This has been one of my favorite series since DragonSpell came out back in 2004, but somehow I missed this 4th book in the five book series.

Donita has developed a fantasy world of five high races and five low races, of dragons and mystical creatures, that reminds the reader of our world by the characters' behaviors, attitudes, and needs.  The series follows Kale Allerion, first known as an orphan and outcast, through her stages of growing into her calling as Dragon Keeper and wizard. 

The continent of Amara has drifted from the ways of Wulder, and its people find themselves under attack from various peoples, including evil wizards and Pretender.

In DragonFire, Paladin (Wulder's representive on Amara) is weak and ill because the people of Amara have chosen to ignore the fight that's now exploding in many parts of the country. Kale and Bardon are separated on this quest as each must use their talents and gifts for the good of all peoples.  Kale continues to learn and grow through the search for a valley of dragons and the battles that follow.

This series is classified as Fiction/Allegory from WaterBrook Press and often it's the kids who like it, particularly young boys.  But, you know, I like it too.  I recommend the entire series to anyone who enjoys new worlds, Christian allegory, learning through fiction to make better decisions, and how to be noble in a messed up world.

Aquasynthesis is an anthology of short stories written by various authors tied together by a story written by Grace Bridges (I think).  The "tie" story is about a Gizile and her sour mentor, Tok.  Tok is teaching Gizile lessons through a frozen pool  that shows stories as she watches.

I won't go into each of the short stories.  Some were blatant in their moral point, others more subtle.  Some were pulled from larger stories, others stood alone.  All took Gizile deeper into an understanding of who she was created to be, who she was created by,  and what she needed to do in response.  Forgiveness was huge.

I will say that I liked these short stories better than the majority of literary short stories I've read over the years.  Even the subtle stories had purpose and theme.  It's a cute idea, aquasythesis, but I'd rather read a novel.

Still, it won't surprise me in the least if a few of these shorts come back into my mind, and I begin to wonder about the bigger life of these characters.

The Mercy is the third book in the Rose Trilogy and the first book by Beverly Lewis that I've read.  Yes, I know it's not like me to read out of order, but I don't think I mind in this case.  Perhaps reading the third was actually a benefit because it wasn't difficult to grasp what had taken place in the first two novels and I got to read the ending.  :-)

Rose and her sister, Hen, are dealing with life in two distinct ways.  Hen had chosen to leave the Amish to marry an English boy — but that didn't turn into Happily Ever After, and she's back home and trying to connect with her blind husband before their separation turns into divorce.

Rose is getting over a serious break up, still trying to find a husband in the Amish community, and pretending like she isn't in love with her neighbor who has gone out into the world to attend college.

I've never felt a great draw to Amish fiction, but this was one of my Bethany Bingo books so I read it.  It was okay.  I'll even go so far as to say it wasn't as bad as I expected.  But it was slow.  Christianity lite.  The romantic leads were apart for the majority of the book.  So I can't claim it as a favorite.

But you know, friends, if you like Amish fiction, and a bunch of people must, The Mercy is a fine read.

Another fun read from Mary Connealy.

Rafe Kincaid is Mary's standard western man. He likes to brawl and works hard, finds women interesting and trouble.  But Rafe has bigger issues.  There's a cave on his property that holds too many memories for Rafe and his two younger brothers — both of which have run off to manage their pain in the ways that they can find.  Rafe bucks up and keeps the ranch growing.

Then he rescues fossil hunter, Julia Gilliland, from his cave, and finds he likes kissing the girl to keep her from bossing him around.  Add in Julia's drunkard father, her pregnant step-mom, and baby sister … and maybe even a returned brother or two of Rafe's … and Out of Control makes all the sense in the world.

Both Rafe and Julia want to control their worlds, but both need to realize that the same God who created mountains and caverns and a Flood that washed sea animals high into the Rockies, is the God who directs the steps of humans and draws hearts together in love.

Though I like Love Inspired Suspense better than straight Love Inspired romances, I adore Cheryl Wyatt, the person.  So I started her Wings of Refuge series a few years ago and try to grab each one as it comes out.  I believe this is her sixth.

The gist of the series set up is that each of the heroes is part of a paratrooper unit stationed in a town called Refuge.  The men are usually on the outs with God and the troop leader (and then the other soldiers) are praying, living life, and witnessing in such a way as bring all their brothers into God's family.

A Soldier's Devotion is about US Air Force pararescue jumper Vince Reardon and his struggle NOT to fall in love with Christ and out-on-her-sleeve believer Valentina Russo.  First because Val is a Christian, but then also because Val is a lawyer — and Vince has a thing against them as well.

But after a car accident that is Val's fault puts Vince's custom-made motorcycle out of commission, nothing is going to stop Val from befriending this guy she felt such a spiritual connection toward as she prayed for his life in the rain-soaked street.

Cute. Simple. Fun secondary characters used to draw out the main characters' flaws and fears.  Neat use of a charm bracelet.  Enjoyable read.  Go for it.

