Never Let You Go- A book review

Lexi Solomon is struggling to put her life back together. Ever since her husband Grant left her, she's barely made ends meet for her and her daughter. Suddenly, within a span of a few hours, everything she held dear threatens to fall apart. Erin Healy's first novel of her own, after co-authoring two with Ted Dekker, is a thrilling story about forgiveness, survival and spiritual warfare.

When Lexi's daughter, Molly, was only two, her drug addicted husband left her. Around that same time, a man named Norman Von Ruden murdered her sister. Now, seven years later, a low-life drug dealer gives Lexi an ultimatum. She must testify on Norman 's behalf at his parole hearing, or he'll harm her daughter. Then, Grant storms back into her life, trying to renew ties with his daughter. Further threatening Lexi's sanity is her father, who is in a mental institution, and her mother, who will have nothing to do with him.

Working two jobs and behind on utility payments, Lexi doesn't know if she'll make it. To make things worse, she's starting to see things and losing her grip on what is real and what isn't.

Knowing Healy's background with Dekker, I expected to there to be some sort of supernatural angle to NEVER LET YOU GO, and there is. It is powerful and gripping and gives you hope that good will ultimately prevail. My only complaint would be that some of the early hints of the supernatural elements were confusing.

Once the story gets rolling, it was hard to stop reading. Lexi's fight for Molly is both captivating and wrenching. The villains are pure evil, and the spiritual message is uplifting and hopeful. A must-read for Christian fiction fans who enjoy Dekker.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for this copy of Erin Healy's book in exchange for my review.

My Review of Still House Pond

Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but she would much rather play with her best friend than watch her little brother and the twins. Her mama, Copper, is often gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home. When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the city, Lilly is excited to go, and Copper reluctantly agrees to let her. Later, when they hear the news that the train crashed, Copper and her husband, John, rush to find out if their daughter is injured . . . or even alive.


I ended up really liking this book. It took me a while to get into it, but by page 100 I didn't want to put it down. I thought in the first half of the book, the character development was also a little slow. I didn't feel like I was getting to know anyone. In the second half it totally turned around and once I got to know the characters I loved them! There are really 3 main characters -
Copper - She is the town Midwife. She is a strong and smart woman. She takes sick, pregnant women into their home against her husbands better judgment. She nurses them back to health and teaches them how to care for their babies.
Lilly - An 11 yr. old girl who is carefree and a little mischievous. She intends on being a mature young lady but something is always tempting her away, puppies, people, listening and watching things she shouldn't, all these things are far more interesting than watching her siblings and doing chores. She is scheduled to visit her Aunt for a spell, which she is very excited about and feels very grown-up taking the train alone.
Manda - She is the 18 yr. old hired help. She has big dreams of falling in love. With stars always in her eyes, her mind is always wandering to a certain stranger, while at the same time her heart is wondering if her friend, Gurney could be "the one". I loved Manda, she was my favorite!
This takes place in Kentucky in 1896. This book has some great twists and turns, and in no way is predictable. Thank you Tyndale House Publishers for sending me a complimentary copy of this book to review.