by admin | Sep 12, 2021 | Books, Fantasy, Speculative, Steampunk
MY REVIEW:
I have enjoyed several books by Morgan L. Busse so I eagerly looked forward to her latest, Secrets in the Mist, book one of her Skyworld steampunk series. The author wasted no time plunging me deep into her imaginary world of people who lived high on mountains or even on islands in the sky as it was the only way to escape the deadly green mist that covered the lands below.
As in most societies Skyworld contained several classes of people – from the ruling elite five families to the lowest poor folks who were constantly on the move as they attempted to escape the encroaching mist or to avoid the most recent purge ordered by the rulers.
Heroine Cass and hero Theo were from opposite ends of society but discovered how much they had in common on a shared adventure into lands covered by the mist. Their story takes place in an imaginary land that is still suffering the aftereffects of a war that took place 200 years earlier. It is a world where the mist covered land is populated by zombie-like people and the sky is filled with zippers and balloon driven ships. It is a fantasy world that is equally a dream and a nightmare.
I thoroughly enjoyed Secrets in the Mist and can’t wait to see what Theo and Cass will encounter next.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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Book: Secrets in the Mist
Author: Morgan L. Busse
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release date: August 10, 2021
Click here to get your copy!
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What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries…
In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.
Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.
The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
MORE FROM MORGAN:
I’m afraid to fly. At first, I tried to ignore it. Then the panic attacks came. And the one time I accidentally grabbed my neighbor’s arm during turbulence, which was really embarrassing. But it was when I was waiting for my flight at the airport and felt like I was going to burst into tears right there at the gate that I knew I needed help.
I didn’t want to stop flying. I love traveling! But the fear of plummeting to the ground scared me, so I talked to my doctor and was given medicine to help me calm down. The problem is it made me really groggy. But hey, at least I could fly again.
Then I started writing Secrets in the Mist. Half of this book is about flying and one third is hang gliding. You know, flying with just a kite on your back. To write realistically about hang gliding, I started studying the sport. I read all the articles I could find, watched a lot of YouTube videos, and in the end spent over 10 hours immersing myself in the sky.
As I first imagined, then wrote each scene in Secrets in the Mist, something started to happen. I started to lose my fear of flying. It wasn’t the first time I tried to read the science behind flight to help me lose my fear of flying, but this time, I was doing it in my head. I was feeling the air and wind, tilting my glider, catching the air drafts, and not just understanding how to fly in my mind, but also with my heart.
I realized a plane couldn’t fall out of the sky just like my character couldn’t fall out of the sky. That an experienced flyer understood what to do in storms and sudden gusts of wind. And should the plane actually lose its engines, the pilot would help it glide to the ground the same way my gliders eased their way to a landing.
Not only that, by creating the exhilarating feelings my character felt when she was gliding began to seep into my psyche. I felt her joy and freedom, her lack of fear, and even more, how she felt more connected to God when it was just her, the wind, and the sky. I saw the beauty of flying through my character’s eyes.
I can fly now. Without medication. I actually enjoy the takeoffs and the feeling of the plane gliding through the air. Will I try hang gliding someday? Probably not, I still hate heights. But I never dreamed that writing about flying would help me overcome my fear of it. This is the power of imagination, and the power of story.
BLOG STOPS:
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31
Texas Book-aholic, September 1
Wishful Endings, September 2
Inklings and notions, September 2
Remembrancy, September 3
For Him and My Family, September 3
deb’s Book Review, September 4
Blogging With Carol, September 4
The Christian Fiction Girl, September 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 5
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 6
Mia Reads, September 6
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 7
Rebecca Tews, September 7
Aryn The Libraryan ?, September 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, September 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 9
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, September 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 11
Mary Hake, September 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12
Simple Harvest Reads, September 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Through the fire blogs, September 13
Daysong Reflections, September 13
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize package of Steampunk themed basket that includes a signed book, coffee by barnies, a soy candle (so it should be safe for everyone), and a $20 B&N gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/11621/secrets-in-the-mist-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Jul 24, 2020 | Books, Speculative
MY REVIEW:
These Nameless Things is my first novel by Shawn Smucker. I was not sure what to expect when I opened its pages so I was not prepared for the mysterious journey the words of the author carried me. His prose is lush and descriptive with a brooding atmosphere. Most of the time I felt like I was wandering in the dark, not certain what was actually happening. For every question that was answered, I had several more for which I wanted answers.
