Review: The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson

The Silent Order

I have always enjoyed reading books by author Melanie Dobson as she is a masterful storyteller in bringing past and present timelines and situations to such emotional and fulfilling conclusions.   I do not read a whole lot of Amish fiction, but I can tell you that The Silent Order is not your usual fair.  This story takes place during the 1920’s in Cleveland and Sugar Creek, Ohio in a time of mobsters and bootlegging.  Detective Rollin Wells is a detective bound and determined to take down one particular powerful mob family by the name of the Cardanos who are hiding some pretty dark secrets.  However, his investigation takes him to Sugar Creek, Ohio which is home to an Amish community.  Here he meets Katie Lehman who reminds him of someone in his past.  This story was full of so many layers of secrets, that from the explosive prologue to the very last page, I had to know who was who and what was what.  This was a very satisfying read.  I want to thank author Melanie Dobson for providing me with a copy for an honest review.  The opinions are all my own and I eagerly await her next story.

Review: Healed, Healthy and Whole by Marion M. Pyle

Healed, Healthy and Whole

This is a testimony and personal story of one couple’s courageous battle with bladder cancer.  After being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2012, Russell and Marion had a long uphill road to follow.  This book gives some insight into the emotions they experienced, how they changed their diet, and the different treatment options that were accessible to them.  This book is also their personal testimony of how they turned to God in prayer with friends and family who walked alongside of them.  This also looked at how very frustrating the waiting can be and even how they continued getting other doctor opinions after the first disappointing treatment Russell had received. 

Having lost my own father to bladder cancer in 2012, this at times was a very hard read for me.   Seeing that they experienced a lot of the same feelings and frustrations along the way that we did, shows just how much people need support.  Through God’s wisdom, He decided to make my Dad whole in heaven- it was good to read such an uplifting testimony of someone who received their healing down here on earth.

My thanks go to The Book Club Network, Inc. for providing me with a copy for an honest review.

Review: Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman

Stealing Jake

Stealing Jake by author Pam Hillman takes you back out west just outside of Chicago, in the small town of Chestnut, Illinois.  Livy O’Brien works at the newly opened orphanage to help the poor orphans stay off the streets and have a chance at a better life.  Livy knows the life of a street kid and of a pickpocket from personal experience herself due to living on the streets of Chicago.  She has found a new life that is forgiven and a new purpose.  However, old feelings die hard and when she meets deputy Jake Russell, she has a hard time setting aside those old prejudices of police, especially the corrupt ones.  Yet Jake is different as he is a moral man and both must work together to find the ones behind a rash of crimes that has erupted in their small town.  Jake believes it is the swarm of street children coming from Chicago, yet Livy has her doubts and instead sets out to prove them innocent.  What they both stumble upon is much worse than either could have imagined.  This was an enjoyable tale of the American West complete with gunfights, explosions, danger, and a sigh inducing romance.  I received a copy for an honest review from The Book Club Network, Inc. and the opinions are my own honest ones.

Review: The War of Words by Amy Neftzger

War of the Words

War of Words is a fantasy novel I would say for tweens and up.  However, even younger children would find this story interesting if mom or dad read it to them.  There is a war going on between the king’s army and the sorcerer and his shadows.  There is a bit of violence and the shadows are creepy so that might scare younger readers.  This story was interesting on its lessons about words and how powerful they are.  The old saying of “sticks and stones” definitely does not fit into this book.  Words are powerful and can cause great good or great harm.  We seem to have two main groups of people, Kelsey and Eric on the battlefield and their visits to town, and the three students: Nicholas, Maggie, Jovan, the old sorcerer Moss, the headmaster Taro, and a very hungry, itchy gargoyle by the name of Newton all at the academy.  With the help of magical like animals Megan, a snow leopard and Roland a fox like creature rounds out this cast of characters.

