Trust also contains a series of questions perfect for reading group discussions.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.  Released today, March 19, 2013 from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Upside-down prayers for parents

As a Christian parent, I pray for my children every day, many times several times through the day as I think about them.  However, what I have prayed over my children for over twenty years may not be exactly what I should have been asking God for.  I pray for their safety, to make wise choices, to be a light for Him....all good things.  But Lisa Bergren in Upside-Down Prayers for Parents challenges me to pray in a way that may go against the norm.  For example, day 1 challenges me to pray that my child will get caught doing wrong and that they will find the right path.  How convicting!  As a parent, I would typically pray that my child would make the wise and right choices but we're all sinners and make poor choices.  How much more valuable it would be to my child if he/she were to get caught doing wrong, rather than thinking they got by with something, and then turn to God for direction on the path they should have taken.  How about day 16:  I pray you will lose a job and know that your Provider has not forgotten you.  Seem a bit harsh?  What comfort and security to know that all is in God's hands and that job you think is there forever is only for the moment.  God, as Provider, is the only way we can feel secure in knowing all our needs will be met and that His ways of providing may differ from what we think we need. Or day 24:  I pray your beliefs will be challenged and the roots of your faith will be strengthened.  What growth is experienced when we must defend what we believe!

Upside-Down Prayers for Parents was written as a 31 day devotional for parents.  Each "chapter" begins with a short scripture followed by a few pages of text,  to make the prayer Ms. Bergren is encouraging you to pray seem a bit more understandable as she conveys her thoughts and personal experiences and stories.  Each day also leaves the reader to ponder a fairly thought provoking question and then suggests questions that promote discussion between you and your child whether young, teens, or young adults.  Each entry is simple to read but it may just change the way you think about your prayer life for your child.

Some of these things are just hard to pray for. I think, for me, rather than praying my child will lose a job, suffer loss, face financial hardships, and take crazy risks, I will focus more on praying for what could be gained from those circumstances and let God take care of how that happens.  I have spent most of my adult life trying to protect my children from such things and perhaps that isn't what I should do but God is going to have to work on me a bit to pray hardships on my children. 

Good book and quite thought provoking but get ready for some reading that may challenge how you have prayed for your children!

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review.