Monday, June 25, 2018

Song of Leira- Review

 

I'm so excited to share this new release with you guys, today! Song of Leira is the third and final book in The Songkeeper Chronicles by Gillian Bronte Adams, an epic fantasy adventure about a place where music is magic and one girl's song can shape or break the entire world.

 

The Song bids her rise to battle.

Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged. Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie's aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair's sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran's schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army - singers who can shake the earth and master the sea - and monsters rampage across the land. As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer.
Find Song of Leira online: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD


 NEED TO CATCH UP ON THE SERIES?

Orphan's Song (Book 1) Her solo is a death sentence. When Birdie first hears the Song coming from her mouth, her world shatters. She is no longer simply an orphan but the last of a hunted people. Forced on the run, she must decide who to trust: a traveling peddler, a streetwise thief, or the mysterious creature who claims to know her past. With war threatening to tear her homeland apart, Birdie discovers an overwhelming truth: the fate of Leira may hinge on her song.
                          Songkeeper (Book 2) War ravages Leira & the Song has fallen silent. Desperate to end the fighting, Birdie embarks on a dangerous mission into enemy territory, while Ky returns to his besieged city to save the Underground runners. Legend speaks of a mythical spring beneath the Takhran's fortress and the Songkeeper who will one day unleash it. Everyone believes Birdie is the one. But can she truly be the Songkeeper when the Song no longer answers her call?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own (and more coffee). She loves to connect with fellow readers and wanderers online through her blog, Facebook page, newsletter, and Instagram



Review

After the dark, gruesome ending of Songkeeper, I was not sure where Song of Leira would pick up. While the cover speaks of victory, the ending of the last book was so disheartened that I did not know what to hope for in this. From the beginning it seems that the characters feel the discouragement of the last book as well. Most of them are defeated and broken, unsure of how to go on.

Honestly, I was not a fan of those first few chapters. The characters wallowed for some time and, though I recognized that they had all lost much, I am used to characters who spring back with far more determination than these did. Ky, my favorite character from the last book, was particularly frustrating in that he seemed unable to put his foot down in regards to the Underground. He was unprepared for sudden leadership, unwilling to fight for it despite being unwilling to relinquish it. Though, in that regard, it was probably his challenger who bothered me more, insisting on taking over but then never going through with it.

However, somewhere around the hundred page mark, the characters changed. Finally, they picked themselves out of their fear and self pity, taking strides to learn from mistakes and forage on where there was no blazed trail. Neither Birdie or Ky knew where they were going, but they still pulled through and took up the roles they were meant to play.

The Song Keeper Chronicles is not the fantasy I am used to. The characters are not as dogged, or as apt to unwittingly fulfilling their purpose. Everything is a learning moment or a else a decision come to after much wavering. Though frustrating for a take action sort of person like myself, it is also more honest and in that way more encouraging. Perhaps a reminder that no matter how much we drag our heels, God's will will still be served. Which made the end all the more victorious.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book from the author.

Monday, June 18, 2018

The Lost Castle- Kristy Cambron

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: A thirteenth century castle, Chateau de Doux Reves, has been forgotten for generations, left to ruin in a storybook forest nestled deep in France's picturesque Loire Valley. It survived a sacking in the French Revolution, was brought back to life and fashioned into a storybook chateau in the Gilded Age, and was eventually felled and deserted after a disastrous fire in the 1930s.

As Ellie Carver sits by her grandmother's bedside, she hears stories of a castle . . . of lost love and a hidden chapel that played host to a secret fight in the World War II French resistance. But her grandmother is quickly slipping into the locked-down world of Alzheimer's, and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family's history.

Sparked by the discovery of a long forgotten family heirloom, Ellie embarks on a journey to French wine country to uncover the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty--the castle so named for Charles Perrault's beloved fairy tale--and unearth its secrets before they're finally silenced by time.

Set in three different time periods--the French Revolution, World War II, and present day--The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged, and an enchanted castle that inspired the epic fairy tales time left behind.


My Thoughts: In all honesty, I had not anticipated that I would enjoy this novel once I realized that it followed three different timelines. It is a method of storytelling which I have never been a fan of, since I always love one story line more than the others. As such, the one beloved story line makes it difficult to even care about the others, instead skipping over those. However, in The Lost Castle, I was surprised to find myself really enjoying two of the stories, those of Avaline and Ellie.

Perhaps the strangest part about my love of those two story lines is that they took place in time periods which I am also not a fan of, that being the French Revolution and modern day. However, Avaline's story is different from so many others in the French Revolution. Though the events of those years still affected her in a horrible way, there is none of the blood and anger usually found in those stories. Instead, it is a story of forgiveness and one woman's desire to understand those around her.

Vi story is no less interesting than the other two, perhaps more so with the threat of war and danger far more prominent. Yet I found myself unable to connect with a story I would have normally enjoyed. Maybe it was because I felt as though I already knew how it would end. However, somehow knowing how Vi's story ended made Ellie's all the more engaging. I knew what it was that Ellie was going to learn at the end of her journey and was excited to experience that discovery with her. And that scene in the Chapel toward the end... it was beautiful what all she was able to find.

For readers with a love of history, as well as a desire to know their own family history, this is a wonderful read. Though at times slow, the narrative holds a wealth of family legacy many people hope to find for themselves, some of it joyous and some of it bittersweet. All of which is tied up with a glimmer of hope for our own stories.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book through the Fiction Guild.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Honeysuckle Dreams- Denise Hunter

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him.

Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and after a happy accident she’s finally offered her dream job. But if the truth comes out about her arrangement with Brady, she may miss the chance of a lifetime and stand in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.

As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a truth neither of them expects to find.

