Dreamtreaders: War for the Waking World

"Would you be willing

to fight

for your dreams?"

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - The Rift between the Waking and Dream World is open. Dreams are coming real and devastation is sweeping the world. It is up to the Dreamtreaders to stop it. But, when the devastation seems to disappear and everyone is in some hallucinative state where they can't see what is true and Archer is up on charges for misusing his Dreamtreader gifts, repairing the damage might be harder than they thought. Yet, help is found, in some of the most unlikely sources.  

Author - Wayne Thomas Batson

Publisher - Thomas Nelson

Age Group - 14 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* The characters, more than just Archer, have to look back on the wrongs they have done, whether or not it was completely their fault, and take responsibility for those actions. Creativity abounds, even to the down right silly. Darkness and destruction is filling the world yet people don't see the danger and terror around them, blissfully ignorant of what their actions are doing to the real world.

Personal Opinion - A really great ending to the series. I even didn't mind 3-5 pages of resolution after the major battle (I usually like a few more pages of rap up after the major event at the end). I think the best part was the change of the characters. Archer didn't just get away with the wrong he did in the previous books but took responsibility for them and even Kara and Rigby ended up being complicated characters by struggling with greedy wants and hurts and yet not completely evil. Makes if more realistic and challenging in this way. Something I personally found while reading it was an allegory to life. The people only say the good they wanted to see, were unwilling to see that they was trouble and danger, it being covered up by a Veil. I think our would, and even ourselves, can be like that. We try to ignore the unseen costs of our actions and want to believe in what see only. The only trouble I had with this book was at the beginning. For some reason, I had trouble connecting the last thing from the previous book to the beginning of this one. I'm not really sure how to explain it. There wasn't anything wrong with it, I just seemed to be going "What's going on here?" It took a little while for it to come back together again. Anyway, a good ending to a thought provoking series (one of which I still need to read book 1. Read this series in order. That would be helpful).

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Other Reviews for this Author - The Pirate Series: Isle of Swords
                                                    The Berinfell Prophesies: Books 1 and 2
                                                    The Dark Sea Annals: Sword in the Stars
                                                    The Dark Sea Annals: The Errant King
                                                    Dreamtreaders: Search for the Shadow Key

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher through BookLook.

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The Knight of Eldaran: The King's Hand

"Any Man Can Deceive.
But There is a Price."
 

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Eamon has returned to the King after failing in his vow and received in return a miracle, forgiveness. But, finding the King and His grace once again will not make his path easy. Still spying for him under the ruse of serving the Master, Eamon has to return and do what he can for the people, being the King's hand, until he reclaims the city. But with the Master watching and the Right Hand ever so close to him and ever decision plagued by what might happen to those he has come to care for, can Eamon truly make a difference for other and not be found out or give up when the worst happens to the ones he tried to protect?

Author - Anna Thayer

Publisher - Kregel Publications

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Couple of times women were spoken of in a derogatory way. Gruesome deaths that are a bit detailed. Lost of spirituality and power in those in the side their lean upon. Determination to stay with the King despite difficulties and despair.

Personal Opinion - The return to Eamon and is struggles was a captivating and insightful event. While this volume didn't have many action scenes with battles and such, it delt with a great struggle, the spirit of man. Eamon struggles with staying strong and true to the King when one thing goes wrong after another and also needs to find a way to do the King's will, helping the people, while still hiding is allegiance and under the Master's watchful eye. It reminded me how we need to find a way to serve God and care for his people in out world when it seems so much of it has drifted away from him. Yet, the good works brings peace and glory to the One who truly deserves it. The only down side of this book is that it has some swearing in it and it can deal with some intense issues which makes it more suited for an older audience. This book deals with a great idea while also setting up and bridging books 1 and 3.

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Other Reviews for this Author - The Traitor's Heir - Book 1

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher.

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5 Glass Slippers

"One Beloved Story
Five Exciting Writers
A Collection to Cherish"

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - The tale of Cinderella is timeless and beloved. In this collection of five novellas, her story is revisited and retold in surprising new ways: 1) she has no interest in the prince or going to the ball, 2) the slipper fits the wrong girl, 3) reclaiming the throne from an imposter prince, 4) drilling on an alien planet when a ship arrives with a famous captain, and 5) freeing those imprisoned in an enchanted circus. Each is unique yet faithful to the original. Enjoy the magic once again on these spellbinding tales.

