Book Reviews by Ehlen Administration

Cole's Perfect Puppy by Frances M. Crossno My rating: 4 of 5 stars Cole desperately wants a puppy, and the pot bellied pig his uncle got him for Christmas isn’t cutting it. When a job at the local pet store opens up he jumps at the chance to work towards the beautiful Golden Retriever puppy that still hasn’t been adopted. But will he be able to save enough money to adopt her before someone else will? Cole’s Perfect Puppy is a super cute kid’s book about a little boy who desperately wants his first, frisky puppy. I think any kid will identify with Cole, and his desire to earn the pet he knows will be the perfect fit. Intertwined are some common childhood issues, including that of losing a parent, that spark great conversation for kids who have had to deal with loss and trauma. I was also particularly encouraged that the subject of religion and spirituality was brought in as a way to cope with trauma, as I think that adults often misconstrue the value of that for children. If ...

In Black & White by Catherine Lavender My rating: 4 of 5 stars Micah is determined to discover her roots. She knows her white father abandoned her mother, leaving her to grow up as a biracial child in a black community. But when she discovers her father has died and left her a sizable estate, she’s determined to figure out what really happened. But will finding the key to her past seal her fate with her father’s racist relatives? In Black and White is a fascinating look at how modern racial politics intertwine with the past and inform the present. I was genuinely engrossed in the story of Micah’s parents, Sydney and Loretta, and how it was acted out as a bestseller. The story speaks to the heart of what we see today in the struggle that just can’t quite resolve itself. The first half of the book was gripping; unfortunately in the second half I was distracted by a lot of tense hopping and minor grammatical errors. I think that if those were addressed this would be one of tho...

Through the Wildwood by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Vanx is pretty sure he can escape his shackles, but there is the matter of the pretty girl to save also. He can tell their party is about to be ambushed, and he feels compelled to save her, as he is quite certain she was sent to purchase his freedom by her mother, who was fond of Vanx warming her bed. But can he save her from the poison she encountered on her escape? And what of the strange wizard’s pack and the unnatural attraction to it the ogres seem to display? Will he ever work his way out of the Wildwood? In The Legend of Vanx Malic Mathias follows up his hugely successful Wardstone Trilogy with a new hero, the half Zythian Vanx Malic. This is a shorter tome than the three Wardstone books, but no less entertaining or engaging. The fast paced book doesn’t have a whole lot of time for character development, but the potential is certainly there and the story well done enough to keep the reader guessing and looking f...

Kings, Queens, Heroes, & Fools by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Hyden Hawk has been charged to find the Silver Skull of Zorellin, leaving his friend Mikahl to defend his new title as High King and reclaim Wildermont from the combined forces of Shaella and Ra’Gren, her reluctant ally. Due to Hyden she now has a new dragon and a new mission, to free her lover, Gerard, from the demonic realm he to which he was forced to retreat. But does Gerard retain any of his old self, or has he turned into the new king of hell? Can anyone fight against him once he’s freed? Picking up right where The Sword and the Dragon leaves off, Kings, Queens, Heroes and Fools follows the story of Hyden Hawk and Mikahl in their new roles, while delving deep into the new political atmosphere created in the original book. As typical of Mathias, there are a lot of characters to follow and a lot of magic to help, but I found that it seemed much easier to follow the plot as there were two clear alignme...

The Wizard and the Warlord by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Mikahl and Hyden have no choice but to face the demon hellbeast that Hyden’s brother, Gerard, has become. Mikahl isn’t sure why Hyden insists on all the side quests, but he trusts Hyden’s instincts in these matters. He just hopes that Hyden can get back in time to join with him and all of Xwarda in one last stand against all of the demonkind loosed from the Nethers. If he can’t the age of men is surely over. I thoroughly enjoyed the gripping conclusion to the Wardstone trilogy. I love that Mathias isn’t afraid to kill beloved or introduce new characters even in the final act of his beloved story, and honestly I love the story behind the story, of Mathias’ journey through prison to write this saga. I look forward to seeing the rest of the universe Mathias creates and hope that we learn some of the stories of those sidequests and minor characters, as well as the history of the realm. I think that this could develop...

