2014 Whitney Awards Finalist Spotlight: DEADLY ALLIANCE by A.L. Soward (Historical)

From Covenant: Amidst the darkest days of WWII, will one star-crossed couple’s love survive?

When Peter Eddy and his commando team inadvertently upset the Soviets during their most recent mission, they never imagined the diplomatic nightmares that would ensue. They have one chance to redeem themselves: tasked with destroying a bridge in Nazi-occupied Bosnia, Peter and his war-weary team reluctantly agree to drop behind enemy lines. The assignment should be a simple one—were it not for the fact that they are being deployed on a suicide mission.

Genevieve Olivier is devastated by the news of Peter’s disappearance. After all they’ve endured in this war, the determined OSS worker is unwilling to simply let go of the man she hopes to spend her life with. Desperate for information, her work as a courier soon escalates into a counterintelligence duel with a Fascist assassin—and Genevieve is his newest target . . .

Genre: Historical, Inspirational

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Length: 336 pgs

Rating: 4

Review: That moment when you know you have to add all the author's books to your TBR? That. (Don't mind my hysterical laughter as my TBR lists grows increasingly out of control...) I love World War II stuff. I have a degree in history and specialized in World War II, specifically women in World War II so the cast of women in this novel was so dear to my heart. Realistic, but still satisfying to someone who needs a happy ending. (Perhaps there were a few things that turned out better than they might have in real life, but I love that about books.) Even though it is part of a series, I didn't feel lost at all, only very curious about the rest of the books! It's low on romance, but I expected that so it didn't bother me. Definitely recommend it if you're into historical books and especially World War II and resistance stuff (Me me me!!)

Content:

Sex - 0

Language - 0

Violence - 2 (War stuff, work camp stuff, injuries, etc. Nothing too graphic but its definitely there throughout the book)

Preachy - 1 (It's woven in perfectly with the narration and never out of place or overbearing)

Overall rating - PG-13

See the other 2014 Whitney Nominees here.

Robyn Reviews: EVE by H.B. Moore (Mirror Press, November 2014)

From Amazon: From USA Today bestselling author H. B. Moore, comes . . .

EVE: IN THE BEGINNING

The first love story on earth . . . Haunting . . . Lyrical . . . Unforgettable . . .

In a world where everything is perfect, yet the same day after day, Eve must decide if she wants to live forever in the garden with Adam and never know what lies beyond the walls. When she makes a choice with terrible consequences, the pain of mortality is swift. As she and Adam explore their new world, and her body changes, Eve discovers the sweetness of first love with the man who has always been at her side.

Audience: Adult

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 252 pages

Rating: 4

Robyn's Review: Eve, In the Beginning is the story of our first parents in the garden if Eden. It is told mainly from Eve’s point of view. I enjoyed this book because it gave me some new insights and things to think about regarding the relationship between Adam and Eve. They became real to me with real struggles and real joy. I enjoyed that they needed to get to know each other better after they were evicted from the garden. They had some funny misunderstandings and some heartbreak. I especially liked that they had to learn to rely on each other and trust each other to make the right decisions. It is truly a love story for all time, not just a happily ever after fairytale. Ms. Moore is a master at drawing you into the story and letting you feel the emotions of each character. Eve starts out pretty selfish and you grow right along with her. Adam is also quite selfish and arrogant at first, so it was a pleasure to watch them mature into multi-dimensional people. I liked this book because I believe that Adam and Eve are real people, and I enjoyed exploring more about them. I did struggle a little with separating fact from fiction, but not because Ms. Moore didn't make that clear. It was more letting go of my expectations and beliefs and letting someone else show me their perspective. Overall, this is a very good book and let's you explore the humane side of Adam and Eve. .

Content:

Sex - 2 (There was passionate kissing and implied sexual intimacy, but it was handled in a very sensitive, sacred way, there was no/very little sensuality. The characters were obviously naked in the beginning, but it wasn't really mentioned specifically. They talked about intimacy and the ability to have children. A woman’s cycle was also discussed quite openly.)

Violence - 1  (A forest fire, killing of animals in self defense and for food)

Language - 0

Rating - PG-18 (The discussion of sexual intimacy, there is kind of a dark side with Lucifer and the way he tempts them and is always around.)

Review: FOR SUCH A TIME by Kate Breslin (Bethany House, 2014)

From BethanyHouse: 
Powerful Retelling of the Story of Esther
In 1944, blonde and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric's secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz. 
Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy. 
Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp's prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she is unable to save herself?

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Length: 432 pgs

Rating: *****

Review: This book is powerful. I love reading about World War II, but I'm often brought down by the sheer brutality and hopelessness of too many situations. I've read some sad, sad accounts. And I've read amazing accounts that are sad but uplifting. This is one of them. I love the precipice that both characters are teetering on the edge of and the impossible choices left to them to make. There is a whole cast of deep characters, both good and bad. This book will break your heart, but you will love it too. 

Content:

Sex: 1/5 (passionate kisses, prostitutes and discussing soldiers raping women, the possibility that one officer might rape Stella.)

Violence: 2/5 (Discusses beatings of prisoners, there is a battle among the Jews and the Germans near the end.)

Language: 0/5
Preaching: 3/5 (Flows seamlessly into the narrative and doesn't stand out at all.)

Overall rating: PG-13

Source: I was given an electronic copy via Netgalley in exchange for my review.