Editor - Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Authors - Elisabeth Brown
                Emma Clifton
                Rachel Heffington
                Stephanie Ricker
                Clara Diane Thompson

Publisher - Rooglewood Press

Age Group - 15 and up
 
Content - *May Contain Spoilers*

Personal Opinion - This collection of Cinderella stories, all varying in style, mood, and even genre, really bought out the character and story in a variety of ways. She is shy, a dreamer, and even someone who faces her fear. She lives where magic exists, the real world, and even outer space. She is also loved, hated, and even disliked by her step-mother and sisters. Talk about a wide vision of Cinderella and, yet, each story was special, unique, and fun in its own way. I particularly loved A Cinder's Tale in this collection. Not only did I get to read great versions of this tale that goes in depth of the story with each one being able to read in about a day, but also get to know new authors, some of who it was there first story published. I will keep this collection and re-read the story for a while and am looking forward to the next collection by Rooglewood.  

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Disney Frozen: The Cinestory

"Do You want to Build

a Snowman...?"

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Sisters Anna and Elsa have lived under the same roof but separated. Elsa hides away in her room and Anna doesn't understand why she's left her alone. What Anna doesn't know is that Elsa has powers to create snow and ice she can't control. When the king and queen, the girls' parents die, Elsa is to become queen. During the party, Elsa's powers are revealed and she runs away. Anna goes after her but it might be harder to convince her sister to come home than she thinks. With an array of characters assisting Anna, the two girls go on a discovery on what it means to truly love another.

Publisher - Joe Books Inc.; HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

Age Group - 10 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Elsa hides for most of her life and runs away when things go wrong. Anna is determined to help her sister, weather she wants it or not. Others are out to destroy Elsa because she is different and they are afraid of her.

Personal Opinion - This book was fun. I love the movie Frozen so, when I saw this book, I kept thinking about it and wanted to read it. Taking the cartoon and turning into a comic book was a fascinating idea and lets those who are older enjoy a tie-in book as well. Most of the pictures were nicely picked to include in the book and the adaption of most of the songs into speech was done well, keeping the original thoughts and feelings behind them in the new dialogue. It gave it a new insight into the characters and situations. Speaking of new insights, internal thoughts and fears where also conveyed in the comic book, letting readers read what Elsa and Anna might have been thinking at different events in the story.

Unfortunately, when it was night out in the story, some of the frames were too dark to really see much of the picture which made it irritating. There were a couple of changed I would have made personally. One, I would have tried to save space by adding dialogue to the same frame instead of the next one because the frames could take up a fourth of a page. There were also frames with no dialogue between spots when characters were talking which didn't seem necessary to me. Two, The beginning song with the ice harvesters didn't resemble the message at all but was just pointless conversation between the men. It took up too much space and I love that song so it was not a good beginning. Third, I would have liked to have seen some frames take up more space on the page, SPOILER like Elsa's ice palace at one point was contained in two to three frames and I would have liked to have seen it in one that took up half or two-thirds the page END SPOILER. It would have given a more dramatic effect.

Now, this adaption was good and fun, I had a hard time putting it down, I'm just thinking these changes would have made it better. Still, if you like Frozen, you would probably like this comic book of the movie where there are internal insights into the characters and lots of fun visuals from the movie.

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GIVEAWAY!

Because I enjoyed the comic version of Frozen, I'm giving away a paperback copy of Disney Princess Treasury, containing 800 pages of comic book stories of the a bunch of princesses we love (check out the Amazon page to learn more). Just enter using the Rafflecopter below.

P.S. If the winner would prefer the Frozen the Cinestory or the Pixar instead of the Disney Princess, making this alternative is welcome.

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Dreamtreaders: Search for the Shadow Key

"Some Doors Should Never be Opened"

 

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms
 

Storyline - Archer is overwhelmed. More breaches are opening in the Dream than he can handle. While waiting for new Dreamtreaders to be chosen, Archer tries to stop those who are miss using the dream. But things are getting even worse. In the library, a door has happened and released creatures that are destroying the Dream faster and Rigby has terrible plans. As things get worse, Archer's family begins to fall apart and it a choice will have to be made; save the Dream or his family.

