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Book Review: Fatal Exchange

12 May

721911Emily Hunt might come from a family of cops, but she never goes looking for an adrenaline rush. She lives the quiet–well, relatively quiet–life of a teacher and thrives on making a difference in the lives of her students. But she’ll have to draw on a well of strength and savvy she didn’t know she had as student Rafael Cerda takes her class hostage for ransom money to save his brother’s life.

Undercover cop Mason Taylor has been working with Rafael to find his brother and bring the cartel thugs who hold him to justice. Can he talk Rafael down from his impulsive actions? And is there something more sinister at work here than he realizes?

 

harrislisAward-winning author Lisa Harris has been writing both fiction and nonfiction since 2000 and has twenty novels and novellas in print. She currently lives with her family in Mozambique, where they work as missionaries.

Visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at http://www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com.

 

My Impressions:

For romantic suspense, one of my go-to authors is Lisa Harris. The second book in her Southern Crimes series, Fatal Exchange, is just another of example of why she is one of my favorites. Fast-paced with a twisting plot, it also has a great romantic element combined with a strong faith message. A good pick for anyone looking for their next great read.

Emily Hunt is a teacher among a family of police officers. She has never wanted the high pressure job that requires courage. But when faced with a student with a gun in her classroom, Emily is called upon to draw from her experience and her faith. Mason Taylor had been a family friend of the Hunts until Michael Hunt was murdered and Mason was tied to his death. Exonerated by the police force, Mason, an undercover officer, longs to put things right with Emily’s family. The standoff at Emily’s school, puts Mason in the middle of the action and in the line of fire.

Fatal Exchange has it all — great characters you come to care about, a fast-moving plot with twists you never see coming, a believable romantic thread and a message of forgiveness and trust. The characters rely heavily on God, even when they have doubts and fears. The novel makes it plain that though we live in a sin-filled, fallen world, God’s grace is abundant. Drug trafficking, cartels and dirty cops are the elements of the very believable plot line. I liked book 1 in the series, Dangerous Passage, but I really liked Fatal Exchange. And while it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend the reader start with book 1. There is a mystery running through the two books that does not get solved. But from the last paragraph of Fatal Exchange, it looks like the reader will finally have answsers in book 3. If you are a fan of Terri Blackstock or Diann Mills, be sure to check this one out. You will not be disappointed.

Recommended.

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

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Book Review: Casting The Net

8 May

640622Heartwarming English comedy of manners, featuring the trials and tribulations of newly ordained minister, Neil Fisher.

In part two of the Dunbridge Chronicles, Neil Fisher returns from ordination inspired by his sense of ministry, but determined to distance himself from the two ladies in his life. This is not altogether well received, and a wide segment of the congregation of St Stephen’s, Dunbridge—including the music group—points Neil to the error of his ways.

Meanwhile Neil’s close friend Colin and his wife, Jeannie, are delighted by the birth of a daughter, but is all well with the baby? Neil’s mother Iris continues to meddle, to his irritation. Churchwarden Peter has said a relieved farewell to his flighty wife Glenda—or has he? Dunbridge is not as peaceful as it seems.

 

rhodespamFor many years Pam Rhodes has presented the world’s number one religious television program, Songs of Praise. She writes for the Daily Mail’s Femail section, and is also a successful novelist, author of With Hearts and Hands and Voices and four other novels, as well as a number of other books.

My Impressions:

I have rather mixed emotions about Casting The Net, the second book in The Dunbridge Chronicles by Pam Rhodes. I very much liked the cast of characters and the charming English village of Dunbridge. I liked the wonderful sense of community that Rhodes has created in the parish of St. Stephens. I also liked the look into how Christianity is lived out in a culture different from my own. But the theology of the book gives me some pause. It definitely got me thinking!

Neil Fisher is a young curate embarking on his second year of potty-training or curacy in the Anglican parish of St. Stephens. He begins with a bit of confusion and hesitation over his abilities as curate and his romantic feelings. By the end of this challenging year, Neil has grown into a more confident and knowledgeable minister. His love life seems settled too, but of course the next book in the series could produce even more challenges for him.

