Review: A Soldier's Song

A Soldier's Song by Irene Onorato
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A really good inspirational romance. It has a bit of humor, a bit of suspense, and a lot of heart.

The story is woven around two people who have some issues to deal with (who doesn't?), and I think this is probably a good male POV character. Not all romances have a good male POV. Irene does a good job by giving each main character a reason to fall in love with the other. There's real meat to the story.

The story flow is a bit slow in places, and there is a bit of rehashing of motives. Just because we humans in real life think about our problems every day and sometimes to excess, we readers don't need that particular kind of realism. The rehashing didn't become a story dam, but came close for me.

Good story premise, and good writing.

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Review: Burgundy Gloves

Burgundy Gloves by Julia David
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a jewel.

The characters are very well developed, and there is a lovely romance that develops nicely, too.

The story line has a good flow to it so that the pages keep turning. I like that kind of novel. The faith that runs through the story is just right, and a bit different coming from the male point of view. There was a bit of overkill on the angst part, and a bit of rehashing--but that goes with the kind of story this is dealing with amnesia. You'll have that.

There's a touch of humor that brings the story to life. Description is very light. You don't get a good feel for the dense woods, nor can you "smell" the wood smoke, nor do you "feel" just how cold the river water is. Some flowers noted are blooming in the wrong season... but, if you don't care about that stuff like I do, you'll get engrossed in the story and forget about it.

Worthy read, and worth the money.

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Review: The Veil

The Veil by Blake K. Healy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I do not doubt a bit that God gives us gifts solely for us to use for His glory, some of the things depicted in this book are not quite biblical. However, Blake makes sure on every page that the reader understands this is all for God's glory. He takes no accolades for himself. That's good.

I also know for a fact that angels and demons are all around us. I also know that the way Blade sees some demons working in this physical world are testified to from others (not me personally, because I've only seen one demon/Satan in a vision).

However, if you really want to see how angels and demons work, this is the book for you not for any other reason but that Blake gives God all the glory. That is the mark of a true believer.

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Review: Coffin Scarcely Used

Coffin Scarcely Used by Colin Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Colin Watson was a British, stiff-upper-lip kind of writer of detective novels. I was introduced to him several years ago when trying to find more Agatha Christie novels. If you do not understand extremely dry humor or if you do not understand British humor beyond Mr. Bean or Monty Python, you won't get the humor in these books. It is slightly similar to P.G. Woldhouse, but not as blatant. Very subtle, but very fun and sometimes surprising. I will be reading many more of this series, which I did not discover earlier.

Something to remember, in 1958 the writing was a lot more description because people back then had no Internet, video games, cell phones, computers, and went to the library for more reading material. Life back then was much slower, so the pace of the book is slower. If you enjoy Agatha Christie, you'll enjoy Colin Watson -- two different styles, but both with great story plots and twists that draw you into their world of fiction.

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Review: Harp on the Willow

Harp on the Willow by B.J. Hoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've always loved B.J. Hoff's writing. Poignant and down to earth come to mind. Also, faith is embedded in the whole story that naturally seeps to the surface rather than in-your-face. Wholesome reading!

Dr. Daniel, a bachelor doctor in a small town in the late 1800s, is a wonderful character fully developed. I would have thought, though, that more mommas would have been pushing their daughters at him, except for a certain dainty woman who has captured his attention. There's a scruffy mining town across the bridge that needs Dr. Daniel's attention, where he meets Addie Rose. So there you've got a good mix for a really good story--don't forget the dog :)

Well-developed story line, great premise, well-developed characters, and an explosion. Can't beat it for a great, rainy day read.

Five of five stars.

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Review: The Ladies of Ivy Cottage

The Ladies of Ivy Cottage by Julie Klassen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Here's a really nice Regency romance novel with a bit of romantic intrigue. The only trouble with it is that it's Book 2 and there are a lot of references to what happened in Book 1. Those references made me feel like an outsider, rather than in the story. I continually felt like I'd missed something until I finally realized it was a Book 2 rather than a stand alone or Book 1.

That said, the characters are quite likeable and developed quite well. Interesting storyline. A little different than any other Regency I've read. We've got n0t-a-book-worm inheriting all these books from her father. She opens a library that sells subscriptions so people can read the book. What a neat set up for this story.

