Book Review and Giveaway: Jesus Daily: 365 Interactive Devotions by Aaron Tabor #JesusDailyBook

This is a wonderful devotional that includes the opportunity to connect and share with others. 
Jesus Daily: 365 Interactive Devotions
by Aaron Tabor

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: FaithWords (October 7, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1455577231

Genre: Christian, Spiritual
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Based on the major themes found on the most active Facebook page in history,
JESUS DAILY is a 365-day interactive devotional that goes beyond even the fan page to create a deeper experience and cultural movement that celebrates your redemption in Christ. JESUS DAILY presents a devotional thought but also challenges you to respond to each daily reflection using a variety of social media tools.

Review/Highlight:

I have not read the entire book yet so this review is my observations thus far. This beautiful devotional is set out so that each month has a distinct high-quality picture and scripture to focus each month. December features a nativity silhouette and the scripture: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests. Luke 2:14.” (See the image to the right.)

Each day has three sections: a scripture; a few short paragraphs of clear devotional thought; and a “Connect” activity. The “connect” feature is a unique element of the Devotional. Readers are encouraged (and sometimes challenged) to take action that applies to daily living and to share with other Christians at the Facebook page.

The book is palm-sized so could be carried easily or kept in a small space beside your favorite reading spot. The book pages are glossy and provide a feel-good texture to touch along with the feel good text to our hearts. The scripture for December 12 happens to be the one in the image I posted in the upper left of my blog this past week: Isaiah 9:6. The devotional discusses the names for God as well as his triune nature. The title and focus summary is: “God Is Mighty.”

This devotional book would make a wonderful gift to help oneself or loved ones to start their day with a focus on truths from God’s word. Then it goes a step further with the connection to like-minded Christians. I look forward to savoring for the next year.

I received this from FaithWords (Hachette) for an honest review as part of tour highlighting.

Retailers include Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com, and Walmart.

GIVEAWAY

Faith Words is sponsoring a giveaway of the JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL plus a T-Shirt!

One Winner, US Only.

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR

visit THE FACEBOOK page and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open US Only for Print Book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) December 20, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 20, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 12, 2014

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

I had a fairly quiet week. Several appointments with time in between to work on files. I have been steady with reviews all week. Our weather is cold again.  I am not ready for Christmas but I am not stressing either.

For the next four weeks I will be giving at least 4 wins each Friday - whether auto or random.
(New List is now up but still needs picture - opps the picture is on my other computer so I will add it later.)

[UPDATED NOTE - US entrants I prefer, please, that you pick a book as that is the first purpose of this giveaway - to find new homes for books. The GCs are for the international entrants because postage has jumped up.]

Thank you to all who entered the December 5 Pick. There was one automatic win this week.  (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.) There was one title blocked but it was won. 
Rubynreba gets The Reckoning

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from December 5 Pick:
Becky gets the Elizabeth Lowell pair

Di gets Scandalous Virtue
Faith Hope CherryTea gets a GC 

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Books make me Merry!

Image found at Wicked Writing Skills.

New Book Group #53 November 28, 2014
(Picture to be posted soon)
PAIRS - five sets!
Catherine Anderson: Seventh Heaven and Always in My Heart
Sandra Brown: A Whole New Light and Fanta C
Elizabeth Lowell: Autumn Lover (only Book 5) and Winter Fire (Only Book 6)
Joan Johnston: I Promise and Sisters Found
Katherine Stone: Rainbows and Pearl Moon
SINGLES:
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
To Catch a Flame by Kimberly Cates
Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner
Never Say Never by Joan Hohl
Poe's Tales of Mystery and Terror (1967 Collection) by Edgar Allan Poe (Magnum Easy Eye Edition)


New Book Group #52 October 10, 2014
(Links to be added if and when time permits.)

PAIRS:
Richard Paul Evans, The Looking Glass and The Carousel
SINGLES
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
At The Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Behind a Mask by May Alcott
Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman

New Book Group #51 September 12, 2014
10/10 - I just realized I never posted the image for this group.

