CSFF Blog Tour: The Shock of Night

This tour is featuring Patrick W. Carr's newest book, The Shock of Night. This is the first book of the Darkwater Sage, not including a prequel novella you an get for free on Amazon.

If his name is familiar, we have toured the last book in Carr's previous series, The Staff and the Sword. You can read my contribution to that tour.

I enjoyed The Staff and The Sword and looked forward to Carr's next project. So far he doesn't disappoint.

Being a fan of his previous work, it's hard not to compare the two series but Carr shows diversity and growth. I loved Errol, the protagonist in The Staff and The Sword, and I liked Willet Dura, the protagonist in The Shock of Night, as well but Carr handled them very different.

When we meet Willet, even in the novella, he's already been through a lot. He's been through war and some pretty horrific events that have shaped the man he has become. This plays into the story.

Willet Dura is the reeve of the king and newly made noble (I have never heard the term "reeve" before but I think it's something like a private investigator). He has many enemies both high and low. And now, thanks to a dying man, he is thrown into the midst of mystery and intrigue.

Gifts of the Spirit

One of the interesting plot points in the book are spiritual gifts. Carr introduces the controversy of spiritual gifts that is prevalent in the Church in a unique way that fits the story and world without making light of either side. 

In this world families have different gifts that help them make a living or get along in life. Some gifts are passed down to family members or can be given away. Some are like the traditional gifts of the spirit. But all rely on their god, Aer. Like our world, the Church is powerful and there are sects vying for power. Carr really takes real life situations a places them in this world in a way that makes sense.

Narrative and Storytelling

One thing I thought was odd and bothered me at first was the way the story shifted points of view and narrative from first to third person. I'm used to the traditional way of telling a story all from one narrative. I would still say it should be the rule. But rules are made to be broken.

As the story goes along and Willet is fleshed out it is obvious that the story needs to be told not only from Willet's point of view but in a first person narrative. It's also important we see the story from point of view of others and telling it in third person makes sense. The Shock of Night is one case when this shift works, but it should be used only when the author knows what they are doing. Carr does.

The Shock of Night is a thrilling mystery with lots of twists and turns down dark corridors. It's great to be at the beginning of a series and I can't wait for the next book to see where the story goes. 

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of the book

To see what Patrick Carr's up to, visit his website.

Get a copy of The Shock of Night.

Check out what others on the tour have to say:

Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Carol Bruce Collett
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rani Grant
Rebekah Gyger
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Carol Keen
Rebekah Loper
Jennette Mbewe
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Audrey Sauble
Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas
Robert Treskillard
Phyllis Wheeler
Michelle R. Wood
Nicole White

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3 - The First Principle

This month's tour is featuring an interesting book, The First Principle by Marissa Shrock.

It's set in the not too distant future and now the America's, North and South, are one country with governors controlling territories rather than states. The government is in charge of everything, from a state sanctioned religion to limiting the number of children you can have.

There is mandatory birth control and pregnancy tests. Mandatory abortions if you happen to be pregnant under age. There is a clear separation of classes with little to no chance of changing your lot in life, all of this strengthened by government policies.

We are introduced to Vivica Wilkins, the 15 year old daughter of a governor, who is used to her lavish lifestyle. With a mother so high in the government, she lives life to the fullest. But now that she is pregnant will she blindly support the policies forcing her to abort the baby or will she fight for what's right?

The scary part about this book is it's too close to what could be, and I don't think it would take a war to get there. Religious liberties are already attacked and eroded everyday. I have heard time and again that many of the social issues, such as abortion, have already been decided and it's pointless to try to change.

It is now mainstream and promoted in the media that biblical principles have no place in public life. If you disagree with someone you are being hateful and exclusionary. In The First Principle the Bible is banned because of this reason. Shrock takes what is happening now to it's obvious, and sad, conclusion.

The First Principle is an exciting and powerful read that challenges our complacency. While mandatory abortions and mass Bible burnings are not yet a reality, it is too easy to see it come to pass. Shrock takes us to this future and gives us a heroine who is not perfect, but willing to act when the time comes. Will we act while there is still time?

You can find the First Principle on Amazon.

To find out more about Marissa Shrock you can check out her website.

See what others on the tour have to say:

Julie Bihn
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback 
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Jalynn Patterson
Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3 - Dreamtreaders

I have to be honest. At first I had a hard time getting into the book. It starts off with great action, and that's fine. But I didn't like Archer, the protagonist.

One of the things that threw me off was the way Archer talked to himself. It didn't seem natural, it was kinda weird. I also didn't like the way Batson keep calling him "the Dreamtreader" instead of Archer.