Author - Wayne Thomas Batson

Publisher - Thomas Nelson

Age Group - 12 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Archer struggles to hold to his convictions and duties to the Dream even though it might mean loosing his family forever. Rigby is more interested in accomplishing his goals than protecting the Dream yet he also claims that he is doing it to save his uncle so it is out of love. A school fight as well as a couple battles take place.

Personal Opinion - With an allegorical struggle between right and wrong and mysteries around every corner, Batson has created another fun, engaging fantasy novel. The messages and duties carried by the Dreamtreaders is something every person is called to and this novel gives it life with Archer's work in the Dream. Rigby's greed mixed with his desire to save someone he loves, gives the character a sympathetic feel even for all the evil and greed he enacts. The story struggles between Archer's family and his job as a Dreamtreader as he works between these two worlds. While the dream sequences were fun, I found them a bit confusing because of a lack of description. The real world didn't have that problem where I could imagine it clearly (not sure if this is because I can picture the real world easier because I live in it and could fill in the blanks or if it was just described more)  but I couldn't seem to form a picture of the Dream. Then again, I haven't read the first book yet (yes, that was stupid of me and no don't follow my example) but I want to. I look forward to book 1 and seeing what happens in book 3, how it all comes together and reveals its message in its story.

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Other Reviews for this Author - The Berinfell Prophesies - Review
                                               The Dark Sea Annals: Sword in the Stars and The Errant King - Review
                                               The Pirate Series: Isle of Swords - Review

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher through BookLook.

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The Patmos Deception

"An Ancient Island Holds

an Ancient Secret..."

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 3.5 Worms

Storyline - Carey travels to Greece only to find the Institute that had offered her a job has closed, leaving her stranded. Thankfully, Nick, a journalist in Paris and an old friend of Carey's offers her a job. An under the radar job seeking stolen antiquities. Dimitri is a local for-hire tourist boat guide on Patmos struggling to make ends meet in the troublesome economy of Greece. So, to keep his family's legacy alive, he agrees to some illegal work. Yet the job requires more than he bargained for. They are all in danger and it will take their knowledge, skill, and determination to survive.

Author - Davis Bunn

Publisher - Bethany House

Age Group - 16 or 17 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Each character is encouraged to turn to God for direction in their current situations as well as dealing with their past such as Dimitri previously being a womanizer and then a smuggler and Carey with overcoming bad relationships.

Personal Opinion - I liked the idea of an ancient secret affecting modern day lives and thought this would be a good adventure novel. The characters were diverse and had detailed histories about how they became who they are and where they are now. There's a lot of information concerning various islands (mostly Ephesus and Patmos), their history, a legend, and how they tied in with Biblical times. The novel also gave an in depth image of the economic crisis in Greece. For all the work of creating characters with various personalities and histories, the book did not emphasis the mystery that much. This made it highly character centered and made me think on several occasions "What is this book about again? Oh, right." In fact, the story could go several chapters about the characters' present and past, were they were going, or the island's history without even touching on what the main plot was. I prefer books that are more evenly character and plot centered then heavily one way or the other. While it had great information and characters, I found this book slow and not my particular taste.

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Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher through Bethany House Reviewers.

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William Skakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, and the droids are preparing to face their final battle against the Empire. Luke is struggling with the truth of his father while also discovering a secret that he has a sibling. Leia and Han work with local inhabitants of a planet to help the rebellion. Darth Vader will face a choice: his son or his master. It all comes down to this but will it be enough or will all fail?

Author - Ian Doescher

Publisher - Quirk Books

Age Group - 15 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Luke ponders an old tale that resembles Oedipus. Internal turmoil affects all the characters on what they should or should not do. Each character has to decide to give up or stand for what they believe in and the ones they care about, even if it means their life.

Personal Opinion - Honoring the story while also paying tribute to William Shakespeare, this book is funny, accurate, and, as others have put it, insightful. Trying to read R2 D2's noises and seeing beloved lines put into Shakespeare style made me laugh out loud. The story moved just like it did in the movie yet also provided a new lens to view the characters. Their monologues and when they spoke in their minds, gave new depth and insight into what the characters were thinking and feeling during different parts when they originally didn't have lines in the movie. So want to read the first two book and hope the Anakin arc will also be written in Shakespeare form.   

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Crater Trueblood and the Lunar Rescue Company

"Crater Trueblood has to Rescue

his Ex-Girlfriend...

and the Entire Human Race."

