Death on Lindisfarne ~ Review

Death on Lindisfarne
The Aidan Mysteries
By Fay Sampson

When Aidan Davison brought Melangell - his 8 year old daughter, to the holy island of Lindisfarne he had little idea of what he would be stepping into.   What was suppose to be a retreat that included a course on the Northumbrian saints all to soon turns into a murder mystery when a troubled young woman is found dead.

But did Rachel take her own life or did someone end it for her?  This is the question that troubles Aidan and police officer-turned-minister Lucy Pargeter.

Death on Lindisfarne delves into the historic past of Lindisfarne while probing the mystery surrounding the death of Rachel Ince.  As the story progresses suspicion falls on various members of the retreat.  But why would anyone want to kill a teenager whom they had never met before the retreat began?

Having read Fay Sampson's Pangur Ban books I was interested in how a more contemporary adult book of her's would compare.  Well, I wasn't disappointed.  Death on Lindisfarne is a well-written who-done-it that held my attention and kept me guessing.  There is a plethora of potential suspects and any one of them could easily be the guilty party.

Aidan's grief at the recent loss of his wife adds another dimension to the story, especially as he is trying to hide this from those taking part in the retreat.  It's interesting how he tries to hide his pain - letting others think that he instead had a failed marriage.

I am looking forward to future Aidan Mysteries and am interested to see if any of the other characters make an appearance in future books.  And the historical aspects are an enlightening delight sure to stoke a curiosity to dig deeper and learn more about the people and places that were touched on.

I was provided a copy of this book by Kregel in exchange for my honest review of Death on Lindisfarne.


About the book: 

Grieving the loss of wife and mother, Aidan and Melangell visit the renowned spiritual retreat center on the British island of Lindisfarne so Aidan can share with bright eight-year-old Melangell one of the places that inspired Jenny to write her books.

There they meet up with Jenny's friend Lucy, a Methodist minister, who is teaching a course on the local Northumbrian saints. Lucy has brought Rachel, a troubled teenager, to the Holy Island in hopes that the remoteness and peace of the location will help her.

But when Rachel is found dead on the beach, everyone on theisland is under suspicion. As investigators and Rachel's "friends" come to the island, Aidan and Lucy learn more about Rachel, and Lucy's past as a policewoman is revealed.

And so Aidan is drawn into his second mystery. Masterfully told by award-winning author Fay Sampson, Death on Lindisfarne explores the complicated motivations of fallen people against the backdrop of ancient holiness.

Runabouts Book Blast

Join P.J. Jenkins, author of the parenting/bullying book, Runabouts, as she tours the blogosphere September 9 - September 20 on her first Book Blast with Pump Up Your Book! P.J. will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC/Paypal Cash to one lucky winner! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form on the participating blogs below and good luck! If you would like to host P.J., please email Tracee at tgleichner (at) gmail.com.

ABOUT RUNABOUTS

Runabouts is a story about friends having fun together, as well as dealing with unpleasant situations. Sunny is a very good friend and tries to make sure that his friends are not taken advantage of by bullies. He also shows us how we can make choices for our own behavior even if others don't want to change their behavior. Sunny could leave Sharky stuck in the mud or he could choose to help him. What would you do? Enjoy the fun of zooming through the water and feeling the water spray over your face. I hope it will make you anxious to enjoy the water and warm weather just like Sunny.

Purchase your copy:

ABOUT P.J. JENKINS

I’m married and have two daughters, and seven and a half grandchildren. We enjoy spending time with our grandchildren and love to take them for rides on our boat. We are lucky to live in Michigan where lakes are plentiful as well as beautiful. I taught elementary school for over 35 years. Reading books is such a joy for children. Life often brings problems dealing with different kinds of people, and children need to now that they choose how they want to behave regardless of what others do. I hope they can see other options as well as enjoy a fun story.

