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LDS Book Reviews (I am temporarily suspending the contest but feel free to still post reviews. When I get my life under control I'll start the contest back!!)
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I have been soooo pleased by the number of reviews that have been posted lately. I apologize for being slow about getting them on the website but REALLY appreciate the participation. Because often reading LDS fiction requires that we purchase the books first, we want to make good choices. That's why I think reader-reviews are so important. The following are other sites where you can find reviews of LDS fiction: www.ldsfiles.com www.ldsreview.net www.meridianmagazine.com www.ldsfiction.com http://www.aml-online.org/reviews/
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March Reviews - Do No Harm, by Gregg Luke
Reviewed by Julie
TENSE BOOK! I have recently begun to really enjoy mystery/suspense novels (mostly due to Betsy Brannon Green :-)However, this one is REALLY, REALLY suspensful. There are some mean, naughty people in this book that do very unscrupulous things. Bria Georgopolis is in danger because of it. At first she's not aware she's in so much danger, but as she peices things together, things get, well, very SUSPENSFUL! Paul Randall needs to start over so he buys a pharmacy that's being "sold for a song" in the small town of Crecent Cove. He thinks this will be ideal. He soon finds out that there is something happening nearby that isn't "business as usual". Paul and Bria's lives cross and together they attempt to fight the horrible evil happening so very nearby. I have to say I was almost glad when the book ended. It was a great book, and I enjoyed it, but some things are better loved when they are OVER and all of the mystery has been solved! ha ha! February Reviews - TRAITOR, by Sandra Grey Reviewed by Julie
This book is set in 1943 when France was being occupied by Germany during World War II. Marie Jacobsen is an American citizen who parachutes into France to join the Resistance. She is soon captured, and throughout the rest of the book we learn more about her, and more about how good people can be caught doing bad things when required to do so by their governments or when caught in the middle of war. This is a FABULOUS story. It is a tense drama, but also has a small bit of tender romance, and is totally enthralling from start to finish. I'm very grateful to have read this book, as it gave me a greater understanding of people and of a time where evil works were done by evil people, but also bad things were done by good people. My only regret with this book is I found out at the END OF IT that it will be continued. I HATE THAT! :-) I'm far too impatient for sequals. I'll be first in line to get the 2nd book though. You should wait until it comes out and then spend the next several days reading them both, one right after the other! :-)! Happy Reading!
The Lights of Mahonri Moriancumer, by Phyllis Gunderson
Reviewed by Melanie
I got a package in the mail in early November, which included
the book "The Lights of Mahonri Moriancumer" by Phyllis Gunderson. I whipped through it in mere hours, only to get an email from my mother on the following morning, saying that these books were part of my Christmas box. Whoops. But I certainly don't regret opening my presents early, and especially not this one. I love mysteries and thrillers with non-traditional heroines and a good dose of humour, and this book has it all. Archaeologist Matt (Mathilda) Howard comes across a Buddhist monk who tells her a fascinating tale about "lights that do not die." As a child in the monastery, he came across a room full of technological wonders, and one of the masters tells him it is an ancient repository, a place where the lights have been shining for thousands of years. The monk wants to find out more about these lights, having heard that such things were mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh (which includes the Babylonian version of Noah's Ark.) Matt is intrigued, even more so when she hears another legend about glowing stones while on a dig in China, and yet another legend about the same things while on a dig in Brazil. Matt is an engaging character. She's sixty years old, overweight, and has never been married, but has an adopted daughter who, as a teenager, developed a secret language of facial contortions to signal Matt whenever she was unorthodox and embarrassing. It doesn't seem to bother Matt all that much. Neither does her weight, come to think of it. Matt knows her limits, but only regrets her extra pounds when she's in the jungle and can't carry her own pack. She's upbeat and can definitely poke fun at herself. I particularly liked it when she was thinking, "I have a voice inside that tells me when I've been stupid after the fact, but no voice to stop me before the deed is done. Someday I'll complain to my programmer." This book is light reading in every sense of the word. The book is 176 pages long, including the epilogue, and it's very fast-paced. Even when Matt is simply sitting and thinking, there's no slowing down. The narrative starts with a story about lights, and it ends with anotherone, with plenty of other"illuminating" encounters in between. I enjoyed the adventures of Indiana Joan, and I'd recommend it for readers who don't want anything overly deep and ponderous to get in the way of sheer fun.
