Oswald: Return of the King ~ Review

Oswald: Return of the King

By Edoardo Albert

Upon the death of his Uncle Edwin Oswald is deemed throne-worthy.  But Oswald doesn't desire or seek the throne that his uncle took from his father.  For in Oswald's opinion there are others who are equally throne-worthy, including his older half-brothers.  The life of a monk appeals to him, a simple life serving on the Holy Island.

But the life Oswald wants is not the life he is destined to live.  Cadwallon, not content to rule his kingdom after defeating Edwin, is determined to be named High King and to drive the Saxons to the sea purging the land of their vileness.  Cadwallon's evil and violent ways have left many on the verge of ruin and starvation.

Seeking guidance Oswald is convinced that his path leads him to seek his father's throne.  But to take the throne Oswald must gather allies who will come to him when he challenges Cadwallon. 

Oswald and his brother Oswin set out in a most unusual strategy to capture the throne.  But defeating Cadwallon is but the first step to becoming High King of a united Britain.  The path Oswald has taken is one that is without the peace he has become accustomed to on Iona.  

Betrayal is a possibility with every alliance and yet there are those who Oswald trusts with certainty - his brother, his dearest friend Aidan, his mother, his sister, and a few who have come to him in his quest for the throne.  

Oswald: Return of the King is an engrossing and intriguing story.  If you read the first book Edwin: High King of Britain you will enjoy this continuation of the history of the Northumbrian throne.  If you haven't there is a recap of the first book so that you will be brought up to speed so that you can enjoy this second installment in the series.

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book, this series.  I believe fans of Tolkien's works will be delighted in this series from Edoardo Albert.  This would make an excellent addition to any library - be it home, school, or public.  

Get ready to enter a world that is a foundation to all we know today.  A world that is on the edge of the old and the new.  A world that faces the same basic struggles that we face today.  Whom will you follow?  Who will you call for king?

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through Kregel Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:
The second book in The Northumbrian Thrones series follows the young prince Oswald as he seeks to regain the throne taken from his family by Edwin.

The exiled family of King Æthelfrith of Northumbria arrive, after much hardship, on the island of Iona, where the monastery founded by St Columba has become a center of worship and learning. Amid the violence and turbulence of Dark-Ages Britain, the island appears a sanctuary to the hunted princes and Oswald, having become firm friends with a novice named Aidan, enters the church along with his younger brother, Oswiu.

As befits a young prince, Oswald learns to fight and soon becomes renowned for his courage, earning the title Lamnguin, the Whiteblade. However, the peace of Iona leaves Oswald torn between becoming a monk or returning to Northumbria to reclaim the kingdom that is rightfully his. When news reaches Iona that his half-brother, Eanfrith, has been killed by Cadwallon, the king who defeated Edwin, Oswald sails back to Northumbria and meets Cadwallon in battle, defeating and killing him.

Oswald, now the undisputed king of Northumbria, gives Aidan the island of Lindisfarne as a base from which to take the faith to the English. But Penda, the last great pagan king in England, is raising troops against him...

Through Waters Deep ~ Review

Through Waters Deep
Waves of Freedom 1
By Sarah Sundin

Mary Stirling just wants to remain in the background.  Jim Avery just wants to "float" through life.  Neither wants make waves because incidents from their childhoods.  Mary works as a Navy secretary and dresses in neutral colors.  Jim is an ensign, who doesn't want aim higher, he doesn't want to have to make the difficult decisions.

When an act of sabotage occurs at the Boston Navy Yard Mary and Jim start working together to discover who could be targeting the Yard.  But more than the ships and the those who work on them are in danger. Public opinion  could be swayed affecting the United States and her level of activity in what is Europe's war.

But to do "the right thing" Mary and Jim may have to move out of their self-imposed limitations.  Can they face their individual fears or will fear control the choices made?

Through Waters Deep is a delightful step back in time, to 1941 to be precise.  War is on the horizon as more of the world is drawn into the conflict with Germany.  But to many the thought of America entering another European war is beyond belief.  As Mary and Jim work through the clues what was once a childhood acquaintance could become something more.

