Lisa T. Bergren's The Betrayed ~ Reviewed

The Betrayed (Book 2 of The Gifted)
Lisa T. Bergren
Berkley
ISBN: 0425217086
ISBN-13: 9780425217085

Description:

The first book in Lisa T. Bergren's Gifted trilogy, The Begotten, was hailed by Library Journal as "a full-bodied, absorbing tale that combines authentic historical detail with a universally appealing and gripping story that will have readers cheering." Now the breathtaking quest of the spiritually empowered Gifted ones-prophesized in a long-lost illuminated letter from the apostle Paul-continues as the healer, the priest, and the knight gather together to fight a battle in a profound new war. For the enemies of the Gifted are gathering, led by an evil lord who will do anything to destroy their unwavering faith.

My Review:

I love this series.

Intrigue, passion, hope, heart, history.

If you love great stories, tight writing and church history teamed with romance, fantasy, suspense and mystery, you've got to get this series. If you loved DaVinci Code, Rivers' The Mark of the Lion, Bright and Cavanaugh's Great Awakenings you'll find much to like in The Gifted series.

As far as flaws, they are tiny. Three very similar names of major players confused me at the beginning, but once I figured it out, it didn't hinder my enjoyment. Bergren does a small amount of telling and some passive writing, but to tighten this series up any further would have made the story almost too tense.

Those who will not read speculative Biblical fiction may not like this series. It is based on a "lost" letter. Bergren does not twist doctrine or attempt to rewrite Scripture, she just adds a story line happening centuries after the Bible, as we know it, was fully formed. What if the gifts of the Spirit landed on individuals who then were drawn together in a group and called to fulfill a path chosen by God? Good question and the amazing story playing out in just such a scenario.

The Betrayed is a powerfully written, gut-wrenching tale. As the characters agonize and struggle with the Gift that each has been given, and the responsibility that comes with it, I couldn't help but think of Job's wife's counsel. "Curse God and die."

The characters are brought to that point, the one where all they have left is the struggle between believing God is who He says He is, and finding a shortcut out of their pain. Each character is three dimensionally formed and believable as they accept, in degrees and layers, God's calling and their expected obedience.

The spiritual warfare aspect of the book is powerful as well, classic good versus evil, but with the good showing weakness and insecurity and evil showing raw magnetism.

Reviewed by Kelly Klepfer
http://www.kellyklepfer.blogspot.com/ (visit for a mini interview with Lisa)

Jessica Dotta's Born of Persuasion ~ Reviewed

BORN OF PERSUASION

By Jessica Dotta

Published by Tyndall

ISBN#978-1-4143-7555-7

427 Pages

Back Cover:  The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

Review:

All right. I’ll admit it. I LOVE the villain in Born of Persuasion. Mr. Macy is the most suave and endearing creepy character I’ve ever met…hence my honorary title of President of the Macy Fan Club. No, really. When you’ve finished reading the book, check the acknowledgements.

Author Jessica Dotta has penned quite a memorable novel debut—not a light and fluffy read. The writing is exquisite, with danger and intrigue shadowing every scene. A strong undercurrent of who to believe and what to believe runs throughout. This is the kind of book to curl up with on a dark, windy evening with a cup of tea and candlelight.

Julia is the heroine. Sometimes you’ll ache for her, other times you’ll want to shake some sense into her. Either way, she will evoke emotion in you. Hers is a haunting story, sad and forlorn, yet glimpses of love and hope are sprinkled in at times.

Other characters step directly off the pages of an Austen novel or appear to be from Downton Abbey. Nancy, the say-it-like-it-is lady’s maid. Mrs. Windham, a Mrs. Bennett wannabe. Lady Foxmore, conniving and underhanded. All of them are an unforgettable cast. The settings are just as spectacular, think Bleak House mixed with Jane Eyre.

Do not expect all your questions to be satisfactorily answered by the end of this first book. In fact, you’ll likely have just as many questions as when you start—which will make it all the more exciting to devour books 2 and 3 when they come out. This is a series that has earned a permanent place on my bookshelves. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Bonus Review:  I’m thankful for a review copy of a book that plunged me into the middle of the Victorian Era and captivated my mind, and emotions. I agonized with main character Julia Elliston’s challenge. Her world turned upside down by the death of her mother. “She is orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands and/or guardians, Julia would soon discover she is at the mercy of an anonymous guardian, one who planed to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.”

 Julie goes to Am Meer to be with her Aunt and cousin. The only family she had. There she meets a woman who’s a match maker. She tells Julie she can find her a husband before she’s shipped off to Scotland for a nice price, decisions, decisions.

I hung on every word as the drama unfolded for the reader at the same time the main character learned her fate. Just when I thought I had things figured out the tale would morph into something I hadn’t expected. I was drawn into this authors’ world through her writing style, description, and emotion, I lost all track of time.

Julie thinks after she arrives at Am Meer, “Secrets I had kept. Lies I had told. All to protect two people who had ended up betraying me in every possible manner. My very flesh recoiled at the thought of being considered a frivolous youth, and it wrought a change in my countenance.

You gravely mistake me, then.” I said in a hard voice, ready to gather my shirts and leave.” Later on in the story Julie says,

“…I realized how much we’d lost over a simple misunderstanding. I have found that those who try to shield us from the truth, regardless of the reason, end up doing the greatest harm. Truth alone sets you free, not lies and omissions.”

I was hooked from the first page, you will be too. It says, “Later, when I allowed myself to confront the memories, to dwell on the particulars, I realized my arrival at Am Meer marked the beginning.

Not the mysterious letter that drained the life from Mama. Not her suicide….For those happenings were not my story. I was sinless there. They were the end result of events set in motion long before I arrived at the cottage. I could no more have stopped their unfolding than I could have prevented my own birth.”

