Death at Thorburn Hall
Author: Julianna Deering
Publisher: Bethany House (a division of Baker Publishing Group)
When Madeline and Drew Farthering arrive at Lord and Lady Rainsby’s, it seems to be a pleasant time with expectations of the golf open and horse back riding with rounds of golf in between. They find that they’re not the only guests for the Open. One guest of interest is Count Kiznetsov, who they find interesting and entertaining in his character with all the different languages he speaks. Down the line though, Drew finds him more interesting than he could imagine.
However, the tables take a turn when Lord Rainsby is found to be murdered as well as three others. This leaves Drew and Madeline along with Nick to solve the mystery of why any of them would end up the victims of foul play. But, as always, there seems to be more to the story and Drew and Nick are determined to find the answers.
Along with the story plot, Drew has to delve into the lives of the guests that were attending the British Open and those staying at the Rainsby’s.
The story intertwines the intrigue along with the romantic interest of Drew’s friend and partner as well as Madeline’s best friend Carrie who has recently returned from the United States.
If you like murder mysteries, this one will keep your interest until all the details are revealed at the end as to who did the murders, whose lives are intertwined with others, and will there be a happy ending? The writing is with an ease of the written word to the reader, and the author has a good way of bringing you into the story of the characters.
I would give this book four stars.
About the Author: An excerpt taken from the Author’s website
JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey.
Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries, set in 1930s England, debuted with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016) and Murder on the Moor (2017) from Bethany House. And, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she writes historical romances and contemporary mysteries. www.deannajuliedodson.com
Death at Thorburn Hall is available at the following:
Amazon
Goodreads
Christianbook.com
Barnes and Nobel
A PLAIN LEAVING
Author: Leslie Gould
Publisher: Bethany House
Reading a novel is like solving a puzzle (for me anyway). Where will the ending wind up? Can I guess the ending? I like to think I know where the author is going with their story. With A PLAIN LEAVING, it was more interesting to guess the outcome as Leslie Gould intertwines two stories.
Jessica's story begins with her background of leaving her Amish home three years prior only to be called homes because her 'Dat' (dad) has passed away. She knows she will be shunned, which is the custom when you've turned your back on your Christian heritage and Church. She also has to come to terms with Silas, the childhood love she left behind as she headed for a life with the English culture.
Ruby's story was set centuries before Jessica's on the same family farm as Jessica. Ruby's story is her struggle to keep the farm going, take care of her ill 'mamm' (mom) as all the rest of the family moves away to avoid fighting for the British. As Anabaptist, fighting is against their religion. Once 'mamm' feels better, Ruby will rejoin the family and the man she's going to marry ~ but will she? Ruby faces some hard life choices that aren't fitting for a woman of her Amish heritage.
The author does a good job of keeping interest in both story lines. I personally found that I was more drawn to the story of Ruby and how her story ends. Did I guess right? Did I guess right how Jessica's would end? I can say, the author kept the interest, and I only knew for sure if I'd guessed right at each story's conclusion.
Jessica and Ruby were both Amish women with lots of life altering decisions.
The story is an easy read that kept my interest without unnecessary dull fill in reading. I give this book 5 stars because it is an awesomely, interesting read.
Excerpt from the Author:
Leaving Was the Hardest Thing She’d Ever Done . . . Until She Had to Return Three years ago, Jessica Bachmann walked away from everything: her family, their beloved farm, her Amish community, and Silas Kemp. After clashing with the new bishop and her brother about her role in her family and the future of the family farm, anger and restlessness wouldn’t allow her to stay.
When she is forced to return home because of her beloved father’s death, her arrival stirs up all kinds of emotions–sorrow, grief, and yearning alike. Jessica knows things can’t return to the way they were, but, especially upon seeing Silas again, she can’t help wonder what might have been–and what still could be. The stakes grow higher when she learns that her brother, Arden, is still pursuing potentially hazardous fracking on the family’s land.
As Jessica wrestles with her next step, she learns the cautionary tale of Ruby Bachmann, a Revolutionary War-era ancestor who faced similar struggles. Will Ruby’s decisions motivate Jessica to leave her family, the land, and her community forever? Or is there healing, love, and belonging yet to come for her in Lancaster County?
