by admin | Sep 11, 2015 | Books, Fantasy
MY REVIEW:
“The Traitor’s Heir” is one of those good versus evil novels with a somewhat medieval setting. Supernatural events, both good and evil, are scattered throughout the narrative and at times the same character is able to operate in either aspect of power. The book is a lengthy one that weighs in at 544 pages.
I didn’t particularly like the hero Eamon Goodman. For most of the story, he seemed to be pretty wishy-washy and had difficulty remaining loyal to his friends. Of course, that was partially due to the author’s intent to illustrate the strong spiritual battle Eamon was in. The fact that Eamon tended to make the choices that were easiest for him was probably pretty true to the choices most of us also make in our daily lives. Hopefully we can learn from our mistakes as Eamon eventually managed to do.
Although “The Traitor’s Heir” is published by a Christian publisher and its overall theme would fall into that genre, readers need to be aware that there is some language and lifestyle choices that many Christians might find objectionable. Overall the book was fairly enjoyable although I would have preferred a hero who was a bit less wimpy and showed a bit more integrity and backbone.
This book was provided for review by the Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Every man has a destiny. His is to betray.
Like many from his village, young Eamon Goodman dreamed of joining the Gauntlet, the army of the overlord Eldered. Now he is about to complete his training and swear his loyalty to Eldered and his commanders, the Hands, who uphold Eldered s tight control of the land.
Entering into the service of the Gauntlet, Eamon s gifts, particularly his potent Sight, quickly become valuable to his superiors and he advances to the command rank at a speed that arouses the suspicions of fellow officers.
However, Eldered’s bloody rule, and Eamon s personal friendships, start to challenge the young soldier s assumptions about what might be true, and worthy of service. And soon Eamon must conceal a fatal secret: he is sworn to both Eldered and to Hughan, the rightful king of the land. Yet he may not forswear the vows he has uttered in all good faith so however he serves, his name will be traitor.
As tensions and military skirmishes increase, Eamon finds himself trusted by both his masters. How can he possibly maintain his integrity, act justly to his fellow officers of the Gauntlet, and act on behalf of all the warring people of the land?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Anna Thayer graduated from Cambridge with first class honors in 2005 and, bilingual in English and Italian, went on to teach in Sicily. She now writes and lectures internationally on the works of Tolkien and Lewis, and teaches English at an independent school in southern England.
by admin | Sep 11, 2015 | Books, Historical
MY REVIEW:
“The Memory Weaver” is a historical novel that is a story of trauma, loss, discover, and the journey to healing for several characters within its pages. The heroine, Eliza Spalding Warren not only witnessed the massacre of several people she knew but was also taken hostage by the Indians. After her rescue and the later death of her mother, she experienced nightmares and was not entirely successful in coping with her memories. Her friend Nancy who had also experienced the traumatic event, had her own way of coping. Even Eliza’s husband had some serious problems due to guilt and grief over events in his own past.
“The Memory Weaver” does not move along as quickly and does not include as much dialogue as many novels but it is all the more authentic for that reason. The story moves from Eliza’s point of view to excerpts from her mother’s diaries. I particularly liked the way one point of view transitioned smoothly by the use of similar themes. For instance if one point of view ended with rain, the next one would begin with a reference to rain.
This novel shows how often our memories may not be accurate but can be influenced by so many things such as our maturity, hearing others’ stories about the same event, and even the passage of time. An emotional story of hope and healing, “The Memory Weaver” illustrates the restoration of relationships as each person comes to grips with the past. It is a faith-based story that is well worth the time it takes to read.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Eliza Spalding Warren was just a child when she was taken hostage by the Cayuse Indians during a massacre in 1847. Now a mother of two, Eliza faces a new kind of dislocation; her impulsive husband wants to make a new start in another territory, which will mean leaving her beloved home and her mother’s grave–and returning to the land of her captivity.
Haunted by memories and hounded by struggle, Eliza longs to know how her mother dealt with the trauma of their ordeal. As she searches the pages of her mother’s diary, Eliza is stunned to find that her own recollections tell only part of the story.
Based on true events, The Memory Weaver is New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick’s latest literary journey into the past, where threads of western landscapes, family, and faith weave a tapestry of hope inside every pioneering woman’s heart. Get swept up in this emotional story of the memories that entangle us and the healing that awaits us when we bravely unravel the threads of the past.
Read an excerpt from The Memory Weaver.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the coveted Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have been finalists for the Christy Award, Spur Award, Oregon Book Award, and Reader’s Choice awards, and have won the WILLA Literary Award and Carol Award for Historical Fiction. Many of her titles have been Book of the Month and Literary Guild selections. You can also read her work in more than fifty publications, including Decision, Private Pilot, and Daily Guideposts. Jane lives in Central Oregon with her husband, Jerry. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.
by admin | Sep 6, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this riveting tale set in the small Ozark mountain town of Mammoth. I loved reading about small-town life alongside the river where everyone knew everyone else and they all seemed to congregate in the local restaurant run by twins Lilah and Eden Dale.
