If I Run Series by Terri Blackstock

Psalm 10:14

"But you do see, for you note mischief, and vexation that you may take it into your hands."

Living in a fallen world, we are faced with evil all around us.  Why does a good God allow bad things to happen?  Why do innocent people suffer so much?  Why do rapes, children molesting, kidnapping, murder, and much more run rampant in our world?  These questions run through our minds,  as we are tasked with living life in a fallen world.

Blackstock deals wirh these questions and much more in her "If I Run Series (Zondervan publishing).   Readers will fall in love with main characters Casey Cox and Dylan Roberts as they are bombarded and faced evil head on in this fast-pace page turner.   As a 12 year old child, Casey comes home one day and finds her father's body in what appears to be a suicide.  Deep down she never believes her beloved police officer father committed suicide.

 Fast forward many years later, Casey once again finds the dead body of someone she is close to, dear friend Brent.   What does she do?  Where does she turn?  She can't go to the police, as corruption and evil run deep in the local Shrevepoint police.   department.   With these thoughts and all evidence pointing toward her Casey makes a rash, snap decision to go on the run.   

In comes former army CID officer Dylan Roberts.  Having grown up on Shreveport as well, Dylan is hired by Brents parents to hunt Casey down and bring her in for justice.   Facing his own demons of PTSD, Blackstock brings these two together to face the evil of their hometown.   Readers are able to see the story from all angles as Blackstock tells the story from their point of view, along with maintenance antagonist Detective Keegans point of view.  

While richly developing these characters through the telling of their backstreet along with plot twisters throughtout; Blackstock weaves a poignant story of God's sovereignty, mercy, grace, and judgement.  On her journey, non-believer Casey crosses paths with believers who are experiencing some of the lowest valleys.   Believers, Dylan Roberts will leave no stone uncovered to bring Casey back, and in doing so uncovers the truth.  He begins praying for Casey on her spiritual journey as he goes to find out just how far, and how broad the corruption really is in their hometown.  Weaving the theme of Romans 8:28 throughout Blackstock illustrates God's sovereignty, His steadfast love and faithfulness, that God is always working even when we dont see it.  Not only that, readers will see that God doesn't always immediately calm the storms of our lives but he always calms His child.

Until Christ comes we will experience the hills and valleys of this life.  There will be trials and sometimes we will face evil as these characters did, and not just them but beloved characters throughout acripture:  Job, David, Daniel, and our savior Jesus Christ...He who knew no sin became sin that we might become His righteousness. Take heart in our faithful God of covenant:  He is always working things for his glory and joy comes with the morning. 

Simba gives this series 4 paws.  Fans of christian fiction and romantic suspense will love this series and not want to put it down until finished.  Much deeper than the love story of Casey and Roberts, readers will see God's great love for his people as Casey runs from the arms of evil into the loving arms of her heavenly father.   Remember fellow readers that you are loved by God.  He has called you out of darkness into marvelous light.  One day all things will be made new, what a day of rejoicing that will be.