Book Review, The Roman's Quest, Anne Baxter Campbell

The Roman’s Quest (The Truth Trilogy) book review

By Anne Baxter Campbell 

Helping Hands Press

Oct 2013

Historical fiction

 

Kindle book: $4.99

From the publisher:

Centurion Julius has eyes for a young Jewish woman, but a Roman is not what her father intends for her. Miriam is a pious Jewish girl, determined to do the right thing by her God and her parents, and she bows to her father’s wishes to betroth her to a Jewish fisherman, James ben Zebedee. Her heart yearns for the Roman, but their love is impossible. Miriam’s mother lies close to death, and her last wish is to see her daughter wed. The marriage has to take place before it’s too late.

My review:

Anne Baxter Campbell’s debut novel is an exciting look back in time, from two perspectives that are atypical – that of a young Jewish woman being wooed by James, who later became an apostle of the Christ, and a Roman centurian.

While it’s true that Julius Saturnus is more respectful than others of his ilk in that he can patiently wait upon his desires for the Jewish woman Miriam, he also discovers a deeper desire within, one that he has trouble understanding. The strangeness of the Baptizer’s words and actions touches him, and with help from the Greek doctor, Loukas, begins the journey of a proselyte—a non-Hebrew who wishes to learn the Jewish faith.

Most of Miriam’s friends are married, and she wonders what it would be like to be a wife and mother. Though she returns the attraction of the courteous Roman, her father would never agree to such a match. Her mother’s illness forces a wedding announcement to James…who surprises them all with an unusual request. Will Miriam and Julius overcome all the obstacles to achieve their heart’s desires? They soon learn that a possible relationship is the least of their troubles.

Touching and well-researched debut, told in both Miriam and Julius’s perspectives. Packed with quirky figures, like Julius’s slave, Cyril. Those who enjoy Biblical history will like this story. I look forward to the others in the series.

CrossReads Book Blast: Lisa Belcastro's Shenandoah Crossings

Title: Shenandoah Crossings By Lisa Belcastro

About the Book

Tess Roberts may live on Martha’s Vineyard, vacation spot for movie stars and presidents, but the Island feels anything but idyllic. Tess has had it with lousy dates, lying, cheating men, and the rules that forbid her from working on her family’s centuries-old schooner, Shenandoah. Lucky for Tess, she knows a secret—the Shenandoah has magical powers. Her best friend, Rebecca O’Neill, once stayed in Cabin 8 and discovered a time portal that transported her to 1775. A month after Rebecca’s “disappearance,” Tess’s father, brother, and Shenandoah’s annoying first mate, Hawk, plan to shut down the time travel for good by dismantling the cabin. But what if Rebecca might someday need to come home? What if Tess isn’t ready to say goodbye forever? Sneaking onto the ship late at night, Tess slips into Cabin 8 and drifts off to sleep. She wakes anchored off the New England coast amidst the American Revolution in 1776. The British frigate HMS Greyhound has seized Shenandoah and taken the crew, cargo, and all onboard hostage. To make matters worse, Hawk is relentlessly tracking her, determined to bring her back to the twenty-first century against her will. Sparks begin to fly, from more than cannonballs and gunpowder….

LINK to PAPERBACK

 

 

Lisa Belcastro Lisa Belcastro lives with her family on Martha’s Vineyard. She was inspired to write the Winds of Change trilogy while chaperoning two Tisbury School summer sails aboard the schooner Shenandoah with her daughter, Kayla. The weeklong adventure, sans electricity, Game Boys, iPods and modern conveniences, kindled her imagination to dream of an altogether different voyage. Lisa currently writes the cuisine column for Vineyard Style magazine. She has worked as a staff and freelance reporter and photographer for The Chronicle of the Horse and as assistant editor at The Blue Ridge Leader. She has written articles for USA Today, Dressage (London), USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Blue Ridge Leader and Sidelines. Lisa co-authored and edited two non-fiction books, American Horses in Sport 1987 and American Horses in Sport 1988. When she’s not at her desk, Lisa is living in paradise, volunteering at her daughter’s school, serving in her church community, planting and weeding her numerous gardens, trying to run a marathon a month or walking the beach with her husband looking for sea glass.

