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ruthszp's review against another edition
5.0
The fifth star is for the amazing audio production of this book. It is the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to!
martyomenko's review against another edition
3.0
As most of Erin's books are, this one has a flavor of the supernatural, without really having it in it. Homeless children, gangs, and a crazy bunch of people running a hotel didn't seem to have much in common until near the end.
Kate was cute. She was unique and I loved her perspective on things. The rest of the characters, I had a harder time relating to, especially in the way they were written out. But the clear word pictures drew me in. I loved the secret passageways, the grandmother among others that were woven throughout.
Overall, this story is about how sometimes parents can neglect their children while taking care of them. They don't realize how much they are neglecting them at times, in the busy part of life. That is what I took away from it. I need to spend time actually listening to my children as well.
Kate was cute. She was unique and I loved her perspective on things. The rest of the characters, I had a harder time relating to, especially in the way they were written out. But the clear word pictures drew me in. I loved the secret passageways, the grandmother among others that were woven throughout.
Overall, this story is about how sometimes parents can neglect their children while taking care of them. They don't realize how much they are neglecting them at times, in the busy part of life. That is what I took away from it. I need to spend time actually listening to my children as well.
jennthegreat251's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ok. I enjoyed the second half of the book it was faster paced and overall more useful to the storyline.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Thomas Nelson-Fiction and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Erin Healy delivers captivating and adventurous HIDING PLACES, a world of intrigue, suspense, and mystery surround the multi-layered story and a Nancy Drew type young girl, named Kate – as she tries to make sense of this world of crazy adults, her family history, danger, secrets, and treasures.
Set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado-- Kat, eleven-years-old seems to be the protector of the family. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. Years ago, the lodge was a private mansion a summer getaway for rich businessmen. However, before Kate was born, someone had turned the mansion into a hotel.
The resort consists of a popular restaurant on the first floor and well -appointed guest rooms and a library on the second, and a third story event center, and spacious detached cottages, and grounds. As with most grand hotels, and resorts of this grand nature; there is always drama with the guests, and oh so many secrets, passageways, hidden treasures, and stories buried beneath. If the wall could speak.
We meet a variety of eccentric, strange, dangerous, and funny characters: Great- Grandma Pearl, Gran & Grandy, her mother, Janet, and two older sisters, Alyssa and Olivia. Great-Granma Pearl is quite the character! In addition to the secrets and a safe haven for the guests, Kate finds the family members are keeping secrets.
Told primarily from Kate’s view, she likes to play detective and suspects one of her family members is involved in a murder. She has seen and heard things.
In addition to all the drama surrounding the entire family, readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life— from a homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong . . . runaways living under a bridge, a gang member who seeks revenge for the death of his son . . . and Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. Someone wants him to kill someone, someone is being framed and Kate plays the Good Samaritan by hiding him; not realizing the danger. However, she has no clue how he may be connected to her family’s history.
How can three different families’ lives connect? How can Kate protect them all --and keep them from harm’s way?
A mystery, heartwarming, redemptive, and coming-of-age story of an innocent and trusting young girl, and her altruistic need to take the burdens of the world upon herself. To protect and be protected. (Loved the front cover)!
There are so many elements to the story, and Erin does a fabulous job connecting all the storylines, building with mystery and intrigue, with nice character development. Kate loves to hide out, intuitive-- reminding you of a Nancy Drew; readers will fall for her charm and Pearl, the one everyone thinks is crazy. Loved the relationship between the two, with a nice takeaway.
“Don’t you play hide-and-seek? Hiding places are only good for as long as they stay hidden.“
As The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
HIDING PLACES was my first book by Healy— have heard so much about Motherless, I just purchased the audiobook. Look forward to reading/listening, as well as her previous books.
On a personal note: Was attracted to the book initially, due to the hotel, as a consultant for historic hotel properties— they (former owners and guests) all have history, mysteries and secrets of the past. I love writing the research for the web, and digging up its past, naming the rooms, connections, and capturing earlier times and eras. Fascinating!
JDCMustReadBooks
Erin Healy delivers captivating and adventurous HIDING PLACES, a world of intrigue, suspense, and mystery surround the multi-layered story and a Nancy Drew type young girl, named Kate – as she tries to make sense of this world of crazy adults, her family history, danger, secrets, and treasures.
Set in a resort mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado-- Kat, eleven-years-old seems to be the protector of the family. She is caught in the middle of all her family members and grandparents. Her family operates The Harrison Lodge, a historic mountain resort, and has done so for many generations. Years ago, the lodge was a private mansion a summer getaway for rich businessmen. However, before Kate was born, someone had turned the mansion into a hotel.
