Book Review: Deliver Me From Evil by Kathi Macias

Kathi Macias is an author with a unique insight into the human condition. With this new book, Deliver Me From Evil, Mrs. Macias delves deep into the world of human slavery (specifically, sexual trafficking). It is an intriguing and many times hard-hitting look at the evils of this all too common crime that is pervading communities around the world.

In this novel are the stories of two girls who have been taken into the world of sexual perversion by people who were trusted to care for them. Mara was sold by her parents and taken across the border to San Diego to be used as a prostitute by her uncle. And on the other side of the world is another girl named Chanthra who was kidnapped by men who promised to take her to be adopted by a rich family who would take good care of her. Instead, she, too, is sold into sexual slavery.

A family in San Diego finds out about Mara through a chance encounter and, while attempting to rescue her, they also discover a connection their lives have to Chanthra's.

Reading this book has made me even more anxious to help these girls who are being exploited and preyed upon. I am struck by the urgency conveyed through this novel that compels us to action. I pray that many Christians will read this book and ask God what He would have them do to end this evil.



God bless Kathi Macias for writing this book and bringing these issues to our attention. I give Deliver Me From Evil 5 out of 5 stars!

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Be sure and check out my reviews on other books written by Mrs. Macias by typing in "Kathi Macias" in the search box on the right of this post.

Award-winning author Kathi Macias has written more than 30 books, including the award-winning devotional A Moment a Day and the popular “Matthews” mystery novels.
Kathi has won many awards, including the Angel Award from Excellence in Media, fiction awards from the San Diego Christian Writers Guild, 2008 Member of the Year from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and the grand prize in an international writing contest.

With women’s ministry as her primary interest, Kathi is a popular speaker for women’s retreats, conferences, and churches.

A mother and grandmother, Kathi and her husband, Al, call California home.

Book Review: In the Aerie of the Wolf by Leonora Pruner

I wonder: what would it be like to be in love with a man, then forced to marry another, one you have never met? I have heard stories of women (and men) faced with such a dilemma and how they bravely went through with the marriage, some eventually coming to love their spouse and others regretting it the rest of their lives. And I have often thought how difficult it must be to sacrifice like that, not knowing the outcome. I know it must take much faith and resolve.

The main character in In the Aerie of the Wolf is in such a predicament. Anne Crofton must marry Lord Wolverton, Master of the Wolf's Aerie, even though she loves Reverend Michael Pennywaithe, the village parson. And when she arrives at the castle, Lord Wolverton tells he does not want her to look at him, because he is grotesquely deformed and that she would probably find him revolting. So, she has to wait until after they are married before she can see his face!

The book is full of romance and mystery, told with great emotion and depth of theology that any Christian will rejoice in as he/she reads of our King and His wonderful salvation.

I like how the author wrote about marital devotion and commitment and at the same time did not shy away from the sweet romance and passion involved in a truly good marriage relationship. Ms. Pruner quotes from the Bible (Song of Solomon!) and tastefully uses descriptive phrases and to convey the beautiful essence of a godly marriage. It is a refreshing change from the usual romance novels we so often see today.

The only caveat I would give for this book is that it should be read only by married people. It is written for our entertainment, but even more important, for our edification and instruction in godly living. I was convicted more than once while reading this book.

If you like historical fiction and would enjoy reading the language and customs of 18th century England, you will probably want to read In the Aerie of the Wolf.

I give this book 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Read Seize the Book's review of Close to His Heart, to which I also gave 4 1/2 stars!

About the Author:
 
Leonora Pruner was born in Dubuque, Iowa, but has lived most of her life in California. Writing has been an important activity since junior high. She graduated from Westmont College in 1953 and earned an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1981.

Fascination with a possible eighteenth-century English character led to five years of extensive research, which resulted in the 1981 and 1987 publication of two period novels. That time remains of great interest to the author, and she continues to use eighteenth-century England as a setting for her work.