 

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This book blast is hosted by Crossreads. We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

Book review: Inspiring Poetry

Life Inspired

Michelle D Evans 

Poetry

Kindle. 1.99

ASIN: B00G58G87A

 

My review:

This lovely collection of inspirational and inspiring free verse poetry will quiet your soul and encourage you to sit back and take rest. Often using one word to capture the moment, the accompanying beautiful photographs take the reader to the author’s home country of Australia and add depth to the music of the words.

From the mostly quatrain stanzas of Nature, the longest of the fifteen, to the close-up photograph of a thistle in Inconsistencies, to the wonder of pain in The Crash, the strength and flow of the poetry touched me.

Life Inspired is a sensual ride through emotion, a visual and empathetic feast. A delight for all who enjoy free verse poetry.

Book Review: Singularity by Steven James

Singularity

By Steven James

ISBN: 9780800734268

$14.99 paperback

$9.99 ebook

From the Publisher: Jevin Banks is searching for a killer--and answers to terrifying questions he never even thought to ask.

When his friend is murdered, illusionist Jevin Banks is determined to find out what really happened. Drawn deep into a web of conspiracy and top-secret research on human consciousness, Jevin won't stop digging until the truth is revealed. Soon he uncovers a dark secret that could change the very fabric--and future--of human life on the planet.

Based on frightening scientific realities and bristling with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Singularity is the riveting sequel to Placebo.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of the Patrick Bowers series and was a bit worried that Jevin Banks would be a clone to my fav FBI coffee snob. In some ways, a little bit; and mostly, not so much. Banks is still one of those males who can be a bit clueless, needing the help of the women in his life to figure out—yep, women; he still has a cocky sidekick for protection. He’s not a professional crime fighter, which makes him different. As an illusionist, there’s a little bit of Patrick Jane from the Mentalist TV show involved…intriguing. As a multi-millionaire, he has the ability to do things, to make things happen, that most others cannot.

I also admit to having Placebo in my TBR pile and decided not to read that one first. Although James refers to events in the other book, Singularity felt like it stood alone. Gruesome but never over-the-top to thriller fans, with non-judgmental faith elements mixed in, the story was about who gets to play God with the aging process. How far can we go with our science and experiments to trump death?

 

Told from multiple viewpoints, some of which are surprise one-time throw-aways toward the end of the book to ramp up tension, the story was riveting. The opening action sequence was a little OCO, but it did help to set the characters. I enjoyed learning some background staging for magic tricks and the world of Las Vegas felt very real and very sad. Entertaining cast of characters. I look forward to more.

“Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Jo Huddleston and Claiming Peace, the Caney Creek series

About the Author:

Jo’s career has spanned a variety of work. She was a high school teacher and guidance counselor, a state political campaign secretary, two-time small business owner, and a real estate agent.  She is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. Jo has just completed the 3-book Caney Creek Series, her debut novels. Her writing career includes more than 200 articles and short stories, which have appeared in over 50 well-known Christian and secular publications. She contributes to ChristianDevotions.us.

Jo holds a B.A. degree with honors from Lincoln Memorial University (TN), and is a member of their Literary Hall of Fame. She earned a M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University. Professional membership: American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

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Claiming Peace

 

A Southern inspirational historical romance novel 

Facing her lowest moments, Callie’s life begins to crumble.

As he’s done with others of his extended family, can Jim help her find peace?

Visit again the Callaway family and friends in 1951 who live in the Southern Appalachians of East Tennessee. Why did Callie have an appointment with a neurologist? Will she work her way through whatever lies ahead for her and her family? Does Emmajean’s attraction for the young lawyer, Terry, blossom further or die on the vine when he wants her to meet his parents? Can Caroline and Jim find happiness in their long-delayed marriage? You’ll meet some new characters as the Callaway saga continues. Follow the Callaway family throughout the Caney Creek Series—live their triumphs, sorrows, achievements, and losses.

Buy Claiming Peace

Signed paperback copies available in left sidebar at www.johuddleston.com

Paperback copies available at publisher’s website

Paperback and Kindle copies available at Amazon

Nook copies available

 

The author shares:

1.Tell us what you love about Claiming Peace.

