Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin

374 pages / 11 hrs, 17 mins

"An internationally famous photographer, Tucker Mason has traveled the world, capturing things other people don’t see. But what Tucker himself can’t see is how to let go of the past and forgive his father.

"On a sprawling Southern estate, Tucker and his younger brother, Mutt, were raised by their housekeeper, Miss Ella Rain, who loved the motherless boys like her own. Hiring her to take care of Waverly Hall and the boys was the only good thing their father ever did.

"When his brother escapes from a mental hospital and an old girlfriend appears with her son and a black eye, Tucker is forced to return home and face the agony of his own tragic past.

"Though Miss Ella has been gone for many years, Tuck can still hear her voice—and her prayers. But finding peace and starting anew will take a measure of grace that Tucker scarcely believes in."  --from the publisher

Love his books! A solid four out of five stars for me.

The Record Keeper by Charles Martin

(Murphy Shepherd #3)
336 pages / 10 hrs, 7 mins

"Murphy Shepherd’s last rescue mission very nearly cost him his life. He’d like nothing more than to stay close to his wife and daughters for a while. But Bones’s brother must be stopped, and there are so many who need to know that they are worth rescuing.

"As the cat-and-mouse game moves into the open, Murphy is tested at every turn—both physically and mentally. And then the unthinkable happens: his beloved mentor and friend is taken. Without a trace.

"Murphy lives by the mantra that love shows up. But how can he do that when he has no leads?  With heart-stopping clarity, The Record Keeper explores the true cost of leaving the ninety-nine to find the one." --from the publisher

Good writing, important story to tell (human trafficking), but hard to read. I'm glad the trilogy is complete. I give it three out of five stars.

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

 The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin-336 pages

Dr. Ben Payne and Ashley Knox take a small charter flight to beat a winter storm. However, the plane crashes and the pilot dies. Ben and Ashley must survive harsh conditions and bad injuries for weeks in uninhabitable mountains. It's not something I typically read, but it was pretty good.

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin

 (Murphy Shepherd #2)

320 pages / 9 hrs, 50 mins

"He shows up when all hope is lost.
"Murphy Shepherd has made a career of finding those no one else could—survivors of human trafficking. His life’s mission is helping others find freedom.

"But then the nightmare strikes too close to home .
"When his new wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls are stolen, Murphy is left questioning all he has thought to be true. With more dead ends than leads, he has no idea how to find those he loves.

"After everything is stripped away, love is what remains.
"Hope feels lost, but Murphy is willing to expend his last breath trying to bring them home."  --from the publisher

This one was disappointing for me. Of course, I have high expectations when I pick up a Charles Martin book. The story was disjointed and repetitive. I give it three out of five stars, and hope the next in the series will return to Martin's usual greatness.

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
352 pages / 11 hrs, 35 mins

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"Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners, and he's dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.

"When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, Murph's mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.

"With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past--and the ghosts who tried to bury them."  --from the publisher

What a story!  Murphy is a mix of Father Brown and Jack Reacher, if you can wrap your mind around that concept.  The book still has all the feels of the author's usual stories, but this has a lot more violence and the subject matter is very heavy.  I give it four out of five stars for excellent writing, but I like Martin's other titles better.

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin
352 pages / 9 hrs, 6 mins

"Allie's second husband is killed tragically when his 18-wheeler crashes into the rocks near their home in Cape San Blas--the tanker was full of fuel and the explosion could be seen on overhead satellites. She's already lost the beloved waterfront restaurant her parents started and now losing her husband, no matter how unfulfilling their marriage was, might just push her over the edge.

"Joseph's time in Vietnam left him with scars that never seemed to heal. No matter how he's tried to love or what he's tried to do since then, he can't pull himself out of the wreckage of his former life. His trust and security shaken, he isolates himself in a cabin. But every morning, he faithfully pours two cups of coffee, drinking his while he sits with the second, and then pouring out the full cup.

"It's no small coincidence that Joseph found a mother and her two young children lost in the woods near his cabin. Or that when he helps them return to family in Florida, he's near enough to see that explosion. Near enough to know it's close to home. Near enough to know that his childhood sweetheart needs him."   --from the publisher

I sure enjoy Martin's stories of lives intertwined with secrets and surprises.  They stretch the imagination, but they are delightful.

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin
296 pages / 9 hrs, 37 mins

"At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O'Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his remote home in the Colorado Mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith."     --from the publisher

This is a modern retelling of the parable of the prodigal son.  I enjoyed it, but it isn't nearly as well written as the other Charles Martin titles I've read.  I gave it three stars out of five.

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
352 pages / 11 hrs, 1 min

"It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl's pretty yellow dress can't quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.

"Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up break truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.

"Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry...and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners."  --from the publisher

Despite his obvious talent for writing beautiful prose, I love and hate this author.  If I explain, then I'll give too much away.  You'll just have to read it for yourself.  (I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.)

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin
342 pages / 9 hrs, 15 mins

"They have one summer to find what was lost long ago.

"'Never settle for less than the truth,' she told him.

"But when you don't even know your real name, the truth gets a little complicated.  It can nestle so close to home it's hard to see.  It can even flourish inside a lie.  And as Chase Walker discovered, learning the truth about who you are can be as elusive--and as magical--as chasing fireflies on a summer night.

"A haunting story about fishing, baseball, home cooking, and other matters of life and death...from the author of The Dead Don't Dance and When Crickets Cry."  --from the publisher

Beautifully written with heart-warming characters, this is one of those books "everyone should read."  It's not too sweet and not too bitter.  The reader of the audio version was perfect--age and tone of voice with just the right amount of emotion.  Happy sigh.