I know that sounds petty and stupid, but it didn't flow for me. I made a commitment to read this though, so I pushed on. And it didn't take long to suck me in, so it could've been worse.

As Archer navigates through his normal day you get to know him better. There is still some stilted conversation and sometimes he talks to himself at weird times, in weird ways, but that's not enough to take you out of the story.

There's also the new kid, Rigby, who is an interesting fellow. When reading the synopsis I had my thoughts of what Rigby might be, but I am happy that I was wrong. As the story goes I made some guesses and was right about some, wrong about others.

As you speed towards the conclusion there isn't much time to think. There's a lot happening and some twists that you don't see coming, at least I didn't. I do hope to see more of Master Gabriel in the future, who I have my own thoughts about but I will leave them unspoken to see how things progress.

Being someone who has always had very vivid dreams and is really fascinated by the subject, the title caught my eye. Batson shapes the dream world in a way that seems realistic (if a dream world can be realistic), though it doesn't mirror mine. The setup for the second book leaves you wanting more and i am curious to see where the characters go. i can't say more than that. As Riversong would say, "Spoilers."

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour i received a free copy of this book.

You can buy the book at Amazon.

Check out Wayne Thomas Batson's site

See what others on the tour have to say:

Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rebekah Gyger
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Jennette Mbewe
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour Day 2: A Draw of Kings

The Importance of Characters

Looking back at some of my reviews, I realized that I talked a lot about characters and it was a big indicator if I liked the book. I never really thought about it before. I guess that's one of the reasons I enjoy Neil Gaimon, Ken Follet, and Stephen King to name a few. Their characters are well written and easy to like.

Even with my little issue I talked about yesterday, I really liked Errol. I understand how it feels to be mired in something to seems so huge and you don't see a way out. I also understand the grace and mercy of God and being helped out of those circumstances. I've never national hero or great warrior, but I guess that's why this is fiction.

I also enjoyed the other characters like Rokha and her father Naaman Ru. They were multifaceted which really showed as we got to know them. Even after run died, we continued to get more of the measure of the man. Adora, Errol's love interst and Princess of Illustra, is another character I thought Patrick Carr really did a good job bringing to life. She's bright and not your average pampered Royal who believes she is owed the world.

What truly stood out to me, though, was the way Carr handled Karele's adopted father Abilijin (please forgive any misspelled names. I'll fix it when I have the book in front of me.) Abilijin is a chieftain of the feared Morgols, an enemy of Illustra. When Karele was captured in The Steppes war, he was eventually adopted into Ablijin's family. 

We meet up with Ablijin in A Draw of Kings and get to see that there is much more to the Morgol's. For me it just emphasized how easy it is to paint a group with a broad brush and not take the time to get know people who are different. We see it all the time, the generalization of those we disagree with. If it makes easy to dehumanize those we see as enemies. But I don't think Jesus would like that.

That doesn't mean we have to agree with everyone or think what people do is ok. But we, as Christians, have to love those people we disagree with, especially those we consider enemies. 

CSFF Blog Tour Day 1: A Draw of Kings

I was pretty excited when I found out A Draw of Kings was going to on the tour. I was just finishing up with The Hero's Lot when I received the book, so it was perfect timing.

A Draw of Kings Synopsis

Errol and his companions have just come home after successfully completing a dangerous mission compelled by the church. Instead of the hero's welcome they deserve, they are met as enemies of church and state.

King Rodran died as the Hero's were away and now Duke Weir has claimed the throne and his brother, Benefice Weir, has taken control of the Judica and Church. They are ruling the kingdom with an iron fist and eradicating any resistance, real or perceived.

If this wasn't bad enough, the barrier which has protected Illustra from it's mortal enemies, the Merhaki, has fallen with Rodran's death. Now they are swarming to destroy Illustra. Things get even worse when Illustra's other enemies, the Morgol's, flood across the Sprata mountains.

Finding himself out manned and facing insurmountable odds, Errol and his friends must find a way to wrest the kingdom from the Weirs and defeat a possessed enemy. Winning will also have a price.

A Draw of Kings Review

This is the third book in the series and do I recommend starting with the first one, Cast of Stones, A (The Staff and the Sword Book #1). The Kindle version is currently free so it wouldn't hurt to get it while you can. It's a great book that kicks of a wonderful series.

A Draw of Kings is the third and final book in The Staff and The Sword series. I loved to see the growth of Errol throughout the books. Even the other characters like the burly Cruk and the stoic, rock solid, Merodach, grow and  change.