The Independence Club, by Rachel Ann Nunes
Reviewed by Julie
This wonderful romance, recently nominated for the new Whitney Awards, was a fun book! Maxine is one of these vibrant old ladies (kinda like Miss Eugenia) and she's an absolute doll to read about. Other characters in the Independence Club include an immagrant named Rosalva, who is a single mother and a strong, beautiful woman, as well as Tina who was recently freed from an abusive husband when he died in a car accident. There are other fun characters, but these were my favorites. I enjoyed reading about all of their lives, and loved how they were such a support to each other in this group they have formed called the Independence Club. Each of them has trials, but each of them lets their strong bond with each other hoist up their friends in times of needs. It's a great romance and a wonderful story of friendship with a GREAT GREAT GREAT end! :-) Wake Me When It's Over, by Robison Wells
Reviewed by Julie
Here's a fun book to read! It is quite amusing, with several funny parts, and it also is quite a "thriller". It also sets up one of the best books I've EVER read, "The Counterfeit". If for NO other reason at all, Wake Me When It's Over should be read so you can get the full experience of The Counterfeit. Eric and Rebekah are a young couple who are "kinda" dating. One night, Rebekah is in a televised Christmas Orchestra concert wearing a necklace given to her by Eric and that's where the trouble begins. Kidnapping ensues, pain and sacrifice follow, and all the while you are getting several laughs. CHECK IT OUT! Silenced, by Betsy Brannon Green Reviewed by Julie
Silenced is not a new novel, but I just recently was able to get ahold of a copy of it and read it. I found it a GREAT read! It was compelling and fun. Silenced takes place mostly in Haggerty, with neighbors bringing in a ton of casseroles again! There is a nice
beginning to a little romance that is continued in a book I had already read, POISON (which was also great). I loved the way this book worked out. It was a great mystery, with fun characters and, as always, a ton of Southern Hospitality! GO HAGGERTY! :-)
Hazardous Duty Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Heather
A phenomenal, and sensational book highly recommended by me! When Savannah McLaughlin, a sensitive yet reserved widow, is hopelessly left without her kidnapped six year old daughter Caroline, she reverts to the one and only, Major Christopher Dane (or just plain Dane; he only NEEDS one name, he's like Cher). Set under the fog of her old love Dane's hatred for her past dicisions, he complies with her plead to assist in finding her lost daughter but forced to submit to his every nag and insults. With his faithful team of misfits, Dane and Savannah get closer and closer yet, more confused with every clue that arises. Filled with betrayal and fidelity, chaos and order, Hazardous Duty will excite readers and give them something to wrap their mind around. Not everything is as obvious in this book as they seem... Promise Of Zion, Anita Stansfield
Reviewed by Julie
Wow. I just finished this book. I stayed up a major portion of the night to read it. It was so fabulous! It is a romance, as well as some of the best historical fiction I've read. This is the 4th book in the Barrington Family Saga by Anita Stansfield and she really out does herself with this one. Iris is the daughter of James and Eleanore Barrington, and Iris does a lot of soul searching in this book and along the way, heals her heart enough to love and trust a man completely. The Barringtons finally get the word from the Lord that they are to join the saints in Zion,and we are priveleged to go along with them as they make the journey. If you haven't been into The Barrington Family Saga, for Heaven's Sake, what are you waiting for? This 4th book ALONE is worth reading the whole series for. In short ---- I LOVED IT!
January Reviews -
The Ten Cow Wives Club By Joni Hilton
Reviewed by Angela
This book is a lot of fun. It made me want to be a better wife, mother, and friend. This story follows a group of friends from their youth, to college, then on to marriage and having children. Between all of them, they experience almost every trial, but they get through all of it, because they have each other. This book makes you laugh and cry and reminds you that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. It also has is full of recipes. A quick fun read. Hazardous Duty by Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Tracy
All of Betsy Brannon Green's book have a wonderfully intoxicating quality to them. You feel as if you've just walked into the lives of old friends that you never knew you had. Wishing them farewell at the final page is always sad. Hazardous Duty is no exception. Though it lacks the small town setting and charm of her other books, she breathes the same life into her characters, the same thrill into the plot, and the same romance against all odds that can make your heart pound right along with Savannah's (the main character). Best of all, it left me guessing until the very last moment. I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series!
Desire of our hearts by Sariah S. Wilson Reviewed by Rachel
I had never read anything by this author, but after reading the back of the book review decided to give it a try. IT WAS WONDERFUL!! It is a story about a girl named Sam and the book is set around King Noah and Abinadi's time in the Book of Mormon. The characters seemed so alive and I really felt like the book of mormon people and facts were accurate in this book. The courage of Alma and Abinadi and Sam were amazing!!wonderful love story too! Going to go look up this authors other book now and buy that one.
