Review: Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke

Saving Amelie

Saving Amelie takes place during World War 2.  Sometimes it is hard to read about circumstances that took place in a very evil time by very evil people.  This is my third WW2 book this year that I have read, and it deals with even a different angle of the war, which is eugenics.  Hitler wanted a pure Aryan bloodline of men and women with nothing wrong with them to produce a ‘perfect’ race.  This is a story about Rachel Kramer who grew up with many privileges raised by a eugenics scientist in America.  She and her father made the trek to Germany’s institute once a year for her ‘annual checkup’.  Thinking her father just trusted German doctors more, she is unprepared by the accusations that American reporter Jason Young is making against her father.  Receiving troubling news from a childhood friend about her friend’s deaf daughter, Rachel begins to open her eyes and ears and look at what is really happening in Germany in a whole different light.  What she discovers rocks her core belief system and her world.   Now on the run, Rachel must learn to open her heart and soul to a different way of life than what she was raised to expect.

There is a lot going on in this story and many characters that we meet and care about along the way.  This is my first book I have read by Cathy Gohlke and I can say that she is an excellent story teller, pulling us in to her characters’ lives and feeling the danger that they are constantly in.  Even though this is fiction, these horrors did happen and also reminds us that we must not be silent and let our freedoms go.  I also appreciate the research that she put into this story, even meeting some real life historical figures.  I received this book from The Book Club Network Inc., (TBCN), and the opinions are my own.

Review: The Word Changers by Ashlee Willis

The Word Changers

 

Word Changers takes place in a fantasy world but the heroine, Posy, is from modern day America.  Word Changers starts off when Posy is sucked into her book.  She wakes up in a strange bed, in a strange world, with strange people telling her that they are her parents. Posy can’t seem to figure out why everyone is calling her the princess, who ran away under mysterious circumstances.  Well everyone except for Kyran, the princess’s brother.  Join Posy and Kyran as they journey to the dangerous Wild Lands in a quest to find the real princess and save the plot.   This is a very enthralling book full of mystery, suspense, danger, betrayal, magic, and dare I say it, romance.  I couldn’t put it down.  I received this book from the author and the opinions are my own.

 

                                                                          Reviewed By:

Nicole

The Time I Saved a Damsel in Distress is now available in print

The Time I Saved a Damsel in Distress- Amazon

The Time I Saved a Damsel in Distress- Createspace



Can anyone say sequel?  Yes, it is true the second book in the Ninja and Hunter series has gone live on Amazon and Createspace today.  The Kindle version will be up a little later and I will post when that happens.  Just click on the links above and you will be taken to either Amazon or Createspace to continue your adventures with the Ninja and Villain Hunter.

Review: The Illusion of More by Harris III

 

The Illusion of More

 

How many of us truly are content with what we have?  How many times have we said, “If only I had more of this, or more of that then I would be truly happy.”  In this short but powerful book, Harris III shows us just how Satan uses the illusion of more to trick us and blind us and ultimately bind us.  Starting with Adam and Eve who had everything and being made in the image of God were already like God, began to believe the great deceiver that what they had was not enough.  Harris goes on to explain how Satan is a master of tricks even in the heavenly realm getting a third of the angels to fall with him.  Using Bible stories and scripture, he points out the tricks that were used to deceive and those who withstood deception and why. And ultimately the provision of what Jesus has done and what He became for us.  At the end of each chapter are questions for you to ask yourself.  I think this would make a great personal devotion or to use as a family devotion.  He gave me a lot to think on and in some ways a new way to see a Bible truth.  I think the cover sums up the book nicely.  The side of the apple we are looking at looks so shiny and good, when in all reality it is nothing but rotted and will make us very sick.  The author is an illusionist and has a DVD movie out that I plan on looking into.  I received this book from The Book Club Network, Inc. (TBCN) and the opinions are my own.

 

Review: Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

 

Until I Found You

 

Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin starts off with Kate Darby swerving off a mountain road in California.  Trying to avoid hitting a California condor, she now finds herself trapped and in a dangerous predicament.  Nick Sheridan happens to be traveling that way and rescues her.  Kate was only traveling that road as her grandmother Leona has had a stroke.  Needing to care for her, Kate has put her career on hold in LA until her grandmother can recover.  Her grandmother actually runs the town newspaper which Nick writes for, so Kate and Nick will be working together.