A Note About the Author
In the decade and a half since my first contract I’ve written twenty-five novels, from Beyond the Blue, a story about international adoption set in Vietnam, to Courting Cate, a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to the Cousins of the Dove series, co-authored with Mindy Starns Clark about the French Huguenots. No matter what I write, I aim to reveal truths about God’s love, beauty, and redemptive work in our lives. My goal is to connect more deeply to God, family, long-time friends, and new friends through my writing. My hope is that my stories encourage readers to deepen their own connections too. You can read more about the Author, Leslie Gould HERE
Note:
I received A PLAIN LEAVING as a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise was required. All opinions are my own.
The reviews on my blog are specifically my own interpretation of my like or dislike for a book that I read.
You can find A Plain Leaving at the following:
Egypt’s Sister – The Silent Years/A Novel of Cleopatra
Author: Angela Hunt The author, Angela Hunt, winds a story around the life and loves of Cleopatra. The story is told in the voice of Chava (pronounced hah-vah) who as a child was a playmate and best friend to Cleopatra. They even swore to be blood sisters. Chava, a Jewish girl, loved Cleopatra, but knew she would never be on the same plain as Cleopatra; an Egyptian princess who would someday become Queen. But, she also felt they would always remain blood sisters and be in each other’s lives. She was thrilled to be a friend to the future Queen. She envisioned someday being her lady-in-waiting.
If you’ve always thought you knew the story of Cleopatra, this book gives a look into the life of Cleopatra, and some Egyptian, Roman and Greek history. It is also the story of Chava, a Hebrew who starts out life with a naive view of the world. She soon learns some heartbreaking and also back-breaking lessons about love and giving your allegiance to a person.
Chava is called by God whom she calls HaShem, for a special purpose in her life. She knows she has to remain true to what God has called her to do, but at times, she would prefer to follow her heart. The chain of events that follow in her life somehow don’t seem to fit with what God has asked of her, and she doesn’t see how His plan will be fulfilled.
The author does a great job of setting the scenes of life through a woman who would have lived a century before Christ and the New Testament. There are many scenes when Chava and Cleopatra are young friends. There is also depictions of the differences of Egyptians and the Jewish population and what it means for Chava.
In the beginning of reading the book, it took me a minute to grasp where the author might be going with this story, but it didn’t take long to get to the meat of the story, and my interest stayed piqued. There were many twists and turns, but to me that made it all the more interesting and a desire to keep reading to find out what happened next.
It is a great and interesting story, and the author writes in such a way that you will feel different emotions; some anger, some sadness, and some bitterness. The author does a good job of getting the point of her book across. I would definitely say this is a must-have for anyone’s reading list no matter your genre preference.
Excerpt from the book:
Raised together in the Alexandrian palace, Chava, the Hebrew daughter of the royal tutor, and Urbi, an Egyptian princess, become as close as sisters – and rivals with their dreams of greatness. When Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne as Queen Cleopatra, Chava believes their bond is strong enough to survive. But absolute power has a way of changing everything.
The ultimate betrayal rips Chava from everything she’s ever known and sends her to the lowest rung of Roman society where she must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God’s will for her life, if she hopes to rise again.
Publisher: Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
There’s no doubt you’ll enjoy reading this book. I give it Five Stars
About the Author: Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who expect the unexpected in novels. With nearly five million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 140 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to non-fiction books, to novels.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times).
Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Also in 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree. She completed her doctorate in biblical studies in 2008 and her Th.D. in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course. She is also an avid photographer, using her photos to help find homes for animals at local rescues.
Note: I received Egypt's Sister as a copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise was required. All opinions are my own.
The reviews on my blog are specifically my own interpretation of my like or dislike for a book that I read.
