Showing posts with label dystopian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dystopian. Show all posts

Monday, November 1, 2021

New addition to the Uncharted series by Keely Keith add links

 

Uncharted Courage, #10 in the series
Keely Brooke Keith

c. Nov 1 2021, Edenbrooke Press
Eboook $4.99
Print $13.99

Buy on Amazon

About the book:

When Bailey accepts John Colburn’s offer for her to visit Good Springs, she leaves the Inn at Falls Creek expecting to spend the autumn relaxing in her favorite seaside village. Upon her arrival, Connor asks her to cover a shift of guard duty on the equinox, and her quiet vacation takes a shocking turn.

Revel Roberts works hard to keep his life commitment-free, making it easy to leave community decisions to men like Connor and John. But when the Land is threatened, Revel sees his chance to prove he is a man worthy of Bailey’s love. Amid the chaos in Good Springs, his unrequited feelings for her preoccupy him. One wrong choice could ruin everything.

As Bailey’s new life in the Land unravels and threats from the outside world loom, a yearning she can’t define surges within her. It distracts her from defending the hidden world she loves, and a tragedy reinforces her need for independence.

With the survival of the Land at stake and their hearts on the line, Bailey and Revel will need more courage than fighting ever required. They will need to find the courage to love.

My review:

Keith’s world of the Uncharted Land continues with familiar favorites of the large cast, focusing on two rebellious spirits in Revel and Bailey as they battle traditions and their growing feelings. A son of the Land, Revel had thrown off the mantle of expectation that he take over the family business of innkeeper, and devised a new business for himself. Still growing into his self-worth, he seeks to challenge himself with a large enough task to impress Bailey as well as the authority figures in his circle. Bailey, a newcomer, has found home in this strange throw-back place, and struggles to keep her hard-won independence as a woman beholden to no one and able to take care of herself and everyone around her.

When an old foe returns with dread news from the outer world, the men—and Bailey—rally around to protect the values they hold most dear, even if their lives are threatened. Bailey takes comfort in being able to provide expert advice in case of catastrophe, but Revel spirals into a funk of despair as his half-plotted hope of proving his capabilities runs aground. This episode in the series focused more on the challenges of living a life of faith in times of doubt. I appreciated how Bailey was encouraged to center her life in trusting God over people, but I was distracted by how fearful the other adult women appeared, and by Revel’s apparent belief that he could walk away from a serious situation for three weeks and expect it to resolve itself. Other than that, Uncharted Courage is a charming addition to the series, following the budding romance of two special people. Those who love dystopian with a twist, and who love romantic inspirational stories, will enjoy this book. With the other stories, readers can jump in at almost any place, but I recommend reading at least one previous story, Uncharted Destiny, #7, to understand how Bailey fits into the cycle.

About the author:

Keely Brooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a futuristic twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist).

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving 80s kid. She grew up in a family who moved often, which fueled her dreams of faraway lands. When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys teaching home school lessons and playing bass guitar. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

 


Tuesday, November 17, 2020

New from Keely Brooke Keith Uncharted Freedom



Uncharted Freedom 
Book 9 in the Uncharted series
Keely Brooke Keith

Nov 17, 2020
Edenbrooke Press
Near future dystopian fiction
$4.99

Buy on
Amazon
 

About the Book
When she finds the perfect place to hide from one past, another finds her.

Naomi McIntosh is running from her family’s oppressive expectations and the despicable man her father has demanded she marry. Renaming herself to live incognito, she takes a housekeeping job at the Inn at Falls Creek and promises God this false identity will be her last.

When shepherd James Roberts goes home to the Inn at Falls Creek for his sister’s wedding, he doesn’t expect the woman who once broke his heart to be working there. No matter how much he wants to be with Naomi again, he can’t go along with her charade, especially since he is trying to persuade his father to make him the heir.

Though Naomi yearns for a future with James, if she confesses her deception to everyone, her estranged fiancé will find her. And the longer James goes without telling his family the truth about Naomi—and their growing relationship—the further he jeopardizes the inheritance. But just when their relationship looks promising, the inn proves to be a poor hiding place from Naomi’s past.

