Review: Legacy of Mars: Mars Ascends

Legacy of Mars: Mars Ascends by D M Pruden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

​I received an ARC of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Legacy of Mars picks up where the previous book Mars Ascends takes place. It is a few years after those events. Our hero Melanie has taken a political position that was only supposed to be a figurehead but instead she has had to take a much larger role. Her friends (Dani and Felix) and her biological clone (Adrian) come to Mars to visit her. Adrian is only 4 years old but has the appearance of a teen because the cloning process accelerates aging. Melanie wants to find a cure so tries to take time off to help Felix (the only synthetic human) to come up with one.

At the same time, back on Terra (we would call it earth), they are fighting each other over land that is just not going to support them. They come under attack by a meteor thrown out of its path and aimed at Terra. They destroy it but start to think Mars is attacking them so they try to go to war with them.

One might think that with all this going on, one would need to have read the previous books. As I said in my review for the previous book, what you have to know is provided for you at the appropriate time and blended in to the the story nicely.

I would recommend it to most anyone. While there is not as much violence in this book as the last, there is still some. For that reason, parents of young teens and below might want to read it first to approve it. It is not a teen book but I would say some might be attracted to it.



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Review: Healing Justice: Stories of Wisdom and Love

Healing Justice: Stories of Wisdom and Love by Jarem Sawatsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

​I received an ARC of this book. I am leaving an honest review

This was an interesting book. I had not heard of Healing Justice concept before this book. I had the concept he refers to when I read his last book, 'Dancing With Elephants'. He used the concept of circles in helping with his disease.

Healing Justice is a concept that the person who is taken advantage of needs healing and so does the the one who did the crime. The author takes on the concept by visiting three different communities. Each one approaches the concept from their own point of view. Each one has had their own way of implementing it.

While I understand the concept I do have problems with how it can be truly implemented in the life of people today. While our society may be the problem, it is hard to move the ship while it is going strongly in one direction. I also understand that the abuser is in need of help as much as the one who receives the abuse, but sometimes an abuser is just that, an abuser, and there is not a clear way to reach them.

The book tends to read like a text book in parts. I understand from the forward that these were published as part of his college classes so that may be the reason.
Safe for all to read but as specialized as it is I do not think many of my circle of friends might be interested.

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Review: Mars Now: Mars Journey Book 5

Mars Now: Mars Journey Book 5 by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have received an ARC copy of this book, what follows is an honest review.

In Mars Now: Mars Journey Book 5 we have the continuation of the story line of the preparations of a journey to Mars. ​Bill Hargenrader has done an excellent job in this series. He has one thing I do not like in a series and yet he can get away with it. I hate a cliffhanger. Well this series has had not just one but 2 or 3 in each book. Yet somehow I will continue to wait for his next book each time.
In the series, our hero Brent Carlson is the main focus. Others though are coming into focus with these new chapters being revealed. We see Brent at the start of this book in a semi-failed rescue attempt. Then we see him with his wife as they urge people to travel the red planet. In previous books, the two parts have had equal footing with the last part as we learn how the plans to travel to Mars came about. With this book the focus has changed to the time a year and a half till take off.
We look at how a robot that has gained sentience is trying to keep himself alive. We see a competitor to the official Mars journey will stop at nothing to get his way. And we see Brent, as he is doing whatever he can do to have a group of people that will be on that official trip, landing on Mars and living there while the flight goes back to earth. And he is doing this under the guise of a reality TV show. Who will make it through to be in the top Mars 99.

I recommend this series to any interested in Mars and just like a good Sci-Fi Thriller. Good clean fun (well maybe a cuss word or two).

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Review: Killing With Kings

Killing With Kings by Lois Lavrisa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

​I received an ARC copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Killing with Kings was an interesting read. I kind of figured out the who did it but not the why. There were clues as to the why but I just did not pick upon them.

When a friendly high stakes poker game turns not so friendly and one of the players turn up dead, there is a tendency by everyone to think that it was an accident due to the fact that peanut allergy he had. Even though Sargent Jose Rodriguez thinks it was murder, no one else does. He teams up with the victims daughter, even though he is not supposed to be working on the case.

While entertaining, there is a side story that works with the story but may be offensive to some. The sargent is gay. It did not bother me, but I know that some of my more stronger Christian friends may take offence at it.

There were a few places it got a little wordy, that is why the 4 star review. Pick it up, you will enjoy it.

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Review: The Blonde with the Dangerous 'Do: A Dani Silver Thriller

The Blonde with the Dangerous 'Do: A Dani Silver Thriller by Duane Lindsay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

​I was provided and ARC of this book. What follows is an honest review.

This is the third in the series of Dani Silver stories. Dani is a female con artist who has a father that is the most famous grifter of all times. In case you did not know (I did not know until I read book 2) that a grifter is another name for a con artist.
This story picks up just after the previous book, 'The Ghost Coach'. You do not have to read it before this, what you need to know is provided you with little interference to the story. Dani has a day off before heading to her home and does a little window shopping. She buys some sexy outfits and then heads out to the airport and decides to watch people. Recognizing one as having the signs of a fellow con artist she decides to have some fun with him, and then winds up going with him to Branson in place of her home.
Now the fun starts, well maybe not for Dani. The man's brother thinks she is spying on them and their scam. They take her out to the development that they are building and throw her down a man hole and close it just as it starts to rain. Dani survives what would kill someone else by sheer luck and determinism.
Thinking she is dead, the men go on with their business until they start seeing weird things. The con men are about to be conned by Dani and her crew, as well as a new one or two.

This is a fun book. It has the right speed that it needs and the characters stay true to themselves, and in fact that becomes an issue that Dani had to face, staying true to herself.
Most ages would enjoy, though violence and sexual innuendo might not be appropriate for the younger crowd.

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Review: Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance by Joshua Williamson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Dark Nights: Metal: The Resistance. is like most graphic novels a collection of comics that were published then put into a book. It ties with with the Dark Night Series of graphic novels. In Dark Nights: Metal: Deluxe Edition we get the story of Batman bringing over Multiverse versions of himself. They represent various members of his companions (Justice League) and his enemies but each are a dark side of the Batman. With this collection we see the events that took place during the events of Dark Nights: Metal: Deluxe..

