Storm ~ Review

Storm
The Stone Braide Chronicles #3
By Bonnie S. Calhoun

This is the third book in the Stone Braide Chronicles following Thunder and Lightning. The series has been following Selah Rishon Chavez who on her 18th birthday began a transformation - a transformation that was her heritage and of which she was unaware of. But this transformation is a curse in that Selah has to leave all she knows and loves behind as she becomes one of people her father and brothers have been hunting.

But this journey of transformation has allowed Selah to grow in both who she is as a person and as a novarium. And adding to the pressure Selah is the culmination of a 150 year old mystery that will change humanity. But time has forgotten much of what is necessary for Selah to complete the task that lies before her - and unfortunately for her time is running out. No novarium has yet completed the Third Protocol all have fractured or been lost to those who have been hunting them.

With betrayal possible at any moment Selah moves forward in her quest with a close circle of those whom she trusts - her mother, her brother Dane, her sister Mari, Bohdi, and Rylla. As they race across a world that has been closed off from them for generations they have to brave the unknown searching for the key that will lead them to their ultimate destination hopefully before Selah fractures and her sanity is gone.

I liked this series but this book left several questions hanging. First what exactly are the Stone Braide Chronicles? Second what exactly does the Third Protocol do? Third is there more to come or is this the complete story? I really feel this book left me with more questions than answers and I want more. Why was all of this started and is it complete?

This book was a bit of a let down after the previous books and the resolution happened too quickly for what happened during the rest of the book and series. Maybe if more of my questions had been answered I'd be more satisfied with the conclusion.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a review - positive or otherwise - all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
                                   Selah's mind and life are beginning to fracture. 
                        Can she complete the Third Protocol 
                                                             before it's too late?

As Selah and her companions mourn the loss of those who died in the Mountain, they are faced with a new threat. Selah must complete the Third Protocol before she fractures and loses herself completely. All clues lead to the West, but what will they find when they get there? The other side of the mountains holds unknown perils--volcanic ash, dangerous storms, and strange new settlements that could hold the keys to Selah's quest . . . or lead to her destruction. 

The clock is ticking and Selah's abilities are growing--along with the list of those out for her blood. Selah must find the strength within herself to keep going and complete the mission for which so many have sacrificed so much.

But have she and her companions pinned their hopes on nothing more than a legend? 

Home on the Range ~ Review

Home on the Range
Double S Ranch #2
By Ruth Logan Herne

Nick Stafford is the brother who remained to help run the ranch. His life should have been perfect - a beautiful wife, two precious daughters. He's a better husband and father than his own father was.

But something went wrong - his wife left him years ago and his daughters are suffering from this lack. Nick needs help but he's determined to make it on his own.

But when his daughter Cheyenne is order to get counseling or be removed from school Nick is forced to take action he never wanted for himself or his girls. Can Doctor Elsa Andreas truly work a change in Cheyenne and help Nick keep Dakota from following her older sister's path?

But Elsa has a secret that has kept her in the shadows for the last year - an event that she feels personally responsible for has kept her from helping others. Elsa needs to heal and helping the Staffords just might allow her to see beyond her past and have a hope for tomorrow.

Before any healing can take place though Nick must come to terms with his past - both his childhood and his marriage. And his past is about to make a reappearance in a big way and all of Gray's Glen is about to witness it.  Nick's biggest issue is he's trying to one-up his father and in so doing is making decisions that are not the best for him or his family.

Home on the Range takes up shortly after the events of Back in the Saddle.  The Stafford brothers along with their ailing father - Sam are hoping to heal the rifts that they have caused over the years as Sam built up the Double S Ranch. Their efforts to help rebuild the sections of Gray's Glen that were destroyed by fire are underway.

I enjoyed this second book in the series and have to say I'm looking forward to Trey's story of which there is a short sneak peek at the end of the book. This story is complete in itself in telling Nick's story.  The first book was Colt's story and it would be worth your time to read Back in the Saddle as some of the back story for this book was revealed there.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a review positive or otherwise - all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Can the brother left behind and 

a woman without hope work together 

for the good of two precious children?

