Category: Series

In Honor Bound by DeAnna Julie Dodson

7/19/2013

Book 1

It could be the ornately detailed covers. Or it could be because I enjoy historicals in all periods. Or it could be the hint of a marriage-of-convenience story in the 1st title - admittedly one of my favorite themes. Whatever the reason, I was drawn to DeAnna Julie Dodson's medieval series, The Chastelayne Trilogy.

Admittedly I downloaded Book 1 In Honor Bound as a free download. When Book 2 in the series, By Love Redeemed, was offered as a free download last month I snapped it up right quick too. And I can honestly say that when I flip through my book carousel on my tablet, the rich covers of this series stand out from the rest of the ordinary book covers spinning past.

The Chastelayne Trilogy by DeAnna Julie Dodson

Before I go any farther, I have to say that unlike the innocent-looking books on DeAnna's website book page, The Chastelayne Trilogy is not for the faint-hearted. Yes, I know she appears... passive when you look at her Fun Page but don't be mislead by her pages on cats, quilting, cross stitch and barn swallows. After all . . . cats and barn swallows on the same page? Right. And if you click on The Greatest Sport Ever link, you won't see swimming or tennis or some other non-contact sport. Oh no . . . you see Hockey - a full body-contact sport. If you check way down on her hockey page, you find this delicious quote of DeAnna's:

...he was always a delight to watch on defense - especially when putting Peter Forsberg in his place (his place, of course, being on his backside on the ice).

See what I mean. She may look like a sweet Texan who wouldn't crack a peanut, but don't let that fool you. Her skirmish and battle scenes are some of the best I've read and she doesn't hide the fact that human blood runs red. It's a wonder she can keep her vivid imagination between the covers of a book. (She does, doesn't she? I mean, what do we really know about this woman?)

I say that as a reader because In Honor Bound is a gripping tale of love won and lost in the bedroom as well as the battlefield. Tastefully and artistically written in 1997 (paperback editions displayed below), In Honor Bound is a timeless tale where events unfold in frightening detail without paying lip service to modern trends in writing. I generally don't like head-hopping but the way DeAnna writes ... coherent thoughts from different characters slip into the scene as easily as a warm spoon in ice cream.

The Chastelayne Trilogy by DeAnna Julie Dodson

In Honor Bound leaves the bedroom door open to the most heart-wrenching scenes that left me bawling hopelessly. Sweet scenes with soft words that caressed and soothed me with tenderness. Then without warning, curt hurting words, uttered in guilt. I cried for the person receiving it as well as the person giving it because I cared so much for both of them. That's the essence of DeAnna's three-dimensional characters - they never came out of character by jarring gesture or word or deed. They became real.

DeAnna excels at portraying deep emotions that thrum with realism. Although the situations were medieval, the relationships could and do happen every single day - then and now.

Several times I highlighted lines (on my Kindle app) which seemed particularly unforgettable:

- And every moment of closeness, every embrace, every caress was purchased at the cost of his coolness towards her the next day or, worse, his absence from her altogether.

- I did what pleased me to get the crown, thinking I could get forgiveness later. Now I've gone too far to even ask.

- Tom took the piece of black bread he offered and wolfed it down, wincing as it scratched its way down his raw throat.

- I could have loved you.

Oh, that last one did me in and I wept for several minutes - not the first nor last time while reading this wonderful book.

Here's the back cover blurb:

His father will stop at nothing to keep the royal bloodline "pure" --even murder. But his sins have nearly destroyed Prince Philip and the future of his reign.

Forced into a political marriage, Philip tells his bride, "I will not lie to you, I will not be unfaithful to you, and I will not love you. My heart is pledged to another and I am not a man to break an oath."

His one true love is a lowly serving girl. When Philip refuses to set her aside in order to form a politically beneficial marriage, his father has the girl tried on false charges and executed. He then forces Philip to marry the beautiful and nobly born Lady Rosalynde. Devastated and embittered by his loss and his father's betrayal, Philip is determined to never love again . . . not his father, not his wife, not his God. Although Rosalynde adores him, he withholds his heart from her, refusing to let even death end his devotion to the love he lost. Despite his coldness towards her, Rosalynde is determined to love him and teach him to love her -- as determined as the God he has turned his back on. As civil war rages throughout the realm, Philip faces a greater struggle within himself. Will he open his heart to love again or let his pride destroy him and his kingdom?

You can find an excerpt of the Prologue and Chapter 1 on DeAnna's website. Check it out and see if it interests you.

As an added bonus, the host of the Novel Characters blog is an artist and animator named Monica who draws the main characters of books as she imagines them while reading. And she has posted her vision of Rosalynde & Philip from In Honor Bound by DeAnna Julie Dodson. In my opinion, Monica's portrayal of the two main characters from In Honor Bound are worthy of any Disney movie.

