Review - WHOO'S IN THE BOAT by Lisa Burch

WHOO'S IN THE BOAT

by Lisa Burch

Illustrated by Kristi Goldsmith

Whoo's In The Boat details the spiritual journey of Jody, his dog Salty, and Good owl. 

My Take:

Jody's life in a harbor town is filled with dreams of being a fisherman, and also one day of being a Fisher of Men, following Jesus' Great Commission to tell others about Him. When he finds a shipwrecked small sailboat while wandering the shore, he gets a clear call from God to use it to spread the word. So with the help of his dog Salty and his friend Good Owl, he repairs the boat and sails into the unknown with God as his captain, and a dolphin named Harmony as his guide.

Content:
Well, this is a children's picture book, and is squeaky clean on every level. The main point of the book is to carry the Good News to others and share God's Love with them. At 32 beautifully watercolor illustrated pages, it's about a 15 minute read in a family or Kids' Ministry setting. Just right for a night when you want to share with children the desire God has for us to share His Good News. 

The Christian content of the book is pretty evident throughout, and the concepts are down on the bottom shelf, worded in language that a five year old can grasp. Between the covers here we find adventure, prayer for protection, diligence, perseverance, and obedience. Jody listens for God's voice and direction. God provides guidance and protection. Jody does what he can, and his efforts bear fruit. At the end of the book is a set of verses recorded, a Captain's Log that are key verses for sharing the Gospel. Five Stars!

About the Author

Lisa Brubaker Burch grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and currently resides in Mississippi. While pursuing a career in nursing, Lisa worked as a daycare instructor and kindergarten assistant teacher at St. Luke United Methodist. She also has taught in various children's programs including Sunday school, vacation bible school, and gymnastics. As a critical care nurse she served as a patient caregiver, educator, and team leader. Later she conducted cardiac research studies at Memphis Heart Clinic which led to her current occupation as a health and wellness instructor. She has a passion for assisting others to a better life mentally, physically, and most importantly, spiritually.

About the Illustrator

Kristi Goldsmith grew up in a family that always encouraged her to pursue her artistic passions. She studied fashion at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and fine art at the Art Academy of the University of Memphis. When her dear friend, Lisa Burch, wrote Whoo's In The Boat, Kristi knew she wanted to contribute to the project because it spoke to her artistic creativity and resonated with her religious upbringing. Kristi maintains a close relationship with God and is eager to help children establish their own relationships with Him.

Review: The Shard by Victoria Simcox

 The Shard by Victoria Simcox

Kristina's stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it's all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester's cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it's actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can't refuse. Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends ... and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn't get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the "Black Shard," Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it's in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

My Take:

In this second installment of the Bernovem Chronicles, Kristina has moved on with her life, and her experiences at Bernovem are beginning to seem a fading dream. Only the music box and the dormant Warble remind her that any of that happened. But when her family forces her to go to a horse camp over the summer with the school bully, she knows her life is about to turn a miserable corner. Her old arch-enemies Hester and Davina are there and try to hurt her in a dangerous prank. But the prank sends the three of them back to Bernovem, where her old friend Prince Werrien is about to sail to his homeland, Tezerel. On the voyage, things seem idyllic, almost perfect. But visions of an evil hag in her reflections, and undercurrents of a deadly plot centered around a dangerous Shard threaten to prevent Kristina from ever returning home. And staying would mean disaster for everyone, including her.

 

Content:

Drug Content:

G - There's a small bit of drinking in this. Not even on the level of Disney.

Violence:

G - There is little violence in this. A near drowning. A poisoning. Evil races are created through magic transformations. 

Language:

G - The language in this book is squeaky clean. 

Adult Content:

G - This is, again, on a level with a Disney movie. There is a little childhood romance, and a first kiss. 

Christian content:

There is an undercurrent of direction by a divine and benevolent but unrevealed character.  There is prayer and answered prayer, faith and guidance. Self sacrifice and a clear depiction of evil vs good here. As the stakes rise and the plot thickens, things are revealed concerning the spiritual forces at play here.

Final analysis:

The Shard is a fantastic read, a satisfying continuation to the Bernovem Chronicles, filled with adventure and fantasy. Dwarves, monsters, fairies, magic,  evil queens, and talking animals make for a page turner of a fantasy with a solid amount of world-building. Engaging character arcs and immersive scenery contribute to a satisfying return to the land of magic. Five Stars!

