tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64407449821599356402024-03-12T16:11:51.356-07:00Booktalk & More TooAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-18718189850706078382017-03-11T15:08:00.001-08:002017-03-11T15:08:28.568-08:00Review: Then Came You by Becky Wade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTS2-AobpWeoSz6nkPW-U0Aqjvhys2SLBH_bY_R9_Yfb00_Geba6ZZ0XcdTim3kyKb39pLDU1FiuGqCbinctCdol1bVDaPTnEJqMKKJ4nTM7PtkpJYVotypqc2Sf6b-6tivsoqfdJCA0/s1600/Then-Came-You.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTS2-AobpWeoSz6nkPW-U0Aqjvhys2SLBH_bY_R9_Yfb00_Geba6ZZ0XcdTim3kyKb39pLDU1FiuGqCbinctCdol1bVDaPTnEJqMKKJ4nTM7PtkpJYVotypqc2Sf6b-6tivsoqfdJCA0/s320/Then-Came-You.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Then-Came-You-Bradford-Sisters-ebook/dp/B06XCCMSPQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1489248750&sr=1-1&keywords=then+came+you">Then Came You</a></i> (A Bradford Sisters Romance #0.5)<br />
By: Becky Wade<br />
ASIN: B06XCCMSPQ<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I have a weakness for epistolary novels, and having yet to read anything by Becky Wade, I couldn't resist starting with the epistolary-themed prequel to her upcoming Bradford Sisters Romance series. There is a lot (A LOT) going on in this brief story, starting with parental abandonment and single fatherhood, and from there the drama and angst-ridden storytelling doesn't stop. According to the Amazon listing, <i>Then Came You</i> is 129 pages in length, and I expect that includes the two chapter excerpt from the forthcoming <i>True To You</i>, the first installment in the Bradford Sisters series. That means the nineteen brief chapters that make up Garner and Kathleen's story likely cover one hundred pages or less of this novella's length.<br />
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And when one considers that this novella covers a four to five year time span and includes (spoiler alert!) premarital sex, single parenthood, depression, rape, murder, guilt, death of a parent -- and let us not forget a business on the verge of bankruptcy -- I was left to wonder if I was reading a novella or a treatment for a Lifetime movie. Now to be clear, I am not opposed to inspy fiction dealing with weighty subjects, in fact I welcome that development. But when one is dealing with subjects of such weight and, frankly, horror, I have to question whether or not one does a grave disservice to the subject matter by cramming so many heavy topics into a novella and dealing with them all in a relatively superficial manner that the format's length forces upon the storyline.<br />
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All of this stands in sharp contrast to the slow burning, <i>Working Girl</i> reminiscent romance that develops between the (HIGHLY) wounded Garner and Kathleen, one of his company's customer service representatives with dreams of corporate success far beyond Bradford Shipping. Let me reiterate -- I love the concept of this novella. I love the journal entries and the phone conversations between Kathleen and her best friend, and best of all the LETTERS Kathleen writes to Garner, with no intention of sending, pouring her growing feelings for him out on the page.<br />
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Aside from mentions of the age of Garner's young daughters, this novella lacks a clear timeline and thanks to the format's limitations there is simply not enough scope to fully explore the ramifications of every hard, dramatic issue Wade inserts in the storyline. Again, I am very pro realistic fiction. I want characters who grapple with heartache and tough issues and find hope and healing. But throwing so many horrific issues at Garner, particularly, without any sort of depth or context, risks doing a grave disservice to those who have actually lived these experiences, arguably trivializing them by dealing with them in so a perfunctory manner.<br />
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This said, I'm nonetheless intrigued by the fact that Wade doesn't shy away from, quite literally, anything in even her short fiction, so I am curious as to how weightier topics are dealt with in a full length novel format. Given room to "breathe," I hope that her storytelling could be less dramatic and more emotionally effective. Therefore I'm definitely going to read <i>True To You</i>, Nora's story, when it releases in May. And inspy authors, take note -- I would love to see more epistolary fiction!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">A leather-bound journal. A single father. A woman in pursuit of freedom.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Garner Bradford, heir to the troubled Bradford Shipping empire, doesn't know much about babies. But he's going to have to learn fast because he's just become a single father to his newborn daughter. As he confesses through his journal entries, he's not entirely sure how to keep a newborn alive, whether or not he'll ever patch together his shattered heart, or how to forgive himself for his mistakes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Career girl Kathleen Burke is wholly uninterested in settling down. She has big dreams, and none of them include Garner and his small hometown in Washington State. Yet she can't seem to get her handsome boss out of her head or her heart. There's something extraordinarily tempting about his beautifully sad green eyes. . . . </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Told through journal entries, phone conversations, and letters, <i>Then Came You</i> is a unique, heart-stirring romance novella by acclaimed author Becky Wade.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-30157480386938647952017-02-24T12:17:00.000-08:002017-02-24T12:17:12.405-08:00Review: Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfunPcWnJ2nJ__xg6JEnB26PInNAIF21sNEVNcSAWEvKFgfU7GFWDXqTzOGhfneMJ6Ws_nWaeFplQIW4gMapzNSo_yrTAhM_X4Oll-WMTeY6wqLiDjKOABiT_4lTsmKrYTyOLtLH3kges/s1600/murder+on+the+moor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfunPcWnJ2nJ__xg6JEnB26PInNAIF21sNEVNcSAWEvKFgfU7GFWDXqTzOGhfneMJ6Ws_nWaeFplQIW4gMapzNSo_yrTAhM_X4Oll-WMTeY6wqLiDjKOABiT_4lTsmKrYTyOLtLH3kges/s320/murder+on+the+moor.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Murder-Moor-Drew-Farthering-Mystery/dp/076421828X/ref=sr_1_3_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487893206&sr=1-3&keywords=julianna+deering">Murder on the Moor</a></i> (A Drew Farthering Mystery #5)<br />
By: Julianna Deering<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1828-6<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Although over a year has passed since his last case, amateur sleuth Drew Farthering hasn't lost his passion for solving crimes, and therefore when his old school chum comes calling with a plea for assistance, he is unable to resist the lure of a fresh case. Hubert "Beaky" Bloodworth recently inherited Bloodworth Park Lodge, the family seat located in the Yorkshire moors. In the months since taking possession of his inheritance, he and his new wife Sabrina have been plagued by a rash of mysterious incidents, most recently culminating in the vicious murder of the elderly vicar. With no apparent motive in the vicar's murder, Sabrina has become increasingly paranoid, resulting in Beaky's desperate plea for Drew's assistance in bringing the culprits behind the rash of worrisome events to justice.<br />
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Despite his fraught history with Sabrina (as her previous relationship with one of Drew's old friends ended badly), Drew resolves to do all he can to help restore Beaky's peace of mind. He and Madeline journey to Bunting's Nest, there discovering a village as shrouded in mystery as the moors that surround it, populated by close-knit villagers instantly distrustful of outside interference, where rumors of romantic entanglements and illicit activities abound. As the danger surrounding Beaky and Sabrina continues to mount, and Drew's investigation chips away at long-buried secrets, he must confront his own long-held prejudices or risk his bias blinding him to the truth. As long-buried secrets come to light, Drew finds himself in a race against time to stop a vicious killer before he destroys everything Beaky -- and Drew -- hold dear.<br />
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<i>Murder on the Moor </i>is the fifth installment in Julianna Deering's Drew Farthering mystery series, and if it is an indication, the best is yet to come for Drew and Madeline's and their penchant for crime solving. With each successive installment in the series, I am both amazed and delighted by Deering's pitch-perfect facility for bringing the tropes and flavor of the golden age of mystery writing to life for a twenty-first century audience. Each volume is fresh take on a tried-and-true formula, breathing new life into a classic genre, a world both familiar and new, peopled with Deering's engaging characters and endless flair for the creative application of mystery's most enduring tropes.<br />
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For Drew's fifth outing, Deering blends a pitch-perfect tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> with the romanticism, atmosphere, and a dash of the thematic elements found within Charlotte Bronte's enduring classic, <i>Jane Eyre</i>. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this may be my favorite Deering novel yet. In both this book and its predecessor (<i><a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/review-dressed-for-death-by-julianna.html">Dressed for Death</a></i>), Deering places Drew and Madeline within the familiar atmosphere of specific, familiar settings to Anglophiles -- in <i>Dressed for Death</i>, she plays up the very British concepts of Austen and the Regency house party, while within the pages of <i>Murder on the Moor</i>, the famed Yorkshire moors take center stage, the desolate, haunting backdrop of some of English literature's most enduring classics.<br />
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As a lifelong fan of Sherlock Holmes, I adored all of the nods to one of that detective's most famous cases. There's the threat of a mysterious, unnatural hound haunting the moor -- and more specifically, the Bloodworths, along with a dark tangle of family secrets and long-buried, forgotten history. I loved how Deering incorporated Nick Dennison, Drew's irrepressible best friend and estate manager, by having him go undercover as a seedy new arrival to Bunting's Nest, perfectly positioned when he takes up residence in the local pub to learn the area's latest and most explosive gossip. It nicely positions Drew and Nick as a 1920s-era incarnation of the Holmes and Watson dynamic, all while allowing Deering to fully exploit Nick's well-documented flair for the dramatic and an ever-ready sly sense of humor. And although Nick's blossoming romance with Carrie has been temporarily derailed by distance, I'm thrilled by the promise that relationship will be rekindled in the near future.<br />
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One of the things I appreciate most about this series is Deering's attention to detail and her meticulously constructed characterizations, particularly of her protagonist Drew. While each novel can be read as a standalone, reading Drew's adventures in order make the reading experience far richer. Deering is careful to never drop a detail or plot threads that has been critical to Drew's character growth. His distrust of Sabrina's motives stems from his own failings and desire to make sure the past isn't repeated, and while well-intentioned, serves as the impetus for an exercise in the power of grace, forgiveness, and second chances.<br />
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Deering one of the inspirational market's most accessible voices, ripe for crossover potential in a culture that never seems to tire of the unique flavor of the classic British mystery. <i>Murder on the Moor</i> continues to refine her winning formula of sharply-drawn characters, meticulously plotted mysteries, and an impeccable sense of time and place. Each Farthering mystery is penned with a cinematic flair, resulting in a deliciously immersive reading experience. <i>Murder on the Moor</i> sparkles with Deering's trademark wit and style, a winning formula she continuously reinvents and refreshes, leaving me more eager than ever for the next release!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The rolling, frigid mists that creep in over the Yorkshire moors hide a mystery as challenging as Drew has ever faced.<br />
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At the urgent request of an old school friend, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a Bronte hero. There are have been several worrisome incidents around those lonesome rolling hills -- property desecrated, fires started, sheep and cattle scattered. Worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church, a crime for which Drew can discern no motive at all.<br />
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Few in the town of Bunting's Nest seem like suspects, and Drew can't keep his suspicions from falling on his friend's new bride. Do her affections lie more with her husband's money and estate, while her romantic interests stray to their fiery Welsh gamekeeper? As the danger grows ever closer, it's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what's really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-82430261139210177422017-02-14T14:33:00.000-08:002017-02-14T14:33:50.252-08:00Review: Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XsZ7a-6o9YPgjCd3gdXJn0MyQHpFYP2NieE-kyjDYpUu-pghOPQryxVCH2YXxIhz8GxF0YXilRGx6RJwkmAMGSbeDx6tTswpK17slzCCNCCAlAolL2kp2epd9J6YFDjaC-tnw3VLbLY/s1600/Wayfarer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XsZ7a-6o9YPgjCd3gdXJn0MyQHpFYP2NieE-kyjDYpUu-pghOPQryxVCH2YXxIhz8GxF0YXilRGx6RJwkmAMGSbeDx6tTswpK17slzCCNCCAlAolL2kp2epd9J6YFDjaC-tnw3VLbLY/s320/Wayfarer.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Wayfarer-Passenger-Alexandra-Bracken/dp/1484715764/ref=sr_tnr_p_1_10368513011_1_twi_har_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485741193&sr=1-1&keywords=alexandra+bracken+wayfarer">Wayfarer</a></i> (Passenger #2)<br />
By: Alexandra Bracken<br />
Publisher: Hyperion<br />
ISBN: 978-148471576-5<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In the span of just a few days, Etta Spencer's life has been thrown into turmoil, as she's gone from aspiring concert violinist to time traveler, determined to save her mother from a despot determined to seize an astrolabe that allows one to control time and rewrite history. But when her mission with Nicholas Carter, the handsome privateer -- and grandson of her family's greatest enemy, Cyrus Ironwood -- goes sideways, Etta is ripped from Nicholas's side and left orphaned from her natural timeline. Thrust into a world she doesn't recognize, Etta is captured by the rogue Thorn family. It is among the Thorns that Etta discovers shocking secrets about her own parentage, calling into question everything she once held to be true and rocking her fledgling faith in her mother to her core. As Etta learns about her familial heritage, she discovers that traveling is a sacred trust, and every decision she makes has the potential to transform not only her future, but the entire world's, forever. And her dream of a future with Nicholas may be the price she is forced to pay in order to prevent Ironwood's quest for power.<br />
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With Etta lost to time, Nicholas is left trapped with his hostile cousin Sophia as his best ally in his quest to find Etta and break his grandfather's hold on his life forever. As Etta discovers the secrets of the Thorns, Nicholas and Sophia discover the truth behind the travelers' powers -- a terrifying, ancient, age-old battle between long-hidden forces with the power to not just rewrite the timeline, but to destroy the world as they know it. Desperate to reunite with Etta, Nicholas makes a dangerous bargain that leaves him with no choice -- to become that which he hates most, or die, either option promising to compromise every honorable precept he's fought his heritage to claim as his own. As his path converges with Etta's in their race to find the astrolabe, he must find the strength to resist the siren song of the one thing he wants most -- a future with Etta, a dream that, if claimed, could cost their world everything they know and hold dear.<br />
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After finally reading <i><a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2017/01/review-passenger-by-alexandra-bracken.html">Passenger</a></i> last month, I immediately dove into <i>Wayfarer</i>, as the thought of delaying the discovery of Nicholas and Etta's fate was simply unthinkable. I was somewhat surprised by the change in tone and the core dynamic of the <i>Wayfarer</i> narrative, as <i>Passenger</i> was tightly focused on Etta's point-of-view, interspersed with Nicholas's perspective, whereas this installment is more evenly divided, and in my opinion heavily weighted to Nicholas's viewpoint. In <i>Passenger</i>, through Etta, Bracken introduces her gloriously absorbing take on the mechanics of time travel and the heady reality of not only seeing history, but the chance to <i>live</i> it. The first installment in this duology is a non-stop adventure with a highly romantic focus, as Nicholas and Etta discover not only each other but seek to reconcile their wildly disparate views and navigate their respective experiences vis-a-vis race relations within the reality of the time periods in which they travel.<br />
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With <i>Wayfarer</i>, Bracken sacrifices some of the heady flush of new romance in favor of raising the stakes in regards to the time travel/adventure element of the storyline, diving deep into the history and potential of the travelers' virtually limitless potential. By separating Nicholas and Etta for the bulk of the narrative, each is forced to come to terms with their identity as a traveler and the responsibility such a life entails -- should they seek to use their gift wisely. Accepting their shared inheritance comes at a cost, and in order to do so Bracken forces both Nicholas and Etta to confront the prejudice and privilege of their respective time periods. The tumultuous history at the root of the conflict between the traveling families was a deliciously dark surprise, cementing Bracken as not just another YA fantasy author, but a master wordsmith capable of spinning a heady web of thought-provoking fantasy, never hesitating to address the twin dark plagues of prejudice and unchecked evil that have colored mankind's experience throughout history.<br />
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If <i>Passenger </i>is a romantic journey of self-discovery, <i>Wayfarer</i> is a journey of purpose. Within the pages of each installment, Bracken has reimagined and refreshed the tropes of the hero's journey. In Etta and Nicholas, readers are given two heroes to not only cheer for but who inspire, as they realistically confront the twin capacity for good and evil within themselves and each, inspired by the other, strive to give their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet_144">better angels</a> sway. While I adored everything about this story, from Bracken's world-building and globe-spanning plot to her breathtakingly human characterizations, I perhaps love most how she subverted my expectations as to the story's outcome. The heavy emphasis on Etta's point-of-view in <i>Passenger</i> lulled me into a false expectation as to Etta's importance relative to Nicholas in the overall arc of the story -- but what I didn't stop to consider was that <i>Passenger</i> and <i>Wayfarer</i> are, essentially, two halves of one giant whole.<br />
