Book Review: Stealing Jenny
By Ellen Gable , release date: September 15, 2011, Full Quiver Publishing, Pakenham, Ontario, pages, Paperback $12.99 (Amazon).
Reviewed by JEAN M. HEIMANN, freelance writer, wife and mother, graduate student in theology, retired educator, psychologist, and oblate with the Community of St. John.
In her third novel, Stealing Jenny, Ellen Gable masterfully creates a tight, compelling, and totally gripping tale of mystery and suspense. It grabs the reader’s interest and attention from the very first page to the last, moving at a quick pace from one action-packed scene to the next.
Stealing Jenny is the tale of Jenny Callahan, a Catholic wife and mother who, after three heart-breaking miscarriages, is now happily anticipating the birth of her sixth child. Jenny is nearing the end of a risky pregnancy and is eager to hold her newborn safely in her arms. Little does she realize that a mentally unbalanced neighbor has been stalking her and is plotting to take her baby from her. At a rural bus stop, Jenny is kidnapped and her three-old son is the only witness to the abduction. Will she escape or be rescued in time to save her life and the life of her unborn child?
Gable skillfully and cleverly crafts the story, combining elements of romance, drama, and suspense. The tender and loving, yet imperfect relationship between family members makes the characters seem very realistic and easy to relate to, the flashbacks reveal past information relevant to today, adding depth to the characters, and the well-concocted plans of the mentally unbalanced neighbor combine to produce a fast-paced, action-packed, suspense-filled tale.
Stealing Jenny is a uniquely Catholic story which contains themes of faith, love, hope, forgiveness, healing, and strongly emphasizes pro-life values. It is a book that provides high quality entertainment, while at the same time, reminds one of what is most important in life: faith and family. I highly recommend it.
~ copyright Jean M. Heimann August, 2011.
Looks like a wonderful read. I enjoy books that entail faith, forgiveness and healing. I just reviewed one too titled Cut in Half, you can read what it's about at my blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book recommendation. I posted it over at a forum I'm frequently on...
ReplyDeleteGod bless you.