About the Author

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. I now lives in Western Washington with my husband, Russ and our three children, Toby, Kristina, and William. Beside being a writer, I am a home-schooling mother of thirteen years and an elementary school art teacher of twelve years.

Website: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com

Review: The Warble by Victoria Simcox

 

Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift that transports her to the land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, she is honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its resting place. She must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before reaching her destination. Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, a prince, and an evil queen; all these and more can be found in The Warble, an enchanting tale of intrigue and adventure.  

My Take:

Kristina is a shy and bullied girl whose only friend seems to be a pet rat named Raymond. Her teacher gives her a Christmas present in a strange hatbox. A hatbox some of the bullies on the bus try to steal from her. Inside the locked hatbox is a small tarnished silver ball called a Warble - one that transports her, and anyone who touched the hatbox, into another land called Bernovem - a land under a spell by Queen Sentiz. And only the Chosen One can take the Warble and place it in its rightful place, an act that will end the evil queen's reign on Bernovem. But of course the powerful queen will do anything to prevent that from happening.

 

Content:

Drug Content:

PG - There's a bit of drinking in this, mainly by the bad people. One of the antagonists is a drunkard and his stupor causes hilarious mistakes.

Violence:

G - The violence in here, while significant, is reminiscent of Narnia or Disney movies. The bad monsters are killed and turn conveniently to dust. The queen is completely without pity, and pushes a servant who is sick to the point of death, then wonders why he is not moving to obey her whim.

Language:

G - The language in this book is squeaky clean. 

Adult Content:

G - This is, again, on a level with a Disney movie. There is a little childhood romance, but not even a kiss. 

Christian content:

None. There is however the admonishment to have faith, and the story does revolve around being chosen for a great purpose, and to be true to that purpose against insurmountable odds. Friendship and loyalty play a big part in this novel, as do betrayal and evil. 

Final analysis:

The Warble is an exciting read, filled with adventure and fantasy. Dwarves, monsters, fairies, magic,  evil queens, and talking animals make for a page turner of a fantasy with a solid amount of world-building. Five Stars!

About the Author

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. I now lives in Western Washington with my husband, Russ and our three children, Toby, Kristina, and William. Beside being a writer, I am a home-schooling mother of thirteen years and an elementary school art teacher of twelve years.

Website: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com

Review: The Tell-All by Libby Howard

  The Tell-All

by Libby Howard

Life at sixty isn't quite what Kay Carrera expected. She's working as a skip-tracer for a PI who is desperate to land his own reality TV show. She has a new roommate who arrived with more than the usual amount of baggage. And her attempts at knitting are less than stellar – way less than stellar. Worse, the cataract surgery that restored her sight has also delivered an unexpected and disturbing side-effect. Kay sees ghosts. And when the dead turn to her for help, she just can't say no.

My Take:

Kay Carrera is getting life redefined at sixty, the hard way.  Her husband she's spent her life with has recently passed after suffering for years after a terrible accident. She's picked up a job as a skip-tracer for a PI, one who'd rather be a star. In order to keep her house, she's had to take on boarders... ones with problems of their own. She's had cataract surgery too, which cleared things up a lot, but gave her an unexpected side-effect - she's seeing ghosts. In the small town of Locust Point, there's not a lot of excitement... but all of that is about to change too.

With the discovery of a prostitution ring in their small town, things get really dicey, especially when the Madam turns up dead. And the ghost in Kay's eye is asking for help to solve the murder.

 

Content:

Drug Content:

PG-13 - There's a significant amount of drinking in this, mainly social drinking, but there's also a keg party where teens are drinking. The main character chides herself over how often she's seen with alcohol by her new tenant.

Violence:

PG - This is a murder mystery, so somebody is killed. Not a lot of blood and gore though.

Language:

G - The language in this book is squeaky clean. 

Adult Content:

R - Sorry to pop an R on this one, as there's no real sexual content on screen at all. This isn't erotica, which I don't review. But there's a prostitution ring that was operating in the city, and there are a ton of kinks discussed in some detail in the book, or at least defined. People can be pretty sick. 

Christian content:

Nada. There's one mention of praying, but it's to a goddess, and likely that's in jest. That having been said, there's some value here in at least the desire of a dad to hold his family together, and love of family. There's an instance where someone puts themselves in harm's way for someone else. There's also an undercurrent of persistence and diligence in getting to the bottom of an injustice. As many of us have had to do, Kay deals with a recent death of a loved one with grace and a few tears. Death is something all of us have to deal with here, and this book touches on grief well.

