Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Review: Dangerous Illusions by Irene Hannon

About:

Detective Colin Flynn investigates a tragic death that’s been linked to a grieving woman with apparent memory loss, but it quickly becomes clear there’s more to the case—and the woman—than meets the eye.

My Thoughts:

Author Irene Hannon certainly puts her characters through some life altering situations, so much so that I really feel sorry for them. In Dangerous Illusions Trish Bailey has already had some difficult years and as she and her mother are trying to recover, the unthinkable happens and Trish is looked as a person of interest. Enter detective Colin Flynn who wants to get to the bottom of the suspicious circumstances surrounding Trish. Trish is already dealing with too much, including a mush too pushy accountant, Matt, who would like to be something more. I liked that Trish was her own woman and knew her own mind, even if someone was trying to make her think otherwise.

Author Hannon really sets up a very interesting suspense, dropping hints here and there about what was really going on. I had inkling of what I thought was happening so I kept reading to see if I was proved correct. I also really liked Colin. He was such a gentleman and I appreciated his chivalrousness and gallant protection of Trish. She really needed as much support as she could get.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Review: Vanishing Point by Lisa Harris

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About:

Detective Garrett Addison and FBI Agent Jordan Lambert team up to find a serial killer before he strikes again, but what if everything that was believed to be true about the Angel Abductor is false?

My Thoughts:

Vanishing Point is a story that I have been waiting for a long time for. Part of the Nikki Boyd series, we finally are given a detailed look at the crisis that drove Nikki to the law enforcement leaving behind her career as a school teacher. This story starts a few years before Nikki’s sister is kidnapped and goes through present day (probably about 12 years overall) and we are given a look at the cases of the previous girls who were taken by the so called Angel Abductor. Whew! This was a very suspenseful book and we get to know the local crime scene agent Garrett and FBI agent Jordan and their trials and frustrations as they race against time to find this very evil individual.

This was a maddening book not only for the detectives and the families, but for the reader as well. Lisa Harris really made her bad guy quite reprehensible and one of the worst ones in all the books I have read so far. He did everything perfect and from the start you could imagine the fear these young girls probably experienced. The absolute anguish of the parents and the desperation of the law enforcement only added to the intense message of the book as to why such an evil person can even exist and do what he has been doing and where is God in all of this?

We also are treated to the romance of Garrett and Jordan and the immense struggles they had effecting their relationship. At times I felt as hopeless as all of these characters and I am glad that we finally received a conclusion to the story of the kidnapping of Nikki’s sister, Sarah.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Review: Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano

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About:

A young woman the world has written off is secretly the most popular writer of Victorian England . . . but will her own story end as tragically as the heroine in her famous novels?

My Thoughts:

Lady Jayne Disappears was a memorable historical read with a definite gothic vibe going throughout the book. I think what I really liked was the fact that Aurelie, the heroine, was a master storyteller who knew just the way to draw the listeners into her fascinating stories. And this is her story: of a life lived in debtor’s prison with a dearly beloved father who was a very famous storyteller himself. Hearing stories from her father about his family home, estranged relatives, and the love he had for her dear mother, Lady Jayne.

Aurelie is on a quest to finish the story her father started and to find out the truth about her mother and father, her family home, and the family she has now come to live with. Secret trysts, mysterious happenings, eerie goings on, and true love, all made this story very suspenseful. I enjoyed how the author really showed how great an imagination an author has and just how some people are born to tell a story. I myself am thankful for storytellers. This one had an intriguing plot with an ingenious start that had me glued to the pages and oftentimes flabbergasted and quite unsure like Aurelie in how her story was going to turn out, especially with some of the crazy twists and turns. So just when you thing you finally have a grasp of what is going on… think again. Every page kept me in suspense making this one a hard to put down read.

I received a copy of this novel for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Review: All Things Now Living by Rondi Bauer Olson

About:

Her whole life Amy has been taught the people of New Lithisle deserve to die, but when she falls for Daniel, she determines to save him.

Sixteen-year-old Amy doesn't like anything to die, she won't even eat the goats or chickens her mama has butchered every fall, but she can't let herself pity the inhabitants of New Lithisle. In a few short months the dome they built to isolate themselves from the deadly pandemic is predicted to collapse, but her whole life Amy has been taught it's God's will they die. They traded their souls for immunity to the swine flu virus, brought God's curse upon themselves by adding pig genes to their own.

Then, while on a scavenging trip with her father, Amy is accidentally trapped in New Lithisle. At first her only goal is to escape, but when she meets Daniel, a New Lithisle boy, she begins to question how less-than-human the people of New Lithisle are.

Amy's feelings grow even more conflicted when she learns she didn't end up in New Lithisle by mistake. Her father is secretly a sympathizer, and was trying to prevent the coming destruction.

