Curse Breaker: Enchanted Book Review

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Boy with special powers is trying to live his life, help his brother, and keep a secret protected, but he works for a powerful man and an odd group of people.  The people who he works for care about him and want to keep him safe from bad people, but they've broken his trust and can't get him to talk to them.  Something bad happened in the land, and magic has called to the boy, now the ghosts from that incident are also asking for the boy to help them, their only issue is that they can't talk to him.  Can he solve the mystery before he runs out of time?  Can he solve the mystery, keep his secret, and help his brother into collage?  The boy has a really rough life, with too many people asking too much of him, but can he endure and come out conqueror in the end?
 
Sexual Content update: Though I put that there is some sexual content let tell you what I mean.  There are no sex scenes, which is great for me, because I'm not a fan of those.  However the main character is drawn into sexual thoughts about a beautiful woman.

My Opinion:  Let me start by saying I'm not normally a sci/fi book lover.  It has to be the right type of fantasy book or right type of scientific book for me to want to read it, and then enjoy reading it.  I'm more of a historical fiction, Christian, hallmark happy story type reader.  So when I say that I like a fantasy book, that is big for me.  Now for the cliche' I really did enjoy this book, I was constantly finding ways to sneak in and read it during my days over the Christmas/ New Year's holidays.  One of the reasons I really enjoyed reading is because there was a wonderfully well planned history of where Sarn (the main character) lived, his back story, and why things were the way they were.  However, this backstory was interwoven into every aspect and chapter, so you don't get the whole picture until the end, just puzzle pieces throughout the book.  Melinda's characterization is very much in the same level as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.  You get to know each Ranger who works with Sarn, their individual quirks, ticks, and cares on thejob.  Sarn's world is divided into when he's on the job and when he's off the job, so when the author mixes the two into one, she is very successful!  The ghosts mentioned in the plot summary are my favorite characters of the whole story, they frustrate me, I like them, feel sorry for them, and wish I had power to help them communicate with Sarn while I was reading.  When an author captures your own imagination and sucks you into the story as a character, you know they are very talented, and have worked hard at their skills.  My only issue with the book, that kept me from giving it a 5 star rating, is that Sarn is a really rough life, too rough to be realistic in my opinion.  I feel like there was so much bad happening to him that when something good did happen, it was glossed over just a little bit.  Much like Harry Potter, my issue is the same; so much bad happened to Harry too, but he had those periods of regular life too, just not enough to make it realistic.  I would have liked to see more good, or at least longer periods of time between each trial that happened to Sarn for my own personal reasons.

Interesting Details: This book review is from the ebook version.  It is totally worth getting, because you can read it so much faster, and anywhere you go, easier than carrying a book around.  I used the Amazon Kindle Unlimited app on my phone to read this ebook version.  It was perfect.  It automatically kept my book mark whenever I stopped.  It also let me know how far along I was in each chapter and in the book as a whole, so that I knew how fast I was reading.  The auther Melinda Kucsera has an amazing imagination.  The way this novel is detailed it can compete with Lord of the Rings and even Harry Potter in the way that as you read this book comes to life.  You are thrown into the book as a character shadowing the main character, but are able to float around watching those whom the main character Sarn interacts with.

Amazon Link: You can buy the book here through the link below.  It is not an affiliate link, but the direct link to Curse Breaker: Enchanted on Amazon.

To comply with the Federal Trade Commission's regulations, I must mention as part of every review; that the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of the book, through Amazon, in exchange for an honest non biased review. There are no affiliate links, nor payments made for this review.  I have posted a review on Amazon as well.

A Servant Like Jesus Book Review

Let me start that the 5 star rating came from my kids, not just me...

First of all Dan Sharp is a great illustrator, his characters are beautiful, bright and vibrant! Perfect for a kid's book. The story that Ms. Mancini had brought to life here in "A Servant Like Jesus" is a cute sweet learning story for all children. We used it during story time at school, which was perfect because it's about a classroom. My 7 year old learned to read this year, and when he saw the book in my stack of workbooks he 1. asked if we could start with that book, 2. asked if he could read, 3. started reading before I was completely ready to start school today. 

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT! I wanted to cry because he has been fighting reading for a year and a half, so for him to give me 3 amazing surprises all based around a book I could cry. He loved the characters, (especially the Crab Charlie, because my 7 year old LOVES crabs), he loved the story, loved the message about Jesus (since we're celebrating Christmas right now, and he's looking for more ways to be like Jesus), and best of all loved going back through the whole story to find the hidden Bibles on each page. In fact he re-read the book after school was over just because he loved this book so much! To show you how amazing this miracle is, he has currently only read short level 1 readers with 10 or less words per page. This book is 32 pages long with an average of 12+ words per page.

My 10 year old loved this too, we all took turns reading together which was a great family experience! It was a reading without tears, without being angry or stressed or frustrated by any of us. My kids already want me to start looking for more books like this, so Ms. Lee Ann Mancini please keep writing more!

To comply with the Federal Trade Commision's regulations, I must mention as part of every review because of BookCrash, that the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of the book, through BookCrash, in exchange for an honest non biased review.

