Category: book review

May 12, 2017

The Dragon Orb

In The Dragon Orb, the fate of a kingdom rests on the shoulders of three young wizards who couldn’t be more different.

About The Dragon Orb

Bakari is a brilliant scholar wizard who’s more at home in a library than a battlefield. Alli is a beautiful young battle wizard whose grace in battle is both enchanting and deadly. Roland is a counselor wizard with a seemingly limitless depth of untapped power — and the ego to match it.

As the magical barrier protecting the kingdom of Alaris from dangerous outsiders begins to fail, and a fomenting rebellion threatens to divide the country in a civil war, the three wizards are thrust into the middle of a power struggle.

When the barrier comes down, the truth comes out. Was everything they were taught about their kingdom based on a lie? Will they all choose to fight on the same side, or end up enemies in the battle over who should rule Alaris?

My Thoughts

The Dragon Orb is an exciting, magical adventure that both young adults and adults alike can fall in love with. Mike takes readers on an exciting adventure through the wizards world and the politics that divide the wizards and normal citizens. The plot is new, exciting and you never know what to expect next. Mike brings the story and characters to life and makes you feel as though you are a part of the story, that they are your friends, your enemies and it is your home at stake. This is one of my favourite parts about his writing and this story – you are drawn right into the story and become one with the novel.

All three main characters, Bakari, Alli and Roland are my favourites. These each bring a unique spin to the novel and have quirks that you just can’t help but love. While friends (well competitive friends!) and wizards, they are each very different. It is their differences that make them special and it is only when they work together that they can protect their kingdom. While I initially fell in love with Roland’s ego and joy of life, Roland emerges in my mind as an exceptional wizard, friend and warrior – quite the surprise!

The Dragon Orb is a definite must read with young adults (and adults who love well written fantasy novels!) – they will love the plot, characters and the battle for the kingdom. I can’t wait to read the second installment in this series.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Mike has recently released the first book in a new YA/Teen fantasy series – The Alaris Chronicles, following his 2016 trilogy of The Cremelino Prophecy. Please join his mailing list at www.MichaelSheltonBooks.com to continue to get information on these stories and any future publications.

Mike was born in California and has lived in multiple states from the west coast to the east coast. He cannot remember a time when he wasn’t reading a book. At school, home, on vacation, at work at lunch time, and yes even a few pages in the car (at times when he just couldn’t put that great book down). Though he has read all sorts of genres he has always been drawn to fantasy. It is his way of escaping to a simpler time filled with magic, wonders and heroics of young men and women.

Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.

Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys – writing!

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

May 5, 2017

Sweet Tea Tuesdays

Three best friends met every Tuesday for twenty-six years. And then they stopped.

About Sweet Tea Tuesdays

Three best friends met every Tuesday for twenty-six years. And then they stopped. From the author of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters Series comes a novel of friendship, family, and hope. When new next-door neighbors Georgia, Midge, and Lula first assembled on Georgia’s porch in Charleston for sweet tea, they couldn’t have known their gathering was the beginning of a treasured tradition. For twenty-six years they have met on Tuesdays at four o’clock, watching the seasons change and their children grow up, supporting each other in good times and in bad. With their ambitions as different as their personalities, these best friends anticipate many more years of tea time. And then, one Tuesday, Georgia shares news that brings their long-standing social hour to an abrupt halt. And that’s only the beginning as unraveling secrets threaten to alter their friendship forever.

My Thoughts

Wow – another incredible, incredible story from Ashley Farley. She had me laughing, crying and heart sore throughout this novel that I just couldn’t stop reading (how could you want to miss a day in the lives of Georgia, Midge and Lula?!).

These three ladies were the best of friends but life has a way of pulling people apart slowly. As their life goals change, their special tea time is changed and this brings their friendship to a breaking point. Their friendship begins to spiral and you really begin to wonder if they can recover from this. As it spirals out of control, we are introduced to more to their past and we begin to uncover secrets from their present. Like any normal friends, they fight, they love, they forgive and sometimes they hold grudges!

It is at one shocking point where the three women are forced to wake up. This life changing event affects not just them but the people around them. This life event is a reminder to all of us to always be in the present, to forgive and to love.

Sweet Tea Tuesdays is an emotional, honest, loving story of the lives of three normal women that we can all relate to. It is a special reminder to live our lives to the fullest, to be honest, to give to others and to be happy in all that we do. It is a truly special book that you will always cherish.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Ashley Farley is the author of the bestselling series, the Sweeney Sisters Series. Ashley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you’ve read the last word, then she’s done her job. After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. Ashley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions. Ashley loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashleywfarley or twitter.com/ashleywfarley. Visit her website at http://www.ashleyfarley.net

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

May 2, 2017

The Bad Luck Bride Review

The Bad Luck Bride is the first in a new Regency romance series from Janna MacGregor.

The Bad Luck Bride

All were shocked at the announcement of the cursed Lady Claire Cavensham to Lord Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, especially when she is already engaged to another unfortunate Lord. Perhaps she will make it to the altar this time with one of these gentleman.

No one is left breathless at this pronouncement of her engagement to Lord Pembrooke more than Claire. She hardly knows the man! But after three engagements gone awry and a fourth going up in flames, she is not in a position to refuse.