Egypt’s Sister is available here:
Christianbooks.com Amazon
Goodreads
Books-A-Million
Indiebound
Lifeway
Book graphic that I've added to my graphic above came from aspnesdesigns.com
Shadow of the Storm (Out From Egypt) Book Review
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| Publisher: Bethany House Publishing |
In the Depth of the Storm's Shadow, Only Truth Can Light Her Way
As I read my Bible each morning and the chapters, there is usually a picture in my head of the people being portrayed. From Adam and Eve to the story of Jesus. Each has a portrait in my mind as I read of what they would look like and the surrounding scenes. Adam and Eve, I picture as fair haired, King David and Solomon I picture with stark dark hair and eyes, and so on. However, when reading Exodus, I picture Moses leading the people out of Egypt, but the tribes are pictured as a clump of people. I never really picture the multitude that followed him, but rather just a small band following along.
As I read Shadow of the Storm (Out From Egypt), it was awesome to read how it might have been, and even if fiction, it was interesting to form a picture of the massiveness of the people who fled. To peer through the author's eyes of what daily life could have been like. The story of Shira and the people who escaped with Moses is a wonderfully put together analogy of what life in the wilderness might have been like and what the escape from Egypt held for God's people. The struggles they would face, their awe upon learning more about how God, whom they called Yahweh, was providing and taking care of them, and also the many misgivings of doubting their trust in Moses.
As I read Shadow of the Storm (Out From Egypt), it was awesome to read how it might have been, and even if fiction, it was interesting to form a picture of the massiveness of the people who fled. To peer through the author's eyes of what daily life could have been like. The story of Shira and the people who escaped with Moses is a wonderfully put together analogy of what life in the wilderness might have been like and what the escape from Egypt held for God's people. The struggles they would face, their awe upon learning more about how God, whom they called Yahweh, was providing and taking care of them, and also the many misgivings of doubting their trust in Moses.
The characters came to life as I read their story. The main character is Shira who as an Egyptian slave has been terribly wronged in her early teens. Now that Yahweh has given them freedom, Shira has to come face to face with who she wants to be, allay her fears and memories of past events. She's a weaver with her mother, but dreams of becoming a midwife. Her gifts point her in that direction. She loves the miracle of God's babies being born with her help, but life intervenes and puts that on hold. She feels she will never have the life she longs for. Even though life has stained Shira, I immediately liked the way the author portrayed her innocence, kindness, big heartedness, and I really loved the way she saw the miracles of life even in the wilderness that was truly God's amazing grace.
The writing is excellent in that it is a truly type book that I love to read. One that keeps me up all hours of the day/night because of the fluidity of it's writing, and the storyline that begs to read just one more chapter before I can put the book down. I'm one to never peek at the ending before reading the book in its entirety, so when the storyline and writing is good, the pique of interest makes the anticipation of how the story is going to end hard to not take a peek, but then it would ruin the rest for me. So I don't. This one though, you will wonder how the storyline ends, and I can tell you, I guessed wrong. It did not end the way that I thought it would, but with no spoilers, I will just leave that to mystery until you've read the book for yourself. :)
The author intertwines fact-based biblical history into her story line. It is refreshing to imagine how the people viewed Yahweh as the cloud that traveled above and keeping them safe. Their fears and misgivings are brought to light in a great way with Connilynn Cossette's story line. I really don't have anything but good to say about this book. It will keep you reading from the first words until the last.
I give this book five stars, because the story flows so well, the storyline is a great original fictional view with biblical references from her storyline point of view, and as I stated before, the fluidity of the authors writing makes it an easy, relaxing read.
The writing is excellent in that it is a truly type book that I love to read. One that keeps me up all hours of the day/night because of the fluidity of it's writing, and the storyline that begs to read just one more chapter before I can put the book down. I'm one to never peek at the ending before reading the book in its entirety, so when the storyline and writing is good, the pique of interest makes the anticipation of how the story is going to end hard to not take a peek, but then it would ruin the rest for me. So I don't. This one though, you will wonder how the storyline ends, and I can tell you, I guessed wrong. It did not end the way that I thought it would, but with no spoilers, I will just leave that to mystery until you've read the book for yourself. :)
The author intertwines fact-based biblical history into her story line. It is refreshing to imagine how the people viewed Yahweh as the cloud that traveled above and keeping them safe. Their fears and misgivings are brought to light in a great way with Connilynn Cossette's story line. I really don't have anything but good to say about this book. It will keep you reading from the first words until the last.