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Over the course of this breathtakingly original tale, this becomes as much Nicholas's story as Etta's, if not arguably moreso his, as he becomes a man who confronts both age-old prejudice and the temptation of his familial heritage -- from a family who very nearly always grossly underestimated his potential. If Etta is the reader's entree into history, Nicholas is a powerful reminder of how the forgotten and overlooked throughout history possessed stories worth writing and potential worth exploring, not by virtue of their social position but by virtue of their very existence. For while history is writ large by the victors and socially dominant, it is often those everyday men and women who have the greatest lessons of sacrifice and honor to teach us, if, like Etta, we can learn to see beyond the color of one's skin or social antecedents to the humanity common to us all.<br />
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<i>Wayfarer</i> brings Nicholas and Etta's time-traveling thrill ride to a stunning conclusion. These novels have been a reading experience like no other. Romantic, thrilling, and wholly absorbing, this was a story I never wanted to end. I adored Bracken's world-building and carefully-crafted characters, each organic to the time of their origin. That, perhaps, is one of this duology's more stunning feats, as Bracken never sacrifices historical reality for fictional expediency. For every moment of breath-taking, time-travel wish fulfillment, the harsh truths of history that Etta and Nicholas cope with are never diminished for fictional expediency. <i>Wayfarer</i> is that rare treat, a gorgeously-rendered conclusion to a tale that exemplifies intelligent, wildly creative storytelling, and taken as a whole this set of novels marks one of the most wholly satisfying reading experiences of recent memory. Nicholas and Etta and their vibrantly-realized world have taken up permanent residence in my heart, for theirs is a story that has stayed with me long after finishing <i>Wayfarer</i>'s final pages, and is one I know I shall be tempted to revisit often.<br />
<br />
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Etta Spencer didn't know she was a traveler until the day she emerged both miles and years from her home. Now, robbed of the powerful object that was her only hope of saving her mother, Etta finds herself stranded once more, cut off from Nicholas -- the eighteenth-century privateer she loves -- and her natural time.<br />
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When Etta inadvertently stumbles into the heart of the Thorns, the renegade travelers who stole the astrolabe from her, she vows to finish what she started and destroy the astrolabe once and for all. Instead, she's blindsided by a bombshell revelation from their leader, Henry Hemlock: he is her father. Suddenly questioning everything she's been fighting for, Etta must choose a path -- one that could transform her future.<br />
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Still devastated by Etta's disappearance, Nicholas has enlisted the unlikely help of Sophia Ironwood and a cheeky mercenary-for-hire to track her down. But after a deadly mistake derails their search, they discover an ancient power far more frightening than the rival travelers currently locked in a battle for control -- a power that threatens to eradicate the timeline as they know it.<br />
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From colonial Nassau to New York City, San Francisco to ancient Carthage, imperial Russia to the Vatican catacombs, #1 <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author Alexandra Bracken charts a gorgeously detailed, thrilling course through time in this stunning conclusion to the Passenger series.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-466040576237857042017-01-23T17:05:00.002-08:002017-01-23T17:05:49.249-08:00Review: The Return by Erin Knightley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccnunT2_M7SEtLdNUwJ8IPdl8ax5yEKkLIhbiTtM00D2UtchQ1wzJKEWU8sr2JUGuuzKf1xsIy4Fq80eaIuNAYpLkVjNur9h1Sn8zkjpU_V699uCd3fH2ryLdo5vxV0_QGjPl94t_1HY/s1600/return+erin+knightley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccnunT2_M7SEtLdNUwJ8IPdl8ax5yEKkLIhbiTtM00D2UtchQ1wzJKEWU8sr2JUGuuzKf1xsIy4Fq80eaIuNAYpLkVjNur9h1Sn8zkjpU_V699uCd3fH2ryLdo5vxV0_QGjPl94t_1HY/s320/return+erin+knightley.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Return-BookShots-Flames-Erin-Knightley-ebook/dp/B01LXT4MVE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1485047367&sr=1-1&keywords=the+return+knightley">The Return</a> </i>(Sunnybell #2)<br />
By: Erin Knightley<br />
Publisher: BookShots<br />
ASIN: B01LXT4MVE<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Mack McLeroy's star was quickly rising in the professional rodeo circuit until a horrific fall from a bull nearly killed him. Faced with the loss of income and sponsorships, and unsure if he'll even be able to recover sufficiently to return to competition, Mack returns home to Sunnybell, Texas. If he can convince his old high school girlfriend, Ashley Montoya, to use her influence as the niece of his biggest sponsor to save his gig, he might just be able to salvage his dreams of rodeo fame. The only thing he didn't count on was Ashley's ability to hold a grudge...<br />
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Following the humiliation of discovering her boyfriend Mack cheating on her, Ashley Montoya was forced to set aside her teenage heartbreak and grow up fast when she became her ALS-stricken mother's primary caregiver. Despite the intervening years she was not ready to forgive Mack when he showed up on her doorstep asking for a favor, until the spark of an idea resurrects her long-cherished dream of becoming a competitive barrel racer. She'll help Mack with his sponsorship woes but only if he'll first use his contacts to help establish her career on the professional rodeo circuit. What neither counted on was the enforced proximity reawakening feelings each though long buried, calling into question the hard-fought dreams each holds dear.<br />
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Last year I read <i><a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-learning-to-ride-by-erin.html">Learning to Ride</a></i>, the first Sunnybell novella and Knightley's first foray into contemporary romance. While I enjoyed it, I had some issues with the unhappy career woman trope and the hook-up between the hero and heroine which felt forced, lacking the characterization I'd come to expect from Knightley's historicals. <i>The Return</i> is a much stronger and more enjoyable contemporary offering. If Knightley continues to pen contemporaries of this ilk I'll happily follow this line of her career trajectory with interest.<br />
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I love a good second chances romance, and Ashley and Mack are well drawn characters, sketched with Knightley's trademark warmth and nuance. I did feel that their ages were somewhat deceptive -- Ashley and Mack have each lived a LOT of life for early twentysomethings, and their respective voices often translated older and more world weary than their actual ages on the page. That minor issue aside, is a much stronger contemporary offering from Knightley. There is history in this romance, believable romantic tension, and organic conflict, making this short offering an entertaining, satisfying way in which to while away a few hours. While I suspect I'll always gravitate towards Knightley's historicals first, she's proving to be increasingly adept at penning enjoyable contemporaries, and I look forward to seeing this series continue.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>With beating hearts and bated breath...</i></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley Montoya was in love with Mack McLeroy in high school--until he broke her heart. When an accident brings him back home to Sunnybell to recover, Ashley's determined to avoid him, but Mack can't stay away. And the more she's with him, the more she can't help but to fall into his embrace...</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-73386855909881737942017-01-20T17:47:00.000-08:002017-01-20T17:47:54.573-08:00Review: At Your Request by Jen Turano<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIghjyqnHzateBeSbSnlBezUlCS3-UBPC-B2xG26uBmbNwmODDW__G_l6L6N5VEroxQdKWGV_XVJbADPUrARcOvU5yHVauBlGuT1IJc3FE5SimmdfQHxEQDfv0T6t7uAlTs_akU_jNVwU/s1600/at+your+request+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIghjyqnHzateBeSbSnlBezUlCS3-UBPC-B2xG26uBmbNwmODDW__G_l6L6N5VEroxQdKWGV_XVJbADPUrARcOvU5yHVauBlGuT1IJc3FE5SimmdfQHxEQDfv0T6t7uAlTs_akU_jNVwU/s320/at+your+request+cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/At-Your-Request-Apart-Crowd-ebook/dp/B01HC1252A/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1484683138&sr=1-11&keywords=jen+turano">At Your Request</a></i> (Apart From the Crowd #0.5)<br />
By: Jen Turano<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ASIN: B01HC1252A<br />
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<b>Review: </b><br />
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Wilhelmina Radcliff once had all of New York society at her feet, her future glittering with promise. But when her father's unscrupulous business partner lost the family fortune, Wilhelmina went from social darling to wallflower, forced to seek employment as a social secretary to help keep her family afloat. When Edgar Wanamaker, once her closest friend -- and her first proposal of marriage -- appears at a ball where she is employed by the hostess, Wilhelmina is mortified. With the assistance of a few fellow wallflowers she attempts to avoid the utter humiliation of facing the one who got away. But when Edgar convinces her to give him a few moments of her time, for the sake of their once close friendship, a spark of hope rekindles in Wilhelmina's heart. Could it be that an outcast wallflower didn't miss her first, best chance at love after all?<br />
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<i>At Your Request</i> marks another reading first for me this year, as it is my first foray into Jen Turano's fiction. As the set up to her new Apart From the Crowd series, Wilhelmina and company's stories promise to be a clean read alternative for those who might otherwise enjoy mainstream historical romance authors such as Lisa Kleypas or Julia Quinn. I loved how Turano set up the premise of the series, as the wallflowers break social barriers and bond over their shared social ostracization. I'm also a sucker for second chance romances, and while the brief length of this novella limits reader engagement in Wilhelmina and Edgar's story, even from this brief sample it is abundantly clear that Turano is capable of telling a charming tale with warmth and humor.<br />
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Those looking for historicals with historical depth will not find that here, for <i>At Your Request</i> is essentially a Hallmark romantic comedy with rudimentary historical trappings for color. The dialogue lacks spark or the flavor of historical authenticity, overly formal and often clunky. That said, I believe Turano fills a unique niche within the historical fiction market, bringing humor and a contemporary sensibility to her writing that possesses great potential, leaving me curious to sample Turano's full-length fiction. The first book in the Apart From the Crowd series, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Scenes-Apart-Crowd-Turano/dp/0764217941/ref=sr_1_5_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484889401&sr=1-5&keywords=jen+turano">Behind the Scenes</a></i>, releases in April, and follows the budding romance introduced here between Wilhelmina's fellow wallflower, Permilia Griswold, and department store owner Asher Rutherford. I really enjoyed Permilia's character, and her spark-filled introduction to Asher reminded me of <i>Mr. Selfridge</i> -- so I am already invested in their story. <i>At Your Request</i> was the perfect introduction (at long last!) to Turano's lite historical romantic comedies. While not without issues, I enjoyed this sample and am curious to see how Turano's humor and heart translate to a full-length work.<br />
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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After her father lost the family fortune, Wilhelmina was cast out of the fashionable set and banished to the wallflower section. She is mortified when her friend Edgar returns to society for the first time since she rejected his proposal. Ashamed of her fall from grace, she tries to avoid him, but is there still hope for their friendship--or something more?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-7943942204693114712017-01-16T19:07:00.000-08:002017-01-16T19:07:52.171-08:00Review: The Warrior's Seal by Ronie Kendig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv62dAK8qyU_FfzSIXpn-ptcoQB-PwEsKiZd779rG6lh9I6ersOn_Pc7yOEYF6sPJyOQ7b7mCZsDYfnesw7mYecFR8ZFEej0Up56ASLznJEgaM1dcJSfxr1lFFd6q_F9zTPPd2jRiOXHg/s1600/warriors+seal+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv62dAK8qyU_FfzSIXpn-ptcoQB-PwEsKiZd779rG6lh9I6ersOn_Pc7yOEYF6sPJyOQ7b7mCZsDYfnesw7mYecFR8ZFEej0Up56ASLznJEgaM1dcJSfxr1lFFd6q_F9zTPPd2jRiOXHg/s320/warriors+seal+cover.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Warriors-Seal-Tox-Files-Novella-ebook/dp/B01DMHVDNK/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1484498784&sr=1-2&keywords=tox+files">The Warrior's Seal</a> </i>(The Tox Files #0.5)<br />
By: Ronie Kendig<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ASIN: B01DMHVDNK<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
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Cole "Tox" Russell and his Special Forces team were sent to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram. But when the US Ambassador contacts them with the news that VIPs have gone missing in country, the team's mission takes a drastic turn. The VIPs in question are none other than the President and First Lady of the United States, who Cole's brother just happens to be running against in a hotly contested election campaign. When the team arrives at the site of the abduction, they discover that a deadly toxin has been unleashed on the villagers, a trail of destruction that follows the terrorists' use of an ancient artifact known as the Mace of Subjugation.<br />
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Archaeologist Tzivia Khalon knows all about the mace's bloody history, but she's more concerned with assisting her mentor in getting the artifact safely loaned to Syria for the swearing-in of the new president -- and safely returned to their university. When the weapon (and her mentor) go missing, Tzivia finds herself drawn into Tox's investigation as her antiquities expertise makes her a valuable asset as Tox's team faces a foe that believes in the legendary powers of the priceless artifact. Everything Tzivia and Tox thought they knew is called into question as the mace's influence ripples through their mission to save a president -- a mission rapidly spiralling out of control.<br />
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<i>The Warrior's Seal </i>is my first introduction to Ronie Kendig's writing (yes, finally!). I've long been familiar with her work as I've heard friends rave about her fast-paced novels, but my gigantic to-be-read pile always got in the way -- until her first release through one of my favorite publishing houses downloaded to my Kindle. I expected action and suspense, and on that score Kendig delivers in spades. But what I didn't expect was the historical/supernatural twist with the introduction of the mace and its impact on current geo-political events. The thirteenth-century prologue starring Tox's Templar Knight predecessor felt forced -- while an interesting concept the Crusades-era action felt rushed and detached when compared to the meticulously constructed Special Forces operation play-by-plays to come.<br />
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While some may find the combination of heart-stopping action with a dash of the supernatural to strain credulity, I have high hopes that in a full-length novel the blending of these two disparate genres will come to feel even more seamless. This is a thoroughly entertaining introduction to Kendig's writing and one of the better series intro novellas that I've read, featuring well-developed characters, high-stakes action, and a series set up that calls to mind <i>24</i> in its heyday. I cannot wait to see how Kendig develops Tox and his team, and particularly how Tzivia's archaeological endeavors are woven into the narrative. This is an entertaining way to lose an hour or two, and as the novella is free on most e-book platforms, the risk is little while the payoff of being introduced to one who promises to fast become a favorite suspense author is priceless.<br />
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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A Special Forces team is thrust into a war with the past to save the president after an artifact unleashes a deadly toxin.<br />
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Special Forces operative Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue--the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-69749123250039728752017-01-13T21:14:00.000-08:002017-01-13T21:14:51.537-08:00Review: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqOoPvua2A7fdlTQgxnU9-TUU_yeSKUh65YOIY5EiG1kYUgCowIyaTjAIcoTyz4E-sbNDX8v5lM4XdMoI50-K8WHFd3qz8l_MZR0Jx_e2T8rZEGCVtrhXgscwLYbcDcBr-x7uuM4XIS0/s1600/Passenger_HighRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqOoPvua2A7fdlTQgxnU9-TUU_yeSKUh65YOIY5EiG1kYUgCowIyaTjAIcoTyz4E-sbNDX8v5lM4XdMoI50-K8WHFd3qz8l_MZR0Jx_e2T8rZEGCVtrhXgscwLYbcDcBr-x7uuM4XIS0/s320/Passenger_HighRes.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Passenger-Alexandra-Bracken/dp/1484715772/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484161492&sr=1-1&keywords=passenger+alexandra+bracken">Passenger</a></i> (Passenger #1)<br />
By: Alexandra Bracken<br />
Publisher: Hyperion<br />
ISBN: 978-148471577-2<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
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A gifted violinist, Etta Spencer has spent most of her sheltered life honing her talent and preparing for her debut, the first step being a performance at an exclusive fundraising gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rattled by a confrontation between her mother Rose, and Alice, her beloved instructor, Etta's nerves are shot when she takes the stage, her performance shattered by an inexplicable, incessant, clamoring noise. Following the sound of terrifying screams, Etta finds herself pushed through a shimmering portal by a girl she's never met, waking from her performance-induced panic to a hellish, all too real conflict. Thrust into the eighteenth century, Etta finds herself the unwilling travel companion to her mysterious kidnapper, and heir to a startling family legacy of danger and secrets the like of which she'd never suspected.<br />
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For Etta has inherited her mother's ability to travel through passages around the world into other times -- always the same date, but to different countries and time periods. As she quickly learns, those with her "gift," known as travelers, are dying out, and her familial heritage has made her a valuable commodity to Cyrus Ironwood, the ruthless head of the most powerful remaining traveling family. As a descendant of the Linden family, Cyrus wants to leverage Etta's naivete in order to force her to find and turn over her family's greatest asset, a powerful astrolabe that would give its bearer the limitless, unchecked power to rewrite history. </div>
