Dancing Up A Storm - A Review

Published - February 2016, Hope Springs Books
Author - various authors
Title - Dancing Up a Storm
Format - ebook, paper
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A collection of nine Christian short stories that are built around the theme of dancing. These are the winners from a contest that the publisher held.

My thoughts:
For the most part, I enjoyed these stories. I loved how each author chose to use the theme of dancing in a different way. Some used it in a literal sense as in the characters were dancing while others used it in a more metaphorical sense as in the characters had to decide whether or not to do the right thing. There is something for everyone here - historical romance, contemporary romance, general historical/contemporary fiction, fantasy, and futuristic. Some of the stories I really wished were longer. Others, I didn't really care for. My favorites were probably "When I'm Gone," "Dancing Hands," and "Night Dance." It was a quick read.

I received the Kindle version for free from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of all genres, short stories, Christian Fiction

Overall Rating - 4 stars

Friends and Enemies: A WWII Romance - A Review

Published - January 2016, HopeSprings Books
Series: Promise for Tomorrow Book 1
Author - Terri Wangard
Title - Friends and Enemies
Format - ebook, paper
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Heidi Wetzel's life changes forever when she receives word that her husband's submarine was sunk and that he was killed. Already wary of the Nazi Party, Heidi has to be careful. Her parents send her to the farm of a family friend to help care for the evacuated children in rural war-torn West Germany. There she finds new life in caring for the children, but still must be careful as neighbors delight in reporting activities to the Gestapo. Paul Braedal's wife dies suddenly while he is training for the US Army's Air Corps. When he returns to duty, he begins training as a navigator having lost his zest for life. Other than causing his parents grief should he be killed, he really doesn't care whether he lives or dies. When he and his crew are shot down over Germany, Paul evades capture and for the first time since his wife's death, clearly hears God's voice telling him to find Heidi. Setting out to find the woman who was the best friend of his late wife, Paul manages to find Heidi. She agrees to help him, and together they come up with a plan to get him to France and then back to England. Yet when they are betrayed, Heidi realizes she must go with him or risk the lives of all she has come to love.

This book was good. It was very easy to read. I thought that it was probably written at a lower level than most WWII books I've read. I honestly wasn't too invested into the characters until about a fourth of the way through. Then I wanted to know more.

It's not the typical WWII book I've come to expect. But that is probably because the author is one who is new to me. She does lace her writing with humor. And her research was well done. I'll probably read the next one in the series.

I received the Kindle version of this book for free from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of WWII fiction

Rating - 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. It got better as it went along.

The Visitor - A Review

Published - April 2015, HopeSprings Books
Author - W.G. Reese
Title - The Visitor
Format - ebook, paper
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Summary from Goodreads:
The divine blessings of Sior transformed the world of Ariel Leun into a paradise where people enjoy long lives in the company of mystical creatures. Winn, a transplant from the dark world of Draugh, reigns as a beloved King with his trusted advisor Caelan at his side, until the death of his Queen sends him spiraling into despair. Banishing Caelan and neglectful of his duties, King Winn is unaware that an old enemy, Garthpha, plots to take the throne.

Rebelling against their father's retreat into seclusion, the heirs of Ariel Leun travel the passages of the Red Stone to Draugh where four warring Kings scheme to capture them, exploit their inner light, and deliver them to Garthpha as tribute. Can the children be rescued before their light is extinguished and evil takes the throne of Ariel Leun, plunging it into darkness?

My thoughts:
I like science fiction. I like fantasy. I have a hard time reading allegorical novels though. And that's really what this one is. 

From the beginning of the book, I was lost. I had no idea what was going on through it, but I hung on and managed to muddle through it. Even at the end of the book, I still was lost. Maybe that was because I wasn't really in a mood to read science fiction/fantasy. I recognize the fact that when I'm not in a mood to read something, I typically will struggle with it.  And that was probably the case with this book. 

I will say that the book was well written. The characters are well developed and deep. I was just lost. So while this book probably wasn't one for me, others may still enjoy it. The books I've read from this publisher, I HAVE enjoyed.

I received the Kindle copy of this book for free from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Recommended to fans of allegory, Anne Elisabeth Stengel

Rating - 3 stars - Just because I wasn't in a mood to read this book and it didn't appeal to me, isn't enough of a reason for me to rate it 2 stars.

Worth the Wait - A Review

About the book
Published - February 4, 2014 Hope Springs Books
Series - Waltham Academy Book 1
Author - Laura Jackson
Format - paper, 220 pages
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Ellie Lansing is excited to start her senior year. She's a cheerleader, dating a wonderful guy, looking forward to the mission trip, and has a supportive family. Yes everything in life is going perfect. Perfect that is until she discovers her long-time boyfriend has cheated on her. Perfect that is until her mother's diagnosed with breast cancer. All of a sudden her perfect life has crumbled around her. Ellie struggles to pick up the pieces while trying to figure out exactly who she is in the midst of it all. Will she find herself or will she be lost adrift of all that is happening in her life?

This is Laura Jackson's debut novel. I was thrilled when the publisher contacted me to review this book. Like any other debut, I try to read it without overly high expectations because I never really know what I will get. Will I get a story that grabs me and causes me to react to the characters? Or will I get a story that feels like I'm be tortured to read? It does seem to me, lately, that the last several debuts I've read have fallen into the second category. I'm very pleased to say that Worth the Wait fell into the first category.

While I was reading it, I did find that Ellie was too perfect. Even when her life was completely turned upside down, she still seemed too perfect. That said, I loved watching Ellie grow and realize just exactly who she was and who God wanted her to be. I thought that Dylan was a first class jerk and that Ellie deserved better than him. I kept rooting for Ellie's best friend's twin brother, Josh, to be the guy that Ellie would finally notice.

I found that the author perfectly described life in a private Christian high school. I could "hear" in my mind as I read the cattiness of several of the characters, the gossip that ran rampant, and the wanting to fit in and be popular. Truly it wasn't much different than a public school. But where the biggest difference was, was in the way the characters reacted to situations. There was one party where one of the girls starts to feel really guilty about how she had been treating the main character and sends a rescue text or phone call to Josh. And while I can see several people being disappointed in how this book ends, I was really fine with it. Mainly because I felt that Ellie needed to figure out who she is.

Overall, I really loved this book. It's been a while since I've read  a truly young adult book, and I found this one to be delightful.  I will definitely keep an eye out for others by this author.

I received a pdf copy of the book from the publisher to review as well as to help promote the author's book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, and Katie Weldon series, Meg Cabot's books, young adults, Jenny B Jones, Krista McGee

Rating - 5 stars - I loved it!

Note - Stop back by beginning on Wednesday February 5 for an interview with Laura Jackson and a chance to win her book.