Review: The Girl Who Heard Demons by Janette Rallison

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis


Shy Adelle Hansen hears demons, but she’s determined to make friends at her new high school by keeping her ability secret. When she overhears supernatural voices celebrating the impending death of the school quarterback, Levi Anderson, she knows she has to do something to prevent it. However, the demons aren’t the ones plotting; they’re just celebrating the chaos, and Adelle must contend with earthly forces as well if she wants to preserve Levi’s life. Handsome, popular Levi doesn't appreciate Adelle’s self-appointed role of guardian angel. As Adelle battles to keep him safe, she’ll have to protect her heart, too. Can she do both?


My Review

This book is so different from what I've been reading lately! The young adult perspective was refreshing, and the story is told from both Adelle and Levi's first person POV. The author skillfully portrayed each voice as distinct to their character and didn't make events overlap and get retold again. While the plot device that Adelle is able to hear demons is supernatural, it is based enough in reality that it didn't seem like fantasy or even paranormal. Her gift is one that makes her feel isolated, especially when she received backlash for trying to do good with what she learns. I appreciated that there is a subtle faith element incorporated so there is a underlying feeling of hope, as well as aligning with my own personal beliefs of relying on God while doing as much as we can to help ourselves and follow His will. The dangerous circumstances provide tension and anticipation leading towards the climax, but the interactions between Adelle and Levi are what I really enjoyed while anxiously reading to see what would happen next.

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop!

I absolutely love children's books! Especially those with great illustrations. My daughter loved reading the Judy Moody books because they are chapter books, but also have color illustrations throughout. The story is fun and easy to read with a large and well-spaced font. To celebrate Children's Book Week we are giving away a hardback copy of Judy Moody & Stink: The Big Bad Blackout. Enter in the Giveaway Tools widget below for a chance to win!

Synopsis

Hold on to your umbrella and stock up on marshmallows — Judy and Stink face wicked weather in their third full-color adventure.

Judy and Stink and the whole Moody family hunker down with beans and batteries, ready to wait out the storm. But along with massive rain and strong winds, Hurricane Elmer throws down ghosts, squirrels, and aliens. Spooky! Just when things couldn’t possibly get any freakier — flicker, flicker, gulp! — the lights go O-U-T out. The Moodys are smack-dab in the middle of a big bad blackout! Grandma Lou proposes musical board games and some good old-fashioned storytelling. Will Hurricane Elmer go down in Moody family history as bad news, a happy memory, or simply an LBS (Long Boring Story)?

Entry-Form

Review: Lost King by H.B. Moore

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Undercover agent Omar Zagouri has been ordered to Giza. A prominent Egyptologist was murdered, and a priceless artifact—the only complete version of the Book of the Dead—is missing. Omar is still reeling from the recent disappearance of his girlfriend, Mia Golding, but he puts his quest to find her on hold to track down the lost piece of history.

Omar’s mission is not just to locate the sacred book; he must also rescue the two archaeologists kidnapped and forced to translate its hieroglyphics under threat of death. Their kidnapper is determined to discover the text’s rumored explosive revelation: that Moses did not receive the Ten Commandments from God but instead copied them from the Egyptians. Though Omar’s need to find Mia grows more urgent, he must focus on finding the enemy who will stop at nothing to ignite a controversy that will change history, and the world, forever.

My Review

I love the thrilling adventure that an Omar Zagouri book will promise! The story is told from multiple points of view, but the plot flows seamlessly and quickly as the mystery is uncovered. Hatshe's ancient story is fascinating and compelling as she feels the role of Pharaoh should be hers but must helplessly witness it fall to another. She is an admirable character who wants to contribute to her country and serve its people with her interest and skills in military strategy and architecture. There is romance and intrigue in her time and in the modern day story arc, as Omar tries to protect his girlfriend Mia in the middle of a dangerous assignment. We see parts told from the villain's perspective as well as some professors that get caught in the middle of an international scandal. The non-stop action that Omar finds himself in is tempered by flashbacks to Hatshe's royal drama and dilemma. Highly recommend!

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Review: The Captive by Julie Coulter Bellon

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Former Navy SEAL Jake Williams is the newly appointed head of a task force assigned to rescue a kidnapped American diplomat. Their only hope is Mya Amari, the daughter of a notorious Algerian hostage negotiator, but she is full of secrets and complications– something Jake takes as a personal challenge. As they grow closer, the threat to the mission escalates and time runs out for the hostages. Can Jake unravel the web of deception to save them all without getting caught in the crossfire?

Mya Amari has been in hiding nearly her entire life to escape her father’s enemies. But when her sister is kidnapped along with an American diplomat, she’ll do anything to bring her home– including walking into the enemy’s lair. She doesn’t trust anyone, especially the too-handsome-for-his-own-good Commander Williams, but when all her careful plans explode out of control, he’s the only one she can turn to with the truth about her family. Is it too little, too late?

My Review

This is the first book I've read by this author so I didn't quite know what to expect beyond some good reviews I had read. I enjoyed the main characters Jake and Mya, but felt like I only got to see the surface of their personalities and sensed there are more layers there. Since this is the first book in the Griffin Force series I hope their characters are delved into more deeply in future books, as well as other members of the task force. There are some scenes with action, but they are spaced widely with scenes of transportation and descriptions of the safehouse and the mission, which seemed vague. The technical precision I'm used to in the writings of other suspense authors was missing, but it also allowed the plot to not get hung up on details. An element of quick romance was present, based on mutual physical attraction. It will be interesting to see how the long term relationship plays out throughout the series.

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)