Category Archives: Book Reviews

Audiobook Review: Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Audiobook Reviews, Book Reviews,

Title: Like a Flower in Bloom
Author: Siri Mitchell
Narrator: Elizabeth Sastre
Published: January 2015 by Bethany House (print) and Recorded Books (audio)
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational Fiction
Duration: 10 hours, 28 minutes. Unabridged.

About the Book (from the Publisher):

He Stole the Work She Loved. Will She Let Him Steal Her Heart as Well?

It’s all her uncle’s fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she’s reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte’s future–the only proper future for a woman–is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar.

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he’ll soon change his mind…and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society–a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion.

Things aren’t perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She’ll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she’s most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?

My Thoughts on the Story:

Like a Flower in Bloom is a lively and entertaining historical romance that points out the absurdities in certain expectations of Victorian society, while drawing attention to the challenges women faced in pursuing and being recognized for scientific inquiry during that time period.

The heroine, Charlotte Withersby, is a little sheltered and a little clueless when it comes to the proper way to behave in polite society. Which makes her attempts to fit in long enough to find a proper husband (or at least appear to be searching for one) both a little awkward and utterly hilarious.

The first-person viewpoint from which Charlotte tells her story displays her naivety perfectly against the socially polished “fine young fellow” hired to usurp her position as her father’s assistant in his scientific endeavors. But the usurper, Mr. Trimble turns out to be an entertaining character in his own right, and the banter between them makes for some of the best parts of the book.

I also found myself fascinated by the glimpse into the intersection of Victorian society and the study of botany, and I absolutely loved the details of Charlotte’s various “rambles.” Reading about them made me want to go on a ramble of my own, and maybe pay a little extra attention to the flora I encounter along the way. :)

Highly recommended for fans of humorous historical romance.

Specific to the Audio Edition:

Elizabeth Sastre’s lovely British accent gave this audiobook just the right Victorian flavor. And her characters, both male and female, felt genuine and distinct. Her delivery of the humorous bits was spot on to maximize the funny. A real treat for audiobook listeners.

Thank you to Recorded Books for providing a copy of the audiobook edition for review purposes.

Quick Links: Author’s Web Site | Goodreads | Audible | christianaudio

Audiobook Review: Price of Privilege by Jessica Dotta

Audiobook Reviews, Book Reviews, , ,

Title: Price of Privilege
Author: Jessica Dotta
Narrator: Amanda McKnight
Audio Publisher: Oasis Audio
Audio Length: 13 hours, 7 minutes
Print Publisher: Tyndale House
Published: January 2015
Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction
Series: Price of Privilege, Book 3

My Thoughts on the Story:

Jessica Dotta’s first two novels set the bar high for this series, with mysterious characters, vivid settings, and plots full of unexpected twists and turns. This final installment wraps up the series in a breathtaking and unexpected conclusion worthy of its predecessors. Taken together, Born of Persuasion, Mark of Distinction, and Price of Privilege tell a fascinating and intricately woven literary tale.

Having lived in Julia’s head for three books now, I feel like I’ve come to know her well – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I may not agree with many of her actions or even the rationale for her decisions, but both she and her mistakes felt real to me. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her and watching her character develop from a passive teenage girl being manipulated into making poor choices, to a more mature woman ready to face the consequences of her actions, embrace God’s grace, and pick up the pieces of her life.

And the supporting cast? So good! Hats off to Edward, Mr. Macy, Jameson, Nancy, Forrester, Lord Pierson, and more, each of whom was drawn in unique and vivid detail. But especially to Lord Isaac Dalry, who was particularly amazing in this book. You must read it to see why. But first read books 1 and 2 if you haven’t read them yet, because this series must be read in order.

Without talking specifics, let me just say that the conclusion packs some real emotional punch. And yes, I cried. But it’s worth the tears for the beautiful, complex story of unmerited love, devotion, and grace. I didn’t see the ending coming, but, looking back on the series as a whole, I can see how the groundwork was laid in bits and pieces from the very beginning. And the artistry of it amazes me.

