Written in the Ahses by K. Hollan Van Zandt

In the bloody clash between Christians and pagans in fifth-century Alexandria, a servant girl becomes the last hope for preserving peace in this evocative and thrilling tale—a blend of history, adventure, religion, romance, and mysticism reminiscent of The Mists of Avalon.
“Written in the Ashes is one of those rare novels that sets ‘history’ afire, to bathe readers in the glow of a greater, hotter truth. Fans of The Mists of Avalon will find this romantic/alchemical/feminist/spiritual epic equally captivating.”— Tom Robbins, bestselling author of Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life and Villa Incognito.
After she is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai, Hannah is enslaved and taken to Alexandria, where she becomes the property of Alizar, an alchemist and pagan secretly working to preserve his culture. Revered for her beautiful singing voice, the young slave is invited to perform at the city’s Great Library, where she becomes friends with the revered mathematician and philosopher, Hypatia, as well as other pagans who curate its magnificent collections. Determined to help them uphold pagan culture and traditions, Hannah embarks on a dangerous quest to unite the fractured pieces of the Emerald Tablet—the last hope to save the pagans and create peace.
On this odyssey that leads her to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra and to rediscovered ancient cities and rituals, Hannah will experience forbidden loves, painful betrayals, and poignant reunions. But her efforts may be in vain. Returning to Alexandria, Hannah finds a city engulfed in violence, even as her own romantic entanglements come to a head. Now, it’s not only her future, but the fate of all Alexandria that is at stake. 

My Take:  Being a book lover I have always been interested in the burning of the library in Alexandria.  Such a waste of story and history.  This book is told mostly from Hannah a young girl who was sold into slavery in Alexandria.  It also has as a character Hypatia who I had no knowledge of. I enjoy historical novels as I always learn something new either about the time period or about someone who lived at that time. This is book 1 of a series and I am looking forward to reading the next book.  This was a great debut novel by the author.  

I received a review opy of this book from Virtual Author Book tours in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Grimm Woods by D. Melhoff

A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. Trapped in the wilderness, the remaining counsellors must follow a trail of dark children’s fables in order to outwit a psychopath and save the dwindling survivors before falling prey to their own gruesome endings.

Drawing on the grisly, uncensored details of history’s most famous fairy tales, Grimm Woods is a heart-pounding thriller about a deranged killer who uses traditional children’s stories as tropes in elaborate murders. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Michigan, it’s a journey through the mind of a dangerous zealot and a shocking glimpse into the bedtime stories you thought you knew. 

My Take:  This book is the the Grimm's fairy tale that you wouldn't want to read to your kids before they go to bed but the ones that the Grimm brothers really wrote.  There are no birds doing the house work in this story.  There is besides a serial killer plotting his next kill.  And remember all those horror films that are set at a summer camp well this one is too only alittle souped up.  If you enjoy horror, mystery, thriller or even suspense you may find this book enjoyable.  There is course language, sexual references and sex scenes, violence and horror so be aware. 

I received a review copy of this book from Partners in Crime in exchange for my honest opinion.  

The Ashes by Vincent Zandri

Number 1 in Horror 
Number 1 in Crime 
Number 1 in Women's Adventure 
Number 1 in Men's Adventure 


"Don't go down into the cellar, Mommy..." 

From Thriller Award winner and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author comes the long awaited sequel to the No. 1 Overall Amazon Bestselling suspense thriller, THE REMAINS. 

"Sensational...Masterful...Brilliant." --New York Post 

"Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." --Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years 

"Tough, stylish, heartbreaking." –Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of Savages 

HORROR IN THE DARK WOODS 
It’s been eight years since artist and single mom, Rebecca Underhill, was abducted and left to die in an old broken down house located in the middle of the dark woods. But even if her abductor, Joseph William Whalen, has since been killed, another, more insidious evil is once more out to get her in the form of the Skinner. The son of an abusive butcher, Skinner intends on finishing the job Whalen started but failed at. 

How is he going to get to Rebecca? 