This book is absolutely entertaining and brilliantly written, with lovable flawed characters. Full of witty dialogue that opened windows into a world of intriguing mystery as this author explores love, faith and honor. Jane Austen fans will love this instant classic that dropped me into all the richness of the Victorian Era. I highly recommend this book for a great read and it’s a definitely book club pick. You’ll have to leave extra time to talk about all the drama inside these pages. Jessica Dotta’s debut novel is a must read and this author is one to watch.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

Yet Another: 

Jessica Dotta has clearly invested heart and soul into her debut novel. The historical richness shines through her skill as a storyteller giving me a peek into a very different time and place. A place when women were at the mercy of the men in their lives. A time when a young girl could find herself without resources, a future, kindness or hope. 

Julia finds herself exactly there. Her mother has died and Julia carries a horrible secret about her mother's death. A guardian has stepped in, but anonymously, and with plans for her to away to Scotland to serve as a hired hand. Julia had other plans for her future that included the handsome young Edward who's parents could not consider her as a worthy match. As Julia discovers she can possibly have one more chance to claim his heart she finds that he has betrayed her by becoming a clergyman. Her father had been anti-religion and anti-God. Julia can't marry a man of the cloth. And Edward, knowing full well that she won't embrace his God won't have her after all. 

A dashing wealthy man offers protection to Julia and a way for her to avoid Scotland. But at what cost?

As Julia agonizes over the choice she must make, and make quickly as her departure to Scotland looms, pieces of a very bizarre puzzle began to fall all about her. Each decision she ponders and ultimately makes ends up turning over more pieces until she has no hope of picking one that won't leave her in a difficult situation and might very harm the very few dear ones she has left in her life. 

Dotta's writing is an artist's brush and with it she paints murals. I think she works in oils because the work is pungent with realism and all sense awakening descriptions. A heavy melancholy hangs over the work like an anemic British sun that fights to bring light through the shroud of doom. Those who love the works of the greats of the time period such as Austen should find much to love in this novel. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

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J.M. Windle's Betrayed ~ Reviewed

BETRAYED

By J. M. Windle

Published by: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc.

ISBN#978-1-4143-14-7

Pages 365

Back Cover:

Fires smolder endlessly blow the dangerous surface of Guatemala City’s municipal dump. Deadlier fires see the beneath the tenuous calm of a nation recovering from brutal civil war. Anthropologist Vicki Andrews is researching Guatemala’s “garbage people” when she stumbles across a human body. Curiosity turns to horror as she uncovers no stranger, but an American environmentalist and Vicki’s only sister, Holly.

With authorities dismissing the death as another street crime, Vicki begins tracing Holly’s last steps, a pilgrimage leading from slum squalor to the breathtaking and endangered cloud forests of the Sierra de las Minas biosphere. But every unraveled thread raises more questions. What betrayal connects Holly’s murder, the recent massacre of a Mayan village and the long-ago deaths of Vicki’s own parents?

Nor is Vicki the only one demanding answers. Before her pilgrimage reaches its startling end, the conflagration has spilled across international borders to threaten an American administration and the current war on terror. With no one turning out to be who they’d seemed, who can Vicki trust and who should she fear?

A politically relevant tale of international intrigue and God’s redemptive beauty and hope.

REVIEW:

Jeanette gives you quite an insightful view of Guatemala City’s internal government structure and how life works for them over there. She weaves quite a suspenseful story that involves many big players such as the CIA, Guatemalan police and the American Embassy to name just a few. Who are the good guys? Is there a bad guy? If so who? Who killed Vicki’s sister Holly? Where? Why? Vicki needed the answers to these questions.

Vicki didn’t know who to trust – she suspects everyone is corrupt – the rules are so different in Guatemala City. Vicki soon realizes that being an “American Citizen” means nothing in Guatemala. The longer Vicki stays in this country she sees firsthand how no one has any rights, villages are raided, people tortured and killed no police are called to help the victims, nothing is done about any of these events it’s just chalked up to “street crime”. Vicki soon discovers that she is in the heart of a Guerilla warfare area and there is a secret about the Sierra de las Mines Biosphere!! What was it? And why was this a area restricted? Vicki couldn’t stand it any longer she had to do something. This was just not right. Her sister along with others had been murdered. She would get to the bottom of this matter or die trying. Who can she turn to? She wants justice for all; but How???

In the middle of her dilemma Vicki comes to the realization that this life isn’t our real destination or real home. “In fact, it’s just the start. More like boot camp, you might say from the point of view of eternity…After all, we were never called to save the whole world, just our part!”. I say Amen to that!!

I also loved it when Vicki says this prayer in the middle of craziness that went like this “God, I can’t run your universe or fix it all. Forgive me for being arrogant enough to even think it’s my job. All you call me to do is my part… Do what is right and do not give way to fear.” It’s a powerful message – a powerful book!!!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

Kathi Macias's Deliver Me From Evil ~ Reviewed

Deliver Me from Evil (Freedom)
Kathi Macias
Publisher:New Hope Publishers
Pub Date:09/05/2011
ISBN:9781596693067


Back Cover:

Deliver Me from Evil introduces readers to Mara, an eighteen-year-old girl who has been enslaved for nearly ten years, having been sold by her parents in Mexico and then smuggled across the border into San Diego where she was forced into sexual slavery. Readers will also meet 18-year-old, Bible-college-bound Jonathan and his 16-year-old sister, Leah, whose paths cross Mara's and who become involved in her dramatic rescue.

Interwoven between the stories of Mara, Jonathan, and Leah is the heartbreaking story of another young woman in captivity in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, whose past life mysteriously connects to the young people in San Diego.

Review:

Some novels entertain, some challenge, and some penetrate to the deepest recesses of your heart. In Delivery Me From Evil, Kathi Macias brings the issue of human trafficking to the forefront of our minds, removing the option of apathy. And yet, she does much more than weave a thought-provoking, and at times, gut-wrenching story. Throughout her novel, using various characters from different walks of life, she presents options for positive change.

