Customer Reviews

Last Resort (Hideaway, Book 3)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hannah Alexander (the husband and wife writing team of Dr. Mel and Cheryl Hodde) has written another exciting episode in the Hideaway series. Hideaway is a small town in the Ozarks peopled by families who have lived and worked there for generations. The Cooper family has been prominent in Hideaway history and has weathered more tragedies than one would expect in such a peaceful, bucolic setting.

When Carissa Cooper was six years old, her mother left and was replaced by monsters that hid under her bed and in her closet, terrorizing her every night. But her loving father Cecil, caring stepmother Melva and nearby extended family helped her, and now, at age twelve, she is a fairly well-adjusted young lady. However, when she decides to do a school project involving her family's history, she unwittingly stirs up long hidden secrets that have been haunting the Coopers for many years --- secrets so powerful that Carissa is abducted and nearly killed in an effort to keep them from being exposed.

Her cousin Noelle, who has the gift of premonition, senses something is wrong and races to Cedar Hollow from her home in Springfield. There she runs into her childhood friend Nathan Trask, who has been praying for her to return home so they could renew their once precious friendship. He becomes her ally as they seek to unravel not only the mystery of Carissa's abduction but also of the secrets that threaten the lives of the entire Cooper family.

However, evidence points to the fact that the very family that is in danger also harbors the one who is guilty of past crimes as well as the current abduction. None is above suspicion, including Carissa's brother Justin, her cousin Jill, and even her great-aunt Pearl. Has the family history of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) transformed somehow from a neurosis to a psychosis?

With Nathan's help, Noelle begins to renew the faith of her childhood and learn to accept the gift she has instead of fearing it. Through their efforts the family learns to deal with "Cooper's Curse" and to rely upon God instead of their own feeble attempts to keep the truth hidden out of fear. As LAST RESORT unfolds, redemption comes in many forms to those who learn to embrace the love and grace of God. This is a well-written story with some breath-holding rescue scenes, and a tender love story thrown in at no extra charge!

(...)

Hannah Alexander's Last Resort, set in the beautiful Ozark town of Hideaway, has it all; romance, adventure and suspense.

Twelve year old Carissa Cooper is working on a school project of her family history when she disappears, an apparent kidnap victim.
Her cousin Noelle rushes to Cedar Hollow from her home in Springfield, determined to find her young niece. Nathan Trask, who has always loved Noelle promises to her help search for Carissa. Evidence points to the fact that the girl has accidently stirred up long hidden secrets the Cooper family has kept hidden for many years. . .secrets so dark someone would kill to keep them from being exposed. As Noelle and Nathan race against time to find Carissa, they strongly suspect the kidnapper may be a member of the Cooper family. But could a family member actually hurt Carissa? Noelle is afraid the answer may be yes.

A strong theme of love, forgiveness and redemption runs through the book as the Cooper family learns to face their fears and trust in God. Last Resort is a well-crafted, engrossing story, one I recommend.

"The Last Resort" is a very good mystery, not real intense but it does drag in spots in the story.

This series is a very good read. Just sit back and relax and enjoy. Wonderful Husband and Wife authors. They put a lot of knowledge in their books.

The Last Resort, is a medical thriller in the Hideaway series, that deals with an inherited psychological disorder. When twelve year old Carissa Cooper goes missing in Cedar Hollow. We learn that when she was a very small child, her mother abandoned the family, and Carissa subsequently had nightmares about monsters that her dad Cecil and stepmom Melva helped her deal with. At the time of her disappearance, Carissa was a fairly well adjusted child. However, when she innocently decides to do a school project on her family's history, she unwittingly stirs up an old secret that someone is willing to commit murder to keep hidden. Her older cousin Noelle has a gift of premonition, which she has fought for many years. Yet she senses something is wrong, and leaves her home in Springfield to race to Cedar Hollow. Soon she runs into Nathan Trask, her childhood friend, who has been praying for Noelle to return. He becomes her ally as they seek to unravel her family's past and to find Carissa. The suspense builds as they are racing against time. The evidence shows the abductor is a family member, and some of the family are in such denial they are giving cover to the abductor. What are they hiding? And why? And how does a psychological disorder come into play in this mystery? With Nathan's help, Noelle renews her childhood faith in her Lord as they explore what has been called "The Cooper Curse." As the book unfolds, redemption comes in many forms to many of the characters, as they learn to more fully trust in the love of God. The end of the book gives us a riveting rescue scene. It's a good read.

"Last Resort" is a mystery featuring a rather unique character: Noelle Cooper, literature's apparently first Christian psychic. She is gifted with "intuition" and an ability to vaguely see into the future or to see events that are unfolding even while she isn't present. There's a study guide at the back of the book with questions for book clubs and church groups to discuss. One of the questions touches on a scripture in first Corinthians, which very clearly states that spiritual gifts that existed in the first century (speaking in tongues, prophesying, etc.) would cease. It's a bit odd, to say the least, for Christian authors to somehow use psychic ability and claim that God directs it. Does that mean God directs other psychics today who make predictions? If not, why not? Does he selectively choose psychics to use? Or is his revealed word enough, without having to resort to human psychics?

The mystery itself isn't that enticing; it deals with Noelle's family and their shared history of OCD, which in this novel has been changed from a benign disease to a malignant one: it causes psychosis. Careful readers will find out `whodunit' before the end of the book like I did, but it's still an enjoyable read. There's a good scene towards the climax that's set in the family's sawmill (do working ones still exist?) that equals any action film today.

Sorry but it's true. I've been a huge Hannah Alexander fan but this one just fell flat. Could not even finish it. I think it's time to retire the town of Hideaway and come up with something new and fresh.