Author: Lisa T. Bergen

Series: River of Time: California

Publisher: Bergen Creative Group

Release Date: April 8, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fun romantic tale of finding love when you would least expect it!

Zara Ruiz is a young girl that wishes for adventure, finding love, and a family. All the things she doesn’t presently have.  While walking the beach, she discovers a priceless object in a tide pool.  As she touches it, she is thinking of her wishes and is thrust a hundred and eighty years into the past.  Here she meets a handsome rancher, Javier de la Ventura, a man with big dreams and wishes of his own.  He along with his family and a vast land that is familiar to her and yet completely different from what she has known is what is in front of her with no foreseeable way to return home.  Now Zara must decide if she’s discovered what she has wished for in the past, or if her heart’s three wishes can only be found in her own time.

There is the saying “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” Well, with this new series by Lisa Bergren, I am wishing for the next one right now.  I was turned on to her writing with her Remnants series, which is one of my favorite series by far.  When I saw this coming out, I decided to give it a go as well.  I haven’t read any of the River of Times books that many compare this too as a possible prequel story but have to say I extremely enjoyed Three Wishes.  The characters were fun and easy to connect with and not at all over the top with how they got together.  I didn’t think I would enjoy the romance of the two main characters as much as I did, but it all played out well.  The story was just long enough, not so long that I found it dragging like so many novels tend to do. There were a few predictable moments but nothing to take away from the story. Three Wishes was a delightful read, and I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

 

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Reviewer: Jen Roman

In this second installment of the Bishop’s Family series, David Stoltzfus faces a tough moral dilemma.  He knows that one of the church leaders, Freeman Glick, has rigged the ballot system to make himself the new bishop of Stoney Ridge.  David knows he has to speak up to right the wrong, especially since Freeman does not see the error of his ways, but he wants to be sure he is doing the right thing.  Meanwhile, his meddling and overbearing mother, known as Mammi, arrives to “help” him and brings his two nieces, Laura and Abigail, in tow.  Laura quickly fits in with David’s family, but Abigail, intelligent, direct, and honest to a fault, manages to set herself apart from everyone else by her know-it-all attitude and blunt observations.  While helping her father with a genealogy project, she meets someone who finds her ways to be refreshing and even admirable.  Just as she starts to get close to him, however, she learns some interesting secrets about his family that might cause him to rethink his high esteem of Abigail.

Many readers of Amish fiction know a lot about the Amish ways and the various differences between communities, but not many have read about a quieting, in which a church leader is removed from his position and a new leader is chosen.  The details of how it happens and the meetings leading up to the quieting are discussed, and readers get to see how agonizing of a decision it really is.  While it may seem cut and dry, there are many gray areas that make the decision, even if it is right, difficult to carry out.  David toys with the idea of just ignoring the information he has about Freeman’s actions, but he knows that the problem will just fester if not addressed head-on.  Knowing that Freeman’s sister Birdy, also David’s love interest, is the one who brought Freeman’s deception to David’s attention also causes concern.  David wants to be with Birdy, but doesn’t know what a quieting on her brother will do to their relationship.

This is a second installment of a series, and The Quieting picks up just as David learns that Freeman has rigged the ballots used to choose the next bishop.  Rather than recount a lot of what happened previously, the story jumps right in to David’s dilemma and throws his visiting relatives, Mammi, Laura, and Abigail, into the mix.  Many pieces from the previous book are mixed in to make this current book interesting, but it takes some attention to detail to catch up on all the previous goings-on that affect the current story.  This is not to say that it can’t be done, but it does prove to be difficult.

The characters, and there are many, in this book are mostly interesting and engaging.  Abigail, as expected, is a bit difficult to take, and her story is not as interesting because of it.  The ancillary characters, which include family members, friends, and people of the community, all have storylines that weave into one another.  They create this rich fabric of a story that fascinates and entertains all at the same time.  Many of these characters are also found in other series by Suzanne Woods Fisher, so she really has created a world of the Amish that can go on for seemingly forever.  It will be interesting to see where the next book in the series, The Devoted, takes this group of God-fearing and charismatic individuals.

Suzanne Woods Fisher writes in a style that is simple yet interesting, and often at times conversational.  This helps the stories get told quickly and thoroughly, so readers know not only what people are doing, but what they are thinking.  I enjoy her style and this book was yet another success in telling an interesting story about a group of people that most don’t understand.

