"Where We Belong" Book Review

If you're looking for a book to put into your teen daughter's hand (and then borrow yourself) this is the one!  I can not say this loudly enough - the heroines are everything you want your daughter to be - brave, community minded, in love with Jesus, smart and best of all isn't willing to throw her relationship with Jesus away for a fella.  I've been waiting years for a Christian romance novelist to have the guts to have a woman walk away from a relationship because she recognizes that Jesus must come. Author Lynn Austin, I applaud you.

Admittedly, it took me a few chapters to get in to the flow of the book and to keep the characters straight but I'm so glad I kept with it. It was a delightful tale.

I'm glad I read this at the end of 2017 because now I can safely say that it's my choice for:

                                                  Book of the Year 2017

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

"Deadly Proof" Book Review

The workings of the justice system are so far outside my area of understanding that when I read a legal-mystery-romance style novel, I often think - But how would that happen? How would they come up with that line of thinking?  Part of me wonders if it's because often authors go from point A to point C and skip point B all together because in real life, legal work can be tedious and doesn't make for good drama. "Deadly Proof" was the first novel of this genre, that I can remember reading, that showed the painfully long hours put into investigative work. (all the while maintaining a quick flow to the story line)

Now granted, at the core, "Deadly Proof" is a romance so most everything is going to have a neat and tidy ending - perhaps a bit too neat and tidy - but overall it was a good story. While there was action, it wasn't scary. There was conflict but nothing so distressing that you thought the heroine was ever in danger of not getting her happy ever after. 

Anyone who has followed my blog knows that my biggest pet peeve in Christian fiction is the continual pattern of  authors pairing one believer and one non-believer romantically only for the non-believer to convert. Grrr! Dangerous message that is rarely reflected in real life. "Deadly Proof" almost made the same error but thankfully, didn't quite go down the same stinkin' path. For that I applaud author Rachel Dylan. For once I didn't have to give my daughter the same old spiel about being unequally yoked before handing her the book.

For the sake of honesty, I can't say that "Deadly Proof" had me gripped to the edge of my seat or keep me reading well past bedtime. However it was a delightful book that is perfect for anyone not looking to have to think too much.

 "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Fault Lines" Book Review

If you are going to start "Fault Lines" by Thomas Locke, be prepared to read the series otherwise this book will leave you hanging. The plot is good enough that you'll want to pick up book number 2. (I just wanted you to be fair warned)

It took me about a third of the way through the book to figure out what in the world was going on. Well, at least I think I figured out what was going on. I still have a lot of questions. Perhaps book 2 will do a hefty job of clarifying it all for me. As I read "Fault Lines" my brain alternated. Confused, entertained, confused, entertained. But maybe that's because when science and fantasy marry, my brain doesn't get an invitation to the wedding.

I enjoyed Mr. Locke's writing. It flowed. Plus, the fighting/actions scenes were described well enough for me to make a visual picture. Maybe others don't struggle with this but I can easily picture novels in my mind's eye. Right up until there's a battle and then whoosh. Gone. Not this time. I could see the action unfolding like a movie behind my eyes. For that I give the author a well deserved round of applause.

"Fault Lines" does have violent scenes but nothing gory. There's no descriptions of blood squirting out of severed limbs. (ew, I just grossed myself out) All the glory without the guts. Ha! Literally.

Don't chose this book if you're looking for light reading. I had to pay attention and reread a few paragraphs to catch what was going on. But I still recommend it.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"On Love's Gentle Shore" Book Review

"On Love's Gentle Shore" was a lovely tale of a woman forced to return to her childhood haunts because her fiance surprised her with wedding plans in the town of her youth. Little does he know this town seems to hold nothing but bad memories. Fortunately, along with way, truth is revealed. The dark secrets seem darker but the bright spots are brighter. Plus, she now needs to decide whether to marry her safe fiance or recommit to the beau of her youth. One she left on very bad terms I might add.