I give this book five stars, because the story flows so well, the storyline is a great original fictional view with biblical references from her storyline point of view, and as I stated before, the fluidity of the authors writing makes it an easy, relaxing read.
Excerpt from the book:
Having escaped Egypt with the other Hebrews during the Exodus, Shira is now living in freedom at the foot of Mt. Sinai, upon which rests the fiery glowing Cloud containing the shekinah glory of God. When the people disobey Yahweh and build a golden idol, the ensuing chaos gives Shira an unexpected opportunity to learn the arts of midwifery. Although her mother wishes for her to continue in the family weaving trade, Shira's gifts shine brightest when she assists with deliveries. In defiance of her mother, Shira pursues her heart's calling to become an apprentice midwife.
When a delivery goes horribly wrong, Shira finds herself bound to a man who betrayed her, the caretaker of three young children, and the target of a vengeful woman whose husband was killed by Shira's people, the Levites. As contention between the Hebrew tribes and the foreigners fans the flames of another dangerous rebellion, Shira will come face-to-face with the heartbreak of her past that she has kept hidden for so long. How can she let go of all that has defined her to accept the love she's denied herself and embrace who she truly is?
Having escaped Egypt with the other Hebrews during the Exodus, Shira is now living in freedom at the foot of Mt. Sinai, upon which rests the fiery glowing Cloud containing the shekinah glory of God. When the people disobey Yahweh and build a golden idol, the ensuing chaos gives Shira an unexpected opportunity to learn the arts of midwifery. Although her mother wishes for her to continue in the family weaving trade, Shira's gifts shine brightest when she assists with deliveries. In defiance of her mother, Shira pursues her heart's calling to become an apprentice midwife.
When a delivery goes horribly wrong, Shira finds herself bound to a man who betrayed her, the caretaker of three young children, and the target of a vengeful woman whose husband was killed by Shira's people, the Levites. As contention between the Hebrew tribes and the foreigners fans the flames of another dangerous rebellion, Shira will come face-to-face with the heartbreak of her past that she has kept hidden for so long. How can she let go of all that has defined her to accept the love she's denied herself and embrace who she truly is?
You can find Shadow of the Storm (Out From Egypt) here:
Family Christian.com
Barns&Noble.com
And be sure to check out the author's website for more information at http://www.connilyncossette.com/
Publisher: Bethany House Publishing
I received Shadow of the Storm as a free copy from the publisher.
No review, positive or otherwise was required. All opinions are my own.
The reviews on my blog are specifically my own interpretation
of my like or dislike for a book that I read.
Thank you for reading my review,
Peabea (Patricia Bird)
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Published by the Penguin Group
Photo credit: Jacket Cover photo courtesy of Penguin |
Geraldine Brooks has done it yet again with Caleb’s Crossing, which is a fact plus fictitious based novel that recounts the settling of Martha’s Vineyards with the arrival of the English. She tells of their intertwinement with the Native Americans who were already in America and possessed the land. The story is based upon a fictional character named Bethia who recounts how the land was purchased from the Indians by her grandfather (some facts of this are true), how her missionary father proceeded to introduce the English religion to the Native Americans.
Along the way Bethia meets a young Indian whom she names Caleb. Since the times were of such Puritan ways, she could never recount her meetings with Caleb nor could she confess that she’d learned his language and was hungry to learn other languages. The times indicated that a girl was to be raised for marriage and womanly duties with no need for an education.
Not long after Bethia meets Caleb, his village of Indians meet their untimely death with Smallpox. Bethia’s father visits and prays to his English God for their healing while their medicine man prays to his Spirits for their healing. When none are healed and the whole village is wiped out, the Indian tribes that are left turn to the Missionary for guidance and learning of the English God since the Englishmen did not fall prey to Smallpox.
Eventually, even Caleb comes to the English village and is taken under Bethia’s father’s wing and educated with English, Latin and other studies. He is groomed to be one of the first Indians to attend the newly constructed Indian school at Harvard, and we follow his journey through the eyes of Bethia as she relates how both the world of the Native American and the Englishmen who’ve settled on the island intertwine.