We begin the story with Mara, an eighteen year old who should be planning for college and dreaming of her future but who, instead, spends each day fighting for survival. Her greatest defense is a hardened heart, if only she could keep the walls barring her emotions erected. Her heart bleeds for the abused children brought into the brothel, but her fight-or-flight instinct forces her to choke down her compassion. She’s learned the hard way--emotions are dangerous and human attachments lead to pain. Beaten, humiliated, abandoned, and betrayed, she’s given up hope for better, until, standing in the doorway of a seedy hotel, she meets the gaze of a man with eyes free of hatred and lustful hunger. Could kind men exist? Those who aren’t out to use and abuse her? Although the question draws her, her shattered heart fights against the hope it awakens.

Meanwhile, Jonathan, the young man who catches a glimpse of Mara while delivering a pizza, can’t shake the image of the terror-filled eyes staring out at him from a hotel room doorway. He tries to rationalize away what he saw, but God pricks his heart, bringing heart-wrenching clarity. As the reality of what he witnesses weighs down on him, the enormity of the problem becomes overwhelming. Sex trafficking in the United States? The thought is inconceivable, and yet, the truth is undeniable. But what can he, a high school senior, do? He’s faced with two choices: pretend this evil doesn’t exist or potentially risk his life to do something about it.

I loved this novel because not only does it educate through the story, but Kathi also provided numerous ways readers can get involved. As each character responds differently—from initiating meetings to sharing their testimony—readers understand that although the issue of human trafficking is monumental, there are ways to make a difference. The biggest of which may very well be awareness and education.

This was the first novel I’ve read by Kathi and I loved seeing her heart pour into the pages. Her choice of characters brought her message home. Through Jonathan and Mara—a youth about to embark on a very promising future and another youth robbed of her humanity—sex-trafficking victims are given a name and a face. In reading, it made me realize, but by the grace of God there goes my child or my sister. Which left me with one burning question—if Mara were my sister or daughter, to what lengths would I go to free her?

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery
Clash of the Titles

Stephanie Landsem's The Tomb ~ Reviewed

The Tomb: A Novel of Martha
by Stephanie Landsem
Series: The Living Water Series
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Howard Books (March 17, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451689128

Description:

In this captivating retelling of a classic biblical story, Jesus shocks the town of Bethany with Lazarus’s resurrection from the dead, leading Martha—a seemingly perfect woman trapped by the secrets of her past—to hope and a new life.

Everyone in Bethany admires Martha—the perfect Jewish woman. She feeds and clothes her loved ones, looks after the family farm, and meticulously follows every precept of the Pharisees’ strict laws. But Martha is hiding a secret. At her sister’s marriage feast, she gave her heart and her innocence to a young musician who promised to return and marry her, but instead betrayed her love and abandoned her.

Seven years later, only two people in Bethany know of Martha’s secret sin: her brother, Lazarus, and Simon, the righteous Pharisee to whom Martha is betrothed. When Lazarus falls ill, Martha is faced with a choice: send for Jesus to save her dying brother—risking the wrath of Simon who threatens to betray her—or deny Jesus’ healing power and remain trapped in her tomb of secrecy and lies.

Meanwhile, on the shores of Galilee, Isa roams the wilderness, tortured by demons and knowing only that someone is waiting for him. When he is healed by Jesus, he finds that seven years have passed since his descent into madness. Isa journeys home to Bethany only to find he is too late to win back Martha’s love. 

When Martha risks all to heal Lazarus, will Jesus arrive in time, or will he—like Isa—come too late?

Review: 

The Tomb is a story of what Martha, Mary and Lazarus's lives might have been like leading up to Lazarus being raised from the dead. It shows the qualities of Martha and Mary that we are familiar with from Scripture and expands upon it. Mary's character is a care free spirit, who is devoted to the Lord and doesn't worry about what the other people in the village think of her. Martha sticks to the rules, attempting to be the perfect example of a Jewish woman, and everyone looks up to her. However, in this story, she carries a heavy secret which gives insight as to why she might have been the way she was.

While I was engaged in the story, I also had to try to disconnect myself from the fact that it was about people in the Bible. Since it gave a storyline that's not in the Bible, but a presumption of what might have happened, I think we need to be careful not to influence our reading of the scripture, reading things into it that aren't there. I feel like I now have to really be careful because of the picture painted of Martha in this story, not to let it effect the truth in the Word. Not sure if that makes sense, but that's the best way I can explain it. It was interesting for what it was, but I feel you need to be very careful when making up a fictional story about real people in the Bible so as not to warp the reader's view.
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Beth Webb Hart's Sunrise on the Battery ~ Review

Sunrise on the Battery
Beth Webb Hart
List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595542000
ISBN-13: 978-1595542007


Description:


She wanted her husband to attend the town’s society-driven church.


God answered her prayer in a radical way.


An emptiness dogs Mary Lynn Scoville. But it shouldn’t. After all, she’s achieved what few believed possible. Born in the rural south, she has reached the pinnacle of worldly success in Charleston, South Carolina. Married to a handsome real estate developer and mother to three accomplished daughters, Mary Lynn is one Debutante Society invitation away from truly having it all. And yet, it remains—an emptiness that no shopping trip, European vacation, or social calendar can fill.


When a surprise encounter leads her to newfound faith, Mary Lynn longs to share it with her husband. But Jackson wrote God off long ago. Mary Lynn prays for him on Christmas Eve...and her husband undergoes a life-altering, Damascus Road experience. As Jackson begins to take the implications of the Gospel literally, Mary Lynn feels increasingly isolated from her husband...and betrayed by God. She only wanted Jackson beside her at church on Sunday mornings, not some Jesus freak who evangelizes prostitutes and invites the homeless to tea.


