New Christian Sci-Fi

Asylum  The Circea Tales by Ashley Hodges Bazer

Captain Chase Leighton, a member of the rebel Ghosts