The First Principle

I received a copy of THE FIRST PRINCIPLE by Marissa Schrock from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.  It is characterized at Christian, Futuristic Fiction.  I found the novel intriguing, for I am trying my hand at my own “futuristic” novel, although mine leans more toward “dystopian.” 

In THE FIRST PRINCIPLE, Vivica lives in the United Regions of North America.  There are many twists in this story, and the setting is vivid.  You really feel as if you are a part of this futuristic world.  The chapters are fast-paced, so prepare to read this in one sitting.  You won’t want to pause for a break.

Vivica is the governor’s daughter, and she’s faced with a tough choice: rebel or abort her baby.  I truly enjoyed the way Marissa Schrock handled the delicate matter and took into account Christian principles, as well as family love.  I highly recommend this book and I can see it doing well with both adults and young adults.

With the publication of my own books, I’ve been pickier about covers, and I’m not sure about this one.  I would have preferred something with more action – I wonder if it will attract young adults.  The model, however, captures Vivica’s strengths and weaknesses.  

The Abbot's Agreement

I received a copy of THE ABBOT’S AGREEMENT by Mel Starr from Lion Hudson via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  It is the latest installment in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon.  I have read other novels in the series and greatly enjoyed them – nothing tickles my taste buds more than historical mystery – so I knew I would love this story. 

Master Hugh is a medieval surgeon.  In this adventure, he comes across a young Benedictine boy and he takes the body to a nearby abbey.  The novice master asks Hugh to investigate who stabbed the boy.  Of course Hugh does.

These novels transport you back to Medieval England.  The setting and characters ring true, with sayings, habits, and names.  Nothing feels out of place or too modern.  The best part is that if you enjoy this story, there are more in store for you!  This installment, as with the others, can be a standalone novel; however, those who love Hugh will delight in seeing more of him and a few familiar characters.  The reader is captivated from cover to cover.  I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and Christian fiction.  I applaud Mel Starr for his ability to weave an exciting, detailed story.

Altar of Reality

Altar of Reality, by Mara Valderran

Genre: young-adult, dystopian, science-fiction romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: January 22, 2015

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson at Gothic Fate

Description:

Sixteen year-old Madeline has struggled with epilepsy for most of her adolescent life, leaving her something of a social pariah. Things go from bad to worse when she wakes up from her first grand mal seizure in an extremely unfamiliar world but surrounded but familiar faces. Her hometown is in ruins, the aftermath of a Cold War turned hot.

Thomas, the boy that stomped on her heart a year ago, and his brother Brandon have been hiding her away since the explosion that killed her parents. The Lord Commander, now running the southern territories, believes Madeline died with them and the brothers need to keep it that way.

The biggest problem? The explosion happened when she was twelve.

Madeline isn’t sure what to believe. The brothers insist her memories must be of a dream life she created while in her coma. But when she returns to the reality she knows, they insist this war-torn world must be the dream. She doesn’t know if she’s truly caught in the middle of a brewing rebellion or teetering on the brink of insanity. As she finds herself flipping between the two lives, her heart becomes torn between two versions of the same boy and the lines between her realities begin to blur.

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK

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About Mara Valderran:

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Mara Valderran is an author of young adult and new adult books, but she's more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She is an avid reader and fan of all things sci-fi and fantasy. She loves roller skating and movies, though typically not together. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or counting down the days until DragonCon.

Her debut novel, HEIRS OF WAR, has been met with great reviews and was featured on Wattpad in 2013, raking in over 600k reads. The series continues with the second book, HEIRS OF WAR, CROWN OF FLAMES, released in Summer 2014. Her short story “The Austenation” will is included in the Borderlands Anthology and she is looking forward to publishing her young adult dystopian ALTAR OF REALITY with Curiosity Quills Spring 2015.

Find Mara Valderran Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

SOULSPARK Cover Reveal

 

SOULSPARK is YA Contemporary Romance sure to rip open your heart and stitch it back together.

 

Here's the blurb:

 

Dealing with the loss of her mother, seventeen-year-old Jessica Stone tries to find an escape from the pain by secretly medicating herself with Xanax, but the anxiety increases, crushing her and her grades.

 

Then she meets Caleb Jonas, the pastor’s son at her mother’s church. Between his cute dimples and love of fast cars, Jessica is completely smitten, and the feeling is mutual. But dating a Christian boy isn’t easy. He doesn’t party, and he never goes past first base. Jessica struggles with his faith, since it makes her question her own, but for the first time since her mother’s death, she can breathe. Life is finally shifting into a state of happiness.

