Esther: Royal Beauty Review

When an ambitious tyrant threatens genocide against the Jews, an inexperienced young queen must take a stand for her people. 

When Xerxes, king of Persia, issues a call for beautiful young women, Hadassah, a Jewish orphan living in Susa, is forcibly taken to the palace of the pagan ruler. After months of preparation, the girl known to the Persians as Esther wins the king's heart and a queen's crown. But because her situation is uncertain, she keeps her ethnic identity a secret until she learns that an evil and ambitious man has won the king's permission to exterminate all Jews--young and old, powerful and helpless. Purposely violating an ancient Persian law, she risks her life in order to save her people...and bind her husband's heart.

Esther: Royal Beauty by  Angela Hunt was a really enjoyable retelling of the story of Esther. I should tell you right now that I have always loved a good Esther story. She is one of my favorite biblical characters. That being said I wasn't disappointed by this retelling at all. Hunt brought me back to the time of Esther, so many realistic details. Esther: Royal Beauty is a definite read for those who are fans of Biblical Fiction. 

5 out of 5. An Beautiful Afternoon Snack!

 

I got a free review copy of Esther: Royal Beauty from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.

Hidden Agenda Review

His cover is blown. Now his enemies are on his heels and closing in.

Michael Hunt is alive--and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he's been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is the daughter of the man who wants him dead.

Hidden Agenda is the third book in the Southern Crime series by Lisa Harris. I really enjoyed reading Hidden Agenda, the suspense of the plot kept me enthralled the whole time. There was action around every corner and I loved every bit of it! I thought the romance was well built throughout the whole book and the pairing was pretty perfect. All in all I think that Hidden Agenda is the perfect book for any Suspense/Romance lovers out there. 

5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack that has you on the edge of you seat!

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Emissary Review

Hyam is a likeable lad who will make a fine farmer someday. But he carries a burden few can fathom. As his mother slips toward death, she implores him to return to Long Hall, where he spent five years as an apprentice. It was there that Hyam's extraordinary capacity for mastering languages came to light--and soon cast him into the shadows of suspicion. How could any human learn the forbidden tongues with such ease? When Hyam dares to seek out the Mistress of the Sorceries, her revelation tears his world asunder.

He has no choice but to set out on the foreboding path--which beckons him to either his destiny or his doom. An encounter with an enchanting stranger reminds him that he is part hero and part captive. As Hyam struggles to interpret the omens and symbols, he is swept up by a great current of possibilities--and dangers. 

Emissary by Thomas Locke was a wonderful new fantasy novel that did not disappoint in the slightest. While it starts off a little abruptly, I found myself quickly dragged into the story of Hyam's quest. Unlike with some fantasy series, where the first book leaves me not quite following whats going on in the fantasy world, I found myself pretty easily understanding the fantasy world that was introduced in Emissary. I really enjoyed the main character, Hyam, as well as the many other characters throughout the book.  I thought that the characters were all very realistic and the story itself was amazing with some great twists and turns. I can't wait for book two in the Legends of the Realm series to arrive! 

5 out of 5. A fantastic Afternoon Snack!

I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Both of Me Review

It was supposed to be just another flight, another escape into a foreign place where she could forget her past, forget her attachments. Until Clara found herself seated next to an alluring boy named Elias Phinn—a boy who seems to know secrets she has barely been able to admit to herself for years.

When her carry-on bag is accidentally switched with Elias’s identical pack, Clara uses the luggage tag to track down her things. At that address she discovers there is not one Elias Phinn, but two: the odd, paranoid, artistic, and often angry Elias she met on the plane, who lives in an imaginary world of his own making called Salem; and the kind, sweet, and soon irresistible Elias who greets her at the door, and who has no recollection of ever meeting Clara at all. As she learns of Elias’s dissociative identity disorder, and finds herself quickly entangled in both of Elias’s lives, Clara makes a decision that could change all of them forever. She is going to find out what the Salem Elias knows about her past, and how, even if it means playing along with his otherworldly quest. And she is going to find a way to keep the gentle Elias she’s beginning to love from ever disappearing again.

Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen I am sad to say was not my favorite. I really wanted to love this book, like really really bad, believe me. I try to never choose to review a book that I don't think I would enjoy, as I hate to give low reviews and its not fair to the author. But Both of Me just wasn't for me. I was so confused the whole time about what was going on and why the characters were the way they were. I felt like I missed part of the story or something. The writing itself was good and I have loved books by Jonathan Friesen in the past, but Both of Me just left me really confused as to what was going on. So, while this book wasn't for me, I can't say that you won't enjoy because, like I said before the writing is really good. 

2.5 out of 5. An Afternoon Snack  that just didn't work for me.

I received a copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review.