Meanwhile, in Good Springs…Connor Bradshaw wrestles with the overseers’ decision to preserve the Land’s pacifist ways. His desire to build a defense system for the Land keeps him up at night, secretly scanning for radio transmissions from the warring outside world. His training to be a village overseer will require him to lay down his weapons, but a voice over the radio waves ignites his worst fears.


My review
After getting to know the Land through a dozen novels, I look forward to getting to know the inhabitants even more. Although there are ties to previous novels and there is some sequence, the books can be read as stand-alones. In this story, we learn more about the Falls Creek inn family, the Robertses, as they struggle with long-standing patriarchal tradition. The eldest son, Revel, has already declared he will not take over running the inn, but complications other than tradition are involved in this society of loosely connected communities on a large island.

When the new housekeeper arrives in Falls Creek, she brings more secrets and unrest. Naomi, a young woman attempting to hide, and James Roberts, the second son who longs to have a place at home, have a history. As in Keely Keith’s other novels in the saga, the conflicts are gentle but thought-provoking. Underlying currents of more disruption to this 1860-era culture untouched by the increasingly dystopian outside world continue to intrude in this outwardly idyllic society.

Well-done story-telling of a time-caught faith-based culture lost in a shroud of mystical gray-leaf trees whose magical healing powers provide ample reason for invaders to plunder the defenseless colony. Unless the only person ever to successfully land and stay in the Land, former Lt. Connor Bradshaw, can convince the naïve elders danger exists. The people must be proactive to protect themselves from the ruthless, plagued outside world. Several narrators meld their voices of quiet romance amid turmoil in this latest addition to the saga of the Land Uncharted.

About the Author
Keely Brooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a futuristic twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist). Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely was a tree-climbing, baseball-loving 80s kid. She grew up in a family who moved often, which fueled her dreams of faraway lands. When she isn't writing, Keely enjoys teaching home school lessons and playing bass guitar. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Near future Christian Fiction from Judy DuCharme

Society of the L.A.M.B.
Judy DuCharme

society-of-the-l-a-m-b

Prism Book Group, 2016
$3.99 eBook
$11.99 Print
buy on Amazon



Society of the L.A.M.B.: Love. Authority. Mercy. Boldness.

In a raucous colony of those who celebrate dark desires, Josiah and other LAMBers who believe King Glory lives are hunted and imprisoned…or worse. But hope and truth endure in the midst of total danger. After fleeing the colony, Josiah finds light and hope at his grandfather's house, where a secret gathering of LAMBers have escaped the watchers. After learning of the power of the shout within himself, Josiah is chosen to carry the truth to others. But how can he return to the colony without being captured and put to death? The shout cannot be denied. Josiah knows his mission.

My review:
I honestly didn’t know what to think the first time I read this book. On the second reading, I wondered if I knew this place, this too-near, impossible, frightening future when Christianity is forced underground and grunge rules. Not if, but when.

DuCharme paints a grim picture of a time when active persecution against authority or show of faith is taking place in America. The persecution doesn’t even stem from a cohesive structure or face, but is a pervasive mentality which is somehow more frightening. It’s easy to fight something that has a name. Faith never dies, but emerges more determined than ever to show itself through Love that conquers, Authority over evil, Mercy toward the undeserving, and Boldness of witness.

A small but growing group of faithful Christ-followers are determined to retake their lives and battle near anarchy. Under the wing of the newly-awakened Josiah who returned to the fold of his grandfather, those who hear and practice the Shout gleefully strip the Over Garments of chaos and restore colonists, when possible, to Jajireh. With the help of an amazing angel band who has just as much joy overcoming every obstacle the evil one sets up, the Lambers rescue the kidnapped and retrain the near-lost.


Told mostly from Josiah’s perspective, the Society of the L.A.M.B. is sure to spark great conversation.