Semmant by Vadim Babenko My rating: 4 of 5 stars He has done it. Bogden Bogdanov has created Semmant, a sentient entity living inside his computer. Semmant has made the global stock market his pawn, using it both to build Bogdanov’s wealth as well as express his own maturation. He has other vehicles of course - art, music, literature. But none so expressive as his trading. Unfortunately, his existence is linked irrevocably to Bogdanov, and his life is currently in turmoil due to his relationship with one Lidia Alveres. Semmant must watch, helplessly, as human emotion and cruelty takes root in his processors, and may destroy all that he has created. Semmant explores the best and worst of humanity through the vehicle of an artificial life form struggling to find his place in this world. The story is narrated by Bogdanov and while he is not necessarily the most likable character, his voice is consistent and unwavering, much like the man himself. He presents as an arrogant scientist...

Grump & Rose by Aaron Burdett My rating: 4 of 5 stars Grump is a secondborn troll. He’s large, ugly and violent. But he’s not nearly violent enough for his clan, and when he starts keeping a pet, he stepped over the troll line. Rather than let them know he’s still alive after their latest attempt to beat the troll into him, he stays where he lands and learns how to garden from a strange old lady. That strange old lady tells him where his life is going, but he still didn’t expect to meet Rose. Can he care for her while still protecting her from that prophecy? Or is he doomed to always screw things up as a troll? Grump and Rose is a fantasy tale that strangely mixes Tolkein with Shrek as the determined antihero reluctantly faces off against powers beyond his reach. I really enjoyed the obvious stereotype busting and bromance between Grump and Boil, and am interested to see how the two wizard camps decide to duel. I was a little put off by the inconsistent language, as it begin...

The Worship of Walker Judson by Janice Strubbe Wittenberg My rating: 4 of 5 stars Walker Judson renamed himself and has begun to live his life according to his calling, as a healer. But parts of his old life still pull at him, and the town of Buena Vista, AZ, isn’t exactly welcoming of new age healers. But he knows he’s doing good, and has a protege in Lauren who can continue his work. Will he be able to overcome his past and press on through the present to fulfill his destiny? And can he control his power and use it only to heal, rather than to destroy, as it sometimes presses him to do? Walker Judson is a fascinating character, and while the book tells a story, the story is really that of a faith healer and his personal demons, as well as through the eyes of one of his acolytes. I have always been fascinated by cults and cult leaders and wondered how people get sucked into him, so this was one of those books I just couldn’t put down. The strength of the character development a...

To Parts Unknown by John Anthony Miller My rating: 4 of 5 stars George Adams is running from his past. To get out of London he persuades his editor to post him in Singapore. Unfortunately for him he arrives in 1942, just in time for the Japanese to invade. While trying to keep up some semblance of journalism he runs into the most fascinating character, Lady Jane Carrington Smythe. She too, is running away. But will they be able to escape together, and will their respective pasts prevent their future? Author John Anthony Miller paints a vivid scene of the Pacific theater during WW2, and then inserts seemingly ordinary characters put into an extraordinary circumstances. While he does a good job moving the story along, brief interactions with otherwise extemporaneous characters become the foundation of main character George Adams’ introspection and healing from the death of his wife, Maggie, and move him towards forgiving himself for his part and and his interest in Lady Jane. Whi...

Ripped Apart: Quantum Twins - Adventures On Two Worlds by Geoffrey Arnold My rating: 4 of 5 stars Tullia and Qwelby are twins, but not just any old twins. They are quantum twins, meaning they are genetically identical twins but are a boy/girl pair. This has only ever happened once before on Vertazia, and it didn’t end well. When they interfere with an experiment they are hurled through space/time to Earth, which severs their telepathic connection. Will they be able to reconnect and find their way home? And why are their people fighting their return? Do you like to nitpick science fiction? If so this is the read for you. I was totally fascinated by the science involved, as I’ve been interested in the concept of the multiverse and higher dimensions ever since I saw the TNG episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise” as a child. Although a little lengthy, I thought the storyline was interesting and it didn’t delve too sciency for those who don’t want the nitty gritty. I’m hoping the next book...

