Monday, November 28, 2011

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Highland Pleasures, #1)The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another book that I really could have liked more but something continued to bug me off and on through the book. I get Lord Ian Mackenzie was declared mad, he was a genius but incapable of feeling. Clearly in these times he would be called autistic. It was just a little confusing that the book kept saying Ian had no feelings and he didn't understand laughter, love, sadness but he was easily angered. And boy oh boy did this dude liked nookie! I don't quite understand what drew him to Beth in the first place, except she was like a prize to be had but I don't think that's what the author intended. Again, which is it, love or lust?

I do look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. I have a strong feeling they will be better than this book.

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Moloka'i

Moloka'iMoloka'i by Alan Brennert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oi! This book is more of a 3.5 for me. It was a very good book but it wasn't the best historical fiction based on real events I've read. Again, it's a historical fiction and I learned something in our American history that I'd never known before and for that I'm grateful, but it just seemed to be missing something. Perhaps because it spanned the life of Rachel from age six to death it went almost too fast. I can't quite place my finger on why it just didn't hit the mark for me.

It starts in the later 1800's, before Hawaii had it's statehood. Many foreigners were arriving on the islands and because the natives had been so isolated, they were not immune to the diseases that the non-natives carried. This book focuses on leprosy, or Hansen's Disease as it's now called. These native islanders and a few foreigners were made to live on a peninsula, in an area called Molokai'a. The main character is fictional but the author states real life people inspired a lot of this story. I had never heard of this so it was certainly fascinating to read!

I'd still recommend this book though. It's a good history lesson.

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Passion (Fallen #3)

Passion (Fallen, #3)Passion by Lauren Kate

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't like this book as much as the other two in the series. The little gargoyle guy was strange and I didn't like that he was in the story at all. I realize that the author had to go back in time to explain the past lives, it just wasn't the best method in my honest opinion. I think Luce could have traveled through time and learned about her past self with Daniel another way, it could have been better. Once I got towards the last quarter of the book it got a little better because things finally started coming together. The book just felt disconnected from it's series. I have high hopes for the next book though, the FINAL book.

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Friday, November 11, 2011

The Redemption

The Redemption (Legacy of the King's Pirates #1)The Redemption by M.L. Tyndall

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another swashbuckling romantic adventure by MaryLu Tyndall that made me gasp, smile and be glad I found this good read. One can never be disappointed with her stories and the wonderful messages that they contain.

The The Redemption is about Charlisse Bristol, a young English lady who escapes the tortuous hands of her minister uncle in London to head to Jamaica to find the father she never knew. Her mother had died when Charlisse was eight years old but Charlisse clung to the stories her mother had told her about the amazing man her father was. Charlisse was sure her uncle withheld letters from her father because her mother said that he would be coming to get them, yet he never did.

On her voyage to Jamaica, Charlisse's ship is torn apart by a storm. She survives and finds herself on a deserted island. After many weeks alone and desperate to be found or get on with it and die, she sees a pirate ship land on the island. She sees they are all savage looking pirates and not so sure she wants to be "rescued" by them after all. However, the smell of food and the grumbling in her stomach wins her internal battle and she sneaks into their camp after they seem to have all passed out from too much rum.

She of course gets caught by the dashing and dangerous looking Captain Edmund Merrick. She is brought aboard the ship where she is sure she will be ravaged by the foul looking pirates. Captain Merrick is determined to keep Charlisse safe from the others and after learning that her father is the feared pirate, Edward the Terror, safe from her kin as well!

Pirate fights ensue, near rape occurs, drinking around all the time and stinky pirates galore, Charlisse is sure there is no God. A God could not let all of these horrible things happen to her. Through it all, Merrick seems to be none of these but she is still confused as to what he wants with her. When Merrick is falsely accused of destroying a British ship and set to hang, Charlisse ends up finding God and finding deeper in her heart that she is in love with Merrick. Merrick couldn't be happier knowing that if he is to hang, at least in time he will be with Charlisse again. But alas! God will not let this be the end for them and we are whisked away on more adventures. I'll leave it at that for now!

There is no shortage of adventure, romance and faith in this fantastic book.

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Monday, November 7, 2011

A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion #1)

A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, #1)A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the most prolific, amazing biblically themed fiction books I have ever read. This is as moving and touching as The Left Behind Series. I'd dare to even say it's as life changing.

It's quite eerie, perhaps not coincidental that Rome in the time this book takes place is quite similar to what I am seeing in this world today. Rome fell, didn't it? It failed and sometimes it seems we might too. This book nearly creates a fear to turn to God in all things. I have accepted the Lord into my life many years ago and this book infuses His Word into me even more.

I have always loved historical fiction for all that it teaches. This book teaches stories of the old and new testament through a fictional persons persepctive. Yes, fiction, but based on real events. What it could have been like to live in the times soon after Jesus was crucified and how much the Jews and Christians were despised.

Hadassah, a slave, is one of the main characters in this book. Her faith as a Christian is powerful and draws many to her because of the peace she has knowing Jesus is Messiah. However, she is hesitant to share her faith knowing she could be killed for uttering a word of her faith. Her masters, the Valerians, are sinful Romans who pray to whatever god they please and live very sinful, selfish lies. Hadassah never ceases in praying for their souls. When she is accused of being deceitful, her faith is put to the ultimate test.

When you think of ancient Rome you can't help but think of Gladiators. Oh yes, this book has that too and in graphic detail. Atretes is a barbarian captured in Germania and the gladiator focused on in this book. I was confused for some time why he was in this book but towards the end it starts to tie together. It too is another fascinating story line and I'm anxious to see if he plays more of a role in the second or third book.

There is so much to this book I couldn't possibly summarize it. I can tell you that Hadassah is a hero to me though. Wow. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

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