He’s going to do it through her children, by luring them into the cornfield behind the old farmhouse they live in. 

HORROR IN THE DEPTHS 
Now, armed with the knowledge that the Skinner has escaped incarceration at a downstate facility for the criminally insane, Rebecca must face the most horrifying challenge of her adult life: Rescuing the children not from a house in the woods, but from the abandoned tunnels that run underneath her property. 

But the Skinner is watching Rebecca’s every move. 

Horrifying question is, will she live long enough to save the children? 

My Take:  This is the second book in a planned triology.  Reading the first book would be helpful but it is not entirely necessary.  I was intrigued by Skinner in this book as why certain people do what they do and others don't has always intrigued me.  There is a bit of language and talk of sex. There is also some graphic descriptions of what Skinner did to his victims and what other insane patients behavior in an institution.  There was enough things that weren't anticipated to keep you guessing as to if anyone was going to get hurt, live or  what.  This would be good for someone who likes to read horror books.  


I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Pump Up your book. 

Miracle Man by William R. Leibowitz

From Goodreads.com - MIRACLE MAN by William R. Leibowitz has been unanimously heralded by reviewers and readers. With numerous 5 Star ratings in the United States and overseas, and WINNER OF A NATIONAL "BEST THRILLER" AWARD, the enthusiasm for this unique novel has been overwhelming.

MIRACLE MAN is a medical/conspiracy/psychological thriller that explores extraordinary genius, Big Pharma corruption, CIA machinations, metaphysical forces, and one man's tireless quest at terrible cost to validate his life.

---The victim of an unspeakable crime, an infant rises to become a new type of superhero. Unlike any that have come before him, he is not a fanciful creation of animators, he is real. So begins the saga of ROBERT JAMES AUSTIN, the greatest genius in human history. But where did his extraordinary intelligence come from and why do so many want to destroy him? Aided by two exceptional women, one of whom will become his unlikely lover, Austin struggles against abandonment and betrayal. But the forces that oppose him are more powerful than even he can understand. Robert James Austin is REVERED by many and REVILED by some. But none can doubt that he is REMARKABLE.

My Take:  I liked this book. I gave it a 4 stars on Goodreads.  You can't help but feel for the lead character Robert James Austin.  He has an IQ that can't be measured, there is no one that can keep up with him when he is working.  He doesn't really have any friends, everyone wants something from him.  He makes very powerful enemies and fuels his existence with alcohol and drug use.  I did figure out some of the twists in the book before they were revealed but that didn't make the book any less enjoyable and I didn't figure out the twist at the end.  Some of the scientific language and ideology was over my head but I felt that lent to the authenticity of the story.  I would recommend this book but be aware there was a bit of profane language and sexuality  was talked about.  Like I said there was alcohol and drug use.  

I received a review copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Tick Tock Man by R. M. Clark

When the clocks in town stop, thirteen-year-old CJ discovers an unusual "clock world" where most of the citizens are clock parts, tasked with keeping the big clocks running. But soon the seemingly peaceful world is divided between warring factions with CJ instructed to find the only person who can help: the elusive Tick Tock Man.
With the aid of Fuzee, a partly-human girl, he battles gear-headed extremists and razor-sharp pendulums in order to restore order before this world of chimes, springs, and clock people dissolves into a massive time warp, taking CJ's quiet New England town with it. 

My Take :  This was a cute and adventurous book that told the story of the main character CJ being involved in an other world adventure that the rest of his family doesn't even know exists.  CJ notices that things are a bit off with the clocks in town and enters into the world where there is a war going on.  Fuzzie is a very good character as she is a strong female and doesn't let others determine her actions.  This was a quick read and would be perfect for summertime for young readers.  The main character is 13 but this book will keep adults turning pages too.  Great adventure.  

I received a review copy of this book from Chapter by Chapter in exchange for my honest review. 

A Question of Devotion by Anita Kulina

Then she saw it – a sheet of paper in the mailbox, underneath the mail. It was white with large black letters and said LEAVE IT ALONE.

