Charles Martin (1) (1969–)

”Love shows up..”
”Because the needs of the one outweigh those of the ninety-nine…”
Apollumi – That which was lost…”

This is the third book in the trilogy featuring Murphy Shepard who spends his life rescuing boys and girls who have been taken for the sex trade. Books one and two tell the story of Murphy Shepard and his past among the rescues. Book three tells the story of Bones, his mentor, trainer, and friend. I found myself close to tears in this last book a number of times. Also holding my breath occasionally as I was reading.

It’s not an easy read. The facts of the sex trade are difficult, and I believe there’s probably not much that’s made up. The depravity of men (and that’s not sexist – it’s usually men) is hard to digest. And, although this can be read just concentrating on the thriller aspect of the book, Martin slips in deeper meanings and questions to be noticed and thought about.

Kay (RidegewayGirl) wrote recently in a review of the third book in a trilogy, that the “final book has to pull everything together while also providing larger stakes”. I think this book does that extremely well. The epilogue even alludes to the book titles and why they are named as they are: “The Water Keeper”, “The Letter Keeper”, and “The Record Keeper”.… (más)

I have found a new-to-me author whom I cannot wait to share with the world: Charles Martin.

Chasing Fireflies starts out feeling a bit hick, a bit noir, but once you lean into the cadence of the language and the feel of the colorful characters, it is as if you are living right there on the Zuta in Georgia next to Chase, Unc', Tommye, and Aunt Lorna. Written through the eyes of journalist Chase Walker, once a foster child turned permanent resident of the questionable-of-character Uncle Willie McFarland and his wife Lorna, Chase is tasked with trying to track down the identity of the mute boy found just off the tracks of a car vs. train accident and goes by the name of Snoot.

Immediately taken by Snoot's drawing skills, Chase changes the kid's moniker to Sketch. As Chase spends time looking into Sketch's background and any potential relative he may have, he is also working, as always, on the truth of how Unc' ended up in prison years ago accused of a crime Chase is certain his uncle could never commit. With the help of Tommye, a girl raised as a sister to Chase who also has secrets needing to be unearthed, a lot is happening in the Zuta.

Numerous underlying stories are happening in Martin's Chasing Fireflies, but the overarching theme is one of fathers and sons -- strike that, one of good fathers raising decent sons. Chasing Fireflies is an easy to relate-to, soft approach to a hard-hitting, spot-on story of how boys need good father figures, guidance, love, hope, and a chance. The theme is not one of being perfect, it's one of being present, doing your best, owning your mistakes, and standing up when you need to. We all need an Unc' in our lives, and we all need to be an Unc' when called upon. You really MUST READ Chasing Fireflies.

This is my first go-round with a Charles Martin book, and I have already purchased my second.
… (más)

I didn’t see this one coming.

This book was a recommend to me by my husband who watched the movie on a flight several years ago. “You would love this book,” he told me. After reading Charles Martins’ Chasing Fireflies, I picked up The Mountain Between Us. Just wow — as I’ve said before, if you haven’t read a Charles Martin book, you are missing out.

Due to weather in Salt Lake, commercial flights are canceled. Desperate to get home, Dr. Ben Payne hires a charter pilot, Grover, to fly him home to Florida to his wife and kids. On a whim, he asks Ashley, a fellow passenger who is on her way home for her wedding, if she’d like to join so as not to be late for her special day. The three, and Grover’s dog, beat the storm and head toward Denver when Grover’s heart gives out leaving Ben, Ashley, and Napoleon, the name Ben and Ashley give to the dog, to survive the Uintas Wilderness. Without filing a flight plan, and with neither Ben nor Ashley having told anyone of their change from commercial to charter, no one is looking or them. To make matters more dire, upon impact, Ashley’s shoulder dislocates and her femur breaks. Making it out of the vast, rugged, and isolated terrain alive will take more than shear strength.

The Mountain Between Us is an incredible story that is superbly written, and worth every minute it takes to read it. I hear the movie is good as well, but I have no intention of watching it — why ruin a good book by trying to put the words on screen.

I cannot stress enough how The Mountain Between Us will have you looking inward, mulling over your personal relationships, and checking yourself to uncovering your strength. And the ending — a total shocker to me. I LOVE THIS BOOK and wish it just kept going.
… (más)