Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Blogroll
Jan 27, 2015
The Last Heiress by Mary EllisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mary Ellis at her best. I've read several of Mary's books and The Last Heiress tops them all.
British heiress Amanda Dunn travels to North Carolina. She plans to renew her relationship with her estranged twin sister, the one who shamed the family by running away and marrying an American. But she also needs to reestablish cotton shipments to her father's textile mills in Yorkshire.
Reuniting with her sister is easy. Bucking the American Civil War, however, proves much more of a challenge. And falling in love with a common working man? Preposterous.
A tender romance with a wide variety of characters gives an interesting glimpse into the fading years of the Civil War from the sea port of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Jan 20, 2015
The Simulacrum: Creationism, Evolution and Intelligent Design by Brad SeggieMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Even though:
1) I couldn't pronounce the title
2) I had no idea what it meant (it's explained in the book)
3) This isn't a genre I normally read
I couldn't put this book down. Brad Seggie and Linda Yezak owe me a good night's sleep!
Mary Dillard's uncle is murdered, at least she thinks so. The police don't agree. So she hires down-at-the-heels private eye, Gunnar Schofield. Together they delve into the dangerous world of academic science that neither knew existed.
With a deep underlying message - sometimes you need to take a stand for truth - and plenty of action, plot twists, and heart-stopping moments, this book will keep you turning each page. If you enjoyed the movie, God's Not Dead, you'll enjoy this book. I highly recommend it!
Jan 15, 2015
Undeniably Yours by Becky WadeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Contemporary romance is not my first genre to pick up, but when it involves thoroughbred horse racing? Oh, yeah! Love it! Unfortunately, there was virtually nothing in here about horse racing, other than people standing around looking at horses. Fortunately, it's a story with very compelling characters that sucked me into their story.
Meg Cole is a poor little rich girl, the type who could be a brash stereotypical cardboard character we've seen too often before. But she's not. She's vulnerable and sweet and desperately struggling to be strong after the death of her father.
Bo Porter is an ex-marine, a cowboy, and a simple guy from a small town in Texas. Now his future rests in the hands of his deceased oil tycoon boss's daughter.
She's all pink and frilly. He's all denim and straight lines. What on earth do they have in common? Nothing ... but a heart pumping attraction that will keep the reader turning the pages.
Jan 12, 2015
Emissary by Thomas LockeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had not read a good fantasy novel in a long time. I enjoy the genre when it's done well, and Emissary is done well. It has all the elements of a good fantasy tale. There is a hero who is honorable and steadfast. The hero has a quest that is shrouded in a mystery. There is an older wizard (okay, not a mandatory element, but one I like) who mentors the hero. And there are clear lines between good and evil. Fantasy that smudges that line won't work for me.
Hyam begins his journey by honoring his mother's last request. He discovers a truth about himself that shakes his world. It also requires that he leave his home and everything he's ever known. Mysterious things start happening to him and around him. He discovers the world is not what he had learned it was. People thought long dead are not. Myth and fact mix together in a confusing array of events that draw Hyam to his ultimate purpose.
Emissary is a very good story with wonderful characters. I'm withholding one star because parts of it lacks clarity, or explanation, of unfolding events. While the mystery aspect is definitely part of the story, I was at times a little frustrated over that lack of clarity.
The end of the book includes the first couple of chapters of the sequel - and I will be reading it when it comes out.
Jan 3, 2015
Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'ReillyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
My son gave me this book for Christmas, so it zoomed to the top of my "to read" pile. This is the first book by O'Reilly/Dugard that I've read, but I also plan to read Killing Lincoln and Killing Patton. I saw the film made from Killing Kennedy and it was very good. Being a history geek ... what's not to like?!
Since this was a gift, I came into it without a lot of preconceived notions. I didn't even read the back cover. But still, I was surprised that by the way it was written. O'Reilly/Dugard took the long view of the history surrounding what I would say is the most pivotal moment in history.
The book starts years before the birth of Jesus. It explores the political realities of the Roman empire in quite a bit of depth. I can almost guarantee you'll learn more about the depravities of the elite in Rome than you ever wanted to know. But it does set up the basis for how Jesus could be crucified - legally at that time.
I understand why some Christians did not like this book. It leaves out much of the gospel accounts. I'm okay with that, because I've read the gospels. What O'Reilly/Dugard included, according to the note from the authors, were the gospel portions that they could cross-reference with other ancient documentation. I found what they could do that with quite fascinating.
If I could, I'd give this 4.5 stars, but that's not allowed. The writing gets a little dry in a few places, so I can't give it the full 5. But even so, if you have any interest in this subject, you should read the book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)