Sunday, November 17, 2013

Burning Sky Review




“I remember the borders of our land, though I have been gone from them nearly half the moons of my life. But who there will remember me? What I have seen, what I have done, it has changed me.


I am the place where two rivers meet, silted with upheaval and loss.

Yet memory of our land is a clear stream. I shall know it as a mother knows the faces of her children. It may be I will find me there."

Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her family’s New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her father’s property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence—her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land.

When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willa’s vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against “savages” abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willa’s safety unsure.

Willa is a woman caught between two worlds. As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage--the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?

Burning Sky by Lori Benton was a wonderful and exciting. I quickly fell in love with Willa and felt for her during her struggles throughout the book. All of the characters are wonderfully developed and are all quite different. Each with distinct characteristics that pull you that much more into the story. The story will tug at your heart and you will invest a lot of emotions into it. As her debut book, Lori has done a great job.  

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that will burn in you mind long after you've set it down. 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Captive Maiden Review


Happily Ever After ...Or Happily Nevermore? 
Gisela's childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father's death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns the duke's son, Valten---the boy she has daydreamed about for years---is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

      Melanie has done it once again with The Captive Maiden, she took a much loved fairy tail and retold it in a wonderfully new and entertaining way. Every page held my attention and I didn't ever want to put it down. I also loved how Melanie brought back Valten from The Fairest Beauty to star as the main hero in this story. All I can say is that this book was absolutely perfect in every way. Fairy tale lovers are sure to love The Captive Maiden as well as all the other fairy tale retellings by Melanie.

5 out of 5. This Afternoon Snack was done to perfection.

I was provided a copy of The Captive Maiden by Zondervan and the author in exchange for my honest review. 

Monday, November 4, 2013

Critical Reaction Review


When a Warning Siren Screams in the Desert Night, 
the Worst Has Happened

After turning out plutonium for the Cold War, the shuttered Hanford Nuclear Facility's poisoned buildings may be a bigger risk than ever. The men who guard the facility from sabotage or monitor its buildings are told the dangers are under control. But then the worst happens--a thunderous explosion in the dead of night.

Kieran Mullaney survived the blast, but when threats and silence meet his attempts to discover what really happened, he reconnects with an old friend--inexperienced lawyer Emily Hart. Convinced Hanford is hiding something, they also realize their case is sunk without more help. 

Emily's estranged father, Ryan, has the courtroom experience they need, but he's grown jaded and weary of the profession. Still, it's a chance to rebuild ties to Emily, and the deeper he digs, the stranger--and more dangerous--the case gets.

Critical Reaction by Todd M. Johnson was a very interesting book. I have never been a very big fan of these types of Political/Legal Thriller books .  But I have been known to pick up a book by Joel C. Rosenburg or Randy Singer and enjoy it a lot. And today I have now added Todd M. Johnson to my 'like' list next to them. I quickly got caught up in the story and felt like it was all really going on. Definitely had me living in the book.
So if someone like me, who isn't big on this genre enjoyed reading this book, I'm positive those who do will love it. I for one plan on leading my copy to my friends who enjoy reading John Grisham books.

4 out of 5. This Afternoon Snack was full of flavor.

I got a free review copy of Critical Reaction from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.