The Silent Songbird ~ Review

The Silent Songbird
Hagenheim #7
By Melanie Dickerson

Evangeline is a political pawn - the hidden away daughter of the late Duke of Clarence, the granddaughter of a king and cousin of King Richard II. As such her life is not her own and she has caught the eye (or ear) of Lord Shiveley with her musical gift of voice. But marriage with Lord Shiveley is one thing Evangeline refuses to submit to.

Slipping away Evangeline joins a group of servants returning to their small village of Glynval after a trading trip. Hiding her voice is imperative to her escape so she takes on the role of a young mute servant. With no skills to prove useful as a servant Evangeline fears she will soon be turned out. But the le Wyse family is kind and offers her the chance to learn as she takes on the role of a servant.

But when Evangeline's secret is revealed her future and her heart hang in the balance. Can she trust those who have discovered the truth to not expose her or will she find herself again about to be wed to a man who she fears and despises?  When an even greater threat is discovered Evangeline must decide if she will surrender her heart and her future to save those dear to her and the kingdom?

This is yet another delightful book from Melanie Dickerson. Evangeline's attempts at being a servant are at times almost humorous if so much was not at stake. I can say having attempted to use a scythe myself at one time I'm positive I would be as handy with it as Evangeline - it is not easy to use and very dangerous in my hands.

I would highly recommend this book and series for those looking for clean fiction that is uplifting. The setting of this book is 14th century England - not Germany for those wondering. This book can stand alone if you have not previously read Melanie's previous books. Teens and adults alike will enjoy this book.

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


About the Book:

Evangeline is gifted with a heavenly voice, but she is trapped in a sinister betrothal—until she embarks on a daring escape and meets brave Westley le Wyse. Can he help her discover the freedom to sing again?

Desperate to flee a political marriage to her cousin King Richard II’s closest advisor, Lord Shiveley—a man twice her age with shadowy motives—Evangeline runs away and joins a small band of servants journeying back to Glynval, their home village.

Pretending to be mute, she gets to know Westley le Wyse, their handsome young leader, who is intrigued by the beautiful servant girl. But when the truth comes out, it may shatter any hope that love could grow between them.

More than Evangeline’s future is at stake as she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens England’s monarchy. Should she give herself up to protect the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?

Fuse of Armageddon ~ Review

Fuse of Armageddon
By Sigmund Brouwer
     and Hank Hanegraaff

Negotiating the release of hostages is Mulvaney Quinn's life and he'll risk his own life to keep anyone else from having to suffer the loss he suffered 5 years ago. But someone has targeted CCTI and specifically Quinn. The only question is why and who framed him for the brutal murders?

Unfortunately for Quinn the lead detective on the case Kate Penner has tracked him down in the ACCO (Israel) and she's determined to see him charged with the with the hate crime she thinks he committed. And Quinn is returning to the United States in handcuffs.

But when a terrorist takes 30 tourists hostage Quinn is the requested negotiator. What Quinn and Kate don't know is that the have been caught up in an international incident that could bring the world into a religious war unlike anything the world has ever known. But who is pulling the threads that will bring the world to its knees? Determining the answer to this question is the difference between war or peace.

As Quinn struggles to keep his past and the emotions that come with it from effecting him, he sees a picture that no one expected him to see. Someone is attempting to force Armageddon upon the world and they'll stop at nothing to get the results they desire. But there are several factors in play and the those involved have reaches into the highest levels of power. Trust is at a premium and betrayal is around every corner.

Everything hinges on one question who does God love and care for? This book may give you a new perspective on Israel and those who call the region home.

About the Book:
Hostage negotiator Mulvaney Quinn is unaware that global catastrophe is hours away. 
He is equally unaware of how his past is about to betray him. When he is sent into a hostage situation in the Gaza Strip with a woman cop who hunted him for a hate crime he didn't commit, they become unlikely allies fleeing for survival. Only the two of them can stop an unholy trinity prepared to trigger a final battle of civilizations... and prevent the coming Armageddon.

Scarlet Moon ~ Review

Scarlet Moon
Children of the Blood Moon #1
By S.D. Grimm

Someone is targeting the children who were born on the night of the Blood Moon and the fate of a world is in the balance. The Children of the Blood Moon all have an identifying birthmark and skills that have gifted them. But with people intent on capturing them no one is safe - not their families, their friends, or their villages.