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins September 9 - September 20.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Saturday September 21, 2013.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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The Sword Series: Second Timothy ~ Review

The Sword Study is a unique way to involve all ages in the family in the study of the Bible.  The series that I was sent to review focused on II Timothy.  This is a 10 week study (FYI many of the activities in the Level 5 Leader's guide include activities that lend themselves to a summer type setting.  But these are merely suggestions and not you have to-do this.  Some of activities are also not something to do last minute so the parent/leader might want to go through the guide ahead of time to be sure that whatever activity they decide to go with they can have the materials on hand, such as suggested DVD's, games, books, etc.)

Level 1 is a one page activity per day while the other levels 2-5 are several pages that involve reading II Timothy in depth the first week.  Successive weeks focus on the individual chapters and verses and supporting Biblical references.

By the time the ten weeks have passed one will have an in depth understanding of II Timothy, Paul and the world at that time.  Between each week the reader is introduced to various persons who have upheld the Christian faith through their lives including Amy Carmichael, Eric Liddell, William Tyndale, and others.  There crossword puzzles, word searches, times lines and more to help get those in Levels 2-5 more involved.  Readers are also introduced to the advantages of using a concordance and Greek Lexicon when studying the Bible.  All in all it is a good study guide for a family setting.  I can also see that this would be an excellent study for a church or homeschool group as well.

I was provided a copy of this study series by Glass Road Media and Management in exchange for my honest review of these materials.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have tried to study the Bible together as a family, you are painfully aware that it has been impossible to find a study that suits every age level in your family...until now.   The Sword Study series from the Shelby Kennedy Foundation is now available to help you and your family become students of the Word together. The Sword Study series includes materials for everyone from ages 4 to 104.

About the Study:
Organized into different levels according to age, each study provides in-depth material from the same book of the Bible. Each study book is synchronized to cover the same truths at the same time but with graphics and learning tools appropriate for the age group.

Level 1, for ages 4-7, is an activity book with coloring, drawing, matching and other fun learning tools.
Level 2, for ages 7-10, contains light reading, fill-in-the-blank, and application sections.
Level 3, for ages 11-14, involves more investigation and questions for the student to answer.
Level 4, for teens and adults, steps up the reading and the depth of study including the definition of several Greek or Hebrew terms.
Level 5, is for the parent or study leader with guidance and background to lead a group of all ages includes a copy of Level 4.

The Sword Study series, originally created for competitors in The Shelby Kennedy Foundation's National Bible Bee, is now available to everyone for the first time.  Families no longer have to compete in the Bible Bee to establish family discipleship in the home with this one-of-a-kind study.  The Sword Study available for this tour is II Timothy.  I John is also available to the public and I Peter is scheduled for release in the fall of 2013. A new study is scheduled to be released each year. For more information visit www.swordstudy.org.

Trapped ~ Review

Trapped
A Private Justice Novel #2
By Irene Hannon

Laura Griffith is desperate to find her 16 year old sister Darcy and she's willing to spend as much as it takes. And Phoenix Inc. is her best hope with the police too busy to deal with a runaway.

A blizzard has St. Louis to a halt and it has given the Phoenix, Inc. and James Devlin the time to search for Darcy.  But with few leads to go on time is short and Dev's gut instinct is his greatest asset in this case.

Trapped will keep you on the edge of your seat as Darcy struggles to come to terms with her loss and to truly see just how blessed she is that Laura opened her home and took her in after the death of her parents. The situation Darcy finds herself in is intensely nerve-wracking to say the least and one keeps wondering until almost the very end what the outcome will be.

Trapped is a thrilling and suspenseful drama that follows the 3 private investigators that we were introduced to in Vanished.  But James "Dev" Devlin is the lead character in this case and his painful past is revealed. With the help of client Laura Griffith, Dev just may be able to forgive himself and find healing.

Irene Hannon has created another page turner you won't want to put down.  A missing teen, a concerned sister, a determined investigator, and a festering secret pain combine to create a nerve wracking reading experience that will keep you reading until the end.  This is definitely a one-more-chapter before bed book!

