Monday, May 12, 2014

Fear Has a Name (The Crittendon Files #1) by Creston Mapes













Title: Fear Has a Name (The Crittendon Files #1)
Author: Creston Mapes
Pages: 417
Year: 2013
Publisher: David C. Cook

     I received a free copy of this book through a giveaway on The Suspense Sisters Blog.

     It was more than a break-in. More than a stalking. It was personal. When a stalker targets his wife and two daughters, journalist Jack Crittendon must uncover who the person is and what his motives are – if he is to protect the ones he loves. The investigation leads Crittendon into a world of behind-closed-door secrets and faith gone awry, as does his story on a missing pastor, whose apparent suicide is more than it appears.

     Each move Crittendon makes weaves him tighter and tighter into a web of lies, greed, hypocrisy, sin, and danger. He believed he’d never give in to fear and the hate it leads to. But that was before. And holding on to his faith won’t be easy. Nor will keeping his family safe and ending the terror. Because that might require him to step over lines he said he would never cross.

     Creston has created very believable characters in this book. It is very easy to relate to the emotions that both Jack and his wife, Pam, are dealing with as they go through this very scary time in their lives. They are struggling to hold on to their belief in God which is true to human nature when problems that are beyond our control come our way.

     In the midst of the problems the Crittenden family is facing Jack is also trying to keep on track with doing his job working with the family of the missing pastor on the story of his disappearance. The two stories are wonderfully interwoven. This book kept my interest as I was following along and trying to figure out if and how the two stories may connect.


     This is a great book and I highly recommend it. I give it 5-stars.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

The Ransom (Legacy of the King's Pirates #4) by MaryLu Tyndall













Title: The Ransom (Legacy of the King’s Pirates #4)
Author: MaryLu Tyndall
Pages: 405
Year: 2014
Publisher: Ransom Press

     Miss Juliana Dutton feels that family and fortune have betrayed her. She is afraid that fate will do the same. She is forced to take over the running of the family business in Port Royal, Jamaica in 1692. No woman is involved in any type of legitimate business at that time. To try and help keep her secret she agrees to an engagement with the town buffoon, Lord Munthrope. She only hopes that the man is trustworthy. Juliana is struggling to maintain her faith in the Divine.

     The Pirate Earl, Alexander Hyde, is the son of the infamous Captain Edmund Merrick Hyde. He is the most feared pirate in Port Royal. Disillusioned with the religion of his parents and the pleasures of the world, Alex staves off his emptiness by leading a dual life to hide his deepest secrets.

     MaryLu  has done a marvelous job of developing great characters. I admit that I’ve come to expect this of her. There is an incredible twist in that in this novel she has one person living a dual life. The two different personalities are vastly different and she has done a masterful job of keeping them separate and straight while at the same time dropping very slight hints at the duplicity.

     The plot is great. It kept me entertained and very involved in the story. I wanted to see how the situations and problems were resolved. I loved following both Juliana and Alex as they try to work their way to trusting that God cares for them. The only down side for me in this book compared to the others in this series is that it mainly takes place in Port Royal rather than on the pirate ship. She does include some great ship scenes and action.


     I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 stars.

Friday, April 11, 2014

The Miracle Thief by Iris Anthony













Title: The Miracle Thief
Author: Iris Anthony
Pages: 384
Year: 2014
Publisher: Sourcebook Landmark
Note: I received a free eBook of this novel through NetGalley for the purpose of writing an honest review.

     A well-written historical novel.

     This novel is set in the Dark Ages. There are 3 women each of which is looking to Saint Catherine for a miracle. For those who come in faith, saints offer the answer to almost any prayer. But other forces are plotting to steal Saint Catherine’s relic, to bend the saint’s power to their own use. Penitent, pilgrim, and princess – all will be drawn into an epic struggle where only faith can survive. But in a quest for divine blessings, only the most ruthless of souls may win the prize.

     The Dark Ages is a time period that I’m unfamiliar with. It was interesting to me to read a novel set in this period. I did have to take more time in my reading to try and understand the differences in culture because of my unfamiliarity.