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Partnering with Cyrus's estranged, illegitimate grandson, former slave-turned-privateer Nicholas Carter, Etta flees through time, determined to foil Ironwood's plans and save her captive mother. But as she begins to experience the wonders and dangers of her family's incredible heritage, Etta realizes that the life she's always thought she wanted may be smaller than she'd ever realized. With all of time suddenly at her fingertips and a dashing, protective sailor with secrets of his own at her side, Etta resolves to foil Ironwood's machinations, and do more than simply pass through life and passively accept her fate. But tampering with the laws of time is a dangerous game, and the consequences of one misstep could forever alter not only her life in irrevocable ways, but the lives of all those she holds dear.</div>
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<i>Passenger</i> has been on my radar since I first read the raving review posted on <a href="http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/passenger-by-alexandra-bracken/">Smart Bitches, Trashy Books</a> shortly following its release last year. Thank GOODNESS my to-be-read pile is continually growing, as if I'd read this book last January and had to wait the ENTIRETY of 2016 for its sequel, it is highly questionable whether or not I would have survived the wait. This book this book THIS BOOK. This book is everything I ever wanted and never knew I needed in a time travel-romance-adventure. This book has everything -- EVERYTHING! -- romance, suspense, history, time travel, compelling characters, non-stop action, and does it all <i>so well</i>.</div>
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With <i>Passenger</i>, Alexandra Bracken has accomplished the exceptional feat of leaving me with nothing but raves for this gem of a novel. This is the rare novel that not only entertains (and that's putting it mildly, as this book is a non-stop page-turner) but enlightens and challenges a reader's perceptions of how history is viewed. Within the framework of this fantastical world, Bracken manages to deliver a timely treatise on race relations and perceptions through time that never feels forced or inauthentic. Nicholas and Etta's blossoming romance explores the societal ramifications and challenges of their potential relationship in a wholly organic, engaging fashion. As a modern woman thrust into eras where she is viewed as a commodity and not an equal, Etta is forced to confront through her attraction to Nicholas the prejudices and privileges bestowed upon her by the rights of her time that she's always been able to take for granted.<br />
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This is a story begging to be made into a film, as from its opening pages it took hold of my imagination and wouldn't let go. Bracken pens her tale with a break-neck pace and a cinematic flair. Setting aside the inventive concept and the delicious, heart-stopping romance, my favorite aspect of this book has to be that it is a coming-of-age story that isn't. This is a coming-of-age -- or perhaps a more accurate description would coming-into-one's-own -- story that defies the stereotypes. For while Etta begins as a sheltered teenager, her focus and dedication to her music has, in many respects, left her better prepared for her role as a traveler than she would be were she already a more worldly-wise, typical teenager, less driven to succeed. And while her blossoming romance with Nicholas unfolds relatively quickly, Bracken gives it an extra weight and authenticity by forcing both Etta and Nicholas to confront not only their respective worldviews but the historical and societal ramifications throughout history of any potential relationship.<br />
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<i>Passenger</i> is a novel to savor, as in the days since completing the final pages I've found my mind often returning to Bracken's gloriously realized world. I loved seeing history unfold through Nicholas and Etta's eyes, as I could not imagine a more intrepid or better-suited pair of time travelers (the one notable exception being, of course, a certain <a href="http://gph.is/1p1TIwb">mad man in a blue box</a>). Theirs is a relationship of true equals, their romance all the headier for their partnership based not simply on physical attraction but a true marriage of intellectual and emotional compatibility. Though I must admit I'm somewhat loathe to start <i>Wayfarer</i> as I know it is the final chapter in this thrilling journey, here Bracken has crafted a world I cannot wait to return to and one I foresee revisiting often. Nicholas and Etta have joined the rarified company of characters so real, vibrant, and compelling they've carved a niche for themselves in my bookish heart.<br />
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
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In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now.<br />
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Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods -- a powerful family in the colonies -- and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas's passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them -- whether she wants to or not.<br />
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Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home...forever.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-65432758275062150292017-01-01T20:34:00.000-08:002017-01-01T20:34:14.099-08:00Review: Catalyst by James Luceno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_Tj7lmYIrtyhlWla9YCp8NwLyYdq97oB80yHJ5GuRfkEu_YLfVzG9ika0L18ATSFi6I_LPUFVO35J8IpBthwQ1sptr2gd3o7B99e5mrZAiDmQeg-XYGkg1KR8nQI17DhpnMCXgt7g4w/s1600/catalyst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_Tj7lmYIrtyhlWla9YCp8NwLyYdq97oB80yHJ5GuRfkEu_YLfVzG9ika0L18ATSFi6I_LPUFVO35J8IpBthwQ1sptr2gd3o7B99e5mrZAiDmQeg-XYGkg1KR8nQI17DhpnMCXgt7g4w/s320/catalyst.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Catalyst-Star-Wars-Rogue-Novel/dp/0345511492/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483330925&sr=1-1&keywords=catalyst+luceno">Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel</a></i><br />
By: James Luceno<br />
Publisher: Del Rey<br />
ISBN: 978-0-345-51149-2<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
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<b>Spoiler alert: </b>As this novel is a prequel to the recently-released <i>Rogue One</i> film, this review may contain movie spoilers!<br />
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Long before Jyn Erso led a ragtag band of rebels on a dangerous mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, her parents Galen and Lyra found themselves unwittingly caught up in Palpatine's plans to develop a monstrous weapon the like of which the galaxy had never seen -- one capable of crushing resistance -- and hope -- in a single, well-aimed beam of laser fire. As the Clone Wars wind to a close, Galen Erso, one of the Republic's most brilliant minds and an authority on energy research, is more interested in furthering his efforts to make affordable, sustainable, crystal-powered energy available to all rather than in the political machinations reshaping the galaxy outside his lab. As both he and Lyra prepare for the birth of their first child, their shared determination to foil all attempts to convince Galen to turn the potential of his altruistic research toward weaponization bring them afoul of Separatist forces.<br />
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When rescued by Orson, Galen's old school chum, the Ersos find themselves drawn back to Coruscant and deep into the heart of the newly-minted Emperor's efforts to coalesce the Empire's power. Krennic is convinced that lying within Galen's brilliant mind is the key to realizing the Emperor's desire to see a game-changing superweapon brought to life, making the Empire's reach -- and Orson's career potential -- unstoppable. But as Galen and Lyra soon learn the cost of doing business with the Empire may exact a cost neither is willing their fledgling family to pay -- but extracting themselves from the Empire's grip will require an act of well-timed rebellion that could cost them everything.<br />
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After seeing <i>Rogue One</i> opening weekend, I immediately started the prequel which, thanks to the holidays, took me far long to read than expected. James Luceno is well-versed in <i>Star Wars</i> lore given his previous releases, and this novel is no exception. Media tie-in novels often have a generally poor reputation when it comes to quality, but here Luceno delivers a meticulously executed treatise on the war between conscience versus expediency and compromise. Much like the characters introduced in <i>Rogue One</i>, <i>Catalyst </i>bridges the events between <i>Revenge of the Sith</i> and <i>Rogue One </i>by shining a light on the regular men and women who found themselves fighting for their lives and freedom while the Republic and its Jedi guardians fell beneath the bootheel of a rising Empire determined to crush any and all opposition.<br />
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The first half of the narrative felt a tick sluggish in comparison to its conclusion, but the setup and insight it provided into Galen's character and the crisis of conscience he faces that sets the course of his daughter's life makes the payoff worthwhile. I'll be the first to confess that when the <i>Star Wars</i> expanded universe re-set I was disappointed, as the original expanded universe novels so wholly enriched my love of the world and characters of the films. In spite of some pacing issues, here Luceno delivers exactly what I crave in a <i>Star Wars</i> novel -- a character-driven tale where rebels refuse to buckle to oppression despite the overwhelming odds, one that honors the films while making the epic on-screen, on-going struggle of good versus evil even more intimate and real.<br />
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Watching <i>Rogue One</i> I wasn't invested in Galen's character except as to how his absence, and the choices he made, impacted Jyn's arc, even though Mads Mikkelson (SWOON) made the most of his relatively brief screentime. However, Luceno took the angst with which Mikkelson imbued his performance and translates it to the page, giving Galen a noble pathos and completing his transformation into a tragic hero of the Rebellion. The kyber crystals at the heart of Galen's energy research aren't simply a breakthrough to powering the Death Star, but a perversion of the Force, a once a critical part of the methodology used by the Jedi (powering their lightsabers) to maintain order and balance in the galaxy. While Galen's research motives were pure, in researching the power and potential of the kyber crystals he dabbled in a power far beyond his ken.<br />
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The revelation that the fearsome power of the Death Star was made possible by the perversion of an item held sacred by the Jedi is a heartbreaking twist in the <i>Star Wars</i> saga that frankly, I didn't see coming -- but I absolutely adored. Galen's growing horror as he realizes that his single-minded fascination with his research and the limitless possibilities of the kybers could come to stand for everything he and the Jedi abhorred broke my heart. But there's sad sort of poetic symmetry in this revelation, humanizing the conflict, a stark reminder that the thinnest of threads separates Empire and Rebellion, for they are truly two sides of the same coin. The potential for good or evil exists equally within each party, while it is the choices that define and delineate the two sides of this classic conflict between dark and light, oppression and hope.<br />
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<i>Catalyst</i> is an extremely worthwhile entry in the new <i>Star Wars</i> canon, expanding on events within the films and adding depth and heart to this world I've loved to lose myself within for over two decades. I hope that this <i>Rogue One </i>era in the <i>Star Wars</i> universe heralds a new chapter in the on-going saga focusing on the "smaller," but no less important individuals, that played galaxy-changing roles, often on the periphery of the main action, often without credit, but no less deserving of their moment in the spotlight than a Leia or Luke or Han or Rey. The perfect case in point is Luceno's conflicted smuggler with a heart of gold, Has Obitt (and I'm not just saying that because I have a weakness for dashing smugglers who remind me of Han Solo, no, not at allll... *wink*).<br />
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Luceno has delivered an intelligent, methodically unspooled, game-changing chapter that fits nicely within my favorite era of the <i>Star Wars</i> universe -- the period leading up to and encompassing the original trilogy. He knows how this world works and how it should feel and delivers on all fronts. And after this tantalizing glimpse into his characterization of the infamous Grand Moff Tarkin, I'm determined to go back and read his novel focusing on the rise of Tarkin's career at the first opportunity. I sincerely hope that this still-relatively new era of <i>Star Wars</i> publishing continues to make room within its release lists for entertaining, thought-provoking novels of this ilk that sit between the big-screen spectacles as worthy epic miniseries chapters in the on-going story. (I know 2017 has just started but seriously is it time for <i>Episode VIII</i> to release yet?)<br />
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine's top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic's, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key.<br />
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Galen's energy-focused research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic's debt. Krennic then offers Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that his energy research will be used in purely altruistic ways, Krennic has other plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their benefactor's tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic's web of deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-28920249262716383212016-10-11T16:10:00.000-07:002016-10-11T17:07:55.026-07:00Review: Bathsheba by Angela Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C0ctzudIX-WEZmzmxbYsKSPMt7pVwc8JCD_ree4N2jOW57W4ScIZBnYYw-sUwGiuhJdzFJzYK8eX6ULykDgoKtK_5HchnD6Ip9QY3AdPBX0DB7SPXNAGcM4Saf0c2XmPwp1tXa-UcgE/s1600/Bathsheba+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C0ctzudIX-WEZmzmxbYsKSPMt7pVwc8JCD_ree4N2jOW57W4ScIZBnYYw-sUwGiuhJdzFJzYK8eX6ULykDgoKtK_5HchnD6Ip9QY3AdPBX0DB7SPXNAGcM4Saf0c2XmPwp1tXa-UcgE/s320/Bathsheba+cover.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bathsheba-Reluctant-Beauty-Dangerous-Novel/dp/0764216961/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476227386&sr=1-1&keywords=bathsheba+angela+hunt">Bathsheba: Reluctant Beauty</a></i> (A Dangerous Beauty Novel #2)<br />
By: Angela Hunt<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1696-1<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<br />
The story of David and Bathsheba is arguably one of the
Bible’s most notorious tales. It has all the trappings of a contemporary soap
opera – love and lust, secrets and murder. And all of this drama stems from the
unlikeliest of sources – the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts
13:22), the shepherd boy turned king, David. To believers David is often viewed
as an unassailable paragon of virtue, one incapable of willfully being led
astray by another man’s wife. And so setting aside any other possible truth,
Bathsheba is all too often cast as a seductress, a woman who willingly sought to
seduce the king and make her husband a cuckold. Scripture provides almost no
insight into Bathsheba’s feelings during this episode – other than to say she
mourned Uriah following his death (2 Samuel 11:26) – and much is assumed in the
echoing silence. In film and fiction, even in a cursory reading of scripture,
it is all too easy and tempting to romanticize David and Bathsheba’s
relationship, because the alternative is too hard to comprehend. It is easier
to view both as equal partners in adultery, overcome by passion, but historical
reality paints a very different picture of the fateful night David summoned
Bathsheba to his palace. In a patriarchal culture where women possessed little
to no agency, as a woman alone, her husband away fighting the king’s war,
Bathsheba would have had little if any recourse when faced with David’s demand
for her body.<br />
<br />
Hunt is the first novelist I’ve encountered to portray the
result of Bathsheba’s summons into David’s presence as a rape. This novel
strips their meeting of any vestige of romance, forbidden or otherwise, and
leaves readers with the unvarnished, unsettling truth that no man or woman, no
matter how revered as a titan of the faith, is incapable of committing a
horrific act. And in so doing, Hunt delivers one of the most powerful,
heart-rending depictions of the cost of sin and the restorative power of
forgiveness that I’ve ever encountered outside the pages of scripture. This
novel is unsettling in the best sense of the term, a difficult, challenging
read that has stayed with me long after I finished the final page.<br />
<br />
Little is known of Bathsheba’s life before or after her
entry into David’s household. But given that she is one of only five women
mentioned (though unnamed) in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:6), it is safe
to assume that she is included for a greater reason than simply as a token
adulteress. As a <i>tob</i> woman (one of
extraordinary beauty and sensual appeal), Hunt takes the liberty of positioning
Bathsheba as a woman destined for greatness from birth thanks to a prophetic
word from Samuel, claiming that she would be “’mother to a great man’ and
‘affect the future of Is’rael.’” But far from craving power, Bathsheba is
passionately in love with her warrior husband, and thus the position she is put
in when David claims that to which he has no right is extraordinarily
untenable. For not only is she the survivor of an assault, the king’s actions
strip her of the life she once expected and hoped to live.<br />
<br />
One of the things I appreciate most about this retelling of
Bathsheba’s story is Hunt’s effort to place both the initial act and its
cascading effects within the broader context of David’s reign and the
socio-political challenges he faced during his rule. Although David attempted
to conceal his sin, like all such acts they are not committed in a vacuum, and
its affects would be felt long after the prophet Nathan unmasked his secret to
the entire court (2 Samuel 12). In 2 Samuel 11:3 Bathsheba is identified as the
daughter of Eliam, and several chapters later in 23:34, Eliam’s father is
identified as Atithophel, who is also as one of David’s advisors in 2 Samuel
15. Atithophel chose to back Absalom’s revolt, a tragic and bloody episode that
fulfilled Nathan’s prophesy that “the sword shall never depart” from David’s family
as a consequence of his sin (2 Samuel 12:10). It is no great stretch to imagine
that David's attack on Bathsheba and Uriah should give birth to her grandfather
Atithopel’s desire for revenge against the king who dishonored his family. It’s
a twist of deliciously Shakespearean proportions, a tragic example of the
consequences of David’s sin bleeding far past the edges of his personal life.<br />
<br />
If David can rape Bathsheba – and make no mistake, his
position left her with no choice other than to do what was required to survive,
and choosing survival does nothing to make the act consensual – how then does
one reconcile such an unflinchingly honest portrayal of David at his worst with
the psalmist and penitent, from whose lineage came the promised redeemer?
