The Rest of a Good Story

May I remind you that we need rest?

Our bodies need it–that’s why we sleep every night (hopefully). Our minds need rest, as well. If you’re like me, your mind needs help going into ‘rest mode’. I use fiction to encourage my mind to rest.

We have to remember that most of the internet is non-fiction. No matter how lovely the blogs you read, there are still calls to action, conversations enticing you to join in, and just one more link to follow. The internet is not a very quiet, restful place. We musn’t forget to embrace the ‘rest’ of a good story. {<–tweet that!}

My preferred genre is Christian detective and legal thrillers. Did that surprise you? Yeah, it did me, too. Here’s a few I’ve enjoyed lately…

The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer

This was my latest read. Very intricate plot–really enjoyed this well-crafted mystery/legal thriller. I will look for more from this author.

Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig

An underwater archaeologist gets caught up in a nuclear terrorist plot. I enjoyed the unique setting and it definitely kept me turning pages when I should have been sleeping.

Invisible by Lorena McCourtney

I really liked the premise of this detective story–that a little old lady is practically invisible to most people, thus allowing her to snoop and pry and solve a crime that stumps the police.

Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason

This author tried to weave in a bit too much shallow romance into the fast paced action of the story. But I found the story worth it–it got pretty edge-of-your-seat-exciting, so I will look for the next in the series.

Hazardous Duty by Christy Barrit

A crime scene cleaner gets caught up in a murder plot. The heroine seems to lack some common sense, but her ditzy moments do create some exciting drama. I enjoyed the humor in this one.

{I have to mention this next one because it was a review copy I received from Multnomah press a while back.  I’ll have you know, I’ve quit signing up for free review copies and I turn down a lot of review opportunities because I’m only willing to bring you the books that are really worth your time. I don’t want to waste your time telling you about a sub-par book which I’m obligated to review because I received it for free. So, this one gets a brief mention because I have to, and then that’s the last obligatory review I’ll ever do, mkay?}

The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

What I liked about Mark Mynheir was his ability to bring humor into a crime/detective novel. That being said, I think he needs more practice–it could have been better written.

And here’s a few more outside of that genre that were totally worth the mention.

Chop, Chop by L.N. Cronk 

I don’t know how to summarize this book for you. All I know is that even though it was not the best written book I’ve read in the last year, the story has stuck with me for months.

Unconventional by J.J. Hebert

I saved the best for last. This was my favorite fiction book I’ve read in the last 12 months. Grabbed me on so many levels. It’s the story of a struggling young writer trying to get his first work published. If you are a writer, you will love this story, relating to all the stages of discouragement, writer’s block, and satisfaction the character experiences. Even if you’re not a writer, the story has several sub-plots and a lot to draw you in emotionally.

I loved the book so much, I tracked down the author and thanked him personally. I only do that about once every 3 years. So, 5 stars, and I can’t wait for his next book.

Wanna know how I keep my kindle app bursting with great titles–for free? My secret is EReadergirl.com. I LOVE this site! It was spearheaded by Crystal Paine of MoneySavingMom and provides a great service: they scan the free and cheap ebooks on Amazon every day and bring you the best of clean and usually Christian books each day. I signed up to receive their daily posts in my inbox and download a few good titles every week, so I always have fresh content for when I need Rest.

What fiction have you enjoyed lately? I love suggestions!