The Quieting is an interesting read that delves into the part of Amish life that many outsiders don’t see.  It reflects the lifestyle of the Amish and for that reason does not use profanity.  There is no violence.  The only issue I had was that while the story can stand alone, there is a lot of work involved in trying to figure out what happened before and who each character is.  Still, teens and adults will find this book of the Bishop’s Family series charming and entertaining.

 

Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Publisher: Lake Union

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

An unforgettable tale of courage and strength in the trial of a lifetime.

Ethan Underwood is tired of no one believing he is seventeen, he knows he doesn’t look it and sometimes doesn’t act it, but he is fixing to have to show bravery beyond his years. After his father betrays him and his mother, he wants nothing to do with him.  Unfortunately his mom has to go help take care of her ailing parents and Ethan is gets stuck going to stay with his dad who has moved to the Blythe River National Wilderness area.  They don’t have much to say to each other and barely co-exist together.  One day his dad goes for a run and doesn’t come back.  When he hasn’t returned the next day, Ethan notifies the rangers who set out with a search party.  After two days they find nothing and call the search off.  Ethan may not like his father, but he doesn’t want to leave without trying to find him.  With the help of three locals, they set out to find his father and Ethan soon realizes this quest has become about more than finding his Dad.

I have to say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed I enjoyed this book. I really related to Ethan on so many levels.  I never have people believe I’m as old as I say I am and my relationship with my father is not the best.  Maybe not for all the same reasons as Ethan has, but even so it could be much better.  Leaving Blythe River could have all been tied up nice and neat like a half hour sitcom where everyone hugs at the end, but it played out totally believable. Every character has a purpose and played well with each other.  I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Sam and Jone with Ethan.  There was a tiny bit of humor sprinkled in to lighten the mood at just the right times.  I read this in two days and enjoyed the writing very much.  I haven’t read anything by Catherine Ryan Hyde before and am starting to think I have been missing out on some really good stories.  I was especially pleased with the ending, I don’t want to give anything away but the way it played out was very satisfying.  I would recommend this to those that enjoy a good coming of age story where the characters really grow and develop throughout.

Author: Mike Dellosso

Series: Jed Patrick

Publisher: Tyndale

Release Date: June 1, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Jed Patrick returns as does the Centralia agency who is bent on having him back.

Jed Patrick has worked tirelessly to get his life back and keep his family safe with new names, new locations, and new identities. Just when he thinks it is enough, trained men who claim to be there to help break in and take his little girl and threaten his wife.  He now knows his family will never be truly safe until he eliminates the agency set on hunting him down.  Jed has enough information to bring them down.  He just has to find the right way to use that information.  Without knowing who to trust, the decision of what to do becomes harder and harder.  His life and the lives of those he loves are in danger at every turn and he starts doubting himself like never before.

If you are a fan of the Bourne series, this is one to read. I didn’t realize when starting that it was the second in a series, but that didn’t seem to be too much of a problem as I continued reading.  A few parts probably would have been a little clearer but not enough to be an issue.  I am a fan of Bourne and enjoyed the Jed Patrick story as well.  The pace was quick and tense.  I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by one aspect of the writing, but I don’t want to say too much and give away a big spoiler.  I am rarely surprised in reading a novel but this one did surprise me.  I know several reviews of the first said the writing was subpar and predictable but I didn’t feel that way at all.  I thought it was done very well.  I did see some similarities to the Jason Bourne series and even a few others here and there, but overall the story was very well written and enjoyable.  If the series continues, I will be sure to pick up the future books as well!

Author: Jolina Petersheim Publisher: Tyndale Release Date: June 1, 2016 Reviewer: Jessica Higgins A new view of dystopian literature that can leave you questioning your personal beliefs. Petersheim…

Source: The Alliance

Author: Jolina Petersheim

Publisher: Tyndale

Release Date: June 1, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A new view of dystopian literature that can leave you questioning your personal beliefs. Petersheim hooked me on the first page and never let me go!