The book takes some interesting turns of fiction and facts of life of the times in the 1600’s. Geraldine Brooks has created another interesting novel, which lends itself to an interesting story of characters as well as a learning tool about some history of our United States .
Excerpt from book: Caleb along with another Native American named Joel were admitted to Harvard in 1661, where they completed the rigorous, classics-based four-year course of study for a bachelor's degree.
About the Author: Australian-born Geraldine Brooks is an author and journalist who grew up in the Western suburbs of Sydney, and attended Bethlehem College Ashfield and the University of Sydney. She worked as a reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald for three years as a feature writer with a special interest in environmental issues.
In 1982 she won the Greg Shackleton Australian News Correspondents scholarship to the journalism master’s program at Columbia University in New York City. Later she worked for The Wall Street Journal, where she covered crises in the the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans.
For more information on Geraldine Brooks and where you can purchase any of her books, please visit her site at: http://geraldinebrooks.com/about orhttp://geraldinebrooks.com
‘CALEB’S CROSSING’ was released 4.24.12. and is available at:
- Amazon.com
- Barnes & Noble
- IndiesUnbound
It should also be available at your local library, but if not, please make a request.
You can browse all her books here:http://geraldinebrooks.com/the-books/
“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
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| photo courtesy of Penguin |
‘Year of Wonders’ by Geraldine Brooks takes you back to a time when medicine wasn’t so modern as in today’s world and herbs were used, but sometimes considered taboo. It is set in a small rural village on a hillside miles away from London. She tells a story that flows along through the voice of Anna Frith who was married off at the age of 15 to Sam who mined his own lead and had a team of miners. It’s a story of a time when a town is turned upside down when an unsuspecting plaque takes over killing loved ones, neighbors, children and the ensuing plight of how to deal with everyday living while coping with the stresses of finding a cure.
Anna and Sam Frith eventually had two boys before sadness set in with the loss of Sam in a mining accident. This left Anna alone to tend the animals and household. To add to Anna’s plight, the village is soon overcome with the Plague, a deadly disease that comes on swift, and death follows and it’s very contagious. The village’s townsfolk are Puritan with extremely strict beliefs, and their belief that God will heal is put to the test. The Rector, Michael Mompellion, tries to lead the people and keep their faith and trust as the town is soon shut off from other villages and/or towns. No strangers are allowed in, and those that have lived there all their life are asked to make a choice to stay so as not to spread the 'deadly plague' to others. Their solution of how to communicate and get the necessary supplies for the townspeople is a unique one when they find a way to use the large boundary stone at the edge of town in which they will leave money and orders for supplies.
Geraldine’s story is in some part a true story of Eyam, the “Plague Village,” tucked in the rugged mountain spine of England, a village that was actually cut off from society when the Plague landed in their small village in the 1600’s. The townspeople were confined, but some details the author has fictionalized and fictionalized in such a gut-wrenching and heartbreaking way that makes you feel as though you’re right alongside the characters experiencing what they are experiencing and feeling what they feel. It is mesmerizing in every detail.
It’s a story of how they have to learn to deal with day to day life and also the loss of so many lives. The book is an easy flowing read like listening to a story teller actually telling details of her life as if you’re right there in the moment with her. The joy, the heartache, the pains, secrets revealed, faiths tested, friendships ruined, and the life lessons learned during this bleak time is all felt through this author’s writing. The book is an excellent read and one of those that is hard to not finish in on sitting.
Even though it is a work of fiction, it is an eye opening account of how life must have been in the 1600’s even before being dredged down with the Plague and having to deal with being cut off from the outside world.
About the Author: Australian-born Geraldine Brooks is an author and journalist who grew up in the Western suburbs of Sydney, and attended Bethlehem College Ashfield and the University of Sydney. She worked as a reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald for three years as a feature writer with a special interest in environmental issues.
In 1982 she won the Greg Shackleton Australian News Correspondents scholarship to the journalism master’s program at Columbia University in New York City. Later she worked for The Wall Street Journal, where she covered crises in the the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans.