     Each of the main characters is very well developed and presented. This doesn’t just include the three women but at least one additional character in each of the storylines. Each storyline is told from the point-of-view (POV) of one of the three women. It was not very difficult to follow the changes in POV because each one lasted for at least a couple of chapters before switching. During the time in each POV there was good advancement in that particular character’s story.

     Iris Anthony did a marvelous job of wrapping up all three of the stories by the end of the novel. I appreciated the fact that at the end of the novel she wrote a section explaining some of the historical background of the Dark Ages.

     I have decided to only give this book 4 stars because of the personal struggle I had with the time period. The decrease in the star rating is definitely NOT due to any failure by the author. It is very well written and I do recommend that you give it a try.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Remnants: Season of Wonder (Remnants #1) by Lisa T. Bergren













Title: Remnants: Season of Wonder (Remnants #1)
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Pages: 567 (Advanced Reader Copy)
Year: 2014
Publisher: Blink
Note: I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

     WOW! This is a fantastic epic adventure of good versus evil!

     Back in the beginning of January I saw an opportunity to be a part of Lisa T. Bergren’s Street Team for her new book. I quickly responded to the initial post about it. I was thrilled to get an email from her less than an hour after sending her an email about it. She had accepted me as a part of her team. Then began the wait for the book to come in the mail. It was definitely worth the wait!

     The instructions that I was given were to write a 3 to 5 sentence review and not include the summary about the storyline. I understand that these instructions make perfect sense for posting on websites that sell the book. This book was so good that it was killing me to have to stick to those guidelines. I’m so glad that I have this blog going so that I can let loose and tell you more about it.

     Their coming was foretold for years.

     Andriana is a Remnant, one of several gifted teens born on the seventh day of the seventh month and destined since birth to act as humanity’s last hope against the horrors that now plague everyday life.

     After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected homes is more dangerous than they imagined.

     The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing any individuals sympathetic to the Remnant’s cause. As the Remnants attempt to battle the demonic forces, their enemies close in on them, placing all of humanity in peril. Dangers intensify, but so do Dri’s feelings for Ronan – the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must find a way to master her feelings or risk compromising everything.

     This is the first book by Lisa T. Bergren that I have actually ever read. I just have to go on record that the people that told me how good of a writer she is were definitely NOT exaggerating. I have got to get everything else she has already written and read them all. You will be seeing her name again on this blog.

    Let me start by saying that her character development is exceptional. I was able to quickly understand and relate to each of her main characters. I’m counting a number of others in this group besides Andriana and Ronan. They include Raniero, Vidar, Bellona, Tressa, and Killian. She has included at the back of the book a list of their names along with a guide for how she pronounces them along with their meaning.

     Now I’ll go on and talk about the storyline. It is a phenomenal blend of heart-pounding action scenes and detailed plot progression. She has beautifully entwined these two in a gorgeous balance.

     In one sense I was able to see a similarity between this book and the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. They are both adventures of epic proportion with the good guys trying to face down the evil that rules the land where they live.

     At the same time they are very different from each other. The land where they live as well as the people themselves are vastly different.

     It was a marvelous book to lose myself in. I will definitely be re-reading this story again just before the next one in the series comes out. The hardest part is going to be waiting for Lisa to write the next one.

     The standard seems to be 5 stars as the top rating. This book deserves so much more than that though. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

It is available at these websites:




Sunday, March 23, 2014

Wishing on Buttercups (Love Blossoms in Oregon #2) by Miralee Ferrell













Title: Wishing on Buttercups (Love Blossoms in Oregon #2)
Author: Miralee Ferrell
Pages: 416
Year: 2014
Publisher: David C. Cook
Note: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

     This is an incredible Christian Historical Romance

     Travel back to the 1880’s to visit Baker City, Oregon. In book 1 of this series Katherine Galloway (now Jacobs) has opened a boarding house. In this book we return to that house and get a very detailed look at Beth Roberts, her Aunt Wilma, and Jeffrey Tucker. All three of these people have been staying at the boarding house for an extended period. Other than the fact that this book in set in the same boarding house and a number of the characters from book 1 make an appearance this story stands alone and can be read and enjoyed without having read the first book in the series. Though I do believe that the enjoyment can be enhanced by having read the first book and knowing a little more about these additional characters and how they interact with each other.

