This book should come with a warning label to read only if you are prepared for your heart to be challenged and changed. Fans of the Baggage Handler and James L. Rubart will absolutely want to read this book. Be prepared to devour it, then allow yourself to savor the depth of truth that it shares. Daniel is graciously gifted a camera that reveals the truth behind the masks we wear every day and what can happen when those truths are not addressed. It makes the point that lies, and sin, cannot only affect the person trapped by them, but do indeed spread to all those who interconnected in their life. A chance at redemption if you are willing to stop pretending and expose the truths you are desperately trying to hide behind.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

A marriage in danger. A grandfather's passing. A daughter pleading for her parents to love again. And a camera that reveals the truth in your heart.

The Camera Never Lies is a book unlike any other. Breaking the barrier between page and reader, David Rawlings challenges all who pick up this book to face the truth of their lives and strive to live a life of “No Secrets.”

Daniel Whitely is a successful marriage counselor and a best-selling author, but though his life looks perfect on the outside, on the inside, his family is falling apart.

After his grandfather’s tragic passing, Daniel inherits his camera; however, when Daniel begins taking pictures and has them developed, the images looking back at him reveal secrets that Daniel had hoped would remain hidden. Haunted by the truth and angry at himself for allowing his life to spiral out of control, this once precious gift from his grandfather soon becomes more a curse than a blessing. Will this "magical" camera encourage Daniel to restore the broken pieces of his life, or will his choices lead to a tragedy beyond repair?

When I began reading The Camera Never Lies, I was skeptical about where the narrative was heading. I hate characters who cannot see the trouble that's under their noses and make decisions that are obviously wrong; however, I was surprised at the outcome. As I read, the words of Luke 8:17 replayed in my mind, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”  We all hide parts of ourselves we wish people wouldn't see, and we all have our secrets, yet there is One who understands us better than anyone else and who sees all that we do and think. After reading this book, I have started praying that like Daniel, people's eyes would be opened to the truth of their lives, with or without the help of a camera.

The Camera Never Lies pulled me into its story and held me captive until my eyes were too heavy to remain open. Each night, before going to sleep, I would tell myself that I would read a chapter or two, but when can a bookworm resist just “one more chapter”? Though I wish there were an extended part of this thought-provoking book, I’ll be glad to have some of my sleep back!

~ A special thanks to NetGalley, and the publisher, for providing me with the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ~

My Thoughts on The Camera Never Lies:
The Camera Never Lies will force you to take a deep look into your own life and think about what it would be like to have all your secrets exposed. Should they stay secrets? Who are we hurting or protecting by keeping them secrets?

I have to admit this was not just a fun read for me. It was a challenging read. What would happen if I had a camera like that? Who would I see? What secrets of myself would I find exposed? Would I want them exposed?

This is a very good read with lots of information to make you think. It’s not going to be a feel-good read. There is a mystery and there are lies and secrets galore. What will people do to protect their secrets?

It made me really think about what my own secrets might be and what would happen if I made them no longer secrets.

I do recommend this book and think it will appeal to lots of people. The author has a gift for writing and coming up with a very unique storyline.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

David Rawlings takes a simple idea of an antique camera and secrets to create an engrossing story that had me not wanting to stop reading and never wanting the book to end. Which is a double-edged sword for a reader. I wanted to know what was going on with the pictures yet I was so captivated by the story I wanted to stay in the world of Daniel, Kelly, and Milly.

This will be on my top reads list for the year. When an author keeps me that engrossed it's definitely a winner! I highly recommend this book!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The main theme of this book showcases how keeping secrets affect not only the person keeping them but also those around them. Also the importance of truth and honesty in marriage. This is the kind of book you'll want to take you time reading through as it has a great deal of depth within its pages. All woven together with a magical aspect.

I personally enjoy magical/supernatural stories that are clean and have a bit of meaningful depth to them.(There's honestly not enough of them). Entertaining and well written, this is a story will boost you mood.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, David Rawlings, and Thomas Nelson publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. David Rawlings writes a tight, well-paced tale with interesting word pictures here and there that you can savor. I am happy to recommend his work to friends and family.

The Camera Never Lies is based on that old adage about the cobbler's children going barefoot - our protagonist Daniel Whitely is a highly acclaimed family counselor with one best-selling self-help book out and rumors of another in the works. His wife Kelly is a rep for a pharmaceutical company making a hot new drug to help young children basically addicted to their screens - notebook, IPad, iPhone, etc. Their daughter Milly is 12 and losing it, showing signs of deep depression and has isolated herself from every aspect of her life, failing at the school that she once aced, friendless and suicidal. But Dad is focused on work - he is making bad decisions with employees and months behind on the draft of his second book. His editor is ready to take back the big advance for this work, which is already spent on the downpayment of their ritzy new home. Kelly is working to fill the financial gap until the next book sells, at a job she hates. Her dream is to set up a catering business but this temporary job pays the bills for now. But there are rumors of side effects to this new drug - serious migraine-like headaches, some requiring hospitalization. The drug company reassures its staff that this is all malarky, that the rumors are just that, but she is vocally skeptical - which doesn't sit well with her bosses. She knows she has to keep this job until Daniel finishes this next book, but she vows to not pass on the reassurances recommended by the bosses if specifically ask about the rumors.

