Asylum... Great book!!

Ashley Hodges Bazer does a great job with this science fiction novel. She brings in many fanciful aspects while also making the reader feel connected to the story. The story begins with a baby boy being left with a caretaker after his mother has struggled to get him to safety and and passes away. Jumping forward about twenty years we meet the two main character Trista and Chase. Chase is a captain and Trista a computer technician for the military. The people the fight for are called the Ghosts and they are battling the legacy. Bazer does not give much detail of what has gone on before this time, but the reader knows that the legacy does not follow the Crown (the triune God), and that they often torture and kill Ghost members.
Eventually Trista is taken captive by the Legacy, and the rest of the story is about her time as a prisoner of the Legacy and Chase's fight to get her back. It is a rather epic story and I enjoyed reading every page, I was a little sad when it ended as well because it was over. However at the beginning many of the terms that Bazer uses seem overwhelming and not always explained completely. However once you pick up on some of the language the reading becomes easier. The story itself was excellent! I was impressed with the way she portrayed the emotions of all of the characters and everything they were going through. I also enjoyed the science fiction feel of the story, making it extremely enjoyable and very different from many other Christian fiction works, particularly in Christian circles.
Overall I would rate the book a 4 out of 5. I would give it a 4.5 but that is not always an option (and I reserve a five for my absolute favorite books). This is a book I will definitely read again and will recommend to anyone who enjoys science fiction.

A Just Man, by:Helen Dainel

A Just Man is the story of several generations of a family. The story itself was relatively interesting because all of the characters were connected and continued to be a part of the story even after the main character shifted. The story begins in the Revolutionary War with a child (Thomas), who must take his dad some supplies. The next section of the story is about the life of his brother (Andrew), and learning to help those in need. The boy Andrew helps becomes the main character and Andrews best friend, his name was Billy. Billy learns a hard lesson if values in the story. He goes out into the city to make lots of money and get a good job, promising to return to the family who had cared for him so well, however he frets too busy for them and it is not until the death of Andrew that Billy returns. Upon his return he falls in love with Andrews niece and marries her. Together they decide to adopt a child. They take an unwanted child named Christina and the story mirrors that of the prodigal son, until the end of the book.
The writing style was good, however I felt like some of the theological content was severely poor. The content was too simplistic. I felt that she made Christianity seem childish with the way she wrote some different spiritual events. The relationship that people had with Jesus also seemed a little too simple as well. The overall message of the story was not bad, but the content was sometimes to poor which was very frustrating to me. I would give this story a 2 out of 5, I probably will not read it again.

Through Rushing Waters

"Through Rushing Water" was a great book! I thought the storyline was relatively novel, and the details of the characters and experiences throughout the book were well written. I enjoyed CatherineRichmond's  writing style.
Critiques: I felt that book began a little slowly. It started by describing Sophia and her life in the girls school she was working at. This information is important, but I didn't care for the romance/broken-heart beginning. However Richmond ties this story line back in at the end. Throughout the story there were several times that I was confused about what characters the author was referring to. Richmond often used nicknames or shortened versions of names without explaining whom they belonged to, combine that with having many Indian names throughout the book and occasionally the names got confusing, She also brought characters from the beginning in again at the end of the story (clever) but by the time I got to them I had forgotten them.
Praises: I enjoyed the character development of Sophia as she grew in her faith and also in her love for the impoverished. I thought Richmond expressed very well the struggles Sophia had and how she grew from them. I also liked the character of Sophia, who was the strong-willed and independent main character. Will was also an enjoyable character, who was written in such a way that made him easy to connect with and easy to love. The other characters throughout the story gave contrast and color to the book. I was also surprised to find that I enjoyed the story line. I am not too much of a romance reader, but this book combined romance with love of the destitute and a struggle for justice with romance, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 (I would give it a 4.5 but that isn't on the scale!) it was such an enjoyable story and I would encourage any woman (or man, but they don't typically read romance) to pick it up and fall in love with the characters.

