Refugees by R.A. Denny

From Amazon:
"An epic journey of a lifetime." That's what three young individuals from three different corners of the world have dreamed about. They were destined for greatness since the moment they were born. But what if they don't want it? What if they're not ready? What if their desires no longer align with the prophecy?

The problem is, they have no choice. The star has appeared. Their destiny has already begun to unfold.

It's not the send-off that they've been dreaming of. Forced out. Banished. Raided. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Now they must discover who they really are while embarking on the most exciting journey of their lives. One star. One impossible task. One chance to save the world they love.

About one month ago I received an email from R.A Denny herself. I have never had a personal request to review a book from someone before and I wasn't sure what to think (well, at first I thought it was just spam because that's all I typically get on my blog email address). However, I took a second read-through, and was pleasantly surprised that she read my reviews and took the time to explain her book and comment on what I had read and reviewed. Then I got a bit excited. ;)

This book is the first in a series of six Mud, Rocks, and Trees fantasy novels. Each landscape has it's own story and characters. And because it's fantasy, the author can make the land and people as she likes. I love the creativity R.A. Denny uses in designing her book: Webbies, humans, Gliders, Samalitans, fliers, Armored, hydois, chamois, Sparaggi, and many more such names live and act in the city of Tzoladia.

Refugees tells the personal stories of Amanki, Brina, and Moshoi as they each realize from the certain star that appears one night that they have predetermined plans to fulfill. From the start, their journeys are filled with friendship and challenges. Their families may or may not agree with the call placed upon them. They have limited information as to how to get where they're going, and sometimes they even lack supplies. But they end up realizing that while they appear to be refugees from the start, they have the most important task of their time. And they don't even know each other, but their paths will lead to one fulfillment of one star and one prophecy. And each three characters are joined together somehow through the influence of Baskrod.

Though subtle, the themes of Scripture run throughout these intertwined stories. I'll let you see if you can find them yourself. ;) Amanki, Brina, and Moshoi learn something of the evil that desires to take over their world, and of the spiritual promptings of those who guide their steps. And throughout the days they even find out more of their personal history than they even dream of. Even the star they follow sometimes takes different forms.

I'm glad this author contacted me and asked for a review, and perhaps one day I'll buy all the rest of the series and finish what I started. Well done, R.A. Denny! 

Book Release and Review! | Crowning Heaven by Emily Hayse

From Amazon: 
Heaven Cassidy has only ever wanted one thing: a family. But when she opens a letter from her long-lost mother, she finds herself running for her life. Swept into a world of proud queens and ancient feuds, Heaven must decide whether her dream is worth taking on the responsibility of two kingdoms, one of which wants to crown her and the other to kill her.

It's finally here!

I was so privileged to receive an ARC ebook of Crowning Heaven, and I've decided that the cover is quite perfect. The stormy blue background studded with stars and a flash of light is just like the story itself. Crowning Heaven is actually about placing a crown on the head of a girl named Heaven. I have to say that because I had heard and read the title for a while before I actually realized that it wasn't some doctrinal book about heaven and the crowns in it. (Yes, I know, not everyone's mind goes there, but mine does. :P)

There are a few books that have been or are being released currently, and some of them you just must have. This is a must have. The characters are beautifully portrayed and I love how they grow and change. Two worlds intersect when Heaven is born, though she doesn't even know it yet. She knows little of her parents, but the few things she finds out change her world completely. The first few lines of the story set the time period and capture the scene immediately. Heaven learns to love her new family and take up the role Rodhacar and Castellan give to her. Not many people can bridge the gap between these two nations, but there are a few who do, and Heaven finds out how just very important she is to the uniting of the warring countries.

Emily Hayse excels in writing and portraying emotion. I sorrowed when characters died, but the joy among friendships was well worth it. Heaven finds out she needs to pursue marriage as a way to give her strength, finances, and armies. While I was surprised at the way she chose her suitors, I loved how Emily brought about romance in countries that typically married for convenience, rather than love.