The resort consists of a popular restaurant on the first floor and well -appointed guest rooms and a library on the second, and a third story event center, and spacious detached cottages, and grounds. As with most grand hotels, and resorts of this grand nature; there is always drama with the guests, and oh so many secrets, passageways, hidden treasures, and stories buried beneath. If the wall could speak.
We meet a variety of eccentric, strange, dangerous, and funny characters: Great- Grandma Pearl, Gran & Grandy, her mother, Janet, and two older sisters, Alyssa and Olivia. Great-Granma Pearl is quite the character! In addition to the secrets and a safe haven for the guests, Kate finds the family members are keeping secrets.
Told primarily from Kate’s view, she likes to play detective and suspects one of her family members is involved in a murder. She has seen and heard things.
In addition to all the drama surrounding the entire family, readers are introduced to other families, from different walks of life— from a homeless man who sees a robbery gone wrong . . . runaways living under a bridge, a gang member who seeks revenge for the death of his son . . . and Charlie, a boy who has lived on the streets, with no money, and an alcoholic father. Someone wants him to kill someone, someone is being framed and Kate plays the Good Samaritan by hiding him; not realizing the danger. However, she has no clue how he may be connected to her family’s history.
How can three different families’ lives connect? How can Kate protect them all --and keep them from harm’s way?
A mystery, heartwarming, redemptive, and coming-of-age story of an innocent and trusting young girl, and her altruistic need to take the burdens of the world upon herself. To protect and be protected. (Loved the front cover)!
There are so many elements to the story, and Erin does a fabulous job connecting all the storylines, building with mystery and intrigue, with nice character development. Kate loves to hide out, intuitive-- reminding you of a Nancy Drew; readers will fall for her charm and Pearl, the one everyone thinks is crazy. Loved the relationship between the two, with a nice takeaway.
“Don’t you play hide-and-seek? Hiding places are only good for as long as they stay hidden.“
As The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
HIDING PLACES was my first book by Healy— have heard so much about Motherless, I just purchased the audiobook. Look forward to reading/listening, as well as her previous books.
On a personal note: Was attracted to the book initially, due to the hotel, as a consultant for historic hotel properties— they (former owners and guests) all have history, mysteries and secrets of the past. I love writing the research for the web, and digging up its past, naming the rooms, connections, and capturing earlier times and eras. Fascinating!
JDCMustReadBooks
tami227's review against another edition
5.0
Great suspense book! I loved all the interesting characters, especially young Kate and her spy abilities and hiding places. The setting of a family-owned funky lodge with secret tunnels was great and was a natural fit with Kate's secret-keeping family. As always, Healy does a great job of weaving together a bunch of stories and bringing the themes together as the story comes to a climax. Healy brings out the complexity of human nature as it relates to helping others vs each person only looking out for his/herself. As the story goes along, the suspense only grows. Grandma Pearl is the best character ever! Another intriguing read from Healy!
edgoff's review
4.0
Hiding Places was by far so much better than the first. The plot, characters, and description all were complex and marvelously woven together. Even though parts of the story line at first seemed like they wouldn't be able to connect, Erin Healy did a great job twisting the people and plots together.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
3.0
There are many types of family in Hiding Places. A street family. A gang family. A dysfunctional family. A devastated family. Long-lost family. There are also many places to hide. Under a bridge. In a secret passage. Behind a romance novel. Beneath a facade. In plain sight. These recurring themes nicely set the framework for the suspense as well as the psychology behind it. This psychological facet to the suspense gave it a feel reminiscent of Diane Chamberlain's novels, and I really couldn't put it down. But, when all was said and done, it just didn't come together for me. All the elements were there but for me they just didn't quite click.
Even now, I'm sitting here trying to figure out exactly what I didn't like about Hiding Places. Maybe it's that I couldn't quite determine each character's motivation (at least for the most part) but even as I type that out I can give you a cursory idea of them. Shallow perhaps but it's there. Maybe it's the lack of anything truly redemptive, and by that I'm not even talking about the basic absence of spirituality in a book classified as Christian fiction. I personally believe it's nice sometimes to simply relax into a book you know won't offend you without having to stop the story for church every so often. But what I'm referring to in this case is that there just didn't seem to be much character growth. There was some, granted, but it was mild and left me somewhat dissatisfied.
Speaking of characters... maybe the main reason I couldn't click with Hiding Places is that I just couldn't like most of the people in it. Two key characters - Kate and Pearl - made this book for me and I loved both of them. Kate is a precocious eleven-year-old in need of a hug who takes care of her family when it should be the other way around. Pearl is the great-grandmother who sees in Kate a kindred spirit and brings some levity to the otherwise heartbreaking plot. Everyone else is ... bleak and dysfunctional and frustrating.