While her husband commits social suicide and the life they worked so hard for crumbles around them, Mary Lynn wonders if their marriage can survive. Or if perhaps there really is a more abundant life that Jackson has discovered, richer than any she’s ever dreamed of.




Review:


I've known Southern families like the ones described in this story - families with "old" money who had a culture all of their own. I've know people who tried to fit into that "world" with hard work and the success that followed - trying to make things "better" for the kids - and the mayhem that often followed. And I've known folks who have been radically transformed from the bondage of the care of the world through the blood of Christ. In short, I identified strongly with all of the characters in this story. I understood their fear, their longing to fit in, their longing to be accepted for who they were - the longing to be accepted by Christ.


This is a multi-layered story. Read beneath the surface and be prepared to be challenged by what you find there. This is a story that will touch your heart and challenge you to examine your spiritual motives. Great read!


Reviewed by: Kim Ford 

Bonus Review:

Sunrise on the Battery is about a wealthy, up and coming young family trying to make a name for themselves in the Old Society in Charleston, South Carolina.  Jackson and Mary Lynn Scoville come from “poor” beginnings, but through good investments and knowing the right people, become very wealthy, with a goal to provide all that money can buy for their children.  In the meantime, they lose sight of what’s important, as Jackson pushes his children towards perfection.  Mary Lynn senses an emptiness in her life that she feels can be filled by the Lord, but Jackson’s disinterest in anything with God makes things difficult, so she begins to pray for him.  Suddenly, Jackson takes an interest and does a complete 180 degree turn when he finds the truth and gives his life to Christ.  However, his over-zealous lifestyle change threatens to affect everything they’ve worked towards, including their acceptance into the Charleston High Society.
                 
It took me a bit to get into this book, but I really enjoyed it.  It showed, in Mary Lynn, how many folks take an interest in spiritual things, but when the challenge comes to decide what’s more important, God’s opinion or people’s opinion, those that aren’t truly committed to Christ are brought to light.  Jackson didn’t care what society thought once he realized what was really important.  His heart was in serving the Lord and he had a deep concern for the spiritual state of everyone he came across.  It was wonderful to see the spiritual growth in the characters.


Reviewed by: Sarah Porter

Robin Caroll's Injustic for All ~ Reviewed

Injustice for All, Justice Seekers Series #1

By: Robin Caroll

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 352

Vendor: B&H Books

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN: 143367212X

Premise:

A federal judge is bleeding on his office floor, betrayed by a most unlikely source—people who helped him bring criminals to justice. Now, why would someone working for the FBI need to disappear after witnessing this crime?

When Remington Wyatt sees her godfather’s murder, she recognizes the killers and knows it’s only a matter of time before they come to silence her. She must do the only thing possible to stay alive . . . run.

FBI agent Rafe Baxter is serious about his career, and solving a cold case involving a federal judge’s death puts him in line for the promotion he so desires. But the case leads him to the small town of Hopewell, Louisiana, where some secrets seem inextricably hidden deep within the bayou.

Injustice for All explores what happens when everything a person believes in is utterly destroyed. Who can you trust?

Review:

In this story, Injustice for All, the lead character Remington Wyatt has a life altering moment after the death of her godfather which leads to her choice of witness protection to save her life. A federal judge, Daniel Tate, is shot dead as this book begins. He was the godfather of Remington after the death of her parents. As he is dying in his mansion, Daniel tells Remington to take everything out of his safe and protect it with her life.

Several years later, the events of that day are beginning to resurface themselves as a cold case which the FBI is reexamining. This reopening occurred when FBI agent Rafe Baxter decides to transfer from one bureau office to another in hope to bring the fire back into his career. As the premise states above, the case leads him to Louisiana.

Remington Wyatt who changed her name to Bella Miller years before, is now coming under attack. The new identity in a new town starts to unravel the loyalty and friendship she created with Police Commissioner Hayden Simpson and the people of Hopewell.

Robin Caroll has yet again written a fast paced quick page turning novel that is full of fear, faith and forgiveness. It is a great suspense novel in a territory that Robin knows so well. If you are considering being a first time reader of Caroll’s work, then you can do no wrong in choosing Injustice for All. It is the beginning of a new series and if you are like me, it only wets your appetite to want to read more of her work. I give this book a 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!

Reviewed by: Bradley Evans

Bonus Review:

“Every muscle in my body stiffened, and my mouth went spitless. Chambering a round was a distinct sound, unmistakable.”

Are you hooked? I was. These are the first two lines of this riveting, suspenseful novel called Injustice for All. It’s the first book in the Justice Seekers series. Wow, what an amazing start. I’m thankful for the review copy that has introduced me to characters I instantly cared about and story that kept me up late reading.

My heart went out to the main character Remington Wyatt as she walked in on her godfather, Daniel’s tragic situation. The men don’t see her but she can hear every word they say as they plan his termination. She recognizes their voices. She can’t believe this is happening – everything she’s believed in crumbles right before her eyes!! These men were supposed to be good guys. She’s got to run so she can stay alive long enough to seek justice for Daniel’s murder.

Where do you hide when the system is corrupt and you don’t know who the good guys are? Who do you trust? No one but yourself, of course and that’s what Remington does.

At the same time Rafe Baxter confused about his relationship with God and where he’s headed in life. Rafe accepted Christ as his Savior but struggles to believe he is truly forgiven for his past. He accepted God’s unconditional love but is hung-up on being forgiven for past sin. He takes a new job so his partner can stay in the area to help with his daughters medical care. Rafe hopes that maybe this sacrifice would pay for his sins?