Nick Stafford stayed in central Washington, working his family’s large ranch after his brothers left to pursue other passions—but his toughest job is being a single dad. As a child he watched his father fail at marriage and parenting, so Nick was determined to show him up. He’d be a better husband, father, and ranch manager than Sam Stafford ever was. Despite that commitment, three years after Nick’s wife left him, he has a daughter in trouble at school and both of his girls are facing issues that force him to rethink his stubborn plans. 

For Dr. Elsa Andreas, life fell apart when tragedy caused her to abandon her family therapy practice and retreat to the backwoods of Gray’s Glen. Her school principal sister believes Elsa can guide the Stafford girls and that working with kids will draw Elsa out of her protective bubble. 

Summer on the Double S teems with life and adventure. Amid the bounty of God and land, will Nick and Elsa find the courage to build futures based on faith rather than fear?

To Suit a Suitor ~ Review

To Suit a Suitor
By Paula Kremser

One rash promise could 

lead to two broken hearts...

Julia North has never been able to attract and hold a gentleman's attention for any amount of time and she is about to enter her third season much to her mother's chagrin. And this year it is imperative that she have an offer of marriage - her mother's future happiness depends on both Julia and her sister Harriet marrying soon.

But once again Julia finds herself disappointed when yet another suitor finds another lady to better suit him. For the life of her Julia cannot determine what is wrong with her that she can't get an offer of marriage. When an unexpected chance to escape London society presents itself Julia convinces her mother that this might be the very thing to help her. But Julia's escape comes with a price - at the end of two months she will accept the attentions of a man of her mother's choosing and marry him with nary a word of protest.

Finally Julia feels free to be herself and when the Baron of Eldridge Henry Chamberlain pays her flattering attentions she refuses him. Julia is determined to not be lead astray by any man's passing attentions, but Henry seems determined to spend time with her.  But Julia isn't about to join the line of young ladies wishing to capture the heart of the eligible heir. But how do avoid someone who seems to always be nearby? Julia is about find out.

Fans of Jane Austen will delight in this newest offering from Paula Kremser. And anyone who enjoyed her previous book Sophia will not be disappointed in this sweet book that takes you into the trials of London society and the unexpected joys that could be found outside of the expectations of society when the heart was the guide rather than wealth and title.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a review positive or otherwise - all expressed opinions are my own.

About the Book:

Don't set your sights on him.

             It will only lead to heartache...

Much to her mother’s annoyance, Julia North can’t catch a husband. Nearing the end of her third London season, Julia is jilted. Again! Constantly wondering what it is about her that drives the gentlemen away, Julia leaves London to visit a distant cousin for a couple of months. She is hoping to forget about husband hunting for a time, but she inadvertently finds herself in competition for Henry Chamberlain, the most desirable gentleman in Somersetshire. Marriage wouldn’t seem so detestable if she could marry him. But every young lady has the same dream of capturing his attention, so Julia knows she doesn’t have a chance. What she doesn’t know is that her desire to avoid Henry’s attention is the very thing that has caught it, but it’ll take some effort on Henry’s part to convince Julia of that.

About the Author:
Paula Kremser focused on a career in science for a few years after graduating from Brigham Young University. Several years later when she moved with her young family to England, Paula seized the opportunity to focus on her love of the Regency Era. The enchantment of the aristocracy and the fascinating stories from every stately home she visits have been both research and inspiration for her first novel, “Sophia.”

No Peace with the Dawn ~ Review

No Peace with the Dawn
By E.B. Wheeler 
    and Jeffery Bateman

A Novel of the Great War

The world is at war - though America has yet to enter the fray.  And for the young men and women who are seeking to make their way in this world Utah seems far removed from this carnage that has enveloped Europe.

But these young people are determined to make a difference no matter where their paths may take them. But can a world being torn apart allow a person to hold firmly to the beliefs that have shaped them and give their lives meaning? Or will the prejudices and horrors of war forever change them?

Reed Lewis is a young man from an agricultural background who is determined to be the best at everything he does and he is a bit of a flirt. His occasional impulsiveness can add more work to his life but he is a caring and dedicated person. He joins the Marines and proves his ability to lead.