The graphics can be a bit jarring. There are many different styles. That because the original artists/authors stayed with their own style with their comics. While a bit noticeable, once you expect it then you can look past it. It is interesting seeing hero's and villains work together not because of some noble cause but because their interests align with each other.

My only complaint, and this might be because I got an uncorrected proof, is that the stories appeared to be out of order. One chapter we see two groups that have been split and a chapter or two later, they are together and getting ready to split. Another quirk for my copy was that there were a couple of full page ads, One actually kind of fit in with the story.

Recommend for comic book fans. Not as much death as the other one, but still a lot. Would think twice about a preteen and younger crowd reading it.

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Review: Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms by Kim Hooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. This is an honest review.

I did not know what to expect when I got the copy of the book. While I did not know anything about the author, somehow it seemed an interesting story. It was.

Jonathan has had a terrible loss. We know the love of his life, Sara is gone. Now he wants to end his life and makes plans for it, one year from now. This is his journey to that end. As he starts this journey, his chosen method of suicide is one that originated in Japan. For that reason, and because Sara always wanted to see the Cherry Blossoms in Japan, he plans a trip there before he dies.

To make that trip he starts a bucket list. One is to take a class in Japanese so when he visits he can try to not be a typical american tourist. In that class he meets Riko. She is Japanese but was sent here by her parents when she was three years old. Her quest is to find out why she was sent here, to find out the origins of her life. A sharp contrast to Jonathan seeking death.

The story jumps back and forth from present to his past life with Sara. While this could be jarring, the author does a very good job. The changes in time seem to flow into each other. Sometimes a chapter is about his past, other times his future. There are a few times where we see both in the same chapter.

In the chapters dedicated the current day we learn just how Sara dies. Just when you think that you understand just how it all happened , there is a jarring clue revealed. . In those revelations, many to Riko, we peel back the complicated life that was Jonathan and Sara.

In chasing her past, Riko needs to go to Japan so she invites herself to go along with Jonathan. We see Japan through their eyes.

I would recommend this book to anyone. While there is talk about suicide, I do not see it influencing anyone to do so. The rich depth of the main characters is so good, I really wanted the story to go on. Read it, you will enjoy it.

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Review: Dark Nights: Metal: Deluxe Edition (Dark Nights: Metal

Dark Nights: Metal: Deluxe Edition (Dark Nights: Metal by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC copy from Net Galley, what follows is an honest review.

I did not know what to expect from this. I have not read many of the modern comics. I am a reader of comics but back in the 60's and early 70's. I know a lot has changed, that from time to time the comics need to reboot otherwise, Superman and the gang would be in their 80's or 90's.

I have known of the multiverse from the Arrowverse shows on CW. That took me as no surprise. I was not ready for a demonic dark universe. That caught my attention.

It was probably better that I read them all at once. I am not sure I would have lasted reading them in their original form, spread out over many months. It most likely would not have kept my interest over that long of a period.

We know the story of the heroes. So there is nothing new there. What was new was the dark multiverse. Out of it come our nightmares. How can we prevent it when it comes to take over our plane of existence.

Recommended to any who enjoy comics, though with all the death, preteens and below might be affected.

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Review: The Stranger In Central Park

The Stranger In Central Park by James Patrick Dillon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

​I so wanted this to be a book to help me in my spiritual beliefs. However, that was not to be. I will say that I enjoyed most of the story. A modern day Jesus arrives in Central Park in New York as a young woman is being raped. She has a room mate who loves her but Katie is not into girls though she is in approval of the lifestyle. Her brother, mayor of New York, once thought of as a potential presidential candidate before his affair is in a 'winner takes all' political fight with a rival that could remove him from politics forever. All of this in the first couple of chapters.

Then, Jesus appears. The story only calls him 'The Stranger' but it is clear by his words who the author is hinting it is. That is when I thought the story went south. It was clear that the author was trying to push his version of Christianity. While he has every right to do that, I was saddened when what could have been a great story turned in to a theological teaching.

Before you go negative and say that I disagree with the teaching and say that the book was bad for that reason, I would have said the same thing if it had agreed with my beliefs. Any time you use your platform to try to indoctrinate, I do not care for it. When the book is in the story it is great, but whole chapters where a theology of everyone is saved and I was wanting the book to end and soon.

Who should read? I would only recommend this if you can work around the preaching. As I said before, the story is very gripping as the stranger is urging people to put down the guns even though a World War seems to be approaching. Who is healed and who is not by the stranger leads to interesting questions. The idea of an 'eye for an eye' is even talked about in an interesting way. If you cannot get passed the teachings, then I would not suggest it for you.

I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley. This is an honest review.

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Review: The 49th Mystic

The 49th Mystic by Ted Dekker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from Interviews and Reviews and the publisher, Revel. What follows is an honest review.


The 49th Mystic is some heavy reading. The physical copy of the book that I received is 400 pages long. So in the physical sense it is a heavy book. In the story it tells, it is heavy as well. I usually put who I think would like the book at the end of my reviews. I am moving that to the top this time.


This book is written in the style of allegorical style of the Narnia books by C. S. Lewis. That is the last comparison I will make to Lewis here. The book is heavy with scripture references. So many in fact, the author has notes at the end of the book to tell us where to find them. For that reason, I would only recommend this to Christian friends. My only complaint with the book was if the author thought about his audience. I am sure that Mr. Decker being a bestselling author did. If he is writing to the Christians, he is preaching to the choir. I am not sure that non-Christians would get the references and if they do not, the book would become unreadable.


Story is very gripping. Rachel is a blind girl who lives in the small town of Eden, Utah. It seems that Eden was built in a valley. with only one way in and out. The man in charge of the town has built it so that when the apocalypse comes, he will shut the road down and the town will be self sufficient. Rachel, being blind has developed echo location, clicking and listening for the echos to see things. Yes this is real, visit ted.org and search for it, you will find a talk by a man who is blind and does it. So days she is blind but has some mobility. Nights, when she sleeps, she has dreams. Dreams where she can see and is being chased by an evil shadow man.


One day, when an experiment to bring her sight back does not seem to work, she is visited by a man named Vlad Smith (has to be the bad guy with a name like Vlad) who pricks her arm and now she can see. Her dreams have changed. She now sees clearly, but has been transported to a world not like ours. We get the impression it is set in her future. It is in this setting when she begins to see her purpose. She has been the one, called by Justin (obviously Jesus) to save Eden from Vlad but also restore harmony between the three groups of people in this time. To do this she will have to discover the five seals and meet the other mystics (48 of them?), but her time is short. The three groups of people are obvious if one knows Church history. They are not so clear if you do not.


