Luck And A Prayer

Rating:
Summary: Edgy Insprirational
Review: Cynthia Cooke has found an exciting edge in the inspirational romance market -- one missing until now. LUCK AND A PRAYER grips the reader on the very first page and doesn't let go until the end. I read it in one sitting because I really couldn't put it down. Willa is just the kind of heroine you can cheer for, and Jeff is a hero to die for. Together, they solve a crime and fall in love in the process. The pacing was breathtaking and the end has a huge surprise, so don't peek ahead. Just read and enjoy the ride!

Rating:
Summary: Action, mystery, & love mixed with a youth pastor and cop...
Review: Cynthia Cooke's first novel is a "GO!"

This Love Inspired book from Steeple Hill publishers holds action as well as romance. Ms. Cooke is a good writer and shows promise. She has the flexibility to take her character from an inner city, crime infested neighborhood to a remote camping site complete with bugs and bears .... and, of course, criminals in pursuit, while staying true to the story line.

My only complaint is this book is too short. The action, romance, and finding God happen quickly. For action, that's good. For the other, well .... that's a function of limits placed on the size of the book. Keep 'em coming Ms. Cooke.

Rating:
Summary: Action, mystery, & love mixed with a youth pastor and cop...
Review: Cynthia Cooke's first novel is a "GO!"

This Love Inspired book from Steeple Hill publishers holds action as well as romance. Ms. Cooke is a good writer and shows promise. She has the flexibility to take her character from an inner city, crime infested neighborhood to a remote camping site complete with bugs and bears .... and, of course, criminals in pursuit, while staying true to the story line.

My only complaint is this book is too short. The action, romance, and finding God happen quickly. For action, that's good. For the other, well .... that's a function of limits placed on the size of the book. Keep `em coming Ms. Cooke.

Rating:
Summary: An inspirational with an edge
Review: I like books about "cops and robbers," but this book just was "over the top" for me. The main character, Willa, was supposed to be an undercover cop, but she acted way too stupidly and foolishly for me to believe she had ever gone through police training. She made a lot of mistakes, ended up putting the lives of civilians at risk, and we are supposed to believe that she did that because she was so focused on avenging the death of her father. She didn't even carry a weapon when she went to retrieve evidence in the desert, so she was unarmed when she was almost killed by a bear, by a rattlesnake, by an evil man, etc. This cop didn't even break in her boots when she went camping? Come on, how dumb is that? I liked the hero, the youth minister, but he got quite lovey-dovey with Willa, even though she didn't seem to share his beliefs. What if she hadn't changed, and decided to believe in God? He would have been stuck in a love that wouldn't have worked out for him. I felt like the author just threw all sorts of obstacles at the characters--raging rapids, evil pimps,bats, rattlesnakes, bears, etc. to the point that I had a hard time believing that they all could survive the whole ordeal. None of the "good guys" died, and everything turned out ok in the end. I don't mean to sound like I hated this book--I just think that the author could do much better. It was like reading a an adventure comic strip. I really never liked Willa because she wasn't honest with the minister from the start and dragged him and kids into danger because she wasn't up front with him. The minister's controlling and hypocritical father was pretty stereotypical, and I found it hard to believe that he had raised such a nice son.
Obviously other people have liked this book, and that is ok, because I know that people have different tastes. So, other readers may find this book to their taste. It just wasn't my type, and I threw it away after I finished it. I like more well-thought out internal conflict in a novel, rather than page after page of swash-buckling type action that can sometimes stretch the limits of believability.

Rating:
Summary: An inspirational with an edge
Review: My friend recommended this book and I really enjoyed it. It was edgy and captivating. The characters caught my imagination taking me on their ride. I read it in one enjoyable sitting and would recommend it to others that yearn for a fast-paced story filled with suspense.

Rating:
Summary: Very lovely novel
Review: This book is really easy to read and the characters are very well developed and likeable. Cynthia Cooke has a wonderful way with words and I cannot wait to read her future works!! Thanks

Rating:
Summary: Fun, fast paced, a joy to read.
Review: This is *exactly* my favorite type of book. Right from the opening pages the book had me anxious to read more. Lots of action and good romance, too. Part of what made it extra interesting is that it takes place in LA, Pasadena (my home town) and Sequoia (where I recently camped).

Willa Barrett is an LA Cop doing prostitution under-cover work. She's especially after one man, Jack Paulson, who was responsible for her father's death years before. Jeff is a youth pastor from Pasadena, though he once worked as a minister on the LA strip area. Jeff is back in the area looking for Tracey, a 13 year old member of his church that has run away. Willa literally bowls him over as her cover is blown as she barrels into him during her escape. While helping Tracey get away, and realizing she herself will not get away, Willa "plants" the evidence to convict Paulson into Jeff's pocket.

Next for the fun part of the book. Jeff has left to take a group of Jr. High kids backpacking in Sequoia. Willa figures she will just catch up with them and retrieve her evidence and head home. But... street savvy Willa is at a loss in the wilderness. Snakes? Blisters? Bears? What next?

The tension builds as Paulson is now after both Willa and Tracey. I won't let any plot twists away, but suffice it to say the book kept me riveted to my seat. I can't believe this is Cynthia Cooke's debut novel. She does the action/suspense very well, sprinkled with some nice romance. I felt I was right there with Willa the whole time.

While there was no "sex" or "gorey violence" in the book, I might rate this book PG because of the portrayal of the realities of the prostitution lifestyle.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did... Enjoy!