If you like Historical Fiction with a pinch of Romance you need to pick-up a copy of this book it will be time well spent.  Fans of Sarah Sundin's previous books will not be disappointed with the debut book of her newest series.  The characters have depth, the passion of their individual beliefs is believably presented, and one has empathy with the varying viewpoints.  If you have never read Sarah's work before this would be a perfect book to start with.  This is one happy reader who is eagerly anticipating book 2!

This book, though marketed to the adult audience, would be appropriate for teens and would be an excellent choice for a book report (Historical or Realistic fiction) book.

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

War is coming. Can love carry them through the rough waters that lie ahead?

It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Handsome and outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. On shore, Jim encounters Mary Stirling, a childhood friend who is now an astute and beautiful Boston Navy Yard secretary.

When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is discovered, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.

"Fascinating history, interesting location, touching romance--Sarah Sundin packs it all in this page-turning story. Readers are sure to enjoy living this stirring WWII-era adventure."--Ann H. Gabhart, author of Love Comes Home and The Innocent

"Through Waters Deep reeled me in from the start. Endearing characters combine with intrigue and mystery in a tale that begs to be read in record time."--Jocelyn Green, award-winning author of the Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series

"Sarah Sundin is a gifted novelist. Bottom line--this book is perfect for lovers of WWII romances and mysteries that would give Nancy Drew a run for her money."--Cara Putman, award-winning author of Shadowed by Grace and Where Treetops Glisten


Sarah Sundin is the award-winning author of the Wings of Glory and Wings of the Nightingale series. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. Learn more at www.sarahsundin.com.

Knowing My God Series ~ Review

Knowing My God Series
             Starter Kit
By Callie Grant

There is nothing quite so rewarding then to experience a child's sense of joy in reading and at the same time discovering the person of Jesus on a personal level.

The Knowing My God Series Starter Set is an excellent way to introduce the child/children in your life to Jesus.

In Jesus Invites Me Matthew 11:28-30 is examined. Jesus asks us to come to Him and to give Him the burdens we carry.  He will give us rest, a rest that is internal to our soul, a rest that gives us a freedom.

In Jesus Saves Me John 10:14-16 is examined with Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  The role of the shepherd is examined in regard to us being sheep.The love and care of the shepherd to each sheep is how Jesus views us.

In Jesus Shows Me John 15:9-14 is examined. We learn about the love of God and how we can see it in the world around us. From watching animals interact with one another we can learn about friendship and abiding in God's love.

These 3 board books are sturdy and can take the rough handling little ones sometimes subject their books to.  Each book is 18 pages in length, alternating images with text throughout.  The second to last page is for the adult/parent offering reading suggestions to make the reading experience more meaningful as the child ages.

For a younger child who may not be able to fully grasp the meaning of some of words parents may want to just read the verse portion.  The broader story can be part of the growing with your child attribute that the book recommends in the reading suggestions offered to the grown-up.

The suggested age for these books is 0 - 7 years old.  The set is bound together with a paper band that includes various activities to enhance the learning experience - to help your child to think and grasp the message being taught.

I was provided a copy of this series by the publisher through TBCN/BookFun in exchange for my honest review.


ABOUT THE SERIES (54 pages):

Even the youngest children can begin making a personal connection with Jesus and his words for them with essential Bible basics from three popular board books. The Knowing My God Series Starter Set includes Jesus Invites Me (Matthew 11:28-30), Jesus Shows Me (John 15:9-14), and Jesus Saves Me (John 10:14-16).

From the Learn category in Graham Blanchard’s collection, each book offers three levels of exploration: a quoted Bible passage, beautiful real-world photographs, and supportive text to relate the passage’s meaning to a child’s everyday life. 

A parent guide gives tips for involving a baby, toddler, and child. These books grow with a child! A keepsake book band offers thinking questions and activities to extend the lesson.

Download free grownup tips for each book and find out more about Graham Blanchard's Learn, Absorb and Praise™ board books for children at www.grahamblanchard.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Callie Grant founded Graham Blanchard to create children's books for growing up in God, by working with an extensive network of artists, parents, pastors, teachers, and children. The company is the culmination of her experience in the publishing industry paired with a strong calling to help families know God's love and nurture their faith through reading together. Her previous titles, under the name Callie Gregory, include Jeeves, I'm Bored: 25 Internet Adventures for Kids, and Jeeves, I Need Help: Tips and Tricks for Kids on the Net. For more information about Grant and Graham Blanchard, visit grahamblanchard.com.

