Review of The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

With Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran's Day in the U.S. both approaching, The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey is a timely read. Not only is this exciting story a poignant reminder of the immense sacrifices others made so that we could live in freedom, it is just a fun book! When I reached the last page of the story, I literally had to wait for my heart rate to settle down just so I could continue with my day.

From the riveting opening scene, through plot twists and turns, all the way to the edge-of-your-seat ending, The Swiss Courier pulls you back in time to the tragedy and terror of World War II and reminds you that nothing is so terrible - not even Hitler and the Nazis _ that God can't overcome it.

Gabi Mueller is the "Swiss Courier," a translator working at the American Office of Strategic Services (forerunner to the CIA) in Switzerland. Her ear for languages isn't her only talent, though, and as she's asked to volunteer for dangerous assignments, she soon finds herself wondering who she can trust .

But it is more than her own life that is at risk when she is asked to "courier" a German scientist who is working on the atomic bomb out of enemy territory. The fate of the war, and the entire world, is at stake.

As exciting as this story is, what I found even more compelling were the reminders of the sacrifice everyone made during that era. It was not only the trained soldiers who fought for us, but people from all walks of life, making the choice to do the right thing and doing whatever they could for a cause they believed in.

The Swiss Courier is also a wonderful book to share with older teens. As the horrors of WW2 fade farther into history, and so many of us live in relative safety, I find it difficult to impress upon my teenaged children how much we owe to the people who fought for that safety.

Sometimes I take it for granted too.

The Swiss Courier is a powerful reminder.

Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

An Eye for an Eye - Or a Chance to Forgive?

An Eye for an Eye is the most recent book by Irene Hannon. This is the first time I've read anything by her, and I was delighted to discover an author who successfully interweaves an exciting suspense story with romance.

Mark Sanders is on the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, but he's working as a field agent in St. Louis, getting himself back together after accidentally killing an innocent teenager. He finds a much needed distraction in a chance encounter with Emily Lawson, his first love from 20 years ago, now a psychologist who is more that what she appears. But as they toy with the possibility of rediscovering their relationship, Emily is injured by a sniper. As the hunt for the shooter ensues, no one knows for sure who his intended victim was, or if their rekindled relationship will survive the threat of danger and memory of past hurt.

An Eye for an Eye is a fast-paced romantic suspence novel that keeps the action moving while still taking time to explore the romantic relationship between Mark and Emily. All the way through the book, I was kept wondering... if they survive the shooter, will their rekindled relationship last?

It is always refreshing to find a suspense/romance novel written from a Christian perspective. An Eye for an Eye also explores the healing power of forgiveness and the burden we carry when we refuse to forgive. The title, of course, refers to the Old Testament verse, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." But the story celebrates the redeeming power of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

This is the second book in the Heroes of Quantico series, but is an enjoyable read on its own. I hadn't read the first book and I had no problem getting into the setting, the story and the characters.

If you're looking for an evening of suspense and romance, I highly recommend reading An Eye for an Eye!

Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.