This tale is about a small group of people who have escaped a tormented captivity from “the moutain”. Yet these same people have elected to live almost in sight of their former prison in a sort of limbo in which they are waiting. Dan, the main character, knows he is waiting for his brother who was left behind but is uncertain why the others have not headed east. As the story progresses, the reader does learn how the seemingly unrelated characters are actually connected.
I am still not sure what I really think about this book. It definitely asks questions that we need to ask ourselves. Ultimately it is an allegory that illustrates the choices we make and their consequences, heaven and hell, and ultimately a story about forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Once held captive and tortured on a mysterious mountain, Dan was lucky to have made it out alive. But freedom comes at a cost. Left with little memory of the horrific ordeal, Dan can recall one thing–his escape meant leaving his brother behind.
With each day that passes, Dan waits with the other survivors in hope of his brother’s escape. But just as long-forgotten memories start rising to the surface, the sudden appearance of a wounded woman throws everything into question. As Dan struggles to know who to trust, he is caught once again in a paralyzing moral dilemma:
How far will he go to save the people he loves?
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shawn Smucker is the award-winning author of Light from Distant Stars, the young adult novels The Day the Angels Fell and The Edge of Over There, and the memoir Once We Were Strangers. He lives with his wife and six children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can find him online at www.shawnsmucker.com.
by admin | Sep 20, 2019 | Allegory, Books, Speculative, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
In a collaboration with his daughter Rachelle, an author in her own right, Ted Dekker delivers another allegorical novel that brilliantly illustrates the battle between darkness and light, religion and faith. Set almost entirely within an isolated town inhabited by cult members, the tale begins somewhat slowly but develops a momentum that builds strongly to an unexpected climax.
I have personally have had and still have issues with fear and these authors have opened my eyes to just how strongly that fear can imprison us. The use of darkness and light to demonstrate their points was illuminating (if I may be so bold). Several characters appeared during the course of the book whom I found difficult to decide just what their role was – whether a friend or an enemy. As Bobbie said repeatedly, “Don’t trust anyone.” I did think I knew who she was and my guess turned out to be correct. Others became more evident as I drew near to the end.
I really did enjoy “The Girl Behind the Red Rope” and I appreciated everything about it that made me think about my own responses to it. I also found quite a few very quotable lines within the story and I wish I had taken time to mark or copy them. Ted and Rachelle Dekker make a great team and I hope to see more books by them in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history.
When a terrible scourge is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure–and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red rope.
Her older brother’s questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she’s seen in a decade set in motion events that will cause Grace to question everything she has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides–but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?
For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Ted Dekker is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. He was born in the jungles of Indonesia to missionary parents, and his upbringing as a stranger in a fascinating and sometimes frightening culture fueled his imagination. Dekker’s passion is simple–to explore truth through mind-bending stories that invite readers to see the world through a different lens. His fiction has been honored with numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Inspy Awards, an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and an ECPA Gold Medallion. In 2013, NPR readers nationwide put him in the Top 50 Thriller Authors of All Time. Dekker lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Lee Ann.
Rachelle Dekker is the Christy Award-winning author of The Choosing, The Calling, and The Returning in the Seer series. The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full-time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jack. Connect with Rachelle at www.rachelledekker.com.
by admin | Nov 14, 2017 | Books, Speculative
MY REVIEW:
“The Bachelor Missions” is a very imaginative speculative spy novel that combines present-day with retro and futuristic elements. Hero Kristian Clark loves his 50s style clothing and attempts to dress and act the part of a private eye from that era. Somehow he has yet to accomplish smoking cigars. This young man definitely has some other issues. He still blames himself and God for the death of a close friend. Although he believes himself in love with a particular young woman, he seems to also be drawn to every other woman he encounters.
There is a lot going on in this book, actually a bit too much for my aged mind to keep up with. It is probably the most confusing book I have ever read. Kristian will be in the middle of one situation and a totally new character (or more) will show up. After a bit of an encounter, they disappear again. I had difficulty figuring out where all these characters fit into what was happening and which ones are actually the good guys and the bad guys.
