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Book Review: Last Chance Hero

29 Sep

UnknownThe inhabitants of Last Chance, New Mexico, could not be more pleased. Dr. Jessica McLeod has opened an office right on Main Street. Andy Ryan, the best athlete the little town ever produced, has ended his short career in the NFL and has come home to coach the mighty Pumas of Last Chance High. Unfortunately, Dr. Jess immediately gets off on the wrong foot when she admits that she’s never seen a football game, isn’t really interested in doing so, and, in fact, doesn’t know a first down from a home run.

Meanwhile, Coach Ryan is discovering that it’s not easy to balance atop the pedestal the town has put him on. When this unlikely pair is drawn together over the future of a young player–whose gifts may lie in the laboratory rather than on the football field–they begin to wonder if they might have a future together as well.

With the flair that has made her Last Chance books a favorite among readers of contemporary fiction, Cathleen Armstrong draws on the passion Americans have for the traditions of small-town high school football.

 

Cathleen-Armstrong-hi-res-199x300Cathleen Armstrong is the author of Welcome to Last Chance, winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Women’s Fiction in 2009 and the first volume in the series A Place to Call Home. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Ed, and their corgi, but her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives.

 

My Impressions:

Cathleen Armstrong returns to Last Chance, New Mexico in book 4 of her A Place to Call Home series, Last Chance Hero. In this contemporary romance novel old characters are joined by new as the town prepares for a return to the Glory Days of Last Chance football. Small town feel, endearing characters and a budding romance mix together to provide a very satisfying read.

Dr. Jessica “Jess” MacLeod is living her dream of practicing medicine in a small southwestern town. And while everyone in Last Chance is welcoming, they are not flocking to her office for appointments. Andy Ryan is returning to Last Chance after 10 years playing football in college and the NFL. As the newly appointed coach of the high school team, Andy has to battle expectations that may not align with reality. The two hit it off, but Jess doesn’t know anything about football and is not interested in learning. In a town where football is King, can the two find common ground?

Last Chance Hero is the fourth book Armstrong has set in the quaint and quirky southwestern New Mexico town, and I have to say I have not gotten tired of returning again and again. Secondary characters from previous books keep it familiar, and the introduction of new characters keep it fresh. I really liked Jess and Andy. They have a bit of the opposites attract story going on. I can really identify with that. My husband and I have such dissimilar interests its a wonder we ever got past dating! But after 35 years of being a couple with 30 of those years married, I can say that opposites can attract and thrive! Armstrong hits on the secret of success when she creates two characters that have the same goals and values. The football framework is fun — perfect for Fall reading. High School football is big here in middle Georgia, so I could certainly relate to all the hoopla surrounding the Last Chance team. I could also relate to Jess’ preference to a good book in front of a fire instead of sitting on cold bleachers! But Jess is a plucky heroine; her determination to learn more about football produced a few chuckles. Andy is more complex than his jock persona and I enjoyed his unfolding personality and emotions. Relationships are the center of this series, and Last Chance Hero explores the most important relationships — parent/child and God/His people. The importance of a close relationship with God is stressed, but never preachy.

Last Chance Hero can be read as a standalone novel, but the books are so good that I suggest you start at the beginning. An interesting storyline is introduced that I am hoping will be developed more fully in the next book. Each successive book in the series has been my favorite, and this one is no exception. All in all, a great read that I can recommend.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: No Safe Harbor

28 Sep

UnknownNew York City, 1897

She came to America searching for her brother. Instead all she’s found is a web of danger.

Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead. Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him. Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend–Rourke Walsh. Despite her brother’s warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.

She’s then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge. Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother–but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps.

With her faith in tatters, all hope flees. Will her brother finally surface? Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke… a man she’s grown to love?

741feb081762589663e2be0dbf3ecb3aElizabeth Ludwig is an award-winning author whose work has been featured on Novel
Rocket, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies (co-authored with Janelle Mowery), earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year Award. This book was followed in 2009 by “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, part of the Christmas anthology collection, Christmas Homecoming.