PAIRS:
Elysa Hendricks, Star Crash (personally autographed copy) and The Sword and the Pen
SINGLES:
Intrepid Encounter by Rebecca Ashley
The Reckoning by Jeanette Baker
Out of This Furnace: A Novel of Immigrant Labor in America by Thomas Bell Reprint Edition
Scandalous Virtue Mass by Brenda Hiatt 
A Stranger's Wife by Maggie Osborne

New Book Group #50! August 8, 2014

SINGLES:
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose

New Book Group #49 June 27, 2014

SINGLES:
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
Down by the Water by Caroline Upcher
Miracle by Deborah Smith
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin


New Book Group #48 May 30, 2014---(All gone)
SINGLES:
Dangerous by Debra Dier
First to Fight Anthology

New Book Group #47 April 25, 2014

SINGLES:
Once Upon a Honeymoon by Julie Kistler
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy

New Book Group #46 March 15, 2014
SINGLES:
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small (spine creases)

New Book Group #45 January 31, 2014---(All gone)

New Book Group #44 December 14, 2013---(All gone)

New Book Group #43 November 1, 2013 ---(All gone)

New Book Group #42 September 27, 2013 ---(All gone)

New Book Group #41 August 2, 2013

Singles:
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Singles:
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)

New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Singles:
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford

New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh

New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013
Singles:
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.

New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe

New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013 (All gone)
New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)
New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012---(All gone)

New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012
NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one - A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley

New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)

New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology

New Book Group #28 May 18, 2012--- (All gone)
New book Group #27 April 13, 2012--- (All gone)
New book Group #26 March 2, 2012--- (All gone)
New Group #25 January 12, 2012---(All gone)
New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011---(All gone)
New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011---(All gone)
May, 2011 New Group of Pick books Group #20---(All gone)
3/25/11 Group #19---(All gone)
2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!---(All gone).

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in five years I have posted 42 groups of 16 (832) books to find new homes! (as of November 2014).

I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want! I am happy to say that so far about 741+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 $7.00 and $6.00 $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

1/14/11 New List #17--- (All gone)

12/3/10 Book Set: #16
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

List #15---(All gone)
List #14---(All gone)
List #13 ---(All gone)
Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)
Pick #3---(All gone)
Pick #4---(All gone)
Pick #5---(All gone)
Pick #6---(All gone)

Pick #7
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape

Pick #8
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray

Pick #10---(All Gone)

Audio Book Review: Snowbeard the Pirate and the Naughty List by Chip Huddleston

This is a delightfully fun listen with a bit of hope for naughty 'children' at Christmas time.

Snowbeard the Pirate and the Naughty List
by Chip Huddleston

From the Album Snowbeard the Pirate and the Naughty List

August 1, 2014 | Format: MP3

Genre: Humor
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

A funny, whimsical story for older children and adults, it is about Santa's younger brother who runs away to Florida and becomes a pirate.

Review:
This is just a light delight! As soon as it started I was reminded of The Night Before Christmas.  Of course Snowbeard the Pirate isn’t quite a nice as Santa and in fact he has been on the bottom of the naughty list. He has banned the most polite words - what I taught my children as the “magic words” - from his ship’s crew.

Then, one ‘eve of THE eve’ Santa arrives to embrace his brother, Kasper Kringle. Santa enlists his brother’s help to deliver stale fruitcake and a token gift to the all the ‘naughties’ on Santa’s list.

Snowbeard’s sleigh is Dreadnaught’s jolly boat pulled by eight sharks and “at the head for their beacon, they placed with great care, an angel fish nicked named “the Dentist’s nightmare”. And as he delivers the gifts he raids the icebox with a shout, not a “Ho, Ho’Ho” but “Yo, Ho, Ho...and a bottle of Yum”.

