Judge (Books of the Infinite #2) by R.J. Larson

Title: Judge (Books of the Infinite #2)

Author: R. J. Larson

Pages: 352

Year: 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

     Kien Lantec, you will bear witness to my followers in ToronSea.

     The last thing Kien Lantec expects on his first day of military leave is to receive marching orders from his Creator, the Infinite. Orders that don’t involve destroyer-racing or courting the love of his life, Ela. Adding to Kien’s frustration, his Infinite-ordained duties have little to do with his skills as a military judge-in-training. His mission? To warn the people of ToronSea against turning their backs on the Infinite to worship a new goddess.

     Tell them I see they are beguiled. Tell them I seek their hearts. The wise will hear me.

     But why Kien? Isn’t this the role of a true prophet, such as Ela of Parne? Seeking answers, Kien visits Ela and finds her stricken by a devastating vision of her own. Her birthplace, Parne, has forsaken their Creator and will soon suffer judgment. Pulled in separate ways, each must seek to follow the Infinite’s leading . . . and hope He will reunite them again soon.

My review:

     This is an incredible fantasy novel!

     This is part of a “true” series in that the books need to be read in order for full understanding and enjoyment.

     It was wonderful getting to read more of Kien Lantac and Ela of Parne’s story. I loved finding out how much they have grown in their trust of the Infinite and their ability to follow His instructions to them since the end of book one. Though I must admit that, just like me, they have a lot more growing and maturing to do.

     In this book Ela’s parents and others from her hometown are much more developed and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about them. I especially liked seeing the depth of Matron Prill and coming to understand more about her from the first glimpse that we had of her character in book one.

     As Kien and Ela are sent on two different paths to share the Infinite’s word in different areas there are many troubles and heartaches that each of them have to face. Even as they proceed along their own paths we learn more about their Creator and His love and mercy.

     I was really caught up in the conflict and action as the followers of the goddess Atea clashed with those who still believed in the Infinite. The correction that the Infinite brought at times throughout the book on different people was amazing.

     As someone who has read the bible for years it was wonderful to try and spot some of the different ideas and stories that are presented. R. J. Larson has done a marvelous job of taking well known (and some less well known) bible stories and changing them to fit within her fantasy land.

     I absolutely loved this book and am highly recommending it. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

The Greenfield Legacy by Meredith Resce, Paula Vince, Amanda Deed, and Rose Dee

Title: The Greenfield Legacy

Author: Meredith Resce, Paula Vince, Amanda Deed, and Rose Dee

Pages: 247

Year: 2012

Genre: Inspirational Fiction/Historical (back to 1965) and Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Even Before Publishing

Format: Paperback

Note: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     How can one decision cause so much pain? Can it also bring hope?

     Mattie was in love with Billy, but she was too young to wed. When Billy was conscripted to fight in Vietnam, they made a decision that impacted their lives and their future. But so much pain resulted that Mattie never really healed. Every turn Mattie made affected her daughter and her granddaughter in ways she didn’t even realize. But forty-six years later, is it time for things to be set right?

     Navy is a young woman who has never known her family. But what could be a wonderful opportunity is met with jealousy and apprehension from her cousin, Brooke, and her aunt Connie, especially with handsome Aidan around. Each must look past their struggles and find forgiveness and trust, and perhaps even love.

My review:

     This is a thoughtful look at family relationships.

     There is quite a list of characters to keep track of in this book. The main ones were very well developed. To some extent certain personality traits seemed to keep showing up after the initial couple was introduced.

     Mattie made a huge mistake as a young adult. The whole story is about that one mistake and how her relationship with her father was affected by it. The rest is simply a cascading effect that comes back around as the complete consequences of that mistake are explored.

     I thoroughly enjoyed how God was able to use hard times and heartache to bring healing to many people.

     I do want to point out for anyone who lives in the US that this story takes place in Australia and there are many terms and phrases that are different from what we are used to. The story is excellent and well worth taking the extra time to put the effort into understanding them. I am highly recommending this book and giving it a rating of 5 stars.

Through Waters Deep (Waves of Freedom #1) by Sarah Sundin

Title: Through Waters Deep (Waves of Freedom #1)

Author: Sarah Sundin

Pages: 384

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Genre: Historical Romance (WWII)

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback

Note: I won a copy of this book through a giveaway that the author held on her blog.

About the book:

     War is Coming. Can love carry them through the rough waters that lie ahead?