In 2011, her second mystery, Died in the Wool (co-authored with Janelle Mowery) was nominated for a Carol Award. In 2012, the popular EDGE OF FREEDOM series released from Bethany House Publishers. Books one and two, No Safe Harbor and Dark Road Home, respectively, earned 4 Stars from the RT Book Reviews. Book three, Tide and Tempest, received top honors with 4 1/2 Stars.

Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences and seminars where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Along with her husband and children, she makes her home in the great state of Texas.

My Impressions:

Looking for historical romance with mystery and intrigue? Then No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig could be for you. Set amidst the bustling immigrant population of New York at the end of the 19th century, it has danger and suspense and an enduring love story. A perfect read for the cooler nights of Autumn.

Cara Hamilton believed she had lost everyone she loved until receiving a mysterious letter from her twin brother she had presumed dead. Summoned to New York City, Cara braves the Atlantic crossing determined to find her brother and discover the reason behind his flight to America. Rourke Turner/Walsh believes Cara is the key to finding his father’s murderer, but as their relationship strengthens, he is torn between family duty and love.

Cara and Rourke are great characters. They each struggle with faith and loyalty to family. The mystery surrounding Cara’s brother Eoghan leads them into danger. And you can never be sure whom can be trusted. I liked the New York that Ludwig recreates — streets busy with vendors and carriages and wagons, dark alleys filled with secrets and danger and a boarding house with women hurt by the past and determined to make a new life in a new land. Ellis Island is a central landmark and familiar to all of us whose great-grands passed through its gates. Irish politics makes its way to New York as well, and I was glad for the lesson on Fenians and the role of immigrant support in the quest for Irish Home Rule. The theme of revenge vs. forgiveness runs throughout the No Safe Harbor. It is clear that revenge leads to bitterness and corruption, yet forgiveness leads to freedom. And God is never far from His people. I loved how Clara recalls her mother’s words — God’s help is closer than the door.

No Safe Harbor is the first in the 3-part Edge of Freedom series (all are currently available). I am looking forward to more with those I met in this book.

Recommended.

Audience: older teens to adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Bethany House and Library Thing for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

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Book Review: Only with Blood

24 Sep

41el4NC2BwL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_When dying Jack Flynn decides he needs a bride so that he can father a son, his young wife Caitlin proves far more than he intended to buy.

Jack Flynn, strong and aggressive but slowly dying of tuberculosis on his farm in Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, decides to acquire―purchase―a young wife who can bear him sons to inherit his family’s land. His choice, Caitlin Spillane, is less than half his age, attractive and intelligent, and resents bitterly the obedience that is forced upon her.

When a young firebrand, a supporter of the IRA, arrives in the village, he and Caitlin are drawn together in their detestation of Flynn. Flynn, traumatized by his own insurgent IRA experiences twenty years earlier, is secretly convinced that Eamonn de Valera’s more diplomatic, peaceful approach to Ireland’s problems is the only sane one.
Could Caitlin be won for the cause, and leave her unloved husband?

A novel set against the struggle for the heart of Ireland in the Second World War, when the IRA notoriously sought assistance from the Nazis, Only with Blood explores flawed characters placed in extraordinary situations.

Therese-Down-01-1-150x150Therese Down is currently working as the Head of English at a High School in England and has been teaching English Literature and Language for over twenty years in a range of schools and colleges. She holds a MA in Employment Law and is experienced in personnel management.

 

My Impressions:

The subtitle of Therese Down’s debut novel, Only with Blood, is A Novel of Ireland, and that is exactly what you get. Billed as historical fiction, I would add that this is literary fiction with a voice as unique as an Irish brogue. Beautifully written, though stark and sometimes depressing, Only with Blood is exceptional. It is, however, not what I would categorize as Christian fiction.

Only with Blood traces the stories of three main characters: Jack Flynn a 40+ year old farmer finally thinking of taking a wife, Caitlyn Spillane a 17 year old girl sold to Flynn by her father, and Donal Kelly a twenty-something idealist turned patriot turned terrorist. The backdrop is Ireland in 1943, a country torn apart by the fight between the IRA, Britain and the Irish government. Neutral during WWII, its people are definitely not at peace. The novel takes place amidst the mud and rain of rural Ireland and its cities full of socialist/communist/nationalist sentiments. Not an easy read, but definitely one that captures the imagination.