Not-yet-divorced Lilah has come home after a disastrous marriage to help Eden with the family restaurant and their rapidly failing grandfather. A new pastor has just arrived in town and Lilah finds herself attracted to him despite her best efforts to avoid him. She is definitely not pastor’s wife material. There are secrets in the twin’s history that even they do not know but you can bet we will all know them before this book is done. New pastor Jake has a few secrets of his own.
“Mammoth Secrets” is a wonderful tale of family, friends, and love. It is also a story of redemption and finding one’s way again. Ashely Elizabeth Ludwig is a new author to me but I plan to see if I can find more of her books.
This book was provided for review by the Pelican Book Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Mammoth’s new pastor is starting over. Using the pseudonym, Jake Gibb, he plans on staying far from his infamous father’s shadow.
When Jake meets the misunderstood Lilah Dale–a woman in the midst of a divorce and with nothing to hide thanks to the local prayer chain–he is convicted in the choice he’s made to hide his true identity.
With mutual deceptions marring their future, Jake and Lilah must form a careful relationship, and together learn that only the truth can set you free.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ashley Ludwig is an Arizona native, though she has been transplanted to her new home in Southern California wine country. She lives with her husband, their two daughters and dog.
She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona, with a degree in Anthropology, and a minor in History. Ashley worked for several years as an Archaeologist across the American southwest. She has turned her passion for research and attention to historical detail to her true love, writing inspirational, historical romances.
by admin | Sep 6, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
When Maven Morris is asked to foster an abandoned young boy with obvious behavior problems, she resists until she meets him and feels an undeniable connection. Maven begins to gain the boy’s trust and is beginning to love him when the unexpected happens and she finds herself in the middle of a deadly situation.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Deadly Intent” with its rapidly escalating suspense and tension. The story was well written with true-to-life characters. I liked the way Maven and Paul and their friends turned to prayer when they found themselves in seemingly impossible situations. The only complaint I have is that the story ended much too quickly.
This book was provided for review by the Pelican Book Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Everyone belongs somewhere. The key to happiness is recognizing that place when you get there.
Maven Morris has lost her way. A childless widow, she has no immediate family. Forced into a medical leave, she has no career. At loose ends, she hasn’t a clue what’s next for her.
Her neighbor, Paul Jordan knows what he wants-to move their friendship to a new level. Maven may not know what’s next, but she knows she has no interest in romance with anyone-not even her handsome neighbor.
When a young boy is abandoned in the city park, he touches Maven’s heart. In spite of his obvious special needs, she agrees to provide a foster home. She has no idea the impact he will have on her-or the danger he brings to her doorstep.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lillian Duncan writes suspense novels with a hint of romance. She believes books can be entertaining and uplifting at the same time. Along with novels, she writes devotions for ChristianDevotions.us. She lives in the middle of Amish country in Ohio with her husband and menagerie of pets, including four parrots, a Jack Russell Terrier and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that she’s thinking about renaming Clifford–since he continues to grow and grow and grow… She’s been a speech-language pathologist for over thirty years. Most of those years were in the Cleveland Municipal School district where she worked primarily with deaf and hard-of-hearing students. As a writer, speech pathologist, and an educator, she believes in the power of words to change lives, especially God’s Word.
by admin | Sep 4, 2015 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Mars…with Venus Rising” is a sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, even sometimes a bit quirky, but always a fun and enjoyable read. Heroine Penn Davenport has allowed her life to be ruled by fear since the death of her parents and brother in a plane crash. She still lives with the two eccentric great aunts who raised her in a home filled with love and the wonderful fragrance of their baking. Naturally Penn would meet and fall for a totally unsuitable man, one who seems to live life on the edge and encourages Penn to loosen up a little. Can John Townsend help Penn overcome her fears and turn them over to God?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Mars…with Venus Rising” although the frequent food descriptions made me want to cheat on my diet. Fortunately for those who do not have to watch their sugar intake, the author has graciously included all of the tempting recipes described within the story, especially the Celebration Cookies and Cinnamon Rolls. I may just have to treat the rest of my family to the cookies soon.
With strong characters, a well-developed plot, and an excellent message about reliance on God, this story held my interest throughout. Although the author is new to me, I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for more of her books.
This book was provided for review by the Pelican Book Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A meddling horse, paper bag floors and a flying saucer on the town square. The little town of Mars has it all–including a brand new resident who might spell heartache for one of its own.
Twenty-something Penn Davenport yearns for an exciting life in the big city and wants to shed the label of orphan that she’s worn for years. To achieve that dream, she must pass the CPA exam then move away from the two aunts who reared her after her parents died in a plane crash.
When John Townsend-full of life and the joy of living-moves to town, he rattles Penn’s view of herself, her life, and her dreams…which isn’t such a bad thing until she falls for him and discovers he’s a pilot.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University as well as York Technical College. A member of ACW, RWA, and SinC, she has published articles on topics ranging from gardening with children to writing apprehension. She blogs for Almost An Author. Her first novel, Irish Encounter, was released in May, 2015. Hope loves flowers, real mail, live music, reading, crocheting, traveling, cooking, and volunteering. Connect with Hope at hopetolerdougherty.com.
