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Archive for book reviews – Page 2

The Unraveling of Wentwater by C.S. Lakin

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Fantasy from Living Ink Books, The Unraveling of Wentwater is the fourth book in the Gates of Heaven series by C. S. Lakin.
The people of Wentwater live under some heavy superstitions. But that's okay, it seems to work for them — for a time. Up on the mountain, the intellectuals of the academy look down on the villagers and their ways.
Justin, one of the few villagers invited up for education, is determined to make something of his life. Teralyn, daughter of professors, just wants to play music that touches people's hearts. The trouble begins when Justin's professor asks him to accompany Teralyn down to Wentworth for the music festival.

What I liked about this book:  Teralyn, the magic, the fairy tale behind the story. I liked Justin's struggle and the wickedness of the witch.
I struggled with the shifting spiritual theme, that I'm not sure I ever did get a firm grip on, and the distance I felt toward Fromer's character.

I know I've said this before that I need to go back and read the first two in this series … instead I keep going forward. You may like to give them a try from the beginning, but book 3 and 4 are stand alones.

 

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Dawn Singer by Janalyn Voigt

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Dawn Singer is Christian fantasy from Harbourlight Books. This is pure fantasy with all the necessary elements to make it so. Janalyn Voigt creates a new, interesting world with a medieval, magical feel with plenty of new creatures and abilities. She has characters with secrets. She has good versus evil, and a quest for a noble cause.

The writing is clean and easy to follow.  The characters are empathetic and attractive. The ending … well, it is book one in the Faeraven series.  I look forward to reading book 2 soon.
 

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Double Identity by K. Dawn Byrd

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Double Identity by K. Dawn Byrd is contemporary Young Adult fiction from Desert Breeze Publishing. The story premise opens with the Parent Trap — twins separated at birth by divorcing parents, but they have now found out about each other because the CA city girl twin must come live in Virginia with the mother and story protagonist while the father recovers from cancer surgery.

Dawn does one of those creative literary things by writing scenes in the protagonist's, Bree's, point of view in first person, and then switching to third person  for the scenes in her twin's, Cassie's, point of view. Boyfriend and bone of contention, Luke, gets a third person pov, too.

This is definitely a teen story with angst and drama and serious life issues such as learning to deal with a bipolar disorder. My biggest grumble was Luke's stupidity in the sense of "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame of me." But his foolishness caused more angst and tension.

The story continues in later books in the series.

 

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Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Claiming Mariah, historical romance from Tyndale House, by Pam Hillman was a simple joy to read. The writing was clean, easy, not distracting me from the engaging story Pam laid out.

The backstory was up front — Slade Donovan knew Mariah Malone's father had stolen his father's share of their joint gold mine and then left him for dead. Slade's father hadn't died, but he never recovered either. As a drunk and a gambler, he was a deficient to his family until the day he died. Mariah knew her father had regrets — she was the one who had written the apology letter that had brought Slade to her front door. And so the romance begins with Slade insisting she give up the only home she's ever know to pay her father's debt.

If it were just Mariah, perhaps she could have packed her bag and moved on, but Mariah has responsibilities — her aged grandmother and her blind sister. She better remain on the ranch as housekeeper until Slade's mother and sisters arrive.

If there were plot holes or character slips in this story, I didn't catch them. The romance developed steadily. The bad guy kept getting worse. The situations became more desperate. The subplot of town slum children tugged at my emotions.  It was all good.

Thank you, Pam Hillman, for a delightful escape into another time and place.
 

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Undercover Bodyguard by Shirlee McCoy

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Love Inspired Suspense, Shirlee McCoy’s is a good romanctic suspense with two likeable protagonists in bakery owner Shelby Simons and former SEAL turned security contractor, Ryder Malone.  Just his name sounds tough and capable. And so Shelby finds him – against her will – as she is adamant to remain independent for every need.

The plot progresses with the usual amount of dangers that keep our would-be lovers together and apart at appropriate stages.

I liked Shelby’s realistic response to grief and guilt. I liked the comfort Shelby felt when Ryder was close.  Good, straightforward romantic suspense.

