The Orphanage of Miracles by Amy Neftzger

The Orphanage of Miracles

by

Amy Neftzger

MY TAKE:

The Orphanage of Miracles is a Middle Grade fantasy book, and I'm okay with that. I love a good fantasy tale. The orphanage is unique, here magic has frozen them in a protective bubble. One that keeps the seasons from changing and strangers from finding their way to their doors - except needy children of course. They no longer have school, instead they spend their time trying to find a way to make miracles. Yes, they are physical things that look somewhat like a brilliant glistening rock. They have thousands locked up in a garden for protection, storing them for the King when he returns. Those in charge see it as their duty to protect and hoard the miracles for the King, but is that really what the King's orders were? Or have they misconstrued them and 'hidden their light beneath a bushel' so to speak. The problem has become that few new miracles are created because no knows HOW to make one.  They've lost their purpose, so they've lost their knowledge. When a trio of orphan friends do create a miracle seed, everything turns upside down.

Meanwhile, Kelsey has left her home in search of a miracle to save her village. Her journey is rough and she meets some amazing friends and foes along the way. Including a small mute boy she feels honor bound to protect, only he's doing more for her and she can't really explain how. When their journey finally meets up with the orphans, amazing things are discovered. There's more to her travel companions than met her eye.

One of the things I loved about this book is it's allegorical style. It's not a Christian market book and yet there are so many things within the story that I couldn't help but see as an allegory of the Christian life. It's not heavy on the allegory, but once you see it, you'll understand what I mean. I also appreciated how the author represented miracles as something real and tangible, things that live and breathe and need to be shared in order to flourish. That by love and giving, miracles spread and change lives, turning evil to good. It's a good way for young readers to see them as tangible reality and not vague ideas or myths. Again, allegory, but really well done in my opinion.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Perhaps everyone could use a miracle, but very few will find the one they truly need.

Amid a war torn land and hidden deep within an enchanted forest lays an orphanage where miracles abound. It s a magical place created years ago by a resolute king who must defeat an evil sorcerer waging bitter war against his land and his people. He knew that in order to save his people, victory would require a miracle.

A young girl named Kelsey also desperately needs a miracle. She sets out on a quest to find the whispered-of orphanage. Along the way she s joined by several traveling companions, including an over-sized snow leopard and a boy who cannot speak. In a land under a spell cast by the evil sorcerer, it's difficult to know the difference between what's real and what isn't ... and what a true friend looks like. Join Kelsey and her companions as they embark on an extraordinary adventure and a quest unlike any other and take a peek inside The Orphanage of Miracles.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amy Neftzger (born June 23) is an American researcher and author who has published fiction books, non-fiction books, business articles, and peer review research. Her works have reached an international audience.

Amy was born in Illinois and graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She received her bachelors degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated from both Universities with honors.

She has written numerous business and journal articles, but her fiction works have been the most commercially successful. In 2003 she published Conversations with the Moon, which was also translated into Korean and published in South Korea. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, guitarist Tyra Neftzger on a children's book called "All that the Dog Ever Wanted." The book was designed to introduce children to jazz music at an early age and included a CD sampler of jazz tunes. In 2007 she worked as an editor on a business fable called "The Damned Company." - Goodreads.com

Fugitive by Shirlee McCoy

Fugitive

by

Shirlee McCoy

MY TAKE:



Fugitive starts off with a bang and never lets up. Laney has a terrible past full of heartache and evil. Logan was her rescuer. Thirteen years later, it's her turn to do the rescuing. In a manner of speaking. That's the surface, the tense plot that catches your attention and sucks you in. What really held me there was the intense connection between Logan and Laney. That and the fact that Shirlee McCoy has a real talent for sharing a back story without killing the suspense or the intrigue. That's definitely the sign of a great read.

And whether Laney saved Logan this time around... well I'll let you decide that. In the end justice is served, love is found and hope and faith is renewed. Just don't forget that the nice little ending took a whole lot of suspense to get there and it's the journey that matters. I definitely recommend this one.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“HELP ME.”

When she opens her door to a wounded, handcuffed stranger, Laney Jefferson is terrified…until she recognizes her unexpected visitor. Thirteen years ago, Logan Randal was there for her when she desperately needed a friend. Now the wrongfully convicted lawman needs the widow’s help. On the run from the law and guided only by Laney’s unswerving faith in Logan’s innocence, their mutual attraction begins to break down the barriers around Laney’s heart. But the real culprit is much closer than they imagine…a cunning enemy determined to keep the past—and the truth—buried forever.