Mrs. B has a quiet life, and she likes it that way. Morning pinochle games at St. Mary’s Senior Center. Afternoon lunches with Myrtle, Anne and Rose. Peaceful evenings with a cup of coffee and the classic movie channel.

But one day she wakes to a phone call, which leads to consequences she could never have foreseen. Secrets snowball and threaten to change the neighborhood of Burchfield forever. Someone has to make things right. It’s up to Mrs. B. 

My take:  This was a really good cozy mystery.  I like cozy mysteries as they don't have alot of profanity and no gory details of the crime.  This one was especially charming as it involvoed a little old lady named Mrs. B.  She reminded me alot of my mother in law as everyone knows her and she know everyone.  She now lives in a retirement community and she loves to go to the Senior Center.  The same way that Mrs. B. does.  I found it interesting to see Mrs. B. learn how to use the computer so she could use it for interenet searches.  I liked that Mrs. B. wanted to help others in her neighborhood and to make sure the real criminals were the ones being punished.  If you like your mysteries more soft boiled and with cute little old ladies like Jessica Fletcher this is the book for you. 

I received a review copy of this book from Virtual Author Book tours in exchange for my honest review. 

The Blue Hour by VickiRighettini

Sometimes you get a second chance to live the life you’ve always wanted…if you’re brave enough to take the chance.

In this epic tale of love, loss, and redemption, the year is 1861, a time when women are expected to be married by a certain age. At 26, spinster Emily Wainwright has no reason to believe her sheltered life will ever change — until the charming Samuel Todd unexpectedly crosses her path.

Samuel yearns to homestead and start a family in Oregon, but he first needs to find a wife. Blinded by Samuel’s good looks, and grasping at her final chance to have a husband and children, Emily accepts his marriage proposal. However, Samuel is not the man she thought he was, and her marriage becomes a cold, cruel prison, offering her no solace amidst the hardships of farm life.

When Samuel dies and a second chance at love and happiness arrives in the form of farmhand Cole Walker, Emily must overcome her bitter past—or risk losing Cole and the life she has always dreamed of having. 

My Take : This must be a new topic that authors are interested in as I have seen several books lately on the topic of women going on the Oregon Trail.  Emily is a bit naive in the book and ends up in a hard life with a husband who doesn't really love her and she doesn't really love him.  She ends up going out west out of desparation which I think alot of women felt back then if they weren't married and having a family by a certain age.  This book is about maturing and realizing what you want out of life and if you are willing to buck social norms to get it.  A great historical fiction book that helps you understand that time period. 
Recommend if you like historical fiction. 

I Received a review copy of this book by Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. 

Witch by Denise Weimer

Having restored Michael Johnson's ancestors' house and apothecary shop and begun applying the lessons of family and forgiveness unearthed from the past, Jennifer Rushmore expects to complete her first preservation job with the simple relocation of a log home. But as her crew reconstructs the 1787 cabin, home to the first Dunham doctor, attacks on those involved throw suspicion on neighbors and friends alike. And while Jennifer has trusted God and Michael with the pain of her past, it appears Michael's been keeping his own secrets. Will she use a dream job offer from Savannah as an escape, or will a haunting tale from a Colonial diary convince her to rely on the faithfulness of his love? 

My Take:  Witch is the 3rd book in the Restoration Triology by Denise Weimer.  I haven't read the first two books and think that they probably would add some more light to what is happening in this book but I enjoyed this book just the same.  The author weaves the past and present together to form a compelling story that is both thrilling and uplifting.  I enjoyed the history throughout the book and learned quite a few things that I didn't already know about the conflict with the Native Americans.  I also liked the present day story of restoration in both the buildings and the lives of the characters.  This is a Christian historical fiction book and God is very much a part of the story.  I hope to go back to read the other 2 books. 

I received a review copy of this book from Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.  

Other Breakable Things by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

According to Japanese legend, folding a thousand paper cranes will grant you healing.