For more information on Geraldine Brooks and where you can purchase any of her books, please visit her site at: http://geraldinebrooks.com/about orhttp://geraldinebrooks.com
Publisher: Penguin Books
Note:
Note:
Her latest book ‘CALEB’S CROSSING’ is just released 4.24.12.
Copies of 'Year of Wonders' and her other books are available:
- Amazon.com
- Barnes & Noble
- IndiesUnbound
“To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.”
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 - Andre Gide
~smiles 'n giggles 'n happy reading~
Peabea
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Author Kristie Cook continues the fantastical journey of her Soul Savers series with the release of DEVOTION, her Third Book of the series. And, ‘Devotion’ is what Alexis is questioning along with who’s the betrayer and conspirators that want to overthrow the matriarch and become the ruler of the Amadis people.
Now that Tristan and Alexis are reunited, along with their son Dorian they soon find they need to be at the Amadis mansion not only for safety sake, but so that Alexis can work on refining her powers now that she’s gone through the Ang’dora. She soon realizes though that she has much to learn besides honing her powers; she must learn who can be trusted among all the many mysteries surrounding not only her birth, but the birth of her son and what his future holds. Can her son stay with the Amadis or will he too be taken over by the Daemoni, is there a reason she was unable to have a daughter plus there are whispers that a daughter was actually born but swept away and hidden at birth? These and other questions take her and Tristan yet on another journey out in the world to find the answers all the while having to fight the Daemoni who are still trying to control or kill them.
She must protect her son at all costs, while finding the truths. She finds that at times she questions her own abilities and even the faithfulness of her soul mate and true love.
A twist comes when the Amadis turn against Tristan and want him banished to be separated from Alexis forever. Will Alexis stay and protect for the good of the Amadis humanity or will she abandon and follow Tristan? These and many questions surrounding the Amadis, the Daemoni, and exactly what value is placed on the pendant Tristan gave Alexis in book one are finally answered in Devotion.
But, not to disappoint, Devotion, following along true to form with the great writing from this author with the mix of fantasy, an insatiable love story that defies to be quenched, and the suspense, will have you intrigued to find answers page after page.
Get to know the author and feel free to connect with Kristie Cook at any or all of the following sites:
Email: kristie@kristiecook.com
Author's Website & Blog: http://www.KristieCook.com
Series Website: http://www.SoulSaversSeries.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth
Tumbler: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/kristiecook
Google+: https://plus.google.com/102746226001674797330/posts
Available Now
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kristie-Cook/e/B0046KG8R4
B&N.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kristie-cook
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kristiecook
Signed paperbacks: http://www.readourwrites.com/shop/
B&N.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kristie-cook
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kristiecook
Signed paperbacks: http://www.readourwrites.com/shop/
Note: a big thank you to Author Kristie Cook for allowing me to be one of the first to read Devotion and part of her review tour.
So, I am now having fun doing book reviews for Examiner.com as the Prospect Book Review Examiner. I've always loved to read, and even as a teenager you'd probably find me with my nose in a book. I'm not necessarily one to enjoy reading educational books, moreso I like fiction that takes me on an adventure out of my world for a bit.
Usually my genre has always been murder mysteries, with James Patterson and Dean Koonz being my top two authors. But lately, I've been reading some fantasy, and if you like fantasy, you’ll love the fantastical adventures that author, Kristie Cook takes you on through the character of Alexis Ames in PURPOSE (book two in her Soul Savers series novels). She’s definitely outdone herself with the amazing journey Alexis continues on now that Tristan is gone and her quest to find out if he’s alive and to get him back.
Alexis is left alone to raise their son after the Daemoni captured Tristan seven years ago. She struggles to work through her extreme sadness with the loss of Tristan and the love she so desperately needs, continue her writing to finish the novel that is important to the Amadis; all the while waiting for the Ang’dora that will give her the powers she needs for a battle between the good and the evil within herself and the struggle if she is to save her own soul.She battles the Daemoni side of herself, wonders if she’s going mad and feels a failure for not giving birth to the daughter that is the future of the Amadis.