Trial Run ~ Review

Trial Run 
Fault Lines 1
By Thomas Locke

Time and space as we know it are about to be redefined. No longer will we be limited by our bodies instead we will only be limited by our minds and our beliefs.  So starts an exciting and thought provoking new series.

What would you do if you could enter any building anywhere in the world and yet never leave the place you are currently at?  What would you do to acquire such power?  And who would pay the costs?

Gabriella Speciale has developed such technology with the goal of helping humanity.  But she and her team have hidden themselves away in Europe hoping that their experiments will go unnoticed. But someone else, someone dangerous, Resse Clawson, has access to similar technology and she is determined to keep everyone else from this discovery - this technology.  And they are willing to kill anyone who is a threat to their goals.

But something has gone wrong.  Several of those who have attempted these trips have not come back. The question is why and how can they rescue those who are trapped in a world that is virtually unknown.

Two UCSB students suddenly find themselves at the center of attention of these two groups.  Shane Schearer and Trent Major never imagined how their lives would change because of an algorithm and a dream.

Trial Run is an exciting and intense story.  The first couple chapters help establish both the story and the main characters and then the reader is drawn into a story that has non-stop twists and turns that leave wondering what comes next.

It is also interesting to examine the two competing groups and what drives them.  Gabriella and Reese are definite contrasts and it shows in their programs.

There is a definite thread of science running throughout the entire book - it is the backbone of the story.  But don't let this scare you off if you have an aversion to science as this book is some much more than just a science story.  This a story of life and death.  Of mind over matter.  Of love and friendship.  Of human nature and its vices and virtues.

I admit it I'm anticipating book 2 and can't wait to see what comes next!

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

About the Book:
Cutting-edge research requiring controversial experiments. Startling dreams delivering cryptic communication from the dreamer's future self. Ruthless rivals determined to control mind-bending new technology. When you're balancing on the edge of what's possible, trouble awaits, ready to push you into the abyss.

This daring psychological journey into the very nature of causation and consciousness will leave you turning the pages and grasping for solid ground--especially when it becomes clear just how much fact lies within the fiction.

Dr. Gabriella Speciale has assembled an international team of elite scientists with one goal in mind--to create and control out-of-body experiences that transcend the limits of time and space. Reese Clawson's mind-bending experiments aim to explode the boundaries of human consciousness--and annihilate the opposition in the process.

When a terrifying discovery and a string of failed tests threaten to dismantle both programs, the key to survival may reside in the mind of a gifted grad student whose unsettling dreams have thrust him into the center of a dangerous battle for control.

As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and time itself twists in unexpected directions, one warning remains clear: what you don't know can kill you.


Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn, the award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies. His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Davis divides his time between Oxford and Florida and holds a lifelong passion for speculative stories. As Thomas Locke, Davis is also the author of Emissary. Learn more at www.tlocke.com.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love ~ Review

Crazy Little Thing Called Love
A Destination Wedding 1
By Beth K. Vogt

Vanessa Hollister made the "biggest mistake of her life" according to her mother when she eloped with Logan Hollister while a high school senior.  Two years later she agreed with that assessment when distance and priorities caused her marriage to dissolve.

It's been eight years since her marriage ended and Vanessa has moved on with her life - she's engaged to a dedicated doctor and planning her wedding.  Unlike her first marriage this one is going to be the wedding of her dreams.  Unfortunately this wedding is going to take place in Destin, Florida, the place where her memories of Logan are based.

A short trip to Destin to put her wedding plans into action quickly go awry when Logan happens to be visiting the area too.  A drowning teen.  A hurricane baring down on Florida.  Old friends in need. Everywhere Logan and Vanessa seem to be they keep winding up together.  Is this a chance to make peace with their shared past?  Or is it a second chance at love?  A chance Logan has hoped and dreamed for ever since his marriage ended.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love gives us glimpses of Logan and Vanessa's lives in both the here and now and in the early days of their friendship and their marriage.  Both discover that marriage is work and sometimes sacrifices have to be made as there are now two involved in the decisions and choices made.  Unfortunately as teens they saw marriage as an answer to a problem - Vanessa's upcoming move.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through TBCN/BookFun in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book: 

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.” Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding? As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after?

