Book Review: Chasing Francis
About the Book:
What happens when the pastor of a mega church loses his faith?
Pastor Chase Falson has lost his way. When he falls apart, the church elders tell him to go away: as far away as possible. So Pastor Chase crosses the Atlantic to Italy to visit his uncle, a Franciscan priest. There he is introduced to the revolutionary teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi and finds an old, but new way of following Jesus that heals and inspires.
Join Chase on his life-changing journey to Italy where, with a curious group of Franciscan friars, he struggles to resolve his crisis of faith by retracing the footsteps of Francis of Assisi, a saint whose simple way of loving Jesus changed the history of the world.
Bestselling author Ian Morgan Cron masterfully weaves lessons from the life of Saint Francis into the story of Chase Falson as he explores the life of a saint who 800 years ago breathed new life into disillusioned Christians and a Church on the brink of collapse. Chasing Francis is a hopeful and moving story with profound implications for those who yearn for a more vital relationship with God and the world.
Book Intro (Teaser):
The first chapter caught my attention and the book never let go…
Here’s how it starts.
“Oh, how hard it is to tell what a dense, wild,
and tangled wood this was, the thought of which renews my fear!
Dante, Inferno, Canto 1, lines 1-6
As Alitalia flight 1675 began making its final descent into Florence, I nervously fanned the pages of my copy of The Divine Comedy. Two decades of sitting in my damp basement had left a powdery coating of mildew that wafted into the air around me. For a moment I saw it, tiny specks and spores floating idly in the rays of sun pouring through the window. I hadn’t read the Inferno portion of Dante’s classic since I was an undergrad. At nineteen, of course, the freight those first few lines carries would have been utterly lost on me. Now, reading them with thirty-nine year old eyes, I wished I could call Dante up and schedule a lunch. I had a long list of questions for him.
My Thoughts:
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.– Marcel Proust
This is the journey of Pastor Chase Falcon. Disappointed and disillusioned Pastor Chase sets out to find himself and to see God and life and faith with new eyes.
He takes a pilgrimage, “a way of praying with your feet.”
I resonated with the tale. I didn’t agree with every supposition in this novel, but I’ve been on this journey. No, I never followed the footsteps of St. Francis through Italy, but I have had to embrace “the unprotected life” so that I could learn to see with new eyes. I too have had to find a way to pray with my hands, with my feet, with my life.
Beyond the beauty of the spiritual journey presented within these pages, Ian Morgan Cron is a masterful storyteller. I laughed out loud at some of Pastor Chase’s presuppositions about Roman Catholics. I say that as an evangelical myself. Too many times we are afraid to look at the rich traditions of faith that grew up in the context of the Roman Catholic Church. Are there theological and practical problems within the Roman Catholic Church? Yes. Are there theological and practical problems in the Evangelical Church? Yes. Here the author does a masterful job of bridging the gap, not to convince us to “switch sides,” but to demonstrate that God is at work and has been at work in a variety of places and traditions. Armed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a shaken but real love for the Word and a desire to see Jesus Christ made real in his life, Pastor Chase begins a journey to learn from people and history found outside of his tradition. And it changes him.
I won’t give away the ending, but I will tell you that Pastor Chase returns home with a new perspective, believing that “Churches should be places where people come to hear the story of God and to tell their own. That’s how we find out how the two relate.“ He is encouraged to “Tell your story with all of its shadow and fog, so people can understand their own [story]” discovering that people today need “a leader who’s authentic, someone trying to figure out how to follow the Lord Jesus in the joy and wreckage of life.”
And while I can’t agree with everything that Saint Francis said and did and believed, I thought the author did an excellent job highlighting applicable life lessons while weaving the history of this man of God into the story of a modern day pastor and the deeper story of the soul.
Insightful, historical, spiritual and comical, Chasing Francis is well deserving of 5 stars.
And the Kindle version is currently on sale at Amazon for just $3.79!
Book Review: Tales of the Goldstone Wood, Book 5 (Dragonwitch)
About the Book:
Submissive to her father’s will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet the future King of the North Country; a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves. But within the walls of his castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair. Whispers rise from the family crypt. And the reclusive castle Chronicler possesses a dangerous secret.
Meanwhile a new doorway is forming in the Wood. And far away in a hidden kingdom, a flame burns atop the Citadel of the Living Fire. Acolytes and priestesses serve their “goddess” to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice…and for the hero who can wield it.
About the Author:
Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she’s not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood, and Starflower. Heartless and Veiled Rose have each been honored with a Christy Award.
My Thoughts:
This series is in the running for my top fantasy series of all time (after Narnia of course).
If you haven’t yet journeyed into the Goldstone Wood, I recommend that you begin at the beginning.
Stengl takes a cue from Lewis and in the middle moves backward. You can begin at either beginning. Heartless is the first book in the series and Starflower (Book 4) is the first book in the chronology. While you could read this book as a stand alone, the tale is richer in context.
As always, Strengl weaves an intricate and fascinating tale that crosses the lives of mortals, immortals and kingdoms as the battle for the ones who are called “Beloved” continues.
From Alistair’s prophetic nightmares, through Lady Leta’s discovery of herself, to the Chronicler’s secret, the strange Scrubber’s actions and the youth who arrives following the blue star, the plot is sure to intrigue. The tale of the Dragonwitch, re-told in more detail than in previous books, weaves through the story connecting pieces as the future of the mortal world hangs in the balance.
Artfully and subtly the book raises a central question. Who will you follow?
“Won’t you return to me?”
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
To make a purchase on Amazon in support of this blog click this link
Book Giveaway
There are some exciting books being released!
I’m still waiting for my copy of Alan Fadling’s An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest to ship. Amazon tells me that my copy of Larry Crabb’s Fully Alive: A Biblical Vision of Gender That Frees Men and Women to Live Beyond Stereotypes will arrive on Wednesday. Finally, today I received my review copy of Stasi Eldredge’s Becoming Myself: Embracing God’s Dream of You. And I realized that if I keep getting new books I won’t have room for anything else in my suitcase when I head to Wales. <grin>
So I decided to sponsor a book giveaway with more to follow.
The winner can choose one of the following books (new or lightly used copies):
Missions: Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Theology: Gospel Deeps: Reveling in the Excellencies of Jesus by Jared C. Wilson
Children/Youth: Tales of the Defended Ones by Beth Guckenberger
Christian Living: Mud and the Masterpiece: Seeing Yourself and Others through the Eyes of Jesus by John Burke
Fiction: The Rescue by Lori Wick
There are two ways to enter:
1) NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: Leave a comment on this blog (not Facebook, but on the blog post itself) telling me what book you are most looking forward to reading and why. It can be a new release or something that you’ve been wanting to find time to read.
2) PURCHASE anything on Amazon.com through my referral link and earn one additional entry for every transaction. You must leave a comment on this blog post telling me the date of your purchase(s) to receive your entry credit(s). ***This is retroactive for purchases back to May 15th when I sent out my link in my Journey e-mail update***
Fine Print:
Anyone, anywhere, can enter, but I will only ship the book within the continental USA. If you live outside this region please be prepared to provide me with an address of someone who will receive the book for you.
You must leave a valid e-mail in the e-mail field when you comment. The winner will be notified by e-mail. If I do not receive a response within 72 hours of notification another winner may be selected.
I am not responsible for books mailed and not received.
Winner will be selected at random.
Deadline to enter is Midnight, Eastern Time on June 1st.
Note: All comments are held for moderation so you will not see your comment appear until I have had time to log-in and mark that it is not spam. Thanks for your patience.
Book Review: A Noble Groom
About the Book:
Michigan, 1880
Annalisa Werner’s hope for a fairy tale love is over. Her husband failed her in every way and now his death has left her with few options to save the family farm. She needs a plentiful harvest. That, and a husband to help bring it in. Someone strong, dependable. That’ll be enough. A marriage for love…that’s something she’s given up on.
So her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.
Then a man appears: Carl Richards, from their home country of Germany and a former schoolteacher–or so he says. He’s looking for work and will serve on the farm until her husband arrives.
With time running out, she accepts his help, but there’s more to this man than he’s admitting. Annalisa senses that Carl is harboring a secret about his past, yet she finds herself drawn to him anyway. He’s also gentle, kind, charming–unlike any man she’s ever known. But even as Carl is shining light into the darkness of her heart, she knows her true groom may arrive any day.
About the Author:
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of The Doctor’s Lady and The Preacher’s Bride. She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog at JodyHedlund.com.
My Thoughts:
A fresh read. An age old plot.
Annalisa is trapped by her need and her culture. In a male dominated, hierarchical immigrant community a marriage of love is a foreign concept. When Annalisa’s husband destroys all her dreams and leaves her alone in a foreign land with a pile of debt and a daughter to raise she never thinks to question her father’s requirement that she marry a man from Germany that she has never met. It is the way of her people.