Leora Ebersole is coping with her life in the Mt. Hebron Mennonite community after her father abandoned her family, then a year later her mother died. Suddenly, a plane comes streaking across the sky and crashes in the field near her house.  As a group of Mennonite loggers pull the pilot free of the wreckage, Leora discovers that electronics are no longer working.  One of the loggers is an Englischer and his cell phone doesn’t work, neither does the phone in the wood shop.  Apparently, the customers at the community store, Field to Table, are also at a loss as their cars will no longer start.  While the remaining Mennonites go to the school house to hold an assembly to make sense of what is happening, Leora stays at her house with the injured pilot.  After he awakens, she learns that his name is Moses Hughes.  She explains what she has heard of happening and he confides in her that it might be an electromagnetic pulse that has been set off.  He explains that if this is the case, then the world is suddenly without power and humanity is going to get a lot worse.  Food and water will become scarce and gangs will be on the rise to control what little there is.  What would a pacifist community do if faced to choose between protecting their families or death?  The answer might surprise you!

Two years is far too long to go with a new novel by Jolina Petersheim. Even so, the wait has well paid off.  This story really dives to the heart of one of the beliefs of a Mennonite community.  Pacifism is the belief that violence is unnecessary, even when faced with a threat.  She does a great job of providing some history of how the beliefs originated and the past individuals that are revered for having the faith to stand strong in their beliefs as they were tortured or even killed.  Throughout the entire book, I often found myself wondering if I would be strong enough to turn the cheek to the events happening.

Leora is the protagonist throughout the story that battles her own faith. She recites the beliefs and questions the community when they appear to consider compromising, but inside she is lost and hurting from her past.  She blames herself for the events that have caused damage to her family and cannot seem to trust God.  She is a very easy character to relate with as several of us have the same issues.  Moses is the surprise character of the story.  He begins by trying to run away from his problems and doesn’t want anything to go with God.  However, by the end he is a different person who has learned from his mistakes.

There were plenty of twists throughout the book that kept it interesting and intriguing. By the time I was on the last chapter, I felt like I should only be about halfway through the book.  How could this all wrap up in one more chapter?  To my sincere happiness, the author let me know that there is going to be another book that will continue the story!  I hope I can make it until it releases!

Author: Brynn Kelly

Publisher: HQN Books

Release Date: May 31, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A case of mistaken identity, pirates, kidnapping and romance make for a fast paced thrill ride!

Holly Ryan just got out of jail when she is approached to play body double for a spoiled socialite. It sounds like the perfect gig, until she is snatched off the yacht and held for ransom by a tall dark mysterious stranger.  Fare Angelito tried to be finished with his past, he wanted nothing to do with the horrible things he had been a part of.  Now that his son has been kidnapped, he is forced to go back to the past he has left behind and return to his old ways.  What he doesn’t expect is to fall for the girl he has been told to kidnap in order to get his son back safely.  All alone and deep in the tropics, they find themselves drawn to one another and the passion is hard to contain.

Deception Island starts out with a punch and doesn’t let up.  The tension is set from the start and holds a pretty good pace throughout.  Most romantic suspense novels are too heavy on the romance and the suspense never really gets going.  I felt a good sense of suspense throughout with the romance sprinkled at appropriate places.  The attraction between Rafe and Holly was immediate and well developed.  I did have a problem for the first half of the book with both of them having two different names, their real ones and the ones they were using towards the other.  It was confusing and took me out of the story at times trying to keep straight who was talking.  The timeline going from being kidnapped to falling for one another was a little fast to be believable but in an intense situation these things tend to escalate quicker than normal.  At the heart of the novel was the bond between father and son and how strong that can be, even when it isn’t obvious to the father.

Overall Deception Island was a quick enjoyable read.  It is not for book for a young audience as it contains harsh language at times and some sensual scenes intended for the more mature audience.

Author: Tosca Lee

Series: Decedents of the House of Bathory

Publisher: Howard Books

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

There is not much I can say that will adequately portray how good this book is! Lee is a master storyteller has crafted the best story that I have read in a long, long time.

When Emily Jacobs wakes up one day with much of her memory gone, she tries to determine what happened to her and why she would ever want to be without her memories. Her search brings about the revelation that she is the descendant of a serial killer and is now being hunted.  She doesn’t know who she can trust.  Is it the good-looking guy she meets at the Food Mart who seems to know more about her past than she does?  If not him, who?  During her search she is drawn to the secret underground of Europe and the deep inner circles of three ancient orders: one trying to killer her, one trying to keep her alive, and one she has to save.  With every corner she turns, more secrets are revealed and more questions raised.  She is in a race to save those around her, even if she can’t save herself.