What I love most about my book is the characters. Perhaps all authors feel this same way but I know these people to their core. Most of them would be welcome to my dinner table any time. While writing this series, I have cried with them, laughed with them, struggled with them when their faith faltered, cheered with them in the happy times and prayed with them in sorrowful times. I loved watching them mature in years and in their closer walk with God. This book being the last in the Caney Creek Series, I had a real letdown when I finished the book. I had been with these people daily through three books. Then the book ended and they were gone. I moped around for a couple of days and was hard to get along with. It was like a good friend had moved away.

2.What did you learn during the research and publishing of this book?

I found myself letting a character turn on his car’s left blinker then stopped. Did cars have turn signals in 1951? I learned that they did—for the first time that year. I learned about the existence or nonexistence in 1951 of washing machines, dishwashers, bench seats in cars, the Korean War, lingering discrimination toward Japanese after World War II, and many more material things we have today that I had to make sure existed in 1951.

3.How did you carry out the theme of the book in the writing?

I concentrated on one character in the book that had the most need for peace. As this character proclaimed peace through most trying times, other family members and friends realized they could also claim the peace Jesus promised to leave with us. Others drew strength from this character’s holding on to God’s peace.

Book review: Am I Okay, God with Lorilyn Roberts

Best-selling author, Lorilyn Roberts, and her new winner!

 

Am I Okay, God?

Lorilyn Roberts

Kindle: 2.99

 

 

Devotional accompaniment to the Seventh Dimension: The Door

ASIN: B00FTP5G82

 

My review:

I knew Roberts’s The Seventh Dimension: The Door was a terrific story; an allegory that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though it’s targeted to young adult readers. It’s no stretch, then, to see how this lovingly thought-out devotional adds even more depth and meaning to The Door. Each of the twenty-six devotionals deals with an aspect of life we all know, from being bullied, to holding secrets you think no one else shares, to forgiveness and seeing God for who he really is. The individual chapters features a passage from The Door, some long and some just a sentence, which shows how the theme is played out in Roberts’s allegorical world. The author then shares an episode from her life or from another person or book in a brief essay that ties into the theme. Lovingly crafted prayers follow.

The most unique aspect of the devotional is the QR codes (and website links for those of us without smart phones) that take the reader to a YouTube video or song that illustrates the devotional. I appreciated the work that went into preparing this, and learned about a few artists I was unfamiliar with.

Am I Okay, God is a wonderful partner to your faith. Recommended for any junior high and up-aged loved one; younger if more mature. Makes a fantastic godparent/sponsor gift, too!

Book Review: The 10 Biggest Lies, Krystal Kuehn

The 10 Biggest Lies about God

Krystal Kuehn, MA LPC, LLP, NCC

 

 

 

ebook – 2.99

ASIN: B00G64W80O

My review:

Using quotes from some of my favorite authors, like JI Packer and Madeleine L’Engle, Kuehn sets out to debunk lies even Christians still occasionally harbor. The author explains in the introduction that her goal is not to convince agnostics or others of the truth of God’s existence, but to help Christians see God clearly. 

Kuehn chose ten modern-day concepts that I hear often, like God’s somewhere up in the sky and only wants to rain on our parade, or is a mean, old grouch who doesn’t want people to enjoy themselves. Many of these thoughts come from the old downer Puritan stock that tried to suppress any opportunity for sin. 

Each of the ten lies is introduced with a quote and an essay by the author. Kuehn then lists negative things people think, followed by a litany of positives to offset those negatives. A host of carefully selected Bible passages follow, proving the lie is just that—a lie. Not a myth, not a false doctrine, but an outright lie. 

For those who truly have yet to make a decision for Christ, Kuehn offers helps to take that step, as well as a list of resources to encourage all of us to keep our faith. A freebie is also offered! You’ll just have to read the book to learn what it is.

The 10 Biggest Lies packs a lot into a short space. I recommend it as a handy pull-out whenever you’re feeling down, or for a reference when you’re having a conversation with someone who holds one of these lies. Not just as a one-time read.