Counting Stars by Michele Paige Holmes
Reviewed by Anita
This is a great romantic novel that doesn't follow the normal boy meets girl story line. I enjoyed the characters and couldn't wait to see what would happen. This book had me laughing in places and crying in others. I definitely recommend this book to those of you who love romance. |
Out of Jerusalem: Land of Inheritance, by H. B. Moore
Reviewed by Andrew
In the first three volumes of her Book of Mormon historical fiction series, Heather B. Moore showed that she could create a view of an ancient world that combines the best scholarship with a lively imagination. She does a fine job of walking the tricky line of faithfulness to the scripture and creative storytelling. She opened up the hearts of her characters in ways both remarkably touching and authentic. In this forth and final volume she does all of that, as well as writing one of the most exciting adventure tales that I have read in a while. Moore sets the novel soon after the Lehi party's arrival in the New World, followed by the death of Lehi, the split between Nephi's and Laman's groups, and the conflict that follows that split. As in earlier volumes, she uses several male and female POV characters. Like earlier volumes, her descriptions of the native peoples the Lehi party would have encountered adds great color to the work. Moore is the daughter of Book of Mormon scholar S. Kent Brown, and her careful chapter endnotes make clear that her descriptions are based on genuine scholarship. A difficult question Moore faced was how to depict the change wrought on the Lamanites after their separation from the Nephites. Was their skin changed immediately, or was it due to a gradual intermixing with native groups? Moore decides to go with the more dramatic option of a sudden change. (For full review please email me) Previous Reviews - Trouble in Palmyra by Rob Ficiur Reviewed by Melanie This is the first book in the series Time Travelers in Church History and introduces the younger teens Tom and Becky Long, and their eccentric inventor uncle, Daniel. Tom and Becky are average teens with a lot of growing to do. Tom wants to have fun and fit in, which often means going along with things he knows aren't right. Becky also wants to fit in, by wearing the same expensive clothes that the popular kids wear. They both think that spending four days with their "weird" uncle is going to be completely boring. Daniel is a mixture of mad scientist, absentminded professor, and history geek. They don't really believe that he has built a time machine, but they reluctantly play along, dressing up in "old-fashioned" clothing and listening to his Primary Objective with its two subclauses of Only Observe and No Direct Contact. Thinking that Becky is much too nice about going along, Tom decides to get back at her by pressing one of the buttons on her Time Traveler - because the device won't work, right? (for the full review please email me) Homemade Christmas by Alma J Yates Reviewed by Christine
This is a great little book, to help us get back to what Christmas is all about. The Cluff family has had a really rough year and 11year old Nadine thinks she had it the roughest. She tries to hide the fact that they are poor from her friends. Then her Dad, recovering from an accident, gets a job in a small town in Arizona's White Mountains. It looks more like a dessert, as bleak as their propects. Nadine meets a neighbor girl her age that looks like an orphan, but turns out to be well-off. She tries to hide their poor-ness from her new friend, Jennilynn, at the same time as she tries to get on the good side of their rich landlady next door. Nadine's family are going to have a "Homemade Christmas" and Nadine tries to make it sound like a choice, not necessity, and to make it fun and exciting. Jennilyn wants to help. Nadine's attitude gets turned around and they do indeed have a happy "Homemade Christmas" and help others to do the same.
Secrets in Zarahemla By: Sariah Salisbury Wilson
Reviewed by Ramona
I really enjoyed this book alot!!!! I bought this book so that I would have something to read while I was traveling. I had the book finishrf before I even left on my trip. I thought that I could read a couple of chapters and save the rest. Well that didn't happen. I had the whole book read that night. It was so intriging to read about Captain Moroni's daughter (Kiah)becoming friends with a Lamanite (Jeran) while having Corahan trying to gain power by wanting to marry her. Kiah and Jeran team up to save Zarahemla while her father and the soliders are away fighting another battle. What a great love story!!! Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Reviewed by Anita
I was a little apprehensive about reading this book, but have to admit that I really liked it. The author is LDS but the book isn't considered an LDS book. The story involves Vampires of all things. But it is always nice to read something a little different than the norm. This book keeps your attention and is clean. Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Judy
This book is so riviting you don't want to put it down. I loved how the team stepped up to help her find her daughter and the ways they went about it. I was driving to Texas and only put it down when we stopped. The plot is so great. I thought I knew early on "who did it" but was wrong. It's a terrific read. The Deep End, by Traci Hunter Abramson
Reviewed by Kristi
I really enjoyed this book. When I saw the first two in the series, I was very intrigued. I am a swimmer and enjoy books about the witness protection program - hence my favorite book being Hearts in Hiding. I enjoyed the first two and was very pleased with the third installment of this series. There were a few parts that dragged, but other than that, I was hooked. They are almost Betsy Brannon Green quality - and I mean that sincerely. I would recommend these books to anyone. Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Brannon Green Reviewed by Judie This is one of the best books Betsy has written..I have loved all her books, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat and could not sleep until I finished it...It was so exciting...But please let Dane and Savannah get married and in the Temple..Can't wait for the next one...How does she do it???? Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Green Reviewed by Ann
This book was awesome. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat sometimes to find out what happened next. Some parts were so real they wrenched my heart. I can hardly wait to find out what happens in the sequel. Please make it as soon as possible. This Just In by Kerry Blair Reviewed by Carolynn I just finished reading "This Just In" by Kerry Blair. This is the last book of hers that I hadn't read yet. Kerry Blair is a really great author and has a great way of pulling you into the world of her books. This book was no exception. Reading this book was just like talking to your best girlfriend. It was very real, funny, and unpretentious. I think that anyone would be happy reading this book, any woman that is. I am not sure this is great book for a man to read. The story is great, but it is definitely written from a girl's point of view. Some men might like it, but I am sure my own husband would be rolling his eyes the whole time!! Revenge and Redemption by Brad E. Hainsworth
