Saturday, April 30, 2016

Balance of April, 2016

During the month of April, 2016, I reviewed the following:

Books:
- "A Realm of Shadows" by Morgan Rice. Read my review.
- "Europa Awakenings - Europa Series Volume 1" by Pamela Garcia. Read my review.
- "Night of the Bold" by Morgan Rice. Read my review.
- "The Mustard Seed" by Peter Szondy. Read my review.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Book "The Mustard Seed" by Peter Szondy

About the Book: Sara, a ten-year-old girl in a small country town, startles her family when she inexplicably begins to heal others afflicted with fatal conditions, making her overnight an unlikely media celebrity. As if that weren’t enough, she insists all the while that the healing was done not by her but by Jesus, whom she sees walking on a lake!
But was she really alone in seeing Jesus?
As the story unfolds, Sara’s life takes an unexpected twist that bewilders her entire community.
Besides being a compelling read, Sara’s story makes for an exhilarating spiritual experience.

About the Author: A former documentary and commercial filmmaker, Peter Szondy is an internationally published poet, educated at the University of Vienna and Loyola Marymount University. He lives in Ojai, CA.

My Review: Peter is a natural storyteller. In this wonderful novel, he tells us the story of Sara, a ten year old girl from a small town that has a faith so strong that affects everybody around her. It is wonderful to read the description of people who have lost faith and through Sara's faith they find hope back into their lives. The simplicity of her reasoning is so sweet that even her Pastor is amazed at her. Visiting priests and her doctor have the opportunity to witness some events they cannot explain.
Kudos to the author, that so nicely reproduced the original story of G. M. Mercier in a way that keeps you on the verge of crying and throughout the whole book you only desire that you have a fraction of Sara's faith. At the end, this book will make you reflect deeply and I can guarantee that you will try to be a better person after finish reading it. 
I highly recommend this book to all readers, believers or not, Faith is something that we find in children in its most pure state. And this story will prove that and it will really touch you.

I received this book from the author, but I was not requested to post a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.

If you read this review, feel free to leave a comment.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Book "Night of the Bold" by Morgan Rice

About the Book: NIGHT OF THE BOLD is book #6—and the final installment—in Morgan Rice’s bestselling epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS.
In NIGHT OF THE BOLD, Kyra must find a way to free herself from Marda and return to Escalon with the Staff of Truth. If she does, awaiting her will be the most epic battle of her life, as she will need to face off against Ra’s armies, a nation of trolls, and a flock of dragons. If her powers, and the weapon, are strong enough, her mother awaits her, ready to reveal the secrets of her destiny, and of her birth.
Duncan must make an epic stand against Ra’s armies once and for all. Yet even as he fights the greatest battles of his life, leading to a final stand in The Devil’s Gluch, he cannot expect the dark trickery that Ra has awaiting him.
In the Bay of Death, Merk and King Tarnis’ daughter must join forces with Alec and the warriors of the Lost Isles to fight off the dragons. They must find Duncan and unite to save Escalon, yet Vesuvius has resurfaced, and they cannot anticipate the treachery awaiting them.
In the epic finale to Kings and Sorcerers, the most dramatic battles, weapons and sorcery all lead to a breathtaking, unexpected conclusion, filled with both heartbreaking tragedy and inspiring re-birth.
With its strong atmosphere and complex characters, NIGHT OF THE BOLD is a sweeping saga of knights and warriors, of kings and lords, of honor and valor, of magic, destiny, monsters and dragons. It is a story of love and broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is fantasy at its finest, inviting us into a world that will live with us forever, one that will appeal to all ages and genders.

About the Author: Morgan Rice is the #1 bestselling and USA Today bestselling author of the epic fantasy series THE SORCERER'S RING, comprising seventeen books; of the #1 bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, comprising twelve books; of the new vampire series, VAMPIRE, FALLEN, which begins with BEFORE DAWN (book #1); of the #1 bestselling series THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, a post-apocalyptic thriller comprising two books (and counting); and of the epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS, comprising six books, concluding with the recent finale NIGHT OF THE BOLD (Book #6). Morgan's books are available in audio and print editions, and translations are available in over 25 languages.
Morgan's latest release is OBSESSED (BOOK #12 IN THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS)--the final book in the 12 book VAMPIRE JOURNALS series.
Morgan's new epic fantasy series, OF CROWNS AND GLORY, will publish in April, 2016, beginning with book #1, SLAVE, WARRIOR, QUEEN.
TURNED (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals), ARENA ONE (Book #1 of the Survival Trilogy), A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1 in the Sorcerer's Ring), RISE OF THE DRAGONS (Kings and Sorcerers--Book #1) and BEFORE DAWN (Vampire Fallen--Book #1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.morganricebooks.com to join the email list, receive 4 free books, receive free giveaways, download the free app, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch! As always, if any of you are suffering from any hardship, email the author at morgan@morganricebooks.com and the author will be happy to send you a free book!