Within these pages Hunt explores the concepts of forgiveness and redemption,
wrought to an extent far beyond that which this reader’s finite understanding
can only hope to understand. For out of David’s worst choice and Bathsheba’s
worst day, God in His infinite mercy brought redemption the form of Solomon, the
son who would fulfill his father’s dream of building a permanent house of
worship, and Jesus, the Davidic messiah who would fulfill the promise of seeing
David’s throne established forever (2 Samuel 7:16).<br />
<br />
I’ve long loved biblical fiction for its potential to
illuminate familiar scriptures in fresh ways, but rarely have I ever been quite
as moved by a retelling as with this novel. David’s attack against Bathsheba
seems insurmountable, but despite the sin, despite the reality that sin has
consequences, woven throughout this tale of violence and heartbreak is an
unmistakable thread of forgiveness birthed by a holy grace. David is redeemed
and forgiven not simply because he was discovered and repented, but through
Bathsheba’s forgiveness – and thus he loved her most “’because…[she] forgave
the most.’” As Nathan reminds Bathsheba, “’no pain exists without purpose, no
grief without comfort.’” Living out one’s faith when life is easy is an
entirely different proposition from living it out when life cuts to the quick. <i>Reluctant Beauty</i> is a
gorgeously-rendered reminder that God can bring forth breathtaking beauty as He
births redemption from the ashes of our failings. Bathsheba’s story is a
crowning achievement for Hunt, that rare novel that not only entertains and
informs but challenges and edifies, cutting to the raw, hidden places where we
hide our worst secret selves and reminding us that even there, even then,
redemption is possible.<br />
<br />
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
One of the Bible's most misunderstood and misjudged women, Bathsheba comes to life in this new biblical reimagining from Angela Hunt. Combining historical facts with detailed fiction, this is an eye-opening portrait that will have you reconsidering everything you thought you knew about her.<br />
<br />
After receiving God's promise of a lifelong reign and an eternal dynasty, King David forces himself on Bathsheba, a loyal soldier's wife. When her resulting pregnancy forces the king to murder her husband and add her to his harem, Bathsheba struggles to protect her son while dealing with the effects of a dark prophecy and deadly curse on the king's household.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-76406493069637445202016-09-27T17:23:00.000-07:002016-09-27T17:29:24.045-07:00Review: Esther by Angela Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1n8ziMuRgJiw43Rq9v9wMeAi6E8VW955x8U3SJFvRLBUAIFw_5eIbav_r-jrpa2U_DbLnVHP-LJNZyW8VlbxSdMo9oWyghnHuRns6HqxDC2ONbZkVfoTOQQ9IvaL71mIEDV0-vG9Fas/s1600/Esther+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1n8ziMuRgJiw43Rq9v9wMeAi6E8VW955x8U3SJFvRLBUAIFw_5eIbav_r-jrpa2U_DbLnVHP-LJNZyW8VlbxSdMo9oWyghnHuRns6HqxDC2ONbZkVfoTOQQ9IvaL71mIEDV0-vG9Fas/s320/Esther+cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Esther-Royal-Beauty-Dangerous-Novel/dp/0764216953/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473597887&sr=1-7&keywords=esther">Esther: Royal Beauty</a></i> (A Dangerous Beauty Novel #1)<br />
By: Angela Hunt<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ISBN:<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As one of only two books in the Bible named for women,
Esther’s tale of bravery in the face of certain death has long fascinated with
its Cinderella-esque storyline. Having studied this book fairly extensively, it
is easy to fall into the trap of assuming one has read or seen all possible
iterations of Esther’s story. Reading Angela Hunt’s take on this tale has been
a humbling reminder of how easy it is to fall into the trap of viewing the book
of Esther through a modern, romanticized, and perhaps most critically <i>sanitized</i> lens. It is tempting to
imaginatively posit Esther as a biblical Cinderella, a romance between a
commoner and the most powerful ruler in the world. This romanticized view
heavily informs film adaptations of the tale, which ultimately does a grave
disservice to the scriptural account of Esther’s life. The contemporary view of
romance would grant the woman agency, and filtering Esther’s story through such
a lens diminishes the scope and potential impact of the account. This is
Esther’s story, yes, but it isn’t her <i>love</i>
story, and Xerxes was no godly, romantic hero. This is the extraordinary story
of God moving on behalf of His people through the unlikeliest of vessels – a
woman wholly subject to every whim of a capricious king, who chose to live by
faith, though it threatened to cost her very life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hunt retells the book of Esther by alternating points-of-view
between Hadassah, later Esther, and Harbonah, a eunuch serving as the king’s
chamberlain. By alternating between a member of the harem and a eunuch, Hunt is
able to provide an intimate glimpse of the inner workings of the Persian court,
thus illuminating the true nature of court life along with its attendant rules
and risks. Harbonah is based on a single reference in Esther 7:9, wherein he is
named as the eunuch who brings the gallows Haman built for Mordecai to the
king’s attention, thus sealing Haman’s fate after his ill-fated assault on
Esther. Through Harbonah, Hunt strips away the glossy veneer of court life,
revealing the seedy underbelly of forced castration and slavery that made the
king’s rule possible. Harbonah also serves as the lens through which an
unbeliever processes the events that raise Esther from obscurity to a position
of power and influence, all while serving as a witness to the integrity of
Esther and Mordecai’s faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The bulk of the story is told from Esther’s point-of-view,
following her from her status as Mordecai’s ward with stars in her eyes and
dreams of royalty to one of many wives and concubines fighting for the king’s
attention and favor. By reminding readers of Hadassah’s youth (and
corresponding levels of immaturity), Hunt strips the gloss of romance from
Esther’s entry into the harem and the beginning of her relationship with the
king. When one remembers that this isn’t the story of a savvy, mature adult
woman navigating the dangers of court intrigue, but first the tale of a girl,
thrust into a situation beyond her control, stripped of her ability to choose
her fate, Esther’s success and steadfast faith in the face of life-threatening
persecution are all the more remarkable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is all too easy to idealize Esther, to view her as a
perfect specimen of womanhood who accepted her fate without question or doubt,
fully surrendered to God’s will, ready to be used by Him to save her people.
And while she is certainly a role model, failing to recognize the harsh reality
of her situation does her a grave disservice – for recognizing the moments of
horror and fear that surely accompanied her entry into the king’s harem makes
her transformation into an influential queen all the more remarkable and
inspiring. As the novel begins, Hunt positions Esther as a wholly relatable,
beauty-obsessed teenager, dreaming of a king with no concept of life as a queen.
Contemporary culture makes Esther’s story more relevant than ever, as
differentiating between fleeting, transient glamour and a beauty of spirit that
transforms from within is increasingly challenging in a culture of
disposability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hunt’s unvarnished take on the realities Esther would have
faced in the Persian court is an eye-opening glimpse into a culture wherein a
woman’s value lay in her beauty, a commodity to be used and discarded at will.
Women during this period had little personal agency, wholly subject to the
dictates and provision of the men in their lives. That said, Hunt makes an
important distinction between the comparative freedom Esther enjoyed as
Mordecai’s ward, where her intellect was valued and her person treasured,
compared to the harem where her every move is watched and every decision
dictated by those serving at the king’s pleasure. As Esther learns all that
glitters is not gold, but what makes her story resonate through the centuries
since it was first recorded lies in how she faces her heartache and challenges,
choosing to place her trust in a God bigger than her circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a student of history, the story of Haman’s attempt to
exterminate the Jews has always been of particular interest as a precursor to
later persecutions faced by the Jewish people, from the pogroms to the horrors
of the Holocaust. Haman’s narrative is a case study in how the repercussions of
a decision can echo throughout history. There is no better example of this than
the enmity between Mordecai, a descendant of King Saul (Esther 2:5), and Haman,
descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1), the Amalekite king defeated by Saul in 1
Samuel 15. Saul’s decision to defy God’s instruction and spare Agag, thus
enriching himself by claiming the spoils of the conflict, would bear
near-disastrous consequences generations later in Esther’s day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The more I encounter Esther through the pages of
scripture, the more I am convinced that hers is a tale for this present age.
For much like the girl who, torn from her home, hid her identity and became a
queen, called to stand firm in faith that the God who placed her in the harem
for such a time as this would not abandon her at the moment of crisis (Esther
4:14), so are believers called to live their faith boldly in an increasingly
hostile world (John 15:19). With </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Esther</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">,
Hunt not only delivers an absorbing, thought-provoking read, but a clarion call
challenging believers to live out their faith whole-heartedly. Hunt is one of
the rare writers who, over two decades into reading her work, never fails to
challenge, convict, and inspire. The Dangerous Beauty series is proving to be a
crowning achievement in her oeuvre, a master class in the potential and power
of biblical fiction written with integrity and heart. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When Xerxes, king of Persia, issues a call for beautiful young women, Hadassah, a Jewish orphan living in Susa, is forcibly taken to the palace of the pagan ruler. After months of preparation, the girl known to the Persians as Esther wins the king's heart and a queen's crown. But because her situation is uncertain, she keeps her ethnic identity a secret until she learns that an evil and ambitious man has won the king's permission to exterminate all Jews -- young and old, powerful and helpless. Purposely violating an ancient Persian law, she risks her life in order to save her people...and bind her husband's heart.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-78308380533962711962016-09-05T13:35:00.000-07:002016-09-05T13:35:34.370-07:00Review: Delilah by Angela Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSmQedZDJiBeI6zJeb57mfDBd5oNNj6TOorpNdsFF7S8a8OHJtXFLs6mDBwj7poTdjXQBgoyiFpjMOndhp6p2xkdz5I8M-__Iw6yZimPwTzWdbu93umouN58dCt6Q6pjj5B-Fvthj1ws/s1600/Delilah+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSmQedZDJiBeI6zJeb57mfDBd5oNNj6TOorpNdsFF7S8a8OHJtXFLs6mDBwj7poTdjXQBgoyiFpjMOndhp6p2xkdz5I8M-__Iw6yZimPwTzWdbu93umouN58dCt6Q6pjj5B-Fvthj1ws/s320/Delilah+cover.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Delilah-Treacherous-Beauty-Dangerous-Novel/dp/076421697X/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473107353&sr=1-1&keywords=delilah">Delilah: Treacherous Beauty</a></i> (A Dangerous Beauty Novel #3)<br />
By: Angela Hunt<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1697-8<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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The story of Samson and Delilah, the woman responsible for his
downfall, is one of scripture’s most recognizable tales. Arguably Israel’s most
colorful judge, the unbeatable strongman Samson is most often cast as a man of
charm, cleverness, and large appetites. Delilah, the instrument of his ruin, is
by contrast an amoral seductress, driven by love of coin and power, a woman who
wields her sexuality as a weapon with as much skill as Samson’s legendary
strength. While I stand firm on the infallibility of Scripture, over time I’ve
come to realize that an examination of Judges 13-16 reveals troubling nuances
all too often glossed over in cursory readings or adaptations of the text. If
God’s anointed deliverer can murder thirty men in a fit of pique in order to
win a bet (Judges 14:19), it’s clear that Samson’s legendary heroism as a
darker, all-too-human side. For although God’s gifts and calling on an
individual’s life are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), Samson’s life is a study in
the redemption that occurs when God’s promises collide with an individual’s
free will. And if Samson, God’s anointed, very flawed choice to realize Israel’s redemption from the Philistines
(Judges 13:5) is something less than the flawless, airbrushed hero of popular
culture, then is it not also possible that the seductress Delilah has deeper,
more nuanced tale to tell? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Women mentioned and given voice in scripture fascinate me,
as socially they had little agency of their own within the patriarchal cultures
in which they lived. However, each woman is hand-picked to represent a
different facet of God’s grace and redemptive power, whether they are cast as
heroines or villainesses. The more I study scripture, the more I recognize the
dual importance of it as God’s timeless word <i>as well as</i> a documented snapshot of the time period in which it was
written, setting down forevermore God at
work within a specific cultural, socio-economic point in history, illustrating
truths that resonate to this day. In <i>Delilah:
Treacherous Beauty</i>, Angela Hunt takes the biblical account of Samson and
restores nuance, depth, and most of all, hope, to the story of a woman whose
very name across the centuries has become synonymous with sin. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The Delilah within these pages is a woman for whom life has
been a struggle to survive the choices of one particular man in her life
determined to possess her body and break her spirit. Scarred by sexual and
emotional abuse, those experiences inform her reaction to and interaction with
everyone she encounters. Scripture itself is not for the faint of heart and
neither is Delilah’s story, and although Hunt does not provide a play-by-play
description of Delilah’s abuse, it is what’s implied that chilled this reader
to the core. For a woman to be as coolly calculating regarding the fate of her
supposed lover as Delilah is when negotiating with the Philistine lords (Judges
16), she has to have a visceral motivation behind her drive to dehumanize her
relationship with Samson, thus allowing such a personal betrayal. This is the
fully-realized woman Hunt creates from the bones of scripture, one who justifies
betrayal in the name of survival, for having once survived her perpetrator’s
attempt to reduce her to a faceless commodity, she is determined to never again
experience such powerlessness. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hunt alternates between Delilah’s primary viewpoint and
Samson’s, where one commonality becomes clear: both Samson and Delilah were
flawed individuals who all too often fell into the trap of rationalizing their
behavior and choices. Samson is a successful judge who struggles being “set
apart” as a Nazirite, keeping the letter of his commitment to God (never
cutting his hair) while indulging in vices (women and drink) that cloud his
moral compass and commitment to his mission. But despite his failings, God
still used Samson to fulfill His will to act against the Philistines on
Israel’s behalf. Similarly, as a dark-skinned Egyptian living in Philistia,
Delilah struggles with feeling that both her heritage and her trauma have
branded her as set apart. By making Delilah as a dimensional, nuanced character,
Hunt sketches a portrait of a woman whose trajectory collided with God’s
purpose for her life <i>in spite of</i> her
unbelief…for above all her story is a tale of God’s redemptive power, both on
behalf of His chosen people and those who would come to believe in Him as a
result of witnessing God’s handiwork on behalf of those who believe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love Biblical fiction for its potential – a well-crafted
tale, authentic to scripture and the history of the time period can illuminate
the biblical record with fresh clarity, bringing new life the participants immortalized
in the record of the faith. Hunt’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dreamers-Legacies-Ancient-River-Angela-ebook/dp/B001N2HICC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Legacies of the Ancient River</a> series, retelling
the story of Joseph, was among the first of such novels to open my eyes to the
genre’s potential, and some two decades later, her facility for the genre
remains undimmed. This is a stunning reimagining of Delilah’s character and
motivations, a tragic tale of abuse, lust, and revenge, redeemed by grace.</div>
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This book left me gutted. Hunt’s vivid retelling of Delilah
and Samson’s relationship is storytelling at its finest, grounded in truth,
taking the bones of scripture and breathing life into flesh-and-blood
characters that are all too easy to look at as stories sketched large, in
danger of losing humanity that makes their stories timeless and relevant. This
novel positions afresh Samson’s role as a perfectly imperfect and flawed
precursor to Christ, the promised redeemer not just for the Israelites, but all
of mankind. And at last more than an seductress, Delilah is given an
unforgettable voice, flawed, hurting woman struggling to regain her agency in a
society that would see her stripped of power. A potent reminder of God’s
unfailing mercies and ability to work His will in the midst of our worst
failings, Delilah illustrates His promise of love, redemption, and wholly
unmerited grace and favor.</div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Life is not easy in Philistia, especially not for a woman and child alone. When beautiful, wounded Delilah finds herself begging for food to survive, she resolves that she will find a way to defeat all the men who have taken advantage of her. She will overcome the roadblocks life has set before her, and she will find riches and victory for herself.<br />
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When she meets a legendary man called Samson, she senses that in him lies the means for her victory. By winning, seducing, and betraying the hero of the Hebrews, she will attain a position of national prominence. After all, she is beautiful, she is charming, and she is smart. No man, not even a supernaturally gifted strongman, can best her in a war of wits.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-87448380652201504662016-07-16T20:40:00.001-07:002017-01-23T17:07:06.005-08:00Review: Learning to Ride by Erin Knightley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gT0ERmu6RyNzRPXuz9CH_Qt2lknLS_QdwJ2ycX6iDDNCfVhRFUrdbEUBiVcXWDEFMHh-88rHOIrVuHoi_ZVSuNDypR3-LZKOuxuYQK_eYJwtprR9Wi8hx60qo-XCpaJhYSE1bf9MJlI/s1600/learning+to+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gT0ERmu6RyNzRPXuz9CH_Qt2lknLS_QdwJ2ycX6iDDNCfVhRFUrdbEUBiVcXWDEFMHh-88rHOIrVuHoi_ZVSuNDypR3-LZKOuxuYQK_eYJwtprR9Wi8hx60qo-XCpaJhYSE1bf9MJlI/s320/learning+to+ride.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Ride-BookShots-Flames-Knightley-ebook/dp/B01C37XFO0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#navbar">Learning to Ride</a> </i>(Sunnybell #1)<br />
By: Erin Knightley<br />
Publisher: BookShots<br />
ASIN: B01C37XFO0<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When an unexpected chance at promotion sent Madeline Harper to sleepy Sunnybell, Texas, to oversee the successful completion of her company's latest merger, the farthest thing from her mind was becoming involved with a local. Sunnybell was just a stop on her way up the corporate ladder, and one she intended to make the most of -- but she didn't count on a cowboy with a smoldering gaze making her forget every one of her rules of engagement. And when her anonymous hook-up turns out to be Tanner Callen, local celebrity, she becomes more determined than ever to sever the connection. After all, for a city girl like herself a relationship with a thrill-seeking country boy is a recipe for heartache. But Madeline is about to discover that when it comes to matters of the heart, her best-laid plans may be the only thing standing between her and happiness.<br />
<br />
