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​“Ghost with Two Hearts” Book Review by Carmen J. Otto
The book “Ghost with Two Hearts,” is an absolutely amazing read! The way Michael French wrote this book makes it so easy to pick although very difficult to put down. “Ghost with Two Hearts” has an amazing storyline, and made me feel as if I were a part of Adrian’s trip to Japan. After reading this book I am rethinking the clear definition between right and wrong. You should do the right thing even if it might not benefit you although I think sometimes our human nature convinces us that if it doesn’t benefit us, it can’t be the right thing. I often found myself taking pause to contemplate my own life while I was experiencing Adrian’s adventure. 



I would give this book 5/5 stars because of how interesting the book was and how the plot twists kept me guessing. After reading “Ghost with Two Hearts,” I want to read all of the other books Michael French has written.



I would recommend this book to anyone that loves adventure and who enjoys not knowing what to expect next! 
 
 
Bio for Carmen J. Otto
 
Hi! I’m Carmen and I’m a high school sophomore who lives in the corner of a cornfield in chilly Wisconsin. I love cows and horses and I tolerate all of my siblings (there’s six of us)…kidding, not kidding… I do however love to read and my room is filled with books of all kinds. I enjoy discovering new authors and going on adventures through books. 


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http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/2023/03/5-star-review-for-michael-frenchs-ghost.html
Michael R. French - Ghost With Two Hearts -- WOW Tour -- 3/23/2023​

"A Killer's Grace" Book Review by Elizabeth Seratt

9/14/2016

1 Comment

 

BOOK REVIEW

This is a book that stays with you...
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A Killer’s Grace follows Kevin Pitcairn, a New Mexican journalist and recovering alcoholic, on a journey to understand the concepts of innocence and grace after receiving a letter from Daniel Davidson, a convicted serial rapist and killer.  What starts seemingly as a thriller quickly becomes a treatise on the nature of these topics, challenging the reader’s understandings thereof alongside Pitcairn’s own struggle, while tying in a very nuanced discussion of religion.
 
I, personally, had some issues with the book—for starters, it is revealed early on in the story that, years ago, in an alcohol and drug-fueled frenzy, Pitcairn killed a man and was never brought to full justice.  While the character struggles with it and tries to reconcile that act through his work toward bringing understanding to Davidson, it’s just accepted by his girlfriend and Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor as something that happened.  In fact, it’s so accepted that his girlfriend takes Pitcairn yelling at a dog as more of a threat of violence than his dark past.  Perhaps I’m bringing a personal bias against murderers into my reading of this book, but I can’t shake this overwhelming acceptance of manslaughter as being horribly unrealistic. 
 
The larger issue is more with the overall message of the book. Pitcairn’s eventual thesis is “violence begets violence,” a hard pill to swallow for me because, while I understand and even readily accept it, it still seems a bit dismissive to the actual crimes.  Chapman, in his defense, repeatedly tries to reconcile this by saying that, while the cause of the transgression may be other violence, the offender is not without fault; essentially, it’s not a question of innocence, but one of causality.  However, this focus on causality disconnects Pitcairn from what actually sent him on this journey of understanding.  Although Pitcairn’s eventual article on Davidson references some abuse, the killer himself doesn’t bring any up in his initial letter, instead blaming his mental illness and associated biology that caused him to act in such a way, proven by the fact that he no longer has such gruesome urges after anti-androgen treatments.  He wrote to Pitcairn in an effort to spread the word of his disorder, and instead of the article sparking a discussion on the role of mental illness in horrendous crimes, it becomes focused on the thesis of violence begetting violence, with only passing mentions of biology as a source of causality.  In that sense, Davidson is done a disservice in favor of Pitcairn’s search for his own absolution.
 
This is a story that stays with you, and the fact that I was able to write 200 words strictly on my thoughts of how causality is presented in the novel is proof of that.  I’d recommend this book, even if it were only to have someone with whom I could discuss it fully.

Elizabeth Seratt is a child of the Deep South, but upon graduating from Ole Miss in 2014, she made an ill-advised move to Santa Fe, where she had no job and no friends.  It worked out: she now works as a social media coordinator and occasional freelance writer, and she has enough friends to throw cool theme parties.  

She enjoys books, travel, horror movies, green chile, beer, playing outside, taking too many photos, and spending time with her cat.  You can follow her adventures on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/elizabethseratt/), or enjoy her snark and love of memes on Twitter (https://twitter.com/elizabethseratt).


A Killer’s Grace is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
Paperback: 240 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Spirituality
Author: Ronald Chapman
Publisher: Terra Nova Books; 2 edition (September 1, 2016)
ISBN-10: 1938288750
ISBN-13: 978-1938288753

UPCOMING BLOG TOUR DATES

Thursday, September 15th @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Kwilinski
Cathy Kwilinski reviews Ronald Chapman's A Killer's Grace.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 23 @ Renee's Pages
Tange Dudt reviews A Killer's Grace by Ronald Chapman; find out what she had to say after reading this highly acclaimed novel!
http://reneespages.blogspot.com/
1 Comment
Ronald Chapman link
9/14/2016 05:22:10 pm

Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for the depth of thought you put into reviewing A Killer's Grace. And I'm delighted it provoked that thought even if you disagree with some of the plot and its underlying logic. As the author, one can't ask for more than a fair reading and interpretation. I'm hoping you find someone who reads the book who thinks as deeply as you do so you can wrestle with those questions. From my personal experience, the wrestling is extremely valuable regardless the conclusions reached.

All the best, and even better,

Ron Chapman

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