Nick is a new Christian who had previously lived his life in a way that felt good to him.  He was brought to a new low when he found out that his careless living had hurt someone and the consequences were more than he could bear.  So due to his past mistakes, he made a vow to God and himself that he would not make any big decisions for one year nor would he date.  He only had 6 months left to go when he met Kate.

Kate has lived a lifetime of hurt.  Her father died when she was young and her mother died while Kate was attending college.  Kate likes to be in control and only really trusts herself.  She is extremely worried about her grandmother and wants to do her best in caring for her.  She begins to have feelings for Nick, but she does not share his faith.

This is a story of a man who loves a woman and realizes he cannot be all she needs.  This is a story of a woman who must relinquish control and learn to trust.  And of a grandmother who understands her granddaughter’s hurt and journals her own personal faith crisis.   This story has a lot of great nuggets of truth sprinkled throughout and I look forward to the next book by Victoria Bylin.  I received this book from The Book Club Network, Inc. (TBCN) and the opinions are my own.

 

Review: Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris

 

Fatal Exchange

 

Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris is a fast paced suspense thriller that takes place over a period of 24 hours.  Emily Hunt was just expecting another normal day.  From the time she arrives at the school she teaches at, her day takes an unexpected turn.  She comes from a family of cops, so she opted to play it safe and become a school teacher.  But on this day, things will happen to be the stuff of her nightmares. And her love interest is none other than detective Mason Taylor, who is blamed for her brother’s death.  With all the twists and turns, I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the third book especially after the way this one ended.  This is the second book in the Southern Crimes series.  I did not read the first one which deals with Emily’s sister Avery, who is a cop.   I will be going back and reading that one as there seems to be a bigger story arc tying all the books together.  I received this book from The Book Club Network (TBCN) and the opinions are my own.

 

Review: All Right Here by Carre Armstrong Gardner

 

All Right Here

 

All Right Here is a family drama about the Darling Family.  Leander and Jane are the dad and mom to their five grown children: David, the twins Laura and Ivy, Sephy, and Amy.  This particular book deals the most with Ivy and her husband Nick.  Nick and Ivy have been married for 6 years and Ivy is unable to have children.  Something she thought that she and Nick had overcome.  Unfortunately, Nick has not let that go and their marriage has suffered through the years.  When their new neighbor abandons her three children, she and Nick take the kids in for what at first was supposed to be a few nights.  But as the search continues for the neglectful mother, Ivy opens her heart to the children who have not really had a very good life.  DeShaun at 14 has always tried to shelter his little sister Jada who is 9 and his little brother Hammer who is 6.   Nick feels it his Christian duty to help these children but he insists that they are not their kids.  Under the foster care of both Nick and Ivy all three children bloom and find hidden talents.   However, as the days turn into weeks and then months, Ivy realizes her marriage is not going to change and temptation looms on the horizon.  When Nick notices Ivy has cooled in her love for him, he realizes that he just might lose her and the three children who ended up becoming more important to him than he thought they would. 

Laura, Ivy’s twin, is the secondary story in this book.  Her story also deals with some difficult subjects.  This book is filled with real life problems and I did enjoy getting to know the Darling family. I really liked how they still had Thursday night dinners with almost the whole Darling clan and getting to peek in on their family celebrations.  I enjoyed this author’s debut book and I look forward to reading more about the Darling family.   I received the book from The Book Club Network (TBCN) and the opinions are my own.

 

Review: Unexpected Wedding by Carla Rossi



 

Unexpected Wedding

 

Unexpected Wedding by Carla Rossi is a story about Rocky and Gia and how they meet, have a first date, and get married after only knowing each other a few weeks.  It is in a way a modern day marriage of convenience story.  Rocky, due to an accident is an athlete in a wheelchair.  Gia, a camp counselor who enjoys her job of working with children, met Rocky at the camp in a very unconventional way.  From the start the sparks fly.  After a really great first date, Gia receives some devastating news from her doctor.  Not wanting to face her parents due to a long resentment, Rocky swoops in and she begins to rely on him.  However, he believes the best way he can take care of her is by marriage.  After that decision is made they marry within a couple of days to the surprise of Rocky’s friends and much to the surprise and hilarious reaction of both of their parents.  This was a sweet tale dealing with some difficult subjects of two people deciding to love each other through thick and thin.  They just both really need to tell each other that.  I received this book from The Book Club Network, (TBCN) and the opinions are my own.