Okay, admittedly there are a number of parts of this book that are hardly believable - like a fiance being dense enough to not see that he's essentially handing over his girl to a better man.  Or that a town would hold a grudge towards a young girl for over a decade. But all in all, I enjoyed reading this book.  Maybe it's because I too was born and raised in the Maritimes but I could easily relate to the heroine soaking in the healing salty air.

There was nothing about this book that a reader would need to be wary of, no smut, profanity etc.  Just a good old fashioned romance story about two young loves who parted ways over a misunderstanding. Oh and who also find themselves in the process.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"A Name Unknown" Book Review

Christian writers, editors, and publishers I beg you please stop!  How many Christian romances have  the most godly person around fall in love with a non-believer? Someone that dedicated to following the Lord would not, or at least should not, be getting involved with someone who doesn't share their faith. Yet over and over 'missionary dating' all works out in these novels. Occasionally it does in real life too but I've seen enough heartache to know that it's not the normal outcome of such relationships.  Unfortunately "A Name Unknown" by Roseanna M. White followed the same outline. Godly man + ungodly woman = happily ever after.

Now to be fair, the woman in this book, Rosemary, has had a brutal life and wants to believe. Plus the godly man, Peter, writes her many letters explaining God's love before getting involved romantically. However, the issue remains.

As for the book itself, it took me a couple of chapters to care about any of the characters and even decide whether it was worthwhile to finish it. I'm glad I did though. I didn't see the ending coming. Well, parts of it. And the further along the book went, the better it got. Although to be truthful, it almost seemed like the author only had so many pages and used up too many at the beginning. All the action was jammed into the last few pages. It felt like the climax could have been expanded and the beginning condensed. I wouldn't let this shy you away from reading "A Name Unknown". It was enjoyable and the ending left me satisfied.

One aspect about this book that I loved was how the author used it as a platform to help the reader see the world through the eyes of the destitute. How do people end up on the streets or working as pickpockets at an early age? I have often said, "No one hopes to be a prostitute when they are 5. Something happens." and we should all try to find a little more compassion and understanding in our hearts towards those who have had a far harder go of it than ourselves. I applaud you Ms. White for using your public platform to make a difference.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

"Under the Summer Sky" Book Review

It's going to be hard to write a review on "Under a Summer Sky" without almost giving away the ending. I'll try my best but if you really don't want to know anything other than whether I liked it, I'll give you the short answer here so that you can stop reading.  I liked it. 4 out of 5 stars.

Oh man! The villian in this book had me on edge! Every time author Melody Carlson brought antagonist Amyra into the story, I could feel my own stress levels rise. I could also feel myself getting far more emotionally involved than I normally do when I read a novel and that's likely because the characters were so well written. I cared about their well-being. (kind of silly when you stop and think about it)  Over and over it seems like Amyra is going to destroy everything our heroine, Nicole, has worked for. And yet over and over, (warning - potential spoiler alert) nothing bad happens. It's like everything Nicole touches turns to gold. It certainly played with my emotions to repeatedly come to the precipice only to have it dissolve into a happy world of blessings.

I appreciated how the author didn't let any of the character's poor behavior pass without further exploration of the 'why' behind the 'what'. There's always something motivating mean or erratic people. Understanding why they do what they do makes for an interesting read.

I was left with a number of questions: Why was Nicole given so much responsibility in the first place? What happened after her boss's return? Did the brother she didn't chose find love?

"Under the Summer Sky" was a fun read. It should be noted that while there is no ghosts or supernatural occurrences in the story, because the setting is Savannah, Georgia, ghosts and haunted houses are frequently mentioned.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

"High as the Heavens" Book Review

Oh I barely got out of the starting blocks with this one. The first few pages were filled with such overly poetic writing that it almost turned me away. Glad I stuck with it though because shortly after, it seemed like the author, Kate Breslin, stopped trying to be dramatic and got on with writing a good story. And that she did. The plot was a good one. This is a story of a nurse forced to live in enemy occupied Belgium during WW1.

The main character, Eve Marche, not only works as a spy for the resistance, she also goes to great lengths to save the life of a downed British pilot. In addition, Eve has to work through trauma and guilt she's been carrying due to horrific events that occurred near the start of the war. Some parts of the book seemed slightly implausible but not so much that it made me roll my eyes or anything. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how our heroine was going to implement the next part of her daring plan.