When she falls asleep in one area she wakes up in the other. I kind of felt sorry for her after a while. She never really slept. At times, she doubted the other existence was real, only a dream, until she woke up in it.


I did enjoy the book. It was a gripping story. I did not like how it ended, set up for the next book, that it is a pet peeve of mine. As big as this book was I would say that another book was needed and the author wrapped up as many loose ends as he reasonably could.


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Review: Love, Forgive, Never Give Up!: 3 Powerful Ways To Turn Tragedy Into Triumph, Adversity Into Advantage, And Live Your Life at the Next level

Love, Forgive, Never Give Up!: 3 Powerful Ways To Turn Tragedy Into Triumph, Adversity Into Advantage, And Live Your Life at the Next level by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bill and Linda have written an excellent book on surviving this thing called life that we must make it through. There are three steps they explain in more detail than I can here. Through each step personal stories are shared from their own life experience.

Love - you must start by loving yourself. Once you love self you can start to love others.
Forgive - like love, forgive yourself. Somethings happen to you that you cannot control. Forgive yourself for thinking that it is your fault. Forgiveness of self leads to forgiveness to others.
Never give up - probably hardest step. One that is nessary or we migrate back to the other two being needed again.

As noted before, these are highlighted by the stories of the author's on lives. This is not theory these people have lived it. They have put into words what I have tried to help people in churches I have attended.

That brings up another point. Usually when I am wrapping up a review I give recommendations of who should read it. This could be read by all ages. Everyone needs to learn these lessons. However, I would caution my Christian friends. While reading the first half I suspected the authors of having new age beliefs. About half way through and for a little while afterward that was confirmed. We disagree on the religious nature and that is ok. What is important is the lessons that they teach. It is important enough that these things need to be taught. I have been a group facilitator in a church where these concepts were taught. Please do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I received an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

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The Machine by Craig Lea Gordon

The Machine by Craig Lea Gordon


​The Machine is more of a booklet. It is a short story that coud have been so much more. It has a great premise. A living machine that can give you anything you desire. A man who was told not to build it and did it anyway. The horror that it could bring is clearly shown here.

I will say it was a good story of how man can lose what he started in in the end play God.

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Review: Pineapple Disco: A Pineapple Port Mystery: Book Six

Pineapple Disco: A Pineapple Port Mystery: Book Six by Amy Vansant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

​The latest in Amy Vansant's series of Pineapple Port books is a change of pace. For once Charlotte is not investigating a murder case. She is looking into a missing person. The problem is that the request comes for a person who does not know the name or address of the person.

I get ahead of myself. If you have not read any of this series I recommend you do. You do not need to in order to understand the story. Any backstory is added in as needed. However, the backstory goes like this. Charlotte's mother died and she was sent to live in Florida with her grandmother. Gram lives in a retirement community called Pineapple Port. Gram dies leaving our hero an orphan. She is allowed to continue to live there with the neighbors taking turns at taking care of her. Now she is 20 something woman who lives in an area with senior citizens. Because she keeps getting pulled into murders she decides to become a private investigator.

In this book she is called on to find a man that a former resident of Pineapple Port has been flirting with on her daily walk. He has been wearing a t-shirt each day with one word on it. Will. You. Go . Out. With. Me. ?

The day the woman is about to respond with her shirt, he does not show. While this might sound like a dull story, it does involve a hit-woman, drugs, an underground disco for senior citizens, and stuff that if I told you about it, it would be spoilers.

While she is not investigating a murder, that is not to say there is not murders taking place. For that reason, if it was a movie I would give it a PG rating. There is no other real problems with the book. I could recommend it to any reader who likes a good mystery. It is in the vein of the cozy mysteries but it is not what I would call one as it is not quite in that mode.

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Review: Capturing Freedom

Capturing Freedom by Angelique Conger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

​I did receive an ARC of this book. I purchased a copy as well to support the author.

Capturing Freedom is the second book of a series by Angelique Conger. The series follows two children, grandchildren of Adam and Eve, in the time of the Bible. Man has fallen by this time and are following a collection of Gods. Nat has been kidnapped and sold to a series of evil slave owners. Because of his knowledge of reading he has worked his way up to the personal servant of high priest of one of the Gods. His sister, Ziva, was a little bit luckier. She was bought as a child to replace the child of a wealthy man. The young girl who had passed away when she was involved in an accident in town with her mother. Mother survived but not for long. The father kept her, not as a slave, but as a daughter. All of this is told in the first book and is back storied in quite nicely.

In this book, ZIva is expecting her first child, and then several more. Nat has committed himself to a young woman before the God Jehova. When the sneak time together, hard to do when you are a slave, she finds that she is with child. Any child born to a slave woman belongs to the master so they do not want this child born there. Nat, working with Ziva and her father work together to get the pregnant woman to be free. Meanwhile, the home of Ziva is attacked. If it had been an army it would have been easy. But disease is running through her home.

Ms. Conger blends the stories together quite well. Even though we can guess the ending (look at the title of the book) it still is interesting how we get there. This is a clean book that I would have no problem suggesting to any age. It is purely fiction, we do not know who lived at these time, or how their societies worked. I can imagine that this was the way of life for these people quite easily.

I recommend this book to any who are looking for a Biblical times story. If a movie, it would be rated PG for some scenes of violence, Nat being flogged is one of them. Enjoy.

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Review: The Lowdown

The Lowdown by Erik Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. I am providing an honest review.

The story takes place in a time that I grew up in. Though I am from the Boston area I had ties to New Orleans where this story takes place. The characters are like of the type of people I knew of the era. Prejudice was king not just in the south.

I was surprised to find out this book was part of a series. It had none of the signs that show it was. There was no heavy handed explanations of what had gone on it previous stories.

Prejudice, a KKK type of organization, an alphabet organization I had never heard of all are a part of this story. Dale is an agent of the BEI, an organization that is part of the DOJ. If a crime has an aspect of history to it, Dale is called in. Percy, a DOJ agent is partnered with him. Dale is white, Percy is black. While it does not bother them,the 1970's era that the book takes place in has a lot of people who do not like one or the other of them, sometimes both.