When Carl is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit he is snapped out of his privileged and self centered life and thrown into a world of unknowns where keeping his identity secret is the key to keeping his life.
The plot is familiar, but I enjoyed some of the subtle twists of discovery: Annalisa’s surprise at a man’s kindness and good humor, Carl’s discovery of attitudes of injustice in spite of honest hard labor, the responsibility of making wise choices (whether the choice is to stand on our own or yield to the will of another) and the underlying truth that all men hold stereotypes that divide, keeping us from genuine relationship and community. I found the story’s villain too flat and the ending a bit too quickly and neatly wrapped up, but overall I enjoyed the book.
Thanks to Bethany House for sending me a free digital copy of this novel for review.
Book Review: Stealing the Preacher
About the Book:
On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can scarcely believe it when he’s forced off the train by a retired outlaw looking for a minister. Worried this unfortunate detour will ruin his chances of finally serving a congregation of his own, Crockett is determined to escape. But when he finally gets away, he’s haunted by the memory of the young woman he left behind.
For months, Joanna Robbins prayed for a preacher. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. A man to help her discover answers to the questions that have been on her heart for so long. But just when it seems God has answered her prayers, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett to stay in her little backwoods community? And does the attraction between them have any chance of blossoming when Joanna’s outlaw father is dead set against his daughter courting a preacher?
About the Author:
Karen Witemeyer is a bestselling historical romance author who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers’ guild. Stealing the Preacher is her fifth novel. Karen lives with her husband and three children in Abilene, Texas. Learn more at www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Buy the Book:
Book Release Date: Jun 1, 2013 .
My Thoughts:
Karen Witemeyer’s novels impress me with their balance of humor, redemption and reality. Evidenced in her novels is the fact that author understands people and the things that motivate them. Stealing the Preacher is no exception. It’s a good romance and a sweet story. I’d call it light reading, but don’t mistake that for a book full of fluff. This is a redemptive story. Hope, fear, overcoming the past, justice verses mercy, the value of internal beauty and the endless pursuit of a loving God weave their way through this novel. My favorite thing about this book is that when I turned the last page my soul was left rejoicing in the truth that God loves us too much to give up on us.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me a free digital galley of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Review: Tales of the Defended Ones & iPad Mini Giveaway
About Tales of the Defended Ones:
Ben and Joseph lose their mothers, but find a family looking just for them. Antonio is rescued from what seems like a hopeless situation. Caitlyn dares to trust that truth will set her free. Jorani is delivered from slavery into the arms of grace.
Follow these real-life stories as they take you on a journey to foreign places and extreme struggles. Travel through their challenges and see the hand of the great Storyweaver – our Defender God shielding and defending the defenseless in the amazing ways only he can.These are the tales of the ones left wounded and weak-ones made whole and strong . . .
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/jJ8g6
About the Author:
Beth Guckenberger and her husband, Todd, are the founders of Back2Back Ministries which communicates a lifestyle of service by sharing the love of Christ and serving God through service to others. Guckenberger travels and speaks regularly at women’s and missions conferences, as well as youth gatherings and church services. In addition to her children’s releases in the Storyweaver series, Guckenberger has written two mission-minded books. She has also partnered with Standard Publishing on the mission content in its 2013 VBS program. The Guckenberger family lives and serves in Monterrey, Mexico.
Find out more about Beth at http://www.bethguckenberger.com/.
My Thoughts:
I’m perhaps not the best qualified reviewer for this book as it is meant for children to read with their families, but I love stories, especially stories of hope and God’s great redemption so I requested this book for review.
This book is full of stories. Stories of hope and a future, freedom and grace.
The layout was a bit scattered for me, but perhaps it is perfect for kids. I loved all the extra tidbits, things like the definition of foreign words and descriptions of life in other places, but they were placed in such a way that you had to pause reading the story to investigate the extras. (Honestly that drove me crazy as a kid too. I’m all about uninterrupted stories with extras before or after, but that’s just me.)
I think that parents will want to read this book first and decide when their children are ready to read it. This book is full of wonderful tales of hope after tragedy, but there is tragedy in this book. It’s important for a parent to be ready and available to be able to talk to kids about these stories and their content. While these stories are carefully and tactfully told some kids may not be ready to hear about a mom who is planning on killing her child so he is not alone in the world when she dies of cancer or read about the abuse of a parent. Despite all the hope and happy endings, the reality of these tales will require wisdom on the part of the parent. One nice bonus is that each chapter contains questions and space to write the answers and thoughts about the chapter.
Overall, I think that this is a great resource to expand the horizons of children, to foster in them a heart of compassion and a greater faith in God who loves the orphan and the fatherless.
It’s an encouraging book for adults as well.
Giveaway:
Beth Guckenberger is celebrating the release of her new book in the Storyweaver series, Tales of the Defended Ones, with an iPad giveaway and Facebook party {4/25}.
One winner will receive:
- An iPad Mini
- A Tales of the Defended Ones small group kit (books and DVD)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 24th. Winner will be announced at the “Storyweaver” Author Chat Party on April 25th. Beth will be chatting with guests, answering questions, and offering tips about beginning a dialog with children and youth about the orphans around the world, the basic needs of children living in poverty, and what we can all do to help. (It’s okay if you haven’t read the book – who knows, you might WIN a copy!) Beth will also be hosting a fun trivia contest and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, and more!)
So grab your copy of Tales of the Defended Ones and join Beth and friends on the evening of the April 25th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)
Don’t miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 25th!
Thank you LitFuse for sending me a free copy of this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion
Book Review: The Heiress of Winterwood
About the Book:
Darbury, England, 1814
Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s baby. She’ll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child’s father—a sea captain she’s never met.
When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting to her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one.
Amelia’s detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she’s forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.
Graham’s strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from the family he has sworn to love and protect.
Both must learn to accept God’s sovereignty and relinquish control so they can grasp the future He has for planned for them.
About the Author:
Every word has a melody.
Every sentence has a rhythm.
This truth has intrigued me since my early years. Even before I fully understood the meaning behind many of the words, I devoured literature and consumed poetry.
Austen, Alcott, Wordsworth: I left no piece of literature untouched, left no author unexamined. I continue to see magic in how a word is transformed by the word next to it and how written thoughts can incite emotion and evoke change.
In addition to a lifetime of writing and exploring fiction, I have more than ten years of strategic marketing and brand management experience, including five years of marketing non-fiction books and three years of marketing the musical arts. I live in Indiana and am blessed to share my life with my amazing husband, sweet daughter, and very lovable Golden Retriever.
Learn more about Sarah Ladd at her website: http://www.saraheladd.com/
My Thoughts:
An enjoyable Regency romance, The Heiress of Winterwood, drew me into a story of faith and surrender.
Sheltered and willing to go along with her uncle’s plans for her future, Ameila experiences a wake up call when her selfless promise to care for a dying friend’s child leads to tension, surprising discoveries and betrayal. Captain Sterling can’t lay down his guilt over the mistakes of his past. Suddenly Graham finds himself confronted with the limits of his own abilities as he faces the loss of all that he holds dear. This entertaining tale draws the reader into faith lessons while weaving together a story of mystery and love.
This was an excellent debut novel from Sarah Ladd. I’ll be keeping an eye out for her next release.
Book Review: Broken Wings
About Broken Wings: Book Two in the Angel Eyes Series
Angels with wings of blade. Demons with renewed sight. And a girl who has never been more broken.
Brielle has begun to see the world as it really is, a place where angels intermingle with humans. But just when she thinks she’s got things under control, the life she’s pieced together begins to crumble.
Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her. Something important.
And her overprotective father has turned downright hostile toward Jake. Brielle fears she’ll have to choose between the man who’s always loved her and the one who’s captured her heart.
Then she unearths the truth about her mother’s death and the nightmare starts. Brielle begins seeing visions of mysterious and horrible things.
What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who saw through the Terrestrial veil. When he pulls the demon Damien from the fiery chasm and sends him back to Earth with new eyes, the stage is set for the ultimate battle of good versus evil.
Brielle has no choice. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.
But can she fly with broken wings?
About the Author:
Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was raised in Northern California by her parents—pastors of their local church and constant figures of inspiration.
“I’m a firm believer that books open doors into the imagination and remind us that we should venture there often. We should dream. We should try hard things. We should be fearless. And while there are many obstacles that stand in the way, I hope my stories remind readers that life is to be lived. Pain is to be tackled. Mountains are to be climbed. And while you may fall into dark places along the way, light is as close as the prayer on your lips.”
You can read more about Shannon at her website and blog at: http://shannondittemore.com/
My Thoughts:
I loved Angel Eyes: Book One in the Series. You can read my full review here. Here’s a quote from my review:
The thing that I appreciated most about Angel Eyes was that while the book was full of suspense and pain and conflict in the heavenly realms, it was not built on fear and horror, but on hope.