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The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Teen fiction from Zondervan, The Fairest Beauty is Melanie Dickerson’s third in her fairytale series. For the first time, we get to revisit some characters whom we met in The Healer’s Apprentice, the parents of our intrepid hero, younger son Gabe.

The gist of this Snow White story is that Sophie has a wicked step-mother, a dead, loving father, a prince attempting to save her, and a cottage in the woods where seven misfits live. The twists are that the prince isn’t her betrothed, but her betrothed’s younger brother, her father isn’t dead – perhaps – but missing — perhaps, and Sophie no longer remembers that she is a princess, but believes that she is a servant girl.

I like Melanie Dickerson’s books and this is no exception.  I like the historical details she includes, especially about the Church and religious life at that time. I liked Sophie, her attitude, and her love for the underdog and her fellow servants. I liked the action during the escape from her stepmother.

What I wasn’t so fond of in this story was how the kids responded to their attraction to one another, and then to their prior commitments to others. But I was happy that it worked out for them in the end because I believed their love would survive and flourish.

Thanks, Melanie, for another enjoyable read.

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Submerged by Dani Pettrey

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Submerged by Dani Pettrey is romantic suspense from Bethany House. The story starts with an adrenaline rush that sets up the story perfectly.

Dani’s main characters, Bailey Craig and Cole McKenna develop some good chemistry once Bailey is back in Yancey, Alaska after a ten year hiatus from her home town. Whereas in the last book I reviewed, Her Good Name, Espy hadn’t deserved what happened to her, it appears that Bailey has done the deeds of which she is accused. Still, even if the rest of the town won’t forget, Cole believes people can change and he sees changes in Bailey.

What I liked about this book was the fun dynamic in the McKenna family. That in itself will encourage me to buy more Alaskan Courage books. The writing was clean and the story well-paced. I particularly liked the backstory to the plot. I always love when history plays into a story and makes me believe the fiction could be real. The whole Romanov Dynasty thread kept me just as hooked as figuring out the mystery of who the bad guy would turn out to be.

I was knocked out of my suspension of disbelief on one tiny plot issue near the end, but since it was needed for the wham-bam ending, I forgive the author for pushing through and asking her characters to allow something I found hard to believe they would have allowed to happen.  Of course I can’t be more specific without ruining the ending for you and I do believe this one you should read.

This story also had a solid spiritual theme of being new in Christ, accepting Christ’s blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and walking in the victory Christ has provided for us. I look forward to seeing Bailey and Cole in a solid relationship in future books about the McKenna clan.

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Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell

By Gloria · Comments (0)
Monday, July 15th, 2013

Historical romance from Moody Publishers, Her Good Name opens in Holliston, Maine, 1892. Espy Estrada is excited at the opportunity to improve her lot in life.  Having worked in the cannery since her father’s injury, Espy hadn’t been able to finish high school as she helps her mother care for her ten younger brothers and sisters, but now she has an opportunity to become a ladies maid for one of the city’s upstanding citizens. Her love interest, Warren Brentwood, is back from school and learning how to run his father’s mill. From the get-go, we see the class differences will be an issue – for everyone except Espy who loves easily and sees potential in every situation.

This book is filled with interesting secondary characters from Espy’s siblings, to Espy’s employers, Warren’s family, and their joint friends. I liked the idea of the church group of youth looking beyond themselves and getting involved in the community. I particularly liked how Espy’s personality held it all together and spearheaded their few successes.

As the plot advances, the title of the book begins to have serious play in the developing action and my heart ached for Espy as she lost her good name. But Espy isn’t one to stay down forever, and she moves from Holliston to find the better life she’s always believed possible. Still, it is only when she finds a true relationship with her Creator, that Espy finds the peace and purpose she has always dreamed of. Both characters have some wonderful spiritual growth to reach before they can find their happily-ever-after together.

This is the first Ruth Axtell book I’ve read. It may well be her debut novel.  I found the writing clean and the story easy to follow.  Because of Espy’s wonderful personality I rooted for her the entire way.  I felt the unfairness of her situation as if I had been the one maligned. I cheered when Warren started making good decisions. I recommend this story for all historical romance readers who want a memorable character – Espy Estrada.

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