Ms. Cook’s writing and descriptive adventures of the Amadis, Daemoni and all the characters in her book seem to jump at the reader with the amazing fiction that flows through this book. It’s colorful and like you’re actually experiencing the action and pain right along with Alexis and the other characters. The battle scenes between good and evil are phenomenal. It’s so realistic that it leaves the reader anticipating how the story ends. Will Alexis find her soul mate and love of her life, will she win the battle and choose good over evil, will she find out more about her purpose and secrets that only the Amadis can tell her? Once started, it’s hard to put the book down and leaves the reader wanting to know the answers and more page after page.
About the Author:
Kristie cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at http://www.KristieCook.com.
You can find more on the series and where to find her books on the website at: http://www.SoulSaversSeries.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth
Excerpt from the author’s website about the book:
The Soul Savers Series
An epic fantasy tale of good versus evil, the Soul Savers Series brings everything you love about the paranormal genre with the author's own twists and unique mythology. Follow the story of Alexis Ames as she discovers true love, learns about her heritage and what her future holds and begins to take on her life's purpose. With a total of seven full-length novels along with companion novellas and stories, Kristie Cook plans to keep you on the edge of your seat for some time to come.Hoping you enjoy her Soul Savers series as much as I have so far. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
~“To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company.” ~
- Andre Gide
Even as a youth, she and her mom moved constantly. Her mom, Sophia, never seems to age, and Alexis, herself, heals whenever she is cut or hurt. She asks her mom continually about the reasons behind why those things are, but Sophia never seems to want to reveal things and changes the subject. It’s not until she meets an extremely handsome college classmate named Tristan that things start to seem even weirder. When Alexis finally brings him home to meet Sophia, she instantly acts as if she hates him and abruptly leaves the room.
The storyline develops and more and more are revealed to the reader. Alexis and her mom are exceptional people from a society known as the Amadis and Tristan was born (on purpose) by their enemy society the Daemoni as a superior warrior with genes developed to kill their enemy, and select enemy is the Amadis. Alexis’ mother reacts that way to Tristan because she knows him, has known him for generations. She also knows that he has given up his life with the Daemoni and become one of the Amadis, but she’s not sure he’s 100% changed.
As the story goes on, Alexis, finds that she has been promised to Tristan since birth, but as things are revealed to Alexis about herself, her mother and Tristan she’s revolted and turns away. Eventually, she comes to realize that she has ulterior strengths, and has been told that once the Ang’dora happens to her, she will change and become exactly like her mother and the rest of the Amadis. She will never age, her true powers will be full force, and in order for their society to continue, she must marry Tristan and have a daughter to carry on the line.
The book erupts into the war between the two cultures once Tristan and Alexis are married. The Daemoni are angry because they want Tristan back and Alexis back with him so they can defeat and be the rulers.
The battle rages on between the two cultures as the writer reveals more and more of who these two societies are, where they originated and how they are intertwined with Alexis, Tristan and their families.
This first in the series leaves you wanting more information page after page as the story develops the love between Tristen and Alexis, the mysteries surrounding Sophia and their backgrounds. It promises to not be a disappointment as the writer takes you on a fictional fantasy that boggles the mind at times.
This is the first in a series and promises to reveal more about Tristan, Alexis and the Amadis and Daemoni in the books to come.
It is a tantalizing read, hard to put down once you start the book. If you like books that take you on an adventure into fantasy-land, you’ll love this one.
About the Author:
Kristie cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at http://www.KristieCook.com.
You can find more on the series on her website at: http://www.soulsaversseries.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth
Excerpt from the author’s website about the book:
The Soul Savers Series
An epic fantasy tale of good versus evil, the Soul Savers Series brings everything you love about the paranormal genre with the author's own twists and unique mythology. Follow the story of Alexis Ames as she discovers true love, learns about her heritage and what her future holds and begins to take on her life's purpose. With a total of seven full-length novels along with companion novellas and stories, Kristie Cook plans to keep you on the edge of your seat for some time to come.
http://www.soulsaversseries.com/the_series.html
Promise (1st in the series)
Purpose (2nd in the series)
Devotion (3rd in the series will be released in 2012)
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