     It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary.

     When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges – and dangers – await them.

My review:

     This is an inspiring historical romance!

     The characters are so incredibly well developed that I truly felt that I knew them. I felt that if one of them walked by I would recognize them not by sight but by their personality. Both Mary Stirling and Jim Avery have deeply rooted memories from their childhood that have impacted them very profoundly shaping who they are and how they interact with others. I was drawn to each of these main characters and amazed at the simplicity of how they were gradually presented. It was as if I first became an acquaintance with them and then over time built a solid friendship with them.

     The tension between the different factions over the conflict as to whether the United States should become involved in WWII was very much a driving force of the novel. It was easy to understand the reasoning of each side of the conflict and the anger and animosity that individuals felt.

     Then we have the spiritual side of the story. Both Mary and Jim are Christians with a strong belief in God. I loved how as the story progressed they just naturally talked with God about their own confusion about what was going on and their feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow and process the lessons that they were learning about themselves and trusting Him.

     I loved this book and am highly recommending it. It gets 5 stars from me.

Xs and Os for Gabby Ann by Petrell Marie Ozbay

Title: Xs and Os for Gabby Ann

Author: Petrell Marie Ozbay

Pages: 32

Year: 2015

Genre: Children’s Illustrated

Publisher: Mascot Books

Format: Digital copy (available in hardcover)

Note: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Gabby Ann loves kisses and hugs. They are the BEST part about bedtime. There is nothing like an extra kiss and a hug – an X and an O – from her mommy before the lights go out. But, what about Gabby’s daddy? He works on the other side of the world, at least a million miles away. So, how are his kisses and hugs going to reach her? When will they get there? What if they get lost along the way?

     Join the Xs and Os on a lively, global adventure as they find their way to Gabby Ann, helping children to realize the boundless and powerful spirit of a parent’s love.

     10% of the net profit from every book sold will benefit the Operation Purple Camp Programs of the National Military Family Association.

My review:

     I requested this book from NetGalley because the cover is darling. I loved little Gabby Ann the moment I saw her. She is tightly hugging her teddy bear so I knew she was going to be a girl after my own heart. I still have stuffed teddy bears and I still hug them often. Then when I read the “about the book” information my initial feelings about her were confirmed. What can be better than an extra kiss and hug? (In fact I still ask my husband for an extra kiss when we are going to bed.)

 

     This is an absolutely adorable children’s book.

     In fact this is one of the cutest children’s books that I’ve seen come out in a really long time. The writing style is very sweet and simple. The story just flows. The key lines, “We’re Xs and Os, sent for the night. We’re kisses and hugs, to help Gabby sleep tight” rhyme beautifully and roll off the tongue.

     The illustrations are wonderful. They are crisp and clear. Gabby looks darling and the expressions on her face are great.

     I loved this book so much that after reading the digital copy I had to go and buy a print copy so that I can read it over and over again. I hope my grandchildren don’t get too tired of it. I am HIGHLY recommending it and giving it a rating of 10 stars. Who cares what the standard is. This is my blog and I can rate things however I want to.

Trial Run (Fault Lines #1) by Thomas Locke

Title: Trial Run (Fault Lines #1)

Author: Thomas Locke (pseudonym for Davis Bunn)

Pages: 384

Release Date: July 28, 2015 (eBook), August 4, 2015 (paperback)

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Revell

Format: eBook

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Reese Clawson’s work is mind-bending—literally. Her company specializes in global data analysis for an elite group of industry executives, and now a lucrative government contract is moving her into the realm of cutting-edge intelligence gathering. She is determined to crack the limits of consciousness—and in doing so, the boundaries of secrets and lies. But her experiment crashes as test subjects slide into a coma-like state. Reese is left scrambling to maintain control, drawing three disparate people into the search for answers – an adrenaline-amped thrill junkie with altered brain chemistry, an Italian scientist working on remote-viewing technology, and a math prodigy whose algorithms subvert computer encryption.

     Will this piecemeal team prevail when a government operative is sent to investigate? As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and even time itself twists in unexpected directions, one warning remains clear: what you don’t know can kill you.

     With a concept so daring and writing so gripping, readers will swiftly fall under the spell of Thomas Locke’s endlessly creative mind. This thrilling psychological journey into the very nature of causation and consciousness will leave them turning the pages and grasping for solid ground.