Carr does a great job of weaving some powerful messages into the story without being preachy. I hope to expound on a couple things that stood out to me on the next two days of the tour.

A Draw of Kings has plenty of adventure, battles, journey's and even a little bit of love and romance. Each book in The Staff and the Sword series gets better culminating with the best,  A Draw of Kings. The way Carr paints his world brings it to life. It's easy to imagine a map with the different countries, seas, and mountains. He makes the people that populate his world real, almost as if they could jump from the pages.

If there is any negative, it may be that some of the characters were a little one dimensional. In an effort to show the contrast from Errol's drunken beginning to his glorious ascension to Hero, one could get the feeling that he's too perfect. In a short time Errol becomes one of the best warriors in the land. He's very pious and just plain awesome. Despite that, I really have learned to love Errol and the other characters over the course of the three books.

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received this book for free.

Visit Patrick Carr's website to get more information on what he's up to.

Buy a copy for yourself -

Find out what my friends are saying about A Draw of Kings:

Gillian Adams
Jennifer Bogart 
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Mike Coville
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rebekah Gyger
Nikole Hahn
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Jennette Mbewe
Amber McCallister
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Audrey Sauble
James Somers
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler N
icole White J
ill Williamson

CSFF Blog Tour Day 2: One Realm Beyond

Of course I've heard of Donita K. Paul. Her books have been on my "To Read" list but the only book I've ever read by her was Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball and there were no dragons.

When the chance to read Realm Walkers came up, I jumped at the chance. I figured it would be a good way to get acquainted with Paul's writing before jumping into her other series.

When I started reading, I wasn't sure if I would like Paul's dragon characters. They are quite different than the traditional dragon roles. Normally I like when authors make change things up, but it can be disastrous when done right.

As the book progressed and I got to know Cantor's dragon friend, Bridger, I really enjoyed Paul's handling of the dragons. When Bridger's sister enters the scene, things become even more fun.

The other thing that made One Realm Beyond interesting is that it wasn't one journey or quest that tied the adventures together. In the beginning I didn't even realize that Cantor had to go somewhere to train. I just figured he had to find his Dragon and he was off. Everything flowed really well though, and the characters changed and grew through the adventures.

Another thing I enjoyed was Bixby, Cantors companion who he stumbled upon in the trees. She was such a free spirit and nice contrast to Cantor. Bridger also surprised me with the depth of his wisdom. He seemed a bit bumbling at first, but redeemed himself despite his clumsiness. There are a few other interesting characters but I'll leave it to the readers to find them.

After reading One Realm Beyond I am now a fan of Donita K. Paul. I will search out her other books and move them to the top of the list. I look forward to the second book Paul's Realm Walker series.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received this book for free. You can get your own copy at the link below.
One Realm Beyond (Realm Walkers)

You can find out the latest news about Donita K. Paul by going to her website.

I encourage you see what others on the tour have to say:

Julie Bihn
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Mike Coville
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Rebekah Gyger
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Emileigh Latham
Jennette Mbewe
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
Audrey Sauble
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Jojo Sutis
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Jill Williamson
Deborah Wilson

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3: Merlin's Shadow by Robert Treskillard

When I was growing up my favorite movie was (and still is) Excalibur. It was played constantly on cable and I literally watched it hundreds of times. My claim to fame was that I knew every line from the movie (Let's overlook the fact that a child of ten should not watch this movie for a few reasons).

Already a fantasy reader, I fell in love with the Legend of King Arthur and the cast of characters. Over the years I have eaten up everything that has come along that has do with Arthur, Merlin, and the rest, and there has been a lot. From books to movies to TV shows, the Arthurian legend has been told and retold and then retold again.

It was with mixed feelings that I approached this retelling of the story by Robert Treskillard. He first introduces us to the famed wizard Merlin as boy in Merlin's Blade. Merlin is young and blind but stands up to evil despite his obvious failings. By the end the immediate threat is destroyed and Merlin is healed, but he is far from safe.

Merlin's Shadow picks up right where Merlin's Blade leaves off. Merlin is running with the infant Arthur, heir to the throne, along with his friend, Garth, and his love, Natalenya. Not only is Merlin being pursued by Vortigern, is the real murder of the High King, but his only sister is now his sworn enemy. Can Merlin overcome the obstacles before him, including himself, to overcome an ancient and powerful evil?

My Thoughts on Merlin's Shadow

Whenever a new project comes around having to do with King Arthur, Merlin, or any of the other characters, I get nervous and excited. Each book, movie, and TV show have been done with varying degrees of quality. Some have tried to stay true to the period while others went straight fantasy and others have tried to mix the two.