Looking forward to reading book 3 in this series of which there was a short excerpt included.  Irene Hannon is one author I am glad I was introduced to!

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A runaway teen, a desperate sister, and an intrepid PI determined to discover the truth.

 When Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned private investigator James Devlin to help. Dev knows time is of the essence with runaways--just forty-eight hours can mean the difference between recovery and ruin.

But the deeper he and Laura dig, the more Dev begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And in the icy winter weather, the trail is going cold . . . 

Dark Halo ~ Review

Dark Halo
Angel Eyes Trilogy #3
By Shannon Dittemore

One halo brought sight to Brielle. Another offers sweet relief from what she sees.

With the Terrestrial Veil tearing above Stratus the Celestial starts to seep into the world as an epic battle rages between Heavenly and demonic forces.  Jake has been taken by Damien.  Marcus and Liv have left Stratus and Marcus unknowingly took Cannan's halo with him.

But Brielle can now see without the halo and what she sees is frightening - demons lurk everywhere and fear is visible to her as it oozes off people.  And without the halo her nightmares are intensifying.

When Brielle and Kaylee set out to search for Jake, Brielle is about to get more than she ever imagined when she is brought before the Prince himself.  When given a choice the take the Prince's halo to stop her sight, Brielle is torn.  The peace of not seeing the fear and the battles, not dreaming is a powerful temptation.  But is she willing to give up her gift for a chance at normalcy?  Only time will tell.

Dark Halo picks up right where Broken Wings left off.  Olivia and Marco's characters are more fully developed.  And there is an interesting connection surrounding several of the characters that just draws the story together in a unexpected though not unwelcome way.

This is also an interesting look at free will.  How is God's gift to us of free will different from the free will that Satan offers us?  How many when given a choice, actually put on the manacles of Satan, believing the lies that he offers us.  This is a fantastic finale for this trilogy and the afterword just completes everything so that the reader can leave this series happy.

The entire Angel Eye trilogy has dealt with the atrocity known as human trafficking in its various forms.  This is a fantasy with a powerful message to teach.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

One halo brought sight to Brielle. Another offers sweet relief from what she sees.

Brielle can’t help but see the Celestial. Even without the halo, the invisible realm is everywhere she looks. It’s impossibly beautiful—and terrifying, especially now. Because a battle rages above Stratus, Oregon.

The Terrestrial Veil is ripping, and demons walk the streets past unseeing mortals. Dark, sticky fear drips from every face, and nightmares haunt Brielle’s sleep.

Worst of all, Jake is gone. The only boy she’s ever loved has been taken by the demon, Damien. When she receives instructions from the Throne Room leading her to Jake, she unknowingly walks into a diabolical and heartbreaking trap.

Now she’s stranded in a sulfurous desert with the Prince of Darkness himself, and he’s offering her another halo—a mirrored ring that will destroy her Celestial vision. All she has to do is wear it and she’ll see no more of the invisible world. No more fear. No more nightmares. No more demons. It’s a gift. And best of all: it comes with the promise of a future with Jake, something the Throne Room seems to be taking from her.

Will Brielle trade the beauty of the Celestial and the truth of the world around her just to feel ordinary again? 

The Promise ~ Review

The Promise
The Restoration Series #2
By Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley

The Dance picks up two months after The Dance ends.  Jim and Marilyn Anderson have reconciled and are in Italy on their second honeymoon.  But as their marriage improves their son Tom and his wife Jean are quickly heading into the same rocky territory Jim and Marilyn have so recently left behind.

Tom is keeping a secret, a secret that could cost him everything.  For 5 months he has been going to a job that he doesn't have.  Living off his unemployment, months late on his mortgage, racking up the credit card bills and Jean doesn't know...

As Jean watches Marilyn and Jim's marriage improve she can only hope that her own can improve, but Tom refuses to talk to her about what has been troubling him.

