Category: Uncategorized

About

Their journey to Merakh should have made Errol and his companions heroes of the realm. Instead, much is changed on their return. In the wake of the king’s death, Duke Weir is ruling the country–and his intentions are to marry Adora to bring an heir.

With Errol and the others imprisoned and the identity of the rightful heir to the throne still hidden in secrecy, Illustra is on the verge of civil war–and at growing risk from the armies of Merakh and Morgol.

A dangerous mission to free Errol succeeds, but the dangers facing the kingdom are mounting with every passing moment. The barrier has fallen, ferals are swarming toward the land, and their enemies draw near. Will the revelation of Illustra’s next true king come in time or will all be lost?

Review

I cannot express just how thrilled I was when I received this book. Errol is probably one of my favorite characters of all times. Now onto the review:

If you have read the first two novels then you know that the first book is all Errol’s viewpoint, the second is Errol and Martin’s viewpoint, and this last one is Errol, Martin and Adora’s viewpoint. While some may prefer having Errol be the only voice (and to a certain degree I missed that), I still very much enjoyed Martin and Adora’s point of view. I will say that I always felt like Adora was not that important, but getting to know her as a character really brought strength and likeability. Before I wasn’t sure why she was so attached to Errol. Now I know, and I became really invested in their relationship. I would argue that book three is the most romantic of the series. 

There is also a number of questions that must be answered in this book and even a new one that is created in the beginning. The solution? Well, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out. This book has adventure, adventure, action, and adventure. At the end of the book, I did guess correctly an answer or two, but there was still at least two or three things that had me completely surprised. I must say, that the whole time I was reading the book, I kept thinking (and I’m sure you will to), now how are they going to make this work. 

Was it completely satisfying in the end? Yes and no. Yes it answered all my questions and ended all tightly wrapped up. No because Errol, I don’t want you to be done. I don’t want the adventure to be over. In fact, when I closed this book, I immediately picked up book one again. Errol is just that awesome. 

Spiritually, the novel deals with death and what death in Christ (Aurae) looks like and how trusting God means that you can’t trust yourself and the old ways of doing things. The novel really comes full circle with this one and you get the message that I think Mr. Carr has been trying to get across since book one.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Just sad that the series is over!

Romantic scale: 7.5

**I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

There are a lot of awesome books coming out in 2014 and I’m so excited to read them! However, there are a couple of books that I will be counting down the months for. Here is my list:

1. Becky Wade’s Meant to Be Mine.

2. Karen Witemeyer’s Full Steam Ahead.

3. Dani Pettrey’s Silenced.

4. Deeanne Gist’s Fair Play.

5. Julie Lessman’s Dare to Love Again

6. Elizabeth Camden’s With Every Breath.

7. Jody Hedlund’s Captured By Love

8. Ronie Kendig’s Raptor 6

9. Lisa T. Bergren’s Remnants

10. Jill Williamson’s Outcasts

 

What books are you looking forward to?

About

In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can’t keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straits with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she’s also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?

A Cowboy Unmatched
Neill isn’t sure who hired him to repair Clara’s roof–he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love?

An Unforeseen Match
Hoping to earn an honest wage on his way to the land rush, Clayton ends up on Grace’s doorstep, lured by a classified ad. He may have signed on for more than he expected though–and he may have found the one woman who can keep him from moving on.

No Match for Love
Andrew can’t fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more?

Meeting Her Match
When the tables are turned and a tenderhearted meddler becomes the beneficiary of a matchmaking scheme, her world is turned upside down. As her entire life changes, will she finally be able to tell the banker’s son how much she cares for him?

Review

Novellas are not my favorite, usually because I want more. And while I still wanted more, I really did enjoy the short stories in this collection. Some were better than others, but some also made me take a second look at authors who I hadn’t read in a while. First off, I really liked the overarching theme of a mysterious matchmaker. Because they are novellas written by different authors, it’s a bit difficult to try to guess who the matchmaker is, but I still enjoyed the big reveal in the end.

With Karen Witemeyer’s, it was great to see Neill Archer and then later, the rest of the Archer clan. If you’ve read her last two novels, you will not want to miss out on this one!

With Regina Jennings novel, the story presented a heroine with a unique problem that I’ve only read about once before. I loved her take on it.

Carol Cox issues her trademark mystery that is creative and will have you thinking.

Mary Conneally’s novella has her usual humor and rounds up the collection in a lovely way.