Tosca lee is a writer with a very rare gift. One who can craft a story in such a way that you have no choice but to devour every word and curse her for her brilliance.  This is easily one of the best books I have read in a very long time.  The story flies by with nothing slowing it down.  The characters are inexplicably drawn to one another that makes everything they do make sense without question.  The setting is unique, going from Maine, to Indiana, to the underground circles of Europe.  The characters, the descendant of a serial killer, very intriguing.  The time and effort it must have taken to make every aspect of this story tie in with the next makes me want to read it again and again if for nothing else than to enjoy a good story and show my appreciation for such hard work.  This is unlike so many of the novels out there that are just thrown together and put out there to be skimmed through and tossed aside.  I devoured every word and can’t wait to read it again and again and again.  The worst thing about this is the fact that I now have to wait for the next to come out, talk about cruel and unusual punishment.

Author: Steven James

Series: Blur Trilogy

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Curse, the conclusion to the Blur trilogy by Steven James, is a satisfying end to a great YA series!

It’s been nine months since Daniel Byers first started having Blurs and he is hoping they are over. He is preparing to attend basketball camp before starting his senior year of high school when he once again starts seeing things that he doesn’t know if they are real or not.  Images from his early childhood are coming back to haunt him, some more terrifying than all he has already been through since the Blurs started.  To determine the meaning behind his hallucinations, he is going to have to team up with others that show the same amazing talents as he does with his Blurs.  On top of figuring out the meaning behind his Blurs, they are going to have to work together to help save a young woman who has been abducted by a scientist obsessed with enacting his own strange sense of justice.  Just when you think you have things figured out, they take a very interesting turn.

Steven James is one of the best authors I have ever read and I love that he has given us a great YA series! It is hard to find good clean thrillers that can be recommended for a younger audience. Curse is the final book in this series by Steven James and it didn’t disappoint.  I am only disappointed in the fact that there isn’t another in the series to look forward to.  I can tell that this is the end to the series, but it also seems to be left open with more story to tell.  I don’t want to give too much away but the very last page answered some questions, but also left me wanting to know more about these characters and what might be next for them.  Daniel is a great main character, he’s popular and good at school and sports but doesn’t flaunt any of that and think he’s better than he really is.  One character that stood out for me was Mia.  If you are familiar with James’s Patrick Bowers series, she will probably remind you of Tessa, at least she did for me.  There were nice bits of humor mixed in with the tense moments.  I flew through this story and loved every page.  So many books are easy to skim and not miss out on much of the story.  Not here, every word is important and not wasted.  I’m sad to see the series end, but will be ready for whatever James writes next.  I highly recommend this to any and all who enjoy a great fast paced thriller with twist and turns throughout.

Author: Steven James

Series: Blur Trilogy

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: April 2015

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Another fantastic read by Steven James. Even more twist and turns than the first.

Daniel Byers is hoping things are back to normal for him. Until his blurs return and his dad mysteriously disappears. The key to finding his dad lies in deciphering his chilling hallucinations. Along with his missing father, he is trying to understand a new mystery from his blurs. A girl keeps appearing to him trying to tell him something and then bursting into flames. She is somehow connected to his family. He also talks to his mom and that only adds more questions to the mix. Why did she leave? What is she keeping from him? How is he going to find and save his dad? And can he answer all these questions before it is too late?

Steven James is one of the best writers out there. His second novel in the Blur Trilogy does not disappoint. The characters are relatable as well as appealing and the mystery they are trying to solve will drag you deeper with every page.  Breaking this story into parts adds another edge to the story making it hard to put down. The mystery of if someone is even real, or just imagined by Daniel and even imagined by his ancestors is so well written you can find yourself in his position. I love the way James can take a story, any story, and make the reader feel as if they are inside the characters head. One of the differences in this compared to the first in the series is breaking up and showing multiple points of view. We get to see more of the town and how other characters relate to Daniel and what he is going through.

The theme that the protagonist can also be the antagonist drives us to wonder if we can trust anything Daniel says or does. The stage is set at the end for the conclusion of the series that is sure to be more complicated and even more intense. Having a new YA out there without language or anything is refreshing. Even in his adult books James refrains from harsh language or sex. So few writers think this can’t be done without keeping the story moving. It would be nice if more could make this a habit.