I thought the author did a good job of painting a picture of how hard it would have been to live under those conditions. My own grandmother was an Italian immigrant who lived through WW2. Decades later my sister had two young German men come to visit and my grandmother could barely be in the same room with them or hear them speak. All she said was, "It brings back too many memories." What horrors did she live through that would affect her 50 years later like that?  The same as many others.

My only criticism of "High as the Heavens" was that I felt like I was reading the same words over and over again on a number of pages. Eve couldn't leave because of her family and her spy work and the pilot couldn't stay because of danger. The plot kept moving forward but it just felt like the author was telling us what the characters were thinking and they were thinking the same thing all the time. Having said that, while I knew everything was going to be fine in the end because this is a romance novel, the author did lead us on quite an adventure.  I also loved that the love between the two main characters was not based on her looks or some lusty passionate feelings. I wanted to clap as I read of people choosing to do the hard thing for the sake of the other.

A good read.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Heart On the Line" Book Review

Even though "Heart on the Line" could be a stand alone book, it should be called Book #2 in the "A Ladies of Harper's Station Novel" series because there are numerous references to "No Other Will Do". (another book by Karen Witemeyer) I was glad to have read that one first. I think I would have felt slightly out of the loop without that background information.

But don't let that deter you. "Heart on the Line" was a charming tale of a telegraph operator who is facing grave danger at the same time as finding love. And while the plot was, shall we say, predictable, the writing was smooth and enjoyable. Plus the plot kept moving forward.

One thing I loved about this book were the characters. The bad guy was so bad and the good guys so good. The supporting characters were the perfect blend of quirkiness and depth. I am always a tad hesitant to support books that cast men in a bad light and on the surface it might seem like "Ladies of Harper's Station" novels might do that. A whole town where men are not allowed?  (Can you imagine the uproar if women weren't allowed in an all male town!)  But I appreciate that the author did show the heroic men in a good light. Yes, many women have been tragically harmed by men, but that doesn't mean we should teach our daughters to despise them. Quite the opposite! God made us to live together with them.

And while I know it's a run-of-the-mill staple among romance novels, it did irk me ever so slightly that the author felt it necessary to state repeatedly how beautiful the heroine was. The way it's written makes it sound like her beauty was why the hero was willing to risk all to save her. Would she not be worth saving if she was plain or overweight? I know this is a reflection of our societal values but it's within our ability to fight against it. Even if the heroine's waist wasn't tiny, she would still be worth the effort and worth loving.

Over all I enjoyed this book. It was a fun fluffy read - perfect for an afternoon lying in the hammock on a breezy summer day.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"With You Always" Book Review

It's hard to imagine the hardships some people have had to endure. My life is a cozy bubble. Certainly I know what it's like to be short on money, but so desperate I'd give up my children?  Beyond imagination.

"With You Always" was a sweet romantic tale of a young woman doing all she can to look after her younger sisters and a few other children after her own parents died. Unfortunately she lived in a time when jobs were scarce and help even more so. Thankfully, there's a well to do railroad baron to save the day.

I enjoyed reading "With You Always". There was enough drama to keep you interested but not so intense as to distress the reader.  The characters, including the villains, were written well; they drew out a cathartic response.  The plot moved a long at a good speed and the author did a great job of not having the main characters go over the same problem again and again.  Well done Ms. Hedlund!

Perhaps the following criticism isn't so much directed at the book as it is at the genre of Christian romance. Perhaps it's more of a pet peeve of mine than anything else but all the same, when I read the main characters "never having felt a love like this before" right before they passionately kiss, knowing it could get them into trouble, it irks me. That is not love. That's lust.  To call it love is doing the young women of this generation a disservice. You know what love is? Doing the hard thing for the sake of the other person.  Certainly in "With You Always" we see some wonderful examples of true love - not only in a romantic sense but also in family settings.  Please, call that love. That's the truly romantic part.  Otherwise you're feeding the lie that says feeling all hot and bothered is what you should base your decisions on. Please don't get me wrong. I enjoyed this book and I'll let my teen daughter read it. But... we will have a friendly discussion about what is wrong with it afterwards.

Over all, I definitely recommend this book. I know I might have made it out to seem like it's promoting lust. Not at all. In fact, quite the opposite. The characters time and again chose the well being of others at personal expense. Plus, it was hard to put down.  My one eye gives me terrible headaches if I read too much. I finished reading "With You Always" two days ago and it's still achy so you know how long I happily sat there reading.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"One Dominion" Book Review

I love being Canadian. It's a great country and I'm well aware that half the world would give just about anything to trade places with me - to be able to own my citizenship and health card.  We can boast vast forests and clean water, Plus, this is where my family is.

Happy 150th Birthday Canada!

When asked to review "One Dominion", I happily replied yes.  (Maybe it's the former homeschool teacher in me but I also wanted my kids to read it.)  When it arrived, I was surprised. What a boring cover.  (pictured above)  

"Oh," I disappointingly thought. "It looks so cheap. This book isn't going to be good at all." Yes, I am guilty of judging every book by its cover.  Plus it isn't hardcover. A memorial/historical book of this dimension ought to be hardcover.  When my son came home, he said, "Wow, this is an expensive looking book to get in the mail."  When I informed him that I was doing a review on it, he said, 

"Ooooh. I thought it came free in the mail like from a business or something. Then it looks really cheap."  Ha!  I was right.  If it had been a hardcover, I can see it sitting on the table in a dental waiting room.  Sorry, but I really hate the cover.

I was even more perplexed once I cracked it open.  "One Dominion" is filled with beautiful photographs!  What???  (Ironically, my husband just now as I'm typing said, "Would you recommend that book?  I thought it came free in the mail.")  Oh dear.  

Each page is more beautiful than the one before and I enjoyed reading about the Christian influence that helped shaped this great nation. "One Dominion" starts at the beginning of Canadian history and goes through the ages highlighting the accomplishments of men and women who had one goal in mind - to glorify God through the betterment of the world around them.  

Even though I taught my kids some Canadian history, I still learned a number of interesting facts from "One Dominion" such as why we are a dominion instead of a republic or kingdom.  I'm not going to give it away but it's in chapter 3.

Do yourself a favor, don't be put off by the cover of this charming book. The inside doesn't match.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Invitation" Book Review

Have you ever watched "The Twilight Zone"?  If you have, and if you liked it, you'll like "Invitation".  It was like no other book I've read before but I still can't quite decided if I enjoyed it.

"Invitation" is 4 mini-books in one. Almost like scripts for episodes of a running TV show instead of one long plot.  All 4 contain the same main characters and builds on the one before but had separate plot lines.  Each mini-book is authored by one of 4 authors and is written from a different character's point of view and had that character as the focal point.

Admittedly the for the first while, I felt confused - couldn't keep the characters straight.  And each time a story came to an end, I was left feeling unsatisfied - much like "The Twilight Zone" used to leave its viewers. Soooo, was it aliens or a dream or their imagination???  The answer is never really given.

I'm a simple gal. I like things that make sense and I like all the ends to be tied up by the final page. Because of this, by the last mini-book, since I knew I likely wasn't going to get plot satisfaction, the compulsion to dive in was greatly lessened.

"Invitation" wasn't the worst book I've ever read but Peretti and Hunt are two of my favorite authors so I was expecting a fantastic book. From this book, I would say they do better on their own - with license to use as many pages as necessary to tell the whole story.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"The Captain's Daughter" Book Review

Oh my daughter was walking around on cloud nine after reading "The Captain's Daughter".

"Mom, it's so romantic." (breathless sigh)

 Oh to be young again.

"The Captain's Daughter" is a sweet and charming tale of a woman who is trying to make a go of it after having to run away from a horrid boss.  Every chapter or so I thought, "Oh dear, here comes the really distressing part of the plot." only to have it never turn out too poorly for our heroine. Sure it might seem all too convenient and out of touch with reality but I for one was glad. It's nice to read stories without a lot of distress. Goodness! If I want distress, I'll watch the news.