The KKK type of organization is out to flood cities in the south with joints laced with a drug that will kill them. Of course they are targeting the black population. Our heroes must find a way to stop them, even if it means working with the drug sellers.

Action was good, there was a fair amount of killing so I could not suggest this book for younger population, older teens would be OK. A movie like rating would be PG13. If you are in the need for a good thriller, I would pick this book up.

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Review: Hear Me Cry

Hear Me Cry by Amanda J. Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. What follows is an honestreview.

The author has taken an old Irish folktaleabout the banshee and recreated it in a world of fairies and humans. Faries are not the Tinker Bell type of fairies but more of the type that has been created in the fantsy books that have come out lately.

The story is engaging, charachters are real, and they stick to the way that they were written and do not deviate at all. There was one point in the story that did not make a lot of sense, but I feel the author used it as a way to move the story along.

The book is relativly short but it fits the style of the story.

Children might enjoy the story but parent should be aware of an itimate scene between the fairy and the human that gets a little graphic,
Recomeded for older teens though adults. If you like fantsy stories this might be for you.

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Review: Crosscurrents: Would you kill your brother to save yourself?

Crosscurrents: Would you kill your brother to save yourself? by Tom Bierdz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Cross currents is an enjoyable thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the book. This is the forth book by the author that I have read and have enjoyed each one of them.

Two brothers separated at a young age because of the mistakes of an abusive father. One goes on to become a crusading senator. The other gets amensia and becomes hit man for hire. As we wander through the life that each one has, and the people around them who love and support them, we see how intertwined their lives really are.

The big problem is that the men they have grown up to be are on a colision course when the crusading senator had become the target of the hitman when a contract is taken out on him. A knock on the head heals the amnesia, but is it to late.

Mr. Bierdz has written well developed characters. There are no throw aways here. Even the minor charachters are given something to flesh them out. All of the people stay true to their identies. Even when the times are frighing to them, they stay true to themselves.

I would recommend this to older teens and above. Obviously because when you have a hit man you have violence. There is also a degree of sexual activity. For the most part it is not written in heavy detail, but it is scattered throughout the book. If a movie I would say it would get an R rating. Let that be your guide if you would read it or not. I have enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good thriller.

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Review: Coding Projects in Python

Coding Projects in Python by DK Publishing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I got a review copy form the publisher through NetGalley.

This is an excellent book for children. As I teach a college class it helped me in learning Python ahead of a class that I am teaching in Introduction to programming.

For children it is a step by lesson on learning programming. Python is used for its simplicity. Fun projects are done with an eye to keeping children interested. If I had a young child who showed an interest in programming I would definitely have them look at this. Python is easily available for all systems and though they talk about a specific editor, any editor would work.

Recommend for anyone wanting to learn Python, even adults.

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Review: GHOST COACH

GHOST COACH by Duane Lindsay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon
I received an ARC of this book. What follows in an honest review.

This the second of a series. It can be read with no knowledge of the first one as I have done.

What if you were a con man and wanted to pull of the ultimate con. How long would you wait to pull the trigger on it.

That is the premise of Ghost Coach. Can the best con man (Leroy) ever pull off the best con ever, even though it is his daughter (Dani) wanting to do it more. Together, along with the people they bring in, they are the best team to do the job.

I never thought about what would go into a con like this. All of the details that have to be done so that they can hook the person. Yet this team made all the work look easy. Even though at almost every step, something got in their way. There are many twists and turns in the story. There are sad moments and happy moments as well as ones that make you wonder if these con men (and woman) are really the good guys.

I would recommend this book to any who like a light hearted story about how people really want to swindle themselves.

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Review: An Alarm to the Unconverted

An Alarm to the Unconverted by Joseph Alleine
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Someone told me that I should read some of the classics of Christan Literature. I thought, OK, let's give it a try. Over a year ago I decided to search online for classic Christian Literature and came up with a site called 'Classics On The Wing' (http://www.onthewing.org/Classics.html). I grabbed the first one on the list (at that time) and started to read the book.

I do not often give a book less than 3 starts. I can always learn something and nobody is that bad a writer that they do not deserve less than three stars. However, this is one of those cases. If you follow me on Goodreads you will see that I started this book over a year ago. At about the 1 year anniversary I decided that I needed to find a way to finish it as it sat for the longest time at 50%. Though no one can find Mark Twain ever saying it, a quote that is credited to him was something I had to do to finish this book: "Eat a Live Frog Every Morning, and Nothing Worse Will Happen to You the Rest of the Day". Who ever said it, never read this book. I basically had to force myself to read 5% every day so that I could finish the book.

I am sure that it is the time that this was written but the author has a one track mind. You are a sinner, you are going to hell, repent and show that you are Christian by your acts. Chapter one told us this in about 30 ways. Chapter two was more of the same. I remember reading this and thinking I did not know there was that many ways to be told I was going to hell. I am not discounting the message, but if I was a non-Christian reading this book, I would not have been influenced by it in the least. If you tell me 100 times I am a sinner in the tones that this author used, well, I most likely would have told you that you will see me there as well.

I had someone say, 'well that is just the way that Puritan authors were. That may be so. He wrote the book in 1652.

I cannot recommend this book to anyone of today's times. It is a heavy theological subject or how depraved we are as sinners, but does not offer help to those who would be converted, just more condemnation.

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Review: The 14 stations of The Cross

The 14 stations of The Cross by Mimi L. Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available on Amazon

I received an ARC copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

When I first saw the advertisement for this book it caught my interest. The Stations of the Cross was a tradition from when I was growing up in the Catholic Church. As a child, I was told to walk around these sculptured pictures on the walls of the church I went to. Each one of them reflected a time in the events of the death of Jesus. It is hard to get a grade schooler to think of anything like that for more than 10 minutes, and we were supposed to do at least that much at each station. It soon became just look at them and act like I was paying attention while thinking about my favorite books or TV shows. By my teens, when I would have a better understanding of them, it was just a tradition to me. Now I am in my 60's and can see the significance of the stations but as I am no longer a Catholic, I have no place to practice them. Only a few of the high order protestant churches practice them, not that I have attended. So, reading this was an interesting exercise I was to embark on.

