Month: December 2012

Posted in Contemporary

James Rubart’s Soul’s Gate

Posted on by remaininhislove

About

What if you could travel inside another person’s soul? To battle for them. To be part of Jesus healing their deepest wounds. To help set them free to step boldly into their divinely designed future.

Thirty years ago that’s exactly what Reece Roth did. Until tragedy shattered his life and ripped away his future.

Now God has drawn Reece out of the shadows to fulfill a prophecy spoken over him three decades ago. A prophecy about four warriors with the potential to change the world . . . if Reece will face his deepest regret and teach them what he has learned.

They gather at a secluded and mysterious ranch deep in the mountains of Colorado, where they will learn to see the spiritual world around them with stunning clarity—and how to step into the supernatural.

Their training is only the beginning. The four have a destiny to pursue a freedom even Reece doesn’t fully fathom. But they have an enemy hell-bent on destroying them and he’ll stop at nothing to keep them from their quest for true freedom and the coming battle of souls.

Review

Whew, what a book! When I finished it I had to go and spend some time in prayer, it was just that kind of book. The novel drew me in with the first mention of prophecy and four warriors and unravels slowly as though you’re peeling an onion and trying to get to the center. I will admit that at first, the warriors were not what I expected, but then you get to see them develop over time. Honestly, though, this reads and feels like a novel that is just laying the foundation as the beginning (and the cover says that it is book 1). I am interested to see what the four go on to do. Spiritually, this novel really dealt with the spiritual world and I love how Mr. Rubart emphasizes reading the whole Bible and not just staying on the cookie cutter parts. While, I think, traveling in people’s souls most likely literally isn’t done, if there is one thing I learned from this book, it is that you can’t limit God who created everything. I really enjoyed this novel. Mr. Rubart doesn’t really write the romance novels that I love, but he is simply a fantastic author and not to be missed!

Posted in Personal

Monday Musings….Best Books of 2012 Pt. 1

Posted on by remaininhislove

This list is not in any particular order; just some of my favorites of 2012:

1. Becky Wade. My Stubborn Heart

2. Dani Pettrey, Submerged

3. Kristen Heitzmann, The Breath of Dawn

4. Shelley Gray, A Texan’s Choice

5. Lisa T. Bergren, Glamorous Illusions

6. L.N. Cronk, Chop, Chop

7. Heather Blanton, A Lady in Defiance

8. Jill Williamson, The New Recruit

9. Steven James, Opening Moves

10. Julie Klassen,  The Tutor’s Daughter

11. Julie Lessman,  A Light in the Window

12. Tessa Afshar, A Harvest of Rubies

So I can’t just list 12 and end it…next week I will give another list of 12!

Posted in Historical

Julie Klassen’s The Tutor’s Daughter

Posted on by remaininhislove

About

Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?
The baronet’s older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems–and secrets–of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father’s academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.
When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor’s daughter figure out which brother to blame…and which brother to trust with her heart?

Review

With shades of Austen and Bronte, Ms. Klassen has written this sweeping tale set in 19th century Great Britain. This novel gives you those delicious social class problems that only regency can give you and gothic settings reminiscent of Du Maurier. Emma Smallwood is a woman the reader will come to know well and love. I really like how Klassen tries not to let you know who the hero will be in the end, so I won’t give away his name, but frankly, after meeting him you can’t but love him as well. The Weston family—boy do they give Emma a run for her money with their mysteries and interesting ways. She stayed with that family far longer than I ever would.  Spiritually, Emma has to learn to surrender to God; that she can’t control every thing and every situation, and that ultimately you just have to trust God to work out situations. This novel has quickly become one of my favorites by Ms. Klassen, and I look forward to reading it again and again. Highly Recommended.

**I received this novel from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

Posted in Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Jennifer Hartz’s Future Savior Book Four: Desecration

Posted on by remaininhislove

About
Charis’ latest time paradox has left me staggering. The history of Meric is being unraveled right before my eyes. While some unimaginable questions are being answered, even more start to creep up. Will we make it out of this place alive? Will we make it back to Meric in time to stop Leticia and save our friends? Will I ever marry Shaw, the man of my dreams?

I guess only time holds the answers to these questions. Considering I’m not even in my own time, I’m not so sure anymore. One thing I do know is I never would have thought Meric’s origins would have been in this place.