First the pros of Casting The Net. Rhodes has done a wonderful job of creating a village and parish church that teems with life. The characters are very realistic and run the gamut from lovely and loving people to busy-bodies to those who use manipulation to get what they want. You can find these characters in any setting in real life! The triumphs and trials of their lives mirror real life as well. The main character, Neil, is by far my favorite. I liked the way he grew in his understanding of both his congregation and himself, ministering to people with God’s grace. Rhodes also tackles issues that don’t have easy answers — the death of loved ones, divorce and marriage. Culturally, the Anglican church in an English village is much different from my conservative, evangelical church in the Deep South and it was interesting to see what was accepted and what was not. While raising hands and singing praise songs is seen as a bit alien for them, regular visits to the pub and having a pint are a way of life.

Now the cons. When it comes to the theological issues, Rhodes presents views that are all over the spectrum. Neil presents one of the best explanations of why evil exists and God’s rule within a fallen world that I have read. But later in the novel, when faced with someone who does not share his faith, he offers a somewhat vague statement about there being many paths. Neil is a committed Christian, yet I don’t get the sense that he believes it is necessary for salvation. Neil is a bit on the fence when it comes to personal morality. He takes a strong stance in some areas, in others he looks the other way. I find it unusual for a priest not to be concerned with being unequally yoked. Relationships with others seem to take precedence over his relationship with God.

So do I recommend Casting The Net? Maybe. I liked it even though I could not agree with many of its sentiments. I liked the look into a church and community so different from my own. If you liked Jan Karon’s Mitford series, you will probably like this book. If you expect a book to express conservative Christian values, you may want to pass.

(Thanks to Kregel for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: When The Devil Whistles

7 May

DevilWhistles-JPEG1-194x300Allie Whitman and Connor Norman loved making the devils of the corporate world pay. Now, it’s their turn. And the price could be their lives.

“I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t.” That’s what Allie Whitman tells herself every night as she lies awake. Sometimes she even believes it. But mostly she knows deep down that her inability to make a hard choice has put millions of lives at risk, including her own. Now the only one who can help her is her lawyer, Connor Norman. Unfortunately, Allie’s actions have destroyed Connor’s trust in her—and may destroy much, much more.

 

 

Rick-Acker-300x197Rick Acker writes novels during his commute to and from his “real job” as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. His unit prosecutes corporate fraud lawsuits of the type described in his new book, When the Devil Whistles, which award-winning author Colleen Coble describes as “a legal thriller you won’t want to miss!”

Rick has led confidential investigations into a number of large and sensitive cases that made headlines in and out of California. Before joining DOJ, Rick was a senior litigator at the international law firm of Bingham McCutchen, where he worked extensively on the multi-billion dollar Executive Life case, which led to the indictment of several French executives and high-level diplomatic strains between the U.S. and France.Rick has law degrees from the University of Oslo and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with honors. In addition to his novels, he is a contributing author on two legal treatises published by the American Bar Association.

When Rick isn’t writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife, Anette, and their four children. They’ll be exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading.

Rick is a transplanted Chicagoan who spent thirty-five years in the Midwest before finally trading the certainty of winter and mosquitoes for the risk of earthquakes. He now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Anette, their four children, and two cats.

 

My Impressions:

I am slowly making my way through the many books I have downloaded on my Kindle. It is hard to resist a bargain, but I have so many I am not sure I will ever be able to read them all! To whittle the pile down, I am randomly choosing books. I just finished When The Devil Whistles by Rick Acker. A legal suspense/international thriller, the book was just the ticket for a fast-paced escape novel.

Allie Whitman is a professional whistle blower who, through her company Devil to Pay, provides the California Department of Justice with evidence on companies that cheat in their state contracts. Her attorney, Connor Norman, loves helping Allie bring down corrupt businessmen. But Allie gets in over her head when her cover is blown and she is blackmailed into investigating a marine salvage and construction contractor. What starts as a look into some cooked books becomes a deadly game involving foreign governments and terror plots.

As a legal suspense novel, When The Devil Whistles follows a standard formula, but Acker diverts from the expected when he introduces terrorists, nuclear weapons and a twisting plot that has the reader guessing. Yes, the plot is a bit implausible (how does the US government not know there is a Soviet-era nuclear sub on the bottom of the sea floor off the west coast?), but it is not so different from action adventures so popular in theaters. I liked the twisting action and I liked the characters. I took the plot devices at face value and just went with the story. The biggest negative in many of the reviews I read was that the book was blatantly Christian, which annoyed or disgusted some of its detractors. What I found was a book with some Christian characters and others not. The  Christians were never preachy. In fact their faith was exhibited in natural ways — they prayed or spoke of God’s help. I would say the message portrayed was subtle.

