BEYOND REACH: The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor, Book Two
Melody Carlson
Multnomah
Fiction
ISBN-10: 1590526937
ISBN-13: 9781590526934
258 pages

In book two of the Secret Life of Samantha McGregor series, author Melody Carlson continues the intriguing saga of 17-year-old Samantha McGregor's God-given gift of seeing events before they happen through dreams and daytime visions. Once again, Carlson opens her text with a brief yet heartfelt warning to her readers. She offers a concise primer on spiritual gifts, biblical theology on seeking the giver of the gifts --- not the gift itself --- and suggestions for further study.

The storyline transitions immediately from the first book’s dramatic rescue scene. En route home from solving the case of a missing fellow student, Samantha and her police officer friend, Ebony, try to get some rest on the flight back, but Sam's slumber is interrupted by a dream involving bombers who take over the plane. Startled, both women seek out officials at the airport, whose initial reaction is one of disdain ---- that is, until they do a background check on the men Samantha points out and verify her otherworldly suspicions. Exhausted from this event and the case previously, Samantha asks God for a break from the visions and dreams...and she gets it, only to start fretting that she has offended God. But it isn't too long before He starts using Samantha again, and her newest visions are both upsetting and burdensome.

Olivia, Samantha's best friend and main confidante, is good balance for her, and even Samantha's pastor reminds her to have some fun too. This is easier said than done when Samantha keeps getting pulled into real-life crimes, and Ebony enlists her aid in a closed case of apparent suicide. Samantha tries to "get a feel" for what really happened to this young man the night he died, but the brief images she sees and dreams about aren't always so simple to comprehend when there are multiple "suspects" fitting the description of a "distraught male intending to harm himself" in Samantha's life. Still, the teen prays and asks God for guidance. She always recounts the dreams/visions to both Ebony and Olivia for help in discerning what each prophetic episode truly means while she plays secret detective attempting to interpret everyday events with what God is communicating to her.

Samantha slowly begins to understand that God only reveals bits and pieces at a time. Through her daily obedience and by submitting to His plan, she will gain the information she needs. Samantha's faith in God grows strong as she honors those inner nudgings to act swiftly and decisively even in the midst of "normal" daily happenings at home, school and church. Time and again, Samantha's "gift" is put to excellent use and what she "sees" sometimes makes the difference between life and death.

   --- Reviewed by Michele Howe

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