Dog Gone by Diane Moat My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sam just can’t get the picture of that poor, abused dog out of her mind. Elvis had been tortured and killed cruelly before she found him on the side of the road, and she had to bring his killer to justice, no matter what it took. Can her mission of righteous vengeance succeed, and if it does, will she lose everything in the process? She’s willing to take the chance, even if she has to use extra-legal methods. Dog Gone is a fictionalized story of a very real problem. I was very happy to see real warnings woven into the story, such as never list a dog for free on online classifieds, as that draws dog fighters and baiters. I too am a dog lover, and it infuriates me to see some of the cruelty inflicted on such sweet animals. However, I was a little alarmed that the methods used by Sam to justify the ends were basically written off, as if two wrongs make a right. The story was engaging and the emotion was real, but for a story that was t...

The Bone Keepers by James LePore My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Catholic Church has many secrets, and this one has been kept for hundreds of years. Will it stay protected with the family who has been charged with its safety since the time of Christ? Or will it be sold to the Nazis by any one of several enterprising individuals? Follow John Tolkein and Ian Fleming before they were household names, and perhaps discover some of their inspirations behind their famous characters, as their WW2 espionage exploits take them on their fated journey. Although this is the third in the Mythmakers trilogy it was actually the first one I read, and it works well as a stand alone book. It is styled as a historical thriller, weaving fictional characters into real events, and probably fictionalized real characters, which was my impressions of Tolkein and Fleming. The author wove (not particularly subtle) allusions to Tolkein and Fleming’s famous characters and plots throughout the story, which I a...

All People Lives Matter by Billy McCoy My rating: 4 of 5 stars Holly is a 20 year old liberal student who joins the All People Lives Matter Movement as a matter of course - she’s destined to change the world after all. Unfortunately, the world she was destined to change was completely foreign and unintelligible to her, and she did not realize that until it was far too late… I picked up this with interest, as the title was certainly an allusion to the Black Lives Matter movement, and I wanted to know the author’s take on it. I lived roughly 10 - 15 minutes away from Ferguson, MO, during the Michael Brown shooting, and watched both local and national media (and the stark difference between the two) unfold during that time. I am a Missouri girl, and the state of race relations here really saddens me, especially as they have probably devolved since that incident rather than improved. I really enjoyed how the vignettes in this book explored some of the ways racism is structural in th...

Sunborn Rising: Beneath the Fall by Aaron Safronoff My rating: 4 of 5 stars Barra has always been a natural explorer, but finding her dead father’s secret journal may send her on a journey from which she can’t return. Will her fall help her save her tree and everyone in it? Or will the deadly rot that no one seems to understand destroy them all? Can she finish her father’s story, and avert the fate he warned the Elders about? Follow Barra and her two best friends on a journey through the floating treescape of Cerulean as they try to discover the way to fight the rot for good. Sunborn Rising is a fantasy tale of a society that lives in a tree that, ironically, has forgotten its roots. The imagery and social engineering of the story felt like Fern Gully meets Avatar, and the writing draws you in much the same way. I also loved the illustrations, which really made the characters and setting come alive in a coherent way, and lended a context to the reader’s imagination as the plot...

Tiago by Reily Garrett My rating: 3 of 5 stars Brielle has just witnessed the brutal mother of her mother, and received cryptic instructions from her right before she died. Brielle and her mom have always loved traveling the Amazon together, but why is it so critical for her to go now? How is her destiny wrapped up in the jungle? And who is the strange, glowing protector she finds there? I have read other Reily Garrett books before, and while those were YA this is definitely a more adult romance, including sex. Disclaimer aside, if you like supernatural/paranormal romance this book fits well with Garrett’s succinct but deliberate style that unfolds a story into an adventure. Like her other books, I actually thought the book could have used a little bit more leading and tension rather than such a quick resolution, but it was still a great quick read, perfect for a beach book or surviving the airport. View all my reviews Please note, while there may be affiliate links or paymen...