Having read (and loved) several of Erin Knightley's historical romance novellas, I was excited to see how she fared with her first contemporary release. For those looking to discover new authors, James Patterson's BookShots are the perfect vehicle -- short, fast reads that are priced to sell. <i>Learning to Ride</i> is basically a Hallmark made-for-TV movie waiting to happen (sans Madeline and Tanner's initial spicy hookup of course). I've always liked that Knightley's historicals fell in the "sweet" end of the historical romance spectrum -- passionate, yes, but not explicit. And while this is certainly tame by the standards of many romance releases, the hook-up conceit felt awkward. Knightley seems to be in uncharted territory here, and it shows, however she is quickly in her element as Tanner and Madeline are forced to navigate the fallout of their initial meeting, as their undeniable chemistry wars with their disparate life goals and worldviews.<br />
<br />
While <i>Learning to Ride</i> is your typical opposites attract romance, it underscores an issue I often have with this type of story, whether in books or on film, and that is the idea that a woman with a career either isn't happy or doesn't have anything resembling a healthy work/life balance. All too often it is the woman who gives up the career or the lifestyle FOR LOVE and I ask you, where is the equity in that? Now I realize that I am <i>completely </i>overthinking Knightley's storyline here, and Tanner and Madeline are perfectly likeable characters...but the tropes of their romance frustrated me. City = bad, country = good, etc. -- for once I would LOVE to read a story that flips these tropes on their ear and gives us a romance where the devil-may-care, nominally employed man gives it all up to move to the city for his career-driven woman.<br />
<br />
In fairness, Tanner is willing to compromise with Madeline on the city versus country issue, but it ends up being essentially lip service as it isn't necessary for their relationship to progress. Both Tanner and Madeline are perfectly nice characters, and their interactions possess some of the hallmarks that I've come to expect from Knightley's writing -- well drawn, multi-faceted individuals sketched with warmth and humor on the page. Although the storyline is symptomatic of some of my general frustrations with romance tropes (particularly in a contemporary context), this was an engaging summer read -- and should Hallmark or Lifetime ever elect to make this story into a film, I would watch the <i>heck</i> out of that (which I fully realize is a double standard as regards my toleration of certain tropes in text versus film). Make it happen, networks! Now I'm off to read more historical romance, wherein discussions of a woman's career goals would be anachronism at its finest.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>She never wanted to love a cowboy. . . .</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">Rodeo king Tanner Callen doesn't want to be tied down. When he sees Madeline Harper at a local honky-tonk and everything about her screams New York, he brings out every trick in his playbook to take her home. But soon he learns that he doesn't just want her for a night and, instead, hopes for forever. . . .</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">BookShots Flames</b></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Original romances presented by JAMES PATTERSON</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Novels you can devour in a few hours</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Impossible to stop reading</span></li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-83320202841551648372016-07-10T17:16:00.000-07:002016-07-10T17:16:03.419-07:00Review: I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason by Susan Kandel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4haCaZc1ooowTQDutnFagbmUptxMohkyrusqMpXrU_Cm69Vy6kGSK2N612lPuTVwqL3L45d9L2JZtjK1m_Qi6n8wsujOaE4WrGX0RQaMf6ofe3Y487Gk2Gu9tOIm0odEdjcVnfdEpM94/s1600/perry+mason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4haCaZc1ooowTQDutnFagbmUptxMohkyrusqMpXrU_Cm69Vy6kGSK2N612lPuTVwqL3L45d9L2JZtjK1m_Qi6n8wsujOaE4WrGX0RQaMf6ofe3Y487Gk2Gu9tOIm0odEdjcVnfdEpM94/s320/perry+mason.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dreamed-Married-Perry-Caruso-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B001RS8KP6?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc"><i>I Dreamed I Mar</i><i>ried Perry Mason</i></a> (A Cece Caruso Mystery #1)<br />
By: Susan Kandel<br />
Publisher: Harper Collins<br />
ASIN: B001RS8KP6<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Cece Caruso, vintage clothing fashionista and lover of classic mysteries, should be in her element facing the looming deadline to turn in her sixth manuscript -- a biography of Erle Stanley Gardner, lawyer, author, and mostly famously, the creator of Perry Mason. But her subject eludes her, and in search of inspiration to bring the object of her latest tome to life, she seeks inspiration from the "hard case" letters in his archives -- the incarcerated seeking his help. One case catches her eye -- Joe Albucco, convicted of killing his wife Jean on the night of their first anniversary. He claims he's innocent, and according to notations in Gardner's files, he remembered the inmate's name, but never followed through. If she can solve the case, the Gardner-related anecdote could be an inspired finish to her book. But unearthing the truth behind the decades-old murder case uncovers a web of conspiracy that threatens to make Cece's first investigative effort her last.<br />
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This book is total Ruth catnip: a vintage clothing and mystery loving sleuth? I am <i>so</i> in. The first installment of the Cece Caruso mysteries is an appealing mix of chick lit sensibilities sprinkled with classic mystery trivia, this time focusing on the classic pulp era that birthed Perry Mason. It's clear that Kandel loves her subject matter, as she peppers the narrative with facts and trivia from Erle Stanley Gardner's life and career. I loved the brief historical overview, as while I'm familiar with Perry Mason thanks to cable television re-runs, I knew next to nothing about the creator of the classic sleuth.<br />
<br />
Cece possesses a likeable voice, and I really liked the focus on a more mature heroine (she's thirty-nine) with an appreciation for classic mysteries that rivals my own. While her running commentary is often slyly humorous, its occasional lack of focus left me skim-reading rather than wholly focused and absorbed by the prose. However, much is forgiven thanks to Cece's passion for vintage fashion and her affinity for classic novels and film...hers is a unique and fascinating career, one that is at once both wish fulfillment and the perfect vehicle around which to craft a quirky set of light mysteries.<br />
<br />
<i>I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason</i> is a fun and diverting, if unevenly paced mystery offering. I really enjoyed the general mystery -- I love stories that involve decades of dark family secrets, ha! -- and the series concept has a lot of potential. I just wish more care had been taken with the pacing and plotting of the investigation. There is a lot of set up regarding the crime's history, exploring potential perpetrators and their motives, while the ultimate resolution takes all of two or three pages. But if, like me, you are looking for a frothy, mindlessly entertaining diversion, this cozy chick lit flavored mystery may be the perfect solution. I'm not in a rush to continue following Cece's adventures, but I enjoyed this offering enough to add book two to my Amazon wishlist...and as it has a Nancy Drew theme, at some point I expect I won't be able to resist it!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason</i> is the debut novel in a hip, sexy, smart and, yes, cozy mystery series with a great hook. Think <i>Sex and the City </i>collides with <i>Murder, She Wrote</i>.<br />
<br />
All that writer Cece Caruso really wants to do is complete her biography of mystery legend Erle Stanley Gardner, find a vintage 1970s Ossie Clark gown to add to her collection, and fix the doorknob on her picturesque West Hollywood bungalow. Then a chance visit with a prison inmate who knew Gardner lands her right in the middle of a 40–year–old murder and another case where the blood is still warm. In fact, Cece finds the body. This brings her into irresistible contact with her inner personal sleuth and shows how crime and greed can reverberate through several generations of a single family.<br />
<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-51098225101803559842016-07-09T11:33:00.000-07:002016-07-09T11:37:32.455-07:00Review: The Perfect Weapon by Delilah Dawson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijEDX7K5Ol58hJD9KDKCL1UoxdD8Ga4IemIPWORYjnnFbWcjweUppX1jGxC8xs4iOv-2dZGL3OvM9Jrmr0mdaZ0cU5rKxztkJ6I1wHJYr1VcG01J8Zj8BhcOjky1RCVAKd9crbmvHFjw/s1600/perfect+weapon+star+wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijEDX7K5Ol58hJD9KDKCL1UoxdD8Ga4IemIPWORYjnnFbWcjweUppX1jGxC8xs4iOv-2dZGL3OvM9Jrmr0mdaZ0cU5rKxztkJ6I1wHJYr1VcG01J8Zj8BhcOjky1RCVAKd9crbmvHFjw/s320/perfect+weapon+star+wars.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Weapon-Star-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B016GRO8R6">The Perfect Weapon</a> </i>(Journey to <i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i>)<br />
By: Delilah Dawson<br />
Publisher: Del Rey<br />
ASIN: B016GRO8R6<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When mercenary Bazine Netal is hired by an anonymous client to retrieve a package in possession of an ex-stormtrooper, she expected a quick in-and-out mission with the promise of a sizeable award that would provide her covert lifestyle with a much-needed fresh infusion of funds. What she didn't count on was her teacher and mentor , the spycraft teacher Kloda, saddling her with a protege in need of training. Relationships are liabilities a woman in her position learned long ago to avoid, and with a competitor named Narglatch also on the hunt for the stormtrooper's case, on this mission she can afford no distractions. But as the mission goes south, betrayal comes from a quarter she never expected...a mistake that may just cost her her life.<br />
<br />
This is an entertaining little glimpse into one of the most intriguing background characters who made an all-too-brief but impactful appearance in <i>The Force Awakens</i>. Dawson gives us the backstory of the coldly beautiful, detached bounty hunter responsible for alerting the First Order to the presence of BB-8 at Maz Katana's home on Takodana. Here, Dawson positions Bazine as something of a female counterpart to another legendary <i>Star Wars </i>fan favorite bounty hunter, Boba Fett -- she's as intriguing and lethal as Fett, only with better fashion sense.<br />
<br />
I wish Dawson had been allowed to develop this story into a full length novel. As it is, <i>The Perfect Weapon</i> is an entertaining slice of female-centric <i>Star Wars</i> action. I was reminded of the K.W. Jeter trilogy <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53725-star-wars-the-bounty-hunter-wars">The Bounty Hunter Wars</a>, original Expanded Universe tales that explored Boba Fett's actions between Episodes IV and VI. In the right hands this is a character with promise, refreshing removed from the machinations of the Force and surprisingly likeable given her lethal background.<br />
<br />
While the plot and characterizations are a little thin, given the story's brief length, and the stormtrooper's case is a MacGuffin of the most wildly improbably sort, frustratingly important and maddeningly unexplained, I still enjoyed this brief introduction to one of the newest and most colorful characters in the <i>Star Wars</i> universe. I'd love to read more about Bazine, and I hope Dawson one day gets the chance to revisit this character and universe, as there is a lot of unexplored potential here and she shows a promising facility in constructing an engaging story within the <i>Star Wars </i>parameters. With Rey as the centerpoint of the new trilogy, it seems only fitting that a new <i>female </i>bounty hunter should capture the imagination of fans, and Bazine is a character whose further adventures I'd love to see explored either on film or the page.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">Journey to <i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> with this exclusive ebook short story <b>set shortly before the events of the film, </b>featuring a quick-witted mercenary who takes big risks for bigger rewards—and now faces the challenge that will take her to the edge.</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">There are plenty of mercenaries, spies, and guns for hire in the galaxy. But probably none as dangerous and determined as Bazine Netal. A master of disguise—and lethal with a blade, a blaster, or bare handed—she learned from the best. Now it’s her turn to be the teacher—even if schooling an eager but inexperienced recruit in the tricks of her trade is the last thing she wants to do. But it’s the only way to score the ship she needs to pull off her latest job.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">An anonymous client has hired Bazine to track down an ex-stormtrooper and recover the mysterious package he’s safeguarding. Payment for the mission promises to be astronomical, but the obstacles facing Bazine will prove to be formidable. And though her eager new sidekick has cyber skills crucial to the mission, only Bazine’s razor-sharp talents will mean the difference between success or failure—and life or death.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-66878641634674482462016-07-06T18:14:00.004-07:002016-07-06T18:14:58.590-07:00Review: Pros and Cons by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymGJGobJMiLILWCW88Wd0sH0eK1Kuq-Q8zPPwf_xg4jCyNL9-ok2Zsr3GfG97ZvW-rpqtikId-OXRuuH9yZJ51ONLIiMs48oC62-dgNsz8HF6B_6V5bn0zqNANEEoWeWuhgz8xLIoigA/s1600/prosandcons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymGJGobJMiLILWCW88Wd0sH0eK1Kuq-Q8zPPwf_xg4jCyNL9-ok2Zsr3GfG97ZvW-rpqtikId-OXRuuH9yZJ51ONLIiMs48oC62-dgNsz8HF6B_6V5bn0zqNANEEoWeWuhgz8xLIoigA/s1600/prosandcons.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pros-Cons-Short-Kindle-Single-ebook/dp/B00CK8CL0W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467853208&sr=1-1&keywords=pros+and+cons#navbar">Pros and Cons</a></i> (Fox & O'Hare #0.50)<br />
By: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg<br />
Publisher: Bantam<br />
ASIN: B00CK8CL0W<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Pros and Cons</i> is the second e-book novella to introduce the unlikely crime-fighting duo of Special Agent Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox, incorrigible con man. Set three years after <i><a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-shell-game-by-janet-evanovich.html">The Shell Game</a></i>, where Kate first encountered Nick, both the biggest break of her career and her biggest obsession, this short story gives a bit more insight into Kate's character. Sure, she's something of a walking chick lit cliche, from her junk food habit to her complete lack of personal style, but she's dedicated to her job and not above appreciating the Nick's flair for the dramatic...or his devilish charm and good looks. While the central con here is -- if possible -- even more ridiculously over-the-top, it encapsulates what I like most about this series -- the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously <i>at all</i>. These stories are pure and simple entertainment from start to finish, sprinkled with good-natured (often cheesy) humor and a flair for the theatrical. These stories are sheer fun, the perfect escapist antidote to summer's mind-numbing heat!<br />
<br />
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg have teamed up for a dynamic new series featuring an FBI agent who’s on the hunt—and a master con artist who’s enjoying the chase. The con is on in this eBook original short story that’s a triumphant prequel to <i>The Heist</i>.<br />
<br />
FBI special agent Kate O’Hare has made it her mission to nail international con artist Nicolas Fox. When she discovers his plot to plunder a venture capitalist’s twentieth-story Chicago penthouse of all its cash and treasures while the self-proclaimed “King of Hostile Takeovers” is getting married, Kate is 85 percent—okay maybe 92 percent—sure that she’s finally going to bag Nick Fox.<br />
<br />
Problem is, first Kate has to convince her boss, building security, and maybe even herself, that wedding planner Merrill Stubing is actually Nicolas Fox. Second, she has to figure out how to corner and capture him without disrupting the event of the year. And third, what’s going to happen once O’Hare finally gets her hands on Fox? It’s going take a pro to catch a con before the fireworks over Lake Michigan go off.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-83792079011843506352016-07-06T16:48:00.000-07:002016-07-06T16:49:03.120-07:00Review: The Shell Game by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KrMC0FGdeoPT3Xg1f6R4h2uZ3AGPs-JPPieIvwWQZ1lLPGzL1KTRWtJCUGzW18Ge7Q5WsmBtPYXYveulds6SEoKWsWlmlifz_znYTQRIoZxWE1otyqXgNrQ6VmK4lEi6juKGEi0NXMY/s1600/ShellGameEshort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KrMC0FGdeoPT3Xg1f6R4h2uZ3AGPs-JPPieIvwWQZ1lLPGzL1KTRWtJCUGzW18Ge7Q5WsmBtPYXYveulds6SEoKWsWlmlifz_znYTQRIoZxWE1otyqXgNrQ6VmK4lEi6juKGEi0NXMY/s320/ShellGameEshort.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shell-Game-OHare-Kindle-Single-ebook/dp/B00NDTUAB4/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467835021&sr=1-2&keywords=shell+game#navbar">The Shell Game</a></i> (Fox & O'Hare #0.25)<br />
By: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg<br />
Publisher: Bantam<br />
ASIN: B00NDTUAB4<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When I decided to read <i><a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-heist-by-janet-evanovich-and-lee.html">The Heist</a></i> by Evanovich and Goldberg, I didn't realize that Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare's first adventure was preceded by a few prequel e-book only novellas. <i>The Shell Game</i> is a breezy, entertaining, fast-paced introduction to the adversarial relationship at the center of this series, between a suave, elegant, likeable trickster and the by-the-book FBI agent determined to take him down. The plot is thin, but as a fan of caper stories and films I'm not really here for an intricately plotted mystery; rather, I want breezy banter and outlandish adventure -- and on that score, Evanovich and Goldberg deliver. This is a thoroughly entertaining read that does a fantastic job of introducing Nick and Kate and the professional rivalry that makes them the unlikeliest of crime-solvers. The perfect lunch break-length read, <i>The Shell Game</i> is a diverting introduction to Fox and O'Hare's entertaining shenanigans, a world thanks to its novelty (at least to date) I'll happily revisit.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It was love at first con. Find out how FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare and con artist Nicolas Fox first met in this exclusive eBook original short story! </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Con man Nick Fox is after Garson Klepper’s golden Peruvian relics. For Fox, convincing Klepper to hire him as security for the relocation of the relics to the Getty museum in L.A. was easy. Problem is, Fox wasn’t planning on Klepper also enlisting the help of the FBI. Fox also wasn’t planning on being paired up with rookie special agent Kate O’Hare. She’s smart, she’s tenacious, and when she’s conned, she holds a grudge. Life for Fox and O’Hare will never be the same again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Shell Game </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">is a prequel to the riveting series from Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-73557644394021198682016-07-04T07:08:00.000-07:002016-07-04T07:08:15.950-07:00Review: Love's Awakening by Laura Frantz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Awakening-Novel-Ballantyne-Legacy/dp/0800720423/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440882751&sr=8-1&keywords=love%27s+awakening"><i>Love's Awakening</i></a> (The Ballantyne Legacy #2)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">By: Laura Frantz</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Publisher: Revell</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">ISBN: 978-0-8007-2042-1</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Elinor "Ellie" Ballantyne, just twenty years old and the jewel of her father's heart, flees finishing school and the matchmaking mamas of Philadelphia society, hungry for home and purpose. She is determined to shed some measure of her sheltered upbringing and embrace the Ballantyne steel of her heritage, vowing to make her own way in the world. But much has changed in her absence, and Ellie is ill-prepared for the simmering tensions between the pro-slavery and abolitionist movement, nor the depth of her family's involvement in the latter. However, the greatest danger may hail from the most unexpected quarter -- losing her heart to the son of the enemy -- the engmatic, and wholly unsuitable, Jack Turlock.