This novel explores the importance of facing the truth of your life/actions, whether you want to or not. The author employs a magical camera as the vehicle for this morality tale, so you have to suspend your disbelief to get through the story. The writing was pretty good, but I felt that the moral of the story was extremely obvious and a bit heavy-handed. I did enjoy the reactions of people to someone using an actual camera with actual film, versus the digital world we are generally in these days.

Many thank to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The message in The Camera Never Lies is a question everyone is faced with at some point in their lives..... live peacefully with the truth or hide behind secrets, with a complicated, anxiety filled life. I thought this book would draw me in but unfortunately it felt like a slow, repetitious read. I received this ARC from the publisher and net galley in exchange for my honest review.

From the author of The Baggage Handler, we have another look deep into the nature of relationships and the human psyche. This book is like a cross between fiction, self-help, and supernatural. The main characters are all deeply flawed - as all humans are - but hiding those flaws from both the world and themselves. The camera points out the truth, making them come to grips with their own truth and ultimately setting them free. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and it's a story that will probably hit a little too close to home for many readers...

Coming from Thomas Nelson- a Christian publisher, I expected that The Camera Never Lies would be much more faith based with a supernatural twist. I was rather surprised that God was- to the best of my recollection- not mentioned at all. Nor was faith really. If they were, they were so little of the focus that I failed to remember those instances anyway. I say this not as a negative, just a surprise to me. Though I DO personally enjoy stories with more Christian content, I know that that is not the case for everyone. As such, I think that this story on the importance of truth in marriage and in life can reach a broader audience than what your typical Christian fiction story might. It is a story we can all enjoy, and can feel assured that there will not be any inappropriate content as well.

In The Camera Never Lies, we meet Daniel... a marriage counselor whose own marriage and family seems to be falling apart. When his grandfather leaves him an old camera, he learns that 'the camera never lies'. When he takes the film to be developed, he realizes that things aren't as they should be. The camera is not capturing the faces that we put on and present to the world, but rather the truths behind the mask.

Sounds fascinating, doesn't it? I love a good story with a magical/supernatural aspect to it myself. I don't read them as often as I would like as I try to stick to clean reads, which can be a little harder to find in that genre. Aside from that, I am a hobby-ist photographer so just the camera aspect appealed to me in that regards as well. Is this style going to be for everyone? Maybe not. I know many who generally enjoy Christian fiction might not enjoy the magical aspect of the story... but personally, I really enjoyed it. My only real complaint is that it was quite short! I read it in less than a day... admittedly I am a speed reader anyway but this was quick even for me! I would have loved a longer story to dig even deeper into the lives of these characters or perhaps the mysterious camera shop owner. Still, it was a great quick read and one that I would certainly recommend.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Camera Never Lies.

This was an interesting read, sort of like an extended Twilight Zone episode about a man named Daniel who is gifted an old timey fun timey camera by his beloved grandfather after his death.

Daniel eventually realizes that the camera is no ordinary camera and its photos reveal more than he is comfortable with and truths he is not yet ready to face.

Sadly, I wished the author had invested more time developing Daniel and Kelly's characters.

When the story starts, there is already increased tension and anxiety within the family, and with no exposition for the reader, it was hard to sympathize or empathize with the characters.

There are important themes underlying this book; facing your fears and your truth, being honest with yourself and the people you love, but this was never fully fleshed out.

There were stereotypical cliches the author spent too much time on; Daniel having an emotional affair with his work wife, the growing distance between him and Kelly (with no details I was unsure how this began or why), as a result, this slowed the story's pace and the narrative began to sound repetitive.

This premise was good but I would have enjoyed more development about the characters and the camera's ability to capture the truth.

Very interesting story. I'm big into photography so I enjoyed this aspect of how the camera never lies, giving pictures that revealed secrets from your deepest part of your soul or reflecting your true self. It was a little slow to begin but once the story began I thoroughly enjoyed it

This book presents a very clever concept. A very old camera is bequeathed to Daniel by his grandfather, but the camera’s pictures show the hidden truths rather than what is visible through the viewfinder. Daniel’s personal and professional lives are all affected by this discovery. The novel is a very intriguing page-turner that had me considering what this camera’s pictures would show about my own life. Excellent!