Awakening by Janet V. Forster Kate has always wanted to search for her birth parents, and now that she’s 18 it’s time to take the plunge. Her mom probably won’t like it, but every adoptee needs to find their roots if they can. However, Kate gets a lot more than she bargained for when she locates her birth father, Nick. His family history brings her into a world that she had no idea even existed, and one where she plays a huge role, like it or not. Full disclosure - I work for an adoption agency . I generally cringe when I read adoption stories because of all the misconceptions and myths. I am unashamedly pro adoption because I feel like it is an often underutilized alternative for tough situations that can work for everyone if you put the effort into it. Although not perfect, I was honestly okay with the adoption story in this one, although I’m wondering how it will play out with the supernatural element. I think that the portrayal of a desire to know your roots is accurate, bu...

The Quest for Hope by A.S. King My rating: 4 of 5 stars Aliatta has been raised a princess, but has never quite been able to pinpoint why she has such terrible dreams. She is always fighting terrible monsters she can’t defeat herself, but is defended by beautiful, shining creatures. Unbeknownst to her, Aliatta has been selected by the High King for an impossible quest, and her dreams are just the beginning. The Quest for Hope is book one in a new young adult Christian Fiction series, Invisible Battles. The story begins with obvious Biblical imagery of the Garden of Eden, but the book itself definitely has it’s own story that alludes to the allegorical nature of Narnia and Middle Earth without copying it completely. Full disclosure, waaay back in the day when blogging was not the industry it is now, I had a Xanga blog (true story) called “Chri-Fi Commentary” where I reviewed Christian Fiction - the good, the terrible and the plain uncalled for. I’m happy to say that while this ...

The Book of Siavon: Volume 1: The Ruby Child by Jessica Eppley My rating: 4 of 5 stars Aryth was once ruled by benevolent Garric, but his daughters have caused nothing but despair since he cast them out. Only one person, the ruby eyed child of prophecy can defeat them to restore an era of peace. Keavy has been trained to defeat Garric’s daughter, Crocetta, by her adopted father Vorian. When you are born with crimson eyes, it’s hard to mistake your destiny. But her destiny has come too soon, and she only has an elderly catman, skittish faun and a teenage blacksmith to aid her. Ruby Child is an engaging story from the beginning, although somewhat clumsily written at times. However, I was intrigued by the fantasy realm in which it was set and the characters that emerged. Keavy is both engaging and impulsive, but represents much of what it’s like to be a teenager with a burden. I’m interested to see how the next few books in the series evolve, as I presume they will deal with each s...

by Pamela Blake My rating: 4 of 5 stars Due to the sins of her father, Rose, her mother, her daughter Lucy, and eventually Lucy’s children will never have a normal life. Because those sins were covered up, the secrets threaten to tear apart her very soul. Can she outrun her secrets, and can her daughter put her life back together when it all seems to be falling apart. Eden’s Apple is a tale of childhood trauma and redemption, although no redemption without heartbreak. I thought the internal monologue of Rose was devastatingly accurate, although honestly Lucy’s character escaped me a bit at times. I had a harder time accepting her changes than the other characters, who started out with some redeeming qualities, whereas she was pretty self absorbed from minute one. I enjoyed the pace of the book and the lilting tone, and really enjoyed the exploration of emotions and inner monologue. I think that if you have ever suffered childhood trauma particularly this book will resonate and h...

The Digital Now by Roland Allnach My rating: 5 of 5 stars Carly has always been a member of Patrol; it’s always just another day. She patrols with her partner, Graham, they eat the same food, put down the same endorsed, cyclical riots, drink and party. Until she suffers a severe crack on the skull from a dropped brick, and has to be reformatted. After all, that’s got to be where all these strange thinks are from, right? Or is it possible that she has unlocked a part of herself that Central fears? Can she possibly be on the run from Central, or is this all a part of a much grander manipulation? Set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future, The Digital Now explores both the positives and negatives of an autocratic, central authority that makes the call on who lives and dies, rations the meager provisions, and guides consumer desires in a way that makes them think they are doing it all on their own. Written in an unapologetically Orwellian/Huxlian style, The Digital Now is a throwba...