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DeAnna Julie Dodson has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her first books, In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed andTo Grace Surrendered, are a trilogy of medieval romances and have just been redesigned and freshly edited for Kindle and Nook. She is also the author of the contemporary mysteries, Letters in the Attic and The Key in the Attic, and has recently signed on to write two more Annie's Attic Mystery: The Diary in the Attic, due out in Spring 2013, and The Legacy in the Attic, due that summer. Her newest books, written as Julianna Deering, are 1930s English cozies, The Drew Farthering Mysteries. Rules of Murderand two sequels are due out from Bethany House starting Summer 2013. You can find out more about DeAnna and her books, including sample chapters, at her website:http://www.deannajuliedodson.com/

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Margaret Daley's Saving Hope

8/4/2012

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Saving Hope by Margaret Daley,
Book 1: The Men of the Texas Rangers
Abingdon Press, 2012

Because I wanted to support literacy as well as
Margaret Daley, I bought her Saving Hope, at the Romance Writer's of America (RWA) Literacy Booksigning this past July in Anaheim. Margaret Daley is on my auto-buy list and I've enjoyed her books whether they are contemporary, suspense, or historical.

From looking at the cover, I assumed Saving Hope was another of her forays into the historical realm.

Was I wrong.

Saving Hope is a contemporary suspense and about as gritty as you can get in inspirational publishing.

Was I disappointed? Not in the slightest. Margaret Daley has made the successful transition from category to trade books, bringing a new depth of characters and plot to her story.

Sticking to her roots, Daley weaves the romance of the two main characters around, between, and into the hidden world of child prostitution and shows us enough to spike our anger without glorifying the acts of despicable adults who prey on forgotten children. This book is not only about bringing awareness of this hideous crime to our eyes.... it's also about the
need to support - financial and otherwise - the people who work to help the victims get out of that life and give them whatever they need to begin again.

The hero is Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan, a member of the Child Rescue Task Force, and a widower with a daughter the same age as the victims he seeks to rescue. This makes his job close to his heart because any one of the girls he finds - dead or alive - could be his daughter. It's the reason he keeps a close, almost over-protective, watch on her. But has he constricted her movements to the point of rebellion?

Kate Winslow is the founder and director of the Beacon of Hope School, a place where rescued child prostitutes can recover from their trauma in a loving environment. Kate's staff gets the girls' education back on track while raising their self-respect and hope for a future. Although most of the girls welcome their rescue, some can't handle it and go back. So when a girl who's on the road to success goes missing, Kate suspects foul play. But will anyone believe her?

The romance between Wyatt and Kate is the perfect pace for realism, and I held my breath with each touch and through each tender moment.

A master at characters as well as suspense, Daley pits her characters' weaknesses against numerous suspects. Early on, she allows us to see one villian, but keeps us guessing about his
secret partner. And although I'd guessed the 2nd villain correctly halfway through the book, I wavered, not really believing my guess until proven in the end.

I admit to liking Daley's Love Inspired Suspense books, but this longer novel of Saving Hope, rich in personality, with the right touch of excitement and dismay, makes me tingle with anticipation of the next book in The Men of the Texas Rangers series, Shattered
Silence.

Saving Hope was one of books under discussion for July at The Book Club Network's ACFW on-line book club.

Did you participate in the discussion? If the discussion is available to read, would you access it after the fact? Do you ever discuss the questions authors provide at the back of their books?

You can find more information about
Margaret Daley and her books at www.margaretdaley.com

Margaret is also a lively participant on
Twitter and Facebook.

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Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

10/20/2011

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Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

Breathless! That’s how I felt after reading A Voice in the Wind – Book 1 in Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series. I also wanted to throw the book against the wall!

It’s because the end was such a shock. Not only didn’t it end how I wanted—I didn’t even like the ending! My arm was raised and ready to fling when the last few pages fluttered and I saw a preview for Book 2. Doubting I’d like it, I pulled the book down and read the beginning of An Echo in the Darkness.

Okay, that was much better. The end of Book 1 wasn’t the end of the story… it was the end of the first part of a continuing story. Phew.

As you can see, I’m trying very hard to let you know the emotions this series evoked without actually telling you what happened and how Book 1 ended. That would ruin it for you, I’m sure. Just ensure you take your blood pressure medication before you read the end.

This series was the first time I’ve read anything authored by Francine Rivers. And now I know what all the fuss is about. It’s the difference between reading about a heroine and her story and actually being right there in the story with her. Several times I became so involved that I cried out in pain or disgust. Being readers themselves, my teenage sons asked what was going on in the story knowing it had to be good for their normally silent reading mom to immerse herself to such an extent that she cried out.

