Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Anne Elisabeth Stengl weaves a tale of love, sacrifice, courage, despair, darkness, hope, and triumph.   Readers will be surprised by the vast and bizarre array of the denizens of the Wood, but even more so, by the way Time is handled. 

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. As her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, and her only desire is to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal parasite and many other dangers.

This is my first story by this author I agree with other reviewers that you must read the series in order. Although interesting, it took me about half way to get the characters and story straight to make some sort of sense.

The heroes and villains in Shadow Hand are a complicated story, one that is as old as time itself. That our true selves are most free in service To the One who names us; that even the part of us we most fear can be transformed by our Prince into something beautiful. If you really are into Sci-Fi, I believe you would like this story, if read from the beginning of the series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this EBook free from Net Galley through the Bakers Publishing Group and Bethany House book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Distortion by Terri Blackstock

Juliet Cole has spent most of her adult life as a devoted wife to a successful doctor and mother of two sons, but her world changes forever when she witnesses the murder of her husband. As she deals with the trauma of the loss and tries to make sense of what she believed was a random shooting, she soon discovers a threatening voicemail message on her deceased husband's phone, hinting that his death was in fact, a planned execution. She and her sons could now be in danger.

Not only does Terri Blackstock weave a great mystery, but while doing so she delves into her characters emotions and what makes them come to life.  Blackstock combines mystery, romance, and faith in intriguing ways. I couldn't put the book down.  From the start, this book has suspense that doesn’t end.

As the characters search towards a solution, there are all kinds of obstacles in their way; drugs, intrigue, police interaction. A thrilling, suspense-filled winner does not disappoint. I highly recommend this one. Discussion questions are included.

Received copy of EBook from Net Galley with Zondervan Fiction for my review

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Water Walker by Ted Dekker

Thirteen year old orphan Alice Ringwald has no memory beyond six months ago. The only life she knows is the new one she's creating, with the loving couple that adopted her and gave her new hope. That hope, however, is shattered one night when she is abducted by a strange man. In a frantic FBI manhunt, he vanishes. So begins Water Walker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering power of forgiveness and reminds us that it's possible to live free of the hurt that keeps our souls in chains.

Most of the story is the kidnapping and descriptions of Kathryn’s bizarre religion. Alice was just settling into her new life with her foster parents when a stranger, Wyatt, comes to their door and announces he’s her father. With only six months of memories and limited life experience, Alice offers little resistance when Wyatt kidnaps her and takes her to her birth mother who lives on a compound stringently controlled by Zeke in the middle of a Louisiana swamp. Alice becomes the centerpiece of their religion, spending numerous hours in ritual cleansings and surrounded by a multitude of rules.

This story is part of a series but can stand alone and be enjoyed; the main theme is that of forgiveness, a story of love, discovery, and secrets yet to be told with lots of twists. If you are a fan of Dekker you will enjoy this book.

I received copy of EBook from Net Galley, FirstLook program from Worthy Publishing for my review.

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The Chase: A Novel (Fox and O'Hare) by Janet Evanovich and Goldberg Lee

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O’Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line.
 
Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable criminals.

This is the description from the publisher and caught my interest. That is about as good as it got. It read like a cheesy TV drama. Now from time to time I like to see or read something a bit fun. This book didn’t bring anything fun or new to the picture. I am willing to suspend belief so the story can move forward, but this story was just too predictable and was a waste of time. 

 I wouldn’t recommend it.

I received copy EBook from NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, for my review.

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