 

But that happiness shatters when Jessica catches Caleb kissing her ex-best friend—and step-brother’s girlfriend—Rachel, the girl who used to be like her sister, and the same girl who betrayed her once before.

 

While her stepbrother hints at a deeper connection between the two, Caleb insists it was a one-time mistake and begs forgiveness. With contradicting stories coming at her, Jessica isn’t sure who to believe, but sometimes the truth is better left undiscovered and she’s about to find out why.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS HERE!

 

SOULSPARK is scheduled to release this spring!

 

Author Bio:

 

Eliza graduated from Dowling College with a BS in Visual Communications. When she’s not arguing with excel at her day job, or playing Dragon Age 2, again, she’s writing. Her stories hold a bit of the fantastical and there’s always a romance. She resides on Long Island with her husband, two kids and one very snuggly pit bull. Her YA Fantasy series, The Daath Chronicles, is published by Curiosity Quills Press.

 

Author links:

 

Twitter / Tumblr / Website / Pinterest / Facebook

A Curse of Ash and Iron

Check out this amazing cover by fellow Curiosity Quills author Christine Norris!

Benjamin Grimm knows the theater is much like real life. In 1876 Philadelphia, people play their parts, hiding behind the illusion of their lives, and never revealing their secrets.

When he reunites with his childhood friend Eleanor Banneker, he is delighted. His delight turns to dismay when he discovers she has been under a spell for the past 7 years, being forced to live as a servant in her own home, and he realizes how sinister some secrets can be. She asks for his help, and he can’t refuse. Even if he doesn't believe in ‘real’ magic, he can’t abandon her.

Ellie has spent the long years since her mother’s death under the watchful eye and unforgiving eye of her stepmother. Bewitched and hidden in plain sight, it seems no one can help Ellie escape. Not even her own father, who is under a spell of his own. When she sees Ben one evening, it seems he is immune to the magic that binds her, and her hope is rekindled along with her friendship.

But time is running short. If they do not find a way to break the spell before midnight on New Year’s Eve, then both Ellie and her father will be bound forever.

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (www.curiosityquills.com )

Release date: May 21, 2015

Author website: www.christine-norris.com

Author blog: https://christinenorris.wordpress.com

Author Twitter: @cnorrisauthor

Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorChristineNorris

Author Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/christinenorris

Book Trailer link: http://youtu.be/x1HcaJt2Owg

YABC blog: www.yabookscentral.com/blog

A Saintly Killing

I received a copy of A SAINTLY KILLING by Martha Ockley from Lion Hudson via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  It is a Faith Morgan Mystery, third in the series.  I have read the first two installments in the series and enjoyed them tremendously, so I was thrilled to sink my teeth into this one.  I knew I would encounter Christian fiction coated with edge of your seat excitement and realistic characters.  I wasn’t disappointed at all.

Faith Morgan is the vicar of Saint James Church.  Sal Hankley is preparing the cover for the church’s memorial booklet when she is killed.  I loved the twists and turns – even Faith is suspected of being the murderer!  I enjoy mysteries, but I can never guess the truth until the end.  This was another one of those instances, but it did not make it any less enjoyable. 

The quaint English village adds a sweet aspect to the setting.  You really feel as if you are part of the neighborhood.

I highly recommend this to fans of Christian fiction and murder mysteries.  Martha Ockley is excellent at painting vivid scenes and memorable characters.  I hope to see more Faith Morgan mysteries coming soon!

My Little Life of Jesus

I received a copy of MY LITTLE LIFE OF JESUS from Lion Hudson via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  The book is written by Karen Williamson and illustrated by Amanda Enright.  I’ve read other children’s book by Karen Williamson and enjoyed the simple complexities immensely.  This book was no exception.

It spans from Jesus’s birth to his death; children will recognize Christmas and Easter, and be able to understand the background significance of those holidays.  This can also be read on those holidays so that children can see a wider range of Jesus’s life at those times.

The illustrations are colorful, so they will keep a young reader’s interest, and the writing is easy enough for a child to read on his or her own.  No matter if it is read by a child or by an adult to a child – or by an adult for pure enjoyment – great conversations will be launched.  Readers can then turn to the Bible for more in depth reading.

I highly recommend MY LITTLE LIFE OF JESUS to families and classrooms.  This can become a beloved book. 

I look forward to discovering more book by Karen Williamson.  This one is being passed on to a friend for her son.