The only flaw in the series as I saw it, was the placement of the Glossary of Terms after the Preview of Book 2 because I didn’t find it until after I’d read the complete book and the preview. Forearmed, I was able to use the glossary in Book 2 and 3 – both which were also placed after previews at the back of the book.

Here then is the rundown of the Mark of the Lion series:

Book 1 - A Voice in the Wind
Setting: Rome & Ephesus with scenes in Jerusalem & Germania

Although A Voice in the Wind doesn’t give an actual year of setting, approx. several decades have passed since the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The personal aspect of people remembering Jesus as He walked on the earth brought reality to this fictional story where John is the only disciple still alive. The book opens with shocking details of gore yet history has proved to be far worse than anything the author mentions. It slams home the daily struggle early Christians faced. I’m filled with awe for their faith and devotion despite the knowledge they could be thrown to the hungry lions at any second. One of the book’s main characters is Hadassah who continually asks herself one question: When the time comes, will she pass the test? In the book, it was Hadassah’s father who was raised from the dead as a youngster while his widowed mother pleaded with Jesus to bring him back. And He did. How can Hadassah not believe? But believing and wanting to live are both the same and different when you must choose one or the other. In the 4 wks since finishing this book, that same question has often crossed my mind: If faced with the choice, will I pass the test? Will I chose life on earth or life after a horrifying death? I’d like to think I'll choose the latter.

Book 2 - An Echo in the Darkness
Settings: Ephesus & the Journey to Judea and back

Emotions raw with the brutal end of Book 1, I eagerly immersed myself in the pages of Book 2, An Echo in the Darkness. I’ve always considered myself an historian, but Francine Rivers’ writing breathes life into her characters and shows me a truth too unreal to believe in the average history book. I see, smell and taste as if I were a character in her story. And yet, a part of me is always aware that she’s the one who orchestrated the scenes and I turn my anger to her for putting my characters through such pain. But we need pain in our life to be able to appreciate the blessings, don’t we? Or do we only need strife? Would the conclusion at the end of Book 2 have been as complete if not for the pain as well as the strife? I’ll let you be the judge.

Book 3 - As Sure as the Dawn
Settings: Ephesus & the Journey to Germania

After reading the first 2 books, you may be in for a culture shock heading into Book 3. Although it starts in Ephesus, after 100 pages or so the story travels to Germania—a culture so different from Ephesus and Rome it seems hard to believe it’s the same series. And yet the story wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t end there. The Germans lack the hygiene of the fastidious Romans. They live in dirt floor semi-underground shelters as opposed to brick and marble strongholds. They fight like enraged animals instead of uniformed ranks of disciplined soldiers. And yet, both cultures believe in the same dark gods, priestesses, potions, and evil spirits.

Summary

This series rings with the spiritual warfare between one true God and false gods, good versus evil, and the euphoria of heaven compared to the perpetual torment of hell. Francine Rivers masterfully covers both sides and left me shaking at the awesome power of God - as well as the horrific hold the dark forces employ when allowed into your life.

The Mark of the Lion series left me completely satisfied – well, except for a deep hunger for more novels authored by Francine Rivers.

If you'd like to know more about this series and other Francine Rivers' books, check out her site: http://francinerivers.com/books/series/mark-lion

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The Brides of Simpson Creek series by Laurie Kingery

9/18/2011

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The Brides of Simpson Creek series
by Laurie Kingery
Love Inspired Historicals

I want to bring your attention to The Brides of Simpson Creek series created by Laurie Kingery and published by Love Inspired Historical. Laurie has taken the mail order bride plot and flipped it upside down to create a series based on mail order grooms.

This series fascinated me from the moment I heard about it. I mean, we’re all familiar with the destitute or despairing mail order brides who choose to start a new life with a stranger in order to escape their old one. Let’s face it, in the 19th century, there wasn’t much for a woman to choose from if she didn’t have money to do what she wanted.

But why on earth would a man choose to be a mail order groom?

Laurie’s reasoning in the Brides of Simpson Creek is sound and believable. It’s 1865 Texas and the war is over. So many men and boys were lost in the fighting with some towns hit hard than the rest. So it is the case in Simpson Creek. Men are in short supply and almost a dozen young women of marrying age want a family of their own. Without the men, the town won’t survive. When one enterprising young lady suggests they place an ad for husbands, the idea doesn’t set well with everyone, but the ones looking to get married are all for it. And so The Simpson Creek Society for the Promotion of Marriage aka The Spinster’s Club is born. An ad is submitted to the Houston Telegraph with explicit instructions for marriage-minded bachelors to write back and wait for an invitation before appearing in town. With business taken care of, the ladies start checking the post office. It would be nice if men did what they were told, right?