Joseph Sorrell is a young Shoshone known for his skills on the race track with his mare Buckskin Nelly. He hopes that his efforts in the war will earn him the US citizenship he seeks. His friendship with Bert Lyman brings him into this circle of friends who see him as a person.

 Clara Jensen works to open new doors that will allow her and all women to be seen as equals who deserve to be seen as people. She's willing to do her bit by serving overseas with the YMCA and her feisty attitude won't allow her to give up a cause she believes in.

Trudi Kessler is a Swiss-German immigrant who gives of what she has to help aid those whom the war has displaced. But in a world at war her very heritage is held against her by those who allow fear to dictate their prejudices.

The horrors of war are experienced by those both at home and abroad. And those who come home have to live with what they saw and did.

This book opens in November 1915 and concludes in April 1920. Sometimes it is hard to realize just how much happened during this decade. There is a reference to the sinking of the Titanic and even though I've been aware that this took place in 1912 it was a bit of a shock that it was so soon afterwards that the world was at war. The prejudices that were so prevalent are rather surprising - I seriously didn't realize some of the everyday things that had to be renamed because of their Germanic links.

This is an interesting look into the past - there is not much WWI fiction that focuses on residents of Utah to my knowledge. Take a step back in time that is approximately a century long with No Peace with the Dawn. In some ways this book makes me realize just how little we've accomplished in the last century in regard to the prejudices that have a way of tearing us apart.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review or otherwise - all opinions expressed are my own.



About the Book:

In 1917, the Great War seems far from Logan, Utah. But soon it will change the lives of suffragette and mechanic Clara, Swiss-German immigrant and LDS convert Trudi, Marine Corps volunteer Reed, and Shoshone seeking U.S. citizenship Joseph. This novel weaves real events with compelling fictional characters into a sweeping tale of war, romance, self-discovery, and sacrifice.

About the Authors:

E.B. Wheeler grew up in Georgia and California. She earned her BA in history from BYU and has graduate degrees in British history and landscape architecture from Utah State University. She’s the award-winning author of “The Haunting of Springett Hall,” the historical romance “Born to Treason” and is a member of the League of Utah Writers. She lives in northern Utah with her family.

Jeff Bateman served in the U.S. Air Force for 32 years, retiring as a Colonel in 2010. He holds a BA and MS in Criminal Justice, an MA in History and an MS in Strategic Studies. Following his military career, Jeff worked as a civilian historian at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Flight Test Center. He teaches American Military History and U.S. Institutions at Utah State University and is a member of the League of Utah Writers. He has taught workshops on military writing. Jeff lives on a mini-farm in the mountains of Northern Utah, where horses, gardening, and playing the bass fill every minute he is not writing or teaching.

A Primary Decision ~ Review

A Primary Decision
The Worthington Destiny #3
By Dr. Kevin Leman 
                and Jeff Nesbit


Sarah Worthington has always been the baby sister and her parents princess, but she's determined for them to see and recognize her as something else.  When President Spencer offers her the chance at becoming US Attorney General Sarah sees herself one step closer to her dream.

But the recent path the Worthingtons have been on has been one fraught with setbacks as someone seems intent on targeting the siblings and bringing them down.  But who is working in the shadows against them? And how much do they know about the Worthingtons and the secrets they are keeping?

As small gains are made in the Polar Bear Bomber investigation more questions are brought to light. But can evidence be discovered that will clear Sean before the photos that ended Will's political run are made public? Or will Sean's seemingly chance meeting with a stranger derail Sarah's dreams as well?

As secrets create divides withing the Worthingtons they will need to learn that their greatest strength lies in their family ties and their love. This is an interesting look at family and friendship. What brings some people together while driving others away? Why do some do anything to protect those closest to them while others only use for their own benefit and gain?

The Worthington Destiny is an enjoyable series that definitely keeps one guessing as to whom certain mysterious persons are.  One has ideas as the story arrives at its satisfying conclusion but the thread of mystery just adds a greater depth to the story.

The reader doesn't have to read the first two books to enjoy this book as each book focuses on a different sibling, though all of the Worthingtons are fully fleshed out as characters in each story.  But I would recommend reading all three books as there is a story thread that runs throughout the series.