 

The Time I Saved the Day is available on Amazon

The Time I Saved the Day is now available in paperback and Kindle versions.  The links for both are below the picture.  Just click on paperback or Kindle to be taken to Amazon's page.  

 

Paperback

 

Kindle

Review: Goddess Born by Kari Edgren

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goddess Born by Kari Edgren is a very interesting tale.  It has a lot going on between those pages.  First off it is a historical novel that takes place in Pennsylvania during 1730.  Our heroine, Selah Kilbrid, lives on her dying father’s plantation in a predominant Quaker community.  Her father knows he does not have long to live, so he sends Selah off to go meet her betrothed who is coming from Ireland and who is also her cousin.  This is not a spoiler, but she needs to marry her cousin as this family has a secret.  She is a direct descendent of the goddess Brigid.  So she is half mortal.  Now being a descendent of Brigid does not make her immortal but it gives her a gift, which is healing.  She also has rules she must follow in regards to this gift by the goddess.  Her mother and grandmother before her were also healers.   She was also taught to hide her gift so as not to be thought of as a witch. 

 When she goes to meet her betrothed she finds out from the ship’s captain, that her cousin died on his way over to America and was buried at sea.  Not knowing what to do, since her father really put a lot of faith in this plan to save her from an unwanted suitor, she happens upon an auction for indentured servants.  Getting into a bidding war with an unscrupulous merchant she bids and wins the indenture of a young gentleman who had caught her eye.

Needing to come back married to escape the advances and threats of Nathan (the unwanted suitor) who is also a prominent Quaker minister, Selah devises a most daring plan.  She decides to set up an elaborate lie that this indentured servant will become her cousin and indeed will be her “husband”.   After the town is convinced, he may have his freedom. 

We then have a love hate relationship between the two, and our so called “hero” has a good many secrets that he is keeping to himself. Some that are slowly revealed in the story.  I look forward to reading more by Kari Edgren and I hope she continues this story.  It did not end on cliffhanger so to speak, as this was more of Selah’s story and that wraps up nicely.  However, our hero has his own story to tell and I am curious. So if you like a historical with romance and a bit of paranormal fantasy, give this rather clean story a try.   I was given this book by the author however the opinions are my own.

The Time I Saved the Day is available on Createspace.com

Jes' book is now available on Createspace.  I will update when her book goes live on Amazon.  https://www.createspace.com/4863876

Review: Word Changers by Ashlee Willis

This is a very engaging tale. It has everything anyone could want in a story: realistic characters; good dialogue action; a good theme; adventure; intrigue; mystery; magic; and a touch of both creepiness and romance. I especially love the character development. The book pulls you into its fantasy world just like the story it is about sucks in the heroine. The story is unique and you never know what’s going to happen next. And it’s more than just a story; it is an excellent allegory. I heartily recommend this story to anyone looking to get lost in a good book. I received this book from the author for review; and this is my own opinion.

                                                                                Reviewed by    

Jes Drew

Review: A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander

In Tamara Alexander’s latest novel we meet Eleanor Braddock who is dealing with some major life decisions.  Having lost her mother to sickness and her brother in the Civil War, she is now dealing with her father’s dementia.  Not a lot was known about the disease in those days, so with the help from her very wealthy Aunt Adelicia Acklen Cheatham she is able to send her father to an asylum with the hopes of him getting better.  Eleanor, who is 29 and considered an old maid, had previously helped the doctors and nurses during the Civil War and saw many men die of their wounds, leaving their wives and children in dire circumstances.  Determined not to be a burden to her Aunt and her household, Eleanor comes to Nashville, Tennessee with a desire to open a café.  She just has to convince her Aunt to let her do this.  Working in her Aunt’s conservatory, is Marcus Gottfried, who is keeping his identity of being Archduke of Austria a secret.  He is trying to pursue his dual passions of botany and architecture.  As they begin to interact with each other on more of a daily basis a friendship begins.  One of the things I really enjoyed was the banter between Eleanor and Marcus. When Eleanor’s dreams are not realized and Marcus is about to lose all he has worked for in America, they both realize that maybe their plans and purposes have changed for the better good.  Not only that, but a forbidden love has developed between them. 

I really enjoyed this tale, and at almost 500 pages it was one to be slowly devoured.  I also enjoyed learning about the true life historical characters like Adelicia Acklen Cheatham who owned Belmont Mansion located in Tennessee and a bit of the House of Hapsburg of Austria.  I received this book from The Book Club Network, Inc. (TBCN) and the opinions are my own.