Alexander requires the hand of his enemy’s fiancée in marriage in order to complete his plans for revenge. It is his good fortune that the cursed woman is desperate. However, what beings as a sham turns into something deeper.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this novel – it was full of humour, romance and suspense! Lady Claire is a strong, kind and so full of love but her life was changed the day her parents died. That day forever changed her, her fears and her outlook on life. It also sprang to life some of the vicious curse rumours that have forever plagued her. So much so that Lady Claire begins to believe some of those cursed rumours! It doesn’t help when four of her engagements are broken and not in the usual manner. You fee for Lady Claire – how much can one young woman handle? All she wants is her own family and children to love.

Alexander doesn’t believe in the curse but at first only wants Lady Claire for his personal revenge. As he begins to truly know Lady Claire, we see him fall in love with her for her bravery, her kindness and her good heart. But he is still hiding a dark secret from her which includes why he married her in the first place – if she were to find out it would spell disaster for the two of them! He makes you mad at times for being so secretive but he has such good intentions that it is hard to stay mad at him.

As their feelings develop, disaster strikes again and leaves us wondering if the pair can heal their broken past and move forward. They have such potential to build a strong relationship but sometimes it can be hard to release our past.

Bad Luck Bride is full of love, strength, hope and resilience. Our two main characters could let their past determine their future but instead use love, hope and forgiveness to move forward. Bad Luck Bride is a well written and exciting read that I could not put down.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the boot heel of Missouri. She credits her darling Mom for introducing her to the happily ever after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the Mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her own dashing rogue and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to here from her readers. The Bad Luck Bride is her first novel.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 25, 2017

A Fragile Hope Book Review

In A Fragile Hope, hope grows when seeds are planted-even in the muddy middle of life.

About A Fragile Hope

Josiah Chamberlain’s life’s work revolves around repairing other people’s marriages. When his own is threatened by his wife’s unexplained distance, and then threatened further when she’s unexpectedly plunged into an unending fog, Josiah finds his expertise, quick wit and clever quips are no match for a relationship that is clearly broken.

Feeling betrayed, confused, and ill-equipped for a crisis this crippling, he reexamines everything he knows about the fragility of hope and the strength of his faith and love. Love seems to have failed him. Will what’s left of his faith fail him, too? Or will it be the one thing that holds him together and sears through the impenetrable wall that separates them?

My Thoughts

I LOVED A Fragile Hope. Josiah teaches others how to have a successful marriage and is quite good at it. BUT he can’t seem to realize when his own marriage is falling apart and what his wife needs and wants from him. Their marriage is falling apart and yet neither of them can talk to each other and work through it.

One moment changes everything for them and turns their whole world upside down. Josiah is forced to examine his life, his marriage and his own faults. We are able to view pieces of their married life from both Josiah and his wife’s views. What we get is this picture is of a couple pulling apart as their careers evolve and priorities change. This is extremely difficult for Josiah and he has to decide whether he has the strength both mentally and physically to build back his relationship.

An incredible story of hope, marriage and the strength of love. It had my angry at times (how could Josiah not see what he was doing?) and crying at other times. It was honest and real, you can relate to how this couple was being pulled apart and also how they struggled to find a way back together. It is a truly beautiful book from start to finish.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page here. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope through her novels, novels, nonfiction books, articles and devotionals, drawing from thirty three years of on-air radio ministry. Ruchti has written more than twenty award winning novels, novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals. Her books have received numerous awards and nominations, including the RT Reviewers Choice, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year nominations, two Selah Awards, Christian Retailing’s BEST, was an ACFW Carol Award finalist and a Christy finalist among other honours. Her latest release is the novel, A Fragile Hope.

One of her greatest joys is helping other writers grow in their craft. To that end, she has served as worship and devotions staff and faculty for the Write to Publish conference and teaches at other writers’ conferences across the country and internationally as opportunities arise. She also serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Ruchti speaks frequently for women’s groups and serves on her church’s worship team. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 11, 2017

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures Book Review #EmbraceTheEarth

Learn and entertain your kids with this exciting new book from DK Canada: Forest Life and Woodland Creatures. A look into life in the woods, just in time for Earth Day 2017!

About Forest Life and Woodland Creatures

Packed with fun activities, crafts, reading games, and amazing facts, kids can meet all the cuddly creatures and amazing sights found in the woods – from bunnies to bears to bugs, in this educational project book.

In Forest Life and Woodland Creatures, each page has engaging photographs with clear text and simple step-by-step instructions for young readers to follow as they complete each project. Kids can get crafty as they create a pine cone owl, a bear mask, delicious berry ice pops, and much more. Perfect for kids who love the great outdoors, this book will have them exploring as they improve their dexterity, memory, and brain development with each activity.

Created especially for kids ages 3-5, DK’s Practical Facts series blends educational content with simple practical activities such as crafts, cooking, and counting. This provides young readers with a broad reading experience in which they learn by doing. The simple activities reinforce the fun facts and aid in the development of literacy, numeracy, memory, and dexterity.

My Thoughts

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures is a beautiful hardcover book for young children. It introduces them to forests and the creatures that live there all in an age appropriate and visually appealing manner. Each page has a combination of large and small images, some of the images are drawn while others are real images of animals and trees. The font is perfect for children with a combination of large and small print with kid friendly type. The wording is excellent for young children and makes it easy for parents to read out loud to your child and to even have them help you read along with the story with short sentences and high frequency words.

This is the perfect introduction to your child about the world around them and a great topic starter coming up to Earth Day. It can introduce topics like how do we protect animals in the forest, how can we recycle more to save trees and how can we make the Earth a better place. It also includes easy to make projects (like pine cone owls!) that you and your child can create together. A lot of these projects incorporate items found outside in nature. It will have them exploring their environment and learning at the same time.

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.