Treskillard has done something very unique. He has used historical accuracy, with a splash of fantasy, to make Merlin come alive. He has also used this setting to proclaim Christ being the truth in a way that fits well and is not jammed in there to fit.

He also makes the characters layered and has them grow through the story. Merlin obviously goes through a lot, but others do as well. His friend Garth is one who comes to mind. Treskillard tells a story with twists and turns filled with action and heart. We care about the characters, rejoicing at their triumphs and fretting at the dangers they face.

If the first two books are any indication, Treskillard's Merlin's Spiral series will be a high quality, doing justice to the Arthurian legend.

* In conjunction with the CSFF Blog tour, I received a free copy of this book.

Stop by Robert Treskillard's website or his blog.

Check out what my fellow CSFF Blog Tour friends are saying:

Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Pauline Creeden
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Jennette Mbewe
Amber McCallister
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Jalynn Patterson
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jacque Stengl
Jojo Sutis
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Deborah Wilson

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3: Broken Wings

If you have read my other posts on the tour you may have already guessed that I enjoyed Broken Wings, by Shannon Dittemore. I'm not great at writing reviews. I'm not comfortable doing a rating system or anything like that. The best I can do is try to tell you why I liked the book. Here goes.

Broken Wings was not as fast paced as Angel Wings but it still held my interest from beginning to end. I enjoyed getting to know the characters we've been introduced to along with the new ones.

Pearla, the cherub, and Virtue, the Sabre, are a couple of angels we meet and the Prince of Darkness, Satan himself, makes an appearance.  Olivia is a human, but more than she seems. Her story is intertwined with Brielle's in a fascinating way.

Broken Wings has mystery and intrigue enough to make up for the lack of action, but the last quarter does pick up steam. We are taken a lot more into the Celestial realm to see what the angels are doing.

As I mentioned yesterday, I like the Spiritual Warfare theme in the Angel Eyes trilogy. I hope this opens the eyes of teens to the spiritual realm that's out there. The sooner Christians are aware of the spiritual battle that is going on, the better equipped they will be to handle attacks from the enemy.

Broken Wings is another well told story carrying us forward to the inevitable conclusion of Dark Halo. Fans of Angel Eyes should really love Broken Wings. I may not be in the demographics of this series, but you can count me in the that group.

I highly recommend taking a look at the other reviews from the my fellow Tourists. I've read some great ones, and ones that have a different take like the one written by Julie Bihn. And of course Becky Miller always has great thoughts.

To find out more about the author, Shannon Dittemore, you can visit her website.

Day One of the Broken Wings CSFF Blog Tour
Day Two of the Broken Wings CSFF Blog Tour

Take a look at what the other CSFF Blog Tour Members have to say:

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart 
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Emma or Audrey Engel
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Karielle @ Books à la Mode 
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback 
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of this book

CSFF Blog Tour Day 2: Broken Wings

Shannon Dittemore

For the second day of our tour of Broken Wings, by Shannon Dittemore, I'd like to visit the topic of angels and spiritual warfare. There have been books we toured that handled angels in different ways, one of them being Angel Eyes the first in this series.

I found it interesting how the authors handled the subject of angels, but also how the readers reacted. Some, like myself, were not bothered by the liberties taken and others were not too happy. My thought is as long as it's fiction I'm fine with it.

One of the things I liked was how Shannon handled Satan. Many times he is handled like he is ugly or with horns or something that sets him apart as Satan. Satan's greatest weapon is that he is not what he seems.

When Satan is introduced in Broken Wings he is not hideous or disgusting. Shannon describes Satan as having "a beauty unrivaled... exquisite... majestic." We need to remember that Satan is not a twisted, horrid demon. Were we to actually see him I'm sure we would be taken in by how he looks.

In Angel Eyes we are introduced to the Shields, angels that protect humans and they are in Broken Wings. In this book we are introduced to Cherubs, the spies and messengers, and the Sabres, the angels that worship God with their wings made of blades. Of course the Archangels are there, particularly Michael.

Besides the cherubs and Archangels, I'm not sure how much the others are biblical. I can see that there could be angels that protect people and angels whose job is create worship for God. I don't think there's a big stretch here.

The talk about angels brings us to spiritual warfare. It is real and it is brutal with many casualties. The Bible is rife with comparisons of the Christian walk to warfare. Satan may have lost the war, but he tries to win every battle he can to take us with him.

