The Clouds Roll Away Book Review & Giveaway

I just finished reading this book written by Sibella Giorello.  It’s the second book in a series about a FBI agent named Raleigh Harmon.   I really wish that I had read the first book entitled “The Rivers Run Dry” before beginning this one.  I just felt that I missed some of the aspects of the heroine’s character that were vital to understanding both her and the story.  I’d definitely recommend reading them in order.

The book is slow to start but gains interest about a third of the way in.  After that, I had trouble putting it down!  When I first realized that it was a Christian suspense novel I was sure that I wouldn’t like the story.  I am not a “believer” in religion of any sort but if I had to pick a religion that I believed in the least, it would be Christianity.  I was definitely put aback by the characters beliefs in creationism especially.  This goes absolutely against everything that I have every believed.  I find it hard to believe that anyone who is highly educated in this day and age could believe that there is no such thing as dinosaurs or evolution.  The scientific evidence is overwhelming.  It’s akin to not believing there is a sun or a moon.

The evolution arguments were thankfully only a few paragraphs though.  Once I got past that, I found myself very interested in how different of an outlook on life that the main character Raleigh had from me.  I found myself beginning to understand her beliefs instead of just finding differences.  She uses her faith, hope, courage and love for humanity to find her way through the trials and tribulations of working on two cases simultaneously.  One case revolves around racial intolerance and the other revolves completely around drugs.

The two cases inexplicably intertwine while Raleigh tries to put together the pieces of the puzzles laid out before her.  However, the book doesn’t just focus on her work life — her personal life is an ongoing theme of the book as well.  She tries hard to help her mother hold herself together while still mourning the loss of Raleigh’s father.  She is also learning to rely on her heart while an old flame in her life begins to ease his way back into her life.  Perhaps she will finally discover what was meant to be.  Finally, in a moment of clarity, the “clouds roll away” and Raleigh discovers the answers to the questions she has been trying to answer.

The end of the book had me looking for more though.  Thankfully, this is only the second in a series with another book coming right behind it called “The Mountains Bow Down”.  This book is set to be released in the Fall of 2010.  The character of Raleigh Harmon is strangely compelling and easy to identify with despite the huge differences on world outlook that I have with her.  I’m sure I’ll be looking for the third in the series when it is released and am most positive that I’ll be reading the first in the series long before then.  I’d recommend this book to people who are trying to understand other viewpoints as well as those who are already firm believers in Christianity.  Even if you are not interested in religion at all, it is quite a good story with twists and turns along the way that will keep you guessing.

Buy your own copy at Amazon for only $13.86CAD.  Would you like to read this book??  It’s up for grabs!