I liked how the author subtly showed how easy it is to find yourself in compromising circumstances. It's not always what you do but what it looks like you're doing. Often I've tried to instruct my children about living a life that can't be misconstrued no matter how someone views it so it's nice to have a fictional book back me up.

I have nothing critical to say against this book. Although I should warn that forced prostitution, sex, kidnapping etc are discussed in a very muted manner. I certainly didn't feel as though my 14 year old daughter shouldn't read it though.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"The Farthest Shore" Book Review

It was so cute. My daughter, 14, grabbed this book out of my hand and went running to find a corner when she saw the author's name. She loves everything Elizabeth Camden writes. In her mind, "To The Farthest Shores" completely lived up to her expectations.  The next day she returned it and said, "Mom, didn't you love it!"  To which I could only reply, "When would I have read it? You stole it as soon as it arrived."  Funny gal.

Shortly thereafter, my life got ridiculously busy which meant no time for reading. But like clockwork,  every couple of days, she would say, "Have you finished it yet? Wasn't it amazing?"  And each time I had to inform her that I hadn't even started it yet, her face became a mixture of shock and unbelief.  How in the world was I choosing to do anything over reading a book by Ms. Camden?

Thankfully life calmed down and I finally got to crack the pages.

"To The Farthest Shores" is a sweet romantic tale of a couple who both have to overcome mistakes in their past as well as learn to communicate in the present. The characters are lovable. The 'harrowing moments' are not upsetting at all making this a good bedtime read.

My only criticism was that sometimes it felt like the main couple were fighting the same fight over and over. While I know this is often true in life and was the author's way of showing that they hadn't come any further to resolving past issues, it made it feel ever so slightly cyclical.  However, to say it like that makes it sound boring. It wasn't at all a boring book.  I found myself caring about the characters and felt satisfied with the ending.  It was a tidy ending but not so tidy as to be unbelievable.

If you have young teen daughters, they will love this book. (if my daughter's reaction was any indication)  I too enjoyed it. It's always nice to be able to confidently place a book in my daughter's hand knowing there won't be any smut or profanity. Thank you Ms. Camden for that!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Recruits" Book Review

This was a doozy! Author Thomas Locke (aka Davis Bunn) created a fast paced sci-fi fantasy novel that's had me hooked. It's the story of twin brothers who find they have powers they didn't know they possessed. And with those powers comes the realization that the universe is much more populated than previously thought.

I think part of what makes this book so intriguing is that we all have an unspoken desire for more. It's like our inner self knows we were meant for greatness. So to read a story of young men who have their greatness realized feels like a book written about ourselves except it hasn't happened yet in our own lives.

The plot moved along as a great pace and the dialogue was concise, not cyclical (always a bonus). I still didn't quite feel like I knew the characters intimately by the end of the book but knew them well enough to form an opinion about whether they were friend or foe.  And for the most part, I could make a clear mental picture of the scene unfolding based on what was written. The final battle was a little hard to visualize but not impossible.

The only downside to "Recruits" (which isn't really a downside) was that it was a couple of teens saving the universe.  And that is so often the story. Cops and military can't get the job done so let's hand everything over to two teens with no life experience.  Please don't take this 'downside' too strongly though. After all, these particular teens had unusual powers. And as we all know from Marvel and DC Comics, that changes everything.  :)

I highly recommend "Recruits". It was enjoyable. A couple of times I had to put it down because I was just starting to get scared and I don't like to read anything scary at bedtime.  Having said that though, this isn't a scary book. It just has a couple of intense moments.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Words of Grace" Book Review

I love the concept of this book!  A devotional with an adult coloring page for day. Brilliant. When I was a child, I loved to color but I have yet to get on the adult coloring bandwagon solely because I think I would find it stressful. The perfectionist in me wouldn't be able to handle it. However, those who like it, LOVE it and this little book would make a perfect gift for them.

"Words of Grace" is a 30 day devotional. Each day has one page of reading and then one page to color. Here's a shot of day 7.