Now time is running short and Amy has to decide if she will bring the computer program her father wrote to his contact or save herself. Installing the program could prevent the dome's collapse, but if Amy doesn't find her father's contact in time, she'll die, along with everyone else.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Thoughts:

All Things Now Living by Rondi Bauer Olson was a clean YA dystopian romance. Olson creates an interesting futuristic world, one ravaged by plague with the civilization divided into two people groups: the genetically altered highly technologically advanced mutants living in the Aegis and the pure civilization of Old Lithisle who fight to survive outside the Aegis. I would have liked a few more details on how these civilizations were ran and functioned as well as how some of the futuristic devices worked, as I was often confused, but as a whole the concept was intriguing.

I did feel like the main focus of this story was the romance. Daniel was so nice and Amy was a little… less nice and not above using Daniel’s niceness to her own advantage. It reminded me a little of Katniss and Peeta, only both Amy and Daniel were a lot nicer. The romance was a little insta-lovey for my tastes, but by the end of the book both Amy and Daniel had grown as characters.

However, I was not prepared for the heartbreak of a shocking scene that seemed so cruel and merciless to me. So if you are looking for a clean YA dystopian not like any other of its genre then this is certainly the book to read, but I wouldn’t advice getting too emotionally involved with anyone.

P. S. I really like the creative title of this book and the cover stood out to me.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Reviewed by Nicki

About the Author:

Rondi Bauer Olson is a reader and writer from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where she lives on a hobby farm with her husband, Kurt. She has four grown children, works as a nurse, and also owns a gift shop within view of beautiful Lake Superior.

Find out more about Rondi at http://rondibauerolson.weebly.com.

What others are saying:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/ROlson

Friday, December 1, 2017

Review: A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

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About:

Telegraph operator Lucy Drake is a master of Morse code, but the presence of Sir Colin Beckwith at a rival news agency puts her livelihood at risk. When Colin’s reputation is jeopardized, Lucy agrees to help in exchange for his assistance in recovering her family’s stolen fortune. However, the web of treachery they’re diving into is more dangerous than they know.

My Thoughts:

I always look forward to a book by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Camden. She writes her characters with such authenticity with their differences, personalities, and life circumstances that I know that I am in for an adventure. In her latest, A Dangerous Legacy, we get to step into the world during 1903 and learn about the intricacies of Morse code and about the fierce competition and collaboration of the American Associated Press and the British Reuters news agencies. The political fight and intrigue for the Panama Canal versus the Nicaraguan Canal, and throw in a bit of mystery and gothic feel about an insane asylum and the frightening procedures that went on there. Have I wet your curiosity yet?

Not to mention the love/competition relationship between Sir Colin Beckwith and feisty telegraph operator Lucy Drake who both carry a legacy left by their ancestors that is enough to choke the life out of both of them. It was an interesting tug of war to watch between these two as following their heritage sometimes ruled them to the point that nothing else mattered, not even happiness in their own lives. Except for the strong connection and the matters of heart that both have with each other, this story may not have had a pleasant ending and I enjoyed the questions each needed to ask themselves. This story was not only full of fascinating historical facts and details but also showed the real life burdens we can carry due to our own pasts and of those of our forefathers as well. A really intriguing read and I am glad the next book will be about Lucy’s brother Nick who we had gotten to know briefly in this book.

I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Review: Christy by Catherine Marshall

About:

New edition of Catherine Marshall's inspirational classic!

The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions.

But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her - and her one-room school - as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove.

Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

Learn more, download a free map of Cutter Gap, and purchase a copy.

My Thoughts:

This was the first time I have read Christy, the classic story by author Catherine Marshall. I had seen parts of the miniseries on the television, but reading the actual story was much richer and deeper. You know the saying the book is always better. Anyway, I was pulled into this story of a young 19 year old girl who decided to follow her dreams and head off to be a school teacher for a missionary organization in the Smokey Mountains. The immense excitement along with the fear of the unknown Christy was feeling leapt off the page. As a mother of a 19 year old daughter, I really empathized with what her parents were probably feeling, so as I read I kept thinking this could be my daughter. So that gave this story a very different feel then if I had read it when I was 19.

I will not rehash the story but I can definitely see why this is a classic. It pulls you in the mountains and the ways that these mountain people lived in contrast with the life that Christy was used too. This was a pioneer lifestyle up in the mountains and a culture shock for a young girl who was drawn to this part of our country to help better the lives of her students.

As far as this copy goes, there is a lovely map of Cutter Gap in the beginning and also a list of characters with a brief description of each. This is also a beautiful hard bound copy of this beloved story and is definitely one for the keeper shelf and to pass down. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this novel for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), The New York Times best-selling author of 30 books, is best known for her novel Christy. Based on the life of her mother, Christy captured the hearts of millions and became a popular CBS television series. Around the kitchen table at Evergreen Farm, as her mother reminisced, Catherine probed for details and insights into the rugged lives of these Appalachian highlanders. Catherine shared the story of her husband, Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate, in A Man Called Peter. A decade after Dr. Marshall's untimely death, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, Executive Editor of Guideposts, forging a dynamic writer-editor partnership. A beloved inspirational writer and speaker, Catherine's enduring career spanned four decades and reached over 30 million readers.

