Finally, Christian Fiction worth reading--I couldn't actually put this down and ended up staying up late to finish it. I can totally see why this author has won awards for her writing.

So, what did I like about it?

1. The Christian worldview wasn't compromised--right and wrong were clearly distinguishable. When characters made mistakes they suffered consequences but there was also grace and forgiveness when they were truly repentant.

2. The storyline was different. The author clearly has a heart for teenagers from broken families and abusive backgrounds. The main character is from such a family and struggles with a number of long-term issues as a result. I liked the depth and reality of this character. The message was clearly that God can deal with any issues and that everyone has them!

3. The crime occurred at the beginning of the book and the reader was present throughout. That created dramatic tension as the other characters scrambled to establish what had happened. The suspense aspect was whether or not the authorities would catch up with the suspects. The plot unfolded well and kept me hooked until the end.

4. The main character is helped along the way by various fringe characters--they all mention faith in God but not in a compulsive way, it just forms part of the natural conversation. This is how it should be in reality if Christians are truly focused on God in their everyday lives--how can we meet someone or have a conversation without Him being mentioned if He is present in everything we do. This was a good reminder that we can really make a difference through our daily witness as we are being watched by non-believers.

5. The character of a Christian was represented effectively--compassion, kindness, perseverance, patience etc. Also a trait that is often overlooked-dependability, which in this case was exactly what the main character needed as so many had let her down.

6. The parallel animal story-lines--I love animals too!

I could go on but I don't want to give too much away. There were only a few things that I felt could have been sharpened up. There is a scene where a character is described as "definitely Christian/with a belief in God." The evidence for that seems to have been in his relationship with nature/his appreciation of creation. It is mentioned that he didn't go to church that much and his faith is described in vague terms. I think that because he is described a definitely a Christian more needed to be made here of what a Christian is and how that would impact a life.

I highly recommend this book and will be reading others in this series. The book is clean with no bad language and no sexual content. There is violence including murder but I felt it was handled sensitively. The author has done well here as she has managed to handle some tough issues without compromising Christian values for the sake of a secular audience and she manages to keep the book exciting in the process... ( )

Title: Bound by Guilt
Author: C. J. Darlington
Pages: 402
Year: 2013
Publisher: Mountainview Books
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Guilt-C-J-Darlington/dp/0989162176/ref=pd_bxgy_b_tex...
The first novel in the series, Thicker than Blood, sets the stage for the continuation of the main characters in Bound by Guilt, May and Christy. The sisters have experienced the loss of both parents in a car accident plus May has feelings of abandonment when Christy took off without explanation after the funeral. Now readers see in Bound by Guilt the intensity notched up by focusing on a teenage girl who has felt rejected all her life. Roxie is now traveling in an RV, living a less than stellar life.
Page after page shine of God’s love, forgiveness and provision as readers delve deeper into the tale. I can say that the depiction of foster situations and group homes in the story is pretty close to reality in some though not all homes. There are some good foster parents/homes and some group homes should be held up as models for others to emulate. Please know I used to work in the social work field and group homes.
What readers will sense is the fervor of the action that increases as a murder is committed along with the theft of expensive rare books. Roxie’s character insecurity and search for a love that won’t abandon her is really heart gripping. Christy was engaged to the young man who was killed, and the way she works through her emotions to forgive the perpetrators is astounding. Abby is a policewoman and the sister of the victim. She is rough around the edges with many questions. Her past is littered with brokenness. It is hard for Abby to control her anger and emotions, especially when dealing face-to-face with the accused. I liked how the author leaves her open minded by not making a decision for or against God. Real people are like this too. They need time, and it is work that only the Lord can do.
Audiences are just going to want to get comfy and read all the books in the series one after the other. The order is Thicker than Blood, Bound by Guilt then Ties that Bind.
My rating is 5+ stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

This was a great sequel to this author's debut story, "Thicker Than Blood"! I loved how the author continues to use the "antiquarian" book world in her story line and picks up where her first book left off, although the main characters are all new to this story. I also love whoever does her book covers. Although this story doesn't have a lot of "happy moments", it is very well done and shows the real world of some foster care children and the heartache and longing they have for a real loving family.

Roxi Gold is a teenager who has been moved around in foster care until a relative finally takes her in. But her new "family" travels the country stealing rare books from bookstores and Roxi tries her best to fit in and do what she can to help them so that maybe she will be accepted, loved and cared for. But something goes tragically wrong and Roxi finds herself taking off and fleeing her family. Where she ends up and what she finally finds is very heartwarming. Don't want to spoil anything, but this was a great story of forgiveness and unconditional love.

This was a story with a lot of intense moments. It was hard to put down and walk away from. The author did a great job of bringing this story to a great ending. The Biblical aspect of love and the ability to provide forgiveness even under the worst of tragedies was very well done and precious to read about. I appreciate the author's thoughts at the end of the book, how she came up with the unusual story line and how her characters become real to her as she writes. Great job! I look forward to the next book in this series. ( )

Welcome to the unique and unusual antiquarian book world of author,
CJ Darlington!

Follow-up to Darlington's 'Thicker Than BLood', 'Bound by Guilt' contains enough explanatory history allowing for an engaging stand alone read. On the other hand, it was like old home week comfort to catchup with characters from the first novel.
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Darlington's novels centre in the unusual setting of the antiquarian book world. Her novels
are filled with unique and interesting facts inspiring a broader understanding of books and their value.
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This particular book prominently features F. Scott Fitzgerald's , The Great Gatsby, first edition.
A timely focus with the newest movie released this last month.
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Darlington's writing is filled with quick wit, creative expressions, and a consistently unique voice that adds to the charm of reading her novels. My emotions and attention are fully engaged by Darlington's writing. Every sense is affected. From the aroma of the morning coffees, flavours of the cinnamon raisin bagels, whispered cell phone messages, to descriptive indoor or outdoor settings.
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The story itself is intense with an increasing pace that had me laying the book aside at times to relieve the tension. Suspenseful drama, mystery, adventure, intrigue, all realistic in culturally relevant contemporary settings. Well developed growth and maturing of likeable characters; strong emotionally influential features of disliked characters. Generational variety in characters who come to life in the reading, exhibiting believable actions and reactions.

Enough twists to keep the reader guessing and unsettled enough to keep reading.

I recommend Ms Darlington's 'Bound By Guilt' as readily as her debut, 'Thicker Than Blood'.





Review for Tyndale Rewards program. Receive Free Bonus 25 points by using this LINK to Join today. ( )

Roxi Gold is a troubled teenager; taken from a negligent mother, shuffled between group homes and foster families, she eventually finds herself living with her mother’s cousin and her teenaged son. Longing more than anything else to be loved and to belong to a family, she is swept into the criminal schemes of her caregiver and enters the world of antiquarian book theft.

I always enjoy reading C.J. Darlington’s book-centered Christian suspense titles. I particularly enjoy how she weaves real-life rare book details into the fabric of each of her stories. Bound by Guilt is the follow-up novel to Thicker Than Blood, Darlington’s debut. While we are introduced to a new cast of main characters, it was exciting to see how familiar faces from the first novel were interwoven into the plot of this second novel in surprising ways.

Deeply engaging, Bound by Guilt is crafted with a wealth of emotional tension. I found myself reaching for the tissues several times as I read through its pages. That being said, I did find the emotional responses of one of the key characters of Thicker Than Blood to be rather muted for the circumstances she found herself in. She is no longer a main player on the ongoing storyline, but I would have liked to see more depth there.

I’m excited to see what Darlington has for us in the future! She has a way of crafting true-to-life stories of faith and forgiveness that ring with authenticity.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com ( )