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">The rivalry between the Ballantynes and unscrupulous, whiskey-making Turlocks hails from Silas Ballantyne's early days in Pittsburgh, becoming further embittered when Isabel O'Hara, daughter of Silas's one-time friend and mentor, marries into the Turlock clan in a fit of pique when Silas chose Eden as his bride. And from that point, the die was cast: the Ballantynes respectable and virtuous, the Turlocks and their famed hell-raising ever a thorn in their -- and all respectable society's -- side.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Jack would like nothing more than to shed his family's unsavory reputation and start afresh. But ever aware of what he's seen and done, he was resigned to the burden of his familial heritage of violence and deceit, until a chance encounter with Ellie awakens feelings he'd long thought buried. Ellie's innocence and guileless acceptance of him as he is awakens in Jack the audacity to hope for a finer, better life. When his father and brother's plans threaten to destroy everything Ellie holds dear, Jack is left with a choice: the life he was raised to or faith in the God the Ballantynes claim and His promise of redemption.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">While I like to stay current with favorite authors, it has been such a treat to lose myself in each successive installment of The Ballantyne Legacy without that pesky year-long wait between releases. Though the much-loved Silas and Eden are absent for half the novel, their presence is ever felt, underscoring Frantz's thesis of the heritage of faith, inherited through generations.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">The Jack and Ellie relationship is not only one of my favorite tropes in romantic fiction -- adversaries to lovers -- but it is a gorgeously-wrought exploration of inheritance and choice. Colored with shades of Romeo and Juliet's warring families, Jack and Ellie's blossoming attraction is, at first blush, nought but an impossible dream. Separated by a gulf of familial rivalry and distrust, political ideologies, and most crucially, faith, here Frantz sketches a love story all the more memorable because of the transformative power of faith at its heart.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><i>Love's Awakening</i> has a two-fold meaning -- Jack and Ellie, certainly, but also the agape love of one human being to another regardless of race or creed. The sacrificial love those who claim Christ are called to live each day is woven throughout each page, as Frantz places her characters in the eye of the storm brewing over slavery. The Ballantynes and Jack participate in the early skirmishes between pro-slavers and abolitionists in Pennsylvania of the 1820's seeds of the great conflict to come later in the century that would rend the nation in two. As Jack quickly discovers, the Ballantynes' abolitionist efforts are a call to action, a study in the cost, danger, and rewards of putting faith in action.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Frantz has always delivered emotionally intense novels. Her heart-stopping romances are a hallmark of her work, as is her unparalleled ability to bring the past to life on the page, all on display here. But in Love's Awakening, in the final oact of Ellie and Jack's story she delivers her most action-packed epic yet. It is no exaggeration to say that my heart was racing as I breathlessly turned the pages, eager to see the finale unfold in all its high stakes, cinematic grandeur.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Like it's <a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-loves-reckoning-by-laura-frantz.html">predecessor</a>, <i>Love's Awakening</i> is a story of inheritance, both for good and ill. The Ballantyne Legacy is an unflinchingly honest study of faith and choice and the power of both to resound through future generations. A stunning romance, suspense, and heartbreak -- this is Frantz at her finest. I cannot wait to discover what's in store for the final Ballantyne installment!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;"><b>About the book:</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">In the spring of 1822, Ellie Ballantyne leaves finishing school and returns to the family home in Pittsburgh only to find that her parents are away on a long journey and her siblings don't seem to want her to stay. Determined to stand her ground and find her place in the world, Ellie fills her time by opening a day school for young ladies.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">But when one of her students turns out to be an incorrigible young member of the Turlock family, Ellie knows she must walk a fine line. Slaveholders and whiskey magnates, the Turlocks are envious of the powerful Ballantynes and suspicious of their abolitionist leanings. As Ellie becomes increasingly entangled with the rival clan -- particularly the handsome Jack Turlock, she finds herself falling in love with an impossible future. Will she betray her family and side with the enemy?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">Masterful storyteller Laura Frantz continues to unfold the stirring saga of the Ballantyne family in this majestic tale of love and loyalty. This is the Ballantyne Legacy.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #575757; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Note:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;"> This review was originally published </span><a href="http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2015/08/review-loves-awakening-by-laura-frantz.html" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">August 2015</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-40548383147097461702016-07-02T17:22:00.003-07:002016-07-02T17:22:51.428-07:00Review: The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heist-Novel-Fox-OHare/dp/034554305X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467497254&sr=1-1&keywords=evanovich+heist">The Heist</a></i> (Fox & O'Hare #1)<br />
By: Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg<br />
Publisher: Bantam<br />
ISBN: 978-0-345-54305-9<br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
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Nicolas Fox has long been the bane of Kate O'Hare's life -- until she arranges to have him hit by a bus, leading to his arrest and -- at long last -- the end of his infamous career as a con man and thief. Post-Fox, she's forced to resign herself to a much less interesting (or challenging) professional career investigating the likes of serial copyright violations, until the unthinkable happens, and Fox escapes his FBI handlers en route to his arraignment. Although she's officially sidelined from rejoining the investigation by her boss, Kate can't let her nemesis go. She goes off the grid, determined to bring Fox to justice, only to be confronted with the most extraordinary offer of her career. Her bosses assign her to work as Nick's handler in a series of off-the-books operations, going after criminals the Bureau can't touch in an official capacity.<br />
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Following his arrest by the persistent (and alluring) Kate O'Hare, Nick unspools the biggest con of his life, trading jail time for five years' probation as an off-the-books FBI asset. With Kate's grudging consent to their unorthodox partnership, the two are assigned to bring down Derek Griffin, a notoriously corrupt investment banker who absconded with millions from his clients. But in order to find Derek, he first has to assemble a crew of rookies to help sell his audacious plan, and convince Kate that maybe, just maybe, running a con could be just as much fun as chasing the con artist.<br />
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When I stumbled upon this title a few weeks ago I couldn't resist the premise -- polar opposites on each side of the law working together to crack criminal cases in exotic locales around the world? I am SO IN. Fans of <i><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjm6tqSg9bNAhVi4YMKHewmD88QFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1358522%2F&usg=AFQjCNGRXP8YLk3xO-rO5Gf8BXNS0QnLKQ&sig2=bY5liE4pQ0M3arJ7tP9XPA&bvm=bv.126130881,d.amc">White Collar</a></i> (may it rest in peace) will easily find a home within these pages, and Evanovich and Greenberg spin a breezy tale of audacious cons, exotic locales, and a dash of sizzling romantic tension. <i>The Heist</i> isn't a deep or profound read by any stretch of the imagination, but it is just the type of breezy, over-the-top, ridiculously fun caper that my heat-fatigued brain craved (summer is not, and never has been, my friend).<br />
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Kate is something of a walking cliche in that she is capable at her job but consumed by it, with zero work/life balance and completely oblivious to her appeal as a potential romantic partner. While in that respect she is a complete, one-note chick lit cliche, it's refreshing to see a female lead who is a capable professional with a great familial support system. In fact, Kate's father Jake, is a highlight of the novel, a retiree and former special ops veteran who gleefully serves as Kate's unofficial back-up while overseas performing unsanctioned extraordinary rendition missions. I love the fact that -- at least initially -- he's more excited and supportive of Kate's dangerous new line of work than she is herself.<br />
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A concept novel like this something of a con itself, and it only works if the characters involved can sell the over-the-top storyline. Therein lies the book's greatest success, as -- led by Nick -- the motley crew that assembles to take down Derek Griffin is deliciously humorous and engaging, gleefully owning their less-than-legal behavior. Nick's new team is a band of modern day Robin Hoods, and while Kate is far from a damsel-in-distress, she fills the Marian slot nicely, particularly in how she comes to enjoy working alongside Nick instead of chasing him, embracing the dance of the con rather than seeking to live within the rules she's always sought to uphold.<br />
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<i>The Heist</i> is a fun, breezy read, great for a few hours of summer escapism. I adore heist stories, everything from <i>White Collar</i> to Ally Carter's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/49284-heist-society">Heist Society</a> novels. Nick and Kate's relationship and playful banter are reminiscent of other unlikely partners in crime, from Nick and Nora Charles to <i><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi12KKjg9bNAhVkzIMKHdMDCw0QFggfMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0085088%2F&usg=AFQjCNF2W5TOQ1EoimdLviNMLuDzdS_Smg&sig2=_dNoLVyeEKb48CT-AzCDCw&bvm=bv.126130881,d.amc">The Scarecrow and Mrs. King</a></i>. This is the type of globe-trotting adventure I can't help but devour, and while it can be a little cheesy and <i>very </i>silly, I'll definitely read the subsequent installments in this series. If they live up to the precedent set in this volume, Fox and O'Hare's future adventures promise to be the perfect recipe for a bit of welcome escapism.<br />
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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Nicolas Fox is an international con man, famous for running elaborate sams on very rich and powerful people. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail for years -- particularly FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare. But just when it seems that Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with O'Hare.<br />
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Their first assignment takes them to the streets of Berlin, the California desert, and remote Indonesian islands as they team up to catch Derek Griffin, a corrupt investment banker charged with stealing millions from his clients. Finding Griffin on his private island is going to test O'Hare's patience and Fox's skill. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toberlone bars are all in a day's work...if O'Hare and Fox don't kill each other first.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-49575770009646039512016-07-01T07:23:00.003-07:002016-07-01T07:26:39.105-07:00Review: Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #575757; line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loves-Reckoning-Novel-Ballantyne-Legacy/dp/0800720415/ref=sr_1_5_twi_2_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438794179&sr=1-5&keywords=laura+frantz"><i>Love's Reckoning</i></a> (The Ballantyne Legacy #1)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">By: Laura Frantz</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Publisher: Revell</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">ISBN: 978-0-8007-2041-4</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Eden Lee longs to make a fresh start in Philadelphia, to escape her father Liege's temper and her sister Elspeth's selfish machinations. Her fiery hair and family reputation mask a quiet spirit that hungers after God, desiring nothing more than the freedom to exercise her fledgling faith freely. But before she can make good on her dream of escape, her blacksmith father's new apprentice arrives, setting into motion plans of marriage and familial expectations that threaten to derail Eden's closely guarded dreams.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Silas Ballantyne has plans of his own to head west once his apprenticeship is finished, dreams he is determined shall not be thwarted by his contentious master or his tempting daughters. However, Silas finds himself irresistibly drawn to Eden's sweet spirit in defiance of Liege and Elspeth's determination to ensnare the talented blacksmith in a web of deceit. As love blossoms between Silas and Eden, fostered by whispered stairwell meetings and exchanged scraps of scripture, the long-latent embers of jealousy between Liege's daughters ignite. When all they hold dear is threatened, Silas and Eden are forced to decide if their faith and love is enough to withstand the heartache that would see their hoped-for future destroyed,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">It has been far too long since I've lost myself within the pages of a Laura Frantz novel. Reading <i>Love's Reckoning</i> was akin to water falling on dry land, a balm to my soul sorely in need of Frantz's craftsmanship and heart. The first installment in a multi-generational family epic, <i>Love's Reckoning </i>is replete with Frantz's trademarks: carefully-crafted characters, a heart-rending love story, and a nearly tactile sense of time and a nearly tactile sense of time and place. Within these pages, late 18th-century Pennsylvania springs to life with color and depth. If a novel is her canvas, Frantz paints with the skill of a master.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Here Frantz blends shades of the Cinderella story with a familial and romance dynamic reminiscent of the biblical saga of Jacob, Esau, Rachel, and Laban. Eden is a classic Cinderella figure, the family drudge who still maintains her sweet spirit. In less capable hands, seeing the abuse she endures at the hands of family members could have made her seem weak. But instead, Eden is an intricately wrought portrait of one who chooses again and again the sacrifice of kindness and belief with no expectation of reward (much like the recent live-action version of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1661199/">Cinderella</a>). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">While Silas is cast in the role of prince/redeemer, both he and Eden's character arcs are colored with shades of Jacob's story (with Elspeth cast alternately as Esau and Leah, in the most extreme forms of that character archetype). Their journey is a fight for an inheritance beyond what the eye can see -- a twin legacy of earthly and spiritual favor. Theirs is a story of lives the enemy to all believers would see destroyed (John 10:10), of potential unrealized and dreams unfulfilled. But in the pain of circumstance, those dreams, once surrendered and yielded to the God who first planted them within their hearts, blossom into a gorgeously wrought illustration of redemptive promise (Joel 2:25).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">For those who crave realism in inspirational fiction or wonder if it even exists, they need look no further than here for one such example. While <i>Love's Reckoning </i>is everything I crave in historical romance -- research, depth, passion -- within these pages lies a tale of emotional abuse, a physical assault, and shattered dreams. Frantz never exploits the very real heartache her characters endure, but within the framework of their circumstances sketch a story of hope and redemption with compassion and sensitivity. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Authors like Frantz are why I believe so strongly in the possibility of inspirational fiction. This is a wildly entertaining tale, yes, epic in its scope and intimate in its emotional reckoning, a sweeping saga in every sense that term implies. But more than that, Silas and Eden's story is one of hope and a faith at times no bigger than a grain of mustard seed, and the ability of that faith in action to transform and redeem the most broken among us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;"><b>About the book:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">On a bitter December day in 1784, Silas Ballantyne arrives at the door of blacksmith Liege Lee in York County, Pennsylvania. Silas is determined to finish his apprenticeship quickly and move west. But because he is a fast worker and a superb craftsman, Liege endeavors to keep in in Lancaster by appealing to an old tradition: the apprentice shall marry one of his master's beautiful daughters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">Eden is as gentle and fresh as Elspeth is high-spirited and cunning. But are they truly who they appear to be? In a house laced with secrets, each sister seeks to secure her future. Which one will claim Silas's heart -- and will he agree to Liege's arrangement?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;">In this sweeping family saga, one man's choices in love and work, in friends and enemies, set the stage for generations to come, This is the Ballantyne Legacy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #575757; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.8px;"><b>Note: </b>This review was originally published <a href="http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2015/08/review-loves-reckoning-by-laura-frantz.html">August 2015</a>.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-79498859934293551702016-06-28T09:03:00.000-07:002016-06-28T09:03:36.024-07:00Review: Marlene by C.W. Gortner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rRpq3dmUDgV7K06ghoSyuwPre0uExzlN0RZotVFUrmJyVEPuVHzelV5XP0mgwj9fm4SNZfjwDWo4XrfjEdztGOQaJmpWd2soLg2krXOfhQkoDycw1DQJUiYjV6pfTnvXdHv_Rgq1DV0/s1600/Marlene+HC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rRpq3dmUDgV7K06ghoSyuwPre0uExzlN0RZotVFUrmJyVEPuVHzelV5XP0mgwj9fm4SNZfjwDWo4XrfjEdztGOQaJmpWd2soLg2krXOfhQkoDycw1DQJUiYjV6pfTnvXdHv_Rgq1DV0/s320/Marlene+HC.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Marlene-Novel-C-W-Gortner/dp/006240606X/ref=sr_1_1_twi_har_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467129575&sr=1-1&keywords=marlene">Marlene: A Novel of Marlene Dietrich</a></i><br />
By: C.W. Gortner<br />
Publisher: William Morrow<br />
ISBN: 978-0062406064<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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Maria Magdalena Dietrich was born into a life of genteel
poverty, her mother’s proud family connections brought low by her father’s
early death and a subsequent – and ever-present – lack of funds. Destined for
life as a concert violinist, as a teenager she chafes against the moral
restrictions imposed by her formidable mother. For while Maria Magdalena loves
the violin, she yearns for something more, a chance to explore the burgeoning
opportunities both personal and professional promised by the siren song
emanating from the decadence of post-war Berlin, where the moral fiber that
once defined the nation crumbles with the fall of the Kaiser and the dawn of
the fledgling Weimar Republic. It is within the decadence and hedonism of the
cabarets and clubs of 1920s Berlin that Maria – now known as Marlene – finds
the beginnings of her voice and image as
she strives to become an actress. A chance encounter with a mid-level studio executive
lands her a coveted screen test, eventually leading to her breakthrough role
as Lola-Lola, the seductive cabaret girl
who leads men astray in <i>The Blue Angel</i>.