I was provided a free review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a review positive or otherwise - all opinions expressed are my own.



About the Book:

The road to power and position 

is fraught with perils, 

even for a Worthington.

But Sarah does not intend to lose.

Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general--at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible--even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States. 

Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream--the US presidency?

Book Spotlight and Giveaway ~ Screw You

Book Description:

How many times in your life have you been dissuaded from following your entrepreneurial dreams due to either fear of failure (be that fear from yourself or others) or doubt due to the unknown?

Startup business infrastructure specialist Tim Carthon’s new book, SCREW YOU! Startup Business Tips to Destroy Doubt, Especially Inside You (Tips 1-20); the first in his new 5-part business tips book series, gives you streamlined, powerful tips for pivotal decision points that can make all the difference in your business and its startup outcomes.

SCREW YOU! is the quintessential ‘Break glass in case of a fear and doubt emergency’ business tips book for aspiring entrepreneurs; bringing energy to your warrior and light to the unknown so that you can tell fear and doubt “SCREW YOU!” and never let either of them rule your lives again.

Buy the book:   ScrewYouBook.com

Author's Bio:

Known as ‘The Fiery Truth-Teller,’ Tim Carthon is a long time at-risk youth advocate, keynote teacher, author, and educator, and a proud father of his namesake TJ. Mixed with his passion for telling the “fiery truth” and helping people, he is using his extensive knowledge of and perspective on business infrastructure to ‘uniquely’ assist individuals in inner cities to remove fear and doubt and follow their business ownership dreams. Tim accomplishes this through his exclusive E2 Seminar™ (Economic Enlightenment Seminar) and SBI Workshop™ (Startup Business Infrastructure Workshop™). His saying and life’s motto: “Your life was not given to you for you. It was given to you for you to be a blessing to someone else.”

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Youtube

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Giveaway:​

Win one of 5 print copies of Screw You by Tim Carthon

(open USA and CAN) or

one of 15 ebook copies (open INT’L)

15 winners total

Ends Dec 3

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mardok and the Seven Exiles ~ Review

Mardok and the Seven Exiles
RoboTales #2
By Jill Williamson 
        and Luke Williamson

Mardok and the Seven Exiles is set on the planet Dabon and Cadet Riv Mardok, a member of the Space Force Military Training Academy, has uncovered a disturbing fact. Unfortunately his evidence has been made unavailable to him. But Mardok isn't one to sit around and do nothing which for him might prove the worst possible thing to do.

Soon Mardok finds himself assigned by General Gruss himself to find the elusive Ice Beast rumored to live in the remote regions of Mount Squarra.  No one has ever returned from such a mission before and Mardok is determined to both stop the Ice Beast and return.

All too soon Mardok finds himself in need of rescue and fortunately for him he is discovered by Robo, a mechanized canine intelligence who proves resourceful in extricating our hero with an ego. Robo leads Mardok to a cabin within the Blackwood Forest where he soon meets the seven exiles from the academy who also discovered disturbing events with ties to the academy and General Gruss.

Can these 8 young men along with Robo stop what could be the end of their worlds and lives as they know it? And who is really behind everything? Once again Robo may give an advantage to whom most needs his special skills.

This is the fun sequel to Tinker and one just can't help rooting for Robo to come out on top in whatever role he plays. And Mardok learns the importance of working together rather than relying on his own strengths.

This book is aimed at the middle grade reader and should keep even a reluctant reader reading with enjoyment. This story though the second in the series is able to be enjoyed without first reading Tinker. The only recurring character is Robo and these are his tales.  From the title one thinks Snow White but don't be fooled this is a tale that will appeal boys who aren't into fairy tales.

I was provided an ARC of the book by the author with no expectation of a review positive or otherwise - all expressed opinions are my own.

About the Book:
Strange things are happening at the Space Force Military Academy. General Gruss believes the Ice Beast is responsible and asks cadet Riv Mardok to hunt down the menace. Mardok, always eager to "protect the helpless," accepts the quest, but when he finds himself trapped, alone in the forest, his bravery isn't enough to save him. Mardok has no choice but to call for help. The question is: will anyone answer?