The Advocate ~ Review

The Advocate
Randy Singer

He defied an emperor

and inspired a faith

I've read Randy Singer in the past and have enjoyed his legal thrillers, so I was intrigued by the premise of The Advocate.  A young man determined to bring justice to an empire that willingly sacrifices the blood of the "guilty" for pleasure.

When an incident in school teaches fourteen year old Theophilus the true horrors of crucifixion he determines to become a champion of the accused innocents of Rome.  

But Theophilus's chosen path is not one of ease.  In fact it takes him to one of the most troubled regions within the empire - Judea.  And during his assignment in Judea, Theophilus has a front row seat at the trial of Jesus, a rabbi accused of threatening the power and supremacy of Rome!  This is one encounter Theophilus will not be forgetting and it will set the stage for what is about to come.

 As Rome falls further into the decay brought about Caesars who are more deranged than their predecessor Theophilus comes to an understanding of the message that the Nazarene brought.  But this understanding could very well cost him his life.

If you like historical fiction that brings you into the story with all the detail you will love this book.  Randy Singer has created an incredible and moving experience that will give you a greater appreciation of the days of Jesus and the persecution the early believers faced in the first century.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Tyndale Blogger Network in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:
At the trial of Christ, Theophilus, brilliant young assessore raised in the Roman aristocracy, stands behind Pontius Pilate and whispers, “Offer to release Barabbas.” The strategy backfires, and Theophilus never forgets the sight of an innocent man unjustly suffering the worst of all possible deaths—Roman crucifixion.

Three decades later, Theophilus has proven himself in the legal ranks of the Roman Empire. He has survived the insane rule of Caligula and has weathered the cruel tyrant’s quest to control the woman he loves. He has endured the mindless violence of the gladiator games and the backstabbing intrigue of the treason trials.

Now he must face another evil Caesar, defending the man Paul in Nero’s deranged court. Can Theophilus mount a defense that will keep another innocent man from execution?

The advocate’s first trial altered the course of history. His last will change the fate of an empire.

Undetected ~ Review

Undetected
By Dee Henderson

Gina Gray is smart and can come up with solutions to problems that were thought to have no possible solution.  She has the ability to see simplicity in the complex, but when it comes to personal relationships Gina is at a loss.  And her latest break-up has her seeking her seeking her brother's help.  Asking Jeff to help her find someone who won't be threatened by the way her mind works seems like a huge favor to ask of someone, but Gina needs help and she trusts Jeff.

Mark Bishop loves his life as a commander aboard the USS Nevada - a ballistic missile submarine in the US Navy.  Mark still misses his wife, though it has only been a few years since she died.  But he needs to move on, he knows Melinda would have wanted him to.  But the life of a Navy Commander is demanding and can put an extra strain on a marriage.

When his best friend Jeff Gray approaches him about going out with his sister Gina, Mark turns him down because Gina is 10 years younger than him.  But when he starts working with Gina on her newest discovery, he realizes he may have made a mistake.  Is it too late to remedy the situation or will Jeff's second choice for Gina steal her heart before Mark can reveal his?

I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the life of a submarine crew.  It was an interesting and intriguing setting for the rest of the story.  Sometimes (for those not involved in this life) the strains that this puts on their personal  life are fully appreciated and understood.

Dee Henderson does a wonderful job weaving an engaging and entertaining story.  This can be a stand-alone story though there are a couple of characters from Unspoken who make a quick appearance in the story.  If you like intense and exciting books that will capture your attention from cover to cover you don't want to miss Undetected!

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

About

When asked what he does for a living . . .
Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: "I'm in the Navy." But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.

Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and very smart. She's a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.

Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn't see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best--ocean science research. She's on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop's perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she's figured out is only the beginning. If she's right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter.

30 Days to a More Beautiful You ~ Review

30 Days to a More Beautiful You
A Devotional for Girls
By Kylie Bisutti

30 Days to a More Beautiful You is a devotional to help girls navigate the idea of what is true beauty.  The world is pushing the idea of selling our appearance to calculate our true worth when God is telling us just the opposite.

As a former Victoria's Secret Runway model Kylie has some unique insights into why the world wants us to define our worth by the amount of skin we show and how much we are willing to give away of ourselves.

By buying into the world view of beauty we are selling ourselves short and we won't find true contentment.  We'll be insecure because outer beauty can so easily change, but if we focus instead on our inner beauty we will transform our heart and soul.

30 Days to a More Beautiful You offers 30 days of verses and personal insights into how we've allowed ourselves to be confused and how we can rise above it and find our true worth and beauty in God and not the world.  This devotional would be a perfect gift for any young lady who is trying to discover who she is.  I think that ages 12 and up would benefit from the insights they can glean from it.  I also think parents of younger girls could use this as a guide to help steer their daughters to understanding where their true beauty can be found.

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

About the Book
Despite what the world leads us to believe, true beauty has nothing to do with outward appearances. The more we focus on what we look like on the outside, the more insecure we become.

Fortunately, God doesn’t measure our worth by how we look. We have value simply because we are His children. The more we focus on getting our hearts right with the Lord and honoring Him, the more secure and confident we will become—and the more we will exude true beauty.

In 30 Days to a More Beautiful You, former Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel Kylie Bisutti gives a complete inner-beauty makeover with succinct devotional readings designed to transform your heart, body, mind, and soul and put you on the path to becoming a happier, healthier, more beautiful you.

The perfect gift for every young woman, this devotional will forever change the way you define the word 
beautiful.

A Woman of Fortune ~ Review

A Woman of Fortune
Texas Gold #1
By Kellie Coates Gilbert

Having read a previous book by the author (Mother of Pearl) I was curious to check-out Kellie's newest offering.

