Book review of Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig

Book review of Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig


From goodreads.com:

 

Crown of Souls (Tox Files #2)

by Ronie Kendig (Goodreads Author)

Crown of Souls

Six months after stopping a deadly plague, Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are enjoying a little rest. That peace is short-lived when a sniper shot hits Tox. The enemy is discovered to be one of their own, a rogue Special Forces team operator.
Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.
Afraid his old friend is right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team engage in another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is cheating--he's using a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming one.

 

 

Leona's Review:

 

My first read by Ronie Kendig.and was very impressed. I have not yet read the first book of the series but this was a stand alone read.

 

I became interested  because it had the words "artifact"  and "antiquity" as part of the description of the book. My major in college is archaeology.

This book seemed to have it all. Mystery, military, love, friends, loyalty, enemies, Biblical, secret missions, treasure, history, archaeology and artifacts. 

At the beginning of the book, Tox (Cole Russell) is shot in the shoulder by a sniper and Tox is sure that the person who shot him could have killed him if they intended to do so. He is sure it is his old friend, Alex King.

 

Tox tries to protect his girlfriend, Haven, from the beginning.  Haven and her brother, Ram, join with others on the adventure journey that takes the reader to many places from Virginia Beach, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia, Stuttgart, Germany; Pentagon, Virginia; Jerusalem, Israel; Washington, D.C.; Russell Estate, Maryland; CIA Headquarters, Fairfax County, Virginia; Chesapeake Bay, Maryland; Reston, Virginia; El Gorah, Egypt; A Village in Egypt; Somewhere Over the Mediterranean; Baghdad, Iraq; FOB Stryker, Baghdad, Iraq; Nimruz Province, Afghanistan; Undisclosed Location; Nimrud, Iraq (ancient Kalhu); Israel; SAARC JET (308); Qal'at Sherqat, Iraq; Somewhere Over Iraq; Outside Mosul, Iraq; Outside Nimrud, Iraq; National Museum of Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq; Outskirts of Mosul, Iraq; Airstrip Outside London; SAARC Headquarters, Northern Virginia; Unknown Location; Somewhere Over the Middle East and ends on Day 33. Many places are revisited.

 

It also takes us back in time to 1170 AD in Syria, 1172 AD in Syria, 1173 AD in Syria, 1178 AD to Acre, Israel, 1178 AD to  Tveria, Israel, 1180 AD Somewhere in Syria and 1187 Tveria, Israel.

Crown of Souls is a real page turner. I received a complimentary copy from Ronie Kendig and Bethany House Books to read and review it I chose to do so. The opinions are my own. 

I give this a 5 star rating and it is a book I would re-read.

Ronie Kendig may be found at roniekebdig.com,  goodreads.com and also Christianbook.com

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Review of From This moment by Elizabeth Camden

   

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden

 

ISBN 10: 0764217216 | ISBN 13: 9780764217210

From http://elizabethcamden.com/books/from-this-moment:

Romulus White has tried for years to hire illustrator Stella West for his renowned scientific magazine. She is the missing piece he needs to propel his magazine to the forefront of the industry.
But Stella abruptly quit the art world and moved to Boston with a single purpose: to solve the mysterious death of her beloved sister. Romulus, a man with connections to high society and every important power circle in the city, could be her most valuable ally.
Sparks fly the instant Stella and Romulus join forces, and Romulus soon realizes the strong-willed and charismatic Stella could disrupt his hard-won independence. Can they continue to help each other when their efforts draw the wrong kind of attention from the powers-that-be and put all they’ve worked for at risk?

Leona's Review:

One of the best Christian Historical books I have read in a long time. This is my first read by Elizabeth Camden and I will definitely read her books again.

The building of the Boston Subway is part of this book and historical happenings. I always like to read of historical events and the author has included many such as the typewriter, gummed envelopes and elevators. I like to research such mentions so I have included some information at the bottom of the review. 

The book is dated March 1897 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Stella has come to Boston to find the killer of her sister, Gwendolyn. The police has declared that she had drowned but Stella knew she was an excellent swimmer. They had been exchanging letters and Gwendolyn had written about corruption in City Hall.

Romulus tries his best to get her to do some drawing for the magazine, Scientific World which is owned by Romulus and his cousin, Evelyn.

Stella agrees to do one project for him if he will help her with connections to City Hall and others. Stella is determined to find why and how her sister died.