If you haven't read the first in this series, I suggest you purchase it before you read this one. You'll enjoy this one much better. Also, if the first one is written as well as this one then you are in for treat. Well-written, good story, no plot contrivances (Yea!), and solid story telling.

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Review: T-H-B

T-H-B by Randy C. Dockens
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I love indie published books! I love science-fiction! I praise all writers with the gumption to indie publish! So congrats to Randy Dockens. The premise of this book is really good.

First, this book was professionally proofread. Kudos for that!

Second, this novel was not professionally developmentally edited--that's when an editor dives deep into the story to help the author streamline and pull the story together tightly to make a fast-paced page turner.

Third, Dockens does a good job of developing the main character who is believable and 3-D. The POV is written very well. However, the love interest/physician is a bit flat. Transitions from one scene to another are non-existent, and the number of characters is very large... not that it is a huge problem, it's that developing a lot of characters so they fit perfectly in the story to move the story along is very difficult to do. A developmental editor could do this for Dockens and make this story zing with some much needed zest.

The premise is very good, but the execution of it still needs a lot of work to make this a really good book. That said, the story is good enough to keep your attention, except when more characters without much development are added to the mix. When that happens, keep reading, it'll become clear.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for a copy of this book to honestly review.

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Review: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor

12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rated PG because of subject matter

A superb read. Romance, mystery, intrigue, and some snow, ice, cold rooms and weird cuisine.

Although you've got tones of Bleak House (Dickens) and a plot reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, you don't have to read those stories to get full enjoyment of this book.

I just love howMichelle Griep delicately develops the characters. Clara is the main character and was left at the altar by Benjamin who is also invited to spend Christmas at the manor along with some rather fun, weird characters who are all promised some fabulous something if they are the last one at the manor on the 12th day of Christmas. Ben was wrongfully imprisoned and thought Clara had betrayed him. Clara thought Ben had betrayed her family and impoverished her by stealing their fortune. The other characters some tangles to unweave as well.

You get a wonderful character study of each one as their stories unfold.

I enjoyed every word of this story. It's a keeper and worthy of 5 of 5 stars.

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Review: Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light by Dan Gordon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rated PG because of subject matter.

I have the highest respect for Sean Hannity, Kevin Sorbo, and the movies that the Christian actor has made. I believe strongly there just are not enough Christian movies that have a good Faith message.

That said, I don't highly recommend this book. I can definitely see how this story makes a terrific movie. While Dan Gordon has written some amazing scripts for movies, his forte is not novel writing. Somewhere in the beginning of the book in all that "boring" pre-novel information you find out that Dan made a deal with Sam Sorbo (Kevin Sorbo's wife) that he would collaborate with her only if she would write the book and give it to him for rewriting and she wouldn't complain or insist on any changes. How sad--and arrogant.

I would love to have read Sam's story before Dan rewrote it.

The premise of this story is absolutely wonderful! Character development is quite good for the main character, Sol, but leaves a lot to be desired in his wife and children. Although, the other characters are developed fairly well.

You find yourself tisk-tisking when Sol does some very stupid things. But novels are not like movies. Plot development is different. Character development is different. There are some words and phrases used over and over that give this narrative a hollow tone. I think too much time is spent on the stupid things Sol does before the big event happens that turns the plot corner. It's a bit heavy handed because it stands out like a sore thumb. Gordon may as well have put a neon sign at the top of the page that says "Here is the beginning of Sol's turnaround." Okay, maybe that is going a tad too far.

You are rooting for Sol to turn his life around. After all, it's Kevin Sorbo, so you know he will turn it around as soon as he sees the Light (by the way, there are way too many books with this title).The plot depends upon Sol not seeing the light right away. Perhaps this journey in his darkness goes on a bit long. Readers get that he's off the deep end after the first couple of incidents.

Then Sol has a near-death experience, and you find out (not a spoiler) the reason why Sol is so desperately trying to fill the hole in his soul with drugs and alcohol and all manner of worldly things. But you have to go through a lot with Sol to get to that point. Don't give up, it does get better.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

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Review: The Girl Who Lived

The Girl Who Lived by Christopher Greyson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rated PG-15 because of subject matter.