The fantasy elements were also intriguing. I enjoyed the portal between the worlds, and how technology spanned Earth and Rodhacar. Also, because I love horses and riding, I quite enjoyed the fact that everyone rode horses instead of cars. ;) Heaven journals, too, and because her character is similar to me in many ways, Heaven's writing and life desires were something I could quickly identify with and see how they molded her thoughts and actions. My favorite characters would be (besides Heaven) Tyr, Athen, and Breac. Thrasi, Lysander, and Nic also hold special places in my heart.

I wish I could do justice to this story with a review, but you will just have to read it yourself now that it has been released!! Heaven's story and the people who live with her and die for her will stay with you even when you close the last page. And for my fellow Christian readers, I believe this book will provide a glimpse into what it means to fight alongside your brothers and sisters in unity, while also living or dying for truth. Fantasy books typically parallel that of our physical or spiritual world, and this one is no different. Heaven's quiet courage, Athen's steadfastness, Breac's sacrifice, and Nic's protection are just a few of the people and character qualities that we would do well to emulate in our lives.

Well done, Emily! :) 

Paul: Apostle of Christ by Angela Hunt

Back Cover: 
His Story Will Change the World, But Only If It's Shared in Time

Paul, Apostle of Christ is the story of two men. Luke, as a friend and physician, risks his life every time he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, who is held captive in Nero's bleakest prison cell. Before Paul's execution, Luke resolves to write another book, one that details the beginnings of "the Way" and the birth of what will come to be known as the church. But Nero is determined to rid Rome of Christians.

Paul has survived so much--floggings, shipwreck, starvation, stoning, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure--yet as he waits for his appointment with death, he is haunted by the shadows of his past. He wonders if he has been forgotten . . . and if he has the strength to finish well.

Two men struggle against a determined emperor and the frailties of the human spirit in order to bequeath the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

The movie Paul: Apostle of Christ released mid-February, and while I haven't watched the movie yet, I was eager to read the novel based on it by Angela Hunt. I was first introduced to her through the  ebook Egypt's Sister and recently just reviewed the second book in the series, Judah's Wife. She writes persuasively and compellingly while documenting history. I also appreciate that the fictional parts of her books are realistic and not over- or under-done. 

While indeed a life account of Paul, this book is written more from Luke's perspective, and as he was a doctor, I loved how he saw the details of life and the medical sides of issues. And perhaps, he was the most fitted to interact with Paul, in that, he could offer healing and aid physically while also giving encouragement and stability through Paul's hardships. 

Paul remains in prison throughout most of the story, but he and Luke work together to write the book of Acts: a record of much of Paul's activities. The Roman life is described as the horror it could be with the torture of Christians and the imprisonment of Paul, but it is not extremely graphic. 

I didn't know whether I liked the frequent introspection of Paul. While I realize that a man like himself, with a past of persecuting Christians, could undoubtedly bring guilt and sorrow to his mind, I don't know that it was consistent with his teaching in Scripture on forgiveness and pressing towards the calling of Christ. Obviously, I don't know everything about what went on in Paul's mind, as most of his stories and books are history and doctrine, but if Hunt intended to gain empathy for Paul from the reader, she certainly did. Luke, too, struggled with anger, and I wasn't sure that I agreed with that either, but she did do it well to make the characters more human. I think sometimes we can forget that people like Paul and Luke were also like we are and do struggle with certain sins. 

Aside from those points, I just loved reading all the words that Paul spoke knowing that now I hold (many) completed Scripture in my hands with the words he was inspired with so long ago. It makes Scripture come alive in many ways. Hunt also did well with portraying Roman believers (or those sympathetic to Christians) and other believers who ended up responding in wrong ways to Nero's persecution. Witnessing is frequent and believers challenge those outside Christ to evaluate their faith and eternal well-being. Hospitality is the mission of Aquila and Priscilla's life, and I loved their role in the book--that of being a harbor and safe place for Christians. Paul's gospel and the message to the world was proclaimed further than he would have ever thought, and throughout this book I was encouraged in my own personal faith. 

*I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. 

Cover Reveal | Crowning Heaven by Emily Hayse

Hello, friends!
I'm back to announce the cover reveal of Crowning Heaven! Emily's been hard at work on this book ever since I started following her on social media, and I'm so happy to announce that her book is almost here!!! The snippets I've read and seen have been amazing, and I really hope to read it soon.