When I read the synopsis for Broken Wings (above) it sounded dark, but like Angel Eyes, I found this book packed full of hope. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve read anything else recently that has stirred my heart like this series. The battle is real. The battle is present. Worship, love, truth, the testimony of our redemption and faith in the Triune God are our weapons.
I’ve read other books that center around angels and demons. Many of them left me uncomfortable. There was too little of God, too much supposition and too little Biblical foundation. While this series is imagination and fantasy, it is built on a foundation of truth. Always the angels worship and honor God as primary. Even the gifts given by the halo are attributed not to the halo itself or to the angel it came from, but always as a blessing from the Almighty who alone chooses what gifts to give and to upon whom He will bestow these graces. I also liked that the author incorporated the truth that God gives people roles to play as acts of worship, despite the fact that an angel could have played that part.
Further, I was moved by descriptions of worship in color and song and fragrance. The author’s beautiful illustrations captured my heart and stirred my imagination.
While this could be read as a stand alone novel you really should read Angel Eyes (which is currently on sale for just $4.00 at Amazon) before reading Broken Wings. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment, Dark Halo, due to be released on August 20th.
Book Review: Flight of the Earls
About the Book:
It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.
Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.
Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.
About the Author:
Michael K. Reynolds has more than two decades of writing experience in fiction, journalism, copywriting, and documentary production. He wrote and produced the Emmy and Telly Award- winning Crystal Darkness series of anti-meth films and owns Global Studio, a social marketing agency. Also an active leader in church and business, he is a noted speaker in both ministry and corporate settings. Michael lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada.
My Thoughts:
This isn’t just a novel, it’s a saga. Full of sorrow, intrigue, mystery, reality and hints of grace this tale takes the reader on a journey of emotion.
As I read the first chapters of this book I thought that the descriptions were perhaps a bit over dramatic, but as I became engaged in the story the writing style and the tale wove together in perfect harmony. This book was a layered tale of the plight of the Irish; in County Roscommon, Ireland, New York and the Mexican American War. While I had a hard time putting the book down, I can’t really say that I enjoyed the book. The entire story exposed a realistic picture of greed, corruption, betrayal, death and every sort of human vice. It wasn’t a happy tale or even a particularly redemptive one, though there were frequent glimpses of the grace and mercy of the ever present God. While I applaud the excellent writing and the historical content I’m not sure that I’ll read the rest of the trilogy.
Thank You B&H Publishing for sending me a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Review: Safe In His Arms
About the Book:
Sometimes it takes a stranger to see you as you really are.
Under Texas Stars, #2
Born and raised on sprawling Texas land, Margaret O’Brien prides herself on her competence as a rancher. But her father believes she’s made for more than just dawn-to-dusk work. He wants her to have the love of a good man, to raise children, to build a life. But Margaret gave up such dreams years ago. She’s convinced no man would have her, that the ranch is her life now.
So when Margaret’s father hires Daniel Cutler as a new foreman, she’s frustrated and suspicious. Then an overheard conversation links him with a gang of bank robbers, and she’s downright worried. Daniel swears he’s not involved, but Margaret’s not convinced. She knows the man still has secrets. But would a criminal be so kind and talk so convincingly of his faith? As a series of tragic “accidents” threatens all she holds dear, Margaret must decide what to trust: her own ears, her best judgment . . . or what her heart keeps telling her.
From the author of the best-selling Blue Moon Promise . . . an exciting tale of danger, romance, and faith played out under Texas stars.
“Romantically tense, but with just the right touch of danger, this cowboy love story is surprisingly clever—and pleasingly sweet.” —USAToday.com for Blue Moon Promise
About the Author:
Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com.
My Thoughts:
I was drawn to this book by the tagline: “Sometimes it takes a stranger to see you as you really are.” Some of my favorite themes for novels rotate around concepts of identity: knowing self and knowing God. I wasn’t disappointed in this novel as these themes danced through the plot. Throughout the story, Margaret slowly and beautifully grows in the discovery of the lies she believes about who she is, what shapes her identity and the God whose unconditional love seems far from believable. These realizations were expertly woven into a story of intrigue, action, romance and several surprising developments. Coble is a masterful storyteller.
A special “Thank You” goes out to Thomas Nelson Publishing who provided me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Review: Grave Consequences (& iPad Mini Giveaway)
About the Book:
For Cora Kensington, the journey of a lifetime takes unexpected twists. And her future—her very life—depends on the decisions she’ll make at each crossroad. As her European tour with her new found family takes her through Austria, France, and Italy, an unseen enemy trails close behind. Meanwhile, a forbidden love continues to claim her heart, putting everyone’s plans in danger. And as Cora stays one step ahead of it all, what might need the most protection is her own heart, torn between the dramatic pursuit of a dashing Frenchman and a man who has been quietly staking claim to her affections all along. Love has dangers all its own. She must escape the bonds of the past and discover the faith to make the right choices, as each one has grave consequences.
About the Series:
The Grand Tour Series centers around Cora Diehl Kensington, a young woman raised with very humble means, and thrust into the very different, luxurious lifestyle of a well-to-do family. She travels with this group through Europe on the Grand Tour, from England to France to Switzerland to Italy, experiencing beautiful, famous locations, as well as meeting important people, seeing famous pieces of art first-hand and gaining knowledge that will serve them well in the future. But Cora is after something else. She’s trying to figure out who she really is…And who she isn’t.
In Book 2, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, Cora also must decide who holds her heart–the dashing Pierre, or Will, her guide on the tour. To complicate matters, there are those who hunt the group with nefarious goals in mind…
About the Author:
Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs.
Visit http://lisatawnbergren.com
My thoughts:
I’ve long been a fan of Bergren’s writing and the Grand Tour series lived up to my high expectations. I give it 5 stars. Intrigue, history, romance and themes of belonging are woven into a journey of discovery. The theme of identity that pervades these novels is one that I can especially relate to as I continue to travel on my own journey of discovering who I am in Christ. The theme of trusting and waiting on God in the middle of numerous variables also struck close to home.
Another thing that I liked was that the characters were layered. Apart from the would be kidnappers that we met in book one, none of the characters was portrayed as entirely hero or villain. From the manipulative father who wants to do right by his family to the ardent suitor who keeps coming back despite all odds, all had both strengths and weakness. Each character was real in their own way.
On her blog, Lisa jokes about how reading this series is like traveling to Europe for under $40. That made me smile and I think it’s a good summary. I’m not sure you can get any better feel for Europe, without traveling there, than you do in these novels. They are beautifully descriptive drawing you into the settings of England, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. It made me more than a little homesick with a longing to be back in these places that my heart has come to love.
If you like history, romance, travel, intrigue and multifaceted characters, then you’ll love these books.
Note that this is not a stand alone book. If you want to embrace the story then you need to start with Book 1: Glamorous Illusions. Book three is slated for an October release date.
iPad Mini Giveaway:
One “grand” winner receive:
- A brand new iPad Mini
- Grave Consequences and Glamorous Illusions will be pre-loaded onto the Mini!
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced on March 25th at Lisa’s website.
Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Thank you LiftFuse for providing me with a free copy of this book for review.
FIRST Book Review: Illuminated
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today’s Wild Card author is:
and the book:
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 5, 2012)
***Special thanks to Jackie Castle for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jackie Castle graduated from UT Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas. She is a published freelance writer, storyteller and elementary educator. She lives in Texas with her husband, two teenagers, and her dog, Ginger (aka ginger-roonie). When she’s not teaching, she is traipsing through the worlds of Alburnium or Fae in search of another story.
She looks for the extraordinary in the ordinary in everything she experiences.
Visit the author’s website.
SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Alyra, mockingly known as Princess, was captured at an early age by the evil ruler, Darnel, and brought up in the dark land of Racah. At the age of seventeen, she considers herself nothing special. She has no recollection of who she is or where she came from. Her hope of ever finding freedom dims.
Until the messenger arrives. Until he brings to light the meaning behind the medallion she’s kept hidden. Until she accepts the blinding truth.
Now she flees for her life.
Alyra’s journey leads her down a narrow road with strange traveling companions. Together, they encounter a kingdom where nothing is what it first seems.
Product Details:
List Price: $11.98 * Paperback: 338 pages * ISBN-10: 1481194623 * ISBN-13: 978-1481194624
My Thoughts:
This slightly allegorical story kept my interest as it wove a tapestry of dark forces pitted against a kingdom of light among a host of rebellious and misguided characters. I appreciated the honest struggles of the characters, the creativity of the tale and the imagination of the author. The fact that I occasionally became exasperated with the characters reflected on the reality of their very human natures. Though the main character, Alyra, was supposedly around seventeen, I had a hard time picturing her as anything over fourteen. While many adults will enjoy this tale I think it’s greatest appeal will be to middle school youth.
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Her hand slipped over the weathered handle. A sharp jab sent tears welling in her eyes. She dropped the pitch fork, sucking at her splintered palm, covered in scrapes and scabs from previous injuries. To think, she’d traded a life of fine warm clothes and leisurely work for this. She picked the sliver from her hand. Every last injury was completely worth it.