 

Trying to end the war with the evil sorcerer who has been confusing the entire town and the soldiers with what is reality and what isn’t; our team of heroes set out to find a rumored book that no one can read that supposedly has the power to end this war of words.  I enjoyed this fantasy novel and I really liked how the story was focused on words and how we use them and the power that they can yield.  This was good story with timely lessons to be learned.

I received a copy for an honest review from iRead Book Tours and the opinions are my own honest ones.

Book Description for The War of Words: Sometimes there's no better way to understand reality than through fantasy, and the best way to find truth may be in a book - if you can find the right one.

Battles against darkness, a quest for truth, and a search for the book that no one can read are all part of the fantasy adventure in The War of Words. As an evil sorcerer wages war by using mysterious shadows and seeks to gain control by confusing the residents as to what's real and what isn't, the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of Kelsey and Nicholas.

As the youngest officer in the king's army, Kelsey fights the evil sorcerer s shadows on the battlefield as she explores the kingdom searching for the key to winning the war. Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training who is mastering his craft, discovers how the right words can change the course of the future.

Explore an enchanted maze, uncover the power of words, and learn about friendship in this whimsical tale.

​Buy the book:   Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Book Depository

Author's Bio:

Amy Neftzger is the author of fiction books for both adults and children. She has also been published in business and academic journals, as well as literary publications.

A few of her favorite things include traveling, books, movies, art, the Oxford comma, and gargoyles.

Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Facebook

Review: Jesus Inspires Me by Missi Jay

Jesus Inspires Me

My 6 year old son and I have really enjoyed the Graham Blanchard series of books and we were thrilled to find out that a coloring activity book had been released.  This activity book is loaded with all kinds of activities: from coloring pages, to pages you create, secret messages, dot-to-dot etc. all with the theme of the previous books running through it.  This book is great for older kids to do on their own or with help with younger ones.  You may just want to experience it with your child no matter what.  I know my son loves it when I color with him.  This is another great addition to the Graham Blanchard Knowing My God series of books.  I received a copy for an honest review from The Book Club Network, Inc. and the opinions are my own.

Reviewed by Boos Mum and Boo Bear

Review: Beautifully Prepared by Monica Schaefer, Illustrations by Julie Headland

Beautifully Prepared

Beautifully Prepared is a lovely illustrated book that compares the first woman, Eve, with the Bride of Christ from the book of Revelation.  This book starts with the author’s own personal story of how, like Eve, she believed the lie, like so many of us that we are just not enough.  The author shows how Eve, who had everything, was told a lie and she believed it thus putting her in bondage to the liar.  She became a slave.  I have just been studying extensively the book of Revelation, so I really enjoyed all the Bible passages that described the Bride and her relationship to her Groom.  The complete faith and trust that was so apparent in her relationship to him, because she gave up her self-governance and self-reliance.  What really spoke to me was on Pg. 39 where the author talks about what is really motivating us.  How do we really know what is truly motivating us?  Because everything else but God drives us like a slave.  God motivates us with love.  This was a beautiful book that showed the contrast between Eve and the Bride of Christ and begs to be placed on the coffee table to be looked at and pondered time and again.  The paintings themselves are beautifully abstract and give a wonderful complement to the text.  I received a copy for an honest review from The Book Club Network, Inc. and the opinions are my own.

Review: The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell

The Feathered Bone

The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell was a very hard, disturbing read for me.  It dealt with three major issues that in my reading do bother me, and this one had them all in one place.  However, Julie Cantrell’s writing is amazing and beautiful.  Even though this is not my usual read and it was very depressing at times, she wrote about such disturbing circumstances with sensitivity and sympathy.  I know that sounds like an oxymoron but she is an author that even though I know the subject matter is not going to be pretty she has the capability of pulling me into the story and making me want to turn the pages.  With that being said, this story is a story of hope and I appreciated her heartfelt author notes.  I am giving this one five stars even though it is not a happy read, because it still is a good read.  I look forward to more of Julie Cantrell’s writing and will not hesitate to read her stories in the future.  I received a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson’s Fiction Guild and the opinions are my own honest ones.