Specific to the Audiobook:

If you’ve read my earlier reviews from this series, then you already know how much I’ve enjoyed the audio narrations by Amanda McKnight. The character voices, emotional resonance, and subtle details of her performances have been spot on, and this title is no exception. If you enjoy audiobooks or want to give them a try, then the audio editions from this series are not to be missed.

Thank you to Oasis Audio for providing an electronic copy of this audiobook for review purposes.

Quick links: About the Book (from Oasis Audio) | Author’s Web Site | Audio Sample

Find this title on: Goodreads | Audible | ChristianBook.com | christianaudio

Book Review: The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

Book Reviews,

Title: The Art of Losing Yourself
Author: Katie Ganshert
Published: April 2015 by WaterBrook Press
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

About the Book (publisher’s description):

Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.

Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together.  But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.

Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?

My Thoughts on the Book:

This is a story full of raw honesty, brokenness, grace, and hope. It’s told from two distinctive first person viewpoints. Carmen – a married woman grown distant from her husband under the strain of six miscarriages, who tries to put on a perfect façade for the outside world. And her teenage half-sister Gracie, who has run away from their alcoholic mother, in hopes of returning to a place where she once felt appreciated.

The story feels real – the characters, the situations, the emotions, the relationships, and the setting. All of it. I enjoyed coming along on the sisters’ journeys as they grow and develop in their relationships and their personal faith. And I love the fact that the characters’ problems aren’t downplayed by a too tidy ending, and yet there is a hopeful and satisfying resolution complete with an inspiring look at grace and trust.

One of my favorite parts of the whole book is when Carmen looks back at a series of what could have been seen as coincidences, and instead sees “evidence of a God who orchestrated even the most mundane details for our good” (Page 300).

Another favorite moment was when Aunt Ingrid (suffering from dementia) defends her dessert from being taken, to the point of throwing a spoon at someone, and then offers a bit of surprisingly sage advice: “’Not all things are worth saving, you know. But some are worth every ounce of fight you can throw at them.’ With all the dignity in the world, she took a few small bites of her dessert. ‘You just have to know the difference.’” (Page 53)

I brought this book along with me on a weekend trip to the beach and devoured it in the shade of a beach umbrella. Since the book was set partly at a beach-side motel, it turned out to be a particularly great fit for the weekend. I highly recommend both book and beach, taken together or separately. :)

Author Katie Ganshert’s Christy Award winning A Broken Kind of Beautiful was among my favorite reads of 2014, and this latest novel by Katie Ganshert could well be among my favorites for 2015. I think Book Groups will find it an excellent choice for discussion, and in fact, it includes a discussion guide.

Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah for providing a paperback copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books Program in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Links: About the Book | Goodreads | Amazon

Book Review: The Seahorse Legacy by Serena Chase

Book Reviews

It’s “E’veria Week” here on the blog with reviews, interviews, and a cover reveal. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out this post to get up to speed. (Or, in short, I’m blogging on a theme this week – the Eyes of E’veria YA Fantasy series by Serena Chase.) Today’s post is my review of Book 3 – The Seahorse Legacy. I wrote this review back in February, and have been eagerly awaiting the next in the series since then. Super excited to hear it’s scheduled to come out in late summer!

Seahorse_LegacyTitle: The Seahorse Legacy
Author: Serena Chase
Published: May 2014 by Candent Gate Press
Genre: Christian Fiction, Fantasy, YA
Series: Eyes of E’veria, Book 3

Wow!  Serena Chase has done it again!  Now that I’ve finished reading the first part of Cazien and Erielle’s story, as told in The Seahorse Legacy, I simply can’t wait for its conclusion.  Except that unlike when I read the start of Rynnaia and Julien’s story in The Ryn with my copy of The Remedy already in hand, this time, the conclusion to be found in The Sunken Realm is not yet available and I’ll have no choice but to wait.  Argh!  The piratey torture!  😉

So what’s to love about this latest installment in The Eyes of E’veria series?  So much.