“Hey, Princess.”
She spun toward the voice. Tarek stood in the doorway. Four pheasants hung by their legs from a strip of leather tied around Tarek’s belt. He wore the customary gray trousers and black shirt of the kitchen help. A spiteful grin crinkled the edges of his green eyes as he took in her work. Long, wheat-colored hair fell in his face and over the collar of his tunic.
At nineteen, he towered over her by nearly a foot in height and possibly two years in age. She had no memories of her past, including when and where she was actually born, or even more disturbing, her real name. From what little she did remember, she placed her own age somewhere around seventeen summers.
Darnel, who’d somehow managed to steal her memories, had ordered everyone to call her Princess, and they did so with much snickering and laughter. His little joke, she was sure.
Tarek pushed open the sliding door. A wave of cold air swirled in, stirring up dust and flecks of hay. “Ben wants you to bring a bucket of water out to the new arrivals. Right now.”
She replaced the tool on its peg, then grabbed her thin cloak before heading outside.
Tarek blocked the exit, leaning against the frame with arms crossed over his strong chest. While she spent most of her time cleaning, taking care of Ben, her overseer, or searching the various tunnels worming beneath the mountain fortress, he hunted outdoors or chopped wood. Her pale white skin stood in complete contrast to his darkened sun-kissed color. Oh, what she’d do to trade places with him. Yet she’d not complain. Her job in the dungeon was much more preferable to the one she previously held.
“Looks like this group came a long way. What a wasted bunch of bones. Though something about them must be important, if you ask me.”
Wanting to get away from him, she darted around and hurried toward the pump. The charcoal-gray castle towered hundreds of feet above, the stone walls blending into the cliffs. Below, nestled amongst the crags and plateaus lay Racah, consisting of stonework buildings and forlorn homes surrounded by high ramparts and steep peaks that circled the city.
Tarek trailed her like a lost puppy. “That Baykok Captain, the creepy one they call Bezoar? He brought them in himself.”
She froze, her gut twisted. She had no desire to meet the inhuman creature-man today. Grabbing the pail, she set it under the spout. Her splintered hand burned when she grasped the lever and pumped.
Tarek leaned closer until his tanned face was inches from hers. “And,” a taunt hid just below the surface of his words. “You’ll be happy to know your father is out there to greet our new guests, as well.” He bit his upper lip, keeping the mocking grin in check.
She gave the pump two more good pulls. “Aren’t you suppose to help cook for tonight’s banquet? Wonder what Darnel would say if he found out you were shirking your own responsibilities to play messenger boy?”
His annoying grin grew slack. Brows furrowed, he spat, “King Darnel. And I work hard. Even his majesty has bragged on my hunting skills. Unlike you, I appreciate my position and only want to serve my King to the best of my ability.”
“Such a good little lap dog you are. Why don’t you go fetch a bone or dig a hole and leave me to my own work?” She took up the pail handle and made her way toward the front of the prison where Ben would be waiting.
The weight of the bucket lightened as Tarek held the handle from the opposite side. She glared at him, despite being somewhat grateful for his help. He said nothing more as they walked. When the group came into view, nearly fifty people dressed in dreary, ragged clothing, she stopped a moment to gather her wits and steady her panicked thoughts. Just as Tarek said, Bezoar and Master both attended this group’s arrival.
Why?
“He’s not my father.”
Tarek’s brow arched.
“I wasn’t born to him.” She met his narrow-eyed gaze. “I wasn’t. I came from another place, like them. And like you. This isn’t my true home.”
His chest rose with a deep intake of breath which he slowly blew out. “Perhaps, Princess, we are better off here in Racah. I am. My family now has work, food to eat, decent shelter. Where we came from, nothing grew. Everyone was starving.” He brushed away the blond bangs from his face with his free hand. “Look at them. Their clothes are torn, ragged. Bet they will be glad, as well, once they see the King means them no harm.”
Princess shook her head. Tarek had no idea the evil Darnel was capable of. She hoped he’d never find out.
When Tarek left her, she paused needing to completely clear her mind. Humming a silent tune, she headed for the gathering.
Bezoar sat upon his huge black steed. He resembled a living skeleton with grayish skin that clung to his thin body like a grubby, wet sheet. His long, boney fingers hooked around a leather whip hanging from the saddle horn. Deep-set, yellowed eyes peered from beneath the hood of his black cloak.
“Sire,” the Baykok hissed, pointing to a man thrown over the back of a packhorse. “The messenger was a bonus. He’s been spreading his propaganda amongst the towns. I ordered his life spared for the time being. You did request I bring such filth to you when we found them.”
Lord Darnel chuckled with satisfaction. “Yes, that is a bonus, my good captain. Anytime we can stop such liars is indeed fortunate.”
Keeping the silent melody playing, Princess moved toward the group, making sure the dungeon master Ben was between herself and Master Darnel. Ben wore his colorful robes, the purple, red, and yellow striped fabric billowing in the breeze. As she approached, she noticed his hand gripping his cane so tight his chestnut-colored skin paled. Though Ben was known to have a terrible temper, age and arthritis had tamed his angry outbursts. Since she’d taken over many of his responsibilities, he generally treated her decently. More importantly, he ignored her long disappearances while she searched new tunnels for a means of escape.
Ben nodded toward the chained group, then ordered in his deep, throaty voice, “Give ’em something to drink, girl.”
Behind the messenger’s horse stood a long line of men, women, and children, all thin and haggard. Their condition most likely resulted from their trek across the barren land that surrounded the mountain. The castle itself, built into the heart of the cliffs, was nearly impenetrable, as well as inescapable. Climbing the only road leading into the city was difficult on horseback… and even more-so on foot. No telling how long they’d gone without food or rest. Bezoar didn’t concern himself with such human needs.
The prisoners clustered around her, eager to quench their dry mouths. They grasped the ladle greedily in their scraped, bloody hands. Princess avoided the scared expressions on the children’s dirty faces as they gulped the cool water. Yet one dark-haired girl, about the age of five, reminded her of the first time she’d entered this forsaken city. Had the same look of terror been in her own brown eyes?
Princess dared a glance toward the man strapped on the horse. He raised his bruised head. A long cut tore down the side of his cheek. With his one good eye, he stared at his surroundings in defiance. A gold medallion hung from his neck.
Her breath caught when her heart lodged into her throat. Forgetting the prisoners, Princess stepped closer. Water sloshed over the rim and onto her feet. She steadied the bucket, then handed it to the eldest man in the group to hold. She had to see that pendant.
The messenger’s face softened when he caught sight of her staring at him. She quickly turned, not wanting him to know she’d noticed him.
She chanced a glance at Master Darnel, surprised he wore his finest attire to greet a bunch of shoddy prisoners. He stood tall, a smile plastered on his smooth, handsome face. His deep purple button-down coat was trimmed in silver thread. Upon his head sat a silver crown, inlaid with rubies and emeralds, which had been collected while digging the tunnels throughout his mountain lands. His polished black boots stopped just below his knees.
Several large, brutish men flanked Darnel. She’d heard the newly appointed governors, who would run the new towns, were being presented at tonight’s banquet.
She shuddered when one of them grinned at her and elbowed a trollish-looking man, who stood beside him. They whispered something, then broke into chuckles, all the while never taking their eyes off her. Princess’s gut twisted, wondering what they found so humorous. She took the bucket from the elder and stood to the side, searching Ben’s face to see if he’d give her the go-ahead to take them inside.
Ben remained a statue.
Darnel motioned to his men. “Release the messenger so he may stand with our other guests.” His mocking smile widened.
Two soldiers untied the messenger’s hands and feet and shoved him off the beast headfirst. He crashed to the ground with a loud groan. One man grabbed the pail from her and tossed the remaining water in the man’s face. He staggered to his feet.
His nicely tailored clothes were bloodied and torn. Dirt caked his beard. The medallion hung outside his shirt, the symbol of a horn glinted in the morning sun.
The disk was different, yet similar. What could that mean?
Darnel stepped closer, scanning the group. She felt his stare and despite all attempts not to look, her eyes finally met his cold blues. His hateful laughter sounded inside her head. Think. Fill your mind to keep him out!
“How fortunate-” Darnel addressed the crowd, “-for all of you to be brought here at this exciting time in the history of my empire. We are, this very day, in the process of establishing new cities and villages in the western frontier. And you, most fortunate ones, are to be the first to inhabit them.”
Now she understood why Bezoar and the governors were there. This group would be forced to build those cities. Maybe that was the reason behind his increased attacks on the border lands. He needed more slaves to send out west where he hoped to increase his kingdom. She gazed toward the rising sun, knowing something hindered his progress in that direction. Something that plagued her dreams and pulled at her heartstrings.