Reviewed by Christine
I read this book without reading the one that comes before it, Heroes of Glorietta Pass. It is a good book in and of itself, but I would have been able to get a better feel of things if I had read the other book first. This book was set during the Civil War. It's main character, Clay Ashworth, is from Utah and is in the army. There are a lot of army sequences, and alot of history. I like history to be interspersed with a romance, or a family story. This book talks about Clay and his relationship with his wife, and about the strained relationship of another officer, Wolf Striker and his southern belle wife. Another intersting relationship it explores is that Wolf and his longtime nemesis Porter Rockwell. I won't tell you the ending, but just say that there is closure in all the sub-plots. convinced, and only thinks that Uncle Daniel has managed some great special effects. But when the cloud dissipates, Tom and Uncle Daniel are in a different place completely, and Becky is nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, Becky has ended up Palmyra, too, just a few days earlier than Tom and Daniel, right in the middle of a religious meeting led by Pastor Barnes. She meets up with the Smith family almost immediately, who take care of her while she is searching for her uncle. Before they even leave the meeting, young Joseph is introduced and shown as being close to the pulpit, listening hard, and posing deep questions. Later, however, Joseph's less-serious side is shown; he likes to tease his brothers and sisters and play practical jokes. Tom and Daniel aren't so lucky. (For full review please email me) Prodigal Journey, by Linda Paulson Adams Reviewed by Melanie
Prodigal Journey is, at its center, a love story, but at the same time, it's so much more than that. Alyssa's travels, both physical and spiritual, are set against one possible future of the U.S.A., which is so realistic and probable, and downright scary, that I actually fear it might come true. Along with nuclear and natural disasters, a president without term limits, and the new (distorted and condensed) Constitution and Bill of Rights, many "things once outlawed were legalized and taxed – gambling in all forms, narcotic drug sales, prostitution." Needless to say, organized religion isn't faring well in this society. Churches are forbidden to proselytize, and later in the book, an excerpt from the New Constitution shows that religious beliefs are considered to be a psychological disorder, in need of psychological reconditioning – in other words, mandatory therapy. The book starts with Alyssa Stark losing her best friend, Peter Richardson, to religion. They become interested in Alyssa, but she's terrified of those beings, and when the government gets closer, she runs. (For the full review please email me) |
Flying Home by Rachel Ann Nunes
Reviewed by Julie
Liana Winn was adopted as a child by relatives after her parents' plane accident in India. Now she is as an adult, her and she still has problems feeling a part of her family. She has a difficult time involving herself in relationships, including with her family, because loving them risks losing them, and she wants to protect her heart. Liana meets Austin Walker, and I'm so glad to say they are quite drawn to each other. Austin has her help him with a charity he's involved with, and he takes her home to his family's Wyoming farm. Away from her home and comfort zone, she begins to care for Austin. Liana makes many discoveries about herself, her family, and loving in this wonderful book. You'll find some great surprises and twists in it as well. What a great story this is! Kudos to Rachel! Maybe it's a Whitney winner?
On Second Thought, by Robison Wells
Reviewed by Julie
This book is funny, funny, funny! January is a really good month to need a laugh, and I got it with this romance. It was a fun tale of a young man, Walt Stuart, who moves to Alametos, New Mexico as a means of escape, but helariously ends up running his car into a For Sale sign when he sees a beautiful woman taking a jog. Clara and Walt were meant to be together, but something is amiss in this small town! Not everyone is who they seem! I was surprised, delighted, and amused through the whole book. I haven't laughed that much for quite a while. Robison is a great story teller who has two other great SUSPENSE books out. You won't be sorry you read this one. Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon
Reviewed by Marcia
I recently read Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon. I don't usually read much historical LDS fiction as I prefer contemporary LDS fiction. However, I do have to say that I loved Spires of Stone. Before reading it, I was intrigued by the premise loosely based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. I had also heard great reviews about it. The story revolves around sisters Bethany and Hannah and a trio of brothers--Ben, Phillip, and Claude. The setting is in Salt Lake City during the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. I love how Lyon weaves in interesting historical facts about the temple's construction into the book. I was impressed with how well-researched the book is, and I enjoyed the historical notes in the back that explains more details about why it took
40 years to complete. I especially enjoyed the interaction between Bethany and Ben. Theirs is a love/hate relationship which is my favorite premise for a book. The insults they sling at each other is just to cover up their true feelings of love. Ben's brothers and Bethany's sister conspire to get the feuding duo back together. Meanwhile, Claude and Phillip are both in love with Hannah. It was a very touching book and very enjoyable. The characters were vivid, each unique and portrayed well. I highly recommend this book, and I just may like LDS historical novels after all. And, it was just nomiated for a Whitney Award! Delicious Conversation by Jennifer Griffith Reviewed by Carrie
Any true Jane Austen fans will quickly recognize that this book is a modern "Persuasion". Very well written with a very clever storyline. A really fun romantic-comedy book, with a LOT of chocolate! The main character, Susannah, opens her own "chocolate bar" (an all-chocolate cafe for women). It's the typical Persuasion theme however, with a long lost love (Wentworth) coming back into her life... even though a young gorgeous girl is trying to get Wentworth, and a rich and snobby guy is trying to win over Susannah. Must read for any Jane Austen lover! Hilarious.