Review
The long awaited book 4 is out! And it was good. In this novel comrades are lost and friends made. I loved diving back into Meric with Christina and Shaw, and in spite of the time since I read the third novel, I didn’t feel like I had left. I really enjoyed learning about the past in this novel and frankly, I take my hat off to Ms. Hartz for writing such a layered novel. The pages turned quickly and before I knew it, the novel was finished (September of next year?! Sigh). What I loved about this book? The way everything is explained. I’m never lost through Christina’s eyes and each revelation for the way things are in Meric makes since. I really like how there is more than one love story besides Christina and that they are not hastily thrown together. The only drawback? I did feel that sometimes the characters got very romantic at odd moments. Spiritually, I love Timothy’s desire to know His Creator and how Shaw explains that God has never changed and never will and that He puts rules in place to protect us. I am also enjoying watching Christina develop as a believer. Fun book. I recommend you read the series in order and you won’t want to put this one down!

Posted in Contemporary

Kim Woodhouse and Ronie Kendig’s Denali Dreams

Posted on by remaininhislove

About
Catch a glimpse of Denali National Park through the eyes of four courageous women. Karon Granger beat cancer, but can she climb Mt. McKinley—the tallest mountain in North America? Is heiress Jolie Decouteau safe from the rugged terrain and an assassin? Will flightseeing tour guide Deline Tsosi uncover the sabotage that endangers her business—and find her heart melting for an Alaskan ranger? Can love conquer all when the past threatens the protective walls of Deanna Smith’s remote job? Will Denali spell disaster or dream-come-true romance?

Review
I usually don’t like short stories or novellas because everything happens so quickly. However, when I saw one of the author’s names, I knew I had to read to this book. And I was not disappointed. Like most short stories there was a kind of assumed background for all the stories, but still each story worked so well. I liked that many of the characters were recycled throughout all four to attempt to give the collection a seamlessness (though I do feel that some of their personalities changed a wee bit). Overall, a great collection and I am so glad I read it. Spiritually, a big theme is overcoming your fear, but that’s not surprising seeing as climbing Denali is a huge part of the novel. For those of you who like short stores, highly recommended.

**I recieved this copy from netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

Posted in Personal

Monday Musings…When Authors Fall in Love with Their Own Heroes

Posted on by remaininhislove

In the past few months, I have read some books where I noticed that the author has fallen in love with their own hero. It makes for a bad read. Usually this is apparent in series. The first book is normal, but the next few books…are not. This effect can happen in a stand-alone as well, depending on the length of the novel. Here are a few signs that the author has fallen for her own hero:

1)      He’s becoming perfect. In the first book, the hero was great. Flawed, but loveable. But by the end of the series the hero is perfect. He stands in front of every bullet, he only acts to cherish his lady, he is completely self-sacrificing, he is the morally strong one, and there are constant references to his physique throughout the novel. I think flaws are what make people unique, but when the hero starts to become perfect, then he is generic. His essence has been killed because the author fell in love with him herself.

2)      He’s becoming annoying. I really like the interaction between the hero and the heroine. Usually, I am of the mind that there can never be enough. But I have read the novels where I’m like could the heroine please interact with someone else? Dude is annoying. And it’s not because he is a jerk, it’s because he is starting to act obsessive with the heroine and you wonder if he has any other coherent thought other than romance.

3)      Important issues take a back seat. When the heroine is being chased by a murderer or you know that bad consequences are right around the corner, that is not the time to be focusing on your relationship. An author cannot create suspense, have you scared of the dark, and then focus on romance. I love romance. But it has to have its place. Just because the hero is there, doesn’t mean all the scariness in the world has simply faded away leaving only the hero and the heroine. There can be romance, but use it like salt…and remember that too much will overpower it.

4) Superfluous scenes. I think every scene in the novel should lead to some kind of reveal. There should be a point to it, even if it is small. But if at any time I’m wondering to myself why is this scene in the novel and its about the hero, then the author has fallen in love with her own hero. The author has actually taken me out of the novel and questioning its point. If you’ve already established that the hero is one way, you don’t have to do it again, and again, and again. Unnecessary scenes can ruin a book.

So, if you read this blog, you know I believe fiction is fiction. Characters should be allowed to do things that ordinary people can’t and that includes falling in love with near perfect people. I also think that if the author does not like her own hero, the reader won’t. But if the author is too in love with her hero, than it’s like she’s force-feeding him down the readers throat and he simply becomes an irritation. With all that said, does anyone agree? Disagree? Have any points to add?