“My territory is expanding. My governors and I-” Darnel waved to the beast-men standing behind him, “-are discussing how best to achieve this. We petition you, good people of Racah, to listen to our ideas and consider joining the quest to revive these lands under my rule.”
Princess shook her head and muttered, “Working as slave laborers.”
With a gasp, she snapped her mouth closed. Those standing around her whispered to each other. They’d heard her! An outburst like that might result in more lashings. She chewed her lip, daring a glance at Ben whose brown eyes narrowed on her in silent warning.
The messenger’s voice boomed over Darnel’s speech. “Lies! Do not fall for this imposter’s deception.”
The closest soldier shoved the butt of his spear into the man’s gut. “Shut up, fool!”
The man fell to his knees wheezing.
Princess gaped at him. He’d be the dragon’s supper if he didn’t quit.
The messenger took in a winded breath and continued, “Resist him! For the army of the true King is at hand! Do not give in to this evil traitor and his ways! Stand firm while time remains.” He leaped to his feet and darted out of the soldier’s reach. His steel-gray eyes scanned the frightened prisoners.
Don’t listen to the ranting of a fool, daughter! Darnel’s voice rasped in her head. She flinched, and tried once again to control her thoughts. The man continued talking, but she couldn’t separate his words from Master’s.
“The time of this evil one’s reign….”
Foolish girl, have you not learned your lesson yet? Darnel stood still as a statue, an amused look on his calm face. His cruel eyes flicked in her direction. I would be prepared to forgive your insolence and restore you to your rightful position.
Her head pounded from trying to block his thoughts.
“…his army approaches as I speak.”
The snap of Bezoar’s whip cracked the air as it tore into the messenger’s back. He flicked again, and another streak ripped open his shirt and skin. The man bowed over, going down on his knees in the mud.
“Enough,” hissed Bezoar, drawing his sword from the sheath. “I’ll take care of this, Sire.”
Heart racing, Princess stepped between the dark hooded creature and the crouched man. “The dragon hasn’t been fed in awhile, Master.” She met Darnel’s arctic glare.
Her mouth went dry at her own audacity. She’d have been better off staying out of the way and as quiet as possible. But she couldn’t let them kill the messenger. Not yet.
“The dragon doesn’t care if he’s crazy or not. She’ll eat him all the same.”
The people standing around her gasped.
The eldest prisoner spoke up. “Perhaps we should listen to the Messenger.” He pointed a dirty finger at Darnel. “That tyrant ordered our towns to be burnt to the ground, then says he wants us to help rebuild? Shoulda left us alone in the first place if you ask me.”
Darnel closed the distance between himself and the old man. His hand clamped around the prisoner’s neck. “I did you a favor. You’re homes were crumbling, you had nothing to eat—”
“That’s ’cause you’ve stripped this land of all that’s good. I remember what it was like. I remember when we followed King Shay—”
With one quick movement, a dagger appeared in Darnel’s hand and swept across the man’s neck, splattering the bystanders in blood. The old man crumpled at Master’s feet, red puddling into the ground. Darnel, ignoring the screams coming from the on-lookers, turned to Ben, his blue eyes flashing with rage.
“I’ll expect you to convince them to accept my offer. If there are others who wish to join the messenger at my dragon’s dinner, don’t hesitate to comply.”
Ben nodded, then motioned for a couple of soldiers to escort the remaining group inside. Bezoar ordered the body to be dumped in the pit and the messenger to be taken to the holding cell until the dragon’s feeding time.
Princess moved to follow Ben when a strong hand clamp down on her arm. Darnel yanked her around so she was face to face with him.
“It’s your fault that man died.”
She started to protest that he had the dagger not her, but he cut off her words.
“Stupid child. When will you learn that I mean to sever anything or anyone who denies my authority? If you refuse to serve me, I will find other means of curbing your disloyalty.”
From behind her, the messenger yelled, “Don’t give in, freedom is at hand!”
She watched as the soldiers dragged him to the dungeon.
Darnel gripped her chin, his fingers still wet with the man’s blood. He turned her face back to his. “You are running out of time, daughter. My patience with you wanes.”
“Will you also feed me to the dragon, Master?” she asked, emboldened by the messenger’s chants of Freedom! filling her heart.
“I’ll not give you such an easy way out, my dear.” He shoved her away, then strolled toward the castle with his governors following. The troll-man kept looking back over his shoulder at her, smirking.
Princess reached into the inner pocket she’d sewn into all her skirts and pulled out a small golden disk which fit perfectly inside the palm of her hand. A tree had been engraved on one side. The other side had a fire flame surrounded by what might be a burst of light. Her medallion was similar to the messenger’s yet different.
“For freedom!” He continued to chant. Suddenly, the sound of a loud smack brought complete silence from within.
There wasn’t much time. She needed to hurry.
Book Review: So Shines the Night
About the Book:
She escaped a past of danger and found respite in beautiful Ephesus, a trading center on the Aegean coast, serving as tutor to Lucas, the wealthy merchant who rescued her.
But the darkness she fled has caught up with her.
The high priests of Artemis once controlled the city, but a group of sorcerers are gaining power. And a strange group who call themselves followers of The Way further threaten the equilibrium. As Daria investigates Lucas’s exploits into the darker side of the city, her life is endangered, and she takes refuge in the strange group of believers. She’s drawn to Paul and his friends, even as she wrestles with their teachings.
When authorities imprison Lucas for a brutal crime, Daria wonders if even Paul’s God can save him. Then she uncovers a shocking secret that could change everything, but only if she survives long enough to divulge what she knows.
Read the first three chapters of the book at: http://tracyhigley.com/?portfolio=read-the-first-three-chapters
About the Author:
From her earliest childhood, there was nothing Tracy loved better than stepping into another world between the pages of a book. From dragons and knights, to the wonders of Narnia, that passion has never abated, and to Tracy, opening any novel is like stepping again through the wardrobe, into the thrilling unknown. With every book she writes, she wants to open a door like that, and invite readers to be transported with her into a place that captivates.
Tracy started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. After attending Philadelphia Biblical University, she earned a B.A. in English Literature at Rowan University. She then spent ten years writing drama presentations for church ministry.
A lifelong interest in history and mythology has led Tracy to extensive research into ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome, and shaped her desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past.
Tracy is thrilled to bring readers adventures set in the ancient past, and it’s her hope that in escaping with her, readers will feel they’ve walked through these deserts, explored ruins, felt the white sand and blue sea under their feet, and met with the Redeeming God who is sovereign over the entire drama of human history.
Learn more at her website: http://tracyhigley.com/
My Thoughts:
While I have yet to read a Tracy Higley book that I didn’t like, I believe that So Shines the Night may be my favorite.
The characterization of both Daria and Lucas was multifaceted, insightful and realistic. I lived Daria’s confusion as at every turn she was both drawn and repelled by the spiritual battle raging all around her. I resonated with her hope that no one was beyond redemption even as she struggled to discern the truth of the source of salvation. The historical details of life in Ephesus in 57 AD drew me into the setting. The struggles of humanity and the battle for souls in the Roman empire came alive as Higley married Biblical events with this fictional story of redemption and hope.
Filled with intrigue and suspense, woven into the one story that God has been authoring from the beginning of time itself, So Shines the Night, is not only an excellent novel it is an encouraging one. The book leaves you wide awake, looking anew at the redemption story in which each follower of Jesus Christ participates as we too shine the light.
The Road Ahead
A reflection for Lent. A poem for dark nights and valleys of shadows. A prayer for us all.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
Thomas Merton
Book Review: Fairest Beauty
About The Book:
A daring rescue. A difficult choice.
Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie’s one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe?
Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl’s inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother’s future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what.
When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them—they must also protect their hearts.
About the Author:
Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice and The Merchant’s Daughter, both Christy Award finalists, winner of The National Reader’s Choice Award for 2010′s Best First Book, and winner of the 2012 Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama. She has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama.
My Thoughts:
This “happily ever after” twist on the Snow White story does capture your attention. It is full of enough action, adventure and romance to keep you turning the pages.
As for the characters, I couldn’t help but love Gabe and I thought that his character showed a great deal of genuine, believable growth from beginning to end. I had mixed feelings about Sophie. Honestly, I found her too good to be true in the beginning and too self focused in the end. It left me wondering which was the real Sophie.
The thing that I struggled the most with in this book was the intensity of physical touch in Gabe and Sophie’s relationship. The author did clearly show how this was a factor in escalating the relationship and the attraction between them, but I wasn’t really left with the impression that it is something that should be handled with more care. Yes, the touch stayed “innocent” but then again, is it really innocent to pursue something that another isn’t free to give? Just because this story turned out “happily ever after” doesn’t mean that it’s a good example. Still, I appreciated that there were characters that spoke to Gabe and Sophie of honor, commitment, seeking the best thing for the other and of surrendering to God’s plans, whatever they may be. I think the synopsis really says it all. They were out to protect their own hearts. Gabe and Sophie didn’t show us a true picture of what love is in their pursuit of each other, for the love of Christ is a love that does not demand to possess, but instead sacrifices self. So Gabe and Sophie’s journey to the happy ending is a bumpy one.