I enjoyed Hayden, a man who’s trying to do the right thing, praying and staying grounded when his world is rocked apart. He try’s to help his sister who’s bi-polar, and a mom who is a worry-wart. He’s so thankful God has brought him a friend to help, Bella, she’s someone he can talk to and trust. I loved the banter between characters. They have fun with one another in a good way. This author has well timed humor mixed in with the suspense! Great blend.

Bella and Rafe talk about what their hobbies are, Rafe says to Bella, “I like walks and hikes…reading? Not so much!”

Bella’s response, “How can you not love reading? It’s wonderful. An excursion, an adventure…an escape from reality.”

Bella adored reading and has a hard time grasping anyone not loving it. I could just hear Robin Caroll saying this to someone too! Bella is a passionate person with spunk I enjoyed reading about. Rafe is an FBI Agent trying to prove himself in a new office, so he picks a dead case to work on. Maybe he’d be the one to find the killer and make new friends.

This was one gripping novel from the start, and one I couldn’t put down. I loved Robin’s well timed humor mixed in with a believable spiritual thread. All this in the first book of the Justice Seekers series, I can’t wait to read the rest!!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network CEO

Maggie Brendan's Deeply Devoted ~ Reviewed

Deeply Devoted

By Maggie Branden

Published by Revell

Back Cover: 

When Catharine Olsen leaves Holland for America as a mail-order bride, she brings along some extra baggage: two sisters, her mother's set of Blue Willow china, and a tragic past. When she arrives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, she promptly marries Peter Andersen and dreams of starting life over in this rugged land. Peter is kind and patient with Catharine and accommodating to her sisters. His mother, however, is not. When she begins a campaign to sabotage Peter's marriage, Catharine is distraught, worried that her secret past will be discovered. Will her life end up as nothing but broken pieces? Or will these trials make her stronger?

Readers will love negotiating the clash of cultures and class as a highborn European and a Western wheat farmer learn to love one another and trust God with both the past and the future.

REVIEW:

 Deeply Devoted is the first in a new series written by Maggie Branden which takes place in 1887, Cheyenne Territory, Wyoming! I’m thankful for the review copy of such a fun, and encouraging book. The author pens a sweet, heart-felt story that reminds me of the Love Comes Softly series written by Jeanette Oke.

Maggie Branden pens a novel that gives the reader a peek at life back in 1887 and how hard it was to live in the Cheyenne Territory. I enjoyed all the quirky and fun characters in this book even the practical and responsible sister Catharine Olsen who was born and raised in Holland. She takes on the job of becoming a mail-order bride and moves her and her sisters to America.

Maggie said in her research, “Mail-order brides were a huge part of settling the West. My heroine was from Holland. Many Dutch Brides settled in Minnesota, but I took the liberty of having them travel to Wyoming to marry a wheat farmer.”

That’s when the fun begins. This author had me laugh out-loud when I read about these women of privilege learning to live on a wheat farm. Peter takes Catharine his bride and her sisters to the store to get suitable clothes to work in. The girls talk about their new clothes choices, these ladies were raised in a home of privilege they had servants and didn’t do any physical labor. So when this author describes a scene where the ladies go to a country store to look at clothes you have to laugh out-loud.

“Oh, look, there’s overalls like our stable boy wore back home,” Anna grinned. “I might like them.”

Catharine held up the overalls in disbelief. “I’m not really sure why we would need these.”

“Peter did say that we would be doing outdoor work, and working in a dress would be difficult in the wheat fields,”

…you know, I can see how it would be easier to do gardening in these than in a skirt with a lot of petticoats, can’t you? Anna said.

“Well, you could be right. But those shoes are hideous. I can’t see myself in them.” Greta groaned.

I enjoyed Catharine and the relationship she had with her sisters. They are playful and each has a different reaction to this new home and foreign land in America.

Catharine and her sisters might have gotten more than they bargained for but they are willing to give it their 100 percent. Peter, Catharine’s new husband thinks the same thing. Why hadn’t Catharine mentioned she was bringing her sisters in there letters? It was going to take some getting used to but he also was willing to do whatever it took to make the marriage work.

Peter’s mother however was filled with suspicion and felt betrayed by her son. How could he marry a women he’d never even met when she had the perfect woman already picked out for him right in their home town? They went to the same church even, grew up in the same school. This Catharine has bewitched her only son and she was going to do whatever it took to prove it. Why would a woman leave Holland with her sisters and move to America? She had no family here. She must be fleeing trouble. Peter’s mom would find out what kind of trouble if it was the last thing she did.

I enjoyed this novel, these characters getting to know the Wild West and Catharine’s love of china. Not just any China but the Blue Willow kind. It reminded her of home.  The author’s passion for history, family, Blue dishes and faith are fun to read about throughout this story. The faith message is not preachy but honest and believable. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel and the setting. I look forward to the other books in this series. I highly recommend this book for a great escape; you’ll be encouraged, energized and learned about American history along the way!! It doesn’t get any better than that.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network

Lori Benton's A Flight of Arrows ~ Reviewed

A FLIGHT OF ARROWS

Book 2 in the Pathfinder Series

By Lori Benton

Waterbrook

April 2016

ISBN 1601427344

BACK COVER:

It is said that what a man sows he will reap--and for such a harvest there is no set season. No one connected to Reginald Aubrey is untouched by the crime he committed twenty years ago. 

Not William, the Oneida child Reginald stole and raised as his own. Identity shattered, enlisted in the British army, William trains with Loyalist refugees eager to annihilate the rebels who forced them into exile. Coming to terms with who and what he is proves impossible, but if he breaks his Loyalist oath, he'll be no better than the man who constructed his life of lies.

Not Anna, Reginald's adopted daughter, nor Two Hawks, William's twin, both who long for Reginald to accept their love despite the challenges they will face, building a marriage that bridges two cultures. 

Not Good Voice and Stone Thrower, freed of bitterness by a courageous act of forgiveness, but still yearning for their firstborn son and fearful for the future of their Oneida people.

