Tuesday, August 2, 2011

The Ale Boy's Feast by Jeffrey Overstreet

Please rate this review here: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/11289

Jeffrey Overstreet's book is a very unique story of colors, hope, deception, and mystery that feeds the imagination.  It's the fourth book and the white strand in the Auralia Thread.  It starts out right after the last book when the King of Abascar in the Expanse went missing after his desperate rescue attempt, to save some of his people from slavery, went  horribly wrong.  The ale boy, who was helping the king, also disappeared by falling into a crack in the ground.  Miles underground this brave heart, the ale boy called Rescue by many, finds an underground river and tries to lead the survivors to safety.  The other half of the Abascar people are also traveling but through a dangerous bloodthirsty forest trying to find an ancient mythic city of safety.  Much awaits the heroes of this story as the last leg of their journey may be the most difficult yet.  When a great deception seems to shake King Cal-Raven, can he find hope in the truth?  Can the evil Seers of the Expanse and their Curse be yet defeated?

This enchanting story was most colorfully and skillfully written.  I read this book before reading any of the other books made before it thus making this book's story very confusing.  I would advise starting with the first three books in this order: Auralia's Colors, Cyndere's Midnight, and Raven's Ladder.  My plan is to go back and read these three books and then the last one again because I really liked it.  Though not necessarily a Christian allegory it still had a christian influence.  The story makes you look at the beauty of nature differently and praise the creator for his wonderful creation.  Even though it's Christian, it still has adult themes that should not be read by children.  Older teens and adults would love this book if they would like to explore creation a whole new way.

(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review and this opinion is my own.)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long

When reading books, I look for the unusual stories or ones that stand out.  That's why I was intrigued once I had read the description for this book.  It is about Lilly Lapp, who has always admired the strong spirited Jacob.  The thing is that he has had his sights set on another girl, Sarah King, since childhood.  One day though, she marries another man and Jacob is crushed.  Without much of a choice or a heart left to give, he agrees to marry Lilly.  Can true love blossom between these two down spirited young adults?  They can only trust God with their future to find out, but you have to read the book to know what happens.

Besides it being a charming amish book, the romance was very different.  The thing is that they, from their point of view, agreed to a marriage without love.  That in itself makes for an interesting story.  Much of how they became engaged is also interesting.  This book is the second in the "A Patch of Heaven" novels and I recommend buying and reading the first one before this book.  The first book is called Sarah's Garden and if it's as good as this one, then you will be pleased.  I think the first one is about Sarah King's, the girl Jacob likes, romance.  So if you are looking to buy some intriguing amish love stories, I recommend these two.

(This was a book, of my choice, that booksneeze.com sent to me for free if I agreed to read it and review it honestly.)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest by Chuck Black

Rate my review here: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/7467

This final book of the Knights of Arrethtrae series was really good.  It ends the series by connecting to the coming again of the Prince in the Kingdom Series.  Sir Rowan is a very famous tournament knight of Cameria but has forsaken the Prince and his ways.  Then one day, all is taken from Sir Rowan when he is left for dead by the people he trusted.  Sir Rowan is then given a second chance, from the Prince, when a lady helps him.  Once he recovers, he finds all is not good in his beloved land of Cameria.  The Dark Knight is destroying Chessington's strongest ally from the inside out.  Sir Rowan is then pulled in two directions; to either help get back Cameria or go with a mysterious man who says Sir Rowan's destiny lies elsewhere.  Can Sir Rowan decide before it's to late?

This was a dramatic story of deception, truth, love, and the Prince.  The story had some interesting twists and themes that are hard to forget.  The spiritual allegories were amazing as always but this time it was to a whole new level.  I was really sad that it was the last book in this series and I hope that Chuck Black goes on to make many more books for us to enjoy.  I definitely recommend this book to other fantasy lovers of all ages.

The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

Rate this review here: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/7462

This was a very interesting Amish story about how love isn't always enough to overcome some obstacles.  Lena is an Amish schoolteacher who has a very visible birthmark on her cheek.  She doubts that she'll ever find a special someone to look beyond the mark and see who she really is.  The school board is also giving her a hard time about some of the incidents happening while she has been the school teacher.  They are sure she is behind the mishaps because of her lack of submission to them.  Grey Graber is trapped in a disheartening situation where there is strife and silence within his marriage.  When his wife, Elsie, and him finally take steps to a second chance, the unthinkable happens.  When it seems like the world is against Lena and Grey, can they get past the heartache of the past and build a bridge of peace toward a better future?