A Stranger for Christmas book Review

A Stranger for Christmas by Carol Lynn Pearson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two years ago my Mother-in-Law introduced me to an amazingly inspirational Christmas Tradition. She buys a new Christmas book each year to read during the month of December, leading up to Christmas. I love that idea! Well last year I found another fun but wonderful Christmas tradition of having 25 Christmas stories wrapped in a box, and each night before bed, my children open a book and we'll read it together. For some reason this year I just CAN'T WAIT for Christmas. So during the summer I went to a book store and bought a bunch of Christmas books for myself. A Stranger for Christmas is one of those books.

Let me tell you, this is a very fast read, in fact I read it in 30 minutes while my children were eating lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Yet, despite the amount of pages, what you get out of this short little book will stick with you for so much longer. The author did a marvelous job of bringing her characters alive on the pages. Each of those sweet and sassy ladies are so unique and classy in their own ways. The mission they explore is one that each of us should tap into, especially during the holiday season, not just for Christmas, but why not for Thanksgiving too! Maybe even Halloween too, how can you be more of a friend to a stranger during these family centered holidays?

"Who would take in a stranger for Christmas?" That is the message of the Christ child...who would let the Son of God join them for Christmas, for His birth, for their life? I know Thanksgiving is right around the corner however I'm really feeling the need to fill my soul with the Christmas spirit right now. I'm truly enjoying all the Christmas books that I have to read.

FYI: curl up with a cozy blanket and a box of tissues!

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Whispering to Horses Book Review

Whispering to Horses is a short quick book about the honest hard work of an Amish boy, an adult man who learns about his family history, and a broken promise of youth.  When you see how short this book is, you might think that it's a Young Adult book, or even a child's book but do not be fooled, this book though it's pages are few, pack lessons of life for all to read.

Matt is a young adult man who is trying to fix up his Grandfather's old farm house and yard so he can sell it and move to the big city so he can be closer to work and his lifestyle.  Next door to him is an Amish community, starting with a family of young children and a teenage boy.  This boy is observed by Matt has to always be working, working really hard with a pair of beautiful large horses and funny looking equipment.  The boy wonders why Matt's family sold off their farm land; while Matt wonders why this youth uses old fashioned contraptions for his yard work instead of new technology like tractors and such.

Matt's family is very much on the path of life that follows the famous saying "Keeping up with the Jones".  But as the story flows, you can see how open Matt's heart really is, and how a young boy who knows how to whisper to horses, use old equipment, and work hard can bring a light and happiness to a busy city guy.

I have to admit it's hard to write this review, because there are so many great lessons, but I don't want to put spoilers in my review.  Let me just say, this book is worth reading regardless of your age.  It's perfect for teachers to use as they teach their students History, cultures, and economics.  This is a great fast read for adults who want to ponder deep life questions Matt asks and discovers through his relationship with the boy and his Amish neighbors.  My nugget of suggestions is to really think about the lesson of :"Whispering to Horses" and how that can help you in your life.

To comply with the Federal Trade Commision's regulations, I must mention as part of every review because of BookCrash, that the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of the book, through BookCrash, in exchange for an honest non biased review.

The Sisters Weiss Book Review

I don't normally find the time to write long reviews about books now a days. However, this one requires that I write a review. Why? Because I finished it in 1 day. Granted I stayed up until 2am to finish it. IT WAS THAT GOOD! 

At first I thought this was a true story, but it is historical fiction. However, the lives unveiled are so real that you honestly feel like you need to sit down at the computer and google them when you're done reading. The Author Naomi Ragen is truly a talented, gifted, inspired writer. I have read many historical fiction novels that got me thinking about my own life, and got me wishing that I could do more to help other cultures, other people, and give the world more peace and happiness.

However, this book got me thinking about what is really important to me. Do I, in my life right now, feel like I'm on the path to reach my full potential? Do I feel like what my passions for life are, are going to help others? Do I feel that my faith, my belief are strong enough to keep me going? Now, for those of you who don't consider yourselves religious, or of a certain faith, I honestly feel like you would enjoy reading this book. Not to say "Whew that's why I don't believe in a God, or that's why I don't go to church!", but rather to see that you do believe in something, yourself! People who are religious and have faith can also believe in themselves. That's what this book is about. That's what Rose Weiss teaches us.

Each person has to go through their own struggles in life to learn how to believe in themselves, even when it is really hard. I believe in God, I honestly feel that He is leading my life, and is helping me realize my true and full potential. Because when I try to do things without Him, everything crumbles apart. But that's just me, and that's how I feel Pearl Weiss was as an adult.

Though my heart broke for what these sweet, innocent women went through, I am grateful for how my life has turned out...and that I don't have their struggles and trials. They if they were real would probably not want my struggles and trials either. 

I would buy this book and read it like once a year it's that good!

The Pounamu Prophecy Book Review

Have you ever discovered that life wasn't all that you thought it would be? Have you ever noticed that things seem to stay the same? Have you ever experienced that nothing good or bad seems to really faze your routine, your stamina, or your work ethic? Have you ever just stopped to think, to wonder, to try something new?