First off, our lead characters Erielle de Gladiel and Cazien de Pollis are individually awesome.  Our heroine is the spunky dagger-wielding Oracle’s Daughter who played a secondary role in The Ryn and The Remedy, and has been commissioned as the first female knight in E’verian history – a lifelong dream come true.  So cool!  And our hero?  How to put this?  Cazien is a charming piratey (love Erielle’s word choice there) good guy, with… decidedly unorthodox methods.  He’s also a thoroughly swoon-worthy hero, who wants to fulfill the obligations placed upon him as Seahorse Heir and to do right by his heroine.  Even if he doesn’t love her.  Yet.

While hero and heroine spend relatively few pages in close proximity in this story, it’s clear from the get-go that they’re inextricably linked, and that they are in fact a perfect match for each other.  There’s their shared love for the sea, their passion for justice, and of course their romantic chemistry… even if there’s also a fair amount of verbal sparring.  But hey, that definitely keeps things interesting!

This book has its share of sigh-worthy romantic moments, as well as some touching emotional moments that really tugged at my heart-strings.  Love, love, love the scene with the sea-horses, not to mention the bit where Cazien gets to play hero in the truest sense of the word.  And I cannot wait to see where the next book will be taking these beloved characters.

Before I sign off on this review and go plead with Serena for an advance copy of The Sunken Realm, I want to take a moment to comment on theme, because one of the things I’ve loved most about this series so far is the way each book has been thematically rich in its own unique way.  If the theme of The Ryn was finding God (or Rynloeft), and the theme of The Remedy was trusting God, then I think the theme of The Seahorse Legacy would have to be surrendering to God’s plan.  I love the way this book addresses that theme. So beautiful it brought me to tears.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves romance, pirates, adventure, fantasy, fairytales, or… well, really pretty much anyone.  Unless you don’t like to read.  In which case, what are you doing here anyway?  😉  But seriously, if you haven’t read this series, what are you waiting for?  Go start with The Ryn and work your way through to this one, and if you’re lucky, maybe The Sunken Realm will be ready for you by the time you’re ready for it.

Full Disclosure: Yup, the author, Serena Chase is my blogging buddy over at the Edgy Inspirational Romance blog, so no, my review may not be totally unbiased, but I am doing my best to share my true and honest opinion of it.  Fortunately, that isn’t hard to do, since it really is that good! :)

Quick Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author’s Site

Book Review: The Remedy by Serena Chase

Book Reviews

I’ve been unofficially calling this week “E’veria Week” here on my blog because I’ve been posting about the YA Fantasy series Eyes of E’veria by Serena Chase. If you’re just tuning in, you may want to backtrack and start reading at the beginning of the week so you won’t miss my review of Book 1 or my preview of what other fun E’veria themed posts are coming this week.

Today, I’m sharing my review of The Remedy, Book 2 in the Eyes of E’veria series. I read this book as quickly as I could after finishing Book 1 (as in started reading that same day) because I had to know what happened next. I wrote my review back in December of 2014 and then tucked it away to share with you now. Kind of like a book review time capsule. Or something. Anyway….

Title: The Remedy
Author: Serena Chase
Published: April 2013 by Candent Gate Press
Genre: Christian Fiction, Fantasy, YA
Series: Eyes of E’veria, Book 2

The Remedy begins more or less where The Ryn leaves off, as our beloved heroine Rynnaia is about to embark on an epic quest, the importance of which has already been well established in Book One.  She must fulfill a prophecy long foretold to save her people from a great evil.  The prophecy gives step by step guidance but its poetry takes the form of riddles more often than not.  She must rely on The First and on help from her small group of companions to decode those riddles and overcome the dangers and obstacles she faces along the way.

The Remedy features sigh-worthy romance, action, adventure, and mystery, as well as gowns and festivities fit for a princess.  But I think the part that impressed me most was the way faith plays an integral role in the outcome of the story, without ever becoming forced or preachy.  I really liked seeing the multiple instances where Rynnaia and her companions had no choice but to trust that their needs would be provided for, without any clue how that might be.

I said it before, in my review of The Ryn, but it bears repeating.  I love this story world.  The people, the language, the politics, the friendships and adversaries, and most of all the faith, love, courage, and trust required to face challenges that seem at times insurmountable… it all seems so real and so relevant to our own world.