Claire Massey's life is about to come crashing down around her and the worst part is it is all of her husband's own making.  For years Claire has been the envy of Texas.  She lives in the best house.  She has the most expensive cars.  And if her shoes are a shade off from her dress, she'll get another pair and cost is of no concern.

Claire's daughter Lainie is about to marry the rising star of the Texas political scene.  And Lainie is convinced that the spotlight that she's standing in is her right by birth, after all she knows she's something special and everyone deserves to know it too.  Claire's sons are opposites - Garrett is following in Daddy's footsteps. Garret never stepped out of line and never an embarrassment to his family.  Max lived a little fast and was a source of disappointment to his father.  Max wasn't involved in the family business - instead working for a local newspaper.

Tuck Massey was a loving and devoted husband and father.  But when he is accused of fraud in his cattle brokerage his family is about to fall hard.  But could the man that Claire has loved for more than 30 years even be capable of such deception?

This book looks at the strength of family bonds.  And it is interesting to see how all the Massey's react to this sudden change in their social and financial standing.  And when another crisis occurs they all realize just how important family truly is.

Kellie Coates Gilbert has a way of writing about a family caught in the middle of an unexpected crisis. Through it her characters come to discover who they truly are and what truly matters to them.  Happiness is not a given in life, but it is a possibility if one isn't afraid to work through periods of difficulty.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through their Revell Reads blogger program in exchange for my honest review.

Book Trailer 

Backyard Horses Books 3 and 4 ~ Review

Chasing Dream

Backyard Horses #3

By Dandi Daley Makall

Ellie is determined to prove to everyone what a fabulous horse that Dream is.

But for some reason all of Ellie’s ideas seem to backfire.  And added to this is

the concern that Dream is somehow getting out of her backyard pasture.  How can a horse get loose and still have all the gates locked and the fences up?

But when Ellie’s dreams of making Dream into a star interfere with her promises to friends and family and even threaten Dream’s life Ellie is racked with guilt.

When Dream pulls through her bout of colic, which could have killed her, Ellie learns that family and friends are there for you when you need them the most.

Night Mare

Backyard Horses #4

By Dandi Daley Makall

When a school blogging project puts Dream in the spotlight, Dream’s former owner comes forward to reclaim the wayward fence-jumper.  With no way to fight against this claim, Ellie is sure to lose her dream and Dream!

But when her brother’s newest fish dies Ellie learns a lesson in pushing through each day and being glad with what she does have.

But before you tear up too much there is a happy ending for Ellie and Dream, not to give anything away!  Ellie's Night Mare may turn into a happy Dream!

Doppleganger Chronicles: The Great Mogul Diamond ~ Review

THE DOPPLE GANGER CHRONICLES
The Great Mogul Diamond
By G.P. Taylor

Sadie, Saskia, and Erik are back with yet another adventure. The trio has just overheard a one-sided phone conversation and Muzz Elliott is being threatened. But when the trio enters the Muzz Elliott hides a letter within the Times and says she wishes to speak privately with Dorcas Potts when she comes to pick-up Erik.

While Dorcas and Muzz talk Sadie, Saskie and Erik slip back into the library and find the letter. Muzz Elliott is being blackmailed!

After Erik and Dorcas leave Muzz Elliott tells the girls that they are going to France on a vacation. The twins call Erik from the train station but the call gets cut off. But little do Sadie and Saskia realize that someone is listening in on their call and that someone follows them onboard the train and all the way to the Rothchild Express in France!

As Saskia gets ready to board the Express, the stranger - Max Taranis calls out to her by name and seems to know a lot about her. Then strange things begin to happen onboard the Express. Someone seems to be acting out Muzz Elliott's book MURDER TRAIN, using it to plot crimes on the Express and frame Muzz. Max Taranis then reveals that he is a detective with Scotland Yard. Who is behind this?

Meanwhile Dorcas and Erik are racing to get to Cannes in time to meet Muzz Elliott, Sadie and Saskia. But there is someone trying to stop them and they drive into a trap and taken to a Chateau where they are going to be killed! While they are separated Erik finally sees Madame Raphael. Then as they are about to be killed one of their captors Foojack helps them to escape.

Then Sadie, Saskia, and Muzz are drugged with their cocoa and someone kidnaps Sadie. Can they find Sadie or will Muzz Elliott be forced to steal the Mogul Diamond?

When everyone meets up in Cannes they work on a plan to save Sadie and keep Muzz from being framed for the crimes. But then Dorcas Potts is captured. As everything comes to a head the kidnapper and blackmailer turns out be Muzz Elliott's twin sister Cicely Windylove. Can they stop this evil twin or will they all be lost?

Erik meets the Companion that Madame Raphael is always speaking of, He tells Erik that his father did not abandon him all those years ago, but he in fact died that night and had been with the Companion ever since.

I love all the twists and turns that Dopple twins go through in the their adventures and I won't spoil the ending for readers, but I think a fourth book could be in their future!

Horse Dreams ~ Review

HORSE DREAMS Backyard Horses By Dandi Daley Mackall Ellie James wants a horse of her own, so much so that she thinks, breathes, and dreams horses all day long. She dreams so much that when she sees a horse outside her fourth grade classroom window everyone thinks she's dreaming! When Ellie manages to capture the lost pinto mare she leads it to the cat farm where her mom volunteers. But a homeless horse doesn't belong in a cat rescue, where will she go? As Ellie cares for the pinto she continues to dream about her dream horse and how she'll get him. But when the pinto is going to be shipped to a horse farm in New Jersey will Ellie realize her dream is right in front of her or will she just have HORSE DREAMS? Digital Advanced Reader Copy provided through Net Galley