The story gives hope to even naughty children and acknowledges that sometimes we need to look at the circumstances and make an effort to help the "naughties" find where they can "fit in" and maybe stop their rebellious, naughty behavior. Along with the total humor, there is a little bit of scatological humor that is likely to get a few giggles from kids (and guys). I look forward to sharing this with my grandchildren, but as noted on the cover, it is a tale for "Pirates Ages 1-92".

Audio Notes: The author narrates this short work with a wonderful deep voice that fits the tale with swashbuckling glee. The only difficulty was that I had to turn the sound volume on full to hear properly (instead of my usual setting of 25). It is a wonderful listen though.

This audiobook was provided by the author for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Seducing the Ruthless Rogue (The Rogue Agents Trilogy Book 2) by Tammy Jo Burns

I enjoyed the strong characters and action in this warm historical romance.
Seducing the Ruthless Rogue
(The Rogue Agents Trilogy Book 2)
by Tammy Jo Burns

• File Size: 4564 KB
• Print Length: 370 pages
• Publisher: Tammy Jo Burns (October 19, 2014)
• Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1tDErpv
• ASIN: B00OOIRSI6

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
As Director of The War Office, Stuart McKenzie, has proven himself capable of making difficult decisions in times of crisis and keeping government secrets safe. When he walks in on someone ransacking his study he quickly moves to apprehend them, only to be tossed on his back as the burglar escapes into the night.
Cassie’s father has become a pawn in the fight against Napoleon. When the enemy kidnaps him, she will do anything it takes to get him back – including stealing government secrets from Stuart McKenzie, the Director of the War Office.
When Cassie is caught, she reluctantly agrees to Mack’s assistance as there is something far more sinister going on. As Mack embarks on his mission, he will find that enemies are often closer than one would think and that sometimes your ally will come in the least likely form. When passion erupts between Mack and Cassie, they find their lives forever altered. But just as they believe their lives to be free of danger, a new threat is lurking about, promising to rip their happiness away from them. Will they be able to trust each other enough to defeat this new threat, or will they be torn apart for all eternity?

Review:
Cassie is the daughter of two scientifc parents. Her mother died when Cassie was young leaving her in the care of her inventor father and their Chinese houseman, Chang. Cassie has grown up prepared to speak her mind and defend herself with Chinese fighting skills. She has been supporting the household for the past year or more by selling articles and editorials to the local paper under an assumed name.

Cassie visits the Director of The War Office every Monday with the pretext to speak with Director Stuart McKenzie. It is a dance they play because as long as he refuses to speak with her she knows that he still has her father in protective custody where he designs gadgets for the war efforts.

One afternoon Cassie is assulted on the streets and told that her father has been kidnapped and if she wants to see him safely returned she must obtain current war maps to trade for her father. She sneaks into the Director’s office and then into his home to try to locate the maps.

Director Stuart McKenzie, Mack, is accustomed to assassination attempts but when he tackles a thief in his study, he is surprised to find it is Ms. Graham - Cassie. She explains that she has been told that her father has been threatened. The next morning Mack takes her to the safe house only to discover that her father is missing and the government agent has been killed. Mack is able to unconver the identity of the traitor by following notes and clues that are left with Cassie.

Cassie and Mack rub each other the wrong way. She is stubbornly independent and he demands control, trying to dictate to Cassie. But beyond that power struggle, there is a distinct attraction that they both try to ignore until they are caught in a compromising situation. Cassie would refuse to marry but her father insists and her new friend (Mack’s sister-in-law) guilts her into going through with it. There is tension in their new relationship but they find they are compatible in bed.

Mack tries to insist that Cassie stop writing but she refuses to obey. Meanwhile they are both concerned when Cassie is shot and she is getting letters threatening to rip apart everything she loves. Mack and Cassie begin to trust each other but they are both reluctant to admit that they might fall in love.