Leonora married in 1953, and her family has expanded from two children to thirteen grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.

She lived in the Republic of Maldives from 1987 to 1997, where she collected folklore and taught economics and computer science. While there she wrote the first drafts of this book.

Other books by Leonora Pruner include Love’s Secret Storm, Love’s Silent Gift and Close to His Heart. Her next novel, In the Aerie of the Wolf, is due to be released soon.

Book Review: Letters From Home by Kristina McMorris

I have to admit that the main reason I asked to review Letters From Home was because of the beautiful cover photograph and design. Looking at the muted colors and bound letters made me feel nostalgic. Then I saw that the setting of the book was WWII, and so I decided to read it and review it.

Letters From Home is a romantic tale of three women and their soldier boys as the war keeps them apart. The book goes from love to heartache and back again as the couples struggle to maintain their relationships during extremely trying times. Here is a description of the book from the author's website:

"Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief conversation - cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty - but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings."

This book is well-written and captures the flavor of what America was like during the second world war. Mrs. McMorris aptly describes what life was like for our men (and women) who fought and died for our country and for those left behind to wait for their return. The author is talented and  I think that this book will do well in the bookstores. It is an impressive debut novel.

I began reading Letters From Home and became quickly engrossed in the story. However, I was disappointed to find coarse language and sexual innuendos sprinkled throughout the book. I know this kind of stuff happens, but I also know that a book can be written, and written well, without it (see my review on Nightingale and my review on A Memory Between Us for a few books that were clean, yet better than Letters From Home). If you don't like language like this in the books you read, you may want to skip this one.   

I did finish the book and was satisfied with the ending. The characters, although challenged by life's trials, found a measure of happiness through circumstances which were obviously beyond their control but which made them stronger and caused them to see that it is through pain and suffering that we grow and often find redemption. 

I give Letters From Home 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Here is a recipe from the 1940's from Kristina's website:

BRAN BUTTERSCOTCH COOKIES

1 1/2 cups shortening

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs 1 cup shredded bran (or buds)

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

In a medium bowl, cream shortening. Add sugar, well-beaten eggs, and bran. Mix well. Sift together flour and baking powder, then add to mixture. Shape into two log rolls, cover in plastic wrap, and store in refrigerator. When desired, slice dough into thin disks and place on cookie sheet 2" apart. Bake at 350°F for approximately 8-10 minutes.

For more recipes, info on the book, book club ideas, and to view actual letters from WWII, visit Kristina's website.

Kristina McMorris lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Her foray into fiction began in the fall of 2006 as a result of interviewing her grandmother for the biographical section of a self-published cookbook intended as a holiday gift for the family. Inspired by her grandparents' wartime courtship, Kristina penned her first novel, a WWII love story titled Letters from Home. This award-winning debut is scheduled for release in trade paperback from Kensington Books (2-22-11; U.S.) and Avon/HarperCollins (5-5-11; U.K.). Various book club rights have been sold to Reader's Digest and Doubleday, and the film rights are represented by the prestigious Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles.

Prior to her literary career, Kristina acted in numerous independent films and major motion pictures. She began hosting an Emmy® Award-winning television show at age nine, and most recently served as the six-year host of the WB's weekly program Weddings Portland Style. Adding to her diverse résumé, McMorris is a professional emcee, literary workshop presenter, and former owner of a wedding/event planning business. Her previous writing background includes being a contributing writer for Portland Bride & Groom magazine and ten years of directing public relations for an international conglomerate. A portion of Kristina's sales proceeds from Letters from Home will benefit United Through Reading®, a nonprofit organization that video records deployed U.S. military personnel reading bedtime stories for their children. She is currently working on her next novel.

Website: http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/
Online video interview (2 min.): www.tinyurl.com/McMorris

Book Review: Red Ink by Kathi Macias (AND A GIVEAWAY!)