As the British prepare to attack frontier New York and Patriot regiments rally to defend it, two families separated by culture, united by love, will do all in their power to reclaim the son marching toward them in the ranks of their enemies.

MY REVIEW:

Action. Adventure. Romance. And a healthy dose of history. All this and more are in store for you in this rousing historical tale.

I love the way author Lori Benton captures the speech pattern of the Oneida Native Americans. Is it true to form? I have no idea, but I could sure hear their voice in my head. 

I also love the way Anna Catherine and Two Hawks finally get to . . . umm . . . I suppose I shouldn't give it away. Let's just say their story will leave you satisfied.

I did get a little annoyed, however, with William. Yeah, I understand he had a rough life and felt betrayed and all that, but that doesn't excuse his stupid choices. Stupid man. But I suppose such strong feelings toward a fictional character are the sign of a fantastic author, eh?

If you're interested in the Revolutionary War era, plus a sweet little love story, this is the book for you.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep


Bonus Review:

A Flight of Arrows is book two in the Path Finders Series. This book continues where book one left off. The Revolutionary War is about to begin, as the British and the Continentals build their armies. William has left to fight for the British, after finding out his father, Reginald Aubrey, kidnapped him at birth, separating him from his twin brother and parents. He also found out that his birth mother was white and his birth father was an Indian. His brother, Two Hawks, and father, Stone Thrower, are on a mission to find him before something happens to him, and before the war reaches their home.

I was SO excited to finally get this book. Book number one really left me hanging. The author did a great job of letting the story build, telling it from different points of view. I had really had no idea how things were going to come together, and I have to confess, I had no idea it would end as it would, but even thought it wasn't how I may have ended, the way the author wrapped things up was wonderful and glorifying to God. This is one of the first series I've read that I thought would make a wonderful movie.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Kristen Heitzmann's The Edge of Recall ~ Reviewed

The Edge of Recall
By Kristen Heitzmann
Bethany House Publishers
ISBN#9780764228315
412 pages

Back Cover: She locked up the vision like a monster in her mind’s maze, but it lurked there, on the edge of recall.

Tess Young is a landscape architect who specializes in the design and creation of labyrinths. For years she has immersed herself in the healing aspects of these elaborate structures, searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagues her since childhood.

When Smith Chandler, a colleague who once betrayed her, offers an opportunity to reconstruct a remarkable Colonial ear labyrinth, she can’t resist this project of a lifetime. But one evening, as dusk falls an assailant ambushes Tessa and Smith and the real nightmare begins

Review # 1:

Night terror! Tormenting dreams! Tess was afraid to go to sleep. The dream was usually the same with a few variations. This was real for Tess; she would wake up screaming, sweating and breathing hard from all the running she had been doing in her dream. She was being chased by monsters and couldn't run fast enough through the labyrinth. Funny thing about monsters though, they played by their own rules. She felt like she couldn't escape this torment. "She just had to get through the night, and she wasn't too proud to admit she couldn't do it alone." She made the call to Dr. Brenner for help. He had always been there for her. He helped her live with these dreams - always hoping for a cure.

These horrible dreams were just part of her life. She thought she was coping just fine until Smith Chandler called. He invited her to be part of his dream team on this amazing job. She hadn't heard from him in 6 years and now he calls wanting her help? She goes to check out the job; it's everything she has desired to work on and so much more. Things get complicated as old, painful feelings and memories start to stir with Smith around. Had Tess gotten more than she bargained for? She had to do this job no matter what the personal cost to her was. She had to make this work somehow; she felt her life depended on it. She felt hope that maybe she would get to the root of all these monster dreams - it was worth the risk.

I was mesmerized at how well Kristen Heitzmann described these dreams - it was so real. From the first page I had entered Tess's world hook, line and sinker. Once you start this book you can't stop. So forget what you had planned for the day; this story is so gripping you’ll keep reading like I did. I had to find out if Tess Young does unlock her night terrors. There are so many surprising things that happened along the way. I just couldn't put this book down - neither will you!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

Bonus Review:

This fascinating story centers around dreams, repression and fears. Symbolic of life, physical and eternal, the labyrinth is the playing field in a game of cat and mouse. Tessa, a prickly, wounded soul and Smith, a man who repeatedly wounds her, are pulled into an unwanted contest pitting them against the unknown, each other and those whom they trust.

Psychological aspects come into play often making the story feel frantic at times. I did have to suspend a healthy amount of disbelief and accept the neat sewing up of events in the end, but overall, the details made the trip an entertaining, suspenseful one.

By Kelly Klepfer

Amy Finley's How to Eat a Small Country ~ Reviewed

How to Eat a Small Country: A Family's Pursuit of Happiness, One Meal at a Time [Hardcover]
Amy Finley (Author)
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Clarkson Potter (March 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307591387

Description
"How to Eat a Small Country shares a few key traits with Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love in particular an infectiously likeable narrator and mouthwatering descriptions of European food. But Finley’s memoir is less precious, more honest, and ultimately more rewarding." -- Boston Globe

A professionally trained cook turned stay-at-home mom, Amy Finley decided on a whim to send in an audition tape for season three of The Next Food Network Star, and the impossible happened: she won. So why did she walk away from it all? A triumphant and endearing tale of family, food, and France, Amy’s story is an inspiring read for women everywhere.

While Amy was hoping to bring American families together with her simple Gourmet Next Door recipes, she ended up separating from her French husband, Greg, who didn’t want to be married to a celebrity. Amy felt betrayed. She was living a dream—or was she? She was becoming famous, cooking for people out there in TV land, in thirty minutes, on a kitchen set . . . instead of cooking and eating with her own family at home.