Evelyn Abel will fold two thousand if it will bring Luc back to her.

Luc Argent has always been intimately acquainted with death. After a car crash got him a second chance at life—via someone else’s transplanted heart—he tried to embrace it. He truly did. But he always knew death could be right around the corner again.

And now it is.

Sick of hospitals and tired of transplants, Luc is ready to let his failing heart give out, ready to give up. A road trip to Oregon—where death with dignity is legal—is his answer. But along for the ride is his best friend, Evelyn.

And she’s not giving up so easily.

A thousand miles, a handful of roadside attractions, and one life-altering kiss later, Evelyn’s fallen, and Luc’s heart is full. But is it enough to save him? Evelyn’s betting her heart, her life, that it can be.

Right down to the thousandth paper crane. 

My Take:  This was a heart wrenching, uplifting, tears streaming , grin from ear to ear wearing book.  Go into this book with the knowledge that your heart will be ripped out and stomped on and put back shredded but you won't care because this book is that good.  This book is about death and dying so you know that it isn't a light reading book.  Definately not a book for a beach trip as you will get burned to a crisp or never come out of your motel room because you won't want to put it down.  This book is perfect for those rainy days in spring that will bring the flowers just like this book has the dreariness but also the optimism.  This is not your typical YA book and it deals with a heavy subject but it also deals with friendship and new love and just a bunch of emotions.  Highly recommend.

I received a review copy of this book from Chapter by Chpater in exchange for my honest review. 

Unsinkable Faith by Tracie Miles

Unsinkable Faith: God-Filled Strategies to Transform the Way You Think, Feel, and Live (David C. Cook, April 2017)

For many people, remaining optimistic and feeling positive about themselves and their lives is a constant battle — especially when circumstances are difficult and life is hard.

For others, negativity is something that only sneaks up from time to time, yet still wreaks havoc in their hearts. Regardless of the root causes, once pessimistic thoughts permeate our minds, our feelings and emotions begin to control us instead of us controlling them. Eventually it doesn’t seem possible to stay positive, happy, and full of joy, and negative thought patterns shake our faith, causing us to sink emotionally, mentally, and spiritually over time. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite what storms roll in, hearts anchored in God don’t sink. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel and live, even if our circumstances remain the same. Intentionally embracing the opportunity to experience a transformed heart and a renewed mind opens the door for a changed life, because a positive mind will always lead to a more positive life.

In Unsinkable Faith, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Tracie Miles offers hope for women who struggle with negativity. Each chapter explores Tracie’s and other women’s personal stories, showing how they rose above their circumstances by transforming and renewing their minds. Unsinkable Faith is a breath of fresh air for anyone longing for a heart full of joy, an unbreakable smile, and a new, more optimistic perspective on life. This book will equip you to:

—Replace pessimism with positive thinking by becoming the captain of your thoughts;
—Learn how true joy and happiness are based on choice, not circumstances;
—Overcome unhealthy habits of negative thinking by intentionally implementing three easy mind-renewing steps;
—Stop feeling hopeless and pitiful, and start feeling hope-filled and powerful instead; and
—Discover that when you change the way you think, you change the way feel, and in turn you can change your life completely.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT TRACIE MILES}

Tracie Miles is a national speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries and a bestselling author who’s spent the last twelve years inspiring women to become who God called them to be. She’s the author of “Your Life Still Counts” and “Stressed-Less Living,” and a contributor to Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotions.

Find out more about Tracie at http://traciemiles.com.

My Take:  This was a very good book for me in my personal life right now as I am currently dealing with a disability that is still fairly new to me and struggling with a disease that is constantly changing from day to day.  This book helps us to remember that no matter what we are going through everyone else is dealing with something also.  How we deal with life is a choice and you can deal with it either with negative thoughts or positive thoughts.  Because of my situation I have been dealing with mild depression also so this book has helped with that situation also.  This book helps you focus on scripture

and gives you a challenge for each of the chapters.  

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from Litfuse.