Overall, I liked the book because it was well written, descriptive and creative. (And I love the cover!) I didn’t, however, find it up to par with Dickerson’s other books in its storytelling or its spiritual themes.
***I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion ***
Book Review: Yielded Captive
Yesterday I wrote about Lent, about how it is “marked by deepening realism about the cost of discipleship.” Today I want to tell you about a book. A love story, marked by a deep realism about the cost of being a conduit of the love of God.
This isn’t your boy meets girl love story, this is a story of God’s never-stopping, never-giving-up mission to reach all nations, tribes and tongues with His salvation. This is a story of real love, the kind that knows unspeakable pain, deep brokenness, struggle and surrender. This is the story of a ripping away of that was good to bring about that which is eternally valuable.
Rich Mullins, in the Liturgy, Legacy and Ragamuffin Band videos said,
“We…interpret love, when we read it in the Bible, we think of it as being the kind of love that we see in movies and love that we read in, ah, dumb novels. The love of God is most expressed in the death of Christ which was a very violent act on the part of mankind. It was not a pretty sight. But I don’t think anything less dramatic could even begin to express the intensity of God’s love for us.”
This is why I call this book a love story. Like the story of God’s love for us it’s a story of suffering. It’s a story of pain. It’s a story of hope. There is no greater love than to lay down your life, to walk with Christ in His death to, as Paul puts it, “attain to the resurrection.” In yielding, surrendering to know God in the middle of the painful love story that He is weaving, we gain a greater understanding of what it means to really be the beloved of God. In yielding, we find resurrection from the bondage of self and discover the cost and the joy of being transformed the image of a God who paid an unimaginable price to give us life.
Yielded Captive
“Beloved, love these people. Teach them who I am.”
About the Book:
Lord, this was not how it was supposed to end.
Allison Carter had dedicated her life to being a missionary in the jungles of Peru. Now she was being dragged into an unknown future by the very people she had come to reach.
They had attacked without warning or provocation. With her infant son in her arms and her husband, Eric, lying face down with an arrow in his back, death seemed preferable to captivity in a primitive tribe, with customs and mindsets alien to her own. But Allison had to stay alive–if only to protect Isaac–to raise him to fear the one true God …
… that same God who had allowed her to suffer so much?
Stubborn as she was in resisting her abusive captors, Allison’s greatest battle was not with them, but with the God she thought she knew.
Why did He not rescue her? Where was He in her suffering?
Book Details:
| Company | PIONEERS Bottomline Media |
|---|---|
| Amazon | $10.00 (Sale Price) |
| GoodReads Giveaway | Until Feb. 21st |
| Kindle E-Book | $5.99 |
| Thank You | I received a free copy of this book for review. |
About the Author:
Dalaina May lives with her husband, Dan, and their four rowdy boys in the jungles of Peru, where they serve on a church-planting team among the Caquinte tribe. Dalaina spends most of her time dragging her children out of trees, 
embarrassing herself in front of her neighbors, and blogging about her family’s life and ministry at DanandDalaina.com. When she has a free moment, she appreciates good sushi and a back rub.
My thoughts (continued)
I couldn’t put it down.
I was moved by this book. Perhaps, because it speaks to that place in my heart where I know that I have so often missed the mark in my relationship with God. Too often I forget that following Christ is a call to come and die to self so that I might live to God. I look at God and instead of believing that He is good at all times and in all circumstances I ask “What good is He to me?”
I’ll admit that I spent years as a child of God never counting the cost. Even now it’s an easy trap to fall into, to give only what is comfortable (enter my Lenton struggle). But I want, I long, to know God. And I long for that more than any other thing.
The amazing thing is that Jesus said that those persecuted for His Name are blessed.
I saw those blessings in this story. The blessing of knowing God, knowing the at-all-costs love of God and the blessing of the kingdom where Christ rules in hearts so that the love of God triumphs over evil.
This book drew me in. It captivated. Not that this story was easy reading. It wasn’t. I quickly forgot that I was reading a novel for it felt so much more like a biography. As I turned the pages it didn’t feel like fiction and I could put myself in Allison’s shoes all too easily. I knew her pain and her rebellion. I tasted her tears.
But the hope, oh the hope of one who is surrendered, one who learns to love with the love of Christ. Now that makes a story worth telling.
Book Review: A Hero’s Throne
About the Book:
Deep beneath the streets of England lies another realm . . . one few in our modern world know exists. Daniel and Freya, however, know it all too well. Eight years ago, these friends first journeyed through portals into the hidden land of Niðergeard—discovering a city filled with stones, secrets, and sleeping knights that serve to protect the world they call home.
But Niðergeard has fallen to dark forces, overrun by its enemies. Gates are being opened between the worlds that should have been kept closed. The battle lines for the war at the end of time have been drawn, and opposing forces are starting to gather.
Having served for centuries as the first and last outpost at the borders to other worlds, Niðergeard must be reclaimed and the mystery of its fall discovered. Daniel and Freya, along with an ancient knight and a Scottish police officer, must return to the legendary city, rally the surviving citizens, and awaken the sleeping knights—knights who are being killed, one by one, as they sleep.
But time is running out faster than they know.
My Thoughts:
First, I must say that this is NOT a stand alone novel. If you haven’t yet read The Realms Thereunder, book one in the series, then you can read my review here.
If you have read The Realms Thereunder, then prepare to be reunited with its cast of characters as the saga continues. In this fascinating sequel there is character growth and character decline. New children enter into the tale as dark myth and legend move into modern day.
I found the pace of A Hero’s Throne a bit quicker than that of its predecessor as many new and old tales were woven into the storyline. Again, the story is not without significant violence, but it remains in keeping with the overall struggle against darkness around which the series revolves. As expected of a middle book, the plot trails off without resolution, so readers are left awaiting the conclusion of the trilogy.
All in all, I am captivated by the imagination and intricacy of this series and I look forward not only to reading the conclusion of this Ancient Earth Trilogy, but I also look forward to future work from Ross Lawhead. This up and coming author is one that I will be watching as his writing career progresses.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with a free digital copy for review.
Best of 2012 in Retrospect – Books
When the calendar turned my life didn’t allow time for introspection. And now on the cusp of February I find thoughts of a year in retrospect filling my head.
Which leads me to share, these, my top five picks of the books that I read in 2012. Note: This list consists of books that I read (for the first time) in 2012, not books published during the 2012 calender year.
5. Life of the Beloved, Henri Nouwen
I wrestled with many things in my first reading of this book. I almost wish I had skipped the preface and postscript altogether as they compounded my confusion over the thoughts provided. Yet, for all my wrestling with the context this book made it to my top five, because the content had a lasting impact on my life over the past year.
Nouwen presents the Life of the Beloved in light of the Eucharist. He asks:
- What does it mean that we have been taken, or in other terms, chosen? Just as we reach out our hand to take the bread, God extended His hand and took us to be His Beloved.
- How should it impact our lives and our way of relating to know that we are Blessed, or in other words, that we are deeply loved? Just as we pray and bless the elements, God has spoken the blessing of His love over our lives.
“The blessings that we give to each other are expressions of the blessing that rests on us from all eternity. It is the deepest affirmation of our truest self. It is not enough to be chosen. We also need an ongoing blessing that allows us to hear in an ever-new way that we belong to a loving God who will never leave us alone, but will remind us always that we are guided by love on every step of our lives.”
- What does it look like to be broken? As His body was broken for us, so we live lives of brokenness and surrender that the life of God may shine through us in all that we do. (The aspect of how our perspective is completely altered when we view our lives and circumstances from “under the blessing” rather than from “under the curse” is one of thoughts that has lingered longest with me over this year.)
- How can we be given? Just as the cup is given, just as His blood was poured out on our behalf, our lives as the Beloved are gifts to the world. We carry Christ and are poured out to a thirsty world.
“I realize that there is a mysterious link between our brokenness and our ability to give to each other”
4. Tales of the Goldstone Wood, Anne Elisabeth Stengl
OK – Perhaps I am cheating a bit by putting a whole series in one slot, but it’s my list so I’ll make the rules.
My favorite book of the series was Starflower. All of the Goldstone Wood novels illustrate an aspect of what it means to be Beloved. (Note a theme here.) You can read my full review here.
3. Leaving Egypt – Finding God in the Wilderness Places, Chuck DeGroat
The entire book resonated deeply with me and I saw my own life in new and fresh ways as the author related my journey (our journeys) to the Exodus journey. With topics of fear, lament, brokenness, community, identity and freedom I found myself fully engaged as each new chapter unfolded.
The book is broken up into four sections:
Egypt: Facing Our Fear —
“We’ll explore the terrain of Egypt, seeing both its enslavement and its appeal. We’ll explore how we long for very good things and how these things often enslave us. Often we reach for quick fixes, Band-Aids for deep wounds only to be disappointed. God’s remedy is a relational one. At it’s heart is the struggle to trust others, and, most important, to trust in God.”