Heroes for Hire: Seeking the truth—at any cost

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

"The second of five children, I spent my childhood making up stories and acting them out with my sisters. Together with our menagerie of stuffed animals, we overpowered bad guys, righted wrongs, and made the world a better place. When I wasn’t engaged in imaginative play, I lost myself in the lives and adventures of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden. It wasn’t long before I discovered my mother’s gothic romances and became an ardent fan of romantic suspense.
 

Today I’m a busy mom of five. When I’m not homeschooling my children or trying to keep up with endless piles of laundry, I still enjoy losing myself in a good book. And I still love making up stories. Armed with a laptop, ten fingers, and my God-given imagination, I overpower bad guys, right wrongs, and make the world a better place for my characters." - Shirlee McCoy

A Corner of White: The Colors of Madeleine by Jaclyn Moriarty

A Corner of White: The Colors of Madeleine Book One

 by

Jaclyn Moriarty

MY TAKE:

 Jaclyn Moriarty is a new writer for me. I was perusing Netgalley's selections and A Corner of White caught my eye. It sounded fun, intriguing, why not give it a go? After starting the book, I wondered if I had made a wise choice. In all honesty, if I hadn't promised a review, I might not have finished the book. I'm glad I did though, because it grew on me.

What bothered me the most in the beginning was the jumping back and forth between stories without any connection as to what each had to do with the other. It was like reading two very different books with two different main characters and someone decided to jumble the chapters together. Where Madeleine was a home schooling British girl with an odd family and circle of friends; Elliot's story felt more like something out of a Piers Anthony fantasy book. (I love Pier Anthony, by the way.) It took quite a while for the two worlds to meet. When Madeleine finds the 'crack' between the worlds, I wanted to cheer that we were finally making progress.

Elliot and Madeleine communicate back and forth about their lives, giving advice and learning about one another, but it wasn't until well past half-way that I begin to see how their stories DID connect. Mirroring each other in a way. It's because of their communications that they each find the answers they need. Of course their connection opens a bigger plot, one that will require them to work together to save the Kingdom of Cello. Nice jumping off point for book two.

Genre-busting is a pretty good description for this series. I love fantasy, and never mind if it's Middle Grade or Young Adult as long as it's well written. This one took patience, but it was worth the effort. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here.

Note: This is a mainstream fiction book, not CBA market. For those that would want to be aware of it, some things are touched on lightly, such as alcoholism and homosexuality. There are no sexual references, other than about a persons orientation. For example, the poet Lord Byron and his life is discussed quite a bit, including his relationship with his half-sister and his possible attraction to men. This was part of the home schooling lessons in Madeleine's story.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!

This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).

Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.

As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JACLYN MORIARTY grew up in Sydney, Australia, with four sisters, one brother, two dogs, and twelve chickens. She studied law at the University of Sydney, Yale, and Cambridge, and worked as an entertainment lawyer before she wrote the Ashbury High novels, including THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS, THE MURDER OF BINDY MACKENZIE, and THE GHOSTS OF ASHBURY HIGH. She still lives in Sydney, with her little boy, Charlie.

You can also visit Jaclyn on Facebook or read her Blog.

The Deepest Night by Shana Abe

The Deepest Night

by

Shana Abe

MY TAKE:

The series continues... And I'm still flying on the excitement. The Deepest Night is book 2 in Shana Abe's new YA series set during World War I just outside London England. Her Drakon legend continues with Lora, an orphan who has recently discovered that she is able not only shift to smoke but also into a dragon that flies with speed and had talons sharp enough to rip through German bombers.

I hate to give away too much of the story, so I'm only going to say that once again, Shana has created a beautiful story. Lora has found her true self, but now she must decide how far she will let her destiny take her. Is it a one time rescue adventure to save a soldier kept prisoner beyond enemy lines? Or is she called to fight for justice with her new found abilities for a larger purpose?

One of the things I loved so much about this new series, is that it wasn't just about the romance or falling in love. It was about finding yourself, your purpose. The struggles we face everyday as we decide how much of ourselves to give and risk. It's not just a teenager's struggle, it's a life struggle. Beautifully worded, creative, adventurous and compelling.

The difficult part? This one releases in August of 2013, so put your pre-order in now. You are NOT going to want to miss this sequel.

How in the world am I going to handle the suspense while waiting for book3???


NOTE: Since I usually review Christian Market Fiction, I do want to make sure my readers are aware of a couple of things that they may want to consider when deciding on an appropriate age for reading. When Lora shifts into smoke or Dragon form, her clothes are left behind and when she shifts back she's nude. There is several scenes in the book that deal with this in some way, however it is done tastefully in my opinion. Nothing graphic or obscene. Nor is it dwelled on in detail. It is discussed briefly in the matter of how it brings up feelings and emotions of different kinds in both Lora and the boys she reappears in front of. This is ABA market fantasy, not CBA, and remember this is a YA novel, so the age range is definitely for older teenagers and up.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

 

It’s 1915, and sixteen-year-old Lora Jones is finishing up her first year as a charity student at Iverson, a prestigious, gothic boarding school on England’s southern coast. While she’s always felt different from everyone around her, now she finally knows why: She is a drákon, a rare, enchanted being with astonishing magical abilities.