My Thoughts: After reading the first book in this series, I was not sure how would like this one. There had been a few things about Cruz and Zoe's relationship that had bothered me and which I was afraid would also make an appearance in this book as well. Gratefully, that was not the case and I found myself loving this book more than the last.

So many romances these days, particularly contemporaries, put a very high emphasis on emotions and feelings between the couples involved. There is rarely much thought put into whether or not the two have actually thought through what it means to be committed or decided how they will chose to resolve conflicts in their future. Hope and Brady's relationship was refreshing in that is started with those thoughts of commitment and then the feelings developed later.

This is not a typical romance. There were very few will-they-won't-they scenes, meaning that though there was still conflict, the romance was largely untainted with it. Instead, we get to thoroughly enjoy the budding relationship between the characters while worrying about other issues in their lives, still firm in the knowledge that they are going to make their relationship work no matter what happened.

While this does mean that many of the romantic scenes lack tension and instead follow everyday boring chores, there is still another kind of romantic conflict at play. And while I do not wish to say more and give anything away, I appreciated this look at love which we are rarely given.

I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book from the publisher.

Friday, June 8, 2018

Song of Leira Highlight

 

I'm so excited to share this new release with you guys, today! Song of Leira is the third and final book in The Songkeeper Chronicles by Gillian Bronte Adams, an epic fantasy adventure about a place where music is magic and one girl's song can shape or break the entire world. There's a special invite for you guys at the end, but first, isn't this cover gorgeous?

 

The Song bids her rise to battle.

Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged. Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and to rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie's aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair's sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran's schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army - singers who can shake the earth and master the sea - and monsters rampage across the land. As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer.
Find Song of Leira online: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD


 NEED TO CATCH UP ON THE SERIES?

Orphan's Song (Book 1) Her solo is a death sentence. When Birdie first hears the Song coming from her mouth, her world shatters. She is no longer simply an orphan but the last of a hunted people. Forced on the run, she must decide who to trust: a traveling peddler, a streetwise thief, or the mysterious creature who claims to know her past. With war threatening to tear her homeland apart, Birdie discovers an overwhelming truth: the fate of Leira may hinge on her song.
                          Songkeeper (Book 2) War ravages Leira & the Song has fallen silent. Desperate to end the fighting, Birdie embarks on a dangerous mission into enemy territory, while Ky returns to his besieged city to save the Underground runners. Legend speaks of a mythical spring beneath the Takhran's fortress and the Songkeeper who will one day unleash it. Everyone believes Birdie is the one. But can she truly be the Songkeeper when the Song no longer answers her call?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own (and more coffee). She loves to connect with fellow readers and wanderers online through her blog, Facebook page, newsletter, and Instagram



TAKE YOUR BOOK ON AN ADVENTURE CONTEST

To celebrate Song of Leira's release, Gillian Bronte Adams is running a contest to show that reading and adventuring go hand in hand! Snag a picture or video of you adventuring with your book, tag it #SongofLeiraContest and post it online. Winners will be announced on June 22 at the "Song of Leira and King's War Facebook Party."
To see the prizes at stake and the official contest guidelines, head over to Gillian's website.


 

YOU'RE INVITED TO A PARTY!

Speaking of the Facebook party, you're invited! Have you ever been to a Facebook party before? Gillian Bronte Adams is teaming up with fantasy author Jill Williamson for a special event full of awesome giveaways, prizes, and games! And you are invited to come! Click on the photo or RSVP on the event page.

Monday, June 4, 2018

Thief of Corinth- Tessa Afshar

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description: First-century Corinth is a city teeming with commerce and charm. It’s also filled with danger and corruption—the perfect setting for Ariadne’s greatest adventure.

After years spent living with her mother and oppressive grandfather in Athens, Ariadne runs away to her father’s home in Corinth, only to discover the perilous secret that destroyed his marriage: though a Greek of high birth, Galenos is the infamous thief who has been robbing the city’s corrupt of their ill-gotten gains.

Desperate to keep him safe, Ariadne risks her good name, her freedom, and the love of the man she adores to become her father’s apprentice. As her unusual athletic ability leads her into dangerous exploits, Ariadne discovers that she secretly revels in playing with fire. But when the wrong person discovers their secret, Ariadne and her father find their future—and very lives—hanging in the balance.

When they befriend a Jewish rabbi named Paul, they realize that his radical message challenges everything they’ve fought to build, yet offers something neither dared hope for.


My Thoughts: This book is quiet a bit different from Tessa's other novels. Though it is set in the time of the New Testament and includes a number Biblical characters, it is not based on Biblical events. Even A Harvest of Rubies' story line came about because of Israel's exile and led to the second novel, which featured the first wave of returning Jews to Israel. However, Thief of Corinth does still hold a scriptural message: that only God is love and we can only hope to truly love others when we do so out of God's example.

The portion of the story which leads to the novel's title is honestly a small part of the story. Most of the book revolves around Ariadne's backstory and how she came to the point where thieving seemed like a good idea to her, as well as the complex relationships she has with those around her. Failing to see events from their perspectives leads her to misguided judgements as well as heartaches. There was one character in particular whose struggle felt very real to me though our situations in life are vastly different.

Ariadne was a character who was a bit harder for me to wrap my mind around, not because she was unbelievable, but because she reacted nearly the exact opposite way to everything as I would have. While this kept the story from being as great as Land of Silence in my mind, I am none the less impressed my Tessa's ability to create lifelike heroines who are vastly different from each other. I also have no doubt that for someone who relates to Ariadne's story as well as I related to Elianna's, Thief of Corinth will be an unforgettable read.

I have provided an honest review after having received an ecopy of the book through the author.