When The Devil Whistles was a fun, quick read and I would definitely read another by Acker.

Recommended.

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

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Book Review: 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible

6 May

100-Tough-Questions-About-the-Bible-cover-141-px-highStraightforward answers to questions Christians and skeptics alike ask about God and the Bible.

Let’s be honest–the Bible can be hard to understand. It’s full of weird laws, apparent inconsistencies, and tales of a God who often doesn’t do what we expect. You may have asked about some of these things and been brushed off or given trite, unconvincing answers.

But serious questions deserve thoughtful responses, especially when opinions of Bible experts clash. Stephen M. Miller pulls insight from a wide range of Bible experts to report their answers to the tough questions. He does so with a touch of humor and no preaching, allowing you to draw your own conclusions.

Questions include:
· Would a loving God really put a good man like Job through horrible suffering just to test his loyalty?
· If God knows everything, why did he test Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his own son?
· How could there be just one God, yet three?
· Since Jesus told people to turn the other cheek, why aren’t more Christians pacifists?

 

Stephen-M-Miller250-wStephen M. Miller is an award-winning, bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity.

His books have sold over a million copies and include The Complete Guide to the Bible and Who’s Who and Where’s Where in the Bible.

A former newspaper reporter, Miller has a bachelor’s degree in news journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in biblical studies from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He describes himself a journalist who covers the Bible as his beat.

He launched his full-time freelance writing career in 1994, after working as a news reporter and later as an editor of Christian books, magazines, and Bible curriculum for a group of Christian denominations in the Wesleyan theological tradition.

Miller lives in the suburbs of Kansas City with his wife, Linda, a registered nurse. They have two married children who live nearby: Rebecca Eck with her husband Jonathan, and Brad Miller with his wife Jill.

My Impressions:

Notice that the title of this book is 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible, not 100 Tough Questions and Answers. There is reason for that. Stephen Miller presents some really thought-provoking questions believers and especially non-believers puzzle over. He lets the reader know what scholars think about the issue and then lets him decide on his own. I really liked that. Not all Christians agree on why something occurred or just why God acts the way He does. By presenting the most popular and plausible thoughts on the matter, Miller allows the reader to ponder and explore a little deeper on their own. When used under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I think this book can be a sure winner to answer those things that have bothered us all and help those who are seeking for truth to find their way to God. Miller’s style is great too. The concepts may be hard, but Miller’s approach is direct and witty. Weighty matters are lightened up with a little chuckle.

So if you’ve ever wondered why Job suffered or why Joshua had a man and his whole family stoned or other things that might seem a bit inconsistent in the Biblical text, pick up this book. Or if you think you’d like to be able to speak to those who doubt or question, definitely pick up 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible.

Recommended.

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

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Book Review: One Perfect Spring

5 May

722673Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.

As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.

Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

 

 

Irenepicbio(From the author’s website.) Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.

Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!

Since then, she has written more than 45 romance and romantic suspense novels. Her books have been honored with two RITA awards—the “Oscar” of romantic fiction—and she is a six-time finalist. Her books have also won a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, two HOLT Medallions, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers’ Choice awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. One of her novels was also named by Booklist as a top 10 inspirational fiction books of 2011. In addition, she is a Christy award finalist.

Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time. She is happy to say she has no regrets!

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.

When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri.

 

My Impressions:

Irene Hannon is a new author for me. Although she has written many romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels, I had yet to pick one up. I sure am glad I did! One Perfect Spring is a breath of fresh air — a novel filled with likable and believable characters who face real life situations with doubts, questions and faith in God. Not perfect people, but a perfect God who gently leads them. If you are looking for an enjoyable read from the opening chapter to the last page, then check out One Perfect Spring.

Haley Summers, an exuberant eleven year old, writes a letter that triggers a series of events that brings hope and healing to the lives of her mother Claire, next door neighbor Maureen and the two men who enter their lives. Cautious hearts are opened and the prospects of a second chance at love become reality.

Irene Hannon has a natural writing style that made me believe her story. From the beginning I was drawn into the characters lives. There were no far-fetched situations or unrealistic responses, just true-life.  These characters struggled with the same things we all do — forgiveness, bitterness, past hurts, and reconciliation. They could be your neighbors, friends or family (or even yourself). I thought the romances (yes there were two!) developed naturally as well. There are sparks aplenty, but also a measured response to the difficulties of relationships with baggage attached. Hannon also presents an interesting perspective on adoption with characters on both sides of the question.