Sinai: Receiving Our New Identity —
Sinai is the first major stop in the wilderness and “it’s both a signpost to a better life and a potential roadblock for those who aren’t ready for the test. As travelers, we’re tempted to pitch our tents at Sinai, unwilling to venture into the deeper, darker wilderness territory. Sinai represents our tendency to find both intellectual and moral certainty in our confusion. Growth requires us to travel on, to see Sinai as an invitation to pursue a life of shalom, of flourishing.”
Wilderness: Entering the Furnace of Transformation — This is the core of the book.
“In the wilderness we’re faced with our worst nightmares and our greatest possibilities. Though American culture holds out the hope of a quick fix, a microwave spirituality, we’ll see how God uses the wilderness to deepen us, to mature us, and to draw us into honest, authentic relationship with him as he continues to travel alongside us. We’ll see that this is the journey that Jesus took too.”
Home: Experiencing New Identity and Mission —
Emerging from the wilderness, we experience an invitation to “surrender through the image of open hands to find rest in Jesus. Surrender leads us to life experienced in relationship with others.”Through an exploration of the Beatitudes, DeGroat paints a picture of the kingdom life and the continuing journey of trust as he lays before us the journey of Jesus.
Leaving Egypt overflows with powerful imagery, is grounded in the Scripture and shines with honest authenticity about our struggle as we walk in exodus from Egypt’s slavery into the promised kingdom.
2. Waking the Dead, John Eldredge
With a deep and penetrating look at the new heart that God has given us in Christ, this book takes a journey into Holy desires, self protection, brokenness, freedom, our true humanity, the battle for our souls, story and community.
I personalized the Daily Prayer for Freedom found in this book and my life has been deeply impacted as I have made this prayer an ongoing part of my life.
1. The Contemplative Pastor, Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction, Eugene Peterson
For more than just pastors.
I’m not a pastor, but my ministry (which has a focus in Spiritual Direction) is pastoral in nature. The teaching found within this book has become deeply embedded in my way of seeing the world.
Peterson makes an appeal for three tenants for approaching life that are essential for one whose desire is to minister to the soul of another.
1. Unbusy.
“How can I lead people into the quiet place beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion? How can I persuade a person to live by faith and not by works if I have to juggle my schedule constantly to make everything fit into place?”
“I know I can’t be busy and pray at the same time. I can be active and pray; I can work and pray; but I cannot be busy and pray. I cannot be inwardly rushed, distracted, or dispersed. In order to pray I have to be paying more attention to God than to what people are saying to me; to God than my clamoring ego.”
2. Subversive.
“Three things are implicit in subversion. One, the status quo is wrong and must be overthrown if the world is going to be livable. It is so deeply wrong that repair work is futile…
There is another another world aborning that is livable. … The subversive does not operate out of a utopian dream but out of a conviction of the nature of the real world.
Three, the usual means by which one kingdom is thrown out and another put in its place – military force or democratic elections – are not available.
3. Apocalyptic.
“Pastors are persons in the church communities who repeat and insist on these kingdom realities against the world appearances…. In its dictionary meaning, apocalypse is simply “revelation,” the uncovering of what was covered up so that we can see what is there.”
“…the real thing, the conceived-in-holy-wedlock apocalyptic, develops communities that are passionately patient, courageously committed to witness and work in the kingdom of God no matter how long it takes, or how much it costs.”
“Apocalypse ignites a sense of urgency, but it quenches shortcuts and hurry, for the times are in God’s hands. Providence, not the newspaper, accounts for the times in which we live. Impatience, the refusal to endure, is to pastoral character what strip mining is to land – a greedy rape of what can be gotten at the least cost, and then abandonment in search of another place to loot. Something like fidelity comes out of apocalyptic: fidelity to God, to be sure, but also to people, to parish – to place.”
There is so much more to the book, but you’ll have to read it yourself to discover all the teaching that Peterson has gifted to us.
—
So there you have it. My list.
What books impacted your life in 2012?
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn by Eugene Peterson
Flash floods of tears, torrents of them,
Erode cruel canyons, exposing
Long forgotten strata of life
Laid down in the peaceful decades:
A badlands beauty. The same sun
That decorates each day with colors
From arroyos and mesas, also shows
Every old scar and cut of lament.
Weeping washing the wounds clean
And leaves them to heal, which always
Takes an age or two. No pain
Is ugly in past tense. Under
The Mercy every hurt is a fossil
Link in the great chain of becoming.
Pick and shovel prayers often
Turn them up in valleys of death.
Quoted from: The Contemplative Pastor
Book Review: Prayers of a Stranger
About the Book:
Last year Chris and Amanda Vance planned a special Christmas, carefully preparing a nursery. Now that room stands as empty as Amanda’s heart.
While Chris’ company stands on the brink of failure, he struggles to maintain a distance between his feelings of failure at work and the struggles in his marriage.
Then a neighbor’s need turns into a last-minute chance for Amanda to take a much-needed vacation to tour the Holy Land, while also giving Chris the opportunity to choose how he will face the future.
An extraordinary turn of events in Israel allows Amanda to be involved in answering the prayers of a stranger. Filled with a sense of awe over the turn of events, Amanda visits the place of Jesus’ birth. There she discovers anew the miracle of the Christ child—God incarnate as a tiny, vulnerable baby. Her return to Florida marks a momentous shift in her soul and in her marriage as she begins to realize that her journey didn’t end in the Holy Land.
Join Chris and Amanda as they discover that God doesn’t just answer prayers of strangers . . . but also those of their own hearts.
My Thoughts:
I’ve long been a fan a Davis Bunn. In Prayers of a Stranger he deals honestly with grief, loss, pain, struggle and hope. This tale, poised at the brink of the Advent season, is beautifully crafted and exhibits both honesty and expectation. The novel drew me along on a journey of the heart and encouraged my soul with sweet reflection on how God is always about the work of redemption. He never ceases forming us into His image so that we can carry His love to the people around us, even when our journey takes us through deep personal pain.
Prayers of a Stranger is a heart warming and hopeful Christmastime tale.
Book Review: Angel Eyes
About the Book:
Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee.
Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and an incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.
Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.
Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices begin.
A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.
About the Author:
Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was raised in Northern California by her parents—pastors of their local church and constant figures of inspiration.
As a youth, Shannon traveled with an award-winning performing arts team, excelling on stage and in the classroom. As a young adult, she attended Portland Bible College, continued acting, and worked with an outreach team targeting inner-city kids in the Portland-Metropolitan area.
It was in Portland that she met her husband, Matt. They were married in 2002. Soon after, they took the reins of the youth ministry at Living Way Community Church in Roseville, California where they continue to serve in that capacity. In October of 2004, their son Justus was born, followed by their daughter Jazlyn, born in 2008.
ANGEL EYES was Shannon’s debut novel and the launch of a young adult supernatural trilogy. It was published in the summer of 2012 by Thomas Nelson. The sequel BROKEN WINGS will be out February 19, 2013 with the final novel in the trilogy, DARK HALO, available August 20, 2013.
Shannon is represented by Holly Root of the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency and is an active member of Inspire Christian Writers of Sacramento.
“I’m a firm believer that books open doors into the imagination and remind us that we should venture there often. We should dream. We should try hard things. We should be fearless. And while there are many obstacles that stand in the way, I hope my stories remind readers that life is to be lived. Pain is to be tackled. Mountains are to be climbed. And while you may fall into dark places along the way, light is as close as the prayer on your lips.”
You can read more about Shannon at her website and blog at: http://shannondittemore.com/
My Thoughts:
Angel Eyes was one of those books where I read the press release and didn’t feel particularly drawn to read the book, but the novel kept popping up all over the place. Friends mentioned it. An author I follow included a reference to the book in her recent novel. Thomas Nelson offered it for review and then it also appeared on my Amazon Vine review list. With the all the attention the book was garnering I decided to give it a second look. I’m glad that I did.
Angel Eyes is a story of one author’s imagination building on the principle that there is a spiritual realm just beyond our sight that is very, very real.
“The Celestial is every bit as real as the world we walk around in every day, and as I stare around this room of horrors, it occurs to me that the Celestial holds more truth that I’ll ever fully comprehend. The Terrestrial is a facade, a place where we can control how we’re viewed, how our friends and neighbors see us. Here, though, in this heavenly realm, nothing can be covered, nothing hidden.” pg 237
The thing that I appreciated most about Angel Eyes was that while the book was full of suspense and pain and conflict in the heavenly realms, it was not built on fear and horror, but on hope. I’ve read some of these types of novels where you set it down and think, “I shouldn’t have read that before bed.” With this story, by the time I finished chapter thirty-nine, I had a smile on my face.