Passage to Zarahemla, by Chris Heimerdinger
Reviewed by Julie
WOW! What a great mix of fantasy, fiction, romance, excitement, and book of mormon history! I was enveloped quickly in the story and couldn't stop until I'd read the whole thing. I am excited to know it will be coming out as a movie. I think it's a perfect story that lends itself well to a movie, and will even lend itself to a sequal! Here's for hoping! December Reviews - Christmas in Haggerty, By Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Julie
I know, the book isn't exactly new, but I finally got to read it this Christmas! What a fun book! It wasn't horrbily long, so within a couple of hours I was able to enjoy a beautiful story about family and faith in the Christmas Holiday. I loved Kate's idea to decorate the front door. I thought it was brilliant! I was, however, disappointed about the prizes given out! :-) READ THIS BOOK!
At Heaven's Door by Anita Stansfield
Reviewed by Julie
At Heaven's Door" is the third installment in the Barrington Family Saga by Anita Stansfield. This has been a really fun series, and I've enjoyed reading each one. I felt this volume was my least favorite, but it still was very enjoyable. We are following the Barrington Family as they have moved from England to America in search of all that the new country would offer. In this book, they are able to make it known that they have all joined the LDS church, and though they fear of reprecussions, so far nothing has come of it. Brigham Young has a special plan for their family, and it helps Eleanore understand why it is the Lord would not have them join the saints out west yet. We learn even more about James character in this book, and a challenge that he goes through teaches us all a lesson about listening to the Spirit when He talks to us! This is a good book! If you want to get into a good series, I highly reccomend the Barrington Family Saga.
At The Water's Edge, by Annette Lyon
Reviewed by Julie
In this book, Annela, who lives in Finland, makes a choice to
become a babtized member of the church and this causes her father to disown her. She steps out on her own, and works to find her new place in life. Her boyfriend Tommi makes promises, but doesn't seem to be living up to them. A new option comes to her, and she wonders if she's brave enough to take that option. Annela longs for a life with a temple marriage and love in the church. Will she be able to get it? --This is a good book! I didn't find it overly exciting, but it was a nice story. Read this one if you just want a nice, quiet read!
Closing In by Kerry Blair
Reviewed by Angela
I always come to this website when I need a good book to read (Thank you Betsy =), so I thought I would finally contribute. Kerry Blair’s books are all great reads (they rank right up there withBetsy’s books). This book is no exception and it is one of my favorites. The small LDS town of Amen, Arizona, is full of colorful characters. A lady dutifully waiting and watching for the return of the ten tribes, a man who pulls out his shotgun and does target practice when the home teachers come, and many othercharacters that you can’t help but laugh at. This town is the perfect town for Libby James to hide out in. The CIA suspects her of terrorist activity and her personal life is a mess, including the recent brutal murder of her parents. She secretly moves to Amen to work as the school librarian. The CIA sends in the handsome and conceded David Rogers to spy on Libby and expose her for the alleged spy that she is. David is a former astronaut and is undercover as an elementary school teacher (talk about hazardous duty!) He soon realizes that Libby is not only beautiful, but innocent. She is however, in the way of the real terrorists and her life is in danger. The race is on to figure out who the criminal is before Libby is hurt. This book will keep you guessing till the end. Captain Rogers, of course, saves the day and love, as always conquers all. This book is full of romance, laughter in suspense- which is personally all I need in a good book! It's Bliss by Alene Roberts
Reviewed by Debbie
This is a laugh out loud, but ever so true book. I've read it multiple times and have recommended it to family and friends. Thecharacters' personality's are thoroughly enjoyable and the author was very clever making her point about how true romance is going out of style in the world today. I love this book!
Hazardous Duty by Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Katy
Oh my goodness! What a great book- but if I had to do it over again I would wait to read it until the sequel comes out so I didn't have to wait to find out what happens! I am dying in suspense.
Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Green
Reviewed by Julie
CAUTION: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO NOT PUT IT DOWN! I am absolutely in love with this book. Savannah is a strong, wonderful character. Dane is a real mystery! I haven't figured out if that is a good thing, or a bad thing, however. The romantic tension between Savannah and Dane is soooo sweet, passionate, and, well, YUMMY! I was sure I knew the plot. SURE OF IT, I SAY! And then Betsy Brannon Green, I'll be darned, surprised the heck out of me. I loved it. Please write the next one as quickly as possible. I feel badly it won't be available for Christmas, but January is a good month for reading. . . Thanks Betsy! November Reviews - Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Brannon Green Reviewed by Julie This is the story of Savannah McLaughlin whose daughter is snatched from her elementary school and neither the police, FBI, nor private investigators can find her. But Savannah thinks that a man from her past, Major Christopher Dane, who is specially trained for difficult military extractions, could possibly help her. The only problem is, their history is such that she's betrayed him before and he currently hates her. She uses everything she has to convince him to take her case, telling herself she would do anything to find her daughter--even if that means begging and groveling to him. Major Dane isn't anxious to take her case and lets her know it. The situation becomes more dangerous and complicated with every chapter as Ms. Green lays down the clues. With her trademark twists and turns that keep even the most experienced mystery reader guessing, the story barrels toward an exciting ending that is very unexpected. I am anxiously looking forward to the next book and to finding out more about her new characters! I can't wait to see where Ms. Green takes this new series. I really recommend this book as well. Hunting Gideon, by Jessica Draper Reviewed by Melanie My first impression of Hunting Gideon when I got it in the post was "Scrawny!" It is indeed a thin book, only 175 pages, but the typeface is smaller and the lines are closer together than on the pages of the average Covenant product. That's because Hunting Gideon is not your average Covenant product, having been published by the newer and smaller Zarahemla Books. No worries, though, the reading experience remains comfortable for the eyes. And my second, lasting impression, by the way, is "Fast, funny, and fervently recommended!" My favourite combination with action is humour, and there are plenty of things to grin or even laugh out loud at in this book. I was fascinated by the depiction of the V-net in this book. It had detail in such depth that I truly felt the author was describing an actual thing and not just a speculative future. For all I know, there is such a thing already, or perhaps Jessica Draper is creating it in her free time when she's not writing. According to the "About the Author" page, she has an extensive background in the wired world. There, I also read the statement that there will be a prequel to this book, coming soon. In the meantime, I can heartily recommen Huntin Gideon to any reader who will not be put off by the "cyberpunk" tag, but who likes adventure, myster, sly humour, and that kind of male/female banter that signals slow but sure movement down the road of romance. (This is only a portion of the very comprehensive review. If you'd like to receive the full review by email, please contact me through the 'review' window on this page.) |
Jud's Journey by Fay Waldemar McCracken Reviewed by Bob "Jud's Journey" was a good read, picked up the pace quickly from the start, yet maintained a pace that seemed plausible, not too fast nor too slow. I was able to relate with all the characters, at least to understand them. At times I found myself recalculating Jud's age as the book progressed to see if I felt a person that age could do what he was doing. I think Fay presented a logically capable, person of that age and era, with realistic challenges. Just as I felt the book was winding down to a close, another chapter opened a whole set of new challenges that wrapped up all the characters well and left me with a very good feeling about the book, and the time I spent reading it. (For the full review please email me) By Morning Light by Rachel Ann Nunes Reviewed by Marcia I really enjoyed Rachel Ann Nunes' By Morning Light. It is the final of the Huntington Family series. It is about Kerrianne whose husband died 4 years prior and it deals with her hesitancy at wanting to move on. She thinks that if she dates other men, it is somehow being unfaithful to her dead husband. She meets Ryan Oakman who is a widower. She can relate to him since they have both lost a spouse and are now single parents. At first, she resists him. What unfolds is a beautiful love story between two people that find they can love again. I also enjoyed seeing bits of other members of the Huntington family. Other books that I enjoyed were No Longer Strangers and Winter Fire and the characters from those novels made cameos in this one. If you're up for a sweet love story, check this one out. Sheep's Clothing by Josi Kilpack Reviewed by Ramona Josi takes everyday problems that we face in our world today and turns it into a wonderful story that we can relate to or learn from. This book is about a young girl who starts to feel out of place at school and her best friend starts to have other interests at school, so she feels kind of alone. She finds another little friend named Emily on a website and they start e-mailing each other. Little does she know that it is an internet predator on the other end trying to lure her away from her family. I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the story line and the book was easy to read, but at the same time it was kind of disturbing and a little scary knowing the intention of the predator and how he operates. I would recommend this book so that people know that it is a growing problem that we are facing today. We learn in this book that their things we can do in our own home so that our children will be safe and don’t fall victim to these predators out there. Rescue the Prophet, by Rob Ficiur
Reviewed by Melanie
