Claudia Mair (rhymes with fire) Burney's debut novel is a winner. It is a read in one sitting, neglect the chores, serve sandwhiches for dinner, type of book. Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man is part mystery, part romance, part chick-lit. Amanda Bell Brown is a heroine to love. She flirts with the man of her dreams, and promptly pukes on him, when they visit a crime scene that is vaguely familiar to her. All this while wearing a knock-out dress, high heels and a whole lot of attitude. I like her!
The story goes on to unravel not only the secrets of what appears to be a religious suicide, but the painful past of Bell's youth. There is a huge 'Don't go in there!' moment, but this is where Bell gets to do some serious business of facing her history and while making sure there is a future for girls who are in a place she has been.
This is a fast-paced, fun read. I like that the main characters have struggles, that they aren't perfect, that they actually have physical attraction to each other. They sin and they have to take care of it with God. So many 'Christian' books have such perfect little characters that they don't resemble anyone I personally know. Bell, Jazz, (the fine man) and Carly (Bell's sassy sister) have conversations like the people I know, although they have them while eating quality chocolate and wearing much better clothes than any of my friends have!
I can't wait to see what Mair has in store for us next. In the mean time, I will keep reading her blog, which is an open, raw, painfully at times honest journal of her real life, her walk and love of Jesus. She can really lay it out there and doesn't pull any punches. Be prepared to be moved and changed by her words when you visit there.
3 comments:
rock on! yeah, I gobbled it whole, too--and didn't even get indigestion afterwards.
so tasty!
One sitting for me too.
If only men that fine were to be found around here... lol!
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have to check it out.
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