Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington
Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 384 Trade Paperback
Date Published: March 2011
Publisher: Tyndale House

Shuttled between foster homes, Roxi Gold will do anything to fit in. Soon she’s traveling the country stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society—and not just at work. One fateful night, both their lives are changed forever. One searches for justice, the other finds herself on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free?

This is a sequel to Thicker Than Blood, but can be read as a stand alone quite easily as well. If you know me, you know that Christian Historical Fiction is my genre, and I do not usually get into contemporary novels. They just contain too much real life for my taste. Yet sometimes there are authors that just snag me and I have to make an exception. Especially in the realm of Suspense for authors like Kristen Heitzmann and C.J. Darlington. (I’m not talking about my adventure books here, that’s a whole ‘nother entity and I love those!)

While reading this, I still hold to my first statement about Thicker Than Blood:

Nitty gritty honest truth under your skin, but you have to turn to the page and find out what happens next.

Roxi’s life is rough and at the beginning I just wanted to scream knowing Christy’s past from the first book that she could tell her and it would all be okay. But then things happen and it will never really be okay again. Abby seems to have had one thing after another and it’s baffling how strong these women are and that they can keep going. It felt to me that the ray of light from the first book was gone (as in a male character named Hunter), but just like how God works in everyday lives there are other instances and people put in position to show you his love. Inspiration for getting up the next day and moving forward with your life.

I’m pleased to have discovered the stories from C.J. and look forward to more in the future.

*Thanks to author C.J. Darlington and TitleTrakk.com for providing a copy for review.*

About the Author:
C. J. Darlington won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over twelve years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site www.TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com