A Son's Vow

Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.

Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.

Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.

As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?

Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.

My thoughts: A Son's Vow is the first book in Shelley Shepard Grey's new series, The Charmed Amish Life. She does a wonderful job of bringing realistic, flawed, like able characters to life! Darla and Lukas are interesting main characters, it's hard not to want to come to Darla's rescue as she suffers abuse from those who take the tragedy out on her and her family. I love the over all message! This is a wonderful start to this new series.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Street God

His street name was Daylight. But he was a nightmare.

On the streets of New York, darkness and violence reigned. Dimas “Daylight” Salaberrios began selling drugs when he was eleven years old, and by sixteen, he had served his first stint at the notorious Rikers Island prison. Dimas saw only one way to survive: by reigning over the streets. He would be the richest, most powerful ruler in the hood . . . or die trying.
Street God is the true story of one man’s dangerous journey through the underworld of crime, drugs, and almost certain death. It was an encounter with the real God that saved his life — and then made it even more dangerous. Because that God sent Dimas back down the darkest streets he’d ever known — with other lives depending on it. And Dimas had to ask the question: How far am I prepared to go?
A dramatic, compelling memoir full of twists and turns, Street God delves deep into a world from which few ever emerge — and shows how a single spark of light can illuminate even the darkest existence.

My thoughts: Real life is often even crazier then fiction, and I would say that is certainly true with the story of Dimas. His life story is one that is incredibly encouraging for those who think they have fallen to far for God's grace to reach them, for the parents who despair that their children have chosen a different path and seem to have total turned their back on God. Dimas is real as he talks about how easy it is to get sucked into the drug world, something I didn't realize and that is helpful to know as a parent.
This is an incredible story for teens and adults to read. I highly recommend it!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.