Spiritually, all the women and men learn to trust God with their future when their past hasn’t gone the way they expected.

Again, the only thing I didn’t like was that I wanted more!

Romantic Scale (it was a bit hard with these, so I asked myself, which story makes the most sense in regards to falling in love fast):

Witemeyer: 8

Jennings: 8.5

Cox: 7

Conneally: 9

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

About

When a Warning Siren Screams in the Desert Night, 
the Worst Has Happened

After turning out plutonium for the Cold War, the shuttered Hanford Nuclear Facility’s poisoned buildings may be a bigger risk than ever. The men who guard the facility from sabotage or monitor its buildings are told the dangers are under control. But then the worst happens–a thunderous explosion in the dead of night.

Kieran Mullaney survived the blast, but when threats and silence meet his attempts to discover what really happened, he reconnects with an old friend–inexperienced lawyer Emily Hart. Convinced Hanford is hiding something, they also realize their case is sunk without more help. 

Emily’s estranged father, Ryan, has the courtroom experience they need, but he’s grown jaded and weary of the profession. Still, it’s a chance to rebuild ties to Emily, and the deeper he digs, the stranger–and more dangerous–the case gets.

Review

Let me just start off first by saying that this isn’t the kind of novel that I usually read. But I liked it. Crictical Reaction is kind of like the film A Civil Action. You’ve got this town Hanford where you just know something shady is going on, but proving it is almost impossible. With odds like these, I was very much excited to see how it would all go down. 

First off, there was definite suspense. I will admit to being lost in some of the details of nuclear physics, but I got the points. It’s not quite a mystery because you know who the bad guys are, but watching Emily, Poppy, Kieran, and Ryan unravel it still keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

I really liked the father-daughter angle of the novel. To see Ryan’s love and protectiveness of Emily and to watch her get to know her father again really worked well in this book. I’m generally a romance only reader, but I liked seeing the growth in their relationship and I found it to be something that kept the pages turning.

The best part of the novel? the trial. Though it helps that I’m a lawyer, I think people just love a good legal novel with motions being filed, objections raised, and interesting witnesses. This one really delivers. I really honed in on that trial and it was probably the best part of the book for me.

I will say that there were a lot of characters and at times, some were more interesting then others, but overall a this book was a very enjoyable read, exceeding my expectations. 

Romantic Scale: 4

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

About

Beowulf—a hulky, brindle-coated bullmastiff—is the only “boy” for Timbrel Hogan. And she has a history to remind her why. But when Timbrel, a handler at A Breed Apart, embarks on a mission to detect WMDs in Afghanistan, she reunites with Tony “Candyman” VanAllen and her no-other-man philosophy is challenged. While tension mounts between Timbrel and Tony, the team comes under fire after Beowulf gets a “hit.” When tragedy threatens Tony’s career and Timbrel’s courage, they must maneuver through an intricate plot and a mission like no other. . . .

Review

The Mission: Intense. The action is fast-paced and gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was thoroughly engrossed in Tony’s and Timbrel’s mission. Probably less so in the bad guys. Tony and Timbrel were so engaging to me that I wanted to skip over anything that interrupted their story. I am in awe of the way Ms. Kendig creates these missions for the team and how it all seems to come full circle in its own way. It reads as very realistic and never once have I felt that her novels were phony (I say this with authority, does it matter where it comes from? lol)

The Romance: Frustrating (in both a good and bad way). I loved Tony. He made sense to me. Even when he had clear flaws, I only wanted to root for him. The way he chased after Timbrel almost had me swooning. Timbrel. Um…girlfriend was a bit crazy. She would do things, and I would wonder why. And then we would get an explanation for why she is the way she is. And then I would be like okay I understand. And then she would do something again that was abominably rude (I will admit that rudeness is my pet peeve, this may or may not have influenced my reactions to her) and I would be like I don’t know about you girl. And then! Then, there was a chance, I thought that she could totally redeem herself by treating Tony the way he treated her. And that didn’t work out quite the way I wanted. Yet, Timbrel never crossed the line where I plain didn’t like her. She may have been standing right on the line with a foot in the air, but she didn’t cross it. I said all this to say, that when you have a great man and a cantankerous woman, it makes for a romance that leaves me wondering if these people’s relationship would really last ten years from now. Things were resolved, but I felt like some issues still needed to be resolved. 