The book advertisements said it was to be a devotional. I am not sure who it was a devotional for. To explain, I heard someone ask a preacher why he wanted to put his sermons on a Christian radio station. His reply was he wanted to reach the lost and lead them to Jesus. The person than asked him why he was not going to secular stations because only Christians listen to Christian radio stations. So, to the author, who did you hope to reach with this devotional. If it was the Christians, I am not sure many will read it because of the vulgarity of speech from so many of the people including Jesus himself. If you are trying to reach the lost with this language, and I do understand that you would want to do that, the fact it is a devotional will turn them off.

The book is basically the view of 14 events on the path to the crucification. Each story is told from one person's point of view so we have 14 points of view. In this respect, it was well done. It is hard to flesh out that many people and not get lost in the process. These people are real people, who had doubts and fears and were touched by Jesus in so many ways. We even get to look at Jesus point of view as why He was doing this. It is a good set of stories, and it should be marketed a different way in my thoughts.

Spoiler, Jesus does die in the end. Yes, I know, I may have ruined the story for you. Even though the stations end with Jesus being taken down from the cross this story does not. It follows through to the resurrection and the second coming of Jesus. I point this out because I would not want Christian friends to get the idea that I support the theology behind the book. In the end, all go to heaven, sinners and saints. I will not argue if his theology or mine is correct. I kind of guessed we were going there by about the middle of the book, and there it was at the end. I will not mark it down on the stars, theology is not what a review should be about, how it is written is what should be looked at.

Because of the language and the violence I would only suggest this book to older teens and above. While well written be aware that there is some language in it that as a Christian some may be offended by. I am not, that is the type of people who Jesus hung with. I am putting it here to let people know it is there. If it was a movie it would most likely get a soft R or hard PG because of the violence and language.


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Review: Werewolf M.D.: A Paranormal Shifter Doctor Romance

Werewolf M.D.: A Paranormal Shifter Doctor Romance by Taylor Haiden My rating: 4 of 5 stars Available at Amazon

I was provided an ARC copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.When you get to read ARCs you get a lot of different styles of books, and even some mixed ones at that. This is one of those mixed ones. One part horror/fantasy. One part romance. I think you get the idea. While this is not my style of book, I will still give it a review based on the writing. Isabella is a nurse trainee from a small Kansas town in a backwoods town in Louisiana to do her nurse residency. Dr. Roman is a doctor from there who, with the skill he seems to have could be practicing in the big city, but wants to stay right where he is at. All the woman seem to fall in love with him, including Isabella. He is what you call a player. Everyone tells Isabella that Doctor Roman is not goodnews. You might think she would listen and pay attention. Might not be much of a story if she did. She just has to know how he is healing these patients who are incurable. Without giving too much of a spoiler, you might look at the name of the book for an idea. The book is written well. There are no obvious plot holes. characters seem to be well written with a good ballance of self preservation and desire to be in a loving relationship. While the book was enojoyable, there were several intimate scenes. If you do not mind that or can read around things you may enjoy the book. Because I cannot half stars and it has one of the things I hate, I had to drop a star. I do not mind setting up for a sequel. It mind cliffhangers. Other than that, it was an enjoyablet story of a type I do not normally read. View all my reviews

Review: A Stitch in Space

A Stitch in Space by Christopher Lansdown
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Available on Amazon

I received an ARC of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Since I had previously read another book by this author, I was really wanting to read this one. His previous book that I ha read, 'The Dean died over winter Break', was an interesting joining of mystery and philosophy. This book seemed to be very heavy on the philosophy. the basic story is of a group of passengers catching a ride on a cargo ship. along with the crew and the robots this had the makings of what could be an interesting story.

Our point of view is from Father Xris. a Catholic priest who in the story represents all of Christianity in this future time. I had a slight problem with this. As I am a Christian who is not Catholic I did not agree with a few of his views. Most of his thoughts on the subject were OK. I suspect the authors did not consider other faiths.

My other main problem as I had stated before was the heavy philosophy. While there was some action in the early story it was mostly there so Father Xris could explain philosophy to any of the passengers or crew who would listen. It was 2/3 of the book before any real action took place.

The writing was clear. The characters well developed. The action when we got it was good and well done. It was just too much philosophy.

I look forward to what this writer can do in the future. The book is acceptable for most who would read it. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to read about a priest in space.


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Review: Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God

Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God by Carol Round
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received a review copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Carol Round has written an excellent book about journaling. I have tried to journal many times in my life and have always wound up stopping because a lot of it got repetitive. Most of what I wrote was like a diary more than a journal. What I needed was a kick to move out of that and into something better. This book was it.

The author takes the time to lay out what is called prayer journaling. Each day, as a Christian, we should take time to read the Bible and pray. So often our prayers never seem to be answered. In journalling them out to God, we now have a written form that we can return to later and see that they really are answered. In reading the Bible, so often we forget what we read. Again, doing this helps us to be able to return later when times of need come up. The journalling can also be done with devotionals that you read.

My only problem with the book is the audience. I am a male, and for the most part the cover implies that this book is for everyone. While a few male authors are cited, the book is clearly written with a female in mind. This is not a complaint, as I can clearly learn from anything written for anyone. It is pointed out in case someone did have a problem with it.

I would recommend this book to any of my Christian friends wanting to know more about praying and journaling together.


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Review: Money: Physics and Distributive Justice

Available at Amazon. Money: Physics and Distributive Justice by Oded Kafri
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“GIVE me a one-handed economist,” demanded president Truman. “All my economists say, ‘on the one hand...on the other'”. This book is not like that as it takes a stand, I am just not sure where the stand is.

I received a review copy of this book, what follows is an honest review.

I thought that the college classes I had taken in micro and macro economics and physics would have prepared me for this book. I think I came out a little bit more confused then when I went in.

I am not sure where the author was going with this. At times it read like a textbook. At times it read like a series of blog posts. Sometimes he seemed to be talking about politics, other times it was deep into the subject. At places he said, if this confuses you do not read it. Then he turns around and develops off of that.

If you have a strong background in physics, not the entry level kind, this book might make a little bit more sense to you that it did to me. In which case, you might enjoy it. I am not sure who else I could recommend it to.

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Review: Graciousness: Tempering Truth with Love

Graciousness: Tempering Truth with Love by John Crotts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I was not sure How much I would like this book. I liked the topic but then I read it was by a gentleman from the reformed branch of Christianity. Most of the people who identify themselves as reformed tend to be rigid in their thinking, I was seriously questioning if I could agree with this man at all.