The characters that Down has created are developed through memories and recollections as well as contemporary (1943) circumstances. Each is a fascinating study of hopes, dreams, failures and fears. I didn’t like them much at the beginning of the novel, but they certainly grew on me. Jack is an especially compelling character who is burdened by a past of abuse, abandonment, and guilt. Caitlyn is definitely headstrong, but needs that in her survival within an archaic system of arranged marriage. Donal was my least favorite, but his sacrifice at the end redeems his character. The novel is dense with unfamiliar language and history, at least to me. I had no idea of Ireland’s history past the potato famine. But it was the foreign words and natural introduction of culture and history that gave this novel a great deal of authenticity.

Earlier, I stated that this is not a Christian novel, at least by American standards. Religion is a central part of the novel, as well it should be, as the the majority of those in southern Ireland were Catholic. Characters attend mass, nuns and priests are secondary characters, and Caitlyn’s sister enters the convent. It is pervasive, but there doesn’t seem to be any real connection between the characters and the God they profess to believe. It is more institutional than relational. There is a scene close to the end of the novel when Jack is assured of God’s forgiveness. That was a powerful scene, but really the only one of its kind. And being a British novel, there is mild profanity throughout. That seems to be fairly common for Christian novels published in the UK, though generally frowned upon in the CBA here in the US (although that is changing). (I added the mild designation after the author commented and people in a FB discussion showed there are widely varying definitions of what constitutes profanity. The words in question can be described as swear words.)

Although Only with Blood is relatively short, coming in at just over 300 pages, it took me a while to read. I had to stop to look up unknown phrases and words and the history of 20th century Irish politics. It is also dark and depressing, and I needed to take breaks to dispel the gloom. I know that doesn’t sound very positive. But while I didn’t really enjoy the novel, it certainly gave me a lot to think about. So while there are negatives, I still recommend it. I look forward to more books from Therese Down.

Recommended. (please note use of mild profanity, i.e. swear words)

Audience: adults.

Good for book clubs.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Lion Hudson and Kregel for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: The First Principle

23 Sep

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. Luke 12:53 ESV

51nKWx4Ti6L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For fifteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same–until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall.

When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Marina Ward, she has no idea she’s sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn’t long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory abortion–or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother’s chances at becoming president.

A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn’t ready to face.

 

marissa-shrock_about-201x300Marissa Shrock is a writer and language arts teacher who enjoys working with her fun seventh grade students. She is a graduate of Taylor University and has completed the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Apprentice, Journeyman, and Craftsman courses. She is a member of ACFW.

Marissa has written articles for teens and adults in Evangel and Encounter. The First Principle is her debut novel.

In her spare time Marissa loves spending time with family and friends, shopping for cute clothes, traveling, baking, and playing golf.

 

My Impressions:

Marissa Shrock’s debut YA novel, The First Principle, is a chilling look at what the world could become — government control of all aspects of our life, including economic, religious and reproductive freedom. A plot-driven suspense, it is also a great starting point for discussions of what we give up for safety and security.

Vivica Williams is the high school-aged daughter of the Governor of a region within the United Regions of America, a nation comprised of the former countries in North America. Following the collapse of world economies and the ensuing chaos and riots, a new order is established to maintain the well-being of its citizens. But government has a hand in all aspects of life, and Vivica starts to question just what is right and wrong with the many regulations that determine her and others’ future.

Told in the first person voice of Vivica (a strong and determined character) the reader is introduced to a world where the class system is firmly in place, a state-sanctioned and redacted religion is the only one tolerated and life choices (from the sugar and fat consumed to how many children one can have) are monitored and strictly regulated. Government knows best and rules with a heavy hand. Shrock has created a world not so far-fetched as once thought. The First Principle is a great book to use to encourage discussions on the value of human life and freedoms, the danger of a watered-down gospel and the necessity to stand for the truth even when it divides families. A plot filled with political conspiracies, assassinations, and double dealings makes this a fast-paced, suspenseful read. It also has some intense scenes and mature subject matter — making it, in my opinion, suitable for high school and above.