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 2 Worms

Storyline - Crater is doing just fine, mostly, without Maria as he, Petro, and Crescent develop and work their new company, Lunar Rescue Company, saving wayward people out in the dust. Maria is also doing just fine, mostly, working in her grandfather's business. But when she is kidnapped, Crater runs off to find her with his friends in tow. The earth is being threatened and it might cost Maria, Crater, Petro, Crescent, and several more lives to save it.

Author - Homer Hickam

Publisher - Thomas Nelson
 
Age Group - 15 and up
 
Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Characters risk their lives to help others, even if they are not particularly fond of one another. Some recognized their mistakes and tried to overcome them. Torture happened several times. Death and destruction.

Personal Opinion - This is the end of the story of Crater and his friends. Sadly, I wasn't that impressed. There was a lot of action and stuff happening but that is all it felt like, stuff was happening that  was leading up to something, everything was prepatory. Now, that might seem like all books do that to a point but it didn't feel like it was building the story and characters. It almost seemed like the reader should already know the characters so they were not developed much. A lot of the information was detailed about the spaceships and their workings and there almost seemed like too many characters being followed so it broke up the story. There was also one question from book 2 to book 3 that I didn't get an answer too. The book did challenge the idea of love and what we do in desperation as well as sacrifice to save others. Plus, the Gillie's personality is still fun as ever and his conversations are charming. Still is not really recommended, though, because it was not a well told story.

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Other Book Reviews for this Author - Crater, Book 1, Review
                                                             Crescent, Book 2, Review

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher through BookLook.

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Awakening

"Kallie Andreas is a Mystery,

Even to Herself."

Bookworm's Ranking - 5 Worms

 

Storyline - Kallie is trying to remember her life prior to the last seven years but nothing is there. Happy with her life as a researcher for her museum until she tanks an important event. When an offer comes along to discover the secret to an ancient civilization, she doesn't have any reason to refuse. As she journey's across the glob, her discovery into herself, the real world, and the story she is writing are taking terrifying turns to meld together.

Author - Tracy Higley

Publisher - StoneWater Press

Age Group - 15 or 16 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Several attacks take place on the characters. Several are willing to put their lives at risk to save someone else.

Personal Opinion - One of the best Tracy Higley books I have read and I have enjoyed each book of hers. Taking place in modern times, this book looked at facing the past, finding truth, and loving others over ones self. Using ancient mythology and fairy tales through metaphors, the story captured the unrealness to the protagonist's point of view while also combining two stories of the ancient along with the present and their affects on each other. The twist to the story was excellent by leading up to it, almost suggesting it, but keeping the reader surprised. There was even a small discussion an differences in religion, which I usually dislike because they make the non-Christians like idiots, but this one was respectful to the different points of view even if they didn't agree with each other. There were a couple of times if felt the characters change their thought processes that seemed a little quick and the love story was highly emphasized. Not that romance is a bad thing but it got a little mushy-gooshy for my taste. Loved the strong female taking the lead, though. This book is a must read for those who like mystery, ancient civilization, and even a twinge of fantasy.

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Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free through Tracy's Caravan.

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East

"Rose Has Always Been Different "

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Rose is the youngest in her family and wilder than anyone. The love to explore and be free and create beautiful weaving makes her happy, even though it causes her family anguish. But when hard times fall on her family and a talking white bear makes her an offer which will help the ones she cares for, Rose is ready to sacrifice everything she holds dear. When her promise to the bear begins to challenge her curiosity, everything might fall apart. And a mysterious prophecy might be her undoing.

Author - Edith Pattou

Publisher - Magic Carpet Books

Age Group - 15 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Mother is really superstitious and, yet, despite her family telling her it is nonsense, most of the suspicion come true. Despite nothing happening, a girl knows someone is sleeping in her bed with her. Rose is willing to risk her life and freedom for the ones she loves.