The Spiritual Things: Awesome. To a certain degree, Tony is a stand in for Jesus in the way that he loves Timbrel in spite of her ways and chases her down when she clearly doesn’t want to be caught. When Timbrel is finally caught (by the Lord!), it’s a beautiful thing and a beautiful transition (even if a bit slow). There is also a theme of learning to trust God when plans have been changed. 

Overall: Success! Captures you from the first page and you won’t stop thinking about the characters. If you’ve read the other books in this series, you must read this one (And if you haven’t started the series yet, you’re missing out!)

Romantic Scale: 8.7

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

About

Happily Ever After …Or Happily Nevermore? 
Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns the duke’s son, Valten—the boy she has daydreamed about for years—is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

Review

The Captive Maiden picks up about two years later after The Fairest Beauty. Only this time we’re in Valten’s head. I was so glad to see him get his own book. Somehow he managed to capture my attention even though his role was small in the previous novel. He doesn’t disappoint. I really liked Valten and I enjoyed seeing him develop over the course of the novel. His character made complete sense to me and he managed to read as the classic storybook hero without managing to seem silly.

 The Captive Maiden does a beautiful job of capturing the basics of the Cinderella’s story and still showing how Valten and Gisella could manage to fall for each other in a short period of time. The step-mother and step-sisters were cruel, but Gisela never failed to lack spirit. There is also another villain who is introduced and I will say that he wasn’t a very good villain. He just kept messing things up.

If there was anything I didn’t like about the novel, it would have to be some of the grandiose language. I thought the story had that fairytale feel and probably didn’t need language along the lines of ‘I must do away with the villain’ and  she is the “most beautiful, purest, loveliest maiden,” (these are not direct quotes). Sometimes it seemed a bit much. 

Spiritually, I loved the way Valten desired to have a purpose in life an d that he learned to put his faith in God first and himself second. I also liked that Gisela had to learn to care after years of training herself not to care. 

Overall, very good novel. Delicious fairytale. I hope there is another!

Romantic Scale: 9

I happen to own doubles of two Susan May Warren novels and in the spirit of Christmas, I would love to give them away! I will let you pick the book you want. Just leave a comment below with the name of the novel you want plus your email address. I will pick a random winner. The winner must live in the U.S. and respond within 48 hours of being notified of their win. The contest ends Dec 13th. Here are your choices:

                                  -or-

If no one wins the novel you want in this round, don’t worry there will be another!

One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America. 

In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. Clinging to her faith, she joins her husband, Finn, on a journey to North America. 

But even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself–and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart. 

Almost five centuries before Columbus, Viking women sailed to North America with their husbands. God’s Daughter, Book One in the Vikings of the New World Saga, offers an expansive yet intimate look into the world of Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir–daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America.

Review

I haven’t really read very many books about the Vikings. And frankly, I know even less about their history, but when I finished this novel I felt like I was an expert.  Ms. Day does a fabulous job of weaving history seamlessly throughout her novel. I learned so much about that time and era. Most importantly (at least to me) Gudrid, the main character, was a woman of her times. She was strong and had her own mind, and yet worked within the rules of her system, in spite of the fact that she lived in a time when women were little more than chairs in a room. 

Gudrid is someone to be admired. She’s outlived a couple of husbands, she lives with Vikings, and she’s one of the few Christians in a pagan society. Let’s not forget that she is, apparently, every Viking man’s dream (and I don’t mean that sarcastically). In regards to the romance, I didn’t know who the author wanted me to root for until closer to the end of the novel. I know she’s married in the beginning and I always root for the husband, but they lived in dangerous times. I wasn’t sure if I should expect his death or what. That said, Gudrid is not a fickle woman who makes silly mistakes. She comes across as real, authentic, relatable, and a very trustworthy narrator. I liked Gudrid. And I was sad when her narration ended.

Spiritually, if you think it’s hard to be a Christian in this world, it must have been so hard for those who lived amongst out and out pagan societies and without a Bible. Gudrid’s faith in God is admirable. She never wavers no matter how hard things gets and she continues to trust in spite of the fact that no one else will believe God with her. The novel also portrays just how loving God is. Why would you want to serve another?

This novel isn’t written in the usual formulaic way. In some ways it’s a bit more gritty than most Christian romance (Vikings….that is all). I couldn’t put it down though, and I eagerly want to read more. Recommended!

Romantic scale: 8 (considering who she ends up with at the end)