Thirsty
by Tracey Bateman

"Hello, I’m Nina Parker.and I’m an alcoholic." For Nina, even in recovery, the truth of the declaration has demolished her hopes and condemned her to return to the town she ran away from nearly two decades earlier-Abbey Hills, Missouri. But the place she once called home is no safe haven. A ritualistic-style murder.

Animals disappearing from the Ozark reserve where Nina works, and turning up slaughtered. And someone-or some thing-watching Nina. Wanting her. Stalking her with a 250-year-old desire that burns like a raging wildfire.

Nina’s ex-husband Hunt shows up, hoping to protect Nina and Megan, the angry teenage daughter who followed her to Missouri. But another man has entered the picture, testing Nina as she attempts to walk the tightrope of recovery-and the power of thirst. Much more than Nina Parker’s love hangs in the balance. The battle between love and obsession is destined to unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

NOTE FROM TY: I will be posting a review soon and also check out Touched by a Vampire.

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Gina Merritt struggles with being a single mother and her mental illness. She seeks relief by attending the Ash Wednesday service at her beloved church home. To her shock, the comfort she seeks comes in the form of a vivid vision, followed by blood flowing from her palms.

Anthony Priest is a journalist and a junkie. At rock bottom, he also seeks solace in church. He witnesses as Gina cries out in pain. Instinctly, Anthony reaches over to to touch Gina. As soon as he touches her, he instantly feels healed from his addiction. Gina takes off, clearly frightened and confused.  Wanting to find out what happened, Anthony pursues her.  Together,  they seek to understand how a Protestant African-American woman could experience the stigmata. An extraordinary love story develops between two very different people.

I’m a huge fan of Claudia Mair Burney’s novels. Wounded is probably her most literary work. While full of passion, it’s not a typical romance novel, which I really liked. It’s well researched and digs deep into Catholicism. The storyline also has several characters sharing their points of view. Claudia touches upon interracial love in this novel, which is something she does in many of her novels.

This is not a novel you would speed read through. The novel’s ending was shrouded in a bit of mystery, but I enjoyed having a reading experience that stretched my imagination.

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Denise Hightower has been married to Pastor Bryce Hightower for over three years. She’s confident in his love for her and enjoys being by his side. That is until she finds out her husband and pastor has a secret addiction.

Being the First Lady, Denise already has to deal with scrutiny and in many ways protects her husband. She tries to pretend all is normal in front of the congregation, but  when the burden starts to get the best of Denise, her self-esteem plummets. As she moves farther away from Bryce, can their marriage survive?

Bryce on the other hand is struggling to overcome his problem. When someone in his congregation steps forward with a similar problem, he’s going to have to decide if he wants to come clean. If he does, his security in being  a minister could be lost. But what option does he have, when Denise isn’t willing to continue living a lie?

Pornography is one of those taboo topics the church sweeps under the rug like homosexuality and fornication. People are aware of church members and even pastors who have succumbed to sexual sins, but no wants to out anybody. What intense pressure it must be a shepherd of a flock with such a secret.

This is a novel that in no way male bashes, but provides a unique ministry opportunity for open dialogue not only those addicted to pornography, but other sins that are strongholds. I love how the author, Wanda B. Campbell, expertly weaves the root of the problem into the story.

I started this novel 10:00 at night with the thought I would read a few chapters each night until I finished it. Not! I read well past midnight and finished this novel off in under three hours.

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The Someday List

Rachelle Covington lives the kind of lifestyle that most women can only dream about. She’s married to a handsome surgeon, has two beautiful children and a gorgeous home. As a stay-at-home mom, she’s able to be there for her children and her husband, but Rachelle feels like something is still missing. As her husband, Gabe, prepares for a mission trip to Africa, she spills her “hidden” frustrations out on him. Unknown to Gabe, Rachelle’s concerns began with a disturbing correspondence from the past. Without anyone’s knowledge, Rachelle sets off to visit her college friend, Jillian, not knowing what to expect.

Jillian is terminally ill and has invited her closest family and friends around her. She has completed are her life goals or what she calls her “someday list.” With these accomplishments behind her, Jillian is at peace and ready for her heavenly home. Before she goes, Jillian insists that her family and friends prepare their own personal someday lists.

Rachelle is surprised and a bit shaken that Jillian has really lived her seemingly short life to the fullest. Motivated by her friend’s encouragement, Rachelle struggles to jot down something next to number one her list. How can she have gotten this far and not known what she wanted to do with her life? Plagued with this question, Rachelle’s journeys to Jubilant, Texas. It’s here she will revisit more of the past than she imagined. She’s going to meet the crossroads of her life and have to make serious decision that could affect her forever.

If you need to be lifted during these times, The Someday List is a perfect novel to spark hope and get you thinking about your future. Rachelle is a very relatable character. Whether you are married or single, a mom or not a mom – most women will be able to relate to a time in there life, when you didn’t feel like you were doing anything purposeful. Somewhere along the way life knocks you for a loop or you just end up going through the motions. This novel is about dreaming again and making sure you are walking in the purpose God has set for you.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a novel by Stacy Hawkins Adams. I’m so delighted to have a chance to read this first novel in the Jubilant Soul series. Anyone who follows my reviews and blogs, knows my passion for Christian Fiction. Stacy’s book is proof of how powerful a fictional read can be in not only entertaining, but making you think long after you close the book. By the time, the reader finishes this novel, I can guaranteed you will be jotting down a few items on your personal “Someday List.”

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