Christmas in Crimson By Sandra Sookoo, A Book Review

 What a delightful and engaging story. I really enjoyed this for many reasons. Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

First, the story is about a widow who can’t seem to get past the grieving stage, but then encounters an interesting and, shall we say, challenging man. She engages with him, I think, just because it was a new venture from the last several years, and wanted to be intrigued. So the start brings in the fun it was written as in keeping with the time period it occurred. Like I said, it started out in a fun way, and it continued as such throughout. I loved that.

Second, the play of the characters was enveloping. They wrapped their personalities around your mind and kept you intent on what they were going to think and do next. Some stories have characters that do dumb things. I assume these authors believe it livens up the plot,  and I always think that it ruins the whole thing. That, thankfully, was not present here and solidified my thorough enjoyment of the whole book. When you root for characters, you are totally involved in the story, and that is exactly what you get here.

Third, the story itself was fun, interesting, and kept you wondering from start to finish. I was happy. I wanted to keep reading. I needed and loved finding a sweet, simple yet engaging story that took my mind to another time and place with peace and contentment that makes you want to stay there.. There is some heightened drama in the book, but it does not overlay the basic sense of pleasant, fun entertainment.

There are more reasons I liked this story, but I won't bore you to tears with my dribble. If you like romance, intrigue, and a great story, you will enjoy this book from beginning to end.

A Flicker In The Dark By Stacy Willingham, A Book Review

 

Surprisingly, this novel was not what I expected. I actually thought it would be like a documentary-type read of what happened, from the daughter's point of view. Instead, I found a page turner, a get the next clue, a discover the next answer, story, to find out how it ends. It has many twists and turns, each making you question what really happened, and if the truth is really that, and what the end will be.

I was drawn to this book because I like puzzles. Literally, and in stories. Who did it, what did they do, why did it happen, you know, all the questions you can ask. Trying to figure out where the story is going and answering all those questions is fun for me.

The only part unrealistic to me in they types of stories is when the characters enter perilous situations, as if they are invincible, or way more courageous than they need to be. I stage them as foolish people, and it is hard to read those parts because you know miraculously, they are going to come out unscathed, or minorly injured, ready for the next irrational move. There are a few of those in this book, but they aren’t flagrant or impossible to bear, so they don’t wreck the story.

Even with things I didn’t care for, this book was a good read. I read it in a few hours because I couldn’t stop. I had to know what happened. I’m pretty sure you will do the same thing. Read it. You will be glad you did if you like to figure out clues.

The Fall (Caught Off Guard #1) By L. Sommers, A Book Review

 

Romance. This story is literally about romance, subtle and bold.

The characters are strong, yet they show their vulnerabilities. One of the leads, Liam, is very strong, very sexy, and yet has his vulnerable moments, too. These may be elusive to some readers who are more absorbed in his physical attributes, but are shown as real, tangible feelings that are exposed but not exploited by the author.  The other lead character, Desiree, has a secret. A painful one that intrudes on her present life and connections, including with Liam.

It is a romance that is written with not just dialogue, but sensual details. Most of the romance books today are heavy into the sexual details. This is not. This story flirts with the concepts and senses, but doesn’t grind out all the details to the end. It leaves you wringing the rest out in your mind, so you can move on, or not. It makes for a good book to ponder. For the imagination.

I enjoyed the story and the characters, especially Liam. He is quite interesting. And sexy, which doesn’t hurt either. I didn’t realize when I selected this book that there was a sequel to these two characters. So now I am on to finding the second book because you know I can’t stop without a formal ending. There are 4 books in this series, and all but the last, I think, are about Desiree. Even if I had read that before I got the book, I would have still purchased it to read. I love series.

If romance is your genre pick, or you just want a romance read to interrupt your normal purview, then this is a good selection. The characters are relatable and fun, and you will appreciate the sweet and realistic story.

Downfall By S.R. Kent, A Book Review

 

Any time an angel falls, a new reality emerges. This story is just that. A new reality that most can’t comprehend, nor do they want to. It defies the known ideology that they have identified with since childhood. So, is this a possible reality? It doesn’t matter because it is still a fun and lively story to enjoy.

Marijana is an angel who fell to a human status, for the love of her life. As we know, angels are selfless, so this was neither surprising nor shocking, but certainly endearing. Others fell too, which, in turn, created an enjoyable story with characters who didn’t disappoint in catching and holding your heart and your page-turning fingers.

If you enjoy fallen angel tragedies and love stories, you will enjoy this one. There could actually be a sequel, but I don’t know if one is planned.

The Scribe by Liam R. Mullen, A Book Review

 This story, in its entirety, is as relevant today as it was in its time. Christians are still pursued, and if caught, still persecuted today all over the world. Reading this book was an eye-opening exploration, driving the reader into the yesteryear (world) of the scribes in the Bible. Due to the extent of time the book traverses, there is a lot to digest for more than one character, which I feel dilutes the story of Luke, the scribe. Had the story stuck to just Luke and interspersed the other facts necessary without the other characters’ cumbersome and time-consuming details, I would have loved the story. As it is, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. That is a personal preference and not something that may hinder others, and should not deter anyone from reading this book, which would be a true miss.

Luke is a scribe of the bible; a story no one really talks in depth about until now. It is a researched and creative book that is written to place you back in that time, and you will enjoy being there. Witnessing the events and characters you recognize is fun. Living the stories of that time can be entertaining and traumatizing, but it will definitely be unforgettable. You will most likely recall details of a story or stories you may have read in the bible or elsewhere about the other characters besides Luke. The details of that time and those characters may now put a scene in your mind that you can live and will most certainly remember.

The story of Jesus and his followers is a never-ending and soul-touching encounter that most people will thoroughly enjoy. The gut-wrenching events, such as the crucifixion, may dampen your spirits and hurt your heart a bit, but the overall picture is heart-warming, spirit-elevating, and love-enveloping. It is a story that no matter how many times it is told, you’re always ready to hear it again.

This book is for anyone with a quest for knowledge who loves stories of the bible and wants to experience the time of the bible through the writing and dialogue of this author. It is an enjoyable and fascinating read.