Book 1 – Mail Order Cowboy

Milly Matthews and her sister, Sarah, are trying to protect their ranch from Indians, rustlers and unruly neighbors. Milly is also the one who thought up the Spinster’s Club. She wants a man she can love and trust to help her run the ranch. And she’s adamant that men who reply to the ad should follow the rules and not just show up in town without an invite.

British Cavalry officer, Nicholas Brookfield isn’t really interested in finding a wife and settling down in Simpson Creek. He’s on his way to a job at the British Embassy, but after reading the ad where ladies were looking for husbands, he just has to come take a look – without writing of his intentions. He just shows up in the middle of a Spinster Club meeting and once he sees Milly, he's a goner.

Brave, spunky heroine vs dashing, protective hero. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Foreshadow: Throughout this book, Milly’s sister, Sarah had one crippling fear – that one of the marriage-minded bachelors would be a Yankee and try to hide it. By the time I finished Mail Order Cowboy and was ready for Book 2, I was yearning for the heroine to be Sarah and the man who comes calling to be a Yankee. Laurie did not disappoint me.

Book 2: The Doctor Takes a Wife

Sarah Matthews takes over the running of the Spinster Club when Milly marries. Sarah is still mourning her fiancé who never returned from the war – most likely shot by a Yankee. She loathes Yankees. When a badly-needed doctor answers the ad, Sarah takes on the task of corresponding with him. During their correspondence, Sarah’s interest is sparked. Her attraction intensifies the first time she sets eyes on Nolan – until he opens his mouth and his words have a flat, nasal accent! Betrayed by the lying Yankee, she passes him off to the Spinster's Club.

Dr. Nolan Walker is a widower who wore the blue during the war, but treated men of all colors. He wants to settle down where no one else cares either. Nolan doesn’t want to choose another member of the Club, he wants the woman he fell for through the letters, and he’ll wait until she’s ready to accept him. But will Nolan’s dream come true when Sarah’s prayers are answered and she has to choose?

Brave, misguided heroine vs honorable, lonely hero. This book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions, but what I liked best was the snappy interplay between Sarah and Nolan.

Foreshadow: Sarah’s housemate is Prissy Gilmore, the new chairwoman of the Spinster’s Club. Sarah is hoping Prissy will meet someone this time. But in the background of this book is Caroline who lost her fiancé in Book 1 and feels her life is over. I really want to read Caroline’s story.

Book 3 The Sheriff’s Sweetheart

Prissy Gilmore, the mayor’s daughter, is easily attracted to handsome men so when she sets her cap for the new sheriff the minute she lays eyes on him, she has a hard time proving he’s really the one for her. But no man could be better for her than the honorable sheriff who only wants to take care of her and protect her town.

Sam Bishop and his dog are on the run and need a place to lay low. When Sam spots an ad for marriage-minded bachelors, he heads to Simpson Creek intent on finding a job and attracting a rich wife to cover his gambling problems. It’s his lucky day when he rides into town and within minutes of each other, gets a job as sheriff and meets the mayor’s attractive daughter. After awhile, Sam wishes he hadn’t lied about his credentials and wants to come clean with Prissy. But can he come clean with her and keep her love before his past catches up to him?

Devoted, impetuous heroine vs dishonest, loyal hero. At first, this hero made me mad. I understood why he did things, but that didn’t explain his continued dishonesty. Yet, Laurie took this ‘bad boy’ and turned him into a worthy hero.

Foreshadow: Caroline applies for the town's schoolmarm job. If she can’t have a family of her own, she’ll teach other people’s children. Oh Laurie – why haven’t you written a story for Caroline?

Book 4 The Rancher's Courtship

Guess what? I was over at Laurie’s website the other day and she has the 4th book in the Brides of Simpson Creek coming out in November and yes, the book is finally Caroline’s story. The Rancher’s Courtship has Caroline working as the town schoolteacher when her deceased fiancé’s brother, Jack, shows up with twin six-year-old girls and a herd of cattle. Jack is unaware of his brother’s demise and had planned to leave his daughters with the newlyweds while he finished his cattle drive. Oh, this sounds like another good one from Laurie Kingery although I’m not sure it classifies as a mail order groom story. Of course I’ll have to read it to be certain, though.

I sure hope Laurie will be at the ACFW conference in St Louis this coming week because I’d personally like to tell her how much I’m enjoying this series, as well as find out more about Book 5 scheduled for Jul 2012 according to her website.

Good twist on an old theme, Laurie. I'm enjoying this series immensely.

You can find out more about this Texas-born author at http://www.lauriekingery.com/index.html

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In Honor Bound by DeAnna Julie Dodson

Margaret Daley's Saving Hope

Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

The Brides of Simpson Creek series by Laurie Kingery

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