*****(Be sure and read at the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win a copy of Red Ink!)

I have found a new author this year. I have enjoyed reading her books and I'm sure I will read them all before the next year is through (if I can get copies of all of them). I have written reviews on two of them (here and here) and have blogged about another here.

Her name is Kathi Macias, and I believe she has been given an amazing gift from God to write books that speak directly to the heart. I have been deeply touched by the characters and their stories. Stories of people who suffer for being Christians in places where Christianity is threatened and where it is a daily struggle to survive if you are a believer.

Watch the book trailer to get a feel for Ms. Macias' newest book, Red Ink:



I would love to be able to write like Kathi does! Every page pulls at the heart and makes one want to weep at what actually happens to Christians who decide to boldly stand for Christ in places where it is forbidden to do so. I wonder if I would be as bold if I had to be.

As I read Red Ink, I was constantly reminded of the real life stories we read from the Voice of the Martyrs, an organization that my husband and I volunteer for. We want others to know of the suffering servants who are being persecuted all around the world for their faith. Situations such as those that Kathi wrote about in Red Ink are happening to people every day (to find out more about VOM and how you can help these people, go to http://www.persecution.com/). We must not close our eyes to their suffering!

Red Ink (as well as Kathi's other books in the Extreme Devotion series) should be read by all Christians and anyone else who wants to see the persecution of believers end.

I give Red Ink by Kathi Macias 5 out of 5 stars!

(Red Ink has been voted in for the April selection of the ACFW book club. Please go to the ACFW group website to join the group and be a part of the discussion for this book in April!)

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored nearly 30 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

*****

Now, for the GIVEAWAY! Would you like to win a copy of this new novel? Kathi has agreed to send a copy of Red Ink to one of my readers (thanks, Kathi!)! All you have to do is add your name and email to the comment section. I will choose a winner on January 1, so don't wait to enter!

Book Review: The Killing Storm by Kathryn Casey

The Killing Storm by Kathryn Casey is an intense story of a mother, her abducted son, and the Texas Ranger who investigates the kidnapping. All this happens during a deadly hurricane that threatens the city and hinders the investigation.

is a skilled writer. This is her third novel in the Sarah Armstrong series. However, it the first of her books that I have read. And I'm glad I did. I found this book to be exciting as well as entertaining. I was pulled into the plot from the first chapter. I especially liked how it flowed seamlessly from one chapter to the next, keeping my interest while remaining plausible.Kathryn Casey

Here is a plot summary from the author's website:

A quiet afternoon in the park, and four-year-old Joey Warner plays in the sandbox, when a stranger approaches looking for his runaway dog. While Joey’s mom, Crystal, talks on her cell phone, the stranger convinces the child to help search. By the time Crystal turns around, her son has disappeared. Yet her behavior is odd, not what one would expect from a distraught mother. Is Crystal Warner somehow involved in her son’s abduction?

Meanwhile, on a cattle ranch outside Houston, Texas Ranger Sarah Armstrong assesses a symbol left on the hide of a slaughtered longhorn, a figure that dates back to a forgotten era of sugarcane plantations and slavery. Soon other prizewinning bulls are butchered on the outskirts of the city, each bearing a different but similar drawing. Before long, the investigations converge at the same time a catastrophic hurricane threatens. Someone very close to Sarah is brutally murdered, and the clock ticks, as the storm moves in. If Sarah doesn’t act quickly, the child will die.



I like books that explore the depraved mind and help us see our sinful nature in a unique way. I am fascinated by the reasons why evil people do what they do and how God uses others to restrain that evil and punish the wicked. Thank God he rescues us from ourselves!

I am grateful to Pump Up Your Book for sending this book to me for review. I am looking forward to reading more of Mrs. Casey's books!

I give The Killing Storm 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: Brave Boys of Derry by W.S. Martin

Brave Boys of Derry is a true account of an event in history when a group of young men protected and defended their town of Londonderry in northern Ireland from a seige by King James II in 1689. The story is interesting and at the same time chilling as one reads about these Protestant men (and women) who risked their lives for what they believed to be the truth of God.

