The Coming Storm by Mark Alpert

I was really looking forward to a great political thriller / mystery. But I was surprised when what I got was a novel that is written with a very definite political bent against our current president and some of his policies.

I don't mind hearing someone's opinion, but not typically in a novel. When a novel is written such as "1984" or "Brave New World," it uses fictitious characters. This novel does not go to any length at all to hide the identity of the characters being written about. Thus, this becomes a political diatribe instead of a novel.

The novel is well written and the sequencing is exciting and draws you in. The plot is that in the future of America there is civil turmoil over the issue of immigration and the President has instituted some programs to move immigrants into secure city locations where they can be monitored.

There is a futuristic sense to the novel in that scientists have developed a way to manipulate DNA and produce "Super Warriors," they have special abilities and extreme strength. They are recruited into a Federal Policing Agency that is tasked with overseeing the detention and rounding up of immigrants. They are pretty much above the law.

The story weaves it's way through New York City and the program designed to alter DNA.

As I said I enjoyed the storyline.

I just wish the author had been a bit more respectful of our current government. You can have your political opinion and you can write a novel against it, just don't be so down right blatant. Remember there are people who are in agreement with a current scenario.

Enjoy!

Witness, Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom, by Ariel Burger

What a very interesting read. The book is written about Elie Wiesel from the viewpoint of a former student then a teaching assistant and finally as someone whom Wiesel mentored through his life. Ariel Burger starts out talking about his upbringing in the Jewish faith in a family where one parent was orthodox and the other parent was apathetic. It makes for a strange upbringing.

As a teenager Burger wonders about life, death and why God is not more approachable.

Then as a student of Elie Wiesel's he becomes infatuated with the intelligence, the stories, the moral's and ethics of a Jewish man who lived through the Holocaust and especially through Auschwitz. What is the more important is that Wiesel does not try to cram knowledge down the throats of his students but instead he helps them to ask the right questions and seek the answers that will change their lives.

Burger eventually leaves the teaching assistant role and travels to Israel where he hopes to complete his studies. But after being there a year Wiesel shows up and they have a conversation that changes Burger's life and makes him a disciple of the wise teacher.

I loved the examples from Wiesel's classroom ,but more important I loved the way that Burger explains what he learned and how he learned it under the leadership and discipling of Elie Wiesel.

This is a great book for anyone wanting to know three things:
     1. How an Orthodox Jew survived the camps of the holocaust.
     2. How this intellectual became a professor at the University of Boston
     3. How a teacher impacts his students and further disciples those who want to truly grow.

Enjoy!

A True Cowboy Christmas, by Caitlin Crews

What happens when a dysfunctional family looses the patriarch
that has been causing all of the dysfunction? It discovers that even though Dad, Grandpa, the Patriarch is dead the dysfunction lives on. Why is that? Because each of the sons has got their own dysfunction (baggage) to deal with.

Gray Everett, the oldest of the three brothers, has stayed on the ranch and worked it while his younger brothers have fled and got on with their own lives. One is a businessman living in Denver and the other is a Professional Bull Rider on the Rodeo circuit.

But with Dad's death issues rise up. Dad left the ranch to all three brothers, even though only one has been living there for the last 20 years and working it. So, Gray thinks he should have inherited it outright.

But now Brady wants to sell the Ranch, get rid of all the former ugliness and memories and makes some money, i.e. get his fair share. But Gray says "No." That starts some new issues.

But in all of this Gray wants a new start at life and he wants to find a wife who can also be a mother to his 15 year old daughter, whose mother died in a car crash. In steps the girl next door, Abbey. Well, she doesn't know she has stepped in. Gray sees her at the funeral and for the first time notices that she is all grown up and desirable.

So, what does he do? He goes next door (5 miles down the road) and proposes marriage to Abbey, just like that. No warning, no dating, no get to know you, just will you marry me? After the shock wears off she asks why? He explains that it is a transaction. Marriage will fill a need for both of them and fix some issues in his life.

So, a marriage of convenience is what he wants. But Abbey has loved him since she was 5 years old. She has fantasized about him. Is she going to get what she wants? How will it work?

The book is good for the lessons that it explores through the storyline. Those lessons are:
1. How do three brothers overcome an abusive father?
2. How does a girl overcome the lost of her mother?
3. How does another young woman overcome her abusive distant mother?
4. How can love be built between two people who seem a bit different but then again a bit alike?
5. Can love conquer all of the issues that each family member is facing?

I loved the book because it dealt with real family issues. It didn't gloss over the dysfunction. It didn't gloss over the brash behavior of a Cowboy going after what he wants without considering thoroughly the feelings and emotions of the woman he is going after.

The love story is good, but the life lessons are awesome.

For my Christian readers, please be aware that this is a Romance novel that delves into the sexual aspect of a new marriage. If you don't want the steam pages, just skip over them. They usually run about 5 to 7 pages. Skipping them will not detract from the story. BUT, they are not written in such a graphic way as to cause trouble for the reader. So, you decide.

I really enjoyed the novel and hope that Caitlin Crews writes two follow-up stories to tell us what happens with brothers Ty and Brady.

Enjoy.

The Good, The Bad and The Duke, by Janna MacGregor

A very enticing storyline from the Regency Period of England. The young Duke of Southart, Paul, is trying to deal with his grief as well as the new responsibilities of being the Duke of Southart.

His grief is from the death of his father and his brother. He is grieved. Not so much for his father but very grieved for his brother’s passing.

From his younger days he has been a free spirit whom spent his time gambling, seducing women and just generally acting poorly. But now he must reform his ways and establish himself as the Duke of Southart and thus gain respect from the community as he takes his place in society.

