Breath of Peace

I received a copy of THE BREATH OF PEACE by Penelope Wilcock from Lion Hudson via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  It is the seventh installment in the Hawk and Dove series.  I absolutely love this historical fiction series.  This book is no exception to the long running entertainment.  The fourteenth century truly comes alive. 

In this seventh book, William de Bulmer and Madeleine Hazell are married.  William is a former monk.  I loved watching them struggle with their marriage – not because they were struggling, but because they learned how to deal with it.  So many people give up on marriage without trying to understand themselves and others.  Both William and Madeleine have their own issues that they need to work through, that seep through into their marriage – just like so many of us today.

William and Madeleine visit Friar John at the monastery, where he is able to counsel them with wise advice that the reader can take away into the twenty-first century.  The human nature of this story truly shines through, proving that Penelope Wilcock is an excellent writer worthy of taking note.

For lovers of historical fiction and Christian fiction, I highly recommend this novel. 

Bottled - cover reveal

BOTTLED is a YA fantasy novel. It will release July 7, 2016, from Clean Reads.  

BIO:

Carol Riggs is an author of YA fiction who lives in the beautiful green state of Oregon, USA. Her debut novel, THE BODY INSTITUTE, released Sept 2015 from Entangled Teen, exploring body image and identity. Her fantasy YA, BOTTLED, will release from Clean Reads on July 7, 2016, and her sci-fi YA, SAFE ZONE, will release from Entangled Teen in October 2016. She enjoys reading, drawing and painting, writing conferences, walking with her husband, and enjoying music and dance of all kinds. You will usually find her in her writing cave, surrounded by her dragon collection and the characters in her head.

Connect with Carol:

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Add this book to your Goodreads reading list: BOTTLED

BOTTLED:

At seventeen, Adeelah Naji is transformed into a genie and imprisoned in a bottle. For a thousand years, she fulfills the wishes of greedy masters—building their palaces, lining their pockets with gold, and granting them every earthly pleasure. All that sustains her is the hope of finding Karim, the boy she fell in love with as a human. When at last she finds a note from her beloved, she confirms he has access to the elixir of life and that he still searches for her.

But someone else also hunts her. Faruq—the man who plots to use her powers to murder and seize the life forces of others—is just one step behind her. With the help of a kind master named Nathan, Adeelah continues to search for Karim while trying to evade Faruq. To complicate matters, she begins to experience growing fatigue and pain after conjuring, and finds herself struggling against an undeniable attraction to Nathan.

As Faruq closes in, Adeelah must decide just how much she’ll risk to protect Nathan and be with Karim forever. How much power does she really have to change her future, and what is she willing to sacrifice for an eternity of love? If she makes the wrong choice, the deaths of many will be on her hands.

Advanced Praise for BOTTLED:
“Bottled has everything you could want in a story: humor, suspense, action, and romance. The twists kept me glued to the pages.”
~Elizabeth Langston, author of I Wish and Whisper Falls

Keepers of the Forest

I bought a copy of KEEPERS OF THE FOREST by James McNally.  I know James personally – we work at the same bank and we do author events together.  That does not influence my opinion at all.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book going in.  I had never read a James McNally novel before, but was excited to try this one.  This story took place in the Adirondacks, an area of New York State that I love and have visited quite a few times in the past.

He really captures their essence.  It reminded me of all those trips I’ve taken.  The cover image, by the way, is perfect. 

Overall, this is a thrill ride about human nature and nature itself.  When I finish a book, I tend to think about similar books I have read.  I really can’t think of a book that’s like this one.  Good job on a unique idea!

Crimson Tides

I received a copy of CRIMSON TIDES from Eliza Tilton in exchange for an honest review.  It is the third installment in the Daath Chronicles. 

I read this with a bittersweet taste in my mouth.  It is the final book in the trilogy.  Eliza and I were critique partners as she was writing book 1.  I always knew it would be a series of action and romance.  Beautiful sentences.  Powerful scenes.  This conclusion to the trilogy, however, blew me away!

Without giving away any spoilers, you get to explore the minds of Avikar, Lucino, and Jeslyn.  Lucino was my favorite character.  I found him to be the most complex, and I have enjoyed watching him grow throughout the series.  If you have read the other books, be prepared for something a little darker, but the story can still be counted as a light fantasy. 

Speaking of Lucino, I loved his relationship with Jeslyn.  It almost made her tie with him for my favorite character in CRIMSON TIDES.

On a side note, the series has undergone an amazing transformation cover-wise!

Fencing Reputation

I received a copy of FENCING REPUTATION SHARDS OF LIGHT VOLUMTE 2 from William L. Hahn in exchange for an honest review. 

It starts with a map.  I love maps!  Okay, onto the story…

I found it thoroughly engaging.  I grew up with tales of nonstop action and memorable characters.  Lately I’ve been reading slightly different books, so it was great to go back to my roots, so to speak.  I hate to give spoilers, so how about this – go into this book prepared for intrigue and humor.  I loved the humor.  Some situations were downright hysterical.  Most of those books I used to read didn’t have the humor aspect, and I found that with FENCING REPUTATION, it kept me turning the pages (metaphorically speaking, as I was reading it on my computer).  The book isn’t all fun and games, though.  There is the perfect mixture.  

The Reform

I met Almondie Shampine at a book signing at a local library and knew I had to get a copy for my “signed” bookshelf.  I chose THE REFORM, book 1 in the Modules series.  It sounded interesting, especially as it talks about the state and education.  As someone with an education degree, I know what the core curriculum is like.

I loved the relationship between Catina and Kadrin.  It was realistic; at times infuriating and other times sweet.  I also enjoyed Almondie Shampine’s idea of the Reform.  Complex, well-thought-out, and downright chilling! 

My Toddler Bible

I received a copy of MY TODDLER BIBLE by Juliet David from Candle Books via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  This little hardcover is illustrated by Chris Embleton-Hall. 

The tome contains both the Old and New Testament, the stories retold to be appropriate for young minds to grasp the significance and meaning.  The bright illustrations help to bring it alive.  The people are slightly bubble-drawn, reminding me of dolls.

I can see this appealing to any child.  It would make a perfect addition to bedtime.  I can also see this in a Sunday school classroom.  My teacher brain always kicks into gear when given a book like this.  From my experience with little kids, it is sometimes hard to get them to sit still, but the vividness of this book should do the trick.

I can also see this bring used for slightly older children to help them learn how to read.  The font is very easy and the words are simplistic while still being powerful.

I was going to give this to a family member, but now that I have discovered that I am pregnant, I will be saving it for my little boy. 

MY TODDLER BIBLE is highly recommended.