Personal Opinion - Mixed with fairy tales and legends of the Inuit and Norse, East is one of the best fairy tale retellings I have ever read, blending these elements so seamlessly that it feels like this story could have happened in the real world. The cover is what first caught my eye for the novel... And the story does it justice. It enchants right away with suspense and characters whose concerns and experiences are relaitable. From the several points of view, the reader is given the perspectives and growth of each character which is masterfully done. East is written in straight forward telling but its building of  suspense and mystery kept me at the edge of my seat, wanting to know what happens next. There were a few slow spot but I wanted to know how it would end. Rose is an adventurous girl who dreams big and will not let anything stop her. The White Bear is a mystery through much of the novel yet it charming from what you do learn about him. That is actually one of my biggest complaints is that I wish we had gotten to know White Bear more with more of his perspective in the story. I wish I had seen more of his change, struggle, and growth. The only other thing that got to me was the novel began not doing the same time as the events of Rose and her family but it wasn't developed. But, East has found a place among the retelling of fairy tales that it rightfully deserves.

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Awards - A list can be found on the Author's Website

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Wars of the Realm: Cloak of the Light

"Drew is Caught

in a World of Light -

Just Inches Away from Dark."

Bookworm's Ranking - 3 Worms

Storyline - Drew and his mother has suffered terrible afflictions all his life. Death almost seems to be just a step behind him. Then, one day, he suffers a terrible accident and goes blind. When miraculously his sight returns, he begins seeing people, or invaders, that no one else seems to see. The invaders seem interested in humans, but why? Drew has to figure that out with his friend Ben, who is missing, all the while trying to not get caught by the invaders or to reveal that he sees them, as well as learn is God is real, or just a myth.

Author - Chuck Black

Publisher - Multnomah Books

Age Group - 17 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Two deadly car accidents and several snering Invaders are featured through out the novel as well as one kid and a couple girls almost getting attacked.
A school shooting takes place. Drew doesn't believe in God but in interested in a girl who does. Characters try to look out for each other even if it means getting themselves in danger. 

Personal Opinion - I read Chuck Black's Kingdom Series years ago and it was really good. In Cloak of the Light, I like how Black developed his character and gave him a history of trouble and struggle to make him believable. Drew's trials help the reader identify with him and his experiences which showed him be a good person who made mistakes and bad things happen to. The Invaders were well portrayed to in how they influenced people or tried to strike out at them. Yet, I had trouble finding this book as a whole interesting because of how long it took. Drew's high school experience had to completely be depicted even though the catalyst event didn't happen until he was in college, one hundred pages into the book. Lastly, I was a little disappointed on how the issue of not believing in God was handled making Drew's reasons for disbelief make him look like he was stupid (Drew's disbelief wasn't brought up until he was in college either). I didn't feel that it was portrayed well and, if I had given this book to someone who didn't believe in God, they would have been insulted by how their view point was displayed. Cloak of the Light does hold promise, though, because the pace picked up speed halfway through and Drew is a good person who wants to protect others and fights for those who cannot.

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Special Notes - This author previously wrote The Kingdom Series which I recommend.

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

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Anomaly

"Question. Feel.

Believe."

Bookworm's Ranking - 3 Worms

Storyline - Thalli is not like the rest of her pod mates. She feels and is curious, traits the Scientist have taken out of others. But when she can on longer hid it, she is take to the scientist. But instead of being annihilated, she is tested. Things begin to be strange as she meets people who are allowed to feel and meets an old man who has strange ideas about a Designer who created everything. As tests continue, she begins to wonder what is real and not, what is true, and what is right.

Author - Krista McGee

Publisher - Thomas Nelson

Age Group - 15 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Thalli enjoys  (hangs out with) the company of a couple guys but is learning about God. Thalli lies a couple times. The Scientist lie and try to control others. Berk does what he can help Thalli.

Personal Opinion - The story was good. It had twists and turns that I didn't see coming and had interesting characters. I found the story to go a bit slow at first and was a bit contradictory on a couple of points at one point but that got cleared up with one of the twists in the story. I was concerned at first that it was going to be a lot like other Dystopias that have characters who aren't allowed to feel or think but this one was different. The details were well done so I was able to see most of the locations and the twists were new. I loved how Thalli spoke about music and compared things with it because she was a musician. But I couldn't seem to connect with the story. There were technical aspects that were done that I didn't like. But, I love Krista McGee's other books and this was an interesting read none the less.

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Other Book Reviews for this Author - First Date - Review
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Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher/author through Team Novel Teen.

