Firestorm by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Firestorm by Lisa Tawn Bergren would not have been my first choice as a book to read – it was actually my only choice (here’s a plug for people to help me get my Klout up).

Firestorm is Book 6 in the Full Circle series. Within the series each book is somewhat tied to the other through the relationships of characters. Firestorm follows Reyne Oldre a few years after her being involved in a tragic accident while fighting a forest fire. No longer on the frontlines of fighting forest fires, Reyne is making a presentation as part of her US Forest Service job for a research project to help save more firefighter lives. Just as she begins to wind up her presentation, she’s interrupted by the obligatory entrance of a loud, brash, handsome (wink,wink) man who steals the attention of the board and the funding for her project.

A week later this same man parachutes in to her home while she has company and tells her that they will be working together on his project. Needless to say, this encounter doesn’t end well.

From there on out, while not being too formulaic the inevitable happens. Arguing, testiness and love. True love. It is refreshing that the characters are Christians and actually pray for guidance and help.

The book is well written and I am sure that the others in the series are as well. I have to be candid in saying that romance novels are not my cup of tea. Same goes with girl movies. I can leave them to the girls. But I will recommend that if you do like romance novels this is a series for you.

As always, Waterbrook/Multnomah provided this book to me in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Eye of the Sword - Review

Where angels walk the ground and the future is told in song, does a man of low rank have a chance at love with a princess?

In Camrithia, a land of shadows and mystical secrets, Trevin lives to serve King Laetham. But his heart belongs to the princess, Melaia. When the King sends Trevin on on a dangerous quest to find the missing comains—captains in the king’s army—he must leave Melaia to the advances of a swaggering Dregmoorian prince.

Challenged to prove his worth, Trevin throws himself into his quest. Striving to prove his love, Trevin undertakes a second mission—find the harps Melaia seeks in order to restore the stairway to heaven. Through fire caves, rogue winds, and murderous threats, Trevin remains steadfastly dedicated to his quest—even when he is falsely accused of a heinous crime. As Trevin’s time runs out, he realizes he must face the shame and horror of his own past and the nightmare that has come to life. Will he have the courage to finish what he has started?

This is the second book in the Angelaeon Circle by Karyn Henley. In this book the focus is on Trevin instead of the princess, Melaia, and his quest for both the harps and his own self worth.

As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, Breath of Angel, that I enjoyed the characters and back story. I enjoyed this book even more. Trevin is much easier to get a feel for and his search, not the one for the harps, but the one for himself and his own worth as a man are very real.

The action is fast-paced and there’s not much time for lagging throughout. The plot is advanced believably, with many questions and plot points left unresolved for future installments in the series.

A good read for the younger crowd, it is also entertaining for those of us in somewhat advanced age.

This one rates a five from me and as usual, I was provided my copy of the book by Waterbrook-Multnomah in return for an honest review.

For a look at Chapter One, click here Show More

Book Review - Breath of Angel

When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.

Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without settling an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

Karyn Henley has written a real jewel with Breath of Angel. This first book of the Angelaeon Circle has left me eagerly waiting for the next installment. The character depth along with the well thought out back-story and history are the equal to many of secular writings in the same genre.

The growth of our heroine through her trials and revelations of her past are well done and have created a very likable character. She is surrounded by a cast of many that provide complementary views and growth along the way during the story.

A definite must-read for teens and all book-lovers alike.

I was provided this copy of the book by Waterbrook-Multnomah for an unbiased review.  

The Crossing - Serita Jakes

Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free?
On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus.  Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.
Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.
As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

Mrs. Jakes has written an excellent book combining first-rate storytelling with a message about an illness that troubles many people, not just our military service members.

The background and depth of each character lends credibility to the story and adds to the mystery which is trying to be resolved by the conclusion of the book. This is a story that could have well been taken from any newspaper across the country.

I enjoyed her use of the viewpoint of the teacher whose murder is the catalyst for the troubled lives of the other characters in the book.

The final realization that it is a relationship with Christ that leads to healing and an ability to cope with each day is something that we each need to remember.

Post-traumatic stress is an issue that needs more discussion and less negligence in our collective minds. While our military service men and women suffer from this malady, it is also prevalent among the civilian population.

This book was provided at no cost to me by Waterbrook-Multnomah is exchange for an unbiased review.

Book - Raised Right

Raised Right by Alisa Harris

I have to admit that I was not genuinely interested in reading this book when I received it. The subtitle, “How I Untangled My Faith from Politics,” left me dreading what I would find on the inside.

I admire the author, Alisa Harris, for being able to break away from the religious and political programming that was forced on her in her formative years. Unfortunately it seems to have resulted in disillusionment that the world isn’t black and white as she was taught. It also seemed to me that there was some bitterness toward the parents that subjected her to that relentless dogmatic approach to life. Though, to be fair her love for her parents is also evident in the book.

The things that she plans to pass on to her children: To care, To love, To take heart – these are things every parent should teach. Her last sentence should be a clarion call to all of us, ‘In other words, as Jesus urged His followers, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” – not through a show of power but a picture of love.’ I can agree with her on that point. We also agree on the view that freedom of speech includes all speech, even that which we disagree with.

And there are points of Ms. Harris’ which I disagree with. I won’t use this book review to list each and my counter argument to them, since this is a review and not an opinion piece.

Needless to say, the book is good, written well and tells a story of which many should be able to draw parallels from and also learn from. Her personal story is both heart-breaking, yet inspirational. Ms. Harris is very witty and is able to draw a reader into her situations.

If you have the time and/or opportunity to pick this book up and read it, you will be well served to do so.

As always, even though this book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah at no charge other than giving a review of the book. Waterbrook Multnomah makes no stipulations on the review of Raised Right being good or bad, just that it be an honest review.

The link below will take you to a downloadable copy of chapter 1.

 http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/pdf/RaisedRightSneakPeek.pdf

Not So Average Joe

I have read many of the books out there that propose to help you discover your calling, God's plan, where you life should go, you know the ones I mean.
They are all good books, but somehow they fall short in readability (if that's a word).
"Average Joe" by Troy Meeder is not one of those books.
Written to us average joes out there, Meeder hits a resonance that I have found lacking in other books.
Meeder hits the message over and over, without being tedious, that average, ordinary guys matter as much as the more 'important' guys among us.
Meeder recognizes the men throughout his life that made the difference in the moment and ties it together with biblical examples.
I read this book in two days and plan on keeping it close by for frequent re-readings.
I rarely give a book an unequivocal 'yes' when reviewing, but I cannot be more enthusiastic in recommending it for every "Average Joe" out there.
"Average Joe" was provided to me free of charge by Waterbrook Multnomah for an impartial review.