I will be honest and admit that although I kept trying to read and understand the story, I eventually gave up before I reached the end. The author’s style is creative but with so much continuous action, it was more like watching a movie or TV program than the type of book I usually enjoy. I like to get to know the protagonists better as I read a novel and I never could quite understand where Kristian was coming from. I actually believe that this is a generational thing and not due to any deficit in the book itself. I am quite certain that younger readers will probably thoroughly enjoy the story.
I would like to encourage the author to continue with her writing. She has a definite gift with words and should have an excellent future. It’s not her fault that this old lady prefers other genres.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Click to purchase
The good-guys, the bad-guys, and the wild card- it’s the ultimate game of cloak and dagger…
Kristian Clark, private eye, thought his days as a special agent were behind him, but when he’s drafted into action, he finds himself reunited with his old team- and painful memories of why they broke up in the first place. But as he plunges into mission after mission- from a ‘holy heist’ to babysitting a young hacker to going undercover in a cult- Kristian find that everything he tried to leave behind is coming back to haunt him with a vengeance, and then some. First there’s the mysterious woman who knows more about Kristian- and his past- than makes sense while using science fiction weapons that don’t make sense period. Then there are the shady powers-that-be who are responsible for drafting him back into this world to satisfy their own nefarious agendas. It’s all Kristian can do to keep from being pulled into their games as he tries to figure out who to trust and what to fight for, even as the trap put in place to destroy him is set with a ticking clock.
When did espionage get so complicated?
Click here to purchase your copy!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jes Drew lives with her mom, dad, younger sister (the illustrious Nicki Chapelway), four younger brothers (yes, four), and two dogs. She is the author of both the Ninja and Hunter trilogy and the Howling Twenty trilogy. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, daydreaming, and her day job. There is also a possibility that she may or may not be a secret agent, but that’s classified. Still, you can contact her at http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/
GUEST POST FROM JES DREW:
I began writing at a very young age. I don’t think I even started school yet when I came out with my first children’s titles. The Swan Princess and Flamingo Queen was followed by a sequel The Duck Prince and Unicorn King (because I thought it was unfair that only the mom and sister had to go through transformations), and Julian and Juliette had many reprints- all carefully printed and illustrated by myself before moving to their final destination: safekeeping in my mom’s possession.
Years later, I resumed my writing craft near the end of elementary school with two series of chapter books I wrote and then read aloud to my family. However, it was not until I watched Marvel’s Avengers that I found my true muse (Captain America, obviously). The story was so enthralling, I could do nothing but pick up the pen and compose my first published trilogy: The Ninja and Hunter Series published when I was sixteen. This was followed by the tree books of The Howling Twenties two years later.
But, no longer a ‘young adult’ I’ve moved on beyond that genre to the next age group: New Adult. That genre infamously known for its many vices and sins. However, we as Christians are called to “Take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b), and a genre targeted toward twenty-somethings should be no exception.
So this is my first release in the New Adult genre. Kristian Clark might be a secret-agent-turned-private-investigator-turned-secret-agent again, but he still deals with the same problems all twenty-somethings face: adapting to a career, longing for a soul mate, and searching for deeper meaning in all the noise. With a little intrigue and cool gadgets on the side because, well, he is a secret-agent-turned-private-investigator-turned-secret-agent after all.
BLOG STOPS:
Bibliophile Reviews, November 2
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 2
A Baker’s Perspective, November 3
Bigreadersite, November 3
Fiction Aficionado, November 4
History, Mystery & Faith, November 5
Aryn the Libraryan, November 6
Reflections From My Bookshelf, November 7
Blogging With Carol, November 8
Multifarious, November 9
Carpe Diem, November 10
A Reader’s Brain, November 11
Karen Sue Hadley, November 11
Neverending Stories, November 12
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12
margaretkazmierczak, November 13
Mary Hake, November 13
Daysong Reflections, November 14
Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 15
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Jes is giving away
a Grand Prize of the Howling Twenties trilogy, signed, and a fifteen dollar Amazon gift card
and a
1st Place Prize of The Time I Saved the Day, also signed, and a ten dollar Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
https://promosimple.com/ps/c31b
by admin | Nov 18, 2015 | Contemporary Fiction, Speculative
MY REVIEW:
I had mixed feeling about “The Five Times I Met Myself”. On one hand, it was a fairly interesting tale and the primary character was a fairly strong Christian who claimed to depend on God’s guidance. On the other hand, I had a few misgivings about Brock’s belief that God wanted him to use lucid dreaming to encounter his younger self in order to influence his future. Overall, I liked the story okay but might have enjoyed a bit more dialogue and action. It did not move along as quickly and smoothly as I might have liked.