Meanwhile in Italy Marilyn and Jim are enjoying their time together, but Marilyn is troubled.  She feels as if something is off with Tom and Jean and that the problem goes back to Tom's idolizing of Jim.

The Anderson family has become trapped in a cycle, a cycle that has been going on for years.  But with the help of a beloved uncle they may be able to break free of it, but only if they are willing to open their hearts and their ears to truly listen to God, their spouse and their children.

Where The Dance focused on marriage, The Promise adds another dimension to the relational mix by focusing on parenting and marriage.  The Promise is an engaging book, that should be read by married couples with children.  The message woven throughout the pages of The Promise is as powerful and heart-touching as the movie Courageous is.  A worthy addition to any home or church library shelf.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

About The Promise

One home, two hearts, and the power of a promise kept . . .

For the last five months, Tom Anderson has been without a job, a fact he's been hiding from his wife Jean--and everyone else. He leaves each morning, pretending nothing has changed, and spends his disheartening day rotating through coffee shops and the library, using their wifi to search job listings online. The stress of keeping this secret is beginning to put serious strain on his marriage.

But Tom's not the only one hiding something. Jean Anderson has a secret of her own--one that will seriously complicate their situation. Will the promises they made on their wedding day hold firm?

Critical Pursuit ~ Review

Critical Pursuit
By Janice Cantore

20 years ago Officer Brinna Caruso was six years old when she was kidnapped and left to die in the middle of the desert.  But Brinna survived and has made it her life's mission to find and rescue other children who go missing.  But sometimes she's too late... and because of this she doesn't believe God could possibly exist.

Jack lived for the sentencing of the drunk who killed his wife and his unborn daughter. His loss embittered him towards God, isolating him from his friends.

When Brinna gets caught up in a shooting she is reassigned from K-9 unit to regular patrol with Jack O'Reilly an almost burned out homicide detective struggling with the loss of his wife. Neither is happy with the assignment.  Brinna wants to work with Hero, not a two-legged partner with emotional baggage.  Jack wanted to leave homicide behind and return to patrol, but being teamed up with Brinna wasn't part of his plan.

When a kidnapping goes bad and a young girl found dead, it appears that a copycat is taunting Brinna.  The question is why now?  And who knew enough about Brinna's kidnapping to pull this off?

Critical Pursuit is a search not just for justice but of the heart as Jack and Brinna struggle with their doubts about God.  When loss touches one personally it can affect how one views the eternal, because without belief in God how can one believe in the existence of Heaven?

Critical Pursuit packs a lot of thought provoking dialog and action between the covers.  Told through both Brinna and Jack's perspective one gets a more complete feel for the two lead characters.  It is also interesting how the various characters react to the same situations, for example how Brinna's abduction affected her family and their relationships with one another.

I read this book in one afternoon and because of the superb writing that just pulled me in I am looking forward to reading Visible Threat the second book about Brinna Caruso, of which there is a teaser excerpt included.

In exchange for honest review of this book Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

About the Book:
Officer Brinna Caruso has built a reputation at the precinct as the cop to call when a child goes missing. For Brinna, it’s personal because she was once one of them. Brinna and her K-9 search and rescue dog, Hero, will stop at nothing to find a missing child, no matter the stakes.

Detective Jack O’Reilly isn’t ready to return to his homicide duties, after losing his wife to a drunk driver. He’s on the downside of his career, and bent on revenge, when he’s assigned as Brinna’s partner. While on patrol, Jack struggles between his quest for personal justice and his responsibility to those around him, especially his partner.

Skeptical of Jack’s motives, Brinna isn’t sure she can rely on her new partner, whose reckless abandon endangers the safety of those around him. But when a man surfaces with an MO similar to the criminal who abducted Brinna twenty years earlier, Brinna and Jack must cast aside previous judgments and combine efforts to catch the kidnapper, and finally allow Brinna the peace stolen from her as a child.


Be sure to connect with Janice Cantore online!

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And check out the excerpt of Critical Pursuit here.