As war hits Britain’s shores, and Lora reels from an unimaginable loss, she finds that her powers come with grave and dangerous responsibilities. At the request of Armand Louis, the darkly mysterious boy whose father owns Iverson, Lora will spend her summer at his lavish estate. To help the war effort—and to keep Lora by his side—Armand turns his home into a military hospital, where Lora will serve as a nurse. For Armand is inescapably drawn to her—bound to her by heart-deep secrets and a supernatural connection that runs thicker than blood.

Yet while Lora tries to sort out her own feelings toward Armand, fate offers an unexpected surprise. Lora discovers there is another drákon, a prisoner of war being held in Germany. And that only she, with her newly honed Gifts, will be able to rescue him.

With Armand, Lora will cross enemy lines on an incredible mission—one that could bond her to Armand forever, or irrevocably tear them apart.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Shana Abé is the author of Queen of Dragons, The Dream Thief, and The Smoke Thief. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Follow Shana Abe on Facebook and Twitter

Be sure to visit her official webpage as well and enter to win Lora's gold cuff bracelet and an autographed copy of the book. Click HERE.

The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

The Sweetest Dark 

by

Shana Abe 

MY TAKE:

Shana Abe is one of my favorite authors. I stumbled upon her fantasy novels years ago, but the ones I find myself re-reading over and over are ther Drakon stories that started with The Smoke Thief.  So when I was checking Netgalley for new books to review, and I found that Shana had a new Young Adult series that continues the Drakon lore - well, I think I might have squealed loud enough for the neighbors to hear me. Finally! The legends continue!

If you aren't familiar with the Drakon, then you should be. They're an ancient Magical race of Dragons that can take Human form. Originally, many, many centuries ago they ruled. They have magical powers. They can shift from human form to what appears to be smoke and then into beautiful flying dragon. Each has their own special talents, but they all can hear the music in the living rocks, stones and jewels around them. Over the centuries, however, things changed. The humans gained power, the Drakon were hunted viciously, and learned to go into hiding. The Legends are compelling.

With this new series, it's many years later and the Drakon are nearly gone. Lora Jones is an orphan that doesn't understand why she is different, only that it has caused her a lot of pain and humiliation. She's never heard of the Drakon. Fate is about to change that by sending her to Iverson, an elite school for girls in the country outside London. War is rampant and while the world is falling apart around them, Lora is finding her own life is changing faster than she can imagine. She has two  boys that are drawn to her and her new found Dragon self. She's in love with one, but her destiny seems somehow tied to the other. Before it's over Lora is going to find her true self, true love, and her destiny.

It's fantastically written, the love story is emotionally captivating and Shana has a way with words that is a magic all its own. Sometimes just reading a description or a turn of phrase is enough to capture your heart and make you wish you could express yourself that beautifully. It's also full of action and suspense as the Germans don't stay in London but do come for Iverson and they must find a way to save the school and surrounding community.

I flew threw the pages and into the sequel with hardly a chance to pause and loved every minute. Definitely going on my favorites to re-read shelf.


NOTE: Since I usually review Christian Market Fiction, I do want to make sure my readers are aware of a couple of things that they may want to consider when deciding on an appropriate age for reading. When Lora shifts into smoke or Dragon form, her clothes are left behind and when she shifts back she's nude. There is several scenes in the book that deal with this in some way, however it is done tastefully in my opinion. Nothing graphic or obscene. Nor is it dwelled on in detail. It is discussed briefly in the matter of how it brings up feelings and emotions of different kinds in both Lora and the boys she reappears in front of. There are also a few dreams that are more mature in nature. This is ABA market fantasy, not CBA, and remember this is a YA novel, so the age range is definitely for older teenagers and up.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident.

But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.

England, 1915: Lora Jones has always known she was different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: she hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside of her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

 

Far more powerful. Far more dangerous.

 

Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. But much to her surprise, she’s selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

 

There’s Jesse, the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful, silent boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Then there is Armand, a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past; one is the key to her future—and both will aim to win her heart. As a looming danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Shana Abé is the author of Queen of Dragons, The Dream Thief, and The Smoke Thief. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Follow Shana Abe on Facebook and Twitter

Be sure to visit her official webpage as well and enter to win Lora's gold cuff bracelet and an autographed copy of the book. Click HERE.