Meanwhile, Daniel's Grandpa dies. His only real legacy is an old, beat-up leather briefcase containing the still lingering aroma of Old Spice and a vintage Olympus HS-10 Infinity camera containing a spool of exposed photos to be developed and a small album of pictures, most faded and almost without color. David is touched, and curious to see what the exposed film in the camera contains, and sets his secretary to work finding someplace he can get the pictures developed. His Grandfather loved that old camera. Engraved on the bottom of the camera, Grandfather assures that 'no matter what you think you might see, the camera never lies'.

But the pictures taken on the Olympus are not exactly what was focused on - each picture portrays what the subject was thinking, or imagining. In one, David is holding hands with his co-worker Anna, Milly is doing a handstand on the balcony guardrail 200 feet about the street, the new secretary making eyes at David, and Kelly is always MAD. And Milly is in serious trouble. What a wake-up call! Will the Whitely family be able to overhaul their lives, get control of each day lived fully and together, or are they destined to come apart? Because according to the camera, they are all in very hot water...

In his sophomore release, David Rawlings once again challenges readers to hold up a mirror and take stock of what’s happening in their lives.

When he inherits a camera from his grandfather, Daniel Whitely has no idea of the upheaval it will cause in his life because, as the title states, the camera never lies. The photographs taken with this camera wash away the professional, personal, and relational facades so carefully put in place by Daniel and his family. Those photos reveal long held secrets and some truths the characters haven’t yet acknowledged.

While I would have liked to read about some of the aftermath in the lives of the Whitley’s once their truths were brought to light, The Camera Never Lies challenged me to reflect on whether I am hiding anything in my own life.
I look forward to watching Rawlings’ growth and the ways he challenges me in books to come.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I had to read this book. Why? It starts with the camera. I have a long history with cameras, photos, and darkrooms. That made this irresistible for me. Daniel is a marriage counselor, and his life is falling apart. Using a camera from his Grandfather, the images Daniel takes show things that are raw, unfiltered, and for him, often unexpected. What issues and insights will be reveled with each image and how will Daniel handle it? I was so intrigued. I found this book to be a very fast read, with a good bit of creativity and lots of introspection with the characters. It doesn't have a lot of overt pushing of Scripture or such, but it does have main themes that are Christian principal founded.

I really liked this story, and I think it's worth reading. I liked the ending and I liked the "magic" that was a tool for so many changes in this story.

My Copy came from Celebrate Lit. This review is my own, left of my own free will.

This is a unique story, with a bit of a supernatural/allegorical element. While the story centers on Daniel, a marriage counselor, and his struggling family, the "main character" is definitely the camera! It only takes pictures that show the truth - the real truth about its subjects' thoughts, feelings, and motives, even and especially when the truth is not visible on the surface. The story deals with themes of honesty, trust, and family in a fresh, thought-provoking way. It's an easy, enjoyable read, perfect for curling up by the fire with this winter!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I like it when a novel challenges me to live a better version of myself. This novel did that in the realm of keeping secrets. Rawlings portrays well the desire to keep secrets in order to maintain one's reputation, status in society, income, etc. There is generally a high cost in revealing secrets, however, and I was disappointed Rawlings failed to ultimately portray that. I feel the struggle does not end when secrets are revealed but does include the task of picking up the shattered pieces of life. I was also disappointed there was not a strong spiritual message about truth telling included in the plot. The plot itself might be more suited to novella length as I felt the action a bit repetitive.

Rawlings has an entertaining writing style and is a good story teller. This story is one that will make you think about the secrets you keep.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up
Rawlings has an incredible imagination and his themes are spot on, as it was with his first novel. This book explores the theme of secret keeping and the effects that has on relationships and a person's entire life. Keeping the secrets becomes more and more difficult as time passes. Overall, this book is worth reading because that message is powerful. Loved the idea of this magical camera that sees the truth.
However, the novel had a few issues for me. The characters seemed more like caricatures of real people than real people. I never got a full sense of any of them, especially Milly. Her reasoning behind her behavior was puzzling and honestly a bit strange. And the connection between Anna and Daniel isn't developed at all, so when the camera starts reflecting truths about them it comes totally out of nowhere. Since I just read an absolutely amazing non-fiction book about a therapist, this book suffers in comparison. Many of the privacy issues, therapy moments, and other things about it weren't portrayed accurately and pulled me out of the story.
Overall, this was a quick read with an interesting message. I will continue to read other books by this author.

Pictures taken from an old camera tell a different story from what is actually seen when taken. Does this camera have some magical power that can see secrets you're hiding, or see what the future will bring? Can these photos help a young family that is slowing breaking apart or will they bring them together? This was a very interesting story that is quite thought-provoking. It was well written with great characters although I struggled at times to like Daniel Whitely. BUT even though I had a difficult time liking him, his behavior and choices he made are important to the story and the whole point of why his grandfather left him that camera. I enjoyed this book. It is very different from what I usually read, and it can easily be read in one sitting.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

This is a very interesting and thought provoking book. Truth is found through photos that are taken with a camera that shows the persons feelings instead of their appearance. The choice is to face these truths and " come clean" or continue keeping secrets that are causing misery in your life. I don't usually read this type of book but I am glad that I read this one. I do believe the truth will set you free.

Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read this amazing book.

A very different read, about not seeing what is in front of you, and a lot like the Twilight Zone, but a modern version using an old camera and black and white film.
This book will make you think, and what are we seeing, is it real, or just what we want to see? This is a read that will definitely show you that we perceive things differently, and innocent flirtation can turn to a romantic gesture, a silly fight with a spouse can be seen as a parent split by a child, and other innocent or what we think is ok can be very dangerous.
How is this all going to work out, you will be quickly turning the pages, and this is a read that can be done in one sitting.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Does the camera lie?? This is a question you’ll get answers if you read this book. It was interesting and makes you think about lying camera and how much they totally lie. Or do they???

I received The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings as an ARC by Netgalley. The Camera Never Lies is a story about keeping secrets and the importance of being honest with people in your lives. Daniel is a marriage counselor who is married to Kelly. They have a teenage daughter named Milly. The novel begins with the death of David's grandpa. In his will, Gramps leaves David his old Olympus camera. The camera has an inscription on the bottom - No matter what you think you might see, the camera lies - and what David doesn't realize is this is a very special camera. The camera will teach David and his family things about their life that was interfering with their happiness. I don't want to spoil the story but the use of the camera is a very interesting prop to tell the story. It will give you a lot to think about.

After reading this book, I had only one thought. I need a camera like this ASAP. So this book kind of uses magic realism where you use a fantasy camera in real life to take a picture with amazing clarity. The camera captures the emotional state of the person and this is why I need it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is that one good book you read to clear your mind. the plot and characters are well written and I found myself reading more and more. I recommend this book to people who need an easy read between their schedule.

Daniel is surprised and (to be honest) a little creeped out when he realizes that the photos he takes with his grandfather's camera show what the subject feels (go with the idea) more than their physical representation. He's been struggling lately-he's a marriage counselor who wrote a successful book but now has writers block and is unable to deliver his second book. He's also got marriage problems of his own, in part because of the secrets he's kept about himself as well as the lies he's told. His wife Kelly is currently selling pharmaceuticals but wants to open a catering company. His daughter Milly is 12 with all the issues of a 12 year old girl. This is really about how these three make their way back to each other. It also asks you to think about what you value most. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

Daniel, Kelly, and Milly appear to be the perfect family. Daniel is a marriage counselor and bestselling author, Kelly sells a successful pharmaceutical product, and Milly earned a scholarship to a private school. But an old camera will expose secrets no one wants developed.
Inherited from his grandfather, the camera's inscription reads, “No matter what you think you might see, the camera never lies.” The photos aren't at all what they seem, however. With clarity, they expose secrets that the subjects would rather keep hidden.
Daniel must soon decide if he will keep his secrets or allow the camera to expose them. Which will he choose? Which would you choose?
This novel is very provocative. It brings issues to light that most of us would rather keep hidden. But at what price?
While the subject matter does hit close to home, I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to devour it in one sitting. The transitions when secrets are revealed does feel a little clunky and disjointed in several spots, but overall, this book is an important read and contains truths all readers could consider.

The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings is a powerful contemporary novel about the importance of truth and integrity. As with the previous novel, The Baggage Handler, this book has the potential to change lives if we would just apply the advice given.
The Bible declares that ‘the truth shall set you free’, why then is it sometimes so hard to do? “Truth cannot simply be avoided, covered up or ignored.” Do we prefer to hide the truth because of embarrassment? Or fear? Or something else? We must be truthful because lies and secrets will destroy us sooner or later.
The novel explores the foundations of life. Have we built our houses on the Rock or sinking sand? “I think I’d die if I lost that kitchen.” Really? If our treasure is in stuff, we are in trouble. Treasure is to be found in people and God.
A marriage in trouble has far reaching effects. We need honesty to rebuild the cracks or our relationships will crash. We cannot afford to ignore or push our problems under the carpet. We need to deal with them now. We need to look “through the lens of honesty.”
David Rawlings has created a very realistic and likable set of characters. They are easy to relate to with their problems and in their relationships. Any one of them could be me or you. The reader is able to see the trajectory of their lives if they do not talk honestly with each other. But first they need to admit the truth to themselves.
I think The Camera Never Lies and The Baggage Handler are both really powerful books urging us to look at our busy lives. “Busyness… had not brought life.” Do we need to change something in our lives or in our hearts so we bring life and not death to our lives and our relationships with others? We need clarity of vision. We need the lens of truth.
Thank you David Rawlings for writing such incredible books full of godly truths that both believers and nonbelievers would benefit from.
Both The Camera Never Lies and The Baggage Handler should be best sellers and timeless classics because they both serve as foundational footings in our lives.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.