It is a book for young people that was written by a man who had this to say about why he wrote it:

"The writer hopes that, with God's blessing, this little effort may do something to foster in the hearts of his young readers a similar spirit to that which filled the breasts of the apprentice boys of Londonderry when they shut the gates of the city in the face of the Pope's army, and that they too will be found standing firm, and, if need be, suffering joyfully in the cause of truth and freedom."

Quite a noble purpose, I would say.

I think this book would make a great Christmas gift to any young person who loves to read historical narratives. I give Brave Boys of Derry 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Book Review: Arsenic and Clam Chowder by James D. Livingston

There was a time in my life that most of my reading was true crime books. Authors such as Ann Rule, Vincent Bugliosi, and Truman Capote were on my list of writers to look for when I went into the library every week. I like reading about criminals and how their minds work, so I was caught up in reading all about these people and their outrageous deeds of evil. Eventually, I had to stop (cold turkey) because I was having constant nightmares and I know it was simply not good for me to be immersed in all of that stuff for days on end. I still read an occasional true crime story, but not at the same frequency as before.

As I read Arsenic and Clam Chowder, I was reminded of this and how addicted I used to be. Thankfully, I read more eclectically (is that a word?) now. I do remember the books about Ted Bundy, Charles Manson and Jack the Ripper and how fascinating all this was to my curious mind. But now that I've read this one, I think I'll be content to wait a while before reading another one.

Arsenic and Clam Chowder is the story of a woman in New York in the year 1895 who was accused of poisoning her mother with arsenic in a bowl of clam chowder. There were many interesting pieces to this case, such as the young daughter who delivered the chowder to her grandmother, the part that the newspapers played in reporting all the news of the case to the public, and the baby born to the defendant while she was in the prison awaiting her trial. The author did a great job in rounding out the story with descriptions of New York society of that time and background facts of the main characters involved in this highly popular murder trial.

The last chapter, entitled "Reasonable Doubt and Judicial Murder" was interesting. The author explored the question "What is reasonable doubt?". After offering some ideas and possible answers to that question, the best statements came at the end of the book: "There were gaps and weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and there were other bases for reasonable doubt.......With the death penalty facing her, I think I wouldn't have voted for conviction, but if she sent me some clam chowder, I am certain well beyond a reasonable doubt, in fact to at least a 99 percent of certainty, that I would not eat it."

I give Arsenic and Clam Chowder 4 out of 5 stars.

Author's website: http://www.jamesdlivingston.net/

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: Well, I started reading a book called Neighborhood Watch by Cammie McGovern last night, but when I got to work today (I work in a library), guess what was there? The new JOHN GRISHAM BOOK, The Confession! So, I HAD to put down Neighborhood Watch (sorry Ms. McGovern, I'll get back to it) and bring Mr. Grisham home. So, I'll be staying up late reading this new novel by one of my favorite writers. How could I resist when the description of the book is so intriguing?

What I recently finished reading: Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater - I will be sharing my review of this book with you on this blog on Thursday. Please come back to visit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I'll probably read next: Arsenic and Clam Chowder by James D. Livingston - This story of a true murder looks quite interesting. Here is the description from Amazon.com:

 

Recounts the sensational 1896 murder trial of Mary Alice Livingston, who was accused of murdering her mother with an arsenic-laced pail of clam chowder and faced the possibility of becoming the first woman to be executed in New York's new-fangled electric chair.

I'll be reviewing this book for Pump Up Your Book! here on November 4.

What are you reading now? Won't you share with me and my readers? I am interested in what others are discovering out there!

The Golden Pathway by Donna McDine

I have always been fascinated about the events of the American Civil War and about slavery. Since I also find myself drawn to the time period of WWII, I think I must be sensitive to the whole issue of man's cruelty to man. I want to try and understand what is going on in the minds of the ones (like Hitler, the unjust slave owners, and even the criminals of today) who seem to actually enjoy hurting those who are different than they are, or those who appear to be threatening to them.

