Title: Sidetracked
Author: Brandilyn Collins
Pages: 301
Year: 2014
Publisher: Challow Press in partnership with Christian Writers Guild Publishing
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book from the author via www.bookfun.org
Brandilyn Collins does it again! She has mastered the suspense genre and shows her expertise in Sidetracked. With the clever use of flashback, readers get the history and background of Delanie Miller, the main character in the book. She has settled in the small town of Redbud, Kentucky. She longs for a man to love, marry and have a family with and seems to have found that man. She is going home from a good friend’s wedding shower, when she discovers a dead body. From this point on, she agonizes over whether to get involved in solving the crime or not. If she becomes known to more than the people of her small town, the chances of her past being exposed increase exponentially. Is she ready to give up the life she has carved out for herself? Will her boyfriend understand her lying about her past? Can she face getting involved with the police again? Can she let an innocent person suffer for a crime he didn’t commit?
As the investigation and plot progress, Delanie’s past is put before readers as well as her present. Readers relive the frustration, anger, unbelief at the lack of justice and bitterness she has experienced as well as deep depression. Now, forced to face her past instead of burying it deep within puts extreme strain on Delanie’s mind and heart. She reaches for the only One who can see her through this seemingly impossible situation. She had turned away from God in bitterness in her past, but her soul eventually cried out for Him. She began praying and trusting Him again and her life slowly improved. Can she continue to trust Him with her life or will she again succumb to bitterness at the injustices she has suffered?
This is another great suspense-filled mystery by Brandilyn Collins. The characters are easy to relate to and their life situations believable. I loved the eccentric people Delanie collected to be the family she missed out on in the past. I didn’t give too many details about the story because it would ruin the impact of reading it for yourself. Don’t miss this great, attention-keeping novel! I can’t wait for the next one!
My rating is 5 stars.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Sidetracked-Jerry-Jenkins-Select-Books/dp/0578137062/ref=s...
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

This suspense is a combination of intrigue and heartache. From page one Brandilyn had me hooked, needing to know what happened.

When Delanie finds a friend murdered, her own past threatens to ruin her present and future. There are two mysteries. One is what happened in Delanie’s past which is a mystery that is not quickly solved. The other is the present day mystery of who killed her friend and why.

When I read I come up with a plethora of possibilities where the author could go with the story. Brandilyn took me for a ride–not until the end was I able to predict what was going to happen. And that goes for romantic aspects too.

This is a murder mystery. . .a disturbing one. So if you find bloody crime scenes for you then this book might not be for you. But it is not at all as disturbing as some suspense that I’ve read.

Religious aspects: Does God hear Delanie? And why does He let this happen? These are questions that are respected in the events of Delanies life. It’s easy to see why she would ask these questions as I was wondering why He would allow this to happen, so sucked into the story, yet know things like this do happen in the evil world we live in. The road to this answer is genuine.

If you love suspense, especially intriguing mysteries, I highly recommend this novel.

Note: I checked this book out from the Library and promise this is an honest review. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://TMWoodsBooks.com/blog . Also follow me on Twitter @TMWoodsBooks, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/TMWoodsBooks . ( )

Terrifyingly wonderful who-dun-it!!

If you pick up a Brandilyn Collins book, resign yourself to a few things: a wild, unpredictable ride from the moment you open the book; a strong Christian messa ge, without preachiness; and sleeplessness until the book is read.
The senseless murder of Delaney's friend brings terrifying childhood flashbacks. It seems Delaney is not who she appears to be. Getting involved in protecting the innocent in her friend's murder may cause Delaney's whole past to unravel. Can she trust God to see her through that possibility, or will she keep quiet and play the part of proper fiancée to a rich society man?
As Collins tantalizes the reader with bits and pieces of Delaney's past, interspersed with her present, the tension mounts until the reader feels he or she is with Delaney. As I read the book, I felt the horror like the driver of a metaphorical car zooming along a dark steep road without headlights, wondering when the car would go over the cliff!! Mercifully, the ending came before my blood pressure was off the charts!
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Spellbinding From Cover to Cover!

Brandilyn Collins' Sidetracked held me spellbound. I could hardly pull myself away from this book!

Delanie Miller is the main character. She is hiding a horribly tragic past as she makes a new home for herself in Redbud, Ky. She has friends here and has even fallen in love with a man who wants to marry her. Her deepest desire is to settle down and have a loving family of her own. The dream appears to be coming true for Delanie, but it all begins to unravel one night when she discovers the body of her friend, Clara. Clara has been murdered and Delanie is forced into the public eye. This is a place she does not want to be. She has too much to hide and too much to lose if her true identity is discovered.

The book flashes back and forth from present day to Delanie's teen years, when she was not Delanie at all. She is really Laura Denton, a young girl accused of a crime of the worst kind. She swore she was innocent. No one believed her. She was a victim of a rush to judgement and an arrogant police chief. Even her own father turned against her. Now, as a grown woman, Delanie once again finds herself in a position which casts doubt on her credibility. Will she be able to find justice for Clara? Will she be able to maintain her present life while doing what she believes is right? She has been living a lie and her past has finally caught up with her, just as she is finally feeling at peace with herself. Has God abandoned her as everyone else has? Will faith sustain her? The turn of events following Clara's murder are full of suspense, fear, and injustice. Delanie is forced to come face to face with the horror of her past. Will it destroy her future? You MUST read this book to discover the answers! Once you begin, you will not be able to put it down!

I received a copy of this book from the author, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review. ( )