Melodrama At It’s Finest

 

 

The Forgiven Duke by  Jamie Carie

For the life of me, I am enjoying this series.  And when I say it’s melodrama at its finest, well part of me feels like I’m sneaking in some daytime soap watching while I read these books.  There is just something about the storyline that is impossibly over-the-top and yet so fascinating that you can’t wait to see what happens next!

Book two of the Forgotten Castles series starts moments from where the first ended.  Alex is on her next stop in her quest to find her missing parents.  The Duke has just missed her and is devastated to find that she boarded a ship as the wife of Lord Lemon.  Alex keeps going as if she is doing God’s will, much as she did in the first installment, however there comes a point when she starts to grow up and realizes that she is doing exactly as she wants and hoping God will bless her in her disobedience.

The Forgotten Castles series must be read from the beginning as it is one continuous story.  You cannot pick it up in the middle and have it make much sense.  I am looking forward to finishing the story with The Duke’s Promise.

For more information and to read an excerpt from this book--click here--!  To visit Jamie Carie's website--click here--or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

 

I received this book free of charge from B&H Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Whom Can She Trust?

 

The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen

There are no new students waiting to attend the Smallwood Academy.  Finances are low and Mr. Smallwood does not have much interest in anything since the death of his wife. Hoping to raise her depressed father’s spirits, Emma Smallwood encourages her father to take a temporary tutoring position in the home of two former students.  Unfortunately, the tutor and his daughter are not as welcome in the home as they were led to believe.   And although Emma looks forward to the possibility of renewing the acquaintance of her school girl crush, she loathes the idea spending time in the same house as his pestering older brother. 

This is an entirely enjoyable story that runs along the gothic story telling lines; complete with plenty of mystery, romance, and danger.  The visual descriptions are stunning. It is totally worth the time to read it!

To read the first two chapters of this novel--click here--or on the title above!  To visit Julie Klassen's website--click here--or visit her Facebook page!

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All She Wants Is A Better Life

 

Against The Tide by Elizabeth Camden

Having been chased out of their Mediterranean seaside home, Lydia Pallas’ family wanders the oceans until they reach Boston Harbor.  There they hope to settle a bit and get Lydia into school.  Tragedy strikes the family’s fishing boat and leaves Lydia an orphan in a strange land.

Lydia grows up and leaves behind the orphanage she loathes.  Determined not to live in poverty any longer she uses her skills with languages to translate documents for the Navy.  She knows she is lucky to have such a great job working with men who are fatherly and brotherly towards her.  She is comfortable and happy making her own way in the world and does not want anything to change.  Enter Alexander Bainbridge—a one man crusade against the opium trade.

Lydia as spent her young life relying on herself to get what she wants.  She does not like change and everything needs to be perfectly in order.  Bane is trying to honor God and make up for a young life lived in crime as an opium trader.  He inadvertently gets Lydia into an extremely dangerous situation with his nemesis.

This is the first of Elizabeth Camden’s novels I have read.  The story is a unique and absorbing to read.  It’s not always a happy read but it is well worth the effort.  I am looking forward to more of the author’s work.

For more information about this book--click here--or on the title above!  Visit Elizabeth Camden's website here!

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Impulsive!

At Every Turn by Anne Mateer

Impulsive and full of zeal is exactly what young Alyce Benson is.  When she sees the tiny faces of children in need in Africa she pledges three thousand dollars to help the mission work over there.  Unfortunately, Alyce pledges her father’s money, money he is not willing to part with.  Now she has to come up with the money or look like a fool in front of the entire church congregation.  Good thing Alyce likes to drive—really fast.

I don’t think I have ever read a story set in this time about women racers, or even women drivers for that matter.  It seems that just driving around town was frowned upon by society.  Alyce manages to conceal her identity and enter several races to earn her money, but has to deceive her family along the way.  She has a heart of gold that gets her in trouble when mixed with her impulsiveness. It’s a fun story where we get to watch as our heroine does a lot of growing up.

For more information about this book--click here--or the title above!

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for and honest review.

Are You My Servant?

Judge by R.J. Larson

That’s the question Kien Lantec must answer in the second book of the Books Of The Infinite series.  Is he the Infinite’s servant no matter what, even when he is being asked to do something out of his comfort zone?  This military judge is about to become a prophet for his Creator, and a slightly reluctant one at that.  Meanwhile Parne’s Prophet, Ela Roeh, has seen a vision of the destruction of her home and must return to save her people.

Kien and Ela go their separate ways as they do the will of the Infinite.  Kien learns that being a prophet is not very easy and requires absolute surrender of his will.  His disobedience lands him a less than pleasant ride inside a sea monster.  Ela feels the heartbreak of learning the people she grew up with have been slowly turning from the Infinite to worship false gods.

R.J. Larson has done a wonderful job, again, of taking a “fantasy” world and using it as a way for us to feel what the prophets of the Old Testament may have felt as they did the will of their Creator.   The elation of success when people hear the Word of the LORD and do His will and the utter devastation when one sees loved ones turn from God.  This is an absolutely engaging story; I couldn’t wait to get through the story to see what would happen next, but at the same time, hated to finish it!

I am greatly looking forward to next installment, King.  I am also glad to know that I’m not the only one who wants their own Destroyer!

For more information about this book--click here-- or on the title above!

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

I Waited So Long For This Book

Jesus A Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

I love the concept of putting all together how Jesus shows up throughout the Bible. He doesn’t just show up somewhere in the middle; He is there from before the foundations of the earth because He is God.  When I first saw this book I knew that I wanted to read it.  I haven’t read anything by either of these authors before but have heard good things about their other books.

I cannot explain what it is that surprisingly disappointed me about this book I had so longed to read.  I’m not sure if it is because the concept is not new to me having grown up in a really good church that taught Jesus as the Alpha and Omega.  Maybe it was the flowery prose that turned me off.  I just know that within a few pages I could hardly stand to read more.  There are some good parts but I’m not sure it’s worth the effort of getting through the rest.  I really wish that I had liked this book.

For more information about this book--click here--or the title above!

I received this book free of charge from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Oliver!

Focus on the FamilyRadio Theatre  Oliver Twist

Somehow I made it through my schooling without having read Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.  Not only have I not read it but I have also managed to miss every movie version there is.  I wasn’t sure about getting the radio adaptation but I am very glad I did.  The five disk production is well done, exciting, and keeps you wanting to know what will happen next.  For those not familiar with radio productions—that does not mean it is a musical—there is no singing.  It is an adaptation of the original story.

My family has been listening to the cds as we drive around town.  I have a six, four, and three year-old children with me most of the time.  My six year-old listens most of the time and will ask what is going on in the story.  Much of it is over his head yet.  The story is violent in places, so you want to keep that in mind when listening with little ones.  All my children like when Mr. Bumble shows up.  I think they like to hear people say his name! 

It is a great story well done and something I will look forward to listening again and again.  The cds also come with a dvd with behind the scenes look at the making of the program.

For more information about this production--click here--or on the title above!

I received this audio set through Tyndale House Publishers free of charge in exchange for an honest review.