I somehow managed to finish this book, but it took me a long time as I really wasn't into this sci-fi twist, with a camera showing the "truth".

It was an okay read, if you don't have much else to read, but honestly not one I would recommend to others.

Daniel's beloved Gramps passes away at the age of 88. The two were close and a legacy was left for Daniel - an old Olympus camera. Also, Gramps wanted to remind Daniel that the camera never lies;;;

Kelly, Daniel's wife, and Milly, his 12 year old daughter, live in a rather expensive Cliffside house. A big reason is to have a large kitchen so when Daniel's next book is published Kelly can open her catering business. Actually, there are two main themes; Daniel's camera and Kelly's current job as a pharma rep. The marriage is in a rocky period and Milly is 12 appears to be a brat...

As pictures are taken (some of these pictures; Daniel has no idea who has even taken them) there are strange views in the images. Daniel had brought the film in to be developed by the "only game in town", "Simon's". Simon, himself, is a bit odd..

Excellent character development and plotline! I can only say that I find this book to be a MUST READ!!!

Many Thanks to Thomas Nelson, Publishing and NetGalley for a wonderful read!

The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings. The premise is innovative. Photographs clearly capture memories and help us recall true events rather than the perfect life our memories want to remember. The story was somewhat repetitious with little insight into the characters or their backgrounds.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

The story of this book was good, but a little confusing. I couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be real life or fiction. But the moral of the story that the truth will set yo7 free is something that all people can stand to hear.

Overall I definitely did enjoy this and I would recommend it.

Daniel receives his Grandfather’s camera after he passes and soon discovers it’s a special camera that doesn’t just take a picture but when developed the photographer sees deeper than what’s in the surface. It gives a peek into a person’s heart and soul. This spooks Daniel who’s a successful marriage counselor and bestselling author of a book titled No Secrets. Daniel thinks he’s hiding his own secrets in plain sight but with this special camera he’s afraid to be found out and that would destroy everything.

Simon, photo shop owner says to Daniel, “..We can’t trust our memories. They gloss over details, change words to ones we wish we’d used, and bury the secrets we try to hide. Photos give us clear memories and show us what really happened. The camera never lies, you know.”

This novel reminded me of a show I’d expect to see on the Twilight Zone series. Here’s a note from the author. “…The Camera Never Lies, is about the price of accepting honesty with others and ourselves…The story is about a family, Daniel, Kelly, and Milly and “..a realization that our honesty (or rejection of it) comes with messy consequences…often felt by others. ..turning your back on something that’s an inalienable truth is more than a rejection of honesty. It’s a choice that comes packed with a punch, and even if you duck the blow, it can hit others.”

The author includes discussion questions to help generate a deeper dialogue about this book. I was intrigued about the idea for this story, loved reading The Baggage Handler (this authors’ first novel), but I got a little lost in this novel, it was not as tight as his previous novel. This story seemed to repeat itself a lot. I look forward to reading more stories by this author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

As he did in The Baggage Handler, Rawlings uses a man with special insights into people's souls to present a story about the secrets and lies we keep to ourselves. It's a very clever story as Daniel Whiteley and his family are confronted by the revelation of each others secrets and fears.

Daniel receives as a parting gift on the death of his grandfather ("Gramps") an old camera. A camera that takes 'special' photos. It doesn't just capture the on-the-surface reality but the truth hidden within the hearts of those included in the photos.

Daniel is a well drawn character, a seemingly successful marriage counsellor, best selling book, magnificent home overlooking the ocean but not all is as it seems. Clearly, Gramps knew this by giving Daniel his unique camera. What unfolds is a enthralling story about a man, his marriage/family and business being challenged by the secrets he has hidden from everyone. Interestingly, Rawlings also explores the notion of perceptions and how misguided they can be. Often, we see Daniel misunderstanding what is going on, especially when it comes to his daughter's struggles, due to relying on his perceptions.

I liked Milly, Daniel and Kelly's daughter. She's a teen who is now struggling at school and life because of what's going on at home. But Daniel can't see that. He needs the revelation of the camera to show him.