Final analysis:

I'll drop a warning here that there's a few short passages in here that might be triggers for some. But the writing in this novel is entertaining, witty, and engrossing. It rolls across the pages as a comfortable cozy mystery with a bit of spice and sauce, and I found it hard to put down. I liked the character development and even through all the sauce and sass there were some real moments. Five Stars!

About the Author

Libby Howard lives in a little house in the woods with her sons and two exuberant bloodhounds. She occasionally knits, occasionally bakes, and occasionally manages to do a load of laundry. Most of her writing is done in a bar where she can combine work with people-watching, a decent micro-brew, and a plate of Old Bay wings.

Review: Glory Revealed by Paula K Parker

 Glory Revealed

by Paula K Parker

Beauty Unveiled, the first book of the SISTERS OF LAZARUS series, introduces Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, who couldn't have been more different. Martha, the elder, is plain and self-conscious; Mary, the younger, is beautiful and vain. One saw her value only in serving, while the other believed her outward appearance was her only asset. Their worlds were turned upside down when Lazarus offered hospitality to an intriguing new teacher named Jesus.

GLORY REVEALED: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two picks up immediately where Beauty Unveiled ended, and carries the story of Christ to its glorious conclusion as seen through the eyes of those who witnessed firsthand the greatest story ever told.
Paula K. Parker's evocative writing draws readers in, allowing them to feel like a fellow guest sharing the sisters' wonder at meeting Jesus and his transforming power.

My Take:

When Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha invite the Teacher Jesus ben Joseph to visit one night a week before Passover, they know that they are inviting more than just a rabbi into their home. After all, raising Lazarus from the dead is only one of many miracles this prophet has performed.

But when Mary breaks open an alabaster vessel of spikenard that night and anoints Jesus' head and feet with it, the scandalous and wasteful act contributes to the untimely death of their friend. But, WAS it untimely? As WAS the act wasteful, or a pure act of worship to one who is far more than he seems? 

 

Content:

Drug Content:

G - While wine is used in this novel, it's squeaky clean. The Roman soldiers are accused of being drunk, but even THEY weren't having any excess..

Violence:

PG-13 - You cannot talk about or in any way describe the flogging by a Roman soldier, the abusive games by them, or the horrors of crucifixion, without getting rather gory. While this novel did a reasonable job describing the events of the crucifixion, the descriptions are not wantonly graphic, and fall far short of the Mel Gibson movie, Passion of the Christ. In one place the flogging, as it's going on, is dispassionately described as the torture it is, by one of the Roman characters.

Language:

G - While there is some swearing in this book it contains none of the common curse words in English, and involves oaths more than cursing. The language in this book is squeaky clean. 

Adult Content:

PG - There are quite a few conversations about marriage and the consummation of a wedding, but no details at all. A significant part of this book revolves around one of the characters and her fielding hopefuls for her hand in marriage, and the alignment of houses. In some ways the interactions could make the book more of a romance, but again, it's squeaky clean..

Christian content:

This is a retelling of the last week leading up to the Passover and crucifixion of Jesus. Christian content is heavily laced throughout. It covers the social and spiritual interactions leading up to that critical historical event from the juxtaposed perspectives of characters that are either aligned FOR, or AGAINST, the savior.

Final analysis:

This is a masterfully written, immersive vignette into the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the impact crater of Jesus Christ on their lives, both socially, and spiritually. The world-building is phenomenal. The plot is incredibly gripping, no matter how often you've read the biblical account. The character arcs are fully three-dimensional, and you get a better feel for the conflicts in such pivotal characters as Judas Iscariot, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Nicodemus. I couldn't put this book down, it made me late coming home from work, I had to finish it! Five Stars!

About the Author:

Paula K. Parker has been writing as long as she can remember. With a poet father, writer mother and a story-teller grandmother, she has always been comfortable in the world of words. Early training in music and theater led Paula to a life-long love for the arts. This passion eventually brought her to Nashville, Tennessee, where she—along with her writer husband, Mike--helped establish Carpenter’s Playhouse and Springhouse Theatre Company [formerly LampLighter’s Theatre].