 

The book includes special relationships of Stella and Romulus as well as his cousin and her husband, Evelyn and Clyde. The parents of Stella and Gwendolyn also pay an important role in the book.

 

At times, Stella questions her faith in God. Stella sees a photograph of a woman who has lost her husband but went on to do her dream of helping others in India.. "It seemed Mrs. Grosjean peered out of the photograph, straight into the moral failings of Stella's soul. Do you love God only when he is good to you?" (page 245)

 

Stella uses her talent to draw pictures of the "sandhogs". " It was a simple charcoal sketch of three sandhogs working on the street below. One man sat on the edge of the subway trench, and two others leaned against shovels as they took a rest from the backbreaking work. There was a rough dignity to their faces, a strength of character in the musculature of their necks, faces, and strong hands as they held the shovels. It was a tough, gritty work that garnered little respect, yet Stella had imbued them with the dignity and heroism rarely afforded such men. They were men working to forge the future, laying a foundation fro generations to come. Long after these men were dead and buried, their children and grandchildren would be riding on the subway they had built." (page 126)

 

The reading is easy and quick even with so much happening. The reader will find some strong characters in both the men and women.

 

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers to read and review. The opinions are my own.

 

I give From This Moment a 5 star rating.

 

Elizabeth Camden may be reached at www.elizabethcamden.com

 

 

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

Notes on the typewriter, gummed envelopes and elevators which I found interesting:

 

From: http://ideafinder.com/history/inventions/typrwriter.htm. Finally, in 1867, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin printer-publisher-politician named Christopher Latham Sholes, with assistance from Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule, patented what was to be the first useful typewriter.

From:http://www.jampaper.com/blog/the-history-of-envelopes/ It wasn’t until the invention of the self-gumming envelope machine that envelope production really took off. A man by the name of James Green Arnold took the envelope folding machine to the next level when he added a brush that would apply the gum to the envelopes seal. This step was previously done by hand.  Unfortunately Arnold’s design was never put into production. It wasn’t until two brothers by the name of  D. Wheeler Swift and Henry Swift took Arnold’s design and perfected it. In 1876 the Swift Chain Dryer Machine was born. One of the main difference in this machine was that it was constructed of metal, not wood, like the Arnold design.


From: https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/03/02/how-elevator-transformed-america/b8u17Vx897wUQ8zWMTSvYO/story.html
It wasn’t until the 1870s, when elevators showed up in office buildings, that the technology really started to leave a mark on urban culture.

 

Review of Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson

Book review of Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson

 

From goodreads.com:

 

Love Everlasting (Brides of Seattle #3) by Tracie Peterson

Abrianna Cunningham has always viewed her longtime friend, Wade Ackerman, as
a protective brother. Lately, however, she's begun to see him differently and finds
herself attracted romantically to him. But she's confused and overwhelmed by these
unfamiliar feelings.

Wade, on the other hand, has loved Abrianna for some time and has been waiting for her to realize they are more than just friends. When he asks her to marry him, she asks for time to adjust to their changed relationship.

And then there's Priam Welby, who has been relentlessly pursuing Abrianna. Will his underhanded tactics succeed in luring Abrianna into marriage with him?

Paperback, 352 pages
Published October 6th 2015 by Bethany House (first published September 29th 2015)
ISBN0764210637 (ISBN13: 9780764210631)edition language English

 

 

Leona's review:

 

This is not my first read by Tracie Peterson but the first for the Brides of Seattle series. It is a stand alone read and I may go back and read the others.

 

It really took the second half of the book for me to have a real interest and I had written in my notes "this is a personal struggle book" when I was somewhat into the book. Things did change and became more interesting with murder, jail, false accusations and a man who wanted to marry Abrianna by any means.

 

I liked the characters of Abrianna and Wade and the aunts were a wonderful addition. As I write this, I think a cat would have also been an addition.  Abrianna is headstrong but Wade seems to flow with any problems added to what is happening. He keeps his head when their are problems and prays a lot. The aunts are also strong characters with their opinions and accomplishments. I could almost see them sitting together and talking. Jay, the father of Abrianna has come back into her life. Friends are also an important part of the book.

This is a Christian book without pushing. I like that God is in the hearts of the characters and spoken of often.

 

Abrianna helps the poor with food and housing; this seems to be her calling. Wade has taken the job of becoming the substitute minister at the church and fully understands her.

I loved the personal talk between Wade and Abrianna. This made them seen so real and in love.

