What We Find

What WE Find Author: Robyn Carr

Series: Sullivan’s Crossing #1

Publisher: Mira

Release Date: April 5, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

When one door closes, another one opens.

Maggie Sullivan needs a break. Her practice had to close after her two partners were indicted for medical malpractice. She’s been picking up shifts at the ER in the Denver Hospital but the stress and hours are driving her crazy. A family that lost their teenage son a car accident is now suing her personally. She just had a miscarriage with her longtime boyfriend, who has now decided that he just can’t be who she needs him to be. Needless to say, she needs a break. She loads up her bags and heads across the mountains to the small town of Sullivan’s Crossing where her dad owns the only general store in town. It’s March, so it is nasty weather, but she needs the break. Shortly after her arrival, her dad has a heart attack and she decides to stay and take care of him. Can Maggie find what she is looking for?

This was a fast and exciting read. The story follows Maggie through her troubles and her emotions with trusting men. Although, she initial doesn’t trust Cal, she succumbs pretty quickly to his charms. It’s almost a type of coming of age story for Maggie on finding what she wants instead of what others want her to be. Of course, a book set in the mountains of Colorado is always a fun place to be.

Overall, the story flowed pretty well, but the character transitions didn’t happen smoothly. There wasn’t a method to denote when you suddenly jumped viewpoints until you were halfway into a segment and realized it wasn’t Maggie anymore. Also, there is a lot of sex in this book and some pretty harsh language as well. I would recommend this book to mature readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Bashert

Bashert Author: Herb Freed

Publisher: Bellrock Press

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A love story that goes beyond this world and into the next.

The second that Dan Sobol and Marion Gladstone meet, they know they are meant to be together. Dan is an ex-rabbi that has made his way into the film industry. Marion is a writer and film editor who is getting over a divorce that has made her an outcast in the industry. Together, they travel the world making movies and enjoying their time together until it all comes to an end far too soon.

Finding true love is something seen in movies and rarely experienced in real life. Herb Freed takes the reader on an adventure in love that goes beyond this world. While the premise of the story is very intriguing, I had a hard time sticking with it. There were points that I felt could have been skipped completely because they closed the story off from flowing. However, other parts of the story kept me reading quickly to find out what was going to happen. The writing flows at times and stalls at others. Even so, this is a story that will make the reader believe in true love and want to achieve what Marion and Dan did. It also makes you want to avoid the qualities of some of the other characters, as well as others we are around every day. Overall it was a decent read, but not one I will likely pick up again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Firstborn

firstborn Author: Tosca Lee

Series: Descendants of the House of Bathory #2

Publisher: Howard Books

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The sequel to The Progeny, my top pick for last year, had big shoes to fill, luckily it did not disappoint.

After Audra Ellison went to extreme measures to erase her past from her memory, she has now come face-to-face with what she tried so hard to forget. These secrets she was willing to die to protect are now what make her more vulnerable than ever to both the Historian and traitors within their midst. All her efforts to protect those she cares about seem to be falling short. The man she loves, Luka, has fallen into the hands of the Historian and she is in a race to meet the demands to save his life. Her powers are growing but also take a toll on her physically and emotionally. With the help of her friends and unexpected allies, Audra risks everything in order to save them all and stop a four-hundred-year-old war between progeny and scion. Just when things look their worst, Audra feels she is in over her head and isn’t sure if she can be the answer they are all looking for.

Fans of Tosca Lee’s The Progeny have been anxiously awaiting the sequel, Firstborn. I have now read The Progeny three times; I had to reread it before starting Firstborn to make sure I remembered everything correctly and it was just as good as the first time. With a book that good, it is hard for a sequel to live up to the hype. Luckily Firstborn does not disappoint. There is just as much suspense and tension as the first book and the ending was even more than I expected. Audra goes through so much in a very short period of time when all things are considered. She doesn’t know if she has the strength to be what everyone needs her to be and if she is strong enough or what will she be like when it is all said and done. One of the ways I determine a book is outstanding is if when I am reading it I see it playing out in my mind as a movie. That can happen with a lot of books but the movie in my head isn’t always the best. Firstborn would be a blockbuster that doesn’t let up. In a way, I wish this wouldn’t be the last book for the series, it’s so good that two installments just don’t feel like enough. But on the other hand, if it were to be spread out over a few more novels, it would have made the story less enjoyable by having fluff and too much unneeded story. Tosca Lee is the kind of author that everyone needs to read, either these books or one of her other works. There is something for everyone out there. Firstborn is a book I will be recommending to everyone that enjoys a heart-pounding suspense ride that will take you to another world away from any troubles you might be having. I know it is still early in the year, (at least for me reading this in February), but I am going to go ahead and name this my top pick of the year. It will be hard for anything to top this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Promise of Pierson Orchard

51hkTM8SZVL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_ Author: Kate Brandes

Publisher: Wyatt McKenzie

Release Date: April 22, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Sort of like a soap opera, but with fracking.