A stint in the public schools, along with seventeen years of home schooling her five children, resulted in not only a quick wit and a unique sense of humor, but also the ability to effectively communicate ideas on a broad range of subjects to a wide age of readers.

Since 1995, Paula has been a professional freelance writer, with more than 1000 articles, sketches, plays, scripts, corporate copy-writing, nonfiction books and novels to her credit. She has written for such national publications as Christian Single, Christian Health, Clarity, Family Fun (Disney), Citizen (Focus on the Family), HomeLife, Living with Teenagers, the National Drama Service, ParentLife, Release Ink, PB&J, Profile and Bible Express magazines. She contributed to The Young Believer's Case Files with Stephen Arterburn (Tyndale), Thomas Nelson's award-winning Thomas Nelson Bible-zine, Becoming and their American Women's Bible. Online she has written for Crosswalk.com and was a contributing writer for the entertainment page at LifeWay.com for over twelve years. She is the Senior Editor for the online entertainment magazine, BuddyHollywood.com. Since 2013, she has written curriculum for the WinShape summer camp program.

Paula is an accomplished playwright, having written numerous produced full-length plays—which have been performed internationally—short sketches, and One-Acts. She is best known for her sparkling stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility and Jane Austen’s Emma.

In 2010, her first novel was released, YHWH, The Flood, The Fish and The Giant, and the sequel, YESHUA, The King, The Demon and The Traitor, co-written with NY Times best-selling author, GP Taylor. Her biblical novel, SISTERS OF LAZARUS; Beauty Unveiled, reached Amazon’s Top Ten Best-seller’s list for biblical fiction. The sequel, GLORY REVEALED: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two, hit Amazon’s Top 100 Hot New Releases in Christian Historical Fiction. The third in the series, GRACE EXTENDED, reached Amazon’s Top Ten Hot New Releases list for biblical fiction, and Amazon’s Top One Hundred List for Hot New Releases for Ancient History Fiction. Her novel, THE CARPENTER AND HIS BRIDE; The Birth of Hope debuted at #39 on the Bestsellers in Biblical Fiction chart.

Review: 2700 Miles by Norbert Reichert

 2700 Miles

by Norbert Reichert

After a nuclear holocaust, a mutated virus sweeps across the nation. Scientists find a cure, but not enough medicine is left to manufacture it. Frank and Simko leave their small community in a decrepit old semi truck, one of the few vehicles still working, to search through what is left of civilization for medical supplies.

My Take:

Radiation from a nuclear holocaust produces a mutated virus that threatens to wipe out what is left of humanity. Scientists at what's left of the CDC race to find a cure, but even after one is found, supplies are too low to manufacture it. Simko and Frank leave the shelter of the barricaded facility in an armored semi, to raid hospitals around North America, to retrieve enough supplies to save a remnant of society. But the anarchy outside threatens to destroy them at every stop. 

 

Content:

Drug Content:

PG-13 - Characters are attacked by drunken raiders. Crystal meth is mentioned, the effects of drugs described, as is getting high.

Violence:

R - There's a good deal of graphic and gratuitous violence in this book. People are hunted like animals, and skeletal remains paint a stark portrait of the depravity of the human soul. Wounded humans are gunned down, run over, burned alive. Human cannibalism is a concern. Murder for sport is common.

Language:

PG-13 - Jesus' name is taken in vain 6 times. God's name is taken in vain 25 times. Various other swear words are used periodically throughout. It's liberally salted with a significant dose of language. 

Adult Content:

PG-13 - There are multiple references to gang rape, sex slaves, and necrophilia.  Nothing occurs onscreen, though.

Christian content:

The Virgin Mary is mentioned, and there are several instances where characters pray. Some characters struggle with the overwhelming desire to do what is right, in a world where only the evil seem to survive. Even in such a harsh world, there are some who care for and help others, and even risk their lives for total strangers. Others seem irredeemably evil, finding entertainment in killing strangers for fun. One enemy is praying over his killed son, and the characters feel hesitant to kill him while he's praying.

Final analysis:

I have to admit, while the pacing of this book seemed slow in parts, (735 pages!) and very slow to start, it was a gripping adventure once the direct action of the main characters began, and they seemed pitted against insurmountable odds. Every city they visited seemed to have its own deadly traps, enemies, and roadblocks. Some characters were three dimensional, and displayed haunting backstories and fatal flaws, while others had no depth at all. The worldbuilding was immersive, the characters reasonably real, the stakes as high as they could be. I would have given this a higher rating except for the tremendous length and pacing. Four Stars!