The Golden Pathway is a children's book (for ages 8-12) that tells the story of a boy who helps his father's slave escape the cruelty that the father has done against him. The boy gently attends to the slave's wounds, then asks a Quaker friend to help the slave find freedom.

The book is very short (about 10 pages of text) and would be easy for a young person to read quickly. The story is good, but it seems to be too sketchy and I feel that it could use some more detail to make it even more interesting. I'm not sure if a young reader would be satisfied with such a brief story. When I was reading it, I wanted to know more about the characters, where they lived, and some of the back stories that would have made this a much better book.

I give The Golden Pathway 3 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Pump Up Your Book! for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Book Review: Jungle Sunrise by Jonathan Williams

It seems that many of the books I have read this year are about missionaries and their experiences while they are spreading the Gospel to other countries. I have discovered new authors such as Kathi Macias and David Gregory, and I have thought more about what it looks like to seriously care about others who do not know Jesus and how we should be willing to sacrifice our time and possible even our lives in order to help them come to salvation.

One of the authors I have read for the first time is Jonathan Williams, author of Jungle Sunrise. This is his first book, and I think he did a great job.

In Jungle Sunrise, Mr. Williams has captured the feel of jungle life. Of course, that's no surprise, since he himself lived in the Amazon jungle for two years as a member of the Xtreme Team, missionaries who go into remote areas and work with native people to tell people about God. The reader feels like he/she is there in the jungle and river as the characters endure intense opression and severe treatment from the jungle natives. The reader is drawn into an emotional roller coaster as the characters experience joys as well as heartaches in an attempt to show the love of God to the Peruvian people.

I also like the diversity of the characters that are in this novel. There are the missionaries, as well as as an anthropologist, a magazine photographer, a linguist, and a writer who is struggling with writer's block, a lost job, and depression, leading to an attempted suicide. All of these come together to face extreme physical, emotional and spiritual challenges that culminate in some amazing insights and circumstances. The ending is quite satisfying and full of hope.

I think that any Christian would enjoy this book. And if you are not a believer, but want to read something that will inspire you and help you see a meaning to life in the midst of great trials, this book is one you will want to read.

I give Jungle Sunrise 4.5 out of 5 stars.





(I received a copy of Jungle Sunrise from Pump Up Your Book! Blog Tours. I received no monetary compensation for reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in the review are entirely my own.)

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: Juliet by Anne Fortier - I will be writing a review on this one on September 15 for Pump Up Your Book! book tours. Here is a description of Juliet from the author's website:

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena.

As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse– “A plague on both your houses!” –is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo–but where is he?

Since I just saw the play of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare a few weeks ago, the story is fresh in my mind. Hopefully that will help me in reading the book. I can say one thing about the book so far: it has a GORGEOUS front cover!

What I recently finished reading: Jungle Sunrise by Jonathan Williams - I also received this book from Pump Up Your Book! I will have a review on it on August 24. It was a good (but sad) story about a couple who were missionaries to Peru and the people whose lives they impacted for God. Here is a quote about the book from the book's website:

“Felt like The End of the Spear, Apocalypto, and Safely Home all rolled into one. It proved all-around moving, one of those that lingers awhile after the final pages turn.”   ~ Kaci Hill, co-author of Lunatic and Elyon with NY Times Bestselling Author Ted Dekker.

What I'll probably read next: Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman- This one is from Revell. Written by the wife of award-winning Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman, Choosing to See tells the story of Mrs. Chapman's struggle in dealing with the death of her daughter after a tragic accident two years ago. Steven is one of my favorite singers and I have admired how this wonderful family has relied on God to see them through this time of intense grief. They are a great example of how to walk with the Lord in times of trial. I'm looking forward to reading their story.

That's what I'm reading now. What about you? What are you reading this week? What books have you read lately that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments!