More on Defenders of the Covenant

Today, I have a couple of more links on my unofficial blog tour!

First, Cathy Witbeck reviewed Defenders on her blog. Check it out.

Also, Danyelle Leafty captured Hannah's heart today. Come see what Hannah has to say.

Just a reminder, since I haven't really made a big deal of it, if you comment on any of the posts over there in the sidebar, and follow both my blog and the participating blog, you'll be entered into a drawing for an Avenging Angels T-shirt! You'll be entered for each comment you leave--one per post. Runs through the end of this month!

Have a happy day! =)

Another Review of Defenders

Today, Renae Mackley of Renae's Writespot reviews Defenders of the Covenant. Thanks, Renae

If you missed the rest of my unofficial blog tour, here are the links:

First Chapter
March Madness Interview
Guest Post on Angela Felsted's Blog 
J.Lloyd Morgan's Review
Jane Still's Review 
Stacy Coles' Review 
Kathleen Brebes' Review 
Interview and Review with C. LaRene Hall 
Renae Mackely's Review 
Taffy Lovell's Review

I have just decided that if you comment on any or all of these links, I'll put your name into a drawing for an Avenging Angels T-shirt!

Wouldn't you love to be an honorary member of the fleet?

The giveaway will be open through all the upcoming reviews, interviews and such until May 31, and I'll hold the drawing on June 1.

(Some posts, like Jane Still's, don't have comments open, so those won't be included. Also, I'll only include commenters who are also following my blog and the participating blog. Rules and all that.)

So, go forth, comment and enjoy!

The Hidden Sun--A Review

A faraway kingdom

A beautiful princess

A courageous hero

A ruthless villain

An impossible choice

The Hidden Sun by J. Lloyd Morgan, 2nd edition is a fun medieval adventure, with plenty of intrigue, action, secrets, heroes and romance. This is actually my second time to read and review this book. I reviewed the first edition a little over a year ago. You can read that here. Since then, The Hidden Sun was picked up by my publisher, Walnut Springs, and issued in a shiny new edition, newly edited, with a new cover.

So, what do I think of the second edition? Same great story, wonderful new package! In my first review, my main complaint was a large number of typos that I found distracted me from the story. That issue has been resolved, and without those distractions, I found the story even more fun to read this time around.

I love the way Morgan uses symbolism in the book. His characters are well-developed and easy to love and root for. I found I really cared about what happened to them and to their beloved kingdom of Bariwon. But the story itself is not the only thing to love about this book. I had fun noticing (on my second time through), Morgan's skillful naming of characters and places. Can you guess the secret of Bariwon and it's seven districts (Erd, Grenoa, Lewyol, Regne, Lebu, Donigi, and Teviol)? Not to mention such events as the Mortentaun and Shoginoc.

The Hidden Sun is full of surprises. It's also a good, clean read with no objectionable content. Just the sort of thing I'm looking for!

Check out J. Lloyd Morgan's website for more about the book and purchasing information. I always like to give books for Christmas, and this one would make a great gift.

*Please note: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher to review.

Three Stars, Anyone?

I've seen a lot of authors bemoaning three star ratings on Goodreads lately, as if it were a bad thing. And I'm thinking, what? I thought three stars was a good rating. I routinely give three stars to books that I like, because that's what it says when you hover over three stars:

I like it. 

So, if I've offended any of my author friends with a three star rating, please rest assured I mean it as a positive review. Three stars is kind of my default rating. I don't bother rating (or even finishing) books I don't like. Four stars go to books that have something special about them that I especially like. Five stars are reserved for books destined to be my all-time favorites. Ender's Game, Lord of the Rings ... you understand.


It's so hard to boil down how you feel about a book into a number between 1 and 5. That's why I don't particularly like Goodreads, actually.

What do you think? What kind of books do you give three or four or five stars to? Would you be offended with a three star rating?

The Armor of Light--A Review

Before I start with the review, I want to let you know that there's a little contest going on on my Facebook page. You could win your favorite candy bar! Come check it out.

I first read Karen Hoover's The Sapphire Flute, Book one of the Wolfchild Saga, in May of last year. I loved it, and I've been anxiously awaiting the second book, The Armor of Light, ever since. This month I finally got the opportunity to read it!

Ember has been accepted into the mage academy, but not without cost. She has gained a new enemy, ancient and dark, whose entire purpose is to destroy all white magic and her along with it. After nearly losing her life in a brutal attack, DeMunth is assigned her guardian, and the keystone he wears, The Armor of Light, begins the transition that will make it a true power.

Kayla has lost most everything of importance to her—the people, the prestige, and all she fought for the past ten years. With nothing left to lose, she continues her search for the birthplace of The Sapphire Flute and the Wolfchild she believes to be its player. Her journey will take her to strange, foreign, and often dangerous places, and everything she had thought to be true will be proven wrong.

In a showdown full of betrayal and heroic loss, Ember and Kayla finally meet on the battlefield, fighting a war on two fronts—against C'Tan and her people, and the mysterious enemy bent on destroying all magic—the shadow weavers.

The story is full of power, betrayal, hope, and love. The elements of the universe are coming together, and none can know who will stand in the end.

The Armor of Light is a wonderful continuation of the exciting story in that began in The Sapphire Flute. I love both of the main characters, Ember and Kayla. They each have unique strengths and weaknesses and I could relate to both of them. The book is full of action, danger and just the right amount of romance. The exciting ending took my breath away! Now I can't wait to read the third book!

If you enjoy epic fantasy, then you'll love both The Sapphire Flute and The Armor of Light.

You can read samples of both and find ordering information on Karen E. Hoover's website. I highly recommend you check them out!

*I received a free e-book in exchange for my honest review.*

Who's At the Door? by Dan Harrington: A Review

Today, I'm shaking things up a bit and reviewing some non-fiction. Who's at the Door? by Dan Harrington.

I was born and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons). In fact, my family have been members all the way back to the beginnings of the church. I've known all about our beliefs and doctrines well, forever. It's a part of who I am. So I've always been curious about what it's like to be an investigator of the church--to learn about it as an adult. Conversely, I never had the opportunity to serve a mission as a young adult. Young ladies can serve at age 21, and by the time I turned 21, I was already married and expecting my first baby. So I also don't really know what it's like to be a full-time missionary, either.

Who's At the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries by Dan Harrington gave me a chance to find out.

From the back of the book:

Right now, thousands of people across the world are meeting with the more than 50,000 Latter-day Saint missionaries. You've seen these young "elders" on the streets, in your neighborhood, and even outside your home. But have you ever wondered who they are? Dan Harrington did. Who's at the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries is one man's experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maine. Not just another tale of conversion, this book is about seeing life from a new perspective, gaining respect for another faith, and finding friends in unlikely places. Find out who's at the door and what can happen when you open it.

I found this book compelling, beautifully written and quite poignant. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down. I read it in one day. Kind of amazing for me!

My favorite quote from the book is this:

People come in, make their mark, and leave. It doesn't matter if they're a missionary or not. In recording these events, I wonder if that's why writing has always meant so much to me. In a changing world where people disappear like smoke in the wind, writing can make a moment last. It offers a time to ponder and reflect and a chance to hold onto things that possess a special meaning for us.

I think that's just what Dan's book does so well. It captures a moment that he experienced and then lets the reader experience it as well. He does an excellent job drawing the reader in. This is a great book for people of any faith, or none at all, who are curious about Mormon missionaries or investigators or who just want to look at life from a different perspective for a while.

Visit Dan Harrington's blog for more information and links to order the book.

*I received a free copy of the book to review. That in no way influenced my opinion.

Star Scout Rising: First Trail: My Review

You probably know, if you read this blog much, that I love science fiction, especially with loads of action. I had high hopes for Star Scout Rising: First Trail, and I was not disappointed.

Junior Star Scout Del Baldura and his teammates find themselves in a world of trouble when one of the team members is kidnapped by off-world poachers during a training mission. Now Del and the rest have to use all their wits to survive. The book also follows Jak McCarel and Star Scout Command as they try to uncover a plot by the sinister Gadion Faction, a plot which may put the Junior Scouts in even more danger.

Star Scout Rising if chock full of adventure, nail-biting action, hairs-breadth escapes, and cool alien creatures. In other words, science fiction just like I want it. I enjoyed the characters and could relate to their struggles. The book grabbed my interest right away and kept me hooked until the end. Of course, as this is volume one, that end comes just as the two different story lines come together. And while lots of questions are left unanswered, I still felt the ending was satisfying. I am anxious to read the next book now and find out what happens!

The book is refreshingly clean and free of any objectionable material. It's one that I'm sure my teen boys will also love. Star Scout Rising: First Trail is available in print on Amazon or for Kindle. You can find out more about the book and about Gary Darby on his blog.


So, if you love science fiction adventure as much I do, I highly recommend you give Star Scout Rising a try!

The Peasant Queen Blog Tour: My Review

Today, I'm reviewing The Peasant Queen by Cheri Chesley. Here's the blurb:

After running away from home, Krystal is transported to a faraway kingdom where an evil tyrant is bent on taking the crown - and Krystal's hand in marriage. But when she falls in love with the rightful heir to the throne, she must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her one chance at happiness and agree to marry King Gregory, or face the destruction of an entire kingdom.

The Peasant Queen is a romance with plenty of action, intrigue and danger in a fantasy setting. Chesley does a great job developing her characters. I love Krystal's spunk and energy and the way she refuses to take things lying down. Prince Jareth is sweet and romantic. But my favorite character is King Gregory--the villain. He's not my favorite in the sense that I wanted to see him succeed. Not at all. He is my favorite in the sense that he is the most complex and well-drawn character in the book. I found his intensity, passion, and ruthlessness quite compelling, and could totally understand Krystal's reaction to him.

My biggest disappointment was that the magic in the book is more of a background detail and is not important to the plot. For that reason, I'd say the book is not truly fantasy, but it is a wonderful, adventurous romance. I am looking forward to the sequel.


Cheri Chesley is hosting a super cool contest in connection with the blog tour. Click here to find out the details and see the awesome prizes, and leave a comment here to get entered!

Save the Short Story (Short Fiction Review)

Jungle Statue (c) 2009 by Jason Zampol

If you've read this blog much, then you know how much I love short fiction, and I don't want to see it become and endangered species. So today, may I present ResAliens print magazine, Issue #5!

ResAliens editor, Lyn Perry, promises to bring us "spiritually-infused" fiction. What does that term mean to you. In the introduction to this issue, Perry says: Well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that each story is “spiritual” (what some might call, “religious”) or has a certain moral to it. Not that there isn’t a place for specifically religious material. You’ll read what some would term “Christian” fiction within the pages and web pages of ResAliens. But for me, it is a mindset with which I approach almost every song, film, or book. I  embrace the arts – and literature in particular – from a spiritual perspective. That is, I come to a story ready to engage the transcendent or eternal message or theme within that work of art.

So, does ResAliens fulfill this promise? Yes, it does. The seven stories inside are all well-written, interesting, and possess a certain lyrical quality that I found compelling. Yet each story also contains a thread of darkness that leaves you thinking about what you've just experienced.

"Where the Sun Don't Shine" by Jeff Parish starts the issue. I have to admit, I was hard-pressed to find anything spiritual in this story, however I did find it a fun read--in a kind of grown-up, macabre Captain Underpants sort of way. (Sure hope I am never infested with butt pirates!)

"Not Your Kind of Heathen" by Erin M. Kinch brings us an exciting story of a strong and yet vulnerable hunter of the creatures of the dark.

"The Noble Experiment" by Pat. R. Steiner is a beautifully written tale of a summertime story shared between Grandson and Grandfather, and even features an appearance by the infamous Al Capone!

"Rockets Over Eireann" by Kristen Lee Knapp shocking and yet moving portrayal of violence and terrorism, and was my favorite in this issue.

"A Heroine's Death" by Billy Wong brings us a heroine so amazing not even death can conquer her. But is that really for the best? A nice tale of love and sacrifice.

"Azerieran: Lokxenthuul" by Christopher Heath is a dark story of a twisted, evil dwarf, and leaves you to ponder justice and revenge.

"Protein" by Gustavo Bondoni, another of my favorites in here, is a truly chilling tale addresses some important issues.

Also in the issue, you'll find an interview with cover artist Jason Zampol (Isn't it a beautiful cover?), and an anthology review. You can order issue #5, and the other print issues, as well as enjoy more great fiction, on the ResAliens website.

If you love short stories like I do, or if you just want a great read, ResAliens is well worth your time.

From the editor: Already 20% off at $8.00 for a print issue. Now purchase ResAliens Issue 5 and save an additional 15% off with coupon code: FIRESIDE305 (good through Feb 15, 2011).  http://www.lulu.com/product/14604803

*I received a free e-copy of the magazine, which I chose to review for you.

More Christmas Goodies (of the print variety)

Today I am pleased to share another great addition to your Christmas story collection. Jane Lebak's novella, "The Boys Upstairs." Here's the blurb from the publisher's website:

Jay Farrell, a crippled priest, has begun housing homeless boys in his rectory. Once a street kid himself, he was riding the rocket-train to a lifetime in prison until the day he drove over a land mine in Iraq. Today he works at an inner-city parish, running a soup kitchen and struggling to manage an impoverished church.

With temperatures below zero and falling a few nights before Christmas, Jay's estranged brother Kevin dumps three more children on his front porch. Kevin, a cop who can't believe in God after all the evil he's seen, hasn't spoken to Jay in years, but he knows Jay will at least give the kids a place to stay. It isn't over yet, though. As they work together to meet the children's needs, they must confront the long-buried emotions that have divided them so long.
The Boys Upstairs examines the real gift of the holiday season and how hope can transform the ones society condemns as not worth saving.

I have really enjoyed Lebak's work in the past, especially her novel Seven Archangels: Annihilation, which was originally published as a serial on Mindflights. So I was excited to read a Christmas story from her. She did not disappoint. "The Boys Upstairs" is a touching and tender portrayal of two brothers struggling to reconcile their differences against a back drop of an inner-city Christmas. I found myself drawn in by the characters and their struggles. They were all well-drawn, real people that I could relate to and root for. The ending was satisfying without being overly sentimental. "The Boys Upstairs" is a story of hope and healing and the gentle touch of God's grace. It is a great read to help remind you of the real reason for the season. "The Boys Upstairs" is available in several formats from Muse It Up publishing.

You can visit Jane Lebak on her blog, Seven Angels, Four Kids, One Family

Thanks, Jane, for giving me the chance to review this great Christmas read!

Update from the author:

The publisher of MuseItUp has decided to give a 25% discount on all titles until December 10th, so if you use code HC2010D at checkout in the discount code box before going to Paypal, the price drops to $3.38 Canadian.

The Widow's Mite--A Christmas Story Review

Yes, I do love me some Christmas stories, so when Christina Dymock offered me the chance to read and review her Christmas booklet, The Widow's Mite, I jumped all over that.

This delightful and touching Christmas tale brings us the story of Carol, a young widow with two small sons, who has just enough to provide Christmas for her boys, but no more. When she meets up with an old roommate in even more desperate circumstances than herself, she knows she has to help. Although Carol busies herself with organizing the school's sub-for-Santa project in behalf of her friend, she still feels empty and wonders how she can bring the Christmas spirit back into her life. Could there be more that she needs to give when she barely has enough for herself? Carol learns a beautiful lesson about love, service, and the ultimate gift of our Savior Jesus Christ. This little story is sure to bring the warmth of the Christmas season into your heart.

The Widow's Mite is published by Cedar Fort, and would make a wonderful addition to your Christmas story collection. (You do have one of those, right?) It would also make a great gift for neighbors, friends, family, visiting teachers, etc. The book is available in stores or on Amazon. If it's not available at you local bookstore, you can ask them to order it for you.

Visit the author on her blogs: My Amateur Adventures and Kids-able Treats

Thank you, Christina, for giving me the opportunity to review this heart-warming Christmas story!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the booklet to review. This did not affect my opinion of it.

Hidden Sun Blog Tour: My Review

I'm reviewing another book today. The Hidden Sun by J. Lloyd Morgan.

From the back cover:

The kingdom of Bariwon is at a crossroads. Ever since Eliana was born, she has been primed to become the kingdom's leader. But she is not to rule Bariwon alone. A contest of sorts, called the Shoginoc, is to be held when Eliana turns twenty one. The victor gains the right to marry Eliana and become king of Bariwon. Rumor has it that the favorite to win the Shoginoc is Daimh, son of malevolent Governor Abrecan. However, Eliana has fallen in love with her personal guardian, Rinan. She is torn between renouncing her title to be with the man she loves or marrying to keep the kingdom out of the hands of those who would rule it unjustly. A plan is hatched to keep her in power while allowing her to marry Rinan, but little does she know the impact this deception will have on everyone in Bariwon for years to come. 

Political intrigue and conspiracy abound in the medieval kingdom of Bariwon. At first, because of the medieval setting I guess, I was expecting a fantasy. The Hidden Sun is not a fantasy, but there is plenty of action, intrigue and romance here. Morgan does a great job of creating believable, quirky characters that you can easily fall in love with (or hate entirely, in the case of the villains). I found myself a little disappointed to find that the book was not entirely about Eliana and Rinan, but instead deals with the long-term effects of their choices. My disappointment faded with the great characters and exciting plot, however. The story held my interest all the way through. Unfortunately, there are a number of typos in the text, but I was able to overlook that and enjoy the story. I loved Morgan's use of symbolism dealing with rain, clouds, sunshine, light and darkness. The ending was sweet and satisfying.

The Hidden Sun is a good read for all ages, and contains no objectionable material.


You should also check out J. Lloyd Morgan's website. It's really fun. The book trailer is a hoot and you can find a pronunciation guide and fun "secrets" of The Hidden Sun, as well as the author's blog.


I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for my participation in the blog tour. This did not affect my review. I was asked for an honest opinion and I that's what I've given.