On My Nightstand - Flee From Evil by Connie Almony

This is a multi-layered story about two people, whose paths cross again. They've both changed after becoming Christians, but Cassandra has a hard time believing Vince has truly turned his life around. With two kids, one autistic, her protective instincts are at high alert.

Author Connie Almony did a good job with the characters. I thought the story benefited from the addition of the autistic child. Autism has become more common, and I learned quite a bit about the subject.

I did get a bit annoyed with the heroine's intense grudge but found it more understandable as past incidents were revealed. The element of suspense ramped up the tension for me and lifted it from a simple romance to a riveting story.

This book gets five stars. I'm looking forward to the next story in this series.

Disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher requested a favorable review. I didn't receive any payment, and all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  Have you thought about including characters with disabilities in your stories? Please share.

Readers:  Have you read stories that educated you about some aspect of life (not only illnesses)? Do they appeal to you? Please share.

On My Nightstand - An Insignificant Life by Connie Almony

Tiffany's life as a Resident Assistant on a college campus puts her in direct contact with a wild lifestyle of sex and drugs. Her world is turned upside down when she discovers she's pregnant and faces the choice to have the baby or abort it.

Adam works with the Campus Police along with his dog, Daisy. He rescues Tiffany from a lecherous guy and thinks his job is done.

Their work keeps throwing them together, and each one struggles with secrets from their past. Can they resolve their differences or will their budding relationship come to a screeching halt?

Connie Almony is another new-to-me author. When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stick with it. I'm glad I did. While there's a strong spiritual thread, it definitely qualifies as "edgy," dealing with real-life issues in today's world.

The book is well written and kept me turning pages once I settled into the story. She told the story, managing the mystery and suspense with a skillful hand. Unlike some books, I didn't figure out the whodunit part until she was ready to reveal it.

I've already bought another one of this author's books. I'd give this one 4 1/2 Stars.

Disclaimer:  Neither the author nor the publisher requested this review. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Writers:  Have you considered writing articles or books dealing with controversial subjects? Please share.

Readers:  Does "edgy" fiction turn you off or are you a fan? Please share your thoughts.