All in all a perfect choice for those who like a contemporary romance. I highly recommend One Perfect Summer.

Highly Recommended.

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

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Book Review: The Pelican Bride

2 May

721973It is 1704 when Genevieve Gaillain and her sister board a French ship headed for the Louisiana colony as mail-order brides. Both have promised to marry one of the rough-and-tumble Canadian men in this New World in order to escape religious persecution in the Old World. Genevieve knows life won’t be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and family without fear of beheading. But when she falls in love with Tristan Lanier, an expatriate cartographer whose courageous stand for fair treatment of native peoples has made him decidedly unpopular in the young colony, Genevieve realizes that even in this land of liberty one is not guaranteed peace. And a secret she harbors could mean the undoing of the colony itself.

 

313204_b8f0fbd6de603d031772f89385f2f7f1.jpg_srz_268_398_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srzAbout Beth White — I grew up in the South, specifically North Mississippi, which has a rich tradition of fostering writers, storytellers, and musicians. I’m fond of both music and literature, so I amuse myself by teaching chorus and piano in an inner-city public high school by day, while conducting a secret life as a romance writer by night.

Anyway, I find myself, after more than half the years I’ve been alive, still married to my last college boyfriend. He still makes me laugh, he still gives me the warm fuzzies, and he still checks my tires, so I guess I’ll keep him. We somewhat successfully raised two young adults, who are both married and have begun producing amazing grandchildren. My cup runneth over.

Anyone who wants to know more about me should read my books and my blog. I am something of a hermit In Real Life, except in the classroom and on my computer, but I am very much interested in what makes my readers tick. And what ticks them off. And what makes them smile. So please email me here. I promise to answer.

My Impressions:

I have read several contemporary romance novels by Mississippi native Beth White. She always brings a great sense of place to her books, so when I heard she had written an historical novel set in the fledgling Louisiane colony, I knew I had to read it. Filled with rich historical detail, The Pelican Bride is a perfect read for those who love history and romance.

Genevieve Gaillain, along with her sister Aimee and other women from France, is transported upon the Pelican to find a husband among the French soldiers and Canadian craftsmen that have settled into the new Louisiane colony (now Mobile, Alabama). What they encounter definitely does not exceed their expectations. Rough living conditions, even rougher perspective beaus, an unstable political environment and hostile Native peoples combine to create at least a little fear. But their contracts state that they must find husbands, so the courting begins. But Genevieve has secrets that make choosing a husband tricky. Can she trust God to safely lead her in the New France?

Set in 1704, The Pelican Bride was meticulously researched. The peoples and place that was the capital of the French colony in the American South come to life in Beth White’s hands. New-to-me history and an intriguing plot kept me reading. I especially liked the political machinations and the relationship between the French settlers and the Native Americans. There is plenty of political intrigue and detail about the Huguenot persecution to create a well-developed historical setting. The blend of characters, both historic and fictional, was interesting as well. My favorites were Jesuit priest, Father Mathieu and Nika, a native woman integral to the plot. The romance is a bit predictable and perhaps stretches believability. The two main characters, Genevieve and Tristan Lanier. resist their attraction for the first half of the book and then suddenly marry and fall in love. But The Pelican Bride is first and foremost a romance and follows along the prescribed lines for the genre.

All in all I would recommend The Pelican Bride to all who love an historical romance. The little known era detailed in the book makes it a fresh and interesting read.

Recommended.

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

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Book Review: Good, Clean Murder

1 May

UnknownLiving on her own for her first time, Bible school student Jane cleans houses to make ends meet. But being independent brings big trials, like falling for a handsome professor, dealing with an obnoxious roommate, and then there’s the dead bodies…

Who knew being housekeeper to wealthy owners of a Roly Burger franchise would mean sweeping up clues to their death, while ministering to the needs of their heirs?

This is one big mess that Jane is intent on cleaning up before things get even worse.

 

DSC_3094-2About Traci Tyne Hilton — When not writing I Facebook too much, knit socks, and accompany my mandolin loving husband on the spoons.

I’m also the author of The Mitzy Neuhaus Mystery Series, The Plain Jane Mystery Series, and one of the authors in The Tangle Saga series of science fiction novellas. I was the Mystery/Suspense Category winner for the 2012 Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, a finalist for Speculative Fiction in the same contest, and have a Drammy from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild. I currently serve as the Vice President of the Portland chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association.