Pierson Orchard has seen its share of hardship and tragedy. Started by Jack’s grandfather, it has much become a family business. Only the orchard is unforgiving and those that work in it never get a break. Jack’s father’s devotion to the orchard caused their mom to run. And now it has cost Jack and Leann their marriage. But when Jack’s estranged brother Wade returns to the town of Minden as an employee for Green Energy, a gas development business, folks in town start to listen to him because he can offer them money for their mineral rights. But when the first fracking well causing toxic trespass into Jack’s orchard, tension begins to run high in the town. Add the unfinished business that Wade left with Jack’s wife before he left, and things might come right down to a bloody pulp.

So, first off, this story is full of wonderfully flawed characters. Everyone one of them is damaged and has a chance for redemption throughout the story. Unfortunately, not all of them find it. I really enjoyed the science behind this story. I live in west Texas, where fracking is a normal part of life. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen around the area that I live, but it is still a widespread industry that affects employment and can easily become a highly charged issue. The same is true in this story. The townspeople always got along when they were in the same boat, but when they started getting money for their land, a type of social pecking order began to development. I also enjoyed have the story told form the four viewpoints of Jack, Wade, Leann, and Stella. That way I was able to easily understand what each character was feeling and how they were handling the situation.

There is some strong language throughout the story and one fairly explicit sex scene. I would recommend this book to mature audiences, especially if this is a field of interest to them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Tosca Lee’s New Book!

The Lost Stories.png If you’ve read Tosca Lee’s book The Progeny, I hope you will agree that it was the best book in 2016. At least I thought so, be sure to check out my review of it here. Even more exciting is that the sequel Firstborn releases in ONE WEEK from today! How exciting is that? And if you are worried that the sequel doesn’t live up to it’s predecessor, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. This new book is just as incredible and I will be posting my review of it here very soon.

In the meantime, be sure to head over to Tosca’s site (http://toscalee.com/firstbornswag/) and check out what she has in store for those who buy the book! She has some amazing swag to give away to those who buy the book. And even more amazing swag if you buy two books (one for you and one for a friend)!

But to those that love to read (and write), you know that there are always stories behind the stories. And Tosca has written those down and they are available to YOU! Check out her site to find out how to get them!

Cycle One: The Invitation

Invitation Authors: Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, & Alton Gansky

Series: Harbingers #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An intriguing tale of the supernatural by four of today’s top Christian suspense writers makes this a must read!

Broken into segments, the first is The Call by Bill Myers told from the viewpoint of a street hustling tattoo artist that sees the future and uses that to help a student at a psychic institute. He is being trained to use his gifts to help world leaders but at a very high cost. The next segment is by Frank Peretti called The Haunted. Peretti dives deep into the darkness within us all in this supernatural case of murder centered within a mysterious house. Third is The Sentinels by Angela Hunt which showcases a strange phenomenon of animals around the world mysteriously dying. The fourth and final section is by Alton Gansky called The Girl. It is a strange tale of a young girl found in the snow barefoot and holding a piece of parchment type paper. After careful investigation, it appears she is not of this world and someone wants to kill her. Brought together they make the first cycle in the Harbingers Series.

Invitation is a unique blend of several of the top Christian authors doing what they do best. I must admit before this I hadn’t read anything by several of the authors. I know Frank Peretti’s work and that is what drew me to this. Oddly enough, his section was probably my least favorite. When I first heard of the premise of this story I thought there were several ways it might work out. Each author took a character and told the story from their point of view. It wasn’t the same story over and over, instead it was a continuation. When one section is over you go to the next character further in time. This left me with several questions for how each section played out and how I thought it should have played out. Overall the story itself was very interesting, even though I do still have some questions. Since this is the first installment, my questions might still be answered in the next book. At least that is what I am hoping.

With each author taking a section, it was clearly noticeable the way the writing changed with who the new point of view character was and that we were in a different story. I don’t want to say it was an exceptional story, it could have been, but fell short at several points for me. With that said though, I still recommend this book to readers that love a supernatural story with suspense on every page. Each author brought his and her own personal touches to their section making it unique. The first section was the best to me and easily drew me into the story. I enjoyed that so much I stuck with the entire thing and am glad I did. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Alabaster

Alabaster Author: Chris Aslan

Publisher: Lion Hudson

Release Date: November 18, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A well-known story told from a different perspective.