The fact that Broken Wings is a YA book helps to open the eyes of the youth to this fact. My pastor actually has a camp each year called Spiritual Warfare Camp where he teaches teens how to be successful in the spiritual battle. It's a powerful tool that has helped many young people.

Tomorrow I will do my best to review Broken Wings but I warn you, I'm not the best at writing reviews.

To find out more about the author, Shannon Dittemore, you can visit her website.

Day One of the Broken Wings CSFF Blog Tour
Day Three of the Broken Wings CSFF Blog Tour

Take a look at what the other CSFF Blog Tour Members have to say:

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart 
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Emma or Audrey Engel
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Karielle @ Books à la Mode 
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback 
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of this book

CSFF Blog Tour Day 1: Broken Wings

The last CSFF Blog Tour I did was for the first book in this series, Angel Eyes, and I was happy to see Broken Wings was slated for this month.

I really enjoyed Angel Eyes, by Shannon Dittemore, and was looking forward to see what was in store for Brielle, Jake, and the town of Stratus. Broken Wings was different than Angel Eyes but it moved the story along really well and we were able to get to know the characters better and meet someone new.

I'll go into more detail on what I thought about the book in another post, but there was something that stuck out to me spurred on by a thought from Pearla, a cherub. Near the end of the book, as things are coming to a head, there is a chapter from Pearla's point of view. She thinks -

"It's the greatest expression of love, she knows, to lay one's life down. But she wonders if humans know just how unique the ability is to do that. Death is not something an angel has to offer loved ones. How glorious it must be to have one's days numbered by the Father. How precious it makes each and every one."

 This one little quote has a couple of ideas that are pretty deep. The fact that we are mortal really is a gift, if we let it be. Jesus said there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend. The fact that life is so precious makes that the most precious gift we can give.

We are constantly reminded of the fragility of life. That fragility is exactly what makes life so wonderful. But in our busyness it's so easy to forget how precious life is. It's easy to forget that our days are numbered and that each day is vitally important. Another gift from Our Father.

If we live each day as if it's our last and treat each life as precious as God sees it, the world will be a better place. Life is a gift, cherish it. Each day is a priceless, do something with it.

To find out more about the author, Shannon Dittemore, you can visit her website.

Day Two of the Broken Wings CSFF Blog Tour
Day Three of the Broken Wings CSFF Blog Tour

Take a look at what the other CSFF Blog Tour Members have to say:

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart 
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Emma or Audrey Engel
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Karielle @ Books à la Mode 
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback 
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of this book

CSFF Blog Tour: Angel Eyes

This first CSFF Tour of the year we are doing is Angel Eyes, by Shannon Dittemore, the first book in the Angel Eyes Trilogy. Knowing this one was coming up, I was interested in seeing another Angel story and how much it would differ from Eye of the Sword, another Angel story we toured a few months back.

Eye of the Sword riled up some people on the liberties taken with angels, but it never phased me. With the former controversy in mind, I approached Angel Eyes more aware of how the subject of angels would be handled.

Unlike Eye of the Sword, Angel Eyes  is set here in the modern world. The angels are the angels of the bible for the most part. There are fallen angels and guardian angels. They are not chubby toddlers, but warriors and scary at times, specifically the fallen ones. So the angel topic did seem to be too controversial, but how was the story?

Our protagonist, Brielle or Elle for short, is a high school senior coming back to her small hometown after two years in the big city. Reeling from a tragedy that had befallen her best friend, Elle tries to ease back into small town livin' and all it's trappings. Hanging with her friends and going to school is not as easy as she had hoped, even with the support of her dad.

Thankfully the handsome new boy in town, Jake, is trying to get her attention taking it off of some of her problems. Jake is mysterious and has some interesting secrets of his own. As they draw closer and Elle learns more about Jake and his foster dad, the world changes forever. What has been seen can not be unseen.

I know I'm not in the demo of this book, so it's possible I didn't appreciate everything Dittemore was trying to do. I felt that the lead up to the action took awhile, but I can see where a young lady would get a kick out of the construction of Jake and Elle's relationship.

I will say that Dittemore did a good job handing little tidbits of information until things picked up. She didn't come right out and say what happened to Elle's friend, Ali, at school. That was enough to keep me reading until things got interesting.

All in all I really enjoyed Angel Eyes, even if it was aimed at young ladies. Dittemore is a very talented writer and she did a great job of bringing Elle to life. This is an interesting journey that Elle is going on and I'm interested to see where it leads. Whether or not we tour Broken Wings, the next book in the series, I will be reading it.