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Fairy Tale Novels: Books 4 & 5

"A Fairy Tale Retold"

Bookworm's Ranking - 4-5 Worms

Storyline -

The Midnight Dancers - Rachel's life is boring. Proper girl with no adventure and her parents strict on what she wears and behaves. Not only that, she has to share a house, and room, with eleven other sisters and live in a new house. But she is determined to have an adventure. So when she and her sisters are able to escape to the island across from their house and have parties with the owner's son, what else can they do but sneak out of the house, made increasingly difficult with their father's friend Paul hanging around. But the house that seemed like dream come true might just be a nightmare.

Alex O'Donnell and the 40 Cyber Thieves - Alex's family, who has struggled to make ends meet for years, finally came into some money, a million dollars worth. But something is up with it that only Kateri, Alex's girlfriend, seems to see. How on earth did a million dollars just show up in his mail? If that wasn't bad enough, his family decides to by hotel with the money, which Alex just has to give a job to Kateri as she struggles to find work. But when the owners of the money come looking, it will take all of Alex's and his families martial arts skills and intelligence as well as Kateri's sensibility and cunning to overcome the cyber thieves.

Author - Regina Doman

Publisher - Chesterton Press

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Girls disobey their parents and sneak out and lie. Fights against evil and those trying to hurt the ones they care about. Some computer hacking.

Personal Opinion - More great reads by Regina Doman. They retell classic fairy tales excellently and make the characters come alive and real. Each character struggles and each comes to see what is important and have a spiritual growth, changing them. The details in the novel are wonderful, seeing each location as clearly as on the TV (nothing graphic though). Something about Alex O'Donnell, though, felt like there could have been more. I can't place my finger on it but it needed... something. That one is still a fun story and the martial arts is just cool.

Reviews of Other Books by this Author - Fairy Tale Novels: Book 1-3

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Fairy Tale Novels: Books 1-3

"Once Upon a Time in New York City..."

Bookworm's Ranking - 5 Worms

Storyline -

Shadow of the Bear - Blanche and Rose are trying to fit into their new world of New York City after their father died a year ago. School, the city, and their mother at work are all new. Rose finds it magical while Blanche is frightened of it. So when a ragged, dread lock boy who calls himself Bear shows up on their doorstep, they both take different approaches to him. Slowly, they become friends. But as a deep secret of Bear's starts come into their lives, the girls investigate, mixing themselves up in the mess. But this mystery could cost them their lives.

Black as Night - Blanche is on the run and hiding with seven frier's to escape someone who wants her dead while Bear is overseas. Upon his return, Bear searches for Blanche and looks into what lead to her disappearance. As Blanche gets comfortable with the frier's, she looks into the mystery as attacks on her life continue. As Bear, Blanche, and the killer move in together, it will take all their courage to over face the evil plaguing them.

Waking Rose - Rose is starting college and trying to forget Fish, Bear's brother, who she desperately in love with. Fish, on the other hand, doesn't return the feeling, and is dealing with his own problems. As Rose settles in to her dorm, she makes new friends and gets to know these crazy boys who seem to have a lot in common with her. But then tragedy strikes and Rose ends up in a coma. As the months ware on, Fish starts investigating the accident... and starts to think that what happened was more than just an accident.

Author - Regina Doman

Publisher - Chesterton Press

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* The characters are unwilling to let the evil win and do fight for their friends and what is right. Their belief in God helps them to keep going. Adult issues come up in the books. Lots of fighting but not graphic.

Personal Opinion - Some of the best books I have ever read and some of the most believable characters and storylines. They are excellent retellings, showing how real life can reflect fairy tales. The girls, and guys, are great role models. The characters aren't perfect people but they do their best. They do their best to live Christian lives but make mistakes on occasion and have real struggles. I love how a bit of the fairy tale is at the beginning of each chapter so you can see how it is adapted. Regina Doman is the best and her books are worth the money.

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Special Notes - If you are thinking about reading this series, read Shadow of the Bear first. The books can be read individually but thing in previous books will be spoiled if read out of order.

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Frame 232 and Author Interview

 

Bookworm's Ranking - 3 Worms

 

Storyline - When Sheila Baker buried her mother, she did not expect to be left with answers to an historic mystery. But she was. A tape, taken on November 22, 1963, reveals that not only was her mother at the Kennedy Assassination and is the Babushka Lady, but confirms what conspiracy theorists have been saying for years. There was a second shooter. Not knowing what to do with the tape and fearing the government, Sheila contacts a man, Jason Hammond, who has made himself famous for uncovering historic mysteries but is also struggling with ghosts of his own. As they set out to discover who the man was and what was behind it, they must also out run a killer set on their trail to solve one of the biggest mysteries of the century.

