Book Review and Giveaway: New Wings by Donna Stanley

This is a wonderful fictional portrayal of guardian angels!

New Wings 

by Donna Stanley

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Creation House (May 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621363368
• ISBN-13: 978-1621363361

Genre: Inspirational Fiction, Angels
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Why is it that when we pray for the supernatural, we are surprised when it shows up?

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Stanton knows the Bible says guardian angels exist, but assumes they only show up when people are dying or need to be saved from some kind of sudden disaster…until her own guardian angel appears to her in the form of a handsome blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy her own age. As Olivia gets to know Mike, she begins to see angels—both good and evil—on a regular basis, and quickly learns how many misconceptions she had about the spiritual realm.
Will Mike be able to prepare Olivia for the daunting spiritual battle about to overtake her small town before it destroys her and everyone she cares about?

Review:
Olivia is a high school senior struggling with all the usual challenges of her age: self confidence, boys, college plans, etc.  Olivia has always been curious about angels.  But when she begins to see creepy things in the shadows she is thrilled to learn that not only does she have a guardian angel but she can see and talk to him!

Mike first appears to Olivia as a young man at school. She is interested but cautious and concerned if he is stalking her. When she learns who he is she is pleased to be able to have such a friend and protector. Olivia can see more than her own guardian angel. She sees demons, warrior angels and the angels protecting her friends too. She learns that she has certain spiritual gifts if she is willing to accept them and allow God to use them as He directs. She learns that there is power, and protection, through prayer and apparently she has a special role to play in helping her friends and community.

Olivia soon is gathering her best friends, Erin and Christina, around her as support. Meanwhile her mother thinks she is having mental difficulties like her Aunt. But Olivia knows it is real and isn’t sure how to show her mother. Mike assures Olivia that something will bring her mother around as Olivia is too important to the spiritual battle in the community to have doubts obstruct her.

I was very delighted with this book. I love reading about angelic warfare as it boosts my prayer efforts. The author weaves wonderful Biblical lessons into an interesting story with engaging and likeable characters. It really warmed my heart and excited me to watch the teens begin to see God and angels as real forces in their lives.This is an easy read and I recommend it for Christians especially to share with teens they know!

I received this book through Glass Road PR Tour for an honest review.

[PLEASE NOTE:  I give my apologies to the author and Glass Road for my original posting being incomplete. My internet went out Tuesday night and I had work and travel that took my time until Thursday evening.]

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Book Review: The Return of Cassandra Tod by Darrel Nelson

This is an easy read with good suspense and drama.

The Return of Cassandra Todd
Darrel Nelson

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms (February 5, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621360210
• ISBN-13: 978-1621360216

Genre: Christian Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
When the popular girl whose friends bullied him in high school suddenly reenters his life, little son in tow, Turner Caldwell must put the past behind him if they are to survive.

Turner Caldwell works at a local motel as a handyman while attending college full-time. On his way to class one day, he is shocked to see Cassandra Todd and her young son in town. The sight of her brings back powerful memories of being bullied in high school—she was the popular head cheerleader and he the target of her friends’ mean-spirited pranks.

When Cassandra and her son check into the motel where he works and she asks for his help in eluding her abusive husband, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous drama that will require him to forgive and draw on every skill he has if they are to survive.

Review:
Turner was pretty much a loner in high school. He was a skinny kid who got bullied by the handsome, popular, football quarter back, Brad Duncan. Brad and his buddies nick-named Turner “Pancake” after Brad tripped him to fall face first into his plate of pancakes. Turner began to grow into his own after high school when he served successfully as a Christian Camp Counselor. He was angry when the position was discontinued and became bitter with God when his mother died from cancer.  Now Turner works as a handyman for a motel and attends college in the evenings.

Turner is surprised when he goes to fix a door chain on one of the rooms and discovers the occupant is Cassandra Todd with a young son, Justin. Cassandra was one the head high school cheerleader and although Turner recognizes her she does not recognize him. She has returned to town  to take care of finances as she is running away from her abusive husband.

Two thugs, with an angry husband close behind, show up looking for Cassandra and Justin.  Turner and the motel owner end up hiding Cassandra and Justin and they manage to sneak them away.  They are provided a cabin in the woods where they have a short time of refuge. But somehow the bad men manage to follow and soon Turner is struggling in the woods, using all the survival skills he can think of to protect Cassandra and Justin. Cassandra shares her strong faith in God slowly convincing Turner that God brought them together for such a time to help each other.

I liked that Turner is a character with flaws and vulnerabilities. He is not the usual big, strong hero but he is smart, kind and wonderful with Cassandra and Justin. Cassandra is steadfast in her faith and strong in her determination to protect her son. Justin is a sweet boy and the author is able to use a part of the story to show the effects of trauma against the child as well as the mother. I understand Cassandra’s fear of going to the police but even though restraining orders are not always sufficient protection, it is important to have abuse documented or the true facts will likely be twisted by the abuser. Some of the events are a bit of a stretch but, then again, I am one who believes that God can and does perform miracles.