I enjoyed the characters, the danger and the suspense in the story. The conflicted romance is supported nicely by a good action plot. For the most part the writing flowed well but there were several areas of repetition that could have been edited better. I have to be honest to say that my rating was down a little bit due to the editing issues. Still, I enjoyed this and recommend it to those who enjoy suspense with their historical romance. This is the first book I have read by this author and I would be interested in trying another title from Ms. Burns.

I received this ebook for tour review from IndieSage PR.

Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tqUSkJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/1CtHkOT

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1FHd6pV

iBooks:  http://bit.ly/1y9g99f

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1zG6hR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From a young age I could always be found carrying around books to read while watching my grandmother's soap operas with her. I read anything and everything I could get my hands on and even made up skits and stories for my friends and me to act out. Once I outgrew the children's and YA books, my mom introduced me to an entirely new world - contemporary romance. Upon discovering I had a love for history I began devouring historical romances. One day, sitting in a college British History class, something the professor said made me think, I wonder. I quickly called mom (also a writer) and ran the idea by her. After being told, "Of course you can do it, you're my daughter," the rest, as they say, is history. I currently share my love of reading with the next generation as a high school librarian, and share my personal life with my demanding dog trapped in a cat's body, Ajax.

Follow Tammy Jo Burns.

Website: http://www.tammyjoburns.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammyjoburnsfanpage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tammyjoburns

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7304813.Tammy_Jo_Burns

EXCERPT:
     “Do you feel what you do to me?” he whispered. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Mack pulled back and saw that her eyes were tightly closed, and her lips were pursed shut. He dropped gentle kisses over each of her eyes, then her cheeks, and finally the upturned tip of her nose. His lips caressed hers, lightly, teasingly, but she remained the same, trying to block out what he did to her. Mack let the tip of his tongue glide against the seam of her lips and though her eyes flew open, her delectable mouth remained tightly shut against his invasion. She left him no choice. “Forgive me, darlin’,” he said before crushing his lips roughly against hers.

***

     “Ow!” Cassie managed to get out before she found Mack exploring the recesses of her mouth. Her lips throbbed where he had ground them against her teeth, but somehow he seemed to soothe even that small injury. She felt her heart beating heavily in her chest. Cassie would be lying if she said she was not the least excited about what her husband was doing to her. Husband, she thought. She had never thought she would find herself married. The boys in the village had always thought her much too strange and learned for them. Then when their little family had moved to London after her mother’s death, she had not gone about looking for a husband or friends.
     “Where are you?” he asked, resting his forehead against hers.
     Cassie found herself staring into a pair of smokey silver eyes, rimmed with dark lashes. Dark brows formed a ‘V’ from the way he scrutinized her. Cassie flexed her hands that were still pinned above her head because her fingers ached to rake through his short, dark hair. She wanted to test the texture. Was it silky or coarse? “Do you know you have flecks of silver in your hair?” she asked curiously.
     “I would say half of them have been caused by you.”
     “Me? We haven’t even known each other that long. How dare you accuse me…”
     “Did you know your eyes flash when you’re angry? They look like they are lit from within.”
     “Let go of me.”
     “Not on your life,” he said.
     Cassie didn’t fight him as he plundered her mouth like a marauding pirate. This time there was no way her mind drifted. The things he was doing to her were making her insides melt. She began to respond, and she heard a deep groan.
     “That’s it,” he said before returning to her mouth once more. This time he nibbled at her lips as if they were a fine delicacy. “You look so bloody beautiful,” he whispered as he moved to nibble on her right earlobe.
     “No, I don’t,” she replied breathily. “I’m just plain.”
     “Whoever told you that was a liar.” Mack bent down and lifted her up in his arms.
     “What are you doing?”
     “Taking you to bed.”

Giveaway:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a354280/
Giveaway Facebook Share Link: https://www.facebook.com/indiesagepr/photos/p.734728996616826/734728996616826/?type=1&theater

Book Review: We Are The Destroyers (We Are***Are We Book 1) by D. K. Lindler

This is a engaging book that provokes some thought of society behaviors.