Author - Wil Mara

Publisher - Tyndale Publishers

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* The assassination was a bit grizzly in description. A pretty violent, and creepy, man is after them. A hooker is mentioned briefly. The two main character, Sheila and Hammond, won't let fear or the people after them stop them from finding the truth.

Personal Opinion - This novel is extremely factual on the assassination as well as in depth in the mystery and characters. Each character was developed to realism with believable backstories and feelings. Not knowing much of the Kennedy Assassination, I learned a lot more than I knew before. One particular part of the novel was an action scene were there was two or three paragraphs from one person's perspective before jumping to another (the bad guy's) perspective. This was a new technique for me and it made the action that much more exciting. But, this book had at least one pit fall that made it difficult for me which was how detailed the backstories got. Not that it was a bad thing but the story was kept from moving forward until some backstory of a character or the historical events, which would sometimes take several pages. This made it read slowly to me and the mystery was only being touched shortly before the halfway point of the novel. I am hope that, since this was the first book about Jason Hammond and his historic mysteries that the backstories won't be as detailed in the future or, at least, written in a more interesting way. I will probably give the next book a try.

Video -

 

 

Author Interview -

I would like to thank Tyndale for providing this interview with Wil Mara and giving some interesting background to this novel.

 



1. What inspired you to write a novel around the assassination of President John F. Kennedy? I have always been fascinated by the assassination, which, obviously, was one of the most pivotal and enigmatic events in American history. And when I heard about the ‘Babushka Lady’---one of the few people in Dealey Plaza that day who remains unidentified---and the possibility that she may have filmed the shooting, an idea came to mind that seemed too good to disregard.

2. How much research did you do for this project? An unbelievable amount. I spoke with assassination experts, read literally hundreds and books and articles, pored over countless photos...you name it. My goal was to write a fictional story around the established facts rather than alter the facts to serve the story. Thus, I had to know pretty much everything. I ended up loading my brain with more data than I really needed...but I didn’t mind.

3. How has your research informed your own theory of what happened during the JFK assassination? My personal theory, prosaic though it may be, is that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. If you want to be convinced, get your hands on a fairly rare book called Lee, which was written by his brother, Robert. Once you understand the mind behind the eyes that looked through that rifle scope, you will be convinced.

4. What role does your Christian faith play in your writing? It is embedded throughout this story, in a fashion both subtle and direct. I was raised Christian and have been a firm believer all my life, so my belief system is threaded into just about everything I do. Anyone who carries even the most fundamental faith will recognize the important elements in this book. The most obvious example belongs to the main character, who recurs throughout the series---he is suffering a deep crisis of faith, and the core of that crisis should be familiar to even the most devout follower. We are human, plain and simple, and as such we experience doubts about the Lord in our lifetime. So it won’t be hard for anyone to connect with him.

5. What lessons do you hope readers will come away with after reading Frame 232?
I can’t interpret the story for anyone but myself, but there are a few themes at work that strike me as particularly valuable. One is that God’s path is always the right one in the end, even if it seems unimaginably rocky at times. Another is that tragedies occur in every life, that these misfortunes usually happen for a reason, and that the reason may not be apparent for some time. A third is that we need to treasure our loved ones for as long as we have them around, because they can disappear in a heartbeat. Also, it’s important to keep getting out of bed and moving forward every day because life is a gift, and God does not favor those who waste their time and talents. If you are blessed with ability and resources (and Jason has plenty of both), you should use them.

6. What do you have planned for your future Jason Hammond books?
Jason will be tackling other high-profile (and, later on, some lesser-known) mysteries as the series progresses. Readers will also get to follow his ongoing struggles as he rebuilds his faith and gradually assembles his ‘new normal.’ Plus, we’ll further explore the lives of those around him (including a budding love interest, who will appear in the second book). It’s also worth noting that not every book in the series will follow a strictly linear chronology. The one I’m writing now, for example(The Nevada Testament) begins about six weeks after Frame 232. The one I’ll write after that, however (Gardner Island), occurs before the events of Frame

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Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the Tyndale Blogger Network.

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