THE MESSENGER

I received a copy of THE MESSENGER by Siri Mitchell from Bethany House. I greatly enjoy Siri Mitchell’s novels, especially SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY and LOVE’S PURSUIT, so I was excited to read this one.




THE MESSEGER is historical fiction set in one of my favorite time periods – the Revolutionary War. Hannah Sunderland is a teenage Quaker living in Philadelphia in 1778. Although the Quaker faith forbids her family from taking sides in the War for Independence, Hannah’s twin brother runs away to join the rebel army. Her brother is now jailed in Philadelphia, but her family and friends refuse to see him. She wishes for a way to visit him with goods.



Meanwhile, Jeremiah Jones has also set his sights on the jail. Despite having lost his arm, Jeremiah owns a prestigious bar and works as a colonial spy. When he discovers Hannah wants to see her brother, he tricks a British solider into giving her a pass. Together, they smuggle notes and supplies into the jail to help the prisoners plan an escape – however, Hannah’s family wants her to have nothing to do with prickly Jeremiah.



I loved becoming immersed in the setting. Siri Mitchell is excellent at writing descriptions and displaying her characters’ emotions. I would have liked to learn more about the Quaker faith, though. Overall, the book kept my interest from the first chapter to the last. I could help but cheer for Hannah and Jeremiah. Their love story is beautifully woven into the suspense.

BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN

A writer knows it takes a new set of eyes to help polish a manuscript. Sometimes, it takes a while to find a great critique partner – someone who really understands you and cheers on your work. I was lucky enough to find that type of critique partner, and friend, in Sherry Soule. Her talent blows my mind. I am honored to have had the pleasure in critiquing her manuscript, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN.

Oh, speaking of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN – it is published through Moonlight Publishing! The book itself is beautiful. The stylistic font and stunning cover encase an enticing story about a young witch. Shiloh, age sixteen, has a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor. Yes, a manor. It gets better. There’s a ghost at the manor, and a hot young man named Trent. The story sucks you in and doesn’t let you out until you turn the last page, hungering for the next book in the Spellbound series.

I look forward to reading book two, and I recommend the series to anyone who likes witches, ghosts, and manors with secrets.

Wanderers

Oliver Neubert sent me his first book in the Wind of Life series, THE FLYERS, in exchange for a review. My review can be found here: http://kissedbyliterature.blogspot.com/2012/01/flyers.html

After the review, we continued to talk and he graciously agreed to an interview, located here: http://kissedbyliterature.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-author-oliver-neubert.html

Now, he’s sent me the sequel to THE FLYERS. The second book in the young adult fantasy series, the Wind of Life, is THE WANDERERS. I was hoping for another story about Timo, but THE WANDERERS follows the path of fourteen-year-old Rider (this book did reference THE FLYERS enough that I still felt satisfied). Where the first book involved mountains, this one dwelt more with the forests and the haunted Flatlands. I found I could connect with it more, since my house is surrounded by a forest. I could picture looking through my bedroom window and seeing Rider, talking to his little sister, Pia.

Like the first book, this is a delightful, quick read – I managed it in two lunches. Oliver Neubert is a truly outstanding author. Not only is he a great writer – his characters come to life in realistic settings – but he is a great person as well. He connects with his readers. I am very grateful to him for sending me this book, and look forward to not only reading the third installment of the Wind of Life, but also his other novels. I highly recommend this book, and the series, to fantasy lovers and young adult readers.