You can find out more about Shannon Dittemore and her novels on her website or Facebook page.

What did the other CSFF Tour memebrs think? Take a look at their posts to find out.



Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Beckie Burnham
Theresa Dunlap
Nikole Hahn
Jeremy Harder
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
April Erwin

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I did receive a free copy of Angel Eyes.

CSFF Blog Tour Day 2: Starflower

It feels like it's been forever since we've had a CSFF Blog Tour. It's good to be back with such a great book, Starflower by Anne Elsabeth Stengl.

I did receive the book (for free as part of the CSFF Blog Tour) a while ago but not so long ago it doesn't still resonate. I actually stumbled across a big reason that I appreciate Starflower, and fantasy in general, just recently.

I've been listening to the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin recently, which is inspired the hit HBO show Game of Thrones. It is epic and the world is incredibly deep and multifaceted. It is a fantasy in the fact that it is set in a different world with knights and kings and queens. There is some magic, though very low key, just as some of the creatures are low-key. There are no elves or fairies, but there are giants and dragons and shape-shifters and other creatures.

But there is one key element that sets the Song of Ice and Fire from typical fantasy like Starflower. It is too real.

When I was a child I loved fantasy because the knights were brave and chivalrous. Good always won in the end. Most times it looked like evil had the upper hand, but then when all seemed lost, good triumphed. As I grew older I learned that knights were often pretty evil and many times did some pretty  bad things. I learned good does not always win. These facts made me love fantasy all the more.

Fantasy has been my escape from reality. Now that I am near the end of the third book in that series, I am really appreciative of the escape of Starflower. It's an escape I may have to take soon when I rise from the blood and betrayal found in Martin's world. Stengl's world is a wonderful place to visit.

Take a look at Anne Stengl's blog and her Facebook page.



Check out what the others on the CSFF Blog Tour are saying:

Gillian Adams
Beckie Burnham
Nikole Hahn
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: The Spirit Well

First I need to apologize to Mr. Lawhead and my CSFF Blog Tour friends. This is coming way too late and I'm very sorry for that. With that said here's my post.

Stephen Lawhead is an author I've planned to read for a while now but never got around to for one reason or another. I've actually read his son's first book, thanks to the CSFF Blog Tour. Now thanks to the CSFF Blog Tour I have finally read my first Stephen Lawhead novel, The Spirit Well.

The Spirit Well is the third book in the Bright Empires series. Kind of an odd place to be introduced to an author, but it worked well. As you may have guessed, I had not read the other two books. I did read some synopsis' of the first two books and there is actually a recap in the beginning called "Previously in the Bright Empire Series". I felt I had at least some idea of what was going on in the story.

The Spirit Well continues the adventures of Kit Livingstone and Mina Klug and the Flinders-Petrie clan. I think we are introduced to a new character, Cassandra Clarke, who accidentally falls into a ley line at an archaeological dig. A ley line is a doorway into either the past or the future, allowing time travel. I think they also take you to a different location as well.

There are people trying to use these ley lines to their advantage so intrigue ensues as people are going from one time and place to another. The Spirit Well is a great story with never a lull in the action.

While I did have no problem figuring out what was going on, I can't help feel like I'm still missing some things. I really want to go and read the first two books now. I'd like to see how the characters became who they are now, for they certainly have changed.

I'm glad I was introduced to Stephen Lawhead and plan to dig into this series and then jump into his other books. I've already spied the King Raven Trilogy at my local library. The Bone House is also on sale at our local Ollies so I'll just have to grab The Skin Map.

Is it possible to jump into the series with The Spirit Well? Possibly. But if you have the choice, get The Skin Map and work you way up. I think you'll have a good time.

Check out what Stephen Lawhead is up on his website and/or his Facebook page.

Please take a look at what others on the tour are saying:

Jim Armstrong
Julie Bihn
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart 
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Karri Compton
Theresa Dunlap
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Jeremy Harder
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Janeen Ippolito
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Joan Nienhuis
Lyn Perry Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: The Telling

With each book we do on the CSFF Blog Tour I try to write something all three days. I really want to do what I can to help get the word out of these authors, whether it's good or bad. Thankfully those that have picked the books have done a great job and I've been able to enjoy all of the books.

Well today is the last day for the CSFF Blog Tour for The Telling by Mike Duran and I'm just squeaking this one in at the last minute. It's a bit frustrating when this happens because I've really enjoyed the book so far. Yeah, I haven't finished it yet, but I've only got about 50 pages left.