I have a degree in History from Portland State University and still live in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with my goofy family and two small dogs.

 

My Impressions:

Good, Clean Murder is a cozy mystery with a new adult twist. Filled with a few crazy characters, an earnest Bible student/house cleaner/amateur sleuth, and an integral faith message, Traci Tyne Hilton’s novel will appeal to those who like cozies.

Jane Adler is a Bible school student trying to find her place of service. Her world is a bit out of control, but she has faith that God will direct her course. But discovering two dead bodies just adds to the upheaval that faces her. Evicted from her apartment, involved with a new romantic interest, and the discovery that her Bible school education doesn’t matter, Jane has to face her decisions with a critical eye.

While I enjoyed the mystery, it was Jane’s struggle with pleasing man, herself and God that I found kept me turning the pages. While Jane desires to serve God on the mission field, she has to face whether she is motivated by God’s love or pride in her pursuit of her dream. Overall, I liked Good, Clean Murder and look forward to more in this series.

Recommended.

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

 

To purchase this book, click on the image below. The Kindle version is free!

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Book Review: Body and Soul

30 Apr

731051Bethany Hamilton has become a fitness expert by virtue of being a professional athlete who has excelled—and she’s done it while overcoming incredible challenges. Whether you know Bethany or not, whether you surf or not, everyone has challenges, and in Body and amp; Soul, Bethany shares some of her core experiences with body, mind and spirit. Sharing her expertise as an athlete, Body and amp; Soul helps young girls develop a healthy lifestyle, understand their changing bodies, gain confidence, and establish a pattern of healthy living starting at a young age. This book includes workouts specially developed for young girls by Bethany’s personal trainer, recipes and information on healthy eating based on “Bethany’s food pyramid,” which follows the Mediterranean diet, and advice on deepening your spiritual health, for a total body wellness book perfect for growing girls. This isn’t a book about Bethany, this is a book about wellness, becoming your best “you,” through physical and spiritual balance, because spiritual health is just as important as physical health

 

UnknownBethany Meilani Hamilton is an American professional surfer. She is known for surviving a shark attack in which her left arm was bitten off, and for overcoming the injury to ultimately return to professional surfing.

 

My Impressions:

Girls face so many lies about what makes them valuable, what they should look like and who they should be. It is great that Bethany Hamilton has written a guide for girls to look and feel better, in light of God’s word and purpose. Body & Soul: A Girl’s Guide to A Fit, Fun And Fabulous Life is a the perfect book for the teen or tween girl in your life. It is filled with lots of information for healthy living — exercises, recipes, establishing routines and healthy eating. Bethany also makes sure to include God’s views on a healthy lifestyle by focusing on what He says about it. I think this would be a great book for moms and daughters to work through together — what a great way to establish and reinforce a healthy lifestyle for the whole family.

Recommended.

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

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Book Review: Defy The Night

29 Apr

443213In the midst of war, one teenager is determined to make a difference.

If no one will do anything, she’ll have to do it herself.

In 1941 France is still “free.” But fifteen-year-old Magali is frustrated by the cruel irony of pretending life is normal when food is rationed, new clothes are a rarity, and most of her friends are refugees. And now the government is actually helping the Nazis. Someone has got to do something, but it seems like no one has the guts—until Paquerette arrives.

Smuggling refugee children is Paquerette’s job. And she asks Magali to help.

Working with Paquerette is scary and exhausting, but Magali never doubts that it is the right thing to do. Until her brash actions put those she loves in danger.

 

 

HeatherOp1Heather Munn was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in southern France where her parents were missionaries like their parents before them. She has a BA in literature from Wheaton College and now lives in a Christian intentional community in rural Illinois, where she and her husband, Paul, host free spiritual retreats for the poor, especially those transitioning out of homelessness or addiction. When not writing or hosting, she works on the communal farm.

LydiaOp1Lydia Munn, daughter of missionary parents, grew up in Brazil. She received a BA in literature from Wheaton College, and an MA in Bible from Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions. With her husband, Jim, she has worked in church planting and Bible teaching since 1983, notably in St. Etienne, near the small town in the central mountains of France which forms the background of How Huge the Night. The Munns now live in Grenoble, France.