Recommended.

Audience: high school and above.

Great for book club discussion.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Kregel and CSFF for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To read what other participants of the CSFF tour have to say about The First Principle, click on the links below.

Julie Bihn
Thomas Clayton Booher
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback
 Rebecca LuElla Miller
 Joan Nienhuis
 Nissa
 Jalynn Patterson
 Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas
Shane Werlinger
Carol Gehringer

 

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Book Review: Gather around The Amish Table

21 Sep

GatherAroundTheAmishTableStraight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks.

Bake the pecan rolls that taste best after an ice-skating party, or try the hoagies that a community sold to help an Amish family with hospital bills. Discover the cocoa cupcakes with instructions to “stir by hand” that one young cook took literally, or whip up the whoopie pies that one Amish woman took to market in her horse and buggy.

These cherished recipes speak of comforting traditions, lively communities, and strong Christian faith. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”

Lucy Leid is an Old Order Mennonite wife, mother, and cook in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

 

My Impressions:

CO97xEXWIAEZ3CuI love cookbooks! Now I don’t always use them, but I love looking through them, savoring the delicacies that I could make if I wished. Well, I actually used Gather around The Amish Table — a definite sign that this cookbook is a keeper. 😉 Beautiful photographs and stories of family and friends gathered around a table make this cookbook something special. And the recipes are for food you can actually serve to your family. Easy to understand recipes for comfort food — yum! I’ll definitely be revisiting this one for family meals and potlucks. I made Lillian’s Lemon Bars for a recent book club event and not one was left for the trip home. There’s also a section that has recipes for non-edible treats (at least by humans) like Pantry Plant Food. I love those little extras.

Great for a housewarming or bridal shower gift, Gather around The Amish Table is recommended by this reader/operator.

Recommended.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

gather-enterbanner

Incorporate Amish cooking traditions this fall in your kitchen with Lucy Leid’s Gather Around the Amish Table. Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: “Bake someone happy!”.

gather-400
Get your fall baking underway with an Amish baking basket giveaway from Lucy and MennoMedia!

One grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of Gather Around the Amish Table
An Amish baking basket full of goodies

Enter today by clicking HERE. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 29th. The winner will be announced September 30th on the Litfuse blog.

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Book Review: The Columbus Code

18 Sep

UnknownThe Columbus Code is just that the true, historical puzzle few could comprehend until today. Consistent with great historical fiction of our time, New York Times best-sell author Mike Evans pens a story replete with intrigue, adventure, and brutal persecution. The story begins with John Winters, an American Secret Service agent, who unravels centuries old truths about Christopher Columbus and the real drama that lay behind those famous voyages to the Americas.

 

mike-evansMIKE EVANS is a #1 New York Times best-selling author with more than 25 million copies in print, including Christopher Columbus: Secret Jew. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Ten Boom Museum in Holland (tenboom.org) and also of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem (FOZHC.org). Evans is founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team (jpteam.org) and has sixty published books.

 

My Impressions:

The Columbus Code is an international suspense novel reminiscent of The DaVinci Code. Filled with ancient documents, terrorist threats and a secret society determined to establish a one-world government, Mike Evans’ novel is perfect for those who like conspiracy theories and last days narratives. I found this book unputdownable!

John Winters is a Secret Service agent on administrative leave due to an operation that went south. His past and present have collided to keep him off-duty until he opens up to his government psychiatrist. His strained relationships with his only daughter and much younger brother and recent death of his mother keep Winters isolated and paralyzed by fear and doubts. A simple request to continue his mother’s genealogical search turns deadly and threatens not only his family members but his country.