About the Author:
Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.

After a Fashion ~ Review

After a Fashion
A Class of Their Own 1
By Jen Turano

Harriet Peabody dreams of redesigning old discarded gowns for women who are independent and hard working but not able to afford this quality new. While waiting to make her dream a reality Harriet works as a milliner.  But a difficult customer by the name of Miss Birmingham, who is both spoiled and demanding, costs Harriet her job.

Miss Birmingham is convinced that she is destined to marry Mr. Addleshaw. Oliver Addleshaw, who observes the incident between Miss Birmingham and Harriet, feels obligated to offer Harriet a temporary job and inform his not fiancee that an engagement with her is not even a possibility that has entered his mind.

But is Harriet willing to present herself as the companion, the fiancee, of the highly eligible Oliver Addleshaw?  All too soon Harriet's life is out of control as she learns the do's and don't's of high society and becomes the topic of society gossip.

And there is a secret in Harriet's past that could destroy everything if the truth comes out.  Oliver's future business prospects could dry up and worse Harriet might be forever ruined.

After a Fashion is a thoroughly delightful story that is splendid mix of humor, drama, and romance lovingly presented between the covers of this historical fiction book.  Though it is not like the works of Jane Austen something about this book puts me in mind of her Emma.  I enjoyed the interactions between the various characters - especially Harriet and her roommates - Lucetta and Millie.  And I truly loved Abigail Hart and her taking these young ladies under her wings, so to speak.

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

About the Book: 

Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income. 

Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiancee cause the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.

Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

Heartbreak Trail ~ Review

Heartbreak Trail
An Andrea Carter Book 
Circle C Milestones 2
By Susan K, Marlow

Andi (Andrea) Carter is determined to take a part in this year's cattle drive.  And with her 15th birthday fast approaching this may be her best chance to finally get her wish.  But some wishes may be best left unfulfilled.

Cattle drives are not all fun and adventure as Andi and her younger cousin Levi are about to discover after being assigned as Cook's helpers!  Andi's dream has been to take part in driving the cattle or managing the horses not gathering wood and washing pans.

Dust, biting mosquitoes, bed rolls on the hard ground, and a hard wagon seat what more could a girl want?  But when a dangerous river crossing takes a wrong turn lives are in the balance and the drive is suddenly short-handed.  Can Andi and Levi cover this shortage and help get the cattle to Los Angeles?

Heartbreak Trail is just that as the hardships and the dangers of driving cattle to market are experienced through Andi's eyes.  Fans of Andi will love her newest adventure as she learns some important lessons about life on the trail and about herself.  Andi is about to grow up in ways she never expected.

Tweens and teens will delight in this determined young woman.  This book would be an excellent addition to any home or school library, and with school just around the corner this would be a great choice for any historical fiction book reports that may be coming up!

I was provided a copy of this book through Kregel in exchange her my honest review.

About the book:

Andrea Carter can ride, rope, and cut out cattle with the best of her brothers' ranch hands. Yet, her mother has always held the family's youngest daughter back from fully participating in ranch activities.

With the approach of her fifteenth birthday, even the ranch boss, big brother Chad, can't deny that his baby sister is better at ranch skills than some of his cowhands. When Andi announces that her quinceañera birthday wish is to join the upcoming cattle drive, her family is stunned. But after further discussion and multiple newspaper clippings about spirited women who balked at society's expectations, even Mother agrees that the only way to get this cattle-drive notion out of Andi's head is by letting her and her cousin Levi go along as Cook's helpers. Andi is elated. What can go wrong on a two-week drive to Los Angeles?

Andi quickly discovers that a cattle drive is a dirty, dangerous business with little sleep and the same food day after day. Between late nights, dust, mosquitoes, and an abrasive cowhand trying to win Andi's attention, it is definitely not a holiday. Andi grimly determines she will stick it out. When a river crossing goes wrong and Chad is shot in a gunfight with suspicious men who have been shadowing the herd, Mitch the trail boss finds himself dangerously shorthanded. Andi and Levi can no longer just give Cook a hand. It's time to pitch in and help Mitch get their cattle to market--any way they can.