 

 

My Impressions:

Sharing the little known story of courageous French citizens determined to save the children caught in the brutality of the Nazi regime, the mother daughter writing team of Lydia and Heather Munn have created a deeply moving and very personal novel. The second book to focus on the Losier family, Defy The Night can be read as a stand alone novel. Perfect for a book discussion group or a mother/daughter read, I highly recommend Defy The Night.

girls in Rivesaltes campMagali Losier is a young woman determined to make a difference in a world that seems to have gone crazy overnight. Although living in the free zone of France, Magali’s community is caught up in the realities of war following the German invasion of France. All around her, she senses the fear that grips her friends and family, but she wants to be a hero. When she begins traveling with Pacquerette, an aid worker who transports children from detention camps to safe homes, Magali believes she has found her calling. But the brash cleverness she sees as her greatest asset puts many in danger.

Defy The Night is told in the first person voice of Magali. She holds nothing back in her examination of friends and family. Her attitudes, of course, reflect on their character, but also expose the flaws in her own. The reader can see the danger that awaits Magali as she does most things in her own power without the healthy fear that Pacquerette says is necessary for their work. It is the evolution of Magali that keeps the reader engaged.

Le ChambonThe historical importance of the story is also significant. The amazingly brave work that the town of Chambon (the real-life town the story is based on) did on behalf of Jews, especially children is one that all should know. The time of the story, 1941-1942, is described as a softer period in the course of WWII. The inhumane treatment of people during this time was just a taste of what was to come.

Gripping, moving, thought-provoking — all terms I would use to describe Defy The Night. The target audience is young adults, but I would recommend this book to anyone.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

(Thanks to Kregel for a review copy and to Heather for sharing the pictures. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below. The Kindle version is only $1.99!

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Book Review: Burning Sky

28 Apr

731472“I remember the borders of our land, though I have been gone from them nearly half the moons of my life. But who there will remember me? What I have seen, what I have done, it has changed me.

I am the place where two rivers meet, silted with upheaval and loss.

Yet memory of our land is a clear stream. I shall know it as a mother knows the faces of her children. It may be I will find me there.“

Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her family’s New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her father’s property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence—her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land.

When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willa’s vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against “savages” abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willa’s safety unsure.

Willa is a woman caught between two worlds. As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage–the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?

 

Headshot3smbwLori Benton was born and raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American and family history going back to the 1600s. Her novels transport readers to the 18th century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history, creating a melting pot of characters drawn from both sides of a turbulent and shifting frontier, brought together in the bonds of God’s transforming grace.

When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching 18th century history, Lori enjoys exploring the mountains with her husband – often scouring the brush for huckleberries, which overflow the freezer and find their way into her signature huckleberry lemon pound cake.

 

My Impressions:

Burning Sky is Lori Benton’s debut novel. If I had not known that, I would never have suspected that Benton was not an author with several novels to her credit. This novel is just sooo good! Great sense of place, lyrical writing, complex characters, wonderful plot, thought-provoking themes — you just can’t get any better than this. And while Burning Sky is labeled an historical novel, it easily transcends the genre. If you have to categorize it, I would say it is literary fiction. Interested yet? Then go out and get it! You won’t be disappointed.

Willa Obenchain was abducted by the Mohawk Indians at the age of fourteen. Twelve years later she returns to her former home as changed as the settlement of Shiloh is. The Revolutionary War is over, her parents are missing and the status of their homestead is to be determined by a magistrate. Having faced loss repeatedly over almost half her life, Willa is determined to live alone, without any chance of getting hurt again. But of course life takes over — a wounded naturalist lays across her path, as do two orphaned half-breed children, and her Mohawk brother. There are also those who cannot let the past remain in the past and are determined to drive Willa from her land.

Burning Sky is a novel with many strengths. Benton has created a world long past, but very real to the reader. The frontier of New York in the 1780s is depicted with historical accuracy. The characters, major as well as minor, are well-drawn, having a complexity that adds depth to their motives and actions. Willa is perhaps the strongest female character I have experienced this year. Benton’s writing style is beautiful, especially in the conversation of Neil MacGregor. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a man who talked like that!

There is a lot to discuss with Burning Sky as well. My book club meets tonight, and I anticipate great conversation to come from this novel. Is love without loss possible? How does God shape families? Is a gentle spirit more desirable than physical strength in times of crisis? And then there is the whole topic of slavery vs Indian abduction — is there any difference?

Burning Sky is one of those books I will think about for a long time. And one I will recommend over and over.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

(Thanks to Waterbrook for an ARC of this novel. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

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