I often grew frustrated with Brock and his determination to keep trying to change the future when it was apparent that things kept going from bad to worse every time he tried. I also had a bit of difficulty keeping it all sorted out – whether Brock was in the present, in a dream, or reliving old memories. Despite any of my frustrations, I was quite happy with the way things ended and all the truths that Brock learned through his experience led to restoration and reconciliation within his family. There is much a reader can learn from this story and it will most likely come back to my mind at odd times in the future.
As with all books by James Rubart, “The Five Times I Met Myself” is one that should appeal to fans of speculative fiction – those who always ask the question “what if?” If you are one of those people, don’t hesitate to pick up a copy for yourself.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?
Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.
So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.
Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
James Rubart is a professional marketer and speaker. He is the author of the best-selling novel “Rooms” as well as “Book of Days,” “The Chair,” “Soul’s Gate,” “Memory’s Door,” and “Spirit Bridge.” He lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.
Find out more about James L. at http://jameslrubart.com.
by admin | Oct 22, 2015 | Biblical, Books, Fantasy, Historical, Speculative, Time Travel
MY REVIEW:
Book three of Lynne Gentry’s The Carthage Chronicles series, “Valley of Decision” was a fitting conclusion to Lisbeth and Maggie’s time travel into third-century Carthage. There were times that I just wanted to close its covers and walk away – not because the writing wasn’t good or was difficult to read. No, I tend to be just a tad squeamish and I didn’t want to deal with events that I could see coming before the end. I pushed myself to read the entire book and was thankful that the events I feared were not described graphically but were tastefully written. Thank you Lynne.
Even more than the first two books of the series, “Valley of Decision” emphasized just how serious the decision to be a Christian could be during those tumultuous times. It sometimes required literally laying down one’s life for one’s beliefs or to protect others. I saw example after example of how the sacrificial and loving acts of early Christians, even toward their enemies influenced others for Christ and possibly even changed the course of history.
This is truly a book about decisions, both good and bad. Selfish and vengeful decisions that led to chaos, death, and disaster were vividly contrasted with decisions to love and forgive that led to healing and changed lives. “Valley of Decision” is a book to make its reader think about how our own decisions affect the people we come in contact each day. Can we live for Christ the same way here in our modern lives of comfort and plenty?
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Every choice has a consequence in the explosive conclusion to the Carthage Chronicles as Lisbeth returns to third-century Carthage for a thrilling final adventure.
Thirteen years ago, Lisbeth made an impossible decision—leave third-century Carthage and her husband Cyprian behind for good. She knew it was to protect her daughter Maggie, so Lisbeth gathered the strength to move on with her life.
All these years, Lisbeth has thrown herself into her work and raising her headstrong daughter, all to live up to the promise she made to Cyprian. But Maggie is sick of being protected. In an act of teenage rebellion Maggie decides to do what her mother can’t—secretly returning to the third century on a quest to bring her father back, leaving Lisbeth no choice but to follow.
With Maggie’s surprise arrival in Carthage, chaos ensues. She finds her grandmother on trial for murder and attempts to save her, but instead the diversion sparks a riot that nearly destroys the plagued city. Only one thing will appease the wrath of the new proconsul of Carthage: the death of the instigator.
Will Lisbeth arrive in time to save her daughter from the clutches of Rome? How can God possibly redeem such a slew of unwise decisions and deep regrets? Filled with heart-wrenching twists and riveting action, Valley of Decision brings the romantic adventure epic, The Carthage Chronicles, to an electrifying conclusion.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications. She is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright. Lynne is an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer who loves spending time with her family and medical therapy dog.
Find out more about Lynne at http://lynnegentry.com.