Although I am not a huge fan of drama stories, this story has plenty of suspense which is very well done. I loved the clever ‘tools’ of nature that were used as defensive and offensive weapons. The writing is smooth and very easy to read. I enjoyed this and recommend it to those who like suspense and drama mixed with a little bit of romance and a good dose of faith.

I received this book for an honest review as part of Glass Road PR tour.

This story is set in Colorado for my 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge. The author is new to me.

Check Out this Fantasy Novels Prize Pack Giveaway!

I'm sharing this fabulous giveaway contest sent in from

Glass Road Public Relations

Fantasy Novels Giveaway Contest D. Barkley Briggs (Dean Briggs) loves fantasy novels. He is, after all, a fantasy novelist himself. He is about to make one fan's fantasy come true. Dean is giving away, not just one of his books, but a complete young adult fantasy library from 15 top authors. "The Christmas 2011 Fantasy Prize Pack Giveaway" contains forty-eight (48) of the best YA Christian fantasy novels on the planet, plus a brand new Kindle Fire™...FREE! But that's not all. Second Place gets a FREE iPod™ Shuffle. Dean has also collected several mini-prizes, including dragon jewelry and children's books. To enter, you must upload at least one photo of yourself reading a book from Dean's Legends of Karac Tor series (The Book of Names, Corus the Champion, or The Song of Unmaking) to Dean's Facebook page. The contest launches Nov. 1 and concludes Nov. 30. For official rules, visit to deanbriggs.com. Upload a photo and you're entered to win. It's that easy! Be creative with the photo and caption. Have your dog read the book if you want, or read standing in a public water fountain. Strike a pose and have fun, then describe what you love about the book! Photo can be taken in any setting except a retail bookstore or library.    The Fantasy Prize Pack 48 Books, 15 Authors D. Barkley Briggs The Book of Names Corus the Champion The Song of Unmaking Ted Dekker Elyon Infidel Chosen Chaos Lunatic Lisa Bergren Waterfall Cascade Torrent Donita K. Paul Dragons of the Valley Dragons of Chiril Dragons of the Watch Jeffrey Overstreet Auralia's Colors Cyndere's Midnight Raven's Ladder The Ale Boy's Feast Wayne Thomas Batson Sword in the Stars The Errant King W.T. Batson &  Christopher Hopper Curse of the Spider King Venom and Song Bryan Davis Eye of the Oracle Enoch's Ghost The Last of the Nephilim Dennis Jernigan Captured C.S. Lakin The Wolf of Tebron The Map Across Time Scott Appleton Swords of Six Offspring Jonathan Rogers The Secret of the Swamp King The Bark Of The Bog Owl The Way of the Wilderking BONUS BOOKS: DEAN'S PERSONAL FAVORITES Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle In Time Wind in the Door A Swiftly Tilting Planet Many Waters Lloyd Alexander The Black Cauldron Book of Three The Castle Llyr Taran Wanderer The High King Susan Cooper Over Sea, Under Stone The Dark is Rising Greenwich The Grey King Silver on the Tree

Book Review and Giveaway: The Constantine Codex by Paul L. Maier

What could happen if a 1st Century copy of the Bible were found?
The Constantine Codex (Skeleton Series) by Paul L. Maier

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (May 18, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414337736
• ISBN-13: 978-1414337739

   Genre: Christian Fiction
   My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Product Description
Harvard Professor Jonathan Weber is finally enjoying a season of peace when a shocking discovery thrusts him into the national spotlight once again. While touring monasteries in Greece, Jon and his wife Shannon—a seasoned archaeologist—uncover an ancient biblical manuscript containing the lost ending of Mark and an additional book of the Bible. If proven authentic, the codex could forever change the way the world views the holy Word of God. As Jon and Shannon work to validate their find, it soon becomes clear that there are powerful forces who don’t want the codex to go public. When it’s stolen en route to America, Jon and Shannon are swept into a deadly race to find the manuscript and confirm its authenticity before it’s lost forever.

Review: This is an interesting story with lots of Christian detail.

When I first started this book I was very excited as it reminded me of a Christian version of an Indiana Jones adventure. Too bad that level of excitement did not remain although there is a remarkable archealogical find, a theft and a recovery.

Jon, a Harvard Professor and known Biblical scholar, and his wife, Shannon, an experienced archaeologist, are part of a group called Institute of Christian Origins or ICO. The institute’s purpose is to search church libraries world wide for manuscripts of historic importance, to catalog them, photograph and protect them.