Judy DuCharme
Judy DuCharme is a retired fifth-grade teacher (22 years at Gibraltar School in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, with an emphasis in science), former Christian radio announcer, Bible study teacher, speaker, author, and a great fan of the Green Bay Packers. She obtained her B.A. from Michigan State University in Communication Arts and her teaching degree through the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Judy s passion in all she does is to see people strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Her first published book, The Cheesehead Devotional earned her the Best New Writer Award (2013) at the prestigious Write-to-Publish Conference. Judy lives in Wisconsin with her family.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Judy DuCharme and the Society of the LAMB

Society of the L.A.M.B.: Love. Authority. Mercy. Boldness.

Society of the L.A.M.B.

$3.99 eBook
$11.99 Print
Near future Inspiration thriller
Prism Book Group

Buy on Barnes and Noble
Buy on Amazon

About the Book
In a raucous colony of those who celebrate dark desires, Josiah and other LAMBers who believe King Glory lives are hunted and imprisoned…or worse. But hope and truth endure in the midst of total danger. After fleeing the colony, Josiah finds light and hope at his grandfather's house, where a secret gathering of LAMBers have escaped the watchers. After learning of the power of the shout within himself, Josiah is chosen to carry the truth to others. But how can he return to the colony without being captured and put to death? The shout cannot be denied. Josiah knows his mission.


My Review
I honestly didn’t know what to think the first time I read this book. On the second reading, I wondered if I knew this place, this too-near, impossible, frightening future when Christianity is forced underground and grunge rules. Not if, but when.

DuCharme paints a grim picture of a time when active persecution against authority or show of faith is taking place in America. The persecution doesn’t even stem from a cohesive structure or face, but is a pervasive mentality which is somehow more frightening. It’s easy to fight something that has a name. Faith never dies, but emerges more determined than ever to show itself through Love that conquers, Authority over evil, Mercy toward the undeserving, and Boldness of witness.

A small but growing group of faithful Christ-followers are determined to retake their lives and battle near anarchy. Under the wing of the newly-awakened Josiah who returned to the fold of his grandfather, those who hear and practice the Shout gleefully strip the Over Garments of chaos and restore colonists, when possible, to Jajireh. With the help of an amazing angel band who has just as much joy overcoming every obstacle the evil one sets up, the Lambers rescue the kidnapped and retrain the near-lost.

Told mostly from Josiah’s perspective, the Society of the L.A.M.B. is sure to spark great conversation.

A brief interview with Judy

Judy, tell us what you love about this book.
What I love about this book is that it deals with today even though the idea formed several years ago. At the time it was, in my mind, a scenario far in the future, and it seems closer every day. I also love that it gives practical truths on how to be strong in the Lord on the inside, which is my heart. It's not enough to know that...we need to walk it out, and I love that it can be done in a novel, not just non-fiction.

I honestly felt that way too. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this story. Can you tell us some things you learned on this publication journey?
Because, this was the first novel I wrote, I learned so much about writing, about letting go of wordings and giving words and scenarios more clarity. I also learned that it's a longer process than I first imagined, but that it's worth it. I still am learning how to market as it's a whole different skill set.

I didn’t guess this was your first book, thought I knew it had been published previously. We never stop learning and growing. What are you working on next?
What's next is the publication of my novella, Run With the Wind, and short story Christmas Ivy, both in November. I'm currently working on the Hall of Fame Edition of the Cheesehead Devotional. It will be out for the 2017 football season. I'm praying for the publication of my second novel, Blood Moon Redemption. And, I'd like to finish another novel that I began a while ago. Plus I'm working on a short piece for Guideposts right now. And then there's hiking, and family, and church, and life :-).

Exciting! And Run With the Wind is a cutie story. Thanks, Judy, and best wishes.

About the Author
Judy DuCharmeJudy DuCharme is a retired fifth-grade teacher (22 years at Gibraltar School in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, with an emphasis in science), former Christian radio announcer, Bible study teacher, speaker, author, and a great fan of the Green Bay Packers. She obtained her B.A. from Michigan State University in Communication Arts and her teaching degree through the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Judy s passion in all she does is to see people strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Her first published book, The Cheesehead Devotional earned her the Best New Writer Award (2013) at the prestigious Write-to-Publish Conference. Judy lives in Wisconsin with her family.