About the Author:

Norbert Reichert was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1977. He emigrated to Canada with his parents in 1989, and became a citizen in 1992. He went to college to became an electrical engineering technician, then soon after he started an apprenticeship in the elevator trade. Somewhere about 2011, he read a highly acclaimed book which he found unreadable, making him think that he could do better. That day he bought a laptop, and all the endless stories in his head started emerging on screen. While building the scaffolding of his first novel, he wrote the first two children's books in the Susie and Shadow series.

Review: Heirs of Power by Kay MacLeod

 Heirs of Power

by 

Kay MacLeod

Those gifted with power don’t get to choose a normal life.

Kitty Fairlow’s hunting skills come from more than years of protecting her secluded village. She inherited an ancient spirit, a secret long kept, even from her. Until now.

Grey-skinned creatures out of portals to a barren land rip Kitty away from her idyllic life. Her quest is to gather a group of heroes capable of defending their world against a race that devours life energy. Though she hasn’t prepared for this duty, she was born for it. She is a Constellation.

And she’s not the only one.

Kitty, along with a high-born dancer and snarky juggler who can’t stand each other, must find the rest of their kind soon. Because otherwise they’ll be dead before they even realise they are the last hope to save the world.

My Take:

When Kitty Fairlaw discovers a group of men trying to activate what looks like a magic urn, it tosses her headlong into an adventure of discovery - about who she is, and where her incredible skills as an archer come from. On the way she discovers that a group of humans were empowered by a dying race with supernatural gifts and abilities, each different, to defend their world from an evil race bent on invasion and destruction.. 

Content:

Drug Content:

PG - There are several instances of drinking, and one in which a girl's judgement is clouded by drinking, and she's almost taken advantage of..

Violence:

PG-13 - There is about as much violence as you'd expect in Lord of the Rings. A few decapitations, a hand gets dismembered, there is some torture, and some creatures get stabbed in the eye. In this kind of war-level medieval adventure, these violent exchanges are expected, but enough of it gets described to earn this a PG-13.

Language:

PG - A few mild expletives salt the pages in only a few places. 

Adult Content:

PG-13 - While there is no casual sex or unmarried sex, there are two scenes of attempted rape. Nothing happens, but a girl's outer garments are removed and she's tied to a tree. It's a fairly critical plot point, and it doesn't go further. 

Several times a male attacker is kneed in the groin. One time a joke is made with an innuendo attached

Christian content:

There's nothing specifically Christian about this novel. Yet there are some eternal truths that are exposed in its plot. This book is packed with examples of selflessness and self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, even for the benefit of others who have no idea there is a sacrifice being made, even for those who revile and persecute, and try to destroy. Loving your enemies. Giving or witholding quarter. Loyalty and a higher purpose are on display here, and trusting to the point of imminent death.
Families can find much to discuss here that would give them a chance to point so someone else who was willing to sacrifice himself. Just saying.

Final analysis:

This was an outstanding, well-written adventure story filled with epic fantasy elements of magic and swashbuckling, the things I love to read about. The world-building here is phenomenal, epic backstories that are mostly merely hinted at, a multi-dimensional immersive rollercoaster ride. The characters are fully three-dimensional, with abilities, fatal flaws, and character arcs to identify with. Five Stars!

About the Author:

Authentic characters, innovative abilities, serious snark!

Kay MacLeod is a fantasy addict from Nottinghamshire in England. She loves magical worlds and spends much more time in them than that boring real one.

If Kay isn’t writing, or thinking about writing, she’ll be immersed in reading, gaming, playing bass at church, or painting miniatures. She grew up addicted to Terry Pratchett books, Magic: The Gathering, and lording it over her fellow nerds as the DM in Dungeons & Dragons games. Fortunately, this gave her plenty of storytelling practice and made her grateful that all the characters do as they’re told now other people aren’t controlling them.

Kay’s gaming experience shines through in her works, from the Pokemon-inspired Maiyamon books to her epic fantasy, which readers say has a hint of a Dragon Age tale.

With character development at the heart of each story, they’re backed up by distinctive magic systems and a dash of sarcastic humour that gives Kay MacLeod her unique voice.

You can reach her at her website at kaymacleodbooks.com or follow her on Twitter @KayMacLeodBooks