I love how the illustrator, Dee Arrand, incorporated a verse into each coloring page. The idea is that you meditate on the verse and the encouragement you just read while you color. The readings are to encourage you and remind you of how much God loves you. They aren't heavy. No Greek or theological debating here. If that's your cup of tea then this book isn't for you. But if you are intent on simply enjoying your Savior's presence with pencil crayon in hand, then I can think of no better book than "Words of Grace" by Jacqui Grace.  It is sure to delight many.  My sister's birthday is tomorrow. She loves adult coloring and God. (Not in that order) I'm excited to give her this book.


"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Justice Delayed" Book Review

Patricia Bradley I applaud you. "Justice Delayed" was fantastic. Like most people, I'm addicted to my phone. I'd rather scroll through Facebook than watch a movie but this mystery novel managed to get me to put my phone down and leave it down. That, my friend, is a mini miracle.

Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic but it find a mystery novel that has a nice blend of romance and intrigue is lovely. Throw in action sans gratuitous violence, and you've got yourself a winner. Admittedly, I kind of saw the ending coming but there was still enough of an "Aha!" moment that I was satisfied.

My one tiny complaint about the book (complaint is too strong a word) is that the men around the main character, a woman, always feel the need to come to her rescue and to treat her like a child. Granted, our heroine does dive head first into danger repeatedly but it made the book feel a little too much like so many romance novels where the knight in shining armor comes to the rescue of the helpless fair maiden.  Can they not ever be equal partners?  Oh well, I like fairy tales. And again, to call it a complaint is too strong a word.

"Justice Delayed" is a faith based novel but the author did a great job of weaving it in so that it didn't come off sounding like you were reading a sermon. Just a touch here and a dab there.  I happily gave this novel to my teen daughter to read because I know it will entertain her and there's nothing that was too mature or possibly disturbing. Plus, the small mentions of God brought out the message that He is good - even when life is bad.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Conspiracy Of Silence" Book Review

It says "Conspiracy of Silence" by Ronie Kendig is book 1 of "The Tox Files" series. In truth there is a 0.5 prequel novella. I'm guessing that should have been called book 1. At least I'm assuming. Hoping. Because as I was reading, I kept checking the cover to see if it was in fact book 1. The author wrote as though I knew story background that I didn't. It made it hard to keep the characters and plot straight.

I also felt lost during the battle scenes. Maybe I'm just not a huge military enthusiast but as soon as our hero's band of fightin' men entered a foray, I could no longer form a picture in my mind of the action. Seeing as how this is a military based novel with numerous conflicts, it happened frequently.

My favorite part was how the author based the story on an event from the Bible. Unfortunately the way it's portrayed isn't exactly accurate.  However it does set the imagination swirling.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

"Purgatory Road" Book Review

Two weeks ago my husband and I were on a eastern Caribbean cruise to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Because my husband loves to lounge and read, I assumed he would have packed a number of books and magazines. Oops. Fortunately I had this book stashed away. Once he was done I asked what he thought and he's only comment was, "I don't know. It was weird."

Hmm. Interesting. Good weird or waste of time weird?

His undefined emotions towards "Purgatory Road" by Samuel Parker didn't deter me. If anything, the opposite. And almost immediately, as I started reading, thought, "This is a little weird." But I like a little weird. I enjoy Frank Peretti's work. Ted Dekker is borderline too weird for me.  This book falls right in the middle of these two on the weirdness scale.  There was definitely a spiritual undertone to the book. A couple of the characters are something other than human. What they are exactly is up for your conjecture.

I told my 14 year old daughter I didn't think she should read it because the violence is rather graphic and there are some mature themes. Plus, I didn't think she needed to hear about the almost orgasmic thrill the killer gets from murdering his victims. Having said that, not even once did I think I myself shouldn't be reading it.

I enjoyed this book but only give is 3 out of 4 stars for the following reason. While I enjoyed the author's writing style, the inner struggle of the main character was a theme that got revisited too many time. Then again, overcoming faulty areas of self was the main driving force behind the plot so maybe it was necessary. It just felt a tad cyclical. This one area is more than made up for by the action and unique story line.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."