In a desperate effort to work things out, Amy makes the controversial decision to leave her budding television career behind and move her family to France, where she and Greg lived after they first met and fell in love. How to Eat a Small Country is Amy’s personal story of her rewarding struggle to reunite through the simple, everyday act of cooking and eating together. Meals play a central role in Amy’s new life, from meeting the bunny destined to become their classic Burgundian dinner of lapin à la moutarde to dealing with the aftermath of a bouillabaisse binge. And as she, Greg, and their two young children wend their way through rural France, they gradually reweave the fabric of their family.

At times humorous and heart-wrenching, and always captivating and delicious, How to Eat a Small Country chronicles the food-filled journey that one couple takes to stay together.

Review:

I am fascinated with unique life paths. And I'm also kind of a closet reality cooking show junky. How could I resist the chance at a complimentary advanced reader copy of How to Eat a Small Country by Amy Finley?

Amy hits the big time in cooking ... reality television style. But with the fame, and the responsibilities that go with the fame, her marriage teeters and threatens to fall apart. So she quits her blossoming career, moves her family to France and begins to work at the marriage. This memoir is kind of a grown up girl's version of a fairy tale. A wicked "witch" thwarts the knight in shining armor, the damsel-who-can-darn-well-take-care-of-herself saves him kind of a tale.

Amy Finley writes as well as she cooks. There are absolutely beautiful passages within this book. She also knows French cooking to the point that I was at times horrified when the two skills converged. I didn't really want to know why the sausage smelled like it did and how it got it's name. But the writing made it a must read anecdote and it certainly will stick with me. The French language is peppered throughout and with my four years of high school French I found myself only understanding through the context fairly often. I also struggled with some of Amy's struggles. Some of her transparency was not at all flattering. I would cringe, then admire the honesty, only to cringe again at the things she shared.

Bottom line if you love memoirs, cooking, French cooking and anything about the French countryside, you may want to pick this up and give it a read. I hope the best for Amy. Her choice was heroic. In a society where broken families are a sad consequence of success it is inspiring to see someone value family over money and fame.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Vicki Hinze's Not This Time ~ Reviewed

Not This Time

By Vicki Hinze

Published by Multnomah

ISBN#978-1-60142-207-1

328 Pages

Back Cover: 

Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?
 

Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara's husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.

Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn't know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn't fall in love with him, but she can't resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

Review: 

Vicki Hinze brings this Crossroads Crisis Center series to a powerful, compelling, suspenseful conclusion! I was thankful to have received a review copy of such a page turning novel.

This excerpt from the author’s notes gives you a glimpse into Vicki’s heart. It’s also the pulse of the story, “At some point in our lives, many, if not most of us, have been betrayed. We’ve also experienced torn loyalties. Situations were we must act, and no matter what we do, someone is hurt. And many if not most of us have been falsely accused of saying and doing things we did not do.

These are the challenges raised in Not This Time that had to be addressed as well as the physical challenges of danger and deception. When we try to live seeing the good in others, it’s often difficult for us to accept that there are those who just embrace the bad because they chose to embrace it. But those people do exist and in our denial of it is danger; not just physical, but emotional and most important, spiritual danger.”

So, true, Vicki. Not only do I love the action filled story with a complex plot and layered characters I love how she naturally wove in the spiritual thread, addressing all the elements in the note to reader and then some. This is the third book in the Crossroads Crisis Center – Vicki pulls out all the stops and brings you a story that grabs you from the start with a wild bizarre wedding reception with the endearing characters you’ve enjoyed in all the books to wild and crazy action that has characters running for their lives. This book will keep you on the edge of our seat as the mystery unravels. You’ll be staying up late because you just have to read how this all works out. I know I did.

That’s what I love about Vicki’s books; she makes me care about her characters and situations at the same time challenges me and my faith. Love her books and looking forward to the next series.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network

Kellie Coates Gilbert's A Woman of Fortune ~ Reviewed

A WOMAN OF FORTUNE

Kellie Coates Gilbert
Series: Texas Gold Collection
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell (June 3, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800722728

Back Cover:

You never know what you're really made of until you lose everything.
Texas socialite Claire Massey is living the dream--designer clothes, luxury cars, stunning homes. But everything comes crashing down when her charming cattle broker husband is arrested for fraud. Suddenly she finds herself facing attorneys, a media frenzy, and a trail of broken hearts. Betrayed and humiliated, Claire must face incredible odds to save her family--and discover a life worth living.

Author Kellie Coates Gilbert delivers a story both poignant and emotionally gripping that celebrates the kind of fortune that lasts.


Review:

A Woman of Fortune tells the story of Tuck and Claire Massey. They are living the dream, according to the world. Tuck runs a huge cattle operation and is worth millions, if not a billion dollars. Claire is used to a life of luxury, as are her children: expensive cars, designer clothes, a gorgeous home. They seem to want for nothing. But everything comes to a halt when Tuck is arrested for what is potentially the biggest cattle fraud the country has ever seen. Claire now has to face the fact that many of the things she's been enjoying and taking for granted were bought with stolen money. Because they are such a popular family, the media jumps on the story, making the Massey's families lives miserable. Claire now has to deal with the fact that her husband is in prison, her children's lives are falling apart, and she has to find a new home and means of supporting herself as all of their assets are used to pay back the people who lost money.


This is a story we can relate to in this day and age. We see scandal all of the time in the “upper class”, those we are supposed to “look up” to. And it's always sad to see these people's lives nit-picked before the world. In some ways I felt for Claire's character, as she was taken by surprise, however, as she even stated at one point, she had no idea what was going on with their money. She never questioned where it came from, or even thought about the price of things before she bought them. She let the wealth and notoriety cloud whatever down-to-earth judgment she have had. My disappointment in this story came in the fact that the gospel was never presented. It was brought up that Tuck joined a Bible study in prison, which seemed to maybe bring him closer to the Lord. But nothing about Jesus being our hope. I was really enjoying the story, hoping it would be brought up somewhere, but the ending seemed very abrupt, and left me wanting to know more about the families spiritual development.