My Review: The book “Night of the Bold” is the sixth and last book in the “Kings and Sorcerers” series. The easy and light writing style will hook you up from the very first page. In this book we continue to follow our heroine Kyra, a 15 year old girl, who loves to fight like a warrior. In this episode she is fighting at Marda to recover the Staff of Truth. Her father Duncan is fighting in another front, trying to hold the invasion of Ra's army. Other parallel stories are told. Alec returns from his journey, bringing back the sword that can change the balance in the war. Packed with a lot of action, I recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that love to read a well written book, which will allow them to live a fantasy full of action. The author managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page we turn. The this last book is an epic finale for the whole series. Kudos to the author! 
I received a copy of this book from the author and I was not requested to write a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own. 

 If you read this review, feel free to leave a comment!

Monday, April 25, 2016

Book "Europa Awakenings - Europa Series Volume 1" by Pamela Garcia

About the Book: When the Oonocks sank their golden city of Atlantis beneath the ocean, only the words of Plato gave testimony of its existence. Now learn a new thought of who the Atlantians were and why they had to sink their city that eventful night. Find out why 6000 years ago, a race known as the Oonocks left their beautiful lilac, waters of Jupiter’s ice moon Europa to begin a new life on Earth. Discover the real Atlantians. Europa is a nineteen year old human female who has never heard of the Oonocks. And, although she’s heard of the legend of Atlantis, she’s never giving the story much thought. Europa: Awakenings begins with Queen Medaron’s departure to the world above, to the land of air and land. She is with child and no Oonock child has survived past the age of ten for almost a thousand years. So King Enok and Queen Medaron make the difficult decision that their daughter, Europa, will be born on land as a human, never to know the truth of who she is. Twenty years have passed since Queen Medaron came above, and Europa is fast approaching her twentieth birthday. Her life has been fairly normal, as normal as any royal child’s can be. But her safety is an illusion, for their enemy has returned and is stalking the future queen, waiting for his chance to end her life. The day after her birthday, Europa’s perfect world is destroyed when JeffRa assassinates her mother, believing she was Europa. She discovers a secret attic above her mother’s bedroom where she finds picture of her parents hundreds of years old. But the most terrifying find is her mother’s diary. Inside, Queen Medaron wrote that Europa would be born human and never know who she really was. Europa embarks on a journey of discovery, a journey of many dangers as JeffRa chases her, determined to personally end her life. Along the way, Europa will lose almost everyone and everything she loves. Somehow she must discover the truth of her past and the queen inside her. She must learn and accept the true story of Atlantis, the Oonock race and what lives beneath Europa’s ice if she is to survive.

About the Author: P. R. Garcia is a not too-grayed-haired old lady who, at the age of sixty one, was inspired to write a book about aliens from the ice moon of Jupiter, Europa. Sitting down at her computer with a phenomenal idea in mind, she used her love of Science Fiction and her knowledge as a naturalist on the whale watching boats, combined with the legend of Atlantis and Puma Punku and other known ancient landmarks from Earth's past, to weave a story of intrigue, mystery, magic and adventure. For a more traditional account, see her biography on http://www.prgarcia1.com

My Review: The author did an amazing job producing a masterpiece of fantasy, science fiction, adventure, romance, thriller, all combined in this wonderful novel.
Europa is a young girl that has no clue about where his family came from. She was always told that her family was royal, living in exile because of a war that broke in their original land. Although she lives with a very restricted protocol of security measures, nothing seems to be strange for the situation. But suddenly, when her mother is assassinated, her world goes upside down and nothing is as it looks like. She finds out she has an older brother she did not know about and all people around her were there with the sole purpose to protect her. Even her new boyfriend is indirectly part of this incredible tale.
The book is so full of twists and adventures that you will enjoy it from the first page and it will be very hard to put it down. Kudos to the author, who produced a strong set of characters that you will easily learn to love and respect. The scenes are richly described and the persecution sequences are intense.
I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that appreciate a very well written novel. You will not be disappointed.