A Cowboy's Touch was a simple, romantic read that I zoomed through in an evening.  (Okay, it was after midnight when I finished, but I still read it in one sitting.) Set in one of my favorite places, cattle ranch in western Montana, A Cowboy's Touch had few of the problems usually encountered in city girl/country boy romances. Abigail and Wade's issues went deep.

Abigail Jones, self-proclaimed trueseeker (investigative reporter) is too busy to seek Truth.

Wade Ryan, supposedly settled into his new life as cattle baron, is too busy running to actually live.

How can a romance develop between the two when Abigail is busy sniffing out Wade's secrets?

But it does.  Good romance.  Good God truths.  Good character development. Ending twist that I wasn't expecting, nor completely settled with, but I can't think of any reason you wouldn't enjoy this book if you like romance and cowboys.  And, seriously, who doesn't like romance and cowboys?

This is the first nonfiction I've reviewed here on Seek Truth. Read Fiction.  This book is mainly excerpts from Anita Estes' prayer journal during the hardest years of her son's addiction to alcohol and drugs.  The story runs from September 2006 to January 2009.

I liked the set up of the book.  Journal entries are in a personal, candid style.  Direct prayers. Scriptures. Anita's poems. Neat things that showed various ways to seek God.

Then for the reader she added sections called "Lessons Learned" and "Suggestions" where she would speak from the place she was in when she wrote the book, looking back to that place in the story where she was.  All right.  That didn't make make sense.  Basically, a chapter would cover a time period of say two months, and include elements of journaling and prayer.  Then Anita would step into the present and say, "I didn't know then, but …" and precede to share what God has since taught her about that time in her life.

Then she had suggestions to parents of prodigal children, things to watch for, what you might do differently than she did, etc.

I particularly liked how open Anita was about her mistakes and struggles.  That made her learning journey even more powerful.  She had a simple way of turning the praise and honor back to God, not just for her son's transformation, but for her husband's and herself.

I recommend this book to all my friends with adult children who currently embrace the world more often than the Lord.  It is a story of hope.  But even more so, it is a story of surrender and allowing God to change you through His Word and grace.

So maybe you don't have to have a child who has wandered away from his/her Christian foundation to enjoy this book and gain from its insights.  I don't have a prodigal … but Anita Estes' Letters to God remind me that thankfully God is in the restoration business.

Speculative fiction, definitely.  The Wolf That Was shares the love story of "wise woman" Tirian (though she inherits the role while she is still a girl) and cursed explorer, Bran — a man and a wolf sharing space, though only one body is able to be materialized at a time and both minds stay alert.  The wolf's shifting is dependent on the phases of the moon.

The setting is "the old country" where magic is alive and well — hence wise women and healers and curses on men.  But the world stays roughly the same as we know it — men and women seeking fortune and glory, kid, fortune and glory.  And power.  Always power.

Michelle did such a great job with her secondary characters of evil that I loved to read the scenes between King Fallon and his queen, Sorcha.  Two of a kind, they just couldn't quite grasp what love was all about.

The same couldn't be said for our hero and heroine as they gladly sacrificed, not only for each other, but for the others in their lives whom they loved.

My biggest concern:  How do you earn love? By being loving? I'm not convinced of the possibility.

More books from my stash on Kindle.  The Ill-gotten Insurance and the Duplicitous Divorce are both cozy mysteries/romances by Desert Breeze author, Susanne Marie Knight. There is a first in this series, but I haven't had the opportunity to read it, yet.

Minx Tobin, our heroine and amatuer sleuth, is a personal trainer and aerobics instructor moved to CA from the east coast. She's not too interested in getting into another relationship (recent break) until she meets Lieutenant Gabe Harris (police force).  And even after three books, they are still dancing around their emotions — but getting closer.  I doubt it will take them five seasons as it did for Laura and Remmington Steele.

Again, this isn't a Christian romance and neither of these characters bend toward considering spiritual matters, so I suspect the adult content will preceed the wedding rings, but that's just my guess.

The next in the series, The Virtual Valentine, comes out this month.  I like Minx.  I like Gabe.  I'm routing for them and wondering what sort of trouble Minx will stumble upon next.

I've had Miss Invisible on my to-be-read pile for a while now.  It has a copy right of 2007.  But after reading Invisible about the older lady who felt the world wasn't seeing her any longer, I decided to read Miss Invisible, about a large woman who felt the world looked through her.

Genre-wise this is Women's Fiction with a side dish of romance.  Spiritual-wise it's all about learning to be comfortable in your own skin, size 6, size 16, or whatever.  It's written in first person, but Fredericka Heinz has a fun voice and a dry wit, especially about her eating habits.

Miss Invisible also has an enjoyable cast of supporting characters, the awful and not quite as awful in her dad and her boss, and the mixed bag of friends and potential love interests, and the awesome new friend, who helps Freddie take her first steps to change her life into a more acceptable place.

You probably won't find Miss Invisible in a book store any time soon, but if you find in Ollies, you'll probably want to pick it up.