For much of my life, I've wished I had my very own time machine to whisk me back through the ages so that I could experience things and people as they really were. But since I'm unlikely to run across one, I have to take the next best thing – and in the case of early Church history, that's definitely this book. Tom and Becky Long are in Palmyra to see the Hill Cumorah pageant and take in a sightseeing tour at the Grandin Building, where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were printed. But Tom couldn't hear everything that the tour guide was saying, so Uncle Daniel whips out his Time Travelers – little devices that transport the bearer through time -- and comes to the rescue with a promise of a quick trip to the past. Just an hour, he says, but then they run into Joseph Smith himself. After saving the young prophet from an attacker, Uncle Daniel is called to accompany Joseph Smith on a mission. He tries to send the kids back to the present, but in his excitement, he sets the Time Travelers incorrectly, and Tom and Becky are transported all of three hours into the future. Now they're stuck in September, 1830, with no money, no food, and no place to stay. (For the full review please email me) Ghost of a Chance, by Kerry Blair
Reviewed by Melanie I've just been sitting here, trying to decide what my favorite part of Ghost of a Chance is, and have come to the conclusion that it's the part that starts on page 1 and ends on page 285. This is the second adventure of Samantha Spade, who is super-hero enough for me, even without the Bat Cycle or a spandex suit. In fact, I like her more than any other super-hero, because she's proof that you don't have to be model-thin, model-pretty, and endowed with superpowers to solve the case. You can just be yourself, love handles, encephalon, and all. I especially love Sam's thought processes. "Some people never learn. I wished I weren't one of them." Or "Advance planning is not something at which I excell. That's why I often end up in situations like this one." But this one is the best: "I had water and, thanks to the now-comforting supply of fatty deposits upon my hips and thighs, it would be days before I died of starvation. Maybe weeks." As the story opens, Sam Shade is staking out the abandoned mission of San Rafael, having been commissioned by the padre responsible, checking for signs of supernatural activity. This would be the Secret of the Screaming Specter. Elsewhere in Phoenix, the Mystery of the Marigold Murderer is going on, and back at the Nightshade Detective Agency, Sam is soon faced with the Case of the Kidnapped Corpse. That's an awful lot going on for one single girl. Fortunately, she has plenty of help. Knute and Delano also work at Nightshade, along with Chaiya, the part-time receptionist, who is forever increasing her word power while neglecting the power of the correct definition. Then there's Thom Casey, a policeman known as Tennyson among his fellow cops. That's because he's an English professor at heart, and likes to quote literature whenever appropriate, which is perhaps a bit more often than Sam would like. Despite that, Sam has her eye on him, and her subconscious takes advantage of any situation it can to get Sam to snuggle close and whisper her true feelings to him. (For full review please email me) Women of Genesis Series by Orson Scott Card Reviewed by Penny I just finished Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series and I loved it. I love the way he makes these strong women of the Bible become real. I love the way Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah are all different personalities, yet they share the same love and devotion for God and His commandments. Card makes it easy to understand the traditions of that time. I enjoyed them so much I gave the first one, Sarah, to three different friends for their birthdays. These books are a must read! All three books are thought provoking, and will capture your imagination. Make sure you fridge is stocked and you have movies for the kids ready because when you pick up these books, you will not be able to put them down! Serpent Tide by K.L. Fogg
Reviewed by Carrie I know that this book was written as a youth book, but my husband and I both agree (for once!) that this is probably one of the best books we've ever read! It is an adventure book and just has a really good and unique storyline about a boy finding his real family and then getting kidnapped by an evil woman and trying to get back. The sequel to this book, Widow's Revenge just came out this week and I am going to start reading it right away! Full Circle by Anita Stansfield Reviewed by Wendy I need to begin this review by stating that I am not a particular Anita Stansfield fan. In high school, I got the first three of her books before my interest became tepid. Still, that did not preclude me from reading her books if I found them at the library, so I have read most (if not all) of her books that have anything to do with the Hamilton family. This novel, Full Circle, is the sixth volume in Stansfield’s “Gables of Legacy” series, and from the dedication I take it to be the last she’ll write about the Hamiltons. Being the sixth book of a series, I don’t think many people would look at it and say, “This looks good.” and begin reading. If you were thinking of doing that, I wouldn’t recommend it. Because there are so many characters that have been introduced in previous novels, a first-time Stansfield reader would be frustrated about the lack of detail and seemingly far-fetched connection between some of them. The first half of the book reminds me of the final episode of a sitcom, where the entire plot is a series of flashbacks to previous episodes. “Remember when . . .” Though using flashbacks is not my favorite literary device (nor the most effective), fans of the Hamilton series might be excited to get some extra information about events Stansfield glossed over previously. The second half of the book introduces some plot direction that I won’t spoil for those who are going to read the book–but suffice it to say I enjoyed the end a bit more than the beginning, since there was a bit more action and less reminiscing going on. While I don’t think this is Stansfield’s best work, it is, of course, required reading for anyone acquainted with the Hamilton clan, since it’s the end of an era–if not in the Hamilton family, at least in what Stansfield is writing. Backtrack, by Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Melanie There's certainly a lot going on in this Haggerty mystery, and it's all connected to Miss Eugenia, whether directly or peripherally. There's a new woman in town, Charlotte Sullivan, a so-called professional activities director for the new senior citizen center, and her interest in Witt causes Miss Eugenia to investigate her further. The name Charlotte is well-picked in my opinion, because it reminded me of the book Charlotte's Web, and all the evidence points to the idea that this Charlotte is a spider as well -- a black widow, in fact, who's trying to entangle Witt in her sticky clutches and suck the money from his wallet along with the blood from his veins. Nothing can keep Miss Eugenia from spying for evidence of Charlotte's crimes in order to protect her gentlemen friend. She even goes so far as to write a threatening, but anonymous note, to Charlotte. (For full review please email me) |