Her partnership with director Joseph von Sternberg makes her a star, and as the
Dietrich legend rises, the lines between reality and glossy celluloid fantasy
begin to blur. As her once-beloved homeland descends into the madness of
National Socialism and her personal and professional relationships become fraught
with tension, Marlene is faced with a choice. Will she crumble under the weight
of the Dietrich mythos, tarnished by poor box office receipts and failed relationships,
or will a second world war allow the inimitable artist one last chance to
reinvent herself anew?</div>
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I came to this novel not out of any special affinity for Marlene
Dietrich or her films, but rather as a long-time fan of both classic Hollywood
and C.W. Gortner’s novels, hoping for some juicy insight into the filmmaking
process at home and abroad throughout the 1930s and 1940s. To date my favorite
Dietrich films are among those made at the twilight of her film career,
particularly 1947’s <i>Golden Earrings</i>,
which is pretty terrible (Dietrich is as un-gypsy-like as it gets!), but I love
it anyway, and 1948’s SUPERB <i>A Foreign
Affair</i>, directed by Billy Wilder. After finishing this deliciously dishy
take on Dietrich’s rise through the first half of the twentieth century, I’m
determined to correct the unthinkable oversight of being woefully unfamiliar
with her filmography, particularly the collaborations with von Sternberg, which
were so essential to the construction of her myth and legacy.</div>
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Gortner takes his time establishing the mood of Marlene’s
youth, positioning her later on-screen reputation as an untouchable seductress along
with her seemingly endless string of lovers as a natural expression of a
rebellious teenager coming of age and embracing the moral and artistic freedoms
afforded by the Weimar culture of the interwar period. I knew Dietrich had a
reputation as something of a female lothario, but I had no idea how much and to
what extent her amorous appetites informed her character and image. Through her
various relationships with men and women, Gortner sketches a portrait of a
woman who came of age in the cabarets of Berlin and whole-heartedly embraced
the hedonistic spirit of the age. It’s both fascinating and heartbreaking to
witness the cost Dietrich’s insistence on doing it “her way” wreaks on her
familial relationships – but if love is a drug it was one to which even a
master such as Marlene would prove vulnerable.</div>
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It’s fascinating to watch Gortner chart the rise of
Dietrich’s film career, focusing most on her relationship with the man half
responsible for its creation – director Joseph von Sternberg. Mercurial and
obsessive, he helped Marlene tap into her on-screen potential, their
collaborations the foundation of Dietrich’s screen image as a lethal siren. I
loved the deep dive into the studio system from an actor’s perspective providing,
fascinating – and salty – insight into the perspective of the actors and
directors like Dietrich and von Sternberg, artists who chafed under the
restrictions of the receipts-driven system that exerted absolute control over
not only their creative choices but their appearance, relationships, and free
time. This novel is a window into a forgotten world, one where both star and
studio collaborated to present a very specific image to the move-going public,
a type of image that seems nearly deified and unassailable compared to today’s
culture of insta-celebrity and 24/7 news cycles. Today we see stars at their
best and just as quickly, their worst, an image tarnishing before it even has a
chance to truly shine. <i>Marlene</i> is a
study in how such a construct came to be in this period, seen through the eyes
of the occasionally crass, surprisingly home-cooking and cleaning housefrau who
wanted to be famous actress…and then made it so.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I was fascinated by the final quarter of the novel, where we
see the rise of Hitler and the advent of World War II through the eyes of an
expatriate German. I had no idea just how much she did for the war effort on
behalf of her adopted country, nor did I ever consider the backlash she must
have faced in Germany for refusing to support Hitler’s rise to power. While I
haven’t read enough biographical information to grasp the tension she surely
must have felt, knowing her family lived under Hitler’s sway, within these
pages I was reminded of a lyric from the musical <i>Hamilton -- </i>Hamilton’s challenge to Aaron Burr at the end of the
song “Aaron Burr, Sir” in which he asks “If you stand for nothing, Burr,
what’ll you fall for?” Not only is the sentiment appropriate to Marlene’s
wartime experiences, as she is forced to confront the question of what do you
do when faced with the unimaginable, the unfathomable, the horrifying…it stands
true today, for what happens when silence is no longer an option?</div>
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I’m not attempting to suggest that Dietrich herself should
be taken as some sort of role model for today (that is a role I feel sure she
would have abhorred with every fiber of her bohemian being), but the questions
of moral responsibility that she grappled with leading up to and during the war
felt incredibly timely. In a world increasingly segmented, with weighty issues
reduced to a sound bite, our stars even more idolized and dissected (and
arguably, disposable vis-à-vis lasting value, entertainment or otherwise), <i>Marlene</i> is unexpectedly relevant.
Through the lens of Dietrich’s wildly colorful life, Gortner offers up a
thoughtful portrait of a woman whose controversial life is still enduring and relatable.
Gortner honors the myth even as he deconstructs it to reveal the very human,
flawed woman beneath. A fascinating study in celebrity, after this I can only
hope that one day Gortner will turn his pen to other titans of early
twentieth-century culture (such as Judy Garland or Bette Davis). <i>Marlene</i> is both a homage and an engaging
dissection of celebrity culture, the perfect blend of dishy gossip and
thought-provoking conjecture. In short, this is why Gortner is one of my
favorite novelists. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>About the book:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">A lush, dramatic biographical novel of one of the most glamorous and alluring legends of Hollywood’s golden age, Marlene Dietrich—from the gender-bending cabarets of Weimar Berlin to the lush film studios of Hollywood, a sweeping story of passion, glamour, ambition, art, and war from the author of Mademoiselle Chanel.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raised in genteel poverty after the First World War, Maria Magdalena Dietrich dreams of a life on the stage. When a budding career as a violinist is cut short, the willful teenager vows to become a singer, trading her family’s proper, middle-class society for the free-spirited, louche world of Weimar Berlin’s cabarets and drag balls. With her sultry beauty, smoky voice, seductive silk cocktail dresses, and androgynous tailored suits, Marlene performs to packed houses and becomes entangled in a series of stormy love affairs that push the boundaries of social convention.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the beautiful, desirous Marlene, neither fame nor marriage and motherhood can cure her wanderlust. As Hitler and the Nazis rise to power, she sets sail for America. Rivaling the success of another European import, Greta Garbo, Marlene quickly becomes one of Hollywood’s leading ladies, starring with legends such as Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Cary Grant. Desperate for her return, Hitler tries to lure her with dazzling promises. Marlene instead chooses to become an American citizen, and after her new nation is forced into World War II, she tours with the USO, performing for thousands of Allied troops in Europe and Africa.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But one day she returns to Germany. Escorted by General George Patton himself, Marlene is heartbroken by the war’s devastation and the evil legacy of the Third Reich that has transformed her homeland and the family she loved.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An enthralling and insightful account of this extraordinary legend, Marlene reveals the inner life of a woman of grit, glamour, and ambition who defied convention, seduced the world, and forged her own path on her own terms.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-81378819114482985092016-06-27T09:52:00.001-07:002016-06-27T09:52:33.995-07:00Review: Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9DvU5OYNHri-rOv8uwla_phirsynecCuIceswJTf-N7pOloND9bvpnYnpyoROAqeGBYiQpxzAToHWxb-2cU3di7rL7Lf57qjk3r0MkLjC5AaBxs5C5p8Ru6EzR99Fdr4pRWpWqo8-ag/s1600/anchor+in+the+storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9DvU5OYNHri-rOv8uwla_phirsynecCuIceswJTf-N7pOloND9bvpnYnpyoROAqeGBYiQpxzAToHWxb-2cU3di7rL7Lf57qjk3r0MkLjC5AaBxs5C5p8Ru6EzR99Fdr4pRWpWqo8-ag/s320/anchor+in+the+storm.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anchor-Storm-Waves-Freedom-Sundin/dp/0800723430/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467035711&sr=1-1&keywords=anchor+in+the+storm">Anchor in the Storm</a></i> (Waves of Freedom #2)<br />
By: Sarah Sundin<br />
Publisher: Revell<br />
ISBN: 978-0800723439<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United
States finally enters the world conflict – and after the sinking of their
destroyer, Jim Avery invites his fellow ensign and best friend Archer
Vandenberg to use his remaining survivor’s leave to visit his family in Ohio,
before both are called to service. As the only child of wealthy parents, Arch
never enjoyed the benefits of a large, boisterous family – the teasing,
camaraderie, and most of all, the sense of belonging. And since the sinking,
Arch craves an anchor more than ever, as his brush with death has robbed him of
the security and confidence he once held in his career. Jim’s sister Lillian
could be just the distraction he needs from his shot nerves and shaking hands,
but in a sharp departure from Arch’s normal interaction with members of the
opposite sex, she refuses to give Arch the time of day. Despite her prickly
demeanor, Arch finds himself irresistibly drawn to her independent spirit, sure
that if he could win the affection of a woman like Lillian, he’d have finally
found someone who could love him for himself and not his family’s wealth.</div>
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A childhood accident may have robbed Lillian of a leg, but since
then she has worked to prove that her lack of a limb is no impediment to her
ability to succeed, determined to be judged on her merits alone. And with a new
job at a Boston pharmacy, she has no time for men who would seek to control
her, especially golden men like Arch, whose looks and resources surely preclude
an association with a broken woman like herself. Determined to make herself
indispensable to her new boss, Lillian throws herself into her work, intent on
proving her worth as a pharmacist in a male-dominated field. As the danger from
U-boat attacks on the east coast escalates, so do issues of combat fatigue and
nerves, a growing problem Lillian sees reflected in suspiciously large, regular
prescriptions for Phenobarbital tablets. In spite of her decision to keep Arch
at arm’s length, they are both equally invested in stopping the unchecked use
of the highly addictive barbiturate. As the investigation deepens, the dangers
rise and so do unexpected feelings for the handsome ensign. If a dangerous drug
ring doesn’t derail the promise of romance, will Lillian and Arch’s past wounds
blind them to the possibility romance between such opposites?</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Anchor in the Storm</i>
picks up immediately following Jim and Mary’s story in <i><a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/06/review-through-waters-deep-by-sarah.html">Through Waters Deep</a></i>, shifting the focus to the aristocratic Archer
Vandenberg and his to date hopeless search for a woman capable of seeing beyond
his family name and wealth, and loving him for himself – the man who desires
nothing more than to forsake the privileged lifestyle his heritage entitles him
to in order to serve his country. I confess that Arch’s rather neurotic views
of women and money – no matter how legitimately earned – cracked me up a bit,
as throughout this novel and its predecessor, I wanted nothing more than to
remind Arch that yes, you may be nice,
but you are <i>not</i> all that and a bag of
chips. *wink* That said, it was a joy to finally see him meet his match in
Lillian, a woman who wants nothing to do with romance, choosing instead to
focus on succeeding in a career in a male dominated field rather than risk her
heart once again.</div>
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Both Arch and Lillian, though a study in opposites, are used
to being judged on their association with items beyond their control – for
Arch, his family name and wealth, for Lillian, her prosthesis, forever marking
her body as not quite whole. I love how Sundin isn’t afraid to write characters
that are not always nice and that can be, frankly, somewhat unlikable or
frustrating – but one cannot help but lose oneself in such a raw, honestly
sketched portrayal of the best and worst in human nature. While both Arch and
Lillian have trust issues, Lillian especially grapples with the temptation to
shut herself away from the world when hurt, and in so doing somehow prove
“worthy” and capable of sustaining her hard-won independence. Her character arc
is a study in the importance of relational community. Accepting help, admitting
hurt, forgiving another – all those are marks of strength, but a strength that comes
from the realization that in her weakness, whether physical, emotional, or
spiritual, there is strength through faith in God’s unfailing provision (2
Corinthians 12:9).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again Sundin focuses on the homefront war experience,
this time using her own professional experience as a pharmacist to explore
combat fatigue and addiction. Although the drug ring Lillian and Arch find
themselves embroiled in is fictional, the medical and military view towards
combat fatigue and its cause and treatment was just beginning to be understood
during this time period. Through the lens of contemporary experience and
understanding, in hindsight it is maddening to imagine that anyone could view
one suffering from the condition with anything but compassion. Arch’s panic at
the thought of being decommissioned due to his shot nerves is an almost
palpable fear, a heart-rending representation of the fear that can choke a
person when faced with losing the only life they’ve ever known or aspired to
live.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it took a bit longer for me to warm to Arch and
Lillian’s characters (compared to Jim and Mary in <i>Through Waters Deep</i>), ultimately I found myself even more deeply
invested in their character arcs and romance. Their happy ending feels
particularly hard-won, as the trust issues that plagued them, isolating them
behind walls of fear and doubt, were so raw and honestly sketched on the page,
that I could not help but cheer them on their journey. And if I’m being transparent,
Lillian’s character trajectory was particularly meaningful, challenging the
temptation to let fear or pain rather than faith dictate one’s response to
life’s often heart-breaking challenges. Sundin deftly parallels Arch and
Lillian’s characters, from their issues with trust and snap judgments to how,
through their varying physical challenges, each comes to realize that their
circumstances are not pre-set markers of success or failure. Rather, when one
seeks to live within the center of God’s will, those circumstances can be
transformed from perceived punishments or burdens into opportunities for
transformational growth. This is only my second Sundin novel, buther warmth and
facility for the 1940s proves to be an irresistible combination, as <i>Anchor in the Storm</i> has set the bar
gloriously high. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>About the book:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>One Plucky Female Pharmacist + One High-Society Naval Officer = Romance--and Danger</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War Ii means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy--even if he </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">is</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"> her brother's best friend.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves--and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Note: </b>This review was originally published on <a href="http://blog.lifeway.com/shelflife/2016/06/24/anchor-in-the-storm-by-sarah-sundin/">LifeWay's Shelf Life</a> blog.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-22802390124550467852016-06-27T06:50:00.001-07:002016-06-27T06:50:19.094-07:00Belgravia Blog Tour Conclusion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrrm1zuJv0JxIv9NyrAYqXEarOUQR22_mlXnZi98v2CriY6rfVOXRw-mI6SY9mzSaVUrNLylXb53WqVQ9q6Wup4dZu7vaen8rp_-8zHg9say5LVurXEntTsRuMZVhJthXaYH3Kogv-eY/s1600/Belgravia_blog-tour-final+x+600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrrm1zuJv0JxIv9NyrAYqXEarOUQR22_mlXnZi98v2CriY6rfVOXRw-mI6SY9mzSaVUrNLylXb53WqVQ9q6Wup4dZu7vaen8rp_-8zHg9say5LVurXEntTsRuMZVhJthXaYH3Kogv-eY/s320/Belgravia_blog-tour-final+x+600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since I posted <a href="http://ruthreadsbooks.blogspot.com/2016/05/belgravia-blog-tour-episode-7-man-of.html">my review</a> of Episode 7 of Julian Fellowes' <i>Belgravia</i>, the progressive blog tour celebrating this serialized novel's release has finished. In case you missed any of the installments, here is a recap of each episode's recap and review:<br />
<br />
April 14 – <a href="https://austenprose.com/2016/04/08/progressive-blog-tour-for-julian-fellowes-belgravia-begins-april-14/">Austenprose.com: Episode 1</a>: Dancing into Battle<br />
April 14 – <a href="http://www.edwardianpromenade.com/books/julian-fellowes-belgravia-episode-2-a-chance-encounter/">Edwardian Promenade: Episode 2</a>: A Chance Encounter<br />
April 21 – <a href="http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2016/04/julian-fellowes-belgravia-progressive.html">Fly High: Episode 3</a>: Family Ties<br />
April 28 – <a href="http://calicocritic.blogspot.com/2016/04/belgravia.html">Calico Critic: Episode 4</a>: At Home in Belgrave Square<br />
May 05 – <a href="http://luxuryreading.com/belgraviafellowes/">Luxury Reading: Episode 5</a>: The Assignation<br />
May 12 – <a href="http://www.riskyregencies.com/2016/05/12/julian-fellowes-downtown-abbey-has-a-novel/">Risky Regencies: Episode 6</a>: A Spy in our Midst<br />
May 19 – <a href="http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2016/05/belgravia-blog-tour-episode-7-man-of.html">Book Talk and More: Episode 7</a>: A Man of Business<br />
May 26 – <a href="https://mimimatthews.com/tag/belgravia/">Mimi Matthews: Episode 8</a>: An Income for Life<br />
June 02 – <a href="http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.com/2016/06/julian-fellowes-belgravia-progressive.html">Confessions of a Book Addict: Episode 9</a>: The Past is a Foreign Country<br />
June 09 – <a href="http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2016/06/julian-fellowes-belgravia-progressive.html">Laura’s Reviews: Episode 10</a>: The Past Comes Back<br />
June 16 – <a href="http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2016/06/time-for-inheritance-julian-fellowes-belgravia-episode-11-finale-recap">Gwyn Cready: Episode 11</a>: Inheritance<br />
<br />
I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this blog tour! While <i>Belgravia</i> started a little slowly for me, it quickly picked up momentum and the ending pay-off was well worth the wait!<br />
<br />
<i>Belgravia</i> releases in hardcover next week, July 5th. As of the post, the pre-order price can't be beat, so if you've been waiting to check out <i>Belgravia</i> now is the time! Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-11008275942098859212016-06-15T18:47:00.000-07:002016-06-15T18:47:11.377-07:00Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuFpImgoFgmEu5dxqdma03E1M4HC7SqQhNuRf1DrbKeVnAJPZ0vonpid7yhQngxq9biiR_LH_4-ucD6KvLtZZEt-rXU8_hfD9HxQkImjiySaCFLkIVkYtxunadV6dCPo04w74eYzJ_OQ/s1600/gilt+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuFpImgoFgmEu5dxqdma03E1M4HC7SqQhNuRf1DrbKeVnAJPZ0vonpid7yhQngxq9biiR_LH_4-ucD6KvLtZZEt-rXU8_hfD9HxQkImjiySaCFLkIVkYtxunadV6dCPo04w74eYzJ_OQ/s320/gilt+cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gilt-Katherine-Longshore/dp/0142426199/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466040182&sr=1-1&keywords=gilt">Gilt</a></i><br />
By: Katherine Longshore<br />
Publisher: Speak<br />
ISBN: 978-0-14-242619-7<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The youngest daughter of a family of little fortune and less
consequence, as a child Katherine “Kitty” Tylney was sent to live off the
largess of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, until such a time as she should be
fortunate enough to make a marriage – should her family deign to expend any
such effort on her behalf. Alone and unwanted, the friendless girl was adopted
by her more charismatic, and marginally less impoverished peer in the Duchess’s
household – Catherine “Cat” Howard. Years pass, and Kitty comes of age in Cat’s
shadow, ever loyal to her friend who has become increasingly determined to make
her mark on the world, with an eye to escaping Norfolk for the treacherous,
powerful court of Henry VIII. When Kitty finally gets her chance to follow Cat
into the spotlight of court life, will the price of power prove demand too
great a price for their friendship to survive?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was in the mood for a soap opera, and as absolutely
nothing beats the Tudor court for juicy scandal and drama – something <i>Gilt</i>’s lushly appointed cover promised
in spades. This novel marks Katherine Longshore’s first young adult foray into
Henry VIII’s glittering world, and she couldn’t have picked a more perfect
subject than Henry’s infamous teenage bride, the ill-fated Catherine Howard.
