Book Reviews and More: December 2014

Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014

Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014

Monday, 29 December 2014

Freeing Tanner Rose - T.M. Gaouette - Faith and Kung Fu Book 1

Freeing Tanner Rose

Faith and Kung Fu Book 1

T.M. Gaouette

Createspace

ISBN 9781494305062

This is the second novel I have read by T.M. Gaouette and I have enjoyed both immensely. However the pace and intensity in this story was gripping. I barely put the book down and read it in two extended settings. When I finished this novel, I was really wishing for more. It was only when I went to do some research for the review that I discovered it is the first in a series called Faith & Kung Fu.

This story was a very intense read. From the moment Gabriel met Tanner Rose he was apprehensive and reserved. Gabriel and his mother live in the country, he studies martial arts and is a young man of faith. Tanner Rose is a very young Hollywood starlet who dresses and acts beyond her years. At every Turn Gabriel's patience and fortitude seems to be tested by this girl his mother has brought home. Gabriel and Tanner's mother were roommate in university and even though they have chosen very different path's Miss Ruth took Tanner in to try and help. Both Ruth and Gabriel have strong faith and personal practice. Tanner thinks they are just country hicks, and feels like she is being abandoned, punished, and neglected by her mother for pulling her from her party scene lifestyle. Will Gabriel's steadfast faith and strength help ground Tanner or will her wild addictive and self-centered traits rub off on him.

"There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13)

The characters are wonderfully written. The solid honest ethical life of Gabriel and his mother in contrast to Tanner and her Hollywood shenanigans is a stunning look at faith in the midst of modern life and culture. The story was compelling and an absolute page turner. I can highly recommend it. It is one of the best Christian Fiction stories I have read in years, and one of the best Catholic Fiction stories for young adults I have ever read. In many ways it reminds me of Regina Doman's writings. Good solid writing crafted into an awesome story. Freeing Tanner Rose is to be the first of four books in the Faith & Kung Fu series. And I cannot wait to read the next installment. It was an excellent read.

Books by T.M. Gaouette:

The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch
For Eden's Sake
Shadow Stalker
...

Faith & Kung Fu Series:

Freeing Tanner Rose
Saving Faith
Guarding Aaron

Loving Gabriel

...

Contributed to:
Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories - Catholic Teen Books
Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens

Ashes Visible & Invisible 10 Stories for Teens

Shadows Visible & Invisible 7 Stories for Teens

...

Author Profile and interview with T.M. Gaouette

(New 2018 Covers)

(Original Covers)

Thursday, 25 December 2014

Merry Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas

From Book Reviews and More.

Hope you have a blessed holiday season, and may you find many good books under the tree, or sent to you device for eReading.

Monday, 22 December 2014

Ring Of Time - Andrew M. Seddon

Ring of Time
Andrew M. Seddon
Splashdown Books
ISBN 9781927154380
eISBN 9781311340863
ASIN B00P7C7C0W

I must be honest and state that I absolutely love Andrew M. Seddon's Saints Alive Volume I - Saints of Empire and Saints Alive Volume II - Celtic Paths so when I had the chance to receive a review copy of his latest novel Ring Of Time I was thrilled. The book did not disappoint. Seddon has a stunning ability to take readers into the past but learn lessons they can apply daily in their lives. Some books I devour, and go back and reread, others I read and the seldom come to mind again. This book I had to take my time with, to savor, taste and wait and come back to it again. If this book were a meal it would be a rare dining experience, intended to be relished and recalled fondly again and again.

Set in the 27th century, it is a series of stories told to us by Dr. Robert Cragg, he is the first time-travelling historian. Humanity has reached new heights of technology, they can send someone back in time and retrieve them. Suffering from the loss of his daughter and wife, he volunteer's to be the first to test this new technology, in fact he becomes famous as a time-travelling historian. He is running from his pain and loss into ancient Rome. But instead of encountering dry dusty stories he finds people, many of who he comes to care about and even a few love. The places and time's he visits are:

The Ghosts of Kourion, Cyprus, AD 365
Tyndareus and Krikor, At Sea, 15 BC
Moonrise over Metzada, Judea, AD 74
The Slipper of Sulpicia Lepidina, Britain, AD 103
Dust of Caesar, Italy, AD 79
Eudaimon, Egypt, AD 132
Asellina's Last Fight, Britain, AD 84
Doctoral Dissertation, Rome, AD 113
In the Mists of Britain, Britain, AD 62
Kobrinia, Britain, AD 257
The Arms of Venus, Melos (undated)
The Philosopher's Ring, Egypt, AD 415

But bouncing around time seems to be taking a toll on his health and he knows his number of trips to the past is dwindling. He must make some decisions about the past and about his future. He has had the pleasure of walking the sands of time and he has interacted with commoners, nobility, sailors, businessmen, zealots, legionaries, druids, gladiatrix and philosophers and through it all, he finds people he can interact with, learn from and he finds he enjoys the past more than the present. . For Robert the past is not dead and gone, but alive. More alive than he ever expected to feel after all he has lost.

The story is wonderfully written, not only does the past come alive for Robert, but for us the readers also. It is an incredible read and one of the best books of the more than 115 I have read so far this year and one of the best of the past few years. It is an excellent read!

Well done Andrew well done.

Books by Andrew M. Seddon:
Non-Fiction:
Walking with the Celtic Saints (with Neil & Gerlinde Kennedy-Jones)

Dr. Andrew's Curious and Quirky Compendium

...

Historical Fiction:

Imperial Legions

...

Saints Alive Series:

Saints Alive Volume I - Saints of Empire
Saints Alive Volume II - Celtic Paths

...

Saints Alive Second Editions:

Saints of Empire

Celtic Paths

...

Volume 1 & 2 Omnibus Edition

...

Stories Of The Supernatural:

Tales from the Brackenwood Ghost Club

What Darkness Remains

In Death Survive

The Deadliest Sins

…

Science Fiction:

Red Planet Rising

Iron Scepter

Ring of Time

The DeathCats of Asa’ican and Other Tales of a Space-Vet

Farhope

Wreaths of Empire

…

German Shepherd Wanderings Series:

Bonds of Affection

Ranger's First Call

…

Contributed to:

Sky Songs

Sky Songs II

Infinite Space Infinite God II

Fungi #20

The Tanist's Wife and other stories

Unintended Consequences

Silent Screams: An Anthology of Socially Conscious Dark Fiction

Eldritch Embraces: Putting the Love Back in Lovecraft

Tails from the Front Lines

Rejected

Misunderstood

Incarceration

Legends of Sleepy Hallow

Wolf Wanderings

...

Author Profile and interview with Andrew M Seddon.

Monday, 8 December 2014

Firstborn - Brandon Sanderson

Firstborn
Brandon Sanderson
Tor
ISBN 9781429952989
AISN B003V4B4GQ

There are a few hallmarks of great stories, at lease in my opinion. One of the big one's for me is does the story stay with you. I finished this story about a month ago and yet it keep's coming back to me. I have now reread it. My first impressions were 'What an Incredible story!'. And that feeling has only intensified. This is likely the best science fiction short story I have ever read and to be honest probably the second best short story I have every read.

Two brothers who have never really met, Varion the greatest warrior the empire has ever known, and Dennison his younger brother, born while Varion was away at war. Varion who has never know defeat and Dennison who has never known victory.

This was an amazing story that really has stuck with me. I highly recommend it. Great writing, excellent characters and break neck pace. My only regret is that it is a short story. I would love to read longer versions of this story, or more stories with these characters.