There are so many good messages in this story and it had me stop to think about the secrets and perceptions I'm hiding in my heart.

Having read The Baggage Handler, Rawlings first novel, it's clear that he has grown as a writer as he continues to write contemporary stories with a 'speculative' twist that challenge the reader to explore the deeper aspects of their heart and soul.

Well done, David Rawlings.

This was a very thought provoking novel. It is one to be savored, and read slowly. It is a story about truth and lies and how one copes with them.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was a delightful surprise. I liken it to the Twilight Zone, there's something happening that no one can quite explain that is teaching a lesson that is necessary, but completely unwanted by those involved. I liked the main character, I could relate to his struggles both at work and at home. I enjoyed waiting to see what the next photos would show, and also enjoyed that the was a film camera which harkened me back to the days of anticipation after dropping off film for developing. What a wonderful concept and great execution.
I picked it up on a whim just based on the description and I'm so glad I did.

Daniel, Kelly and Milly are living the dream -except no one is really happy. Daniel has a best selling book to his credit and they bought their dream home with the advance for the next book. He's got severe writer's block and his wife Kelly is forced to work as a sales rep for a pharmaceuticals company to keep things a float until Daniel gets the book done. Milly, a young teen, has become increasingly unhappy and withdrawn. Daniel's grandfather dies and leaves him an old camera. The camera can see things that aren't really there. Will Daniel and Kelly take what they learn from the camera and do the right things or continue to pretend that their secrets really are secret?

What a good story ! And, without revealing too much, the accuracy of the description of feelings is absolutely incredible ! What "finesse" ! Everyone has a photo album, and, from now on, I bet all the readers will stare at their pictures with "another" eye ! The book raises many questions about "what if" . The plot could be close to a fairy tale, mixed up with questions we ought to ask sometimes about ourselves. David Rawlings got true talent to slowing compose a picture of our ways to communicate, in time of crisis. This is mind blowing. The quality of the descriptions are a pure joy. This is not a script for a movie, the author, in simple words and very easy to follow narrative, brush a picture of some of our contemporaries. I strongly recommend !

I received a copy in echange for a fair review. All opinions are mine.

The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings

This book contained a unique concept—a camera that tells the truth in the photographs that it produces. Daniel inherits the camera from his beloved Gramps and is shocked at the images he receives from the photo lab. When faced with the truth about the people and situations in his life, he has a dilemma: continue to hide the truth while risking the debilitating consequences or own up to the truth, facing the painful consequences and escaping the dire predictions of the photographs. His marriage to Kelly and the health and life of their child hang in the balance.

This book was a departure from the type of fiction I normally read, but I enjoyed it. The story was thought-provoking and the plot contained an unexpected surprise. The characters were well-drawn and felt real. The author’s proposition—a camera that tells the truth—was interesting and kept me reading. I am still pondering the book’s message.
A reader who enjoys fiction with an intriguing message and a bit of improbability in the plot, will most likely enjoy this book. I received a free copy from the publisher for this, my honest review.

Truth. What is it? Is it what we see when we look at a person or so buried that it takes a special camera to reveal it? David Rawlings weaves an interesting story answering just those questions. This was not a fun, lighthearted read. In fact, it was quite depressing in parts and the story felt a little like it wasn’t getting very far very fast. But fortunately the end brought healing and a clarity for this little family.

After his beloved grandfather's funeral, Daniel Whitely receives the prized and mysterious camera his grandfather purchased a decade ago. Seeing the photos developed over the next three weeks, and guided by a charismatic - if not slightly mysterious - photo lab technician, Daniel embarks on a journey of discovery and clarity.

The idea for this book felt original and fantastical, but the narrative was very repetitive with poor character development. The characters lacked tangible depth and substance - I had a difficult time feeling compassion for any of them. I would have enjoyed more backstory for each of the main characters, as well. A smattering of quirks or more substantial inner dialogue instead of a constant repetition of action.

I think this novel will find a good consistent three-star "beach read" following, but it just felt a little too choppy and poorly executed for my tastes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.