I’ve always rather thought Catherine must have been rather silly and immature,
an opinion that seems to be supported by the historical record. She was
certainly far out of depth as her end proves, her rise and ruin complete in
just eighteen short months, her fate sealed by the confidence that consequences
were for <i>other people</i> – an assumption
that as undone many a person, teenage or not, throughout history.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within the pages of <i>Gilt</i>,
Catherine Howard is transformed from arguably Henry’s most inconsequential wife
into a fully-realized, deliciously manipulative Mean girl, with stars in her
eyes and venom on her tongue, fiercely determined to succeed and equally blind
to the pride that would prove to be her downfall. But rather than choose Cat as
her point-of-view character, Longshore smartly selects Katherine Tylney as
voice and lens through which to view Cat’s rise and fall – as who better to
relate Cat’s story than one who knew her best and lived it alongside her? The
names and lives of those who served royalty are largely lost to time, as
history typically preserves the detailed minutiae of those whos lives are
instead writ large across history’s pages. Taking as her inspiration for Kat’s
character the brief recorded testimony of the Katherine Tylney who testified at
Cat’s trial, therein identified as one of the queen’s servants, Longshore
re-imagines Kat as a long-time friend and companion of Catherine, and as such
the perfect foil to the ill-fated queen’s temperament and trajectory at court.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How much is history and how much is supposition is up for
debate, but Longshore has certainly done her research and her case for Kitty’s
role in Cat’s life is a compelling one (Longshore’s author’s note his an
informative and interesting glimpse into her research process). Regardless, I
cannot recommend this novel highly enough as a stellar example of juicy,
compulsively readable historical fiction. I devoured <i>Gilt</i> in a less than two days, a rare feat anymore for this reader –
but more importantly than that, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the
character of Kitty. She may be largely Longshore’s invention, but that said
she’s a believable one, and a starkly honest sketch of a woman’s worth and
prospects in the sixteenth century. Longsore doesn’t shy away from the sexual
politics or attitudes of the day, but she isn’t gratuitous in the least. And
given the recent outcry over the ruling in the Stanford rape case, it’s equal
parts disheartening and maddening to read of Thomas Culpepper’s lechery and
realize just how far we <i>haven’t</i> come
in over four centuries as regards the issue of consent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I absolutely loved the dysfunctional, occasionally toxic,
sisterhood at the center of this novel. Cat and Kitty’s circle is completed by
two additional alumna from Norfolk – Joan Bulmer and Alice Restwold (although
their intimacy with Catherine pales in comparison to her friendship with
Kitty). For all of the jealousies and petty squabbles that ran rife within a
circle of four teenage girls, Kitty comes to realize the full value of that
circle only when it has been irreparably broken by Cat’s arrest and trial. But
even a queen’s ruin cannot dissolve all the bonds of such a sisterhood, as
Kitty discovers in her most critical hour that it is Alice, she whom she liked
and trusted least, perhaps knew her best, and in doing so orchestrated her
unlikely path of salvation. In a world ruled by men, it will never cease to
fascinate me to read stories of women fighting to determine their own futures.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Gilt</i> is the
perfect summer read – a lushly told, wildly entertaining historical romp. While
grounded in history, Longshore gleefully embraces Catherine’s reputation as
something of a witless flirt, hopelessly out of her depth at court, but with
the added edge of calculating, biting selfishness. Cat is a mean girl on a
power trip, which makes for a crazy entertaining, compulsively readable
experience. I loved seeing Cat and the Tudor court through the lens of Kitty’s
experience, as through her eyes, Longshore examines the cost of power and
double-edged sword of secrets and friendship. Kitty’s ending isn’t wrapped in a
neat bow as I expected, and I loved it all the more for that air of
authenticity. With the far-off promise of possible romance and the hard-won
chance at self-determination, Kitty’s story is a welcome, refreshing entry in
the ranks of Tudor-set fiction, a world I’ll happily revisit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>About the book:</b></div>
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free -- and love comes at the highest price of all.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22.4px;">When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-15405517737262387832016-06-13T10:43:00.000-07:002016-06-13T10:43:41.194-07:00Review: Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTE8lziy51eF3UwGq1cwh_gnVIl99x2FP_Lhf-Yjzr_Ru7QUqgYP3PCf_pNpgD406NdcSGxKypdoTnmPB_jZWGRQ2xT-BqdvcIIQzydvHTwoPq1dsJFtA3zTnJ-F5ZCy1xA1zXFOqF24/s1600/through+waters+deep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTE8lziy51eF3UwGq1cwh_gnVIl99x2FP_Lhf-Yjzr_Ru7QUqgYP3PCf_pNpgD406NdcSGxKypdoTnmPB_jZWGRQ2xT-BqdvcIIQzydvHTwoPq1dsJFtA3zTnJ-F5ZCy1xA1zXFOqF24/s320/through+waters+deep.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Through-Waters-Deep-Waves-Freedom/dp/0800723422/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465823466&sr=1-3&keywords=sarah+sundin">Through Waters Deep</a></i> (Waves of Freedom #1)<br />
By: Sarah Sundin<br />
Publisher: Revell<br />
ISBN: 978-0-8007-2342-2<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following a childhood trauma, Mary Stirling’s primary goal
in life became a concerted effort to remain as unobtrusive and unnoticed as
possible – for pride in one’s self and accomplishments brings notice, and as
her mother was always quick to remind her, pride comes before a fall. Now a
secretary at the Boston Navy Yard, far from family and the memories
that so rigidly defined her, she excels at her job, but is careful to do all
she can to remain out of the spotlight. With war in Europe leading to an
increasingly tense environment on American shores, rumors of sabotage between
rival isolationist and interventionist political factions swirl around the Navy
Yard. When a bottle of champagne at the latest launch – organized by Mary – is
found to have been refilled with gasoline, the nebulous, rumored dangers at
long last become a frightening reality. The ever-observant, always invisible
Mary is perfectly placed to ferret out talk of sabotage – she goes everywhere
and is remarked by no one. But as the pre-war tensions escalate, Mary’s amateur
sleuthing efforts could bring her the kind of notice she never anticipated –
the notice of a desperate saboteur willing to do anything – or hurt anyone – to
achieve their aim.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ensign Jim Avery welcomes the renewal Mary’s friendship when
the one-time schoolmates reunite at the Navy Yard where Jim’s brand-new
destroyer, the <i>USS Atwood</i>, is about
to be commissioned. While he never viewed Mary romantically, instead preferring
her best friend, the unattainable golden girl Quintessa, the more time he
spends in Mary’s company the more he comes to appreciate her steadfast nature
and quiet beauty. But just as he begins to realize the depth of his feelings,
his orders send him out to sea and into danger, where a crude sabotage attempt
is discovered. As tensions rise at home and abroad, the need to discover the
saboteur at the Navy Yard increases as Jim and his fellow sailors face increasing
threats from U-boats intent on stopping Lend-Lease convoys. The coming conflict
forces both Mary and Jim to a crossroads, where each must decide whether or not
they have the courage to face their fears and seize their chance at victory in
life and love in the shadow of war.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The period leading up to and covering the second World War
has long been one of my favorite areas of study, and film and fiction set
during this period are guaranteed to pique my interest. As such Sarah Sundin’s novels
have long been on my radar, but due to the ever evolving height of my to be
read pile, I’ve yet to read her work until now. And, full disclosure, I totally
picked this book to start with as I think the cover is <i>stunning</i> – that red dress! Swoon! Here Sundin dives into what has always been in my experience
a relatively untapped market in historical fiction – stories set on the
American homefront. Movies and novels covering this time frame are more often
than not set in the action-heavy locations of the European or Pacific theaters
of conflict. Happily, this first installment in Sundin’s Waves of Freedom
series fills that gap, exploring the social and political tensions that regular
citizens confronted on a daily basis, tensions Mary finds in one of its most
extreme forms as sabotage and accusations fly around the Navy Yard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sundin’s characters are a delightful throwback, capturing
the mannerisms and worldview of the time period with an authentic flair. While
the nautical metaphors – such as Jim’s well-meant but ill-advised preference to “float” through
life, thus avoiding accountability for decisions that could harm others, and both
Jim and Mary’s reluctance to “make waves” either professionally or personally – wore thin as the novel progressed, one cannot fail to appreciate Sundin’s characterization, so critical in bringing the setting to vibrant life on the page.
Mary and Jim, as well as their friends and colleagues, speak with the rhythms
of the time period, their dialogue and worldview resonating as though it could
have stepped straight from the pages of a 1940s-era Hollywood script.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I loved Mary’s character, even as I swung between
heart-wrenching empathy regarding her self-confidence struggles and mind-blowing frustration
at her seeming inability to <i>ever </i>stand up for herself. But that very tension is
what made her such a compelling, relatable character, one I loved all the more
for being a woman so wholly of her time. Despite her reluctance to ever step
into the spotlight, I loved her hidden spunk, born of her passion for mysteries
and an appreciation of the iconic – and always confident – sleuth Nancy Drew.
Likewise, Jim is an everyman hero with a laid-back appeal reminiscent of the
likes of a young Jimmy Stewart or Robert Taylor, all boyish charm and earnest
heroism.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The friends-to-lovers trope has rarely been handled better,
as Sundin deftly illustrates Jim and Mary’s respective maturation and
slow-burning, simmering regard for each other slowly transform into the possibility of
something more. It’s a bit rare for me to find swoon-worthy quotes in my much-loved inspy romances, but when Jim returns from his first deployment, eager to
declare his feelings to Mary, and practices his opening gambit – “ever since we
said good-bye, I couldn’t wait to say hello” – I was a GONER. That moment
perfectly encapsulates why I love the romance of classic film and proves that Sundin must be, in that respect at least, a kindred spirit, able in that
one rhythmic, heartfelt declaration to catapult Jim and Mary’s romance high
onto my list of all-time favorites.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the proud granddaughter of a Navy veteran, I loved the
subject of Sundin’s latest series and couldn’t help but imagine a bit of my
grandfather and grandmother’s wartime experiences alongside those of Jim and
Mary (although to my knowledge they never encountered a saboteur! *wink*). Sundin
spins her tale of life and love on the cusp of wartime with a compelling warmth
and authenticity that speaks to both her affinity for her subject and her
knowledge of the time period. I loved her focus on the homefront, particularly
Mary’s – and her roommates – working woman status, hinting at the professional
opportunities to come for women during the coming conflict.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Through Waters Deep</i>
is a thoroughly entertaining, engaging tale, a deft blend of history, romance,
and a dash of intrigue. Sundin alternates points-of-view between Mary and Jim,
which works for the most part – until one is left with a cliffhanger ending, to
be resolved in the next alternating chapter. But setting aside that narrative
issue, Mary and Jim’s story proved to be the perfect entry point into Sundin’s
work. Her sense of time and place made the history-lover in me sing while her
delicately-rendered romance made me swoon. <i>Through
Waters Deep</i> is a beautiful story of second chances and bravery. I’m
more eager than ever to catch up on Sundin’s backlist!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>About the book:</b></div>
<br />
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS <i>Atwood</i>. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary.<br />
<br />
When evidence of sabotage on the <i>Atwood</i> is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges -- and dangers -- await them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6440744982159935640.post-52255652771534606142016-06-04T15:02:00.000-07:002016-06-04T15:12:04.006-07:00Review: Counted With the Stars by Connilyn Cossette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6vC32g33IGmlbEqhqEJSfvIcE0imQvX8EZUsCN_7ZZvUTGpqvpXEsizvNhhnUYDJaeoMtIlfBH9CwLZCH27Z6xmF8W3YojkuvhOVsdmmnswTQWtfq0Z_VGsef8AXobG9IkvH5cFGVfY/s1600/counted+with+the+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6vC32g33IGmlbEqhqEJSfvIcE0imQvX8EZUsCN_7ZZvUTGpqvpXEsizvNhhnUYDJaeoMtIlfBH9CwLZCH27Z6xmF8W3YojkuvhOVsdmmnswTQWtfq0Z_VGsef8AXobG9IkvH5cFGVfY/s320/counted+with+the+stars.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Counted-Stars-Egypt-Connilyn-Cossette/dp/0764214373/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463253521&sr=1-1&keywords=connilyn+cossette">Counted With the Stars</a></i> (Out from Egypt #1)<br />
By: Connilyn Cossette<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1437-0<br />
<br />
<b>Review: </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The only daughter of a prosperous trader, promised in marriage to one of Pharaoh's handsome soldiers, Kiya enjoyed a life of privilege and favor...until the day her father's penchant for risky business ventures resulted in the loss of the family fortune. In order to prevent total ruin, and to save her beloved mother and disabled brother from complete ruin, Kiya's father sells her into slavery. Bound to serve at the whim of her new masters, in one stroke Kiya loses everything -- her family, possessions, freedom...her very identity. While her new master, Shefu, is kind, his wife Tekurah takes delight in reveling in Kiya's fall from grace, seeking every opportunity to humiliate the daughter of her one-time social equals.<br />
<br />
But amidst the hardship and humiliation, Kiya finds a ray of light in friendship from an unexpected quarter -- a Hebrew and fellow slave, Shira. Despite the hardship of their shared circumstances, despite the abuses she's survived, Shira is never without hope, a seeming contradiction in terms that draws Kiya like a moth to a flame. When a terrifying plague hits at the very heart of Egypt, turning the life-giving waters of the Nile into blood, it's to Shira and her unshakable belief in her God's provision that an increasingly desperate Kiya turns, seeking answers. Mosheh (Moses), a legendary leader, has returned to the Hebrews. His presence stirs the Hebrew slaves' hope in long-held promises that their God would deliver them from Pharaoh, free them from the bondage of slavery, and establish his chosen people in their own promised land. As plague follows plague, everything Kiya once held to be true about her life and faith is shaken to the core. Yet when a chance comes to claim her freedom with the Hebrews, can she truly risk her future and cast aside everything she has ever believed in, and entrust her future to a God she cannot see?<br />
<br />
Biblical fiction can be a tricky medium, for there is a fine line between illuminating the bones of scripture, breathing life and humanity into the God-breathed words recorded so long ago, and reinterpreting it wholesale through a fictional, modern lens. The best biblical fiction drives one to the scriptures. Cossette succeeds in breathing new life into one of the Bible's most familiar stories -- that of Moses and the Exodus -- by rather radically relegating Moses to a minor supporting role in her take on the familiar tale. Instead of following Moses through the scriptures, through Kiya's eyes Cossette allows readers to see the familiar events of the Exodus from the perspective of a character wholly unfamiliar with the prophecies, promises, and experiences of the Hebrew people that have led to the plagues and the impending journey to the promised homeland.<br />
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For those raised in the church like myself, it is all too easy to come to the scriptures -- or biblically-based stories or films -- entrenched and secure in my background and history of Judeo-Christian belief. But revisiting such a familiar tale through the eyes of a non-believer -- here represented by Kiya -- allows one to watch these earth-shattering events unfold as they occur, a valuable exercise in faith. It not only reminds one of the roots of one's beliefs, but for those raised or long-established in the faith, stories such as Kiya's are a powerful reminder of the transformational power of belief available to those who seek God and strive to live within his will. In western culture especially the Judeo-Christian worldview is so prevalent in some form or fashion it is easy to forget how radical and life-changing this belief system really is -- and whether or not one is raised on the scriptures, it is critical, I think, to never forget that and to remember it should never be taken for granted.<br />
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Compared to other biblical fiction on the market (such as Mesu Andrews and Angela Hunt), Cossette's debut offering lacks something of the tangible sense of time and place that other novels of this ilk possess. And Kiya's voice is occasionally too modern in tone to exist believably within this novel's time frame. That said, Cossette has an assured authorial voice that is sure to grow with future offerings, spinning a beautifully-rendered romance set against an epic biblical backdrop. As a romance it works on two levels, between Kiya and the God of the Hebrews and Kiya and Eben, Shira's older brother, the latter a romance of warring worldviews and cultural opposites. As a woman whose worth was always rooted in her position, once Kiya joins the Hebrew exodus she discovers the grace and unmerited favor granted under the Hebraic covenant available to her should she choose to accept it, mirroring the New Testament "grafting" of Gentiles and Hebrews into a shared covenant relationship with God that found prophetic completion with the coming of Christ.<br />
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<i>Counted With the Stars</i> is a refreshing addition to the biblical fiction genre, approaching one of the Bible's most well-known stories through the eyes of an unbeliever. Kiya's journey from skeptic to acceptance is sketched with honesty and compassion, as Cossette is unafraid to confront the honest, heart-rending questions that come with such a massive shift in one's focus and worldview. Kiya's story is a microcosm of the covenant relationship between God and His people woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. Equal parts swoon-worthy romance and history lesson, Cossette's debut is an engrossing page-turner. Cossette's unique and refreshing take on biblical fiction makes <i>Counted With the Stars </i>a gorgeously-rendered, thought-provoking read. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series!<br />
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<b>About the book:</b><br />
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Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes pleasure in her humiliation. When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in the middle of it all.<br />
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Choosing to flee with the Hebrews, Kiya finds herself reliant on a strange God an drawn to a man who despises her people. With everything she's ever known swept away and now facing the trials of the desert, will she turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and her future to Yahweh?<br />
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<b>Note: </b> This review originally appeared on LifeWay's <a href="http://blog.lifeway.com/shelflife/2016/05/20/counted-with-the-stars-by-conniyln-cossette/">Shelf Life</a> blog.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986319237275869540noreply@blogger.com0