The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn

 

My grandma recommended me this book and it was definitely a thought provoking quick read. I breezed through the first portion of the book, got a little lost in the middle with the talk of economics, and found the ending insightful. I did enjoy the book over all, but I did feel that it was very repeatitive at times. With a message like this it's hard to not question the truths behind the story.

 

This story tells of the ancient mystery that holds the secret to America's future, 9/11, and the collapse of the global economy. All of these events are sent in a prophetic message to the narrorator with regards to Isiah 9:10. Ancient Israel received nine harbingers before its destruction that were prophetic omens of warning. Now these same harbingers are manifesting in America which are being connected to end-time prophecy. The man essentially telling the story has received a message from a mysterious figured called The Prophet, who gives him nine seals that contain messages about America's future which must be connected together to tell the whole prophecy. Regardless of whether it is true or not, the ending has a good message about Salvation.

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

For some reason I have been interested in historical fiction here lately, other than my usual WWII interests. I saw that this book has mixed reviews, either the readers loved it or hated it. The ones that weren't a fan said that it was basically just boring because of all the historical background and was really just the diary of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley retold. Because I'm so naive to the inner workings of history, especially with the government I found this book actually enjoyable. So yes, I liked Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker! My favorite parts were seeing the personal side of Mr. Lincoln, a positive light on Mrs. Lincoln, and the tale of a woman born a slave who turned into the right hand woman of the First Lady.

 

The story is told in choronological order from their first arrival to Washington D.C. A friendship quickly forms between Mary Todd Lincoln and her seamstress, Lizzie Keckly. Throught the time Mr. Lincoln is in office Lizzie creates gowns and dresses Mrs. Lincoln. She even helped comb out the President's "unruly" hair. The two women became so close that Lizzie helps Mrs. Lincoln during the loss of her son and the assassination of her husbund. The insight to these events were very heartwrenching. Later on Lizzie is encourage to write a memoir entitled,
Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. Following the publishication the friendship between the two women is over and the only thing the dressmaker can hold onto is a quilt she makes from the leftover pieces from her days as Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker.

Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

Finally, Patterson is back on his game. After the last Alex Cross book that was so disconnected I was a little worried that I might just have to give up on one of my favorite authors. Glad I didn't though because this book was very well thought out as it connected Cross's investigations, home life, and even his own stalker into one storyline.

 

The story begins with a well known plastic surgeon, Elijah Creem, being busted for hosting very scandalous parties involving underage kids. He does all that he can to get out trouble, but loses everything in the process including his wife and daughters. In the mean time, Cross gets a new case where a beautiful woman has been found murdered in her car, with most of her hair ripped off. Another is found hanging from a sixth floor window, and she has recently had a baby. The third body is found, this time a male, and Washington DC finds itself with three serial killers at once. However, two of them are working as a pair. While Cross is frantically working to solve the cases that keep adding bodies to their killing sprees, he fails to notice that one of them is actually coming after him. With a fast pace book and a life-altering ending for the Cross family this book will keep you on board until the very end!