I was pleasantly surprised to find he felt a lot like I did. We may be in the right, but our actions make us in the wrong when it comes to christian actions. The author does not tell us to abandon our beliefs. He tells us to act in love to each other. While this is important to do to all, it is important to the unbeliever as well.

While the author and I will most likely' agree on theology, we can agree that the love walk is important.

I would recommend this book to all Christians as a wake up Call to the way we look to the world when we fight and bicker.

I received an advanced copy of this book. This is an honest review.

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Review: Mageborn: A Seven Stars Novel

Mageborn: A Seven Stars Novel by Dayne Edmondson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
The author provided me an ARC copy. I am providing an honest review.

Mageborn is a bit away from the normal fare that I read, but one does have to broaden their horizons. It opens with an event from the past that would appear to have an influence on the story as we read it. Other than to introduce younger versions of some of the characters we later meet, it kind of confused me. When we get to the story proper everything started to mesh and the story progressed nicely.

We have a young lady and her brother, Emma and Ethan, who at a later age than normal (16) develop magic, and in the process, scare the town to death. Their parents think that it would be a good idea to send them off for training, even though most children have had training since 10. Off they go for the training, but they are delayed along the way as people who are against them attack and in great numbers.

An interesting feature is that some of the people in the story talk of things the others do not understand. It leads me to believe that somehow they were dropped into this world and are making the best of it.

Characters that are prominent to the story seem to be well developed. This is especially true for Emma as we tend to see the story from her eyes.

It is a YA book but I think anyone who would like fantasy books would enjoy this story. There are large amounts of death in the story, mostly of an impersonal nature, and how it affects the people in the story is a minor point of the story. If deaths are not your cup of tea, then you might not enjoy it. They are not gory, just needed to advance the story. Age range would be teenager to adult as my suggestion. I did enjoy it.

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Review: Dark Origins: Herr Graden: Book 1: A Short Story

Dark Origins: Herr Graden: Book 1: A Short Story by Bill Hargenrader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I was given an advance copy of "Master of My Fate" by Bill Hargenrader, which is part of this collection.

Excellent story of a young boy who could have gone on to be someone great and helped mankind, but because of an unfortunate set of circumstances, goes on to be great, but with evil in his heart. Having read the Mars Journey series I knew where the little boy would wind up. Mr. Hargenrader still makes an excellent story of how that boy turns into the man he is now.

Any age should be able to read. Children would not really be interested in it in my opinion.

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Review: The Dean Died Over Winter Break

The Dean Died Over Winter Break by Christopher Lansdown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I was quite surprised at just how entertaining this book was. The premise of the series is that of consulting detective who happen to be Franciscan Friar (not a monk). They are called upon in this book to look into a murder at a university campus. On the night of a snowstorm, in his office, and with a window left open to cover the time of death. The dean has quite a few enemies all of which have opportunity.

There guide around the Camus and town is a college secretary with a doctorate. She is the source of a lot of discussion that has to deal with philosophy. That is what makes the book interesting to me. I have never really read a book that seems to combine the two elements so we'll.

The book is safe for all ages as far as I am concerned. There is a murder of course, but the body is gone before we get there. While I enjoyed the Brothers, it seems a shame for such great character development with the secretary only to never see her again. I do hope the author has plans for her again.

Good clean mystery. Recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Review: Lost Children of the Prophet

Lost Children of the Prophet by Angelique Conger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon

I was provided a copy of the book. What follows is an honest review.

Lost Children of the Prophet is a tightly written book with good characterizations. The story is told from the point of view of several of the participants, mainly a young man and woman who do not seem to have any relationship to each other.

While the opening of the book does not provide a time or location of the story, it does become clear after a while. It takes place in the times of the early events of the Bible. This should not scare away any reader. Christians can read it knowing the expressions used. Others can read it for what it is.

Ziva, our lead female character is a strong willed teenager. She knows what she wants and more importantly what she does not want. She wants to be mated with a man she loves, not one that has to.
Nat is a slave in the employment of one of the most cruel men in the city. His master is wanting to be the head priest of a religion of a god who requires much in the way of sacrifice, mostly bloody sacrifices. Nat moves up from a pot scrubber to the assistant of the priest.

How these two people relate is the basis of the story. Each are on a path, one set out for them from time they began their lives.

The book has a satisfying ending while also leaving a hook for the next book in the series. I recommend this book for all ages. There is no sex or serious violence in it so it can be read by all without a problem.

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Review: Not So Dead: A Sam Sunborn Novel

Not So Dead: A Sam Sunborn Novel by Charles Levin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

I have both the audio version and the eBook version. The review is based on the eBook.

If the author is reading this I am sure he will get the pun I am about to make as he references it a few time in the book.

This book takes place 20 seconds into the future. Unlike the other dystopian books I have read, this is more of a normal future. We have our alphabet soup of government agencies. We have people who love each other, people who protect them, and people who are just people. But I get ahead of myself.

The idea of the book is that in the near future we will have one group of people who will be able to create digital copies of themselves so that after they are dead, they can interact with their love ones. This is close to a concept that many countries as well as a few terrorist organizations are working on. Sam Sunborn and partner Frank Einstein are attacked by terrorist leader the Leopard. Frank is killed in the process. He just happened to be wearing the device to digitize himself at the time so all of his information up to the point of death is available to him.

From this point they travel across the US trying to capture the Leopard with a local police detective and Rich Little from Homeland Security (no not the famous one). As they travel you get pulled into the story and start to like each one of the characters. You want to keep turning the page, or in my case, listen just a few minutes more. I listen to audiobooks while driving to and from work. When I would get to my destination many times I would sit there and at least finish the chapter I was in.

Age wise I would say older teen through adult. Killing is a big part of the story. If you are interested in suspense stories with a little science fiction, this would be a good choice for you. I would recommend it.

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Review: The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future

The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future by Skip Prichard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

The Book of Mistakes was provided for me to review. What follows is an honest review.

Mr. Prichard has written a marvelous story around a list of mistakes that we commonly do that keep us from becoming a success. Why the story? Because it is easier to learn when you learn from a story. Even Jesus used parables to help teach a lesson. If it had been written as a bunch of dos and don'ts I am not sure I would have been able to keep still long enough to read it. By providing a story, we become engaged with the main character and want to see him succeed and by nature we know we can as well.