With villages destroyed and evidence pointing to the Feravolk as the guilty party Queen Idla provides the comfort and encouragement the people seek. But evil is at work and not all is as it seems to be. And caught up in this onslaught of evil is Jayden, a young woman whose very family is destroyed by those seeking the gifted. But Jayden is more than just one of the Children of the Moon - she maybe one of the four Deliverers who were prophesied.

But surviving long enough to find out what exactly a Deliverer is suppose to be and do may take all of Jayden's skills along with those of her new allies and friends.  Time is short and the danger is great. Bonds will be forged, sacrifices made, and lives will be lost.  Loyalties will be questioned and evil will have its day. But who will win this battle and gain an advantage in the war that seems sure to be coming.

Scarlet Moon is one book you'll have trouble putting down if you like books that hint at something greater is yet to come. Fans of Jill Williamson's Kinsman Chronicles and Nadine Brandes's Out of Time series will love this debut. My only complaint is I now have to wait for the second book  to come out.  I highly recommend this book for fans of Speculative Fiction. I totally love the cover - it so portrays the danger and all its facets wonderfully!

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




About the Book:
Destiny can pick someone else. Evil is slipping through the cracks of its prison, and all Soleden trembles in its wake. Yet some would harness that evil to their own ends, and first among them is Idla, the sorceress queen bent on distorting the world. 

Only one can stand in her way: Jayden. Upon realizing her mark as the prophesied Deliverer, Jayden conceals herself from her enemies and her Feravolk countrymen. But after the harm the Feravolk caused to her family, she s loath to rescue the not-so-innocent.

Hiding her mark was never easy, but now that Jayden knows both Queen Idla and the Feravolk are after her, hiding her gift of the Blood Moon will be impossible.

Candle Day by Day Bible ~ Review

Candle Day by Day Bible in a Year
By Juliet David 

  Illustrations by Jane Heyes

Children's Bible Stories

for Every Day

This Candle Day by Day Bible is a way for children to read a condensed version of the Bible over a year. This Bible is formatted so that it is like a perpetual flip calendar, but there are no dates on it. The days are numbered 1 to 365 with the change over from Old Testament to New Testament at days 244 / 245.  Each day is illustrated with a corresponding picture - Day 1 is In the beginning has a picture of space with a dark sphere (presumably the earth).  Day 29 is Dove and leaf with a picture of the dove returning to Noah and the ark with a green leaf. Day 251 is A baby is born has a picture of the Nativity scene with Mary and Joseph and the animals surrounding Baby Jesus in the manger. Day 346 is Two sad friends which depicts the road to Emmaus story.

Each story is short and with the easel styled stand the story can be displayed all day so that it can be read by anyone as they pass it. Children will anticipate the flip of the page as they learn about the Bible. This is not a complete Bible as it only touches on the more familiar stories. This is an introduction to the Bible and should viewed as such. This will not take up much space when displayed.

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



About the Book:
The award-winning Candle Day by Day Bible is now available in a spiral-bound desk calendar format. All of a child's favorite stories and illustrations are easily accessible and on view all day long. One story per day.

Candle Day by Day Walk with Jesus ~ Review

Candle Day by Day Walk with Jesus
By Juliet David 

   Illustrated by Jane Heyes

Read the story of Jesus in 40 Days

This is a delightful book that tells the story of Jesus from the announcement to Mary that she was to be the mother of a special baby through His Ascension. The story is broken into 40 days with illustrations that will help children visualize what is being shared.

The stories are short so as to hold the attention of even the smallest span. This would be an excellent nightly devotional for the family to share together. The Christmas story takes place over 7 days and would be a timely week before Christmas reminder of the true reason for the season.

This hardcover book is small so even the smallest lap sitter could hold this during the reading. There are a total of 48 pages with 40 of them for the textual portions of the story. The illustrations are colorful with a few pages dedicated solely to illustrations. This would be a delightful gift to a young or expecting family. 

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:
This beautiful gift book makes a wonderful addition to the award-winning Candle Day by Day collection. The story of Jesus's life is told over forty days, and presented in the elegant day-by-day styling with page borders and richly colored pictures. Includes an introductory note to suggest how the book could be used.

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?