October Reviews -
Flying Home By: Rachel Ann Nunes
Reviewed by Ramona
I really enjoyed reading "Flying Home." It was better and different than I thought it would be. Liana Winn's parents die in a plane crash and she goes to live with her aunt and uncle. She has always felt like an outsider in her family and her boss at work is a jerk. Things just aren't going well with Liana. One day she does a favor for her brother and meets Austin Walker and sparks fly between the two of them. With his help, she is able to search and find out more about her parents that died and get closer to and understand her adopted parents. I loved how the book had some twists and turns and a surprise about her parents. I have to admit I am a sucker for a love story. Can't wait for the sequels. Counting Stars. by Michelle Paige Holmes
Reviewed by Casey
Let me start by saying that I loved this book! While I am waiting for new Betsy Brannon Green books to come out I am forced to read other authors. Some are just ok, but once in a while I stumble onto something worth crowing about...that is Counting Stars. This book follows "Jane" through a year filled with huge ups and huge downs. At thirty years old (and not married) she answers a personal ad from a widowed man with cancer who is looking for a woman to be a mother to his twin newborns. This is certainly not the kind of book that is all nice and sweet and wrapped up in a nice little package. This poor girl goes through some hard times! She does so with such style and grace that this author has you hooked from the first chapter. Once you read that first chapter, it was hard to put down! Her style is wonderful. It keeps you hooked and guessing at every turn, somewhat like Betsy! There is humor, frustration, laughter, and tears...I would definately recommend this as a great read! Time Riders, by Sierra St. James Reviewed by Melanie
Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a word geek and one of my favourite courses at the university was that semester of linguistics in which we discovered the way that sounds shifted over the centuries. I’m always eager to find out more about words, too; such as where they came from, where they’re going, and how their meanings have changed, sometimes quite radically. I think this fascination is part of the reason why I liked Time Riders. Sheridan and Taylor, female college students, are caught and dragged from our time into the 24th century. I mention the fact that they are female because names, too, have changed over the years, and what was once used exclusively on male babies has now become commonplace for females. The scientists from this era are looking for a specific (male) genius named Taylor Sheridan, but at first it appears that their time strainer has made a mistake. Taylor and Sheridan are caught in the future, unable to return to their own time and old lives. It’s bad enough that they don’t understand the language and need Echo and his father Jeth, both “wordsmiths,” to translate for them, at least at the beginning. (For full review please email me) Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Brannon Green Reviewed by Sandi
Loved the story line. This story took some unexpected turns in the life of a young and desperate wife who was working with all she possessed to make a good life when her only surviving family member is suddenly taken from her life. Despite her trust and faith in others, she confides and expounds her fears in trusted acquaintances only to wonder who she can really trust. In all the past dealings, she suddenly realizes that despite disappointments and relationships gone wrong, there is someone that would not let her down if only for his own code of character. It was dreadful to learn that he wasn't what one would call available but soon put his energetic and trusted team together. Things are interesting in the team and not surprising to learn of their characters, after the fact. I loved this beginning of a series and it has spurred me to waiting excitedly for more of the story to unfold. There was a lot left to wonder about and I enjoy the suspense of this style of writing. Things are clean, honest and there are always people of high character, though struggling with their own timing for their acquired outcome to be exposed...it leaves one to feel that right will prevail and that the people in the story will learn their lessons in life and be better people for having climbed the hill and through perserverance become the people they are meant to be. Love this type of production. Silenced, by Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Vicki
This is a great mystery with lots of southern humor and a lovely romance. The characters are complex but human with personalities that inspire and entertain. The Haggarty ladies are such fun...but the mystery makes it a hard book to put down! Hazardous Duty, by Betsy Brannon Green
Reviewed by Deanna
I have always enjoyed the Haggerty series but I really enjoyed this new book. The characters and plot were enthralling and I could hardly put it down to do what I needed to do. I am really looking forward to the next two books. The Icing on the Cake by Elodia Strain Reviewed by Marcia
I just loved it! It is what you would consider chick lit. It is a hilarious, fresh story. Annabelle is funny and lovable. It starts as she goes out of her way to buy a particular cake for a company party to impress her boss who then gives her a big assignment she'd been hoping for. She meets handsome Isaac who always seems to catch her at her worst moments. He is assigned as the photographer for her writing assignment. The big assignment is to interview a snobby chef at an exclusive restaurant. She fails miserably twice, one time almost catching the kitchen on fire. This is just one of the many scrapes Annabelle finds herself in. There are also some troublemakers that have it out for Annabelle. Despite all that seems to go wrong, she stays positive. The writing is great with rich details that bring the story to life. Did I mention it was funny? Very funny. I laughed out loud many times. It is definitely one of those stay-up-until 2:00 in the morning until you finish reading kind of books. This is a wonderful novel for first-time author Elodia Strain. I can't wait to see more of her books. |
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