Anyways, if you have read my friends on this tour you will know that it is about a young man named Zeph Walker. As a young boy he was known as the Prophet of the Plains but now he is scarred physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As a child he heard from God in what he called The Telling and preached to huge throngs of church goers. Now he lives alone in his hometown of Endurance.

Evil is loose and a prophecy is coming true. This prophecy depends on the recluse former prophet, but is he too scarred to help? If he's not there will be Hell on Earth.

Duran draws you in with his quirky, likable characters and keeps the story interesting with the mystery and suspense. Right from the beginning we are presented a mystery when Zeph comes face to face with his dead body.

The other interesting aspect of The Telling is Duran's handling of demons and angels. Like last month's CSFF Blog tour for Eye of the Sword , angels play a significant role in the story and Duran has an interesting take. As I did with Eye of the Sword, I thought of the angels as fictitious and didn't take any offense but I imagine some did. I'll find out as soon as I go through the other posts.

I hope to finish the book tonight and will post my thoughts on it in the near future. I have a plan to help get the word out about The Telling that has to do with the other book I only wrote one post for on a CSFF Blog Tour, which was Beckon by Tom Pawlik, and another book that I think goes nicely with these two books. Check back here to see what I'm doing, probably next Monday, October 1.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. 

Take a look at Mike Duran's blog or Like him on Facebook.

See what the other members on the CSFF Blog Tour are saying:

Jim Armstrong
Noah Arsenault
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: "Eye of the Sword" Day Three

It's the third and final day of the CSFF Blog Tour for Eye of the Sword. There has been more discussion on the other blogs than I thought would happen. I suggest you check them out.

Yesterday I talked about a scene that made me think of how we need to remember who we are in Christ. The main character, Trevin, thought much lower of himself than was actual real. We fall into that as well.

There was another scene after this one that reminded how we react after we fail. In this scene Trevin is captured by on of the big baddies and he reverts back to his old ways. He grovels and offers himself up as a spy again. He turns his back on those that trust him in a moment of weakness.

He beats himself up for this and dwells in his self pity. This all took place after the scene with the Eye of the Sword, so maybe he should have known better. To find out if he stays in self condemnation, you'll have to read the book, but I've seen many people live their life that way.

Knowing who we are in Christ is essential in times when we screw up. We need to remember that so we can get back up, learn from our mistake, and move forward. Too many times we let the mistakes of our past define who we are and we dwell on that rather than moving forward.

As I was reading this scene with Trevin spouting nonsense to his enemy, I was reminded of people I know that have walked away from God because of mistakes they have made. They feel like they are unforgivable. just as Trevin did in this moment. It was a warning to me that I need to stay on guard and not condemn myself by learn and move on. It is hard to do, but something that's very important.


Day One of the Eye of the Sword CSFF Blog Tour
Day Two of the Eye of the Sword CSFF Blog Tour


 Learn more about Karyn Henley at her website or read her blog.  You can also find her on Facebook, if that's your thing.

Please take a look at my fellow CSFF Tourers-

  Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jackie Castle
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
Cynthia Dyer
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Karen McSpadden
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Mirriam Neal
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: "Eye of the Sword" Day Two

Here we are, day two of the tour for Eye of the Sword. My friends had some good stuff to say about the book and there were some differences of opinions. I suggest you check out the other blogs, which can be found at the bottom of this post.

Since I gave my review yesterday, I wanted to talk about a part in the book that I thought was a good lesson. I will be talking about some of the events, but will try not to give too much away.

There is a scene in the book where Trevin goes on trial for something pretty horrific. The council who passes judgement on him are split in their decision so they go to what is called the Eye of the Sword.

The idea is that the accused is to look into the Seer's Sword and the reflection will show your true character. In Eye of the Sword Trevin is afraid of what will be reflected in the sword. He was afraid that it would show how wretched and pitiful he was. The sword actually showed his true inner character which was a strong, honest, confident man.

That reminded me how many times we forget who we are in Christ. We wallow in the mud of the world forgetting that our Father is THE King. We talk about how we are are just sinners. We forget whose we are, that we were bought with a price. We let our failings dissuade us from who we really are.

We need to constantly remember that we are not just sinners saved by grace, but we are saints. We are children of the living God. If we are truly followers of the Messiah, we reflect His love and light in to the world. To quote Andrew Peterson, "I am a priest and prince in the kingdom of God."

That is not to say that we are perfect or better than anyone else. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. It is all because of Jesus.

If this book and Karyn Henley can help us remember who we are, and whose we are, then I can't think of a higher compliment.

Tomorrow I plan to talk about a scene after this takes place that shows how we can fail, but get back up and not wallow in our condemnation.