The Columbus Code is definitely plot-driven. Fast-paced and adrenaline-laced, it kept this reader turning the pages. I finished it in record time! The elements of secrets shrouded in history and mystery, a shadowy Brotherhood with evil intentions, and a conspiracy among nations to upset the US economy were interesting and seemed a bit too real. Although the emphasis was on plot, not character, I still connected with John, his daughter Maria and Sophie, an academic and love interest for John, and worried for their safety. Did I say the book seemed very real?! The author also includes hints of the End Times with references to the antichrist and blood moons. Some of the bad guys get away and some of the good guys are missing at the end, so I think there will probably be a sequel to come. I hope so, because The Columbus Code left me wanting more.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Worthy Publishers for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

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Book Review: Journeys of The Heart

17 Sep

51RRYxJ7bBL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_From merry old England to the wilds of Texas, take a delightful journey into adventure and romance alongside a feisty spinster, an English lord, a trail boss, a determined widow, and an unusual train companion — a parrot.

The Gentleman’s Quest by USA Today bestselling author Camille Elliot. When a man’s body is found in the stables of Heathcliffe Manor, all evidence points to Christopher Creager as the culprit. The only one who can help him is the woman he hasn’t let himself go near: Honoria Dunbar. But when he enlists her help he discovers Honoria is facing a life-sentence of her own . . .

The Road Home by Winnie Griggs. Anisha’s life is just beginning, and Wyatt feels like his is over. How can a displaced, exotic beauty and former surgeon help two grieving orphans find a forever home?

The Trail Boss’s Bride by New York Times bestselling author Erica Vetsch. Trail boss Steve Ketchum hates river crossings, but before he can get his cattle started across he’s got to move an abandoned wagon out of the ford. He goes to haul it away–and discovers the last thing he ever expected. The wagon contains a newly-minted widow — and she’s expecting, too.

 

CamyTang_highresCamy Tang (writing as Camille Elliot) writes Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Camy Tang and Regency romance under her pen name, Camille Elliot. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She’s a staff worker for her church youth group and leads one of her church’s Sunday worship teams. She also loves to knit, spin wool into yarn, and is training to (very slowly) run a marathon. Visit her websites at http://www.camytang.com/ and http://www.camilleelliot.com/ to read free short stories and subscribe to her quarterly newsletter.

Winnie-GriggsWinnie Griggs is the multi-published, award winning author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She enjoys cooking, browsing estate sales, and solving puzzles. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and exotic teas, and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination. Winnie loves to hear from readers – you can connect with her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs. Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

 

evetsch-low-resErica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and romance, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical romances. Whenever she’s not immersed in fictional worlds, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron. You can connect with Erica at her website http://www.ericavetsch.com/.

 

My Impressions:

Whether you like your romance with a Regency flourish, a small town flavor or a Wild West feel, the 3-novella historical offering, Journeys of The Heart, will fit your requirements. All three stories, The Gentleman’s Quest, The Road Home and The Trail Boss’s Bride, involve journeys — by carriage, train and chuck wagon! They also involve interesting elements — a treasure map, a talking parrot and a baby born on a wagon trail — and engaging characters. All are quick reads with happily-ever-afters, although the paths to get there contain a few bumps and detours. The characters learn to rely on God as they pursue true love. Perfect for when you need a little romantic fix, each novella is a standalone. I enjoyed this book, and if you are a fan of romance with an historical setting, I am betting you will too.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Redbud Press for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

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Book Review: At Home in Last Chance

16 Sep

UnknownKaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden have always had a similar philosophy of life: when the going gets tough, they get going–out of town and away from the problem. Now they are both back in Last Chance, New Mexico, and trying to start over.

Kaitlyn is working to reestablish a relationship with the seven-year-old daughter she left behind six months earlier. Steven is trying to prove to his family that he is not the irresponsible charmer they have always known him to be. As Kaitlyn and Steven find themselves drawn to one another, one big question keeps getting in the way: How will they learn to trust each other when they don’t even trust themselves?

 

Cathleen-Armstrong-hi-res-199x300Cathleen Armstrong is the author of Welcome to Last Chance, winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Women’s Fiction in 2009 and the first volume in the series A Place to Call Home. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Ed, and their corgi, but her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives.

 

My Impressions:

These books just keep getting better and better! At Home in Last Chance is book 3 in Cathleen Armstrong’s A Place to Call Home series. Favorite characters from previous books make their appearances along with prodigals Kaitlyn Reed and Steven Braden. These two characters are known for their mess-ups and lack of commitment. And in a small town, its hard to overcome the expectations of friends and family. Kaitlyn and Steven both mourn poor past decisions and their tendency to run when when things get tough. They aren’t cut a lot of slack by the inhabitants of Last Chance — they have to prove themselves.

Proving oneself — isn’t that what keeps many people from trying in the first place? Made to feel like a failure or a ne’er-do-well, people often just give up before they start. At Home in Last Chance made me examine my own motives, choices and opinions. This contemporary romance novel provided another great visit to this little New Mexico town. Can’t wait to return with book 4, Last Chance Hero. More on that one in a few weeks.

Click on the titles to read my reviews of previous books in this series — Welcome to Last Chance and One More Last Chance.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

 

 

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Book Review: The Pharaoh’s Daughter

14 Sep

UnknownAnippe has grown up in the shadows of Egypt’s good god Pharaoh, aware that Anubis, god of the afterlife, may take her or her siblings at any moment. She watched him snatch her mother and infant brother during childbirth, a moment which awakens in her a terrible dread of ever bearing a child. Now she is to be become the bride of Sebak, a kind but quick-tempered Captain of Pharaoh Tut’s army. In order to provide Sebak the heir he deserves and yet protect herself from the underworld gods, Anippe must launch a series of deceptions, even involving the Hebrew midwives — women ordered by Tut to drown the sons of their own people in the Nile.

When she finds a baby floating in a basket on the great river, Anippe believes Egypt’s gods have answered her pleas, entrenching her more deeply in deception and placing her and her son Mehy, whom handmaiden Miriam calls Moses, in mortal danger.

As bloodshed and savage politics shift the balance of power in Egypt, the gods reveal their fickle natures and Anippe wonders if her son, a boy of Hebrew blood, could one day become king. Or does the god of her Hebrew servants, the one they call El Shaddai, have a different plan — for them all?

 

WelcomeSlide1Mesu Andrews’ deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. She and her husband, Roy, enjoyed fourteen years of pastoral ministry before moving to the Pacific Northwest, where Roy now serves as Academic Dean at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Mesu writes full-time, snuggled in her recliner beside a cozy fire on rainy Northwest days. The Andrews’ enjoy visiting their two married daughters and a growing tribe of grandkids. Mesu loves movies, football, waterfalls, and travel.

Biblical fiction is her favorite genre to read and write. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011), tells the story of Job and won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) relates the poetic Song of Solomon in story form, and Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) sets the story of Hosea and Gomer in biblical Israel. The Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) displays God’s sovereignty over Jezebel’s daughter, Queen Athaliah. The Pharaoh’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah) released in March 2015, unveiling Moses’ early years through the eyes of his Egyptian mother.

 

My Impressions:

Mesu Andrews has created an inventive story detailing Moses’ Egyptian mother in her latest book, The Pharaoh’s Daughter. Little is known about this woman, including just when she lived and which Pharaoh was her father. Through extensive research into the historical record and Scripture, Andrews developed a plausible backstory for the woman who would play a pivotal role in the early life of Moses.

Annipe has had many names — the name given her by the Great Queen to serve as a decoy to deceive the god of the underworld, the name given her by her adopted parents, and the name given her at her marriage. None really portray who she is, only what others want her to be. A woman in a world ruled by men and fraught with political intrigue and danger, Annipe forms her life through manipulation, cunning and deceit and lives that life under the cloud of fear. Only when she embraces the name given to her by God, does she find peace.