Christopher Greyson pours out an amazing story from the POV of a young woman, traumatized as a little girl that causes her to tread a dark path because she has surviver's guilt and was further traumatized by the best-selling book her psychiatrist mother wrote about the tragedy.

This is a wonderful psychological thriller/mystery with all the tingling questions and as the spine chilling answers unfold, you just have to wonder how the girl survived without a mental breakdown. Oh, wait. She did have one of those as well.

Never fear, the premise may sound very depressing, but the book is not. The character development is superb not just in the main character, but in most of the supporting cast as well. There are several subplots, too, but they are not distracting as the answers to the subplot questions pertain to the mystery. So pay attention, the ride is bumpy, and quite creepy especially when you find out certain things about the killer.

The plot is very good. Greyson weaves a complicated plot masterfully into a page-turning-staying-up-till-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning novel.

This one is a keeper, and gets 5 of 5 stars.

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Review: The After War: The Complete Novel

The After War: The Complete Novel by Brandon Zenner
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Rated R for the language. There are some F-bombs and some foul language, and taking God's name in vain.

Let me first say that I am a dedicated supporter of indie publishing. I know that it is challenging, and I try to support anyone brave enough to do it, so kudos to Brandon Zenner for doing it.

The premise of this book is a bit formulaic so you expect certain things to happen, and they do. I have to say that I am not a fan of dual POVs. In this book one is in Canada and the other is in the heartland of America and it takes forever to bring them together. Every great book has a character that has good motivations--wants something desperately and is willing to do just about anything to get it. These characters don't have that. They act like they do, but they really don't. Survival isn't enough. They already survived some major war and plague. So survival doesn't cut it.

There just isn't any reason why the world is as it is, and really no motivations for the characters to start a trek across the country after the two years is up. Why two years? How did anyone know that at the end of two years it would be safe to come out?

So when reading, those questions come to the back of your mind, don't fret, they won't be answered. That's frustrating.

The characters are flat because there is no development for Steve and Brian. I can't remember the name of the fellow that was the outdoorsy guy who weathered the Whatever War and Plague in Canada, and he was one-dimensional as well.

However, if you are looking for a dystopian story that has such great narrative that you are living and breathing the atmosphere: the narrative and description in this book are top-notch. You are literally in their world.

The trouble is, if you don't know the characters and their motivations, then you don't care about them. The switching POVs with cliffhanger chapters is not my cuppa tea. Transitions from one POV to the other are non-existent. I've never found a writer who could do this well except Mary Stewart.

I would love to recommend this book, but I just can't.


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Review: The Engagement Plot

The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I love really good romances that are packed with great character development. I was disappointed.

I do not understand how a person who deeply believes in God, who is determined to adhere to Scripture teaching about being pure until married, can not work at forgiveness since that is also a command in Scripture.

To me, the premise of the book is great. It promised to be a good, fun, sometimes funny read. Phillips didn't follow through with it. Hanna had the right to be angry that William betrayed her pretending that she gave in and had sex on their "alone night" to the whole world. I really, really get that. But to start having those loving feelings revive and still hang on to the anger went too far for me to suspend my belief. Hanna actually acknowledges that she needed to forgive because she was Christian, but she stubbornly held on to that anger like a protective shield. So this leaves a huge hole in the plot.

There are other holes like why is it that most people believe if you spend a lot of money on a person that indicates a heart attitude change? What is it about a man being handsome and popular that is supposed to make you believe that is all that's needed for a woman to swoon in love?

Handsome and Beauty with great bodies does not make love bloom. Lust maybe, but not love. Today it seems like people can't tell the difference between love and lust.

The fact that Hanna and William had some fairly good dialogue saved the book for me. I found I did start to care what happened. But, [spoiler]a man needs to demonstrate a lot more change than spending money, having great parents, a little remorse to be worthy of the love of a woman. William just didn't grow as a character. Yes, he quit his job in the end, but that was sort of selfish because he knew he couldn't have Hanna if he didn't quit. William needed to demonstrate a little altruism and some repentance rather than just some remorse over what he did.[/spoiler] I think Phillips could have done a better job at that because she really is a good writer.

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