Isn't the cover just amazing? The burst of light against the dark starry background is just perfect and it gives the right incentive to open up the pages and dive into another world.

Here's a little bit about the book and some of Emily's social media profiles. Check her out and order her book if you can. :)

Author: Emily Hayse

Release Date: May 15th, 2018

Synopsis: Heaven Cassidy has only ever wanted one thing: a family. But when she opens a letter from her long-lost mother, she finds herself running for her life. Swept into a world of proud queens and ancient feuds, Heaven must decide whether her dream is worth taking on the responsibility of two kingdoms, one of which wants to crown her and the other to kill her.

Twitter: @theherosinger
Instagram: @songsofheroes
Website: emilyhayse.com

I'll be back soon this month with some more book reviews! What have you been reading lately? 

On Pills and Needles by Rick Van Warner

Back Cover:

How could this have happened? How could this sixteen-year-old, who less than a week earlier had left home on a typical Friday morning for school, now be flirting with death by overdose?

When Rick Van Warner found himself searching abandoned buildings for his missing son, he had no idea that the synthetic, pill-form heroin that had snared his teen was already killing so many. In the years of pain and heartache that followed as he tried to save his son from addiction, Van Warner discovered what the public has just recently become aware of: prescription opioids are so addictive that even short-term use can create dependency, igniting an epidemic that now claims nearly 100 American lives each day.

On Pills and Needles is one family's story, but it is also a wake-up call and crash course in opioid addiction. Through his harrowing personal journey, Van Warner exposes the common causes of opioid addiction, effective and ineffective ways it has been treated, and how families can walk alongside loved ones who are dealing with the daily agony of addiction.

I took a course on Substance Abuse for my BA, and my counseling courses also dealt a bit with drug abuse as well. But I never got the chance to see inside a family life that was plagued by the recurrence of drugs. We hear of the fatality rate from drugs. We see statistics and rehab programs. Maybe we even see the victims on the sidewalks. 

But until we enter their world, we don't know. 

Rick Van Warner writes honestly through the struggles of drug abuse in his son, Tommy. He recognizes his failings, but learns not to succumb to guilt of them. He learns boundaries, and sees the wisdom of his younger children. He hears wisdom and opinions, and because of or in spite of them he doesn't give up on his child. 

I learned a little more about opioids than I thought I would. How national death statistics can be the result of Big Pharma and marketing skills. How rehab fails. How each victim's rehab may be different than the last person. How parents and siblings cope. How mental breakdowns can cause physical addictions. How it's not always the person's fault for addiction, but also that they choose to fight it or not. How sometimes family relationships can be the only cause of healing. 

I don't agree with all their family lifestyle choices, and I would have liked to hear about church involvement or support for Rick, Tommy, and their family if there was any. They do profess to be Christians, and Rick does mention that Tommy seemed to lack the awareness and stability of knowing there was a high spiritual power, but I didn't see their faith playing a main role in their challenges. 

I loved reading the scenes where family members specifically chose to reach out to one another. This broke through Tommy's mental instability and gave him encouragement and a reason to keep on fighting. His dad begins to approach him in a way that he was lacking and needing before and Tommy ultimately finds freedom because his dad doesn't give up. There were many let downs and set backs. Never knowing if the ninth rehab program would work. Never knowing if you could trust Tommy. Never knowing if he was coming back in a couple hours or a couple days. Never knowing if you were seeing him for the last time. But they fought and helped Tommy fight. They took risks and decided that they were worth it if unconditional love was the basis for their actions. 

If you want something to read about, or another world to enter, or if you need a reason to be passionate or show compassion for the victims of drug use and abuse, then read this book. (Recommended for 18 and older.)

*I was given a free copy of this book from Baker Books Publishing. This review is my honest opinion and I was not required to write a positive review. 

A Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

From Amazon: 
Broken-down walls and crumbling stones seemed to possess a secret language all their own.

What stories would they tell, if she finally listened?

Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . .

Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.

Bridging the past to the present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations.

This book was an interesting one. I was excited to receive it because the cover was just beautiful and I had seen social media posts about it in several places.

First off, I love how Kristy begins the Prologue with Isaiah 58:12. Just a special passage of mine that is meant to bring hope to the Israelites in a desperate time.