Review: DEATH BY THE BOOK by Julianna Deering (Bethany House, 2014)

From Bethany House: WHEN THE VILLAGE OF FARTHERING ST. JOHN IS Stunned BY A SERIES OF MURDERS, DREW FARTHERING IS DRAWN again INTO THE SLEUTHING GAME.
Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.
Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.
Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Historical, Inspirational
Length: 320 pgs

Rating: *****+ (A FANTASTIC book I loved and would recommend!)

Review: Back when I reviewed RULES OF MURDER, the first Drew Farthering mystery, I could not wait for DEATH BY THE BOOK to come out. I wasn't disappointed. It was the same fun characters with some awesome new additions. A surprise at the end! (Surprisingly not predicable in the mystery!) I think that Ms. Deering is really a master at this mystery thing, and I just plain adore the fun romp that we always get to go on as we read. The dialogue is snappy, witty, and charming. The pacing is wonderful. My only, itty-bitty complaint is that I started to get frustrated with Madeline in holding off Drew. It feels almost cruel and that she's leading him on, although the author tries to explain that it's just indecision.

Source: I was given a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Content: Rate 1-5; 1 being minor instances, 5 being saturated.

Sex - 1 (Drew and Maddie discuss how easily it is to go further, but it's absolutely respectful)

Violence - 2 (It is a murder mystery...Nothing graphic.)

Language - 0

Preaching - 1 (But it's so seamless that it works very well with the plot.)

Overall rating - G

Try this. Like witty novels with a bit of a thrill? Try FRIENDS & FOES by Sarah M. Eden.

Review: SNOW ON TULIPS by Liz Tolsma

From the Thomas Nelson website: A stranger’s life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still heavily occupy the Netherlands. After the losses she’s endured, Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. Her main objective is protecting her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

But when Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia’s doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia’s faith won’t let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. The thought of opening her heart, however, is almost more terrifying than the thought of losing her life.

But Gerrit’s intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the landscape slowly thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story might end before it has even begun.

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance
Length: 336 pgs

Rating: *** (Liked it)

Review: I saw the cover of this book, read a couple lines about this taking place during World War II and really wanted to read it. (The cover is gorgeousness. So. Much. Gorgeousness.) I liked that the author kept things realistic, while still letting a happy ending win out. There's plenty of danger, conflict, and intensity. The setting is very in depth. The language is sometimes stilted, and since I always have to comment on how *preachy* inspirational books are, this one is kind of high on the scale.

Source: Received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Content: 1-5 (1 being minor instances, 5 being saturated)
Sex: 1 (some kissing with passionate feelings)
Language: 0
Violence: 2+ (War scenes are described)

Review: STEALING THE PREACHER by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House, July 2013)

Publication Date: July 2013

From Bethany House's website: A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw's daughter who wants to change his mind.
On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he's forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape--which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.
For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?
With her signature blend of humor, history, and lively western romance, two-time RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Karen Witemeyer delivers a Texas love story sure to steal your heart.

Random Review: A DISTANT MELODY by Sarah Sundin

I'm here to apologize, readers. With four editing projects this month, my pleasure reading has probably come to a halt. So, as a peace offering, I'm doing a random review -- plucking a title out of my fun app that does such things and reviewing the book already on my shelf, probably read months ago. Today's lucky winner? A DISTANT MELODY by Sarah Sundin.

You may not believe this about me now (especially if you've checked out the reviews tab and looked under the heading "romance") but I didn't used to be a big romance reader. However, a couple summers ago my husband packed up our family and hauled us on to a wild life refuge literally in the middle of nowhere. I popped by the inspirational section on Sam's Club -- I don't know why -- and picked up A DISTANT MELODY among a few others.



From Amazon: Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together. But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart? A Distant Melody is the first book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

Review: "No Angel" by Theresa Sneed

After being forced (by life, December, everything in general) to read "No Angel" in spurts that were sometimes separated by several weeks, I finally finished! Woo-hoo! This makes two "angel" themed books I've read so far during the latest craze. ("Fallen" being the other; liked this one better!) Read on for the review!

Review: "The Star Prophecy" by Joan Sowards

The adventure begins with the blog tour
for
The Star
Prophecy by Joan Sowards

We will be giving away THREE copies of The Star
Prophecy.

It's easy to enter.
1. Visit the fabulous reviews and leave a comment letting us know why
you're excited to read The Star
Prophecy. Remember to include your email address.
2. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about it on your blog or
facebook, leave the link in the comments section and you'll receive an
additional entry.

Good Luck! Entries close at midnight (MST) on January 28.


*****
You are crazy. No Nephite has ever
returned.

Most people laugh when they hear of Enoch's dream of returning to
Jerusalem to find the infant Messiah. Even Enoch's future father-in-law
mocks him when he asks for a postponement of his long-awaited wedding to
his beloved Rebekah. A few take Enoch seriously - the shipbuilder Omnihah,
Enoch's teacher David, and the prophet Nephi.

Five years before, a Lamanite named Samuel had stood on the wall of
Zarahemla and prophesied that "five years more cometh" and the Christ
would be born in Jerusalem. Time is running out! Enoch knows he must set
sail across the great waters in search of his dream - to see the face of
the Messiah.

The Star Prophacy is a surprising
story of courage and love, faith and fortitude. Sail with Enoch and his
friends across the sea through hardship and adventure in search of the
Christ child.


January 10
I Am A Reader, Not A
Writer

January 11
Totally Tina

January 12
Peggy Urry

January 13
Tangled Words and Dreams

January 14
Kaylee Baldwin

January 17
Of Writerly Things

January 18
Writers Mirror

January 19
Bonnie Gets a Say

January 20
The Blessing of Family
Life

January 21
Anna del C. Dye's Blog
Renee S. Clark