The Pounamu Prophecy is a book that not only captures your mind with the force of rushing river water; but it releases your soul and provides freedom to think. It follows the lives of 3 people; in which each person is faced with life crunching challenges, soul quenching agony, and mind blowing opportunities to see truth. Meet Mere a wonderful native of the Ngati Whatua tribe of Auckland, we get to experience her childhood memories of watching her village burn to the ground, of the government lie and break promises throughout her whole age of growing. We get to see what it took for this mighty Tribe to stay strong, and hope on.

What if your perspective on things changed when your raft you've been using to float through life suddenly rammed into giant boulders? What if your whole life turned upside down because the creek bed you have always been flowing down has suddenly dropped out into a waterfall? What if you were given the chance to make things change for the better? Would you? What if you were brought into the path of an enemy what would you do?

The Pounamu Prophecy is a book that clutches at the feelings within your soul, feelings you might not have known you would experience. It snatches and clings to the brightest thoughts within your mind like a thorny barb, which can become somewhat painful. This book follows the life that Helen and James have built for 5 years as a married couple. We are invited into intimate closeness to their inner struggles, their lack of communication as a couple, and their lack of vibrancy together.

I am loving this book. I will treasure it for a long time. I love Aussie Authors, of the handful that I have had the privilege of reading their works, their imagery, their passion, and their detailed fluency is impeccable. As a reader, I was drawn into the land, into the country, into the daily lives of these 3 very human, very weak and beautiful people's lives like they were friends I have known for a long time. I cried when they cried, I was frustrated when they were, I wanted to slap them across their faces and give them a good shake (because I felt like I could as a friend) at their stupidity and lack of hope, faith, and belief. That is how well written this wonderful little book is. 

I want to quote the best part of the book: "No race is better than another; we are all human, capable of great evil and great good." pg. 186. You will see how hope breaks down barriers, how love transcends weakness and sin, and how truth and forgiveness are keys to a happy life. I highly recommend this book!

*To comply with the FTC regulations, I am clearly stating that I did receive a complimentary copy of this book through BookCrash in exchange for an honest, non biased review, to be posted on 2 different sites.

The Astronaut Wives Club Book Review

This is a very interesting topic to me, as I grew up in Houston Texas and was able to go visit the Houston Space center many times. I have very fond memories of going there, being able to experience zero gravity, seeing astronauts practice working in suits in a very large pool, and taking pictures with my family by many of the rockets on display.

I love books, movies, and documentaries that give an inside view point to a very historic event or program. This helped peak my interest since this book contains actual biographies of many intimate parts of the lives of the women who stood behind the men who became the USA's first Astronauts.

What I learned: I didn't know the history behind the Astronauts themselves. I didn't know what their history was, what training they had before becoming Astronauts. I learned more about why the Space Race was so important to the United States, I learned about the fame and glam of being apart of NASA when it was new.

What I want to know now: I would love to learn about the Russian view of their own Space program and Space Race. I'd love to learn about their failures, their successes as well. How did that country's treatment of their Astronauts and those families compare to how the US treated their own Astronauts. At the very end of the book, you can read about what some of the wives did after the Space Race was over, after their man was done with NASA. I would love to hear from the children of the Astronauts what they knew, how they felt, and what they experienced during that period of them growing up.

Dynamics of the book: I loved the images spread throughout the book showing the women the book was written about. I loved the quirky little details that were put into each woman's character. The small things: like what color dress they wanted, how they felt about their husband, and even how many kids they had; those little thing are what make them seem more human, more life like, rather than just another celebrity. Reading about how bold, and rude, and pretentious many of the press personnel, many of the paparazzi, and even many of the NASA officials treated these poor devoted women was eye opening and really tore at my heart for them. I was surprised at how different each group of Astronaut wives were, in the sense of how they took this lime light role, how they responded to each other's aid, and how they interacted with each other. I guess I just didn't realize how important competition was for the Astronauts and their wives and their families. What was just terrible in my mind was the fact that these men who had wonderful families and sweet wives who loved them, couldn't keep their marriage vows. There were so many husbands who committed adultery like it was nothing, and no one cared to help the wives deal with this horrible deed. That broke my heart.

Who did I relate to the most: I loved Annie the most, she seemed so sweet and honest. I loved that she had a stutter, and then eventually was able to over come that mortal weakness. I loved Betty's forward thinking, and her spunk. Harriet is a true hero, sticking up for her rights, being true to her kids, and living an amazing life after her divorce.

The Astronaut's Wives Club: was actually really disappointing to me. I would have thought they would have been more honest, and down to Earth with each other since they were all going through the same thing together. I would have loved to confide in someone who knew how I felt, what I was going through, and know that I could trust that shoulder when I needed a cry. I understand the need for appearing brave all the time, but keeping emotions, and fears bottled up inside because its taboo to reveal how you really feel is just an awful way to live. I can't believe those women felt that is how they had to live and act in such a special group.