I appreciate the effort Cambron went into in order to write a detailed story spanning the French Revolution, WWII, and present day. She combines several different eras and weaves them all into one story with all the loose ends tied up. I love Aveline's character. She's brought up royally, but doesn't allow that to impede her courtesy and love for others, along with practicality for herself. Robert's relationship with her is one that I love as well. He cares for her when she comes into danger and treats her respectfully, allowing to find her own interests and desires whether or not they coincide with his. Quinn, also, with Ellie, causes her to think, yet enables her to grow her trust of him in small and practical ways. Really, I think the world needs a few more men like Cambron creates in her stories.

One thing Kristy does well is creating good male characters to contrast or compliment her female characters. Robert, Julien, and Quinn all bring out the best in their relationships with female characters and they bring hope and humor (sometimes both) to the story.

I wasn't sure exactly how to write a review of this book because for some reason I didn't connect well with it. I've read both her books in the Hidden Masterpiece series and I loved them and the characters, plot, and depth resonated with me deeply. I feel like Cambron tried to cover too much history in a short amount of time and it didn't come out quite so deeply. It was a bit disappointing as I wanted to love this book, and I still haven't detailed all the reasons why I didn't quite love it (maybe some of it was the French language and lifestyle :P), but I'm happy to say that it's not because of her writing style or character development. She writes with high quality and her characters are well done. I can say that of each of the three books I've read by her. And if you love good romances and history, this is one of many books for you.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Isaiah's Daughter by Mesu Andrews

From Amazon:
In this epic Biblical narrative, ideal for fans of The Bible miniseries, a young woman taken into the prophet Isaiah's household rises to capture the heart of the future king.

Isaiah adopts Ishma, giving her a new name--Zibah, delight of the Lord--thereby ensuring her royal pedigree. Ishma came to the prophet's home, devastated after watching her family destroyed and living as a captive. But as the years pass, Zibah's lively spirit wins Prince Hezekiah's favor, a boy determined to rebuild the kingdom his father has nearly destroyed. But loving this man will awake in her all the fears and pain of her past and she must turn to the only One who can give life, calm her fears, and deliver a nation.

From the first few words of this book, the reader enters the whirlwind of activity that might not be too inaccurate from the Israelites' long past. Andrews relates the story of Ishma. Perhaps she was named for the past, present, or future desolation that she and the nation of Israel experienced, for that is what Ishma means--"desolation". And yet, though her new master, Isaiah, gives her a new name meaning "delight of the Lord", she still struggles with the desolation inside herself and throughout her nation.

There are so many things to love about this book...and to learn as well. I love Yaira's unwavering commitment to the Lord's will through her life, despite the tragic events. I love Hezi's devotion to God even when he lived in the center of wicked palace life. I love Isaiah’s perseverance and courage to prophecy even though it might take his life. And Ishma…I love her for who she is and who she becomes.

Andrews weaves an incredible story surrounding the period of King Ahaz and King Hezekiah, while creating fictional characters to emphasize the humanity of men and the awesomeness of God. I’m still not quite sure I appreciated the portrayal of Isaiah as a righteous prophet yet often misinterpreting prophecies based on his opinion, but I suppose some things are an author’s liberty. ;) And at times I thought Queen Abijah was a bit too fictional, but in no way did either of these elements detract from the message of this book. I loved Isaiah's prophecy because it showed how people could misinterpret God's word at that time, but also it showed how greatly they longed for the coming Messiah and how they lived in the expectation of that hope.

The history that was well-written and included throughout the chapters. Each chapters opens with a passage of Scripture—often from Isaiah and it’s amazing to see how some of the culture and Jewish history would be present in such scenes. Often we read our Bibles with our 21st century mindset and because we know the stories so well, we forget the nation of Israel and its customs and its people. What they wore, how they lived, what they ate and sold, and what they did for work. And sometimes we even forget that they had feelings too. They were fearful for their future, being surrounded by enemies, receiving warnings and prophecies that were uncertain and not always able to be interpreted right away. They had to wait too. They suffered persecution and judgment and yet in the end still remained the beloved people of God. Hephzibah’s title reminds Isaiah and the king (and yes, herself) that God does turn mourning into gladness, and that, after the darkest of nights, joy comes at dawn.