Andrews has written a compelling and complex story filled complex characters from all aspects of the Ancient Egyptian world — Pharaoh’s, generals, soldiers, noblemen and slaves. All are caught up in the structured world dictated by the myths of the gods and the politics of warring nations. This was a brutal time in the world’s history and is depicted in a thorough, but not overly graphic manner. And although the Egyptians are those that rule, no one has any real control except the God of the Hebrews, El Shaddai. God’s sovereignty is an overarching theme for the book. While man strives to steer and command, only God has the power to affect events and bring about His plans. Another theme woven throughout the book is fear and its effects. Towards the end of the book, the Hebrew slave, Mered, tells Annipe “If fear robs us of truth, faith never has a chance to grow”. That truth resonated with this reader.

One caveat: this book is fiction. That should be obvious, but needs to be said. A lot of literary license is taken in forming the story. Scripture is used as a framework and historical figures play a dominant role, but many of the events depicted are pure supposition by the author. It is a great what if, but not a pure retelling of the Biblical record. Also the story is slow in building. I struggled with keeping focused and connecting with many of the characters. I am glad I stuck with it, though, because Annipe’s later life redeemed much of her past.

An interesting look at who Moses’ mother could have been, I recommend The Pharaoh’s Daughter.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Waterbrook for a review copy. All opinions shared are mine alone.)

 

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Audiobook Review: Swope’s Ridge

11 Sep

41E-T+lIymL._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_September 12, 2001. Four members of the Klasser family are found dead outside Dallas, Texas. In the wake of 9/11, the Klassers’ neighbor, Omar Jones―an American citizen of Arab descent―is convicted of their murder. A month before Jones’ execution, attorney Lije Evans searches for evidence that will prove the man innocent. But Evans’ quest goes deeper than solving one crime. He is determined to find the secret behind the dark history of sleepy Swope’s Ridge―and how it ties into his wife’s murder. Interlocking mysteries lead Evans and his team to the battlegrounds of former Nazi Germany, the dirt roads of Kansas, and a rusty cargo ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, they discover a secret that offers the promise of great power―and the greatest temptation they’ve ever faced. In the second book of the Lije Evans Mysteries series, bestselling author Ace Collins immerses readers in an intricate and deadly international plot. Racism, betrayal, and death-defying escapes compound an adventure that knows no bounds in this harrowing novel for suspense lovers everywhere.

 

61JASD9CeSL._UX250_Ace Collins is the writer of more than sixty books, including several bestsellers: Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Stories behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, The Cathedrals, and Lassie: A Dog’s Life. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, He continues to publish several new titles each year, including a series of novels, the first of which is Farraday Road. Ace has appeared on scores of television shows, including CBS This Morning, NBC Nightly News, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Tonight.

 

My Impressions:

Ace Collins is at the top of my list for suspense authors. I read Farrraday Road a few years back and loved it. It ended with a BIG cliffhanger and begged me to go on to Swope’s Ridge. Well, I finally dug into book 2 via Audible. Its fast-paced, twisting and turning plot didn’t let me down. So my recommendation to you is get both titles and prepare yourself for some page-turning reading.

Swope’s Ridge opens with the closing action of Farraday Road. Lije Evans and his associates are still in danger from those who killed his wife. But the Nazi-era mystery exposed in book 1 gives way to a 9/11 terrorism case. How can a dead SS officer and a death row inmate possibly be connected? With clues pointing to the existence of a legendary Ark of Death, Lije and his team work to solve the case before more innocent lives are lost.

Lije Evans is an interesting character. A small-town lawyer still grieving his wife’s death and in way over his head against powerful, unknown forces, he is determined to discover the reasons surrounding the inexplicable events that have impacted his life. With a shaky faith, Lije continues on despite threats and tragedy because the truth is so important. Lije struggles with the hidden plans and purposes of God – don’t we all — making him a relatable character. The ensemble cast in Swope’s Ridge is strong, and the reader may have a hard time discerning just who the good guys are. The plot is complex and certainly suspenseful, leaving this reader just as mystified as Lije. But all comes together in a satisfying ending. The Nazi-era history was interesting and cleverly tied into the modern-day action.

I read the audiobook version of Swope’s Ridge. The narrator did a good job with pacing and voices.

A great conclusion to the two-book series, Swope’s Ridge is definitely a recommended read.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

 

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