Bound by Guilt by CJ Darlington

Today I’m participating in a blog tour for the new book by CJ Darlington, Bound by Guilt. I enjoyed her first book so when the opportunity came to read and review her new book I was excited to join. Tyndale House Publishers very generously provided the book for review.

Roxie Gold finally felt accepted. After years of being shuttled from one foster home to another she found a place with her aunt and cousin. It was everything she ever wanted.

The human desire to fit in and be part of something is strong; strong enough to cause Roxie to join her new family in a crime spree. In the beginning the thrill of conning unsuspecting book store owners while they stole thousands of dollars in rare books was exhilarating. Then one night everything goes horribly wrong.

On the run and without any money, things are looking dire for Roxie. In Elk Valley, CO she is determined to find a job to support herself. When she tries to sell one of the stolen rare books, she attracts the attention of police woman, Abby Dawson. With her life unraveling around her she finds she has no choice but to accept the help of strangers.

This book is a great story. As with her first book, CJ has brought to life believable, likable characters. She has a knack for drawing the reader into her world and making them feel at home.

CJ gently weaves the reality of God’s love and forgiveness through the story without beating the reader over the head. The ability to portray the truth of God in fiction is often tough, but CJ handles it well.

Bound by Guilt is CJ Darlington’s second novel. While not necessarily a sequel to her first book, Thicker than Blood, this book pulls settings and characters from her first novel. I enjoyed this approach and feel that it worked well for her story. It was fun to meet new characters while being reunited with characters from Thicker.

Overall, this book is a well written story that I enjoyed and read in a couple of sittings. It is definitely one I would recommend to friends.

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.