In short, I am happy to say that The Remedy delivers exactly the kind of marvelous storytelling promised by The Ryn.  It gives a satisfying – no, not so much satisfying as delightful – conclusion to Rynnaia and Julien’s tale, tying up lots of loose ends along the way.  At the same time, it lays the groundwork for the next tale in the series, featuring a new… yet familiar leading man and leading lady.  I’m seriously looking forward to reading The Seahorse Legacy soon!

Full Disclosure: Yup, the author, Serena Chase is my blogging buddy over at the Edgy Inspirational Romance blog, so no, my review may not be totally unbiased, but I am doing my best to share my true and honest opinion of it.  Fortunately, that isn’t hard to do, since it really is that good! :)

Quick Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author’s Site

Book Review: The Ryn by Serena Chase

Book Reviews

If you were here yesterday, you know that I’m calling this week “E’veria Week” here on my blog after the YA Fantasy series, Eyes of E’veria by Serena Chase. I’m kicking off this week’s E’veria themed posts by sharing my review of The Ryn (Book 1 in the series). I actually wrote this review way back in November of 2014, when I first read the book, but I figured with Book 4 coming late this summer, now would be a great time to share this review and others in the series with you. Because if you haven’t read these books yet, you’ll be wanting to get all caught up in time to dive into The Sunken Realm when it releases.

Title: The Ryn
Author: Serena Chase
Published: March 2013 by Candent Gate Press
Genre: Christian Fiction, Fantasy, YA
Series: Eyes of E’veria, Book 1

As I finish reading The Ryn, I find that it’s a challenge to force myself to make notes on my thoughts about it, because I’d much rather dive immediately into reading Book 2, The Remedy.  But I’m forcing myself to do just that, because this is such a good book I don’t want to forget any of the lovely things I want to say about it.

Just like Aslan of Narnia, Embral e’ Veria / The First King / Loeftryn de Rynloeft is a clear picture of God, and to see Rynnaia coming to know Him on a personal level and place her trust in Him was both beautiful and powerful.  I loved how the author incorporated concepts and promises based closely on scripture and shared them with Rynnaia personally.  Wow!  What a great reminder of God’s love for each of us!

The story world was well developed and I loved seeing how the nation’s history shaped its peoples in entirely plausible ways.  Like with Tolkien’s work, language plays a significant role, and the way things are named and their origins in the ancient language seem very well planned and consistent.  While this story is clearly in the tradition of other works of fantasy, I was impressed to find that the peoples and their history were new, fresh, and exquisitely detailed, not just a rehashing of elves, dwarves, and the like.

I loved the development of the romance between Rynnaia and Julien.  I felt it was tastefully done, yet oh so swoon-worthy.  The friendship, the dedication, the trust and reliance upon each other, the development of feelings beyond the scope of friendship, the love and longing and fear that feelings might not be reciprocated…. Let’s just say it was all so vividly portrayed and accurately rendered, I found myself totally swept up in their story.

This is a polished tale and it’s clear to see that the author has poured a lot of time and thought into her world, her characters, and their goals and motivations.  I found the ending satisfying in and of itself, as it wrapped up a chapter in the characters’ lives, though it also provided enough tantalizing glimpses into the challenges of the quest ahead that I simply cannot stop here.  In hindsight, I’m not sure why I waited as long as I did to read this book, but I can say that one good thing has come of the delay.  I can dive immediately into reading The Remedy… which is exactly what I’m about to do!

Full Disclosure: Yup, the author, Serena Chase is my blogging buddy over at the Edgy Inspirational Romance blog, so no, my review may not be totally unbiased, but I am doing my best to share my true and honest opinion of it.  Fortunately, that isn’t hard to do, since it really is that good! :)

Quick Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author’s Site

Audiobook Review: Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Audiobook Reviews, Book Reviews, , ,

Title: Distortion
Author: Terri Blackstock
Narrator: Nan Gurley
Published: March 2014 by Zondervan and Brilliance Audio
Genre: Suspense, Christian fiction.
Series: Moonlighters, Book 2
Duration: 8 hours, 48 minutes. Unabridged.