My review:

     This is a mind boggling intense thriller!

     I want to start by saying that there is a large cast of characters to keep straight. It amazed me how many different personality types there are. It helped to keep in mind that there were two different teams of people, along with some solitary people.

     At the beginning of the book the two groups seemed to be involved in two separate stories. As the book progressed they started to intertwine with each other and the adrenaline rush thriller really kicked in.

     There were some aspects that seemed to be more of a far-fetched science fiction story than anything else. It was an incredible ride trying to follow everything, figure out who the good guys were, and survive the final climatic confrontation.

     I absolutely loved this novel. I am giving it a 5 star rating and highly recommending it.

Double Edge (Fault Lines #0.5) by Thomas Locke

Title: Double Edge (Fault Lines #0.5)

Author: Thomas Locke

Pages: 48

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Genre: Thriller (either Techno or Science Fiction)

Publisher: Revell

Format: eBook

About the book:

     Discover how it all began in this explosive prequel to Trial Run…

     There isn’t much that can throw Charlie Hazard off balance. But the mystery woman with the striking eyes and the intense request to follow her-now-just might accomplish it. Knowing little more than her beautiful name. Charlie leaves his post as a guard at the Satellite Beach community center for what he thinks is just another risk-containment job.

     But Gabriella, an experimental psychologist, has far more in store for him than protection duty – if the two of them survive the test.

     Leave behind your perceptions of what is possible and race into the unknown corridors of human consciousness in this breakneck prequel to Thomas Locke’s Trial Run.

My review:

     Grabs your attention from the very beginning!

     Charlie Hazard goes along with Gabriella way to easily for a man who works in a risk-containment job. But he is also VERY aware of what is going on around him.

     The ideas put forth in this short story about human consciousness are very far-fetched and therefore they make for a very unusual story. I was captivated by the completely imaginative sequence of events. I would love to know how the author came up with the idea for this story/series.

     I have decided to give it a 5 star rating and highly recommend it. To have any understanding of the unexpectedness of it you would have to read it for yourself.

Midnight on the Mississippi (Secrets of the South Mystery #1) by Mary Ellis

Title: Midnight on the Mississippi (Secrets of the South Mystery #1)

Author: Mary Ellis

Pages: 352

Release Date: August 1, 2015

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     Midnight on the Mississippi begins the new Secrets of the South Mysteries from bestselling author Mary Ellis. These complex crime dramas follow an investigator’s quest to make the world a better place . . . solving one case at a time.

     New Orleans – Hunter Galen, a stock and securities broker, suspects his business partner, James Nowak, may be involved in embezzling their clients’ money, but he’s reluctant to jeopardize their friendship based on suspicion alone. After James turns up dead, Hunter realizes his unwillingness to confront a problem may have cost James his life.

     Nicki Price, a newly minted PI, intends to solve the stockbroker’s murder, recover the missing millions from the client accounts, and establish herself in the career she adores. As she ferrets out fraud and deception at Galen Investments, Hunter’s fiancée, Ashley Menard, rubs Nicki the wrong way. Nicki doesn’t trust the ostentatious woman with an agenda longer than the Mississippi River. Ashley seems to be hiding something, but is Nicki’s growing attraction to Hunter – a suspected murderer – her true reason for disliking Ashley?

     As they encounter sophisticated shell games, blackmail, and murder, Nicki and Hunter’s only option is to turn to God as they search for answers, elude lethal danger, and perhaps discover love along the way.

My review:

     This is an absolutely incredible mystery!

     I love both Nicki Price and Hunter Galen. They are fabulous characters and a perfect example of the saying, “opposites attract.” I can’t imagine two people that are more different than these two.

     Nicki is carrying some pretty heavy baggage from her childhood that she has to face. She also has a long-ago mystery that she is trying to solve in the midst of the current case. If she can solve it she may go a long way in dealing with this personal baggage.

     There is a large group of secondary characters, some of which are very colorful. The variety of personalities was great. Whenever a new person was introduced I never knew what to expect.

     The story was wonderful. There were so many twists and turns that I was kept guessing up to the final showdown.

     I was very pleased with Nicki’s belief in God and her openly declared moral values. It was a breath of fresh air for me. At the same time it was never preachy.

     This is the first book that I have ever read by Mary Ellis. I enjoyed it so much that I will be looking for more of her books. I am highly recommending it and giving it a 5 star rating.