The mistakes, all 9 of them, are ones that everyone makes from time to time. To learn from them and advance is the important thing. Along with these Mistakes are rules to live by.

The main story (there is a smaller sub-story as to how the rules got to us) is of a young man who wants so much more our of life. He feels trapped in his job, cannot seem to please the boss, well you get the idea. He meets a young girl in the park by chance and accidently gets one of her papers. He wants to meet her again so he goes to the location on the flyer hoping to meet her again. He instead meets the Old Man, the first of the nine more that will come into his life at the appropriate time. The doctor, the conductor, the artist, the bookstore owner and more show up right at the time he needs to learn a new lesson in another mistake.

I used the mistakes recently with a group of men who have addiction problems. Most in the group were able to learn something from each one.

I would recommend this book for all. While I think young adults and teenagers would gain a lot from this book I am not sure that they would see the need to read it. Even at my advanced age of 64, I learned a lot from reading it. It is a book I recommend.

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Review: A Clerical Error

A Clerical Error by J. New
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received a copy of this book from the author. What follows is an honest review of the book.

I always find it interesting to jump into a book series in the middle. It gives me a feel for how they can write because you tell to much of the other stories you bore the person with facts they do not need. On the other hand, you can not tell them anything and you leave them confused. That middle ground seems to be so hard for most authors to do.

Ms. New has no problem with that. As this is the third book in the series I was expecting that I would be a little lost. Like many good writers, she provided the information needed as it was needed, not adding much length to the story.

What was a little frustrating to me was the settings of various parts of the story that appeared to have no bearing on the story at hand. It is said, if you plan to murder someone in the third act, you better have the gun shown in the first. That is what was provided here. While it seems unrelated, much of what was written (not all) was necessary for the end story and patience paid off in the long run.

I personally had figured out the weapon, but I think that was expected. The killer though was a little more difficult.

While I would not call it a 'Cozy' mystery, I would say that it had the same type of elements. No sex/excessive violence/ etc. You have to have a death but this one was not violent by any means.
I would say that all readers could enjoy this. If you like a mystery, this is a good book to pick up and I would recommend it.

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Review: Gabriel: Zero Point

Gabriel: Zero Point by Steve Umstead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zero Point was an interesting listen. It kept my interest. I listen to audiobooks on my way to and from work. Often I would arrive and want to finish at least that chapter before I went in.

The characters were all well developed and were clear who they were. The actor did each one in a distinctive voice.
There was a fair amount of violence, it backed up the story, so this could not be one that I would recommend for all. Young adult and up would be best audience. The ending is Ok, it is a prequel, but it does not leave you hanging.

Gabriel is chosen for an elite mission and he is turned into a weapon. It is his choice what to do with his life when all this happens.

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Review: Watchdog

Watchdog by Will McIntosh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

I received a review copy. What follows is an honest review.

A few years ago there was a show called Max Headroom. It took place 30 seconds into the future. Anytime I read futuristic stories like these, I think about that 30 seconds into the future.

This book takes place 30 seconds into our future. People have watchdogs, robotic dogs (though some are not dogs) that they can get to do things for them. Vick and Tara, twin brother and sister, are orphaned when their mom dies. They live on the streets. Tara, who is autistic, is a mechanical whiz and can build watchdogs of good designs. Trouble is, they have to scour the dumps to get the parts she needs to make dogs to sell so they can survive.

When Tara finds a chip one day that she puts into her watchdog Daisy, the dog becomes almost human. And they become a target of a syndicate out to get the chip back.

The story focuses on what a family is. While they start out only having each other they gather some others along the way and each provides something to the team as they take on the bad guys.

This is a middle school age book but I did enjoy it and would recommend it for all ages. It has some intense fight scenes between the watchdog armies. All in all, good book.

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Review: Masked Intentions

Masked Intentions by Tom Bierdz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

Tom Bierdz provided me a review copy, what follows is my honest review.

Masked Intentions is the third in a series of books a bout psychiatrist Grant Garrick. In the first we were introduced to the character and given his back story. In the second, Grant fights to prove he is innocent of a murder. In this one, a new friend is charged with murder and does not help his case when he runs to Mexico.

Grant finds Toby Rathbone dead drunk on a street while walking to work. He takes him in and later finds out he was married to a successful author of trashy romance novels. Toby eventually makes it to the point where he is starting to get back with her when she is murdered. Toby flees knowing the police will suspect him. Grant soon discovers her murder seems to be staged to be like one of her books. With the help of a local detective they try to find the real killer.

The story was good. It has quite a few twists and turns and keeps the reader on their toes. The characters are well developed in a continuation from the first two books. It is a stand alone book in that you can read it without having read the other two. Information needed from them is provided when and if it is needed.
I would recommend this book to young adult and older. There are some scenes that younger people might not understand and the nature of the romance novels comes into play here.

Pick it up if you are looking for a good mystery. Especially who did it.

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Review: Henrietta the Dragon Slayer

Henrietta the Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon.

Sometimes the dragons that you face are yourself and not the real ones.

Henrietta has become a larger that life hero while still young. Songs are sung about her skills. When asked to go slay a dragon for a king for a far off land, she does not want to go. But fates send her on a journey to rescue the father figure in her life, and though she would rather travel alone, she winds up teaming with three others. Each with their own unique skill set.

I enjoyed the book. It is a diversion from the mysteries that I have been reading lately. It is a young adult book but that does not mean it cannot be enjoyed by an old guy like me. It is basically a quest for healing, not only of Henrietta's master but for all of the parts of her troupe, but especially her. Can she kill again? A dragon slayer must slay dragons, right?

If you are challenged by a strong female lead, this book is not for you. But understand, there is a strong male in it as well. In fact, it might be interesting to spin him off into a series of his own but I suspect the author has other plans for him.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a quest. It has a small amount of violence, people do die, and for that reason, younger readers might be discouraged.

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Review: The Poison Belt

The Poison Belt by Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I was so keen on reading this book that I got through Bookshout. I loved Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes but this book was nothing like the fine crafted Holmes stories. Much of it did not seem to make sense at all.

Basic story is a scientist has discovered something in the air after a comet has flown by. It seems to be more prevalent in the southern hemisphere but is spreading northward. He finds this not by examining the air but in the way that people are getting more irrational as time goes by. It is not something that can be registered with equipment, but only by logic. He quickly gets friends to join them and urges each to bring him an oxygen tank. One of these friends is a reporter and it is from his eyes that we are reading this. They seal up a room and as the 'poison belt' of air gets close to them they go into the room and seal themselves in and use the oxygen to make it through.