Then there is Lady Daphne Hallworth, a young woman who is dealing with her own grief and her own issues of society. Her sister has died and Lady Daphne is cut to her core with grief.

Both the Duke and Lady Daphne want to do something to honor their lost siblings. The Duke wants to establish a hospital to help fight the diseases that are decimating the population of England. Lady Daphne wants to open a home for unwed mothers.

The Dukes desire is “Noble,” but Lady Daphne’s desire to open this home is against all societal acceptance. But that is all the more reason to open a home.

The underlying current of the story is that Lady Daphne and the Duke of Southart have known each other their entire lives. The lady has loved the Duke the whole time. But the Duke has been blinded by his own misguided youth.

Will they both establish the charities they want to? Will they find love in each others presence? Will they be able to overcome the grief and issues of societal mistakes that seek to unravel their reputations?

The research is well done, the writing handles all the Regency decorum well and the love that grows between the two is very much true to life.

They are a few scandalous things that MacGregor includes, such as the sexual promiscuity of the time. But while that seems out of place it really isn’t. Sex has always been something that brings ruination to many a decent person.

All in all this is a delightful story, I trust you will enjoy it.

Master of His Fate, by Barbara Taylor Bradford

In this Historical Novel we begin a new series regarding Merchants and the Aristocracy in 1880's England. There is quite a difference in culture between the two classes. Although things are becoming a bit closer as the Aristocracy is facing troubling times in a declining agricultural economy that is bringing a strong fiscal downturn that endangers their style of living.

In this new series of novels we will be introduced to the Malvern and Travelian families who have a high standard of living based upon their financial acumen. We will also meet the Falconer family who are in the lower level of the trade business as well as as household servants. The two classes are fairly far apart, but they do have some overlap.

This story revolves around James Falconer a young man who is helping his father by attending to their merchants stall in the marketplace. But James has high goals for himself to rise to the level of owning a complete Marketplace of his own where others have their stalls. The easiest comparison would be that he wants to own what we today would think of as a shopping mall, as well as owning "The Anchor" store for that mall.

James is highly intelligent and quite capable for a teenager. We will follow his rise in business as he makes great strides towards his goal.

Then there is Alexis Malvern. The daughter of an owner of a vast Trading Business. Her father has built quite the business. But he has no son. So, one day his business will pass along to his daughter (something unusual for this time). Alexis is quite intelligent and capable. But she has one small issue. She doesn't want to marry. It's not that she doesn't like men, but she just doesn't feel the need to have a man in her life and most men are suspect of wanting her for her money.

Barbara Taylor does a great job of drawing words pictures for us of the culture of England during the late 1800's. She also brings a story of many lives and situations together that eventually tie everything up in a nice neat bow. There is business, mystery, romance and intrigue. While this is not a barn burner of a story it has a very appealing quality to it that draws you in and keeps you reading. It left me with a strange desire to want to follow along as the characters grow. So, with that said, I'm looking forward to the second installment in the series.

Enjoy reading.

The Christmas Wishing Tree

A Professional Young Woman who has adopted a little boy is finding that raising a child is difficult, but it can be even more difficult when outside forces come together to cause an issue.

Jenna Stockton and her son Reilly are making a good life for themselves even though she has a heavy work schedule as an obstetrician. Reilly loves his mom but he would love to have a dad. So, one day someone tells him that he should call Santa Claus and give him his request for Christmas. They tell him to dial North Pole One. So, young Reilly does and low and behold someone answers.

Then there is Devin Murphy a young man who is also adopted. He runs a charter fishing business but has had some tough times because of a hurricane sinking his boats. He is at home in Colorado in a small town visiting family. His phone gets damaged but Celeste Blessing gives him a disposable phone to sue while she tries to fix his. The phone rings and there is a little boy, Reilly, on the line wanting to talk with Santa Claus. Devin plays along and their friendship starts.

Through a huge series of events Jenna and Reilly flee to Eternity Springs when they are being stalked by someone. They want what Devin, Santa Claus, has told them about the small town.

Serendipity happens and they all meet. Love happens, but not all at once. Or is it love or just an overly protective Devin on the prowl.

The book is well written. The story line is very believable. Can a fairy tale romance really come true?

I was so engaged by the book I had to finish it as quickly as possible. Now I want to read more from this author. I would love a second book about Devin, Jenna and Reilly. I want the adventure to continue.
Enjoy!

A Bend in the Willow, by Susan Clayton-Godlner

What an excellent novel. I am so glad that the author contacted me with a suggestion that I might like this book.

The writing is wonderful, she captures the essence of her characters very well and develops them easily into people whom you feel you have known forever.

The themes of the book are many and are also developed well. This book would lend itself well to any "Book Club," "Coffee Clutch," or for a family who reads together and shares together.

The themes are these 1) Love and Transparency, 2) Truthfulness and Forgiveness, 3) Trust and openness, 4) The pain of childhood abuse, 5) The pain of war and the ravages on those who serve, 5) The fear of medical uncertainty, 6) The fear of a parent loosing a child, and finally 7) Why hiding your past may painfully effect your future

These themes are woven into a wonderful story that will leave you wanting more. Little Michael Henry, young, energetic, full of wonder and love has a secret that he knows nothing about, the secret is his body is about to fail him.

What will his parents do as the sickness sends their lives into a spiral. How will Catherine's past also send them into a further spiral? What will be the keys to bind their relationships even more firmly, or will they unravel.

I won't say more because that would be too much of a spoiler, but let me say this, when the book ended, I wanted more. I'm sure you will feel the same.

Enjoy!