Shannon finds some leaves in a church library in Pella which indicate that Luke may have written a Second book of Acts. They set out on a trip to Greece to have a foremost expert authenticate the leaves. Next Shannon discovers an ancient manuscript in the ‘cemetery’ or repair and storage room of a Greek Orthodox Church. Jon and Shannon realize that this codex appears to have been one of 50 copies commissioned by Constantine. They believe it was written in 335 and they are shocked to discover that it contains extra material not found in later Biblical translations. This is a phenomenal find but must remain secret and safe until it can be authenticated and announced to the world.

Jon has had a fatwa, an Islamic death order, placed on him due to an insult taken as the result of a typographical error in the Arabic translation of his latest work. This threat delays their trip to Greece and involves the FBI to secure their safety. The CIA is also brought in for security detail when Jon and Shannon go to Turkey where Jon has agreed to a debate with an Islamic leader challenging Christianity versus Islam as the more supportable faith.

The debate is an interesting and informative presentation of Christian arguments versus the Islamic views.  The different level of honest expression of dialogue is portrayed in Jon’s having to be particularly careful not to step on toes or cause offense in his debate responses.

The dialogue between Jon and Shannon is sweet and almost corny. There are some twists in the plot with the theft and subsequent recovery of the Codex and the discovery of the inside villain. The writing flow is easy although a little on the dry side as sometimes it seemed the author was presenting facts almost in lecture mode. Still, I did enjoy the wealth of details, statistics and faith arguments woven into the plot. I wouldn't call this gripping reading but it qualifies as interesting and informative.

xxx

Thank you to Glass Road PR for the book to read and review.
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Book Review: Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

This book is inspiring, in spite of sadness, with a beautiful harmonious message.
Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414319576
• ISBN-13: 978-1414319575

    Genre:  Inspirational
    My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Product Description 

Billy Allman is a hillbilly genius. People in Dogwood, West Virginia, say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin but was cut short on social skills. Though he’d gladly give you the shirt off his back, they were right. Billy longs to use his life as an ode to God, a lyrical, beautiful bluegrass song played with a finely tuned heart. So with spare parts from a lifetime of collecting, he builds a radio station in his own home. People in town laugh. But Billy carries a brutal secret that keeps him from significance and purpose. Things always seem to go wrong for him. However small his life seems, from a different perspective Billy’s song reaches far beyond the hills and hollers he calls home. Malachi is an angel sent to observe Billy. Though it is not his dream assignment, Malachi follows the man and begins to see the bigger picture of how each painful step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful symphony that will forever change the lives of those who hear it.

Review:  This is an inspirational story and a bit different for me as it is more drama than I usually read.  The writing style is smooth and flows nicely.  Initially the spiritual aspects of the story reminded me of some of C.S. Lewis’ works like The Screwtape Letters.  Then, when a chapter was presented by Billy’s guardian angel, I was reminded of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness.

The story is told primarily from the view point of the protagonist, Billy Allman.  However there are some chapters from the view of his guardian angel, Malachai, and I really like this as I love to think that angels are watching over us and fighting demons for us even when we may be unaware of the heavenly battle.

Billy is a simple boy born in the hills of West Virginia to well-grounded Christian parents.  His father worked as a coal miner and played the mandolin as a hobby.  As a young boy Billy sat at his knee and learned to feel and love the country bluegrass music. Billy was a child whiz at taking apart electronics and putting them back together. He had a collection of old radios that he had built.  This was the beginning of Billy’s love for radios and his dream to have his own radio station playing blue grass gospel music and sharing Christian sermons and messages of encouragement.

Billy does not have an easy life and struggles alone for most of his childhood to mid-life.  He survives a flood as a child, and he knows it was by a miracle hand. Unfortunately he sees another neighbor family die and his father is severely injured.  Billy remains rather simple and alone as he grows older. He doesn’t accept help well so he misses some opportunities for help as he slowly puts together his small radio station.   It seems that Billy suffers one heartache after another but the wonderful thing is that he never questions God’s salvation and forgiving love.

It takes another tragedy and near death of a close friend to make Billy start to accept more interaction with others. This results in revealing long held secrets of pain from his past and he is finally able to release some of that pain. Billy relates life to music that swells from our soul and is rich from our experiences, both sorrows and joys.

Here is just one of the many phrases that I think are quite insightful and simply awesome:

Billy’s guardian angel was talking about seeing a bigger picture of life as an angel than humans can see. He observed:  “Humans struggle with the underside of the tapestry, unable to see the beauty in their situation, as they cannot know how the trouble of life fits with The Plan.” This book portrays Billy as a beautiful life committed to God even with the troubles he copes with.

Throughout the book there are simple Biblical statements expressed as well as complex spiritual wisdom. I encourage you to get this book to read for yourself or with a book group. I will be recommending it to my church ladies' book club.
Caution:  The book does address some abuse and rape issues but not with any explicit details.

xxx

I received this book for my honest review from Glass Road Public Relations.

As I was posting this review I pulled the information from Amazon and this book is currently a free Kindle read!!