June, 2013

"There Comes a Prophet" by David Litwak         

Set in a dystopic future, technology is the purview of the vicars, who use it as a form of magic to control the populace.  Completely under their grasp, Nat, Thomas and Orah, three young adults, decide to challenge the authority.  After receiving a scroll to the keep, where knowledge has been kept and preserved for decades, the three set off to change the world.          

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  However, everything was just too easy.  It didn't seem that the trio faced any real challenges or hard decisions.  I think this book is definitely geared towards pre-teens or young teenagers.  Overall, a good book, one I would recommend to a younger audience.

"Kiya:  Hope of the Pharaoh" by Katie Hamstead         

After dreaming that a Hebrew bride will bring him a son, Pharaoh Akhenaten sends Horemheb, a ferocious warrior to obtain his new wife.  When her sister is chosen, Naomi offers herself up in her place.  Taken to the palace, Queen Nefertiti immediately despises Naomi and begins a campaign of terror against her.           

I found this book hard to put down.  It was well written, engaging and fast paced.  I do wish it had an epilogue, and perhaps that can be incorporated into future versions.  Overall, an interesting novel, one I highly recommend.

"No Child of Mine" by Susan Lewis         

Alex, a social worker in England, is completely devoted to her job and the kids lives who she touches.  When she meets Ottillie, she knows instantly that something isn't right.  Constricted by rules, she is only able to help Ottillie in small ways.          

This book was just haunting.  I almost put it down several times, but I kept reading because I had to know what happened to Ottillie.  If you are someone who is easily disturbed or overly emotional about child abuse, this book probably isn't for you.  However, it is well written, the characters are living breathing people, and it is just a roller coaster of a tale.

"Pilgrim's Wilderness" by Tom Kizzia         

A hundred pages into the book, and I'm still not sure what the legal problems are that the author keeps alluding too.  Although it is an interesting subject matter, I just wish the author would get to the meat of the story.  Overall, a disappointment.

"Royal Mistress" by Anne Easter Smith         

When Jane's father marries her off, she finds herself wed to an impotent workaholic.  Desperate for love and affection, she finds herself flirting and falling in love with the King.  After winning his affections, she divorces her husband and becomes known as the royal mistress.          

The book was well written and moved at a good pace.  I did find that it was choppy from part to part.  It needed more of a transition, or some way of letting the reader know how much time has passed.  An interesting, little known, historical figure, I found Jane's life to be fascinating.  Overall, highly recommended.

"Impossible Odds" by Buchanan and Landemal         

A strong willed woman, determined to help children in Africa, found herself kidnapped by Somali land pirates.  This book details her three months of captivity, near-starvation and increasingly difficult situation.  With strength and courage, we see the inner will she must have possessed to survive these harrowing circumstances.          

The book was a very fast read, it was hard to put down.  I thought the author did a good job of switching points of view, to show us what her husband was suffering through as he tried desperately to seek a resolution.  Overall, highly recommended.

"The Astronaut Wives Club"" by Lily Koppel         

Skyrocketed to instant fame, the wife of an astronaut could expect aggressive journalists, anxiety and fear over her husband’s missions and constant competition among the families.  The book begins with the original seven mercury wives.  It discuses their reactions to the missions and their struggles to be the "perfect" wife.  As the book brought in other astronaut wives, it made the mercury wives seem territorial and greedy.  By the end of the book there were too many wives to keep up with.  It was shocking to  read about  the divorce rate of astronaut couples and devastating to read about the loss of lives and the wives reaction to it.  Overall, an interesting book.  It isn't one I would re-read, but it gave me some insight into the lives of the astronaut family.

"Holly Jean and the Secret of Razorback Ridge" by Bonnie Compton Hanson         

When Holly Jean's father is drafted to fight in World War II, she moves to the country to live with her grandmother and great aunt.  Dismayed by the move, she misses her friend and the basic luxuries of the city.  After learning about a ghost and a murder, she begins scouting around the area, trying to uncover the mystery.         

This was a well written and fast paced book.  It is ideal for pre-teen girls, who will connect with Holly Jean and love her adventures.  Overall, highly recommended.

"A Girl Like You" by Maureen Lindley         

Satomi, half Japanese half American, is forced into an internment camp after Pearl Harbor.  She finds herself struggling to keep her Mom afloat in a culture that she doesn't feel connected too.          

I have mixed feelings about this book.  It was an interesting story but it moved at a really slow pace.  The author often switched points of view without warning, without a break, which tended to be a bit confusing and annoying.  I found myself in the middle of a paragraph and suddenly realize that she has switched to another character.  I think with a bit of editing and polish this could be a fantastic book.