About the Book (from Publisher, Zondervan):

A husband’s lies can have deadly consequences.

When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is murdered before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning, then returns home to break the tragic news to her sons. But a threatening voicemail escalates this from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack.

Juliet realizes that she and her children are in danger too—unless she meets the killers’ demands. But as she and her sisters untangle the clues, her husband’s dark secrets come to light. The more she learns, the more her life is dismantled. Was her husband an innocent victim or a hardened criminal?

My Thoughts on the Story:

It was a pleasure to re-immerse myself into the world of private investigative “moonlighters” Juliet, Cathy, and Holly in this second book in Terri Blackstock’s Moonlighters series. This book reveals more about each sister’s unique personality, while immersing the trio in yet another mystery, with potentially life-or-death stakes. The sisters and their PI friend Michael make a great team, and it’s neat to see how much we learn about them each through their interactions in this story.

The author did a great job drawing me into the characters’ world and making me feel for them. Juliet in particular is going through a lot in this book. Not only has she lost her husband and father of her children, she’s also being forced to face the possibility that his character and their relationship weren’t quite what she thought they were. Consequently, the book takes on something of a mournful tone to match her mood. It’s not really a light read, but it is an emotionally gripping one.

The mystery element is suspenseful and at times quite exciting. It kept me turning the pages. Okay, not literally, since I had the audio edition, but you get what I mean, right? Did not want to hit that pause button. :)

At one point, the villains’ reasoning for escalating the situation didn’t make logical sense to me. Either I missed something or the characters did. But that instance aside, I was impressed with the story’s development. Plot twists came unexpectedly, but on thinking back, the clues were there, hiding in plain sight. Nicely done. I also liked the way Juliet’s faith colored her reactions within the story, particularly at the end.

You don’t have to have read Book 1 in order to understand and enjoy Book 2, but I’d recommend starting with Book 1 anyway (see my review). Why? The books in this series feature many of the same characters, and if you enjoy one, you’ll probably want to read the others too. And since they do take place in a particular chronological sequence, it kinda makes more sense to read them that way. 😉

Speaking of which, I remain curious to see how certain threads from Books 1 and 2 will be resolved in Book 3. And what kind of mess this family of moonlighting PIs will find themselves facing in the next installment.

My Thoughts on the Audio Edition:

The narrator who read this audiobook (Nan Gurley) is not the same one who read the earlier book in this series (Gabrielle De Cuir). I’m happy to report that I did not find the change jarring or unpleasant. The narrator for this audiobook did a great job with the reading, and I think her style and vocal quality were similar enough to what I remember of the earlier narrator’s performance that the change did not feel out of place. She did a great job reflecting the characters’ emotions, which made the story feel very true to life and gave an added sense of urgency at times. Character voices were differentiated enough that I could easily keep track of who was talking when, within a scene. Overall, a great choice for listening.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for providing a copy of this audiobook for review purposes.

Quick Links: About the Book | Goodreads | Author’s Site

Find the Audiobook: Audible | ChristianBook.com | christianaudio

Book Review: By Your Side by Candace Calvert

Book Reviews,

Title: By Your Side
Author: Candace Calvert
Publisher: Tyndale House
Publication Date: February 2015
Genre: Medical Romantic Suspense
Series: Crisis Team, Book 1

About the Book (from the Publisher’s Web site):

ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She’s finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl’s in deep trouble. Macy’s determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to “make it happen” in any situation life throws at her—even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop.

Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome—and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he’s been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he’s attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper.

When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?

My Thoughts:

Here’s a romantic suspense novel with lots to love – witty banter, sigh-worthy romantic moments, great descriptions, and a suspenseful storyline to draw you in and keep you engaged. This is the first book I’ve read by Candace Calvert, and I look forward to reading more.

We meet Macy and Fletcher in the midst of a dangerous situation, and get to know and like them more and more as the story goes on. They’re both caring professionals out to make a difference. They each have a heroic side, and yet they come across as real people with flaws, histories, and challenges.

My favorite part of the story was the development of the romance between them. Sweet romantic moments lightened the mood between more dramatic and suspenseful incidents, bringing a smile to my face. Likewise, numerous examples of witty banter between the characters made me laugh with delight. “I’m a cop. We have great flashlights,” from page 197 was among my favorite lines of dialogue (though you kind of have to read the scene to fully appreciate it).

The main characters have different but parallel faith and life journeys that tie into the book’s overarching theme – trust. I thought those journeys were believably and beautifully rendered. Regarding trust, there’s one line of dialogue from page 245 that I simply have to share because it asks such a great and challenging question:

“Now is the tough part. When you’re forced to ask yourself that hard question: Do you fully trust God, or do you simply trust him not to let something bad happen?”

Wow! What a question, right? Definitely one that bears thinking about.

Many secondary characters, including Taylor, Seth, Charly, and Andi, also felt well fleshed out with their own problems, perspectives, and growth over the course of the story. I enjoyed the glimpse into emergency services and crisis chaplaincy afforded by this story and its characters and I look forward to seeing more as the Crisis Team series progresses.

Occasional scenes from the villain’s viewpoint added tension and foreboding to an already intense story. I’ll admit, there was one point in the plot where coincidence played a bigger role than I was expecting, but that factor didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. In the end, I thought the epilogue did a really clever job of wrapping things up while calling to mind some delightful scenes from earlier in the book.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Quick Links: About the Book | Author’s Web Site | Discussion Guide

Find this Book: Goodreads | Amazon

Audiobook Review: Spring Brides by Rachel Hauck, Lenora Worth, and Meg Moseley

Audiobook Reviews, Book Reviews, , , , , , ,

Title: Spring Brides
Authors: Rachel Hauck, Lenora Worth, and Meg Moseley
Narrators: Julie Lyles Carr, Christy Ragland, and Amber Quick
Published: March 2015 by Zondervan (print) and Brilliance Audio (audio)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christian fiction, Novella Collection
Series: A Year of Weddings
Duration: 8 hours, 41 minutes, unabridged

“Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three spring weddings….” (from the book’s description)

The Spring Brides collection features a re-release of three of the twelve novellas in Zondervan’s A Year of Weddings series – A March Bride, An April Bride, and A May Bride. Being a fan of contemporary Christian romance, I’m enjoying the opportunity that this series offers to sample shorter pieces by a variety of authors in the genre. I previously reviewed the audio edition of the Winter Brides collection, and am pleased to have the opportunity to review this one as well. Since each novella stands independently from others in this series, there’s no need to read them in any particular order. Nevertheless, it has been fun to read them during seasonally appropriate weather, so be sure to check this one out and be on the lookout for the Summer Brides collection, coming in May.

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck, narrated by Julie Lyles Carr

“Susanna Truitt (Once Upon a Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She’ll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna’s heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God’s plan for her.” (publisher’s description)

It was nice to reconnect with Susanna and Nathaniel from Rachel Hauck’s earlier book, Once Upon a Prince. The scope of this story felt well suited to its length, and it seemed a plausible extension to the earlier one. In fact, I rather liked the real-world feel to it where Susanna starts having second thoughts about her fairy tale. I also enjoyed the earthly analogy to a spiritual concept regarding citizenship. Bits of backstory from the earlier book are sprinkled here and there to refresh the reader’s memory or bring you up to speed if you haven’t read the earlier book, so this story can stand alone if necessary (though, if you ask me, there’s no reason not to read them both!)

The narration of A March Bride was clearly and precisely read in a pleasant voice. Unfortunately, it suffered a bit in comparison to the narration of Once Upon a Prince, which featured a distinctly southern accent for Susanna and a classy British accent for Nathaniel. I found myself missing those accents because the characters’ voices became a part of who they were, in my mind at least. Nevertheless, I did still enjoy listening to the novella.

An April Bride by Lenora Worth, narrated by Christy Ragland

“Bride-to-be Stella Carson cannot wait another day to marry soldier Marshall Henderson. But when Marshall returns home to Louisiana, it becomes clear to them both that he is not the man he used to be. With only weeks until the wedding, Stella and Marshall must choose between a marriage built on the past and faith in long-ago love or a very different future than the one Stella imagined.” (publisher’s description)

I liked the concept behind this one and I found the ending pleasantly sweet and romantic, even if the timing was a little convenient for total plausibility. But the middle of the story turned out to be a little angsty for my taste. It felt like no matter what happened or what the characters were talking about, the characters’ thoughts and conversations kept circling back to the same dilemma with little forward (or backward) progress until nearly the end. There were some scenes I particularly liked – their carefree trip to the zoo comes to mind – but on the whole, this story wasn’t one of my favorites.

The narration got the job done in a clear and matter-of-fact style. Like the narration for the other novellas in this series, it’s a straight reading that doesn’t differentiate between characters’ voices.

A May Bride by Meg Moseley, narrated by Amber Quick

“Ellie Martin, a country girl living in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life, but she’s missing a key ingredient to her plans for the future: a groom. Then Ellie meets Gray Whitby – at a wedding of all places. But when Ellie jeopardizes her own future for the sake of her sister, Gray feels like he’ll always be second to Ellie’s family. Can Ellie and Gray find their own way together amidst the demands and perceptions of others, or will their romance end before it has truly begun?” (publisher’s description)

Taking narration and storyline as a whole, I think this is my favorite of the three novellas in the spring collection…which is pretty cool, since I too am a May bride.  :)  I thought the characters and their relationship were well developed, and I loved the concept of a “guerilla wedding.” I also appreciated the growth of the characters over the course of the story, as well as the emphasis on grace.

The narrator did a great job reflecting the emotions of the characters and situations over the course of the reading, which made for a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio and Zondervan for providing me with a review copy of this audiobook.

Book Review: Rise of the Fallen by Chuck Black

Book Reviews,

Title: Rise of the Fallen
Author: Chuck Black
Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah
Release Date: February 2015
Genre: Young Adult Speculative Fiction
Series: Wars of the Realm, Book 2

For months now, I’ve been eagerly anticipating this, the second book in Chuck Black’s Wars of the Realm series. I assumed it would continue Drew Carter’s story from where the first book, Cloak of the Light, left off. (You can find my review of that book on the Edgy Inspirational Romance blog, if you’re interested.) I was already thoroughly invested in those characters – Drew, Sydney, and Ben in particular – and in their plight, and wanted to know what came next.

And I still want to know. Because Book 2 doesn’t really address that. [Feel free to imagine Karen pulling her hair out right about now, in anticipation of a lengthy wait before Book 3. Just kidding…mostly.]

Honestly, this book was not what I was expecting. Let me hasten to clarify, I don’t mean that in a negative way, because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story too, and I think that what comes next in the series will have even more impact, for having had the extra groundwork laid in this book. I just had to wrap my mind around the shift in perspective and scope of this book before really digging in to enjoy it. But enjoy it, I did.

This book interweaves two main storylines, both told from the perspective of Validus, an angel we first met in Book 1 through his interactions with Drew Carter. Throughout this book, there’s a “Present Day” storyline in which we see the same timeframe of Book 1 retold from Validus’s perspective, first as he serves as Primus Commander for the angelic forces in North America and later as he fights to protect Drew. Interwoven with this retelling are a series of chapters exploring spiritual warfare throughout Biblical history as experienced by Validus and his fellow angels.

I enjoyed getting to know Validus better and getting a “behind the scenes” glimpse into what might have been going on in the spiritual realm during important moments in Biblical history like Noah’s flood, the Tower of Babel, and Jesus’ birth and crucifixion. The Reader’s Guide in the back was great for delineating which aspects of the story were drawn from Biblical accounts and which were more speculative.

With its emphasis on action, adventure, and heroics, this is a story I would expect to have great appeal for teen boys in particular, as well as anyone enjoying a fast-paced and exciting story. Battle scenes were described blow by blow to the point I could almost have been watching the story play out on the big screen (and yes, I would love to see this series made into a movie). There were quite a few scenes in this book that got my adrenaline going and gave me no choice but to keep turning pages!

Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah and the Blogging for Books program for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.

Quick Links: About the Book | Author’s Web Site | Video Clip About the Series
Find This Book: Goodreads | Amazon