And hear is the song I referenced earlier from Andrew Peterson, "Fool with a Fancy Guitar."



Day One of the Eye of the Sword CSFF Blog Tour
Day Three of the Eye of the Sword CSFF Blog Tour


Learn more about Karyn Henley at her website or read her blog.  You can also find her on Facebook, if that's your thing.

Please take a look at my fellow CSFF Tourers-

  Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jackie Castle
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
Cynthia Dyer
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Karen McSpadden
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Mirriam Neal
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: "Eye of the Sword" Day One

It's been a couple of months since the last blog tour with the craziness of summer in between. It's good to be back.

For August we are taking a look at Eye of the Sword, by Karyn Henley, the second book in the Angelaeon Circle. Like most people, I don't normally jump into a series at the second book. I figured I would see how I liked it and maybe buy the first book.

Trevin is our hero in Eye of the Sword. He is a mysterious man who has a dark past but a desire to make up for his mistakes. Trevin is in love with Melaia, a half angel/human type being and princess of Camrithia. She is also someone that Trevin has betrayed in the first book, I think.

Trevin goes on quests for Melaia and her kingly father to prove his loyalty to those he has failed. Fighting his own doubts in his abilities, Trevin learns about himself and others. Through failures and successes, Trevin finds an even more important treasure that will change his life forever.

Eye of the Sword is a classic fantasy in the aspect that there's magic and different sorts of magical beings. There are swords and fighting and quests. But Henley doesn't just stick to tired cliche's and traditional creatures.

That's actually a little confusing at first, but Henley makes it easy for those of us joining in mid-series. At the beginning of the book there is a Cast of Characters and a chart for The Angelaeon, which helps, but I never found myself  needing those. I was able to follow along and enjoy the story without feeling lost.

Eye of the Sword is a nice change to traditional fantasy and Henley does a fine job at creating her world and populating it with interesting creatures. Trevin goes on a few quests but it is his personal journey that is the most fascinating. Though Trevin might be from a different world, it is easy to relate to what he is going through.

The twists and turns in the story are also pretty interesting. The quests are not long, but they each provide essential clues in the story. There's a good amount of swordplay and Trevin get's humbled a time or two. Another nice change from the norm in this type of story.

While I was able to follow the story, I couldn't help feeling there was something I was missing. I think those holes will easily be filled when I read the first book.

Day Two of the Eye of the Sword CSFF Blog Tour
Day Three of the Eye of the Sword CSFF Blog Tour



Learn more about Karyn Henley at her website or read her blog.  You can also find her on Facebook, if that's your thing.

Please take a look at my fellow CSFF Tourers-

  Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jackie Castle
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
Cynthia Dyer
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Karen McSpadden
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Mirriam Neal
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: "Beckon"

First, I owe Mr. Pawlik and my fellow CSFF Blog Tour members an apology. I'll spare you my excuses for being late. The thing is this book had so many things I would love to talk about, and may still do so, that I could have easily done three days on Beckon. Such is life.

The synopsis on the book was pretty vague and I wasn't sure what to expect. After I was done with the book I realized this was a good thing. It's about three people that are drawn to the small town of Beckon, Wyoming. The town hides a fascinating and terrible secret that will test these visitors as well as the residents of Beckon.

I don't think I should give much more about the story, except to say it is a wonderful, scary, story filled with adventure and some shocking moments. We get to know each of the main characters and what drives them.

Speaking of characters, Pawlik makes so we can see ourselves in each of these characters, both the good and the bad. Just like real people, nothing is black and white. Good people can do bad things. Some things are worth dying for and some times the price for our life is too high.

Through the characters and their actions, Pawlik shows how the knowing God and losing the fear of death can inspire bravery in the most unlikely people. The death of one of the characters was so heart wrenching, but with the their last breath said, "No sting."

Pawlik shows how we can preach the Word of God with actions, not just our words. We can show love and self sacrifice. People can see the Light of God's Love reflected in us as we live our life.

Beckon  does have some scary moments and some violence and may not be for everyone. But if you like mystery with a dash of thriller, it would be for you.

Check out the author's website, blog, Facebook, and Twtter.




Check out what the other people on the CSFF Blog Tour has to say about Beckon:

Noah Arsenault
Julie Bihn
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Brenda Castro
Theresa Dunlap
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Leighton
Rebekah Loper
Katie McCurdy
Shannon McDermott
Karen McSpadden
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Joan Nienhuis
Faye Oygard
Crista Richey
Kathleen Smith
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren