Books Read: A New Shade of Summer
Pages Read: 334
Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 334
Finished Books:
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Review: Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig
My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
Six months after stopping a deadly plague, Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are enjoying a little rest. That peace is short-lived when a sniper shot hits Tox. The enemy is discovered to be one of their own, a rogue Special Forces team operator.
Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.
Afraid his old friend is right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team engage in another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is cheating--he's using a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming one.
My Review
Once again, I was drawn into the intense world of Tox and his team as they race to try and get ahead of the devastation being wrought by a powerful crown in the wrong hands. There are many facets to the story that weave together and enhance its complexity, including flashbacks to ancient times when we see the crown in use in another dangerous era. Tox and Haven's relationship is still new and is tested when they once again work together under extraordinary pressure and circumstances. I loved the way they look to each other for emotional support despite the tension that often arises between them. I missed Chiji in this book but felt like Haven stepped up in his absence to balance out Tox's thoughts when they get dark. Some of the deeper themes of the book are addressed in Tox's wrestle with where the line is between justice, vengeance, and evil. We got to know Ram a little better, as well as Ram's sister Tzi who has some drama of her own going on (which I hope we get to the bottom of in the next book!) There is a quick pace to the book and just when things seem like they take a pause, the plot ramps up again even more. I can totally see this book playing out as a fantastic action movie with just the right amount of romance. I'm not going to give away any details, but know that this is a book that keeps the reader enthralled and turning the pages!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Don't miss the FREE prequel novella in the Tox Files series, The Warrior's Seal and the first full-length book in the series, Conspiracy of Silence, which I gave 5 stars!
Don't miss the FREE prequel novella in the Tox Files series, The Warrior's Seal and the first full-length book in the series, Conspiracy of Silence, which I gave 5 stars!
Synopsis
A Special Forces team is thrust into a war with the past to save the president after an artifact unleashes a deadly toxin.
Special Forces operative Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue--the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.
Special Forces operative Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue--the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.
Synopsis
Four years after a
tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole “Tox” Russell is
persona non grata to the United States. And that’s fine—he just wants to
be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed
at an archaeological dig where three Bronze-era censers are found, Tox
is lured back into action. Partnered with an archaeologist and an FBI
agent who’s an expert in deception, Tox and his team are pitted against a
secret society, a plague dubbed the New Black Death, and a revered
codex—which may hold the key to stopping the deadly outbreak.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Review: Even Still by Hannah Abbott
My rating: 3 stars / I liked it
For Paige Kelly, life hasn’t exactly turned out the way she planned. At twenty-two she thought she would be graduating from college and starting a career. But the loss of her parents changed everything, and instead she spends her days working as a waitress and spends her nights, weekends, and everything in between taking care of her five younger siblings. Now her life is completely focused on her family, and despite the urging of those close to her, she doesn’t find time for a life of her own.
When Russell Pierce returns to his childhood hometown he is eager to focus on success in his new career. Meeting Paige wasn’t part of his plan either, but once he does he can’t stop thinking about her and how he wants to help her. But she can’t let go of her fears, and refuses to allow him to get close.
Will she ever be able to open up and consider a life with anyone? Is she ready to give life a second chance?
My Review
This is a sweet story of letting go and trusting that God has a plan for us, even though it will have difficult times or be so different than what we expected. Paige is running the home and taking care of her younger siblings like a single mother while putting her own education and life on hold. She's pretty much given up and focused 100% on work and home, when Russell comes into her life offering a promotion and friendship. I was impressed with how in tune with God Russell is and his sincere desire to follow the promptings he receives. Even though the process of breaking down Paige's walls is bumpy, he is faithful and shows Paige that she doesn't have to go through life alone. While I liked the story and had a pleasant feeling while I read it, there are so many details of the mundane and unnecessary that it bogged down the pace and I found myself skimming. I think without the excess, the meat of the story could be told in a novella.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Join us for the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon!
The Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon is hosted at Wishful Endings. It runs from September 11th through the 24th with the goal of diminishing our to-read pile of books. All books in any format and source count and you do not have to be a blogger to participate. There are challenges and giveaways as well. You can sign up through September 23rd. Find out more and sign up here!
I'm excited to participate again this year!
Here are the books I've got coming up that I plan to read during the read-a-thon (I'm trying to stay realistic this year...)
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