The book was very unique, well written, and the second in the Ada's House Series.  I would read the first book of this series, The Hope of Refuge, before you read this one.  Even though the story was very encouraging and the characters were memorable, it progressed very slowly and I had a hard time getting into it.   Besides Lena, Grey, and Elsie's stories, there are two to three other romances between couples integrated in the book.  This makes the book a little hard to remember who everyone is but there is a character list at the back of the book.  There is also one very creepy character and some sad parts so only older teens and adults should read it.  If you like complex and amish stories then this is the book for you.

(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review and this opinion is my own.)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue by Chuck Black

Please rate my review here: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/4840

This fourth book of the the Knights of Arrethtrae was outstanding and definitely worth reading.  It is about an experienced and dedicated Knight of the Prince, Lady Carliss.   After having just helped a friend with an adventure, she embarks on one of her own.  It starts when her friend's family is kidnapped and taken to the city of Moorue.  On her way there, Lady Carliss meets Sir Dalton again but before long, he is bitten by a poisonous lizard.  As it happens, the cure is in Moorue in Lord Malco deadly swamp.  Her feelings for Sir Dalton also arise again during her journey even though he is already taken by Lady Brynn.  Can she master her feelings and defeat the spreading evil in Moorue before it's too late?  Will she choose to save Dalton's life or the lives of some of the Moorue citizens? That's because all of their lives are running out of time but only one or the other may be reached in time.

This was my favorite book in the knights of Arrethtrae series not only because it's the only one mainly about a girl, but because the theme made me analyze my life the most.  The struggle, in the story, to not think about "love" was also encouraging.  As always, the Christian allegories found in the story were amazing and thought provoking.  I recommend this to other teens and kids, especially girls :), who want to be encouraged in the faith of Jesus Christ.  The King reigns...and His Son.

Buy book here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421272
Download Chapter one here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421272&view=news-videos

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart by Chuck Black

Please rate this review here: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/4835

Have you ever doubted when it comes to Christianity and the Bible?  Well this epic adventure is one book you don't want to miss!! It's about a young knight of the Prince, Sir Dalton, who's got popularity, a potential love (Lady Brynn), and skills just waiting to be developed but something is missing in his life. Also, He and all the other knights, except for two, at his local haven don't seem to be worried about some other young people who start disappearing while on missions.  One day, Sir Dalton gets attacked and captured by Lord Drox, an evil Shadow Warrior.   Can Sir Dalton break out of the bonds holding him down or will he be a prisoner forever?

This was the third book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series and was as engaging as the first two.  I liked how Chuck Black started the book off at the middle of the story and then did a flashback.  This technique worked really well by grabbing my interest right off the bat.  The theme of the book was helpful and thought provoking.  When I was younger, I remember having problems with what the theme addresses and really wish I had read this book then.  I also liked the mysterious mountain hermit that helps Sir Dalton.  I would recommend this book to teens and older kids who have trouble with doubt in their lives.  I know this book will encourage and teach you to be a stronger Christian.

Buy book here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421265
Download Chapter One here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421265&view=news-videos

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court by Chuck Black

The second book in the Knights of Arrethtrae series was very exciting.  It's about Sir Bentley who goes from the life of a wealthy man's son to a hard working peasant, by his own choice.  While trying to search out the truth about a stranger (the prince), he ends up in the city of Holbrook where evil is running rampant.  He also meets the mysterious Maiden of Mercy, named Eirwyn, who is trying to lessen the suffering of the citizens of Holbrook.  A lot is in store for Sir Bentley in this story including a vicious sea monster and a cruel Dark Knight.  You don't want to miss it.

I really enjoyed the spiritual application and characters found in this book.  The twists were unexpected and made the book all the better.  I also had a hard time putting this book down and know that you will too, if you give it a chance.  I recommend it to older kids and teens that need encouragement in the faith of Christianity.

Buy Book here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421258
Download Chapter One here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421258&view=news-videos
Rate my Review here: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/4751