We Are The Destroyers (We Are***Are We Book 1) 
by D. K. Lindler

• Series: We Are***Are We
• Paperback: 428 pages
• Publisher: First Life Publishing; 1 edition (August 22, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0991509027

Genre: Science Fiction
My rating: 3.75 of  5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 15, 2014
Captain Bel’lar can’t accept that he’s lived all this before.
Overconsumption is destroying his home planet, and synthetic foods are turning his people into degenerated mutants under the control of the Brotherhood of Syn. As one of the few remaining but persecuted Organs—those who still live the organic lifestyle—Bel’lar and his small crew must escape from their dying world to the semi-mythical blue-white planet. They are to discover if it is really what the prophecies say it is: a place for humanity to make a new beginning.
But the visions of his beautiful companion Ry Sing, a mystic and seer shake Bel’lar. She tells him that eons ago, Bel’lar was also faced with the burden of saving his people from their own greed. Only then he was the Great One, the sacred head of their religion. He had seen no other way to liberate them from their collision course with environmental destruction and spiritual degradation than to purify the planet in a great cataclysm… But could the horrible vision be true? Could he really have done such a thing? And what about the scriptures that predict that a man with a mark like his would be fated to purify a corrupted planet once again and free the souls?
As Bel’lar, Ry Sing and the rest of the elite team embark on their mission to save mankind, the truth of the vision begins to reveal itself, and Bel’lar’s destiny is set before him. But will he be able to avoid it this time? Or is he fated to live the vision once again?

Review:
A small crew narrowly escapes protestors on their home planet to head out to space in search of a mythical planet. Captain Bel’lar and his mixed crew are in danger because they are among the few Organs - those who live an organic lifestyle - left on their world. Most of the people have become bloated and bald beings know as Syn, short for Synthetics. They have lived on synthetic foods and drugs for so long that their bodies have mutated. The Syns are controlled by the leaders through a mixture of mind controlling drugs and a strange ‘religion’ that encourages overconsumption (food, drugs, pleasures) to the point of death.

Bel’lar considers himself a warrior with the mission of finding a new planet where some of his home people, those who can be saved, can re-colonize. The crew with Bel’lar includes unique and interesting characters, including the ship, Light Traveler (LT). Ry Sing is a free-spirited beautiful woman with mystic skills. She can see the past and a little of the future. As the trip continues her skills to move through time and objects increases bringing her delight but causing jealousy and consternation to Bel’lar.

The crew are seeking a Blue-White planet which they believe is similar to their home and capable of sustaining human life. They find the planet but proceed beyond it first to find the pyramid resting place of the Holy Men who are connected to the Blue-White planet. They finally land on the Blue-White planet where Ry Sing wanders off feeling she must seek her destiny. She encounters another group of space travelers who have hidden from Light Traveler to observe.

There is a substory of the interaction between the two crews that adds interest. Then LT and crew return to the home planet. They are not sure of their welcome especially when they realize that the time difference is 350 years! The travelers find their home people worse than when they left. The governing group is known as the Quasars who are really organs but they wear suits to make them appear to be Syns. The manipulation of the Syns is even more complete and Organs are rare and likely to be killed. 

There are action scenes and philosophical discussions that are interesting in this book. Clearly the author raises issues of ecological concerns where all of the resources are consumed and where synthetics are harmful but the people don’t object as they are led into slow destruction. I found the mystical and reincarnation themes a little more difficult to enjoy. Also I found Bel’Lar to be a difficult character as he is prone to be closed minded, controlling, jealous and violent. Not qualities of a good leader (nor holy man) in my opinion.

The book was entertaining although it wasn’t quite what I was expecting - or perhaps didn’t go where I thought it might. At times I had trouble deciding where the author was going or what point was being made. This may have been a result of the author including so many interrelationships as well as social statements in one book. I think readers who like to ponder ecological and philosophical questions of society would enjoy this and find it engaging.

I received this book from the Cadence Group for an honest review.