Miriam and Martha have had their share of a rough life. When they were children, their mother died leaving them with their father and younger brother. Even so, they still made the best of it. That is until the day that their father helps a leper, who leaves them a small alabaster jar for helping before he dies. Nothing seems that odd until one day Miriam notices a small white patch on his back. Soon the priest and his wife come to observe the patch and quarantine the family. But the patch does not recede, so their father must leave the community for good and venture out to the lepers. But fate does not stop there. Martha has no money for a dowry and remains single, but she is quite the busybody. Miriam gets married to a young man who helps the priest, but his mother and sister are scornful to her and it might have been better never to marry. Their brother, Eleazar, runs away from the community with a friend when they are of age, with intentions never to return. That is until they meet the doctor in the north that has been able to cure leprosy.

This book was a great read that keep playing with my mind. Once the book got started, I began to wonder if this might be one of the well-known stories of Jesus in the bible. The more I read, the more it sounded likely. And then I discovered that it was. It was told from a completely different perspective than I had ever heard it before. But it was still masterfully told. The emotions of Miriam were vastly different than I would have pictured them, but there were still very believable. I love it when stories like this pop up and change the way I have always observed things. Well done!

There is some implied sex scenes, one of which is a rape scene, but it is not graphic. I would recommended this to young adult readers and up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Jorie and the Magic Stone

Jorie Author: A. H. Richardson

Publisher: Serano Press

Release Date: December 26, 2014

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A magical tale with dragons, hidden stones, treasures, and, of course, evil forces trying to stop Jorie at every turn.

Marjorie, who prefers to be called Jorie, has gone to live with her aunt. She has a vivid imagination and lets it run wild at her new country home. With her fire-red hair flowing behind her, she runs around the estate and quickly meets a new friend, Rufus, who lives next door. Together they find a mysterious land beneath the Tarn that is full of enchantment, danger and adventure. They meet a good dragon, the Great Grootmonya who sends them on a quest to find the three Stones of Maalog and return them. Jorie is in possession of the first stone, which will lead them to the next. Along the way, they have to deal with evil dragons and even worse creatures to accomplish their mission.

Jorie and the Magic Stones is a fun story that will be a good edition for young readers. This isn’t one that everyone will love, but for those that enjoy fantasy novels, this is going to be one to add to their list. I liked the characters, especially the kids, they had spunk. I had a few points that I got confused on, but it was probably because I was reading The Magician’s Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia), at the same time and there are several similarities between the two books. The target audience of young readers will enjoy the short chapters and fun characters. The travel between worlds made me feel like I was in the story and couldn’t wait to see what they would find. I recommend this book to young readers looking for adventure in an entertaining story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Welcome Murder

A Welcome Murder Author: Robin Yocum

Publisher: Seventh Street Books

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Several viewpoints makes an intriguing tale, but this won’t be at the top of my list of best reads

Johnny Earl was at the height of his life. He had everything going for him, until it all fell apart. He had a promising baseball career that ended with an injury, which led to him selling cocaine. It didn’t take long for him to end up in prison for seven years. Prison is just another obstacle for him to overcome. Once out, his only goal is to retrieve the drug money he stashed before being arrested and leave town. Before he is even able to start getting his things together, he is picked up for questioning in the murder of the FBI informant who sent him away. To top matters off, his former cellmate shows up in town wanting Johnny’s money to use to fund an Aryan nation group. Johnny is stuck between a rock and a hard place and it might just be a jam he can get out of.

Let me break this one down into the good and the bad. The good would have to be the storyline. The murder mystery was interesting and with the dialogue between the viewpoints it made it even more interesting to see who was involved and how. The bad is that about does it for the good. Even though the story was interesting, I couldn’t get into it as much as I would have liked because of all the harsh language and sex. That might not bother some people but for me it was far too much. The book is short and I did get through it quickly but I still can’t say it is one I enjoyed much or can recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Forward to Glory: Tempering

Forward to Glory Author: Brian Paul Bach

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Release Date: March 21, 2017

Rating: 2 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Dealing with television, movies and a screenplay all in one should make it an interesting concept, but I just could not get into this one at all.

With a name like Butterbugs you would think life would be interesting. But it’s not, not even a little. His only dream is to act, so he drops everything and heads to Hollywood. He is living in his car and running out of resources. Even with his high hopes, he eventually becomes isolated from much of the LA scene. He then begins to meet several other outcasts, but not all of them are bad. When he gets his first screen test, things seem to be spiraling out of control. With many other characters, it could be an interesting tale with many different directions.

Ok, I wanted to give this one a chance, and I did. I get what the author was trying to do, but it just wasn’t happening. The story is really disjointed and even though it is set up more like a screen play, it just wasn’t easy to follow. Too much of the first part of it goes on and on without getting to the reason for the story. I have no doubt that some readers may find this more to their liking but I wasn’t one of them. I’ll give anything a try once is my motto, but this one just didn’t work out for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.