Blessed

This book lived up to its genre...suspense and thriller.




This book made me feel as if I were in the twilight zone.  It starts off with several characters at different times of their lives and how by the end of the book their lives intertwine.  It was almost too overwhelming at first, because I found it hard to keep up with the characters.

This story is about humans vs meta humans.  It really reminds me of X-men.  People having supernatural powers and those that want to profit off of them or exploit them.

Catori, is a young girl when she found that she and two of her close friends, Aleah and Michael, were different.  They could do things that others could not do.  Their families raised them together and made certain that they had a relationship with God.  In seeking out more information about their children's condition, the parents found a scientist named Simon.  Simon was found too good to be true, and you know what they say about that!

The story goes on weaving in and out of several characters lives and how their lives path lead them to Catori.  The book left off as a cliff hanger, and I was still wanting more.  I am looking forward to getting and reading the next book.

****
4-Star read.

This book may be a trigger for some as it did trigger just a little for me.

Child abuse is a hard thing for me to accept and understand.  Tho, this book covered it up really well.  Meaning it drew me in not as a parent or adult harming a child for something that they did or didn't do.  ***(SPOILER) It triggered for me some because children being tested or "experimented" on all because a scientist was getting off on torture.***  

Kingdom's Dawn

A very good Middle Grade read!

This story is about a young boy who finds out that the only life he has ever known would not be the life he would live in the very near future.

Leinad (16 years old), never understood why his father kept insisting on training him with the sword, when they were nothing but farmers.  He obliged his father, tho questioning him sometimes, but the answers would always be, "you are  being prepared to serve the King."

This King, was never seen or never came to check on his people.  He never saw guards or even a palace for this "so-called" King.

Leinad and his father took in a little street girl, Tess, who was very smart, but lacking in proper verbal skills.  (she reminded me of the Character Eliza from, My Fair Lady).  She was being mistreated by a woman who took her in.  Leinad's father, Peyton purchased the girls freedom and she stayed with them learning proper etiquette for a young girl.

Life would flip for Leinad and Tess after Peyton is seen with the Dark Knight.  Their lives go from having a family, living on a farm and knowing love to running for their lives, depending on "themselves" and fighting for a King they have never seen. 

*****

5-Star

I thought it was really good and easy for a youth/teenager to understand.  I look forward to reading book 2 in this series!

Hester on the Run

Unfortunately, this book has hit up against several of my triggers.  I completed it anyway in hopes that what I was being set up, like in a suspense novel.  But not so!

This book is about a woman Kate who up to finding a Native American baby in a field/pasture was barren.  She had all the motherly instincts, but no children of her own.  She found this newborn baby and took her home to her husband, Hans.  He was instantly attracted to the infant.

Raising, Hester brought on many different opinions, especially those from Hans' mother and others in the community.  Kate didn't care, she was finally a mother.  She noticed a change in her husband, where as when she needed things in the past, he considered it  a sin.  Now, Hester was to be dressed nicely and have all things he wanted for her, things that he wouldn't even allot for his own wife.

Kate became pregnant after 9 years of hoping and praying.  After giving birth to her first born, a son, she noticed an even  greater change in her husband.  He would ignore his own son and continue to dote over Hester.  Kate would tell him about his behaviors, he would change, but he would revert back to giving Hester all of his attention.

Eight kids later and a life changing accident changed their lives forever.  All of Hans children were growing older, and so was Kate's once beautiful lean figure.  After having 8 children in 9 years, her body never recovered or was allowed to gain back her "before pregnancy" body.  It didn't matter to her, she was happily married, a mother and just so happened now full figured.  It disgusted Hans, but he was smart enough to not speak it outlaid to her.  Now he did love his wife and their children, but no one in the home received the attention, love and affection the way that Hester did.

Life flipped for this family.

Hans remarried, his wife, Annie was nothing like Kate.  In fact, she was very sinister.  Hester went from a loving home to pretty much being a servant.  Annie was cruel and Hans was a coward and a creep.  After others called him on his behaviors, he realized that the feelings he had for Hester where not fatherly, but that of lust.

Hester had to make a choice.  Would she stay and accept the abuse, only staying because of what she was taught (Honor thy mother and father) or escape and find her own way through this thing called life?

***
3 - Star

I know I am being very generous with this rating.  This book triggered me in following 3 ways.

-  overly bashing of curvy woman
-  pedophilia
-  child abuse

Unfortunately, these things held the story together.  Tho it  disgusted me, it would not have been a storyline without these things.

Now, could it be that I am just not that learned in the Amish way and that these things are acceptable?  I don't know and if that is true, I don't EVER want to read another Amish book again!  I so badly want to see how she fairs in the rest of the trilogy, but I don't want to take the chance of being triggered again.  Therefore, this book will be removed from my collection.  

The Fall of Lucifer

Created beings from the one and only Yehovah.  Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer are brothers, brothers for eternity, until feelings of not being enough enters the heart and minds of one angel.  

Everything created by Him is loyal, devoted and worships only Him.

Literally, everything was perfect until Yehovah wanted to create another race, man.  Man was to be made in his image with the ability to replicate.

See how fear, envy, jealousy and refusal of repentance can not exist in the same place or presence of perfection.

***

3-Star Read!!!

This would have been an amazing read except for all of the fluff and the fact that this book had new characters every couple of pages.  This is book is FULL of, actually an over kill of, synonyms.  The story however, I thoroughly enjoyed and found myself in tears while reading it.

harvest of gold

This is part two of an amazing duology by Tessa Afshar.

Sarah has always dreamt of traveling to the place of Christs' birth, Jerusalem.

Her desire to travel may be hindered by some unexpected news.

Darius battles with his emotions.  He wants to understand why he can't say or actual fully love his wife or the God she serves.

In Darius' quest to "guard" Nehemiah in Jerusalem, he finds himself at a crossroads.

Will Darius surrender his heart willingly or continue to allow it to grow cold?

*****

5-Star read!!!

I seriously need a part 3!  I loved this book even more, I could barely put it down.  It had the right amount of laughter and seriousness mixed in with a lot of faith!

harvest of rubies

This is part one of an amazing Duology written by Tessa Afshar.   After I read part two, I will only one book left of hers to read that I own.  Once I finish reading it, then and only then, would I purchase her newest book. But this book right here, I absolutely loved it!

Sarah was not the typical woman.  She was not into the fru fru that comes with womanhood.  She taught herself to read and write many languages and became a scribe much to the dismay of her aunt.

Her cousin Nehemiah picked up on her strengths which led her to becoming the Senior Scribe for the Queen.

Being married was not something Sarah saw herself as being, well until it was forced upon her.

Learning to become a woman, a friend, protector, defender and wife all will prove to Sarah that maybe she also (like the Queen Esther) was created for a time such as this!

*****
5-Star read!!!  I absolutely loved this book.  I agree with Nay, this is by far one of the funniest books written by Tessa Afshar.