I guess I expect more logic to stories from Doyle. While I can take in the dated references to the time and handle them, the logic of all of this seems wanting. I could not suspend my belief that it was happening. One part was, I was reading what the reporter had written after everyone had died off. So you kind of know they did not all die.

While an interesting read it is not one that I would highly recommend. If you like the time frame it might be something to look at.

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Review: Coldwater

Coldwater by Samuel Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I received a copy of this book from Interviews and Reviews Website as well as the author (Samuel Parker) and publisher (Revell). What follows is an honest review.

It is very hard to talk about this book without giving away major plot points. The story opens with a man in a pine box struggling to get out. It is the start of many struggles that this man will go through in his life for the next few days.

Branded a murderer as a child and sent to jail, he is released as an adult and tries to live by himself at his home, venturing out to a bar once a week for a drink. This does not sit well with the locals, and they want him dead, so that is why we find him in a box in the opening.

Characters are quite well developed in this book, even the minor ones. There was no one sided character in the book. We got to see what made them tick and why they were the way they were.

The plot was excellent. When I thought that the author could not pull out a new twist to the story anymore, he still did. It was an excellent thrill ride through why these people were like they were. Nothing was out of place. Each new reveal went with the others. It was just well written. The only reason that I put it down once I started was that was bedtime, or I had work to do. It just latched on and would not let go.

One surprise to me was that the website that allowed me to request a review copy of the book is a Christian website. The books at this site are generally Christian books and Revell is a Christian publishing organization. With that I was expecting some mention of Christianity but it was just not there in the story straight out. As I thought about it, the story could seem a little allegorical. I cannot talk about why I feel that way because it would give away major plot points. But there is a big need for empathy and forgiveness in this story. The story revolves around if the main character will get them, but also the need for them from some of the minor ones.

I highly recommend this book with the understanding that there is a lot of death in it. For that reason if it was a movie (and I could see this becoming one) it would at least get a PG-13 rating. Drinking is done but not glorified. Sex is non-existent. If death bothers you this might be a book to avoid.





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Review: Angels Cry

Angels Cry by Tina Glasneck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
An interesting read. I received a copy to review and what follows is an independent review.

Angel's Cry deals with the undercover work of a cop and the seedier side of life. While undercover before, Lazarus falls in love with a woman, and then abandons her, leaving behind something he did not expect. Now three years later and back on the case, he comes across her working in a gentlemen's club. He wants to take her away but is not able to because he is deep in the case and would make them both targets if he did.

This is not book for teenagers or younger. There is a lot of murder and other material in it that would not be acceptable. I would recommend if you want a suspense story with a lot of twists and turns.



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Review: Still Christian

Still Christian by David P. Gushee
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley provided me a copy of this book. What follows is an honest review.

Mr Gushee and I share some common things in life. We were both raised Catholic and both came to know Jesus at about the same time, though we were 10 years apart in age. Major differences are that he went on to become a minister with the support of people around him, mine was a journey of people blocking me from full time ministry, but I still do what I can from the tools that I have.

We also share a common problem in our politics. Like him, I cannot be classified as a republican. Unlike him, that is where I tend to vote as I do not see the democrats are any better but the positions I do have lean more towards the right. I would guess his politics put him left of center and mine more right, but we are, what appears to be, more central on most issues.

The book is a journey from the time the author received his salvation in high school until the present day. It is a interesting journey because, even though I did not go through seminary of Bible school, I had a lot of the same interactions with the people around me that he did. While a strong evangelical, that does not mean that you through compassion out the window, something that many Christians seem to miss. As he tries to show this to people again and again, he gets frustrated at those not hearing him and at himself for not being always true to his ideals. His constant referrals to his journals show that this is not looking back at something and remembering the good times. In fact, in one section he shows all three sides of a situation. The liberal, conservative and the true version of the story. It shows that not all situations can be wrapped up in I am right and you are wrong.

I recommend this to anyone. Younger people may not get the significance, but anyone over their teens may get a good look at a man who wrestles with his Christianity each day and what it means to be a true Christian. I may not agree with all he says but I know that he is speaking his conscious.

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Review: Out of the Silent Planet

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Available at Amazon

C. S. Lewis is known more for his Narnia stories but this was an excellent trip into science fiction. The only problem is that one must look at it from the eyes of the people at the time it was written. What we consider fact today was conjecture at that time.

What if there is life on other planets? What if they are more in tune with their creator than we are? Ransom, a ligustis of sorts, is captured by two men who are after precious metals they discovered on their trip to another planet, Malacandria. We know it as Mars. It and all the other planets are in tune with the creator. However, there is a silent planet, that does not seem to be in tune with its maker, and when shown with a telescope, Ransom fines it is earth.

Ransom is found to be a decent 'human' unlike the men who came with him. And he is led to a place to communicate with the 'god' of Mars. His adventures are what makes up most of the story. I look forward to books 2 and three in the series.

Recommended to all ages although death in the story may scare young children. If you enjoyed Narnia, you may enjoy this.

Purchased copy from Bookshouts

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Review: Reawakened

Reawakened by Dean C. Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
I had great hopes that this would be a great book. I had liked the first two and was looking forward to this one. The thing is, the things that I did not like in the first two books became the major way the story was told. Because of that, it went down one star. I was happy that the story was completed (with a little wiggle room for a sequel).

Problem 1) Large cast, bigger than book 2 it seems. It was hard to keep track of all of the characters.
Problem 2) Stream of consciousness story. In any story you have to suspend belief. You have to assume that Batman can take a licking and still keep ticking. I have no problem with that. When most of the story takes place in the mind(s) of other characters, then I begin to check out because anything is possible and talking unicorns become real. That is to much of a stretch for me. This is not saying the book is bad, it is saying that it was not for me. I will never give a bad review of a book because it is not my style unless it is truly is bad.

All that being said, the characters developed as they should and got to a natural ending point. The characters stayed true to their natures and what drove them in the first two books is what drove them now.

Recommended for older teens through adults. Several parts of the book were more adult in nature and there seemed to be more cuss words than in the other two books. Recommended if you are into
the stream of consciousness as noted above.

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