I received this book from the author and I was not requested to provide o positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.

If you read this review, feel free to leave a comment.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Book "A Realm of Shadows" by Morgan Rice

About the Book: In A REALM OF SHADOWS, Kyra finds herself in the midst of a burning capital, attacked by a host of dragons, clinging for life. With her beloved homeland destroyed, The Flames down and the trolls pouring in, Kyra must urgently quest to Marda to retrieve the magic weapon before it is too late-even if it takes her into the very heart of darkness.
Duncan finds himself trapped, with the others, in the burning capital, and he uses all his wits to find his men, attempt escape, and rally his forces to regroup and attack Pandesia. Across the kingdom, Merk sails with King Tarnis' daughter through the Bay of Death as they abandon the Tower of Kos and sail for the warrior isle of Knossos. Pursued by Vesuvius and his army of trolls, crossing the world's most treacherous waters, they know they have little chance to reach the isle, and even less chance of escape.
Dierdre and Marco survive the tidal wave that destroyed Ur only to find their beloved city under water. With everyone they knew and loved lost and dead, they must pick up the pieces and journey to the one person they know who is left alive: Kyra. Alec, meanwhile sails back for Escalon with the people of The Lost Isles, holding the precious sword that might just change everything. But none expect to encounter a land destroyed, a land that is now teeming with dragons.
With its strong atmosphere and complex characters, A REALM OF SHADOWS is a sweeping saga of knights and warriors, of kings and lords, of honor and valor, of magic, destiny, monsters and dragons. It is a story of love and broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is fantasy at its finest, inviting us into a world that will live with us forever, one that will appeal to all ages and genders.

About the Author: Morgan Rice is the #1 bestselling and USA Today bestselling author of the epic fantasy series THE SORCERER'S RING, comprising seventeen books; of the #1 bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, comprising twelve books; of the new vampire series, VAMPIRE, FALLEN, which begins with BEFORE DAWN (book #1); of the #1 bestselling series THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, a post-apocalyptic thriller comprising two books (and counting); and of the epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS, comprising six books, concluding with the recent finale NIGHT OF THE BOLD (Book #6). Morgan's books are available in audio and print editions, and translations are available in over 25 languages.
Morgan's latest release is OBSESSED (BOOK #12 IN THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS)--the final book in the 12 book VAMPIRE JOURNALS series.
Morgan's new epic fantasy series, OF CROWNS AND GLORY, will publish in April, 2016, beginning with book #1, SLAVE, WARRIOR, QUEEN.
TURNED (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals), ARENA ONE (Book #1 of the Survival Trilogy), A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1 in the Sorcerer's Ring), RISE OF THE DRAGONS (Kings and Sorcerers--Book #1) and BEFORE DAWN (Vampire Fallen--Book #1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.morganricebooks.com to join the email list, receive 4 free books, receive free giveaways, download the free app, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch! As always, if any of you are suffering from any hardship, email the author at morgan@morganricebooks.com and the author will be happy to send you a free book!

My Review: The book “A Realm of Shadows” is the fifth book in the “Kings and Sorcerers” series. The easy and light writing style will hook you up from the very first page. In this book we continue to follow our heroine Kyra, a 15 year old girl, who loves to fight like a warrior. In this episode she is fighting in the capital city of Escalon to release her baby dragon and escape from a massive dragon attack. Her father Duncan comes to her rescue after escaping the dungeons with help of his loyal soldiers. Kyra now heads to Marda, to retrieve the Staff of Truth, while her father moves to the outskirts of the capital to put in action a bold plan to defeat the pandesians. Other parallel stories are told. Alec returns from his journey, bringing back the sword that can change the balance in the war. His friend Mark is at Dierdre side and they are looking for Kyra, after Ur is destroyed. Vesuvius is persecuting Merk, going towards the Tower of Kos, to capture the Sword of Flames. Packed with excitement, I recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that love to read a well written book, which will allow them to live a fantasy full of action. I can hardly wait to see how the story will end. The author managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page we turn. I received a copy of this book from the author and I was not requested to write a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own. 

 If you read this review, feel free to leave a comment!