Find out more about Catherine at

http://gileadpublishing.com/christy/

What others are saying:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/cmarshall

Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Beauty from Ashes by Alana Terry

About the Book

Name of book: Beauty from Ashes
Author: Alana Terry
Genre: Christian Women’s Lit

Release Date: July, 2017

A baby was never part of Tiff’s plans. Especially not a sick baby in a NICU, struggling for life on a ventilator.

As days in the hospital turn to weeks, Tiff grows more and more convinced that God is punishing her for turning her back on him so many years ago. Or is it possible he’s working in the midst of her daughter’s bleak prognosis to draw Tiff back to himself once more?

The Orchard Grove Christian Women’s Fiction books are standalone literary novels about real-life believers facing real-life struggles. You won’t meet perfect saints whose lives are faultless models of the Christian faith. Instead, you’ll meet a perfect God whose plans of redemption are far more glorious than what the mortal mind could ever imagine.

Click here to purchase your copy.

My Thoughts:

When I began reading this story, I was not sure what I was really getting myself into. This story could have gone a few ways: really depressing or uplifting. My verdict- this story strongly goes into the uplifting category. The author pulled me into Tiffany’s world and her thought process as we view what is going on in this season of her life, the fears she has for her daughter, the relationship she has with her husband, her mother-in-law, her foster mother, even the doctors and nurses. Sometimes I wanted Tiffany to just open up more and ask the burning questions she had about her daughter and to open up more with her husband. But like us all, sometimes we either don’t want to know or are too afraid to ask.

This was a story about an honest look at one woman’s journey as she navigates life with a very sick baby and the toll it takes on her and the relationship she has with her husband. Her doubts and fears are all tangible, and if you have ever had a baby in the NICU, let me tell you those feelings of fear and the unknown are sympathized with Tiffany. This is also a tale of redemption, of finding God and holding on to Him even when you don’t understand Him. To step out on faith and believe with all your heart that no matter what happens- God is good and He is good all the time. This was a powerful and faith affirming read that will stick with me for a long time.

I received a copy of this novel for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

Guest Post from Alana Terry

Click here to see the special video message from Alana.

“You better come in,” I told my husband. “The doctors don’t think he’s going to make it.”

Not the kind of conversation you want to have with anyone at one o’clock in the morning. I was spending the night at the hospital with our nine-month-old baby Silas and hadn’t left the hospital complex in days. Scott was home with our toddler trying to get some sleep.

And our son Silas was dying.

Raising a medically-fragile baby changed me like nothing else ever has. Thankfully, Silas pulled through that horrific evening, but that didn’t mean life was sugar and cream from then on.

As anyone with experience knows, it’s hard work being a special-needs mom.

And it can devastate a marriage.

Thankfully, God brought my husband and me through those nearly impossible first few years while Silas was in and out of the hospital with no guarantee of his survival.

And he continued to sustain us through even more years of therapy, hospital visits, and medical tests.

And now we have a happy marriage, a healthy boy, and hearts full of gratitude for all God’s done for us.

But I never want to forget where we were.

The depths God delivered us out of.

The despair that would have overwhelmed us if God hadn’t been our strength and our support.

Writing Beauty from Ashes was one way to remind myself of those difficulties God brought us through. It’s not strictly autobiographical, but the baby in this novel went through a very similar traumatic birth experience as Silas did, and all the health issues — including that night in the hospital when I truly thought we were going to lose our baby — are based on the trials we went through when Silas was young.

I wrote Beauty from Ashes because we all need to be reminded every now and then that even though life can be impossibly hard, even though there’s no guarantee our children will grow up and love Christ and make good choices with their lives or even survive until adulthood at all, God is good, and he will sustain us through all the trials we have to endure.

I think that’s why Beauty from Ashes resonates so much with Christian readers hungry for more than a simple story with a happily-ever-after ending, like these readers:

“…by far some of the best Christian fiction I’ve read.” Amy L, author

” … a story that is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming.” ~ Jaime Hampton, award-winning author of Malnourished

“I didn’t think it was possible that the author could write any better than she already does … This is a book I will never forget … She writes with realism and doesn’t pull any punches … Every time I read a book from this author, my faith grows.” Deana at Texas Bookaholic

I hope you’ll take a chance to grab your own copy of Beauty from Ashes today, and don’t forget to watch the video and enter to win the $100 gift card to christianbooks.com.

Because Christian fiction should encourage, edify, and inspire.

And because God is big enough to carry all our burdens.