Goodbye to Yesterday

Wanda E. Brunstetter has an interesting way of painting Amish life. I am not sure I believe that all of the aspects of the story are completely accurate, but I do enjoy a good love story now and then. Goodbye to Yesterday is the first in a six part story, and is only about 125 pages, however the story has the capability of grabbing your attention from the beginning and holding it through those pages. This part of the book ends on a cliff-hanger with one of the main character being beaten-up and the other praying for them. The story itself is about a husband and wife who have hit hard financial times. Because of this Luke (the husband) must travel to Indiana in order to learn a new occupation and return to his wife, Meredith. Meredith is expecting a child, but has not yet informed Luke of her suspicions. She is beginning to wonder if she should tell him now or upon his return. In those short 125 Brunstetter shows the love that the two share and also their pain as they are separated, for what is supposed to be only a short time.
I thought the story had a promising premise. I am not a huge fan of Fiction based on the lives of Amish people, and this one is similar to many others I have read, but the story is unique enough to hold your attention. I would give this book a rating of 3 out of 5. If you enjoy this genera then you will probably like this book, however I would not classify the book as a must read.

Darkness Rising, by: Lis Whiel

This book was very interesting. The second in the East Salem series I was intrigued to see how Whiel would continue the story that was so riveting. The second book in the series was just as exciting as the first, however the excitement came from a different place. The first book in this series has a "cop show" feel with a little bit of the spiritual realm mixed in. The second book had tons of spiritual warfare, demons and angels throughout the whole book and only a little CSI mixed in. I enjoyed both books, however I felt like Darkness Rising started out slow in the first few chapters. I felt like Whiel spent too long reintroducing characters, but that may be because I had read the first book and then immediately started the second book.
I would not recommend this book for anyone who cannot immerse themselves in the type of fiction dealing with the spiritual realm. I find that type of writing fascinating and often very enjoyable. If you are like me and enjoy that kind of story then this is a great book to pick up! A novel story about the end of the world and how the army of God is going to fight back. I enjoyed reading this book and will probably pick it up again in the future. I would rate the book 4/5 stars.

Crazy Dangerous

Crazy Dangerous is an interesting mix of spiritual struggles, mental instability, temptation and danger. Those things all mixed together could make for a horrible story, however I was impressed with the way Klavan ties all of these issues together. Sam (the main character) is struggling to fit in at school, and life in general. He has taken up running in order to join the track team, the most popular sport in the area. He did not know that running would begin the craziest journey he had ever been on. After being beaten-up and chased he begins to defend himself, as well a girl named Jennifer. As the story continues we find out that Jennifer has schizophrenia, but it seems that some of the visions she is having are turning out to be true! The story has many twists and turns and is relatively engaging. I enjoyed the story overall, and thought the topics and plot twists made the story original and well worth reading. I would rate Crazy Dangerous 4 out of 5. I would read the story again, however it was not my favorite.

Confessions of April Grace: Chocolate Covered Baloney

K.D. McCrite writes a wonderful story of a 12 year old girl from Arkansas and all of the experiences she has. April Grace (the twelve year old girl) is faced with many problems that youth face today, but the story is set in the 1980's. April Grace's biggest struggle is with change. Over the past few months her life has changed tremendously. In the opening chapter she lists off a few things that have changed including her grandmother, a new baby brother and her mother being sick. As the story continues we see how April Grace deals with the change that has already occured and how she is getting used to it, and we also see how she handles change that is continuing to occur. Throughout the story there is typical sibling interaction, family stress and struggle as well as the conveying of delightful family interactions.
This story rings true to my experience as a young girl and reminds me of stories I read when I was young, like Judy Bloome (one of my favorites). I enjoyed  reading the story and remembering what my childhood was like, including the sibling rivalries. I felt like this book was an honest portrayl of many things that youth today face, and it was a very enjoyable read. I would rate this book 4 out of 5, remembering that the story is geared for youth and kids. :)