 

I received a complimentary copy of Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions are my own.

I give this book a 5 star rating.

Tracie Peterson may be reached at her website: www.traciepeterson.com

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

Review of A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

From BethanyHouse.com:

About:
A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear?

Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts.

Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan's Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily's mother she'd keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them.

When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily's legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he's been led to believe. Is she villain or victim?

Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he's ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte's heart.

Karen Witemeyer Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award, and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance because she believes in giving the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.
Learn more about Karen and her books at  www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Leona's Review:

This is my first read by Karen Witemeyer.

Because at the beginning of the book, Stone found Charlotte, I was wondering about a pursuit to find Charlotte until the end of the book but she has created a wonderful novel that also has children and animals, always a plus for me.

This is a historical Christian romance that has humor, love, friendship, a spinster, a bounty hunter, three gifted children and a friend, Mr. Dobson, who helps Charlotte and the children leave the school secretly.

Charlotte has legal custody of Lily, Stephen has parents but they are in Europe and John is also an orphan.

Stone has been sent by the grandfather of Lily to bring her back to him.

One example of humor is when Mr. Dobson finds Stone spying and Charlotte says "Perhaps he is simply a cowhand with a perchance for bird watching". Love for the children and also for Miss Lottie. Love between the two main characters. Friendship of Charlotte to her friend, the mother of Lily. The children call Charlotte, Miss Lottie.

Lily loves to read the dime novels of the bounty hunter Dead-Eye Dan and his adventures. John plays the piano and Stephen was placed in the school because his parents traveled.

Some words used are: "Worth their salt", "Schoolmarm", "Tasty grub" and "The Marshall fingered the brim of his Stetson". My favorite is " None of them can best a sunset in Texas". As a West Texan, I have to totally agree with that statement.

This is a clean novel and God, The Lord and prayers are certainly present but not overbearing but shows the faith of the times. The book begins February 1891 in Austin, Texas.

A Worthy Pursuit is dedicated: "To Laura Baker, librarian extraordinaire and the first person I ever trusted to read my stories. It is your encouragement and knowledgeable feedback that gave me the fortitude to pursue my dream. You taught me to see the world through lenses differently than my own and deepened my understanding of the human condition. You have left your mark on me, my friend and I thank God for the gift."

I received a complimentary copy of the book to read and review from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions are my own.

I give A Worthy Pursuit a 5 star rating and look forward to reading more of her books.

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3114906.Karen_Witemeyer

Book Review of After a Fashion by Jen Turano

  

  Book Review of After a Fashion by Jen Turano

From jenturano.com:
Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself out of an income.
Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when the lady he brought to town to assist him with entertaining his potential business partner reneges on their agreement. When this unreliable, and slightly deranged, lady causes the hapless Harriet to lose her job, Oliver tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner.
Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can’t make her fashionable. She’ll never truly fit into Oliver’s world, but just as she’s ready to call off the fake relationship, fancy dinners, and elegant balls, a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages.

Leona's Review:
This book begins in new York City in 1882 . The author takes the reader into this time era with her descriptions of the area, clothing and language.
Harriet Peabody works as a milliner in the back room of the shop. She is to deliver some hats to a customer at the home of Mr. Oliver Addleshaw. The woman who has ordered the hats is Miss Birmingham who is under the assumption she is engaged to Oliver Addleshaw. This arrangement does not go well and Oliver asks Harriet if she would a be woman who would help him with a business deal; Harriet lost her job as a result of the encounter she had with Lily Birmingham. Oliver needed a woman who would help him make a good impression of the business deal. They become engaged by word only.
I find Harriet is such a strong and feisty woman and holds her own with Oliver. Their discussions leave the reader with a smile. Harriet was raised by an aunt who never really cared for Harriet for whatever reason Harriet is not sure.
Oliver is rich and seems to care only to become richer. He leaves the running of his business for the people working for him to his managers, which are not doing the right things. We see the lower class and upper class in this book.
Many characters,  which have  their own personality, are in this book. I especially liked Buford, the dog, and was so glad Jen Turano included him.
This is the first book I have read by Jen Turano and I now have her on my TBR list of authors.
It is an easy read and since it is a Christian book,  it is a good read for anyone. I would like to see some of the characters in other books.
I received a complimentary copy of After a Fashion by Jen Turano from Bethany Books to read and review. The opinions are my own.
I give this a 5 star rating. I could even re-read this book and still enjoy it.

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com