Bottom Line: Erin Healy's engaging writing voice and the riveting suspense will make the book difficult to put down. But the lack of redemptive development and the plethora of difficult-to-like characters may leave you dissatisfied once you've turned the last page. Still, I have no problem at all recommending it to fans of suspense, especially people like me who enjoy Diane Chamberlain or Kristen Heitzmann. It's a well-written book, just not my favorite :)
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
Even now, I'm sitting here trying to figure out exactly what I didn't like about Hiding Places. Maybe it's that I couldn't quite determine each character's motivation (at least for the most part) but even as I type that out I can give you a cursory idea of them. Shallow perhaps but it's there. Maybe it's the lack of anything truly redemptive, and by that I'm not even talking about the basic absence of spirituality in a book classified as Christian fiction. I personally believe it's nice sometimes to simply relax into a book you know won't offend you without having to stop the story for church every so often. But what I'm referring to in this case is that there just didn't seem to be much character growth. There was some, granted, but it was mild and left me somewhat dissatisfied.
Speaking of characters... maybe the main reason I couldn't click with Hiding Places is that I just couldn't like most of the people in it. Two key characters - Kate and Pearl - made this book for me and I loved both of them. Kate is a precocious eleven-year-old in need of a hug who takes care of her family when it should be the other way around. Pearl is the great-grandmother who sees in Kate a kindred spirit and brings some levity to the otherwise heartbreaking plot. Everyone else is ... bleak and dysfunctional and frustrating.
Bottom Line: Erin Healy's engaging writing voice and the riveting suspense will make the book difficult to put down. But the lack of redemptive development and the plethora of difficult-to-like characters may leave you dissatisfied once you've turned the last page. Still, I have no problem at all recommending it to fans of suspense, especially people like me who enjoy Diane Chamberlain or Kristen Heitzmann. It's a well-written book, just not my favorite :)
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
vickimarie2002's review against another edition
5.0
A great story told by 4 very different and yet, not so very different people who are all brought together by a series of events. There is Kate: an 11 year old girl who lives with her family at a lodge in Colorado that they run, Pearl: who is Kate's great grandmother who's Father started the lodge, Fox: the leader of the gang, The Mile High Heavies and Charlie: a homeless man who lives at a bridge with his street family. At times it is very intense and always keeps you guessing. It shows you what different people will do to protect their family.
I received this book for free courtesy of The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.
I received this book for free courtesy of The Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.
edgoff's review against another edition
4.0
Hiding Places was by far so much better than the first. The plot, characters, and description all were complex and marvelously woven together. Even though parts of the story line at first seemed like they wouldn't be able to connect, Erin Healy did a great job twisting the people and plots together.
bookworm_mommy's review against another edition
1.0
When I saw that Erin Healy had a new book out, I was thrilled. I enjoyed her previous books written with Ted Dekker. But I believe that might have set me up for some disappointment.
This is the story of a young girl, Kate, who lives with her very dysfunctional, multi-generational family in their historic hotel. And also the story of Charlie and his search for freedom and family. Let’s also throw in the story of Fox, bent on revenge. And we can throw in a pawn shop murder and a swindler for good measure. Basically, there’s a lot going on in this book. Too much to make it truly believable or enjoyable.
Kate is more precocious than your typical 11-year old; her character felt a bit over the top. As did most of the characters and a lot of the situations and events they found themselves in. It was just too much.
I think the book would appeal to more YA readers than it did to me. However, a caution would be there is some drinking/drug use referred to, gang activity, and violence including murder. None of it was over the top descriptive though.
Overall, I was disappointed in the read.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
***This review is also posted on The Christian Manifesto and at http://bookmarks-of-my-life.blogspot.com/2015/09/hiding-places-erin-healy.html
Pros:
• Easy and fast paced read
Cons:
• Caricatures more than characters
• Too much going on to fully develop anything or anyone
My Rating: 1.5 out of 5 (poor)
This is the story of a young girl, Kate, who lives with her very dysfunctional, multi-generational family in their historic hotel. And also the story of Charlie and his search for freedom and family. Let’s also throw in the story of Fox, bent on revenge. And we can throw in a pawn shop murder and a swindler for good measure. Basically, there’s a lot going on in this book. Too much to make it truly believable or enjoyable.
Kate is more precocious than your typical 11-year old; her character felt a bit over the top. As did most of the characters and a lot of the situations and events they found themselves in. It was just too much.
I think the book would appeal to more YA readers than it did to me. However, a caution would be there is some drinking/drug use referred to, gang activity, and violence including murder. None of it was over the top descriptive though.
Overall, I was disappointed in the read.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
***This review is also posted on The Christian Manifesto and at http://bookmarks-of-my-life.blogspot.com/2015/09/hiding-places-erin-healy.html
Pros:
• Easy and fast paced read
Cons:
• Caricatures more than characters
• Too much going on to fully develop anything or anyone
My Rating: 1.5 out of 5 (poor)