Another thing that I appreciated about the novel is that while unresolved questions leave you awaiting the sequel, the story does come to an acceptable conclusion. I have a strong dislike of books where it seems that the author simply stopped writing. This is a proper first book in a trilogy, drawing you toward the next book while also presenting a story that is complete in itself. Bravo Shannon!
Written about teens for a young adult audience, but complex enough for adults to enjoy, the novel was well crafted, the plot fast paced, the characters fully developed and the sub-theme of human trafficking was presented in a manner that was clear and yet still appropriate for the target readership of the book (12 and older). I also thought that the Group Reading Guide contained insightful questions.
***I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion***
Book Review: The Spirit Well
About the Book:
The search for the map—and the secret behind its cryptic code—intensifies in a quest across time, space, and multiple realities.
But what if the true treasure isn’t the map at all . . . what if the map marks something far greater? Something one world cannot contain? Those who desire to unlock that mystery are in a race to possess the secret—for good or evil.
Kit Livingstone is mastering the ability to travel across realities using ley lines and has forged a link from the Bone House, a sacred lodge made of animal bones, to the fabled Spirit Well, a place of profound power.
His friend Mina is undercover in a Spanish monastery high in the Pyrenees, learning all she can from a monk named Brother Lazarus. Still determined to find Kit, she is beginning to experience a greater destiny than she can fathom.
Cassandra Clarke is overseeing an archaeological dig in Arizona when a chance encounter transports her to 1950s Damascus. There, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to the Seekers—the last living remnants of the Zetetic Society who need her help to track down the missing Cosimo Livingstone and his grandson Kit.
But there are darker forces at work in the universe whose agents always seem to be one step ahead of the rest—and they’re all desperate to gain the ultimate prize in this treasure hunt where the stakes increase at every turn. At the heart of the mystery lies the Spirit Well.
About the Author: Stephen R. Lawhead
Stephen Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. He was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. His early life was lived in America where he earned a university degree in Fine Arts and attended theological seminary for two years.
His first professional writing was done at Campus Life magazine in Chicago, where he was an editor and staff writer. During his five years at Campus Life he wrote hundreds of articles and several non-fiction books.
After a brief and unsuccessful foray into the music business—as president of his own record company—he launched his free-lance career in 1981. In the Hall of the Dragon King was his first novel.
In 1986 the Lawhead family moved to Britain so that Stephen could conduct research for the PENDRAGON CYCLE books. They settled there permanently in 1990, with some years spent living in Austria and a sabbatical in the United States.
In addition to his twenty-four novels, he has written nine children’s books, many of them originally offered to his two sons, Drake and Ross. He is married to Alice Slaikeu Lawhead, with whom he has collaborated on books and articles. They make their home in Oxford, England.
Stephen’s non-fiction, fiction and children’s titles have variously been published in twenty-four foreign languages. He has won numerous industry awards, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Nebraska.
His middle name is ‘Ray’.
My Thoughts:
With every book the Bright Empires series gets better. At first I expected this to be a trilogy, so imagine my surprise (and delight) when I discovered that there are going to be five books in the series. **The Spirit Well is book number three.**
As the series progresses so also do the spiritual themes. I appreciated the deepening sense of the characters orientation toward God in The Spirit Well. Though the Christian worldview is not the only worldview present in these books it is slowly growing into the centerpiece of the tale.
I think I most appreciated the pilgrimage aspects of these novels, though this pilgrimage through the Omniverse of time, space, history and dimension is a far greater journey than I would have even imagined. I was especially delighted to find the author’s notes on this journeying theme in the book’s postscript.
If you haven’t started the series take a look back at book one, The Skin Map, here. (The book trailer is excellent – I recommend you watch it).
My review of book two, the Bone House, is here.
If you have already begun to journey with Kit, Mina and the rest then I don’t need to convince you to keep reading. But I would caution you to check your copy before you start reading. I bought a hardcover that was missing a good chunk of the book from page 322 and following. I actually requested the digital review copy after purchasing the hard copy, because the bookstore is more than an hour from here and I couldn’t wait to finish the book knowing it would be awhile before I could get back to the store to exchange my copy.
Thank You Thomas Nelson for sending me a free digital copy of The Spirit Well for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Review: To Whisper Her Name
About the Book:
Set against the backdrop of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation, one of the most influential thoroughbred stud farms in America’s history, To Whisper Her Name is a story about leaving the old and beginning the new, and about the choices we make that echo for eternity. It’s about enslavement and freedom, arrogance and humility, and the power of love to heal even the deepest wounds.
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts and invitation from “Aunt” Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding’s head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.
Branded as a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade’s head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.
About the Author:
Tamera Alexander (Brentwood, TN) is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers worldwide – and multiple industry awards, such as the Christy Award, the RITA award, and the prestigious Library Journal Award. USA Today called her last book, A Lasting Impression (November 2011), “a full-on HIT.” Learn more at www.TameraAlexander.com.
My Thoughts:
While I thoroughly enjoyed Tamera’s western novels, set in the Colorado territory, I was hesitant to pick up a book about the South. I’m simply not a fan of books that lean into a period of war. Most often I find such books to be less than objective. Yet, in To Whisper Her Name I found a beautiful balance of dealing with both history and personal choices with respect, where the war was an essential element of the story, but it did not “steal the stage” from the overall storyline.
The characterizations were superb. Alexander really let you see underneath Olivia’s actions to the battle going on in her heart. Ridley, my favorite character, also presented a rich and full picture of a man fighting an internal battle. I loved how the author displayed Ridley’s longing for respect from a father figure and the role that humility plays in becoming a man who garners that type of respect.
Further, I loved the horses. It’s no secret that horses were one of my earliest passions and that I studied all about thoroughbreds before I moved on to Arabians. The horses were another aspect of this book that impressed. Beautifully crafted into this novel, the situations of the horses reflected the personalities and challenges of the main characters. Seabird was wounded and afraid like Olivia. Jack Malone stood tall, proud and more than a little arrogant, not unlike Ridley. In a subtle masterpiece of storytelling the horses and characters were woven together to give depth to the overall tale.
I’d recommend To Whisper Her Name. It was an excellent novel.
Thanks to Stephanie at PRbythebook for sending me a free copy of this novel for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Review: Isle of Shadows
About the Book:
Enslaved in a world of money and power, Tessa dares to be free.
Raised as courtesan to wealthy and powerful men, Tessa of Delos serves at the whim of her current patron, the politician Glaucus. After ten years with him, Tessa has abandoned all desire for freedom or love, choosing instead to lock her heart away.
But when Glaucus meets a violent death in his own home, Tessa grasps at a fragile hope. Only she knows of his death. If she can keep it a secret long enough, she can escape.
Tessa throws herself on the mercy of the Greek god Helios, but finds instead unlikely allies in Nikos, a Greek slave, and Simeon, Glaucus’s Jewish head servant. As Simeon introduces her to a God unlike any she has ever known and Nikos begins to stir feelings she had thought long dead, Tessa fights to keep her heart protected.
As an assassination plot comes to light, Tessa must battle for her own freedom—and for those to whom she has begun to open her heart—as forces collide that shatter the island’s peace.
About the Author:
From her earliest childhood, there was nothing Tracy loved better than stepping into another world between the pages of a book. From dragons and knights, to the wonders of Narnia, that passion has never abated, and to Tracy, opening any novel is like stepping again through the wardrobe, into the thrilling unknown. With every book she writes, she wants to open a door like that, and invite readers to be transported with her into a place that captivates.
Tracy started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. After attending Philadelphia Biblical University, she earned a B.A. in English Literature at Rowan University. She then spent ten years writing drama presentations for church ministry.
A lifelong interest in history and mythology has led Tracy to extensive research into ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome, and shaped her desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past.
She has traveled through Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy to research her novels, and looks forward to more travel as her writing continues. Click on the link Tracy’s Travels, to explore some of the fascinating locations of her books.
Tracy is thrilled to bring readers adventures set in the ancient past, and it’s her hope that in escaping with her, readers will feel they’ve walked through these deserts, explored ruins, felt the white sand and blue sea under their feet, and met with the Redeeming God who is sovereign over the entire drama of human history.
You can read more about Tracy and her books on her website: http://tracyhigley.com/
My Thoughts:
Tracy Higley is an accomplished author and I always look forward to her new book releases. I saw Isle of Shadows up for review and agreed to review it before I realized that it was a re-release of Shadow of Colossus.
Since I have a stack of review books waiting to be read I am not going to take the time to re-read this novel at this time. I will, however, leave you with just a couple of impressions from when I read this book back in 2008. I remember being intrigued by the history and captivated by the Jewish connection. I also remember that some of the subject matter is for mature readers.
Higley writes intriguing novels, weaving history and faith in a tapestry that surrounds and enfolds her characters. I haven’t yet read a novel from her that I’ve found disappointing.
Thanks to Book Sneeze for providing me with a free digital review copy of this book.
Missionary: 