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers

Mary Connealy's Cowboy Christmas ~ Reviewed

Cowboy Christmas
By Mary Connealy
Published by :Barbour
ISBN# 978-0-602-0145-1
304 Pages

Back Cover:

Singer Annette Talbot used her voice to spread the gospel with a traveling missionary troupe. When the Latrells take over and want Annie to dress provocatively and give up singing her beloved hymns, Annie flees to Ranger Bluff, Wyoming, dreaming of reuniting with her father for Christmas. But trouble chases her—right off the edge of a cliff!

Elijah Walker’s heart turned as cold and barren as the high plains in December after his ex-fiancee betrayed him and caused his father’s death. But when he recues Annie out of a freezing river, Walker’s instincts tell him he must help a stranger in need.

Has Annie hidden the truth about wanted posters bearing her fact too long for anyone to believe her now?

Can Elijah, over come the painful past and learn to love again? Will there ever be peace in their hearts in time for Christmas?

Review:

I read the title of this book and plunged in, thinking I might read about a cowboy Christmas. What does that look like? If you are looking for the answer to that question you won’t find it here. What you will find is one wild, action filled adventure story, cowboy style.

Mary Connealy doesn’t hold back in this Christmas tale, get a grip on your seat belt when you start reading this book. On the first page there’s fist fighting, gun slinging and everything breaking loose at the seams. I’ve read some of Mary’s other books and they are a hoot. This one’s no exception.

Mary usually has at least one character in her stories that just gets under your skin, in this book it’s Annette Talbot, her main character. Annette is the smartest dumb person I’ve read about. She’s a strong willed, stubborn young lady that doesn’t know when to give up when the getting’s good! Ha! Ha!

Elijah the other leading character is crazed by Annette and her ways. He’s fed up with her and her stubborn streak. Why won’t she just listen to reason? After all he was the man and knew about things out in the west. Elijah thinks this about Annette, “even if he couldn’t quite pin down Annette’s lies, he knew for a fact she was a full-blown idiot. She’d pretty much only survived this long through direct, miraculous intervention from God. A woman shouldn’t need a miracle a day to stay alive. Not even God had time for that nonsense. A person needed some survival skills and Annette had none.”

Annette did trust God with her life how did she end up in such a mess? Hadn’t she heard and followed his lead?

If you are looking for a cozy, warm and fuzzy Christmas story you won’t find it here. What you will find are every loveable, characters like Ruby Elijah’s mother who loves the Lord with all her heart and her son knows that and so does Annette.

Ruby takes a liking to Annette and tries to do a little match making. She tells Elijah to lighten up in regards to giving Annette a bad time. It’s almost Christmas they have to enjoy the time they have and forgive. They all had a past they needed to get unstuck from, so they can enjoy the future. Don’t miss another wild adventure from Mary, it’s guaranteed a good time, with a good message just in time for Christmas.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction


Bonus Review:


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At first while reading the latest of Mary Connealy, a special Christmas book, "Cowboy Christmas", I was not quite as impressed as every other western comedy romance that I have read by such a fabulous author. Yet then I got to read chapters twenty-six and twenty-seven and every reason that I love to read Mary's books came out. I was just about hooting and hollering with chuckles. I even kept reading segments aloud to my dear hubby, who just does not care, yet even he enjoyed them. With this story, overall I love it. But I never really did connect to the main protagonist Miss Annette Talbot. She frustrated me too much. The character in this novel that I really enjoyed and anticipated each next page about was the other protagonist Elijah Walker. It was just everything about him that I loved.

This is a Christmas novel, yet can be enjoyed anytime of year. The plot just tells and anticipates of the special day to come. Once again we have a fabulous cast of characters with the good guys and the bad. This time we have both a woman that needs to understand growing in her faith, and a man who needs to find it again. Trust is a big issue, and moving past pain is another. Serious events are portrayed and of course the wonderful Mary laughs are filled through out bringing a fabulously enjoyable lightness to a page turner.

Reviewed by: Margaret Chind

Sherri L Lewis's My Soul Cries Out ~ Reviewed

My Soul Cries Out

Sherri L Lewis

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Urban Books (July 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1893196976
ISBN-13: 978-1893196971

My Review:

My Soul Cries Out is a powerful redemption story about Monica and Kevin that on more than one occasion moved me to tears. I loved how the author wasn't afraid to tell it like it is when it came to internal thoughts, especially the skank ho references to certain women. Hilarious! The author masterfully wrote about Monica's rage the way it might really happen and didn't soften the issues for fear of offending the reader. This is real life trauma and heartache! Monica was a very flawed character but the author did such a fantastic job of growing her in her relationship with the Lord and with others that I couldn't help but love her. I just can't say enough good things about this book.

Kevin's characterization was so well done that I can honestly say I haven't read any novel highlighting the pain that comes from childhood abuse that was better at showing it than this one. And I've read a lot of them. You can't help but have compassion on Kevin when he reveals his struggles and you see how even the church had betrayed him by not protecting him. The way Kevin and Monica's relationship developed throughout the story is proof that God can use anything--even the most horrible sin or mistake--to make us more like Him.

In addition to the main story, there were several subplots regarding redemption that were both believable and moving. The story of Alaysia's quest for peace and redemption was perfectly done and complimented the main theme of My Soul Cries Out. True-to-life, the comments made by an unbeliever can often be used to turn the struggling Christian's life around. Oh, and the ending gave me the happy shivers. I SO loved this story and can't wait to read the next book from this author, who is even more beautiful than the model on the cover.

My Soul Cries Out was published by Urban Books.

Reviewed by: Michelle Sutton (pen name)
http://www.acfw.com/http://www.michellesutton.net/
http://www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/