Not by Sight: A Novel (Volume 1) (Ozark Mountain Trilogy)

This is the first book by Kathy Herman that I have read. It will not be the last; I really enjoyed Not by Sight. I received a free copy from the publisher, David C. Cook, by way of bookfun.org for an honest review. I read a lot of different styles of fiction and as a Christian I especially appreciate the Christian publishers. Not by Sight is a suspense novel about a family whose father and young daughter disappeared five years before. I could not put it down and finished the nearly 400 pages in 2 days. Character development is excellent; there are twists and turns in the plot; a Christian witness is given without being preachy.

This turned out to be a very good book. It started kind of slow and appeared it was going to be very predictable. However, once again, this author added some twists to the story that kept it engaging and me wanting more.

I liked the main character, Abby, a lot. She's new in her faith and trying her best to grow in faith and trust of God. Past mistakes hurt her credibility with her family and causes her a great deal of pain. Her grandfather was a great teacher and mentor for her, though he even questioned what she really saw. I struggled a lot with the mom. Of course, if I were in her shoes having gone through the heart ache she had I might be the same way or even worse.

This author and publisher brings readers a strong message in their stories and Not By Sight is no exception. This story touched my heart and I could feel for the characters and the pain they were experiencing. Not my favorite Kathy Herman book, but it was definitely worth the time to read it and I look forward to see what develops in this trilogy.

Disclaimer: I did receive this book from the publisher, through NetGalley.Com but was under no obligation to do anything but give my honest opinion.

I liked the intermix of a mystery story with Christian faith.

I have read all of Kathy Herman books and loved every one but this one is the BEST. It keeps you turning the pages and it has so much Christian insight in the story. It tells the reader so much about God, but NOT in a preachy way. I loved the story plot. I laughed and I cried. It gripped everything in me! I would recommend it to everyone in the world and I can't wait for her next book to come out.

I have read all of Kathy Herman books and loved every one but this one is the BEST. It keeps you turning the pages and it has so much Christian insight in the story. It tells the reader so much about God, but NOT in a preachy way. I loved the story plot. I laughed and I cried. It gripped everything in me! I would recommend it to everyone in the world and I can't wait for her next book to come out.

Very good.

Great book, like new

I love anything written by Kathy! It's fun reading about an area you know. Very exciting and (like alway) great ending.

Her sister couldn't be alive ... could she?

The little girl she spotted outside a store in Foggy Ridge had to be Riley Jo, her long-lost sister. Abby Cummings is certain. Almost. But her family has had their hopes dashed before and quickly dismisses the idea. After all, her father and sister have been missing for five years, and are presumed dead.

Abby refuses to ignore her intuition. She and her best friend, Jay, team up to track down the child in the face of scorn and doubt from all sides. But warnings from a mysterious stranger hint at a darker story, one that might not end well unless they leave it alone.

Abby and Jay know too much to turn back, but too little to uncover the truth of what really happened. The only weapon they have is blind faith...is it enough?

My Review:

The story is very well presented by Herman, as it can be difficult to write about missing people and the subsequent search for them. She drew me into the story and put me right in the middle of the action, emotion and drama. It made me feel as if I was personally responsible for finding Riley Jo and Mr. Cummings. The mysterious elements of the story really kept my attention, and I just had to know how the story ended. The characters were easy to identify with and very well developed.

My absolute favorite element in this story was the focus on faith. Abby faces so much uncertainty with the loss of her father and sister, and the questions that gnaw at her about their fate would be enough to break down even the strongest of people. When the death of a family member happens, it's hard. But harder yet is knowing that they simply vanished into thin air, never to return. Abby's faith and friendship with Jay are the only things that keep her going, and Herman clearly writes her character as someone who isn't perfect, but has faith in the One we should all put our trust in.

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

The story is so engrossing, that you won't want to quit reading.
This is the story of faith and the loss of faith. Of hope and the loss of hope. Five years ago when Kate's family was happy and whole, she loved and served the Lord. Now, five years later, Kate has lost both hope and faith. The day her husband and little daughter disappeared, she now views as the day she quit believing in God. But, everyone in her family is not without faith. When 17 year old Abby sees a little girl whom she believes is her lost sister, Abby begins to hope that her family's nightmare is over. Unfortunately, there are other dangers of which she is not aware.
Not By Sight honestly addresses the questions and hurts of the age old questions "Why did God let bad things happen to good people?" and "Where was God when I was going through this horrible experience?" and "If God is all powerful, why did He allow this tragedy to take place?" While we each must come to our own conclusion on this, it is insightful to see how these characters work through their own doubts and fears. After all, we "walk, not by sight, but by faith."
I would highly recommend this book. I hope to use this in our church book club. I received a copy of Not By Sight from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.