     Beth has been keeping secrets both from her past and from the present hidden from everyone except for her aunt. She believes that no one would ever understand because no one ever has in the past. As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what-and who-her illustrations reveal.

     Jeffrey has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have the right to pry into Beth’s affairs but he finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

     I loved the characters of both Beth and Jeffrey very much. They were wonderfully developed and presented. I had a very heavy heart while I waited to see Beth move past the wounds she had suffered at the hands of others as a child. I really enjoyed the fact that Beth held on to God and even encouraged Jeffrey to draw closer to God himself.

     Miralee does an excellent job of exploring the truth that many people who have been horribly wounded in the past hold on to those wounds and can even be consumed by them. It seems to be a part of human nature to exaggerate the wounds that we’ve suffered and let them control our present and future.

     I loved this story very much and give it 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Dark Tide (The Justice Agency #5) by Susan Sleeman













Title: Dark Tide (The Justice Agency #5)
Author: Susan Sleeman
Pages: 224
Year: 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in order to write an honest review.

     Another fantastic Christian suspense novel!

     Mission: Protect Baby

     Gina Evans knows her brother was murdered – even if the police won’t believe her. After catching a quick glimpse of the evidence her brother had gathered, the same criminals are after her and her baby niece. And Gina’s only hope is the man she left behind. Despite the painful memories, private investigator Derrick Justice won’t fail Gina and her baby. Yet now, the woman he never stopped loving and the baby he’s come to adore are in a killer’s crosshairs. But can Derrick trap the cold-blooded murderer before he strikes again?

     Once again Susan Sleeman has done a great job of developing wonderful characters that are carrying very heavy emotional baggage from their pasts. They are very likeable and easy to connect with. I found myself encouraging them (sometimes audibly) to just let go of the past and move on. Both Derrick and Gina had to travel down their own path to work out their stuff while at the same trying to catch the killer before anyone else lost their life. The plot for the mystery was great. I love the way there is a great balance between adrenaline rush inducing action/danger sections and incredible character building times.

     I highly recommend this book and give it 5-stars.

     You can find out more about Susan Sleeman’s books, The Justice Agency Series, at her website: http://www.susansleeman.com/books/the-justice-agency/

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Anna's Fight for Hope: The Great Depression by JoAnn A. Grote













Title: Anna’s Fight for Hope: The Great Depression (1931) (Sisters in Time #20)
Author: JoAnn A. Grote
Pages: 144
Year: 2004
Publisher: Barbour Books

     When I was in school I never enjoyed history class. I found the textbooks to be very boring. Therefore I grew up with a very poor understanding of our history. As an adult I’ve become more interested in it and yet I find that I have a very hard time getting myself to sit down and read about it unless it is in novel format. I have found that if I start with a book written for 8-12 year olds I can become so caught up in a time period that I will then want to go on and read more things geared for adults about the same period. This is one of those wonderful children's books.

     Times are tough for Anna Harrington. But times are even tougher for some of her friends, who’ve been devastated by the Great Depression. Dot’s family is hungry and may lose their home, while Chet, riding the rails as a hobo in search of work, is in trouble with the law. Twelve-year-old Anna and her cousin, Fred, watch in sorrow as others suffer, wondering what they can do to show God’s love to their friends.

     The characters were very well developed and likable. I was drawn into the story and actually learned quite a bit about the Great Depression that I had never known before. I’ve checked some of the facts that were new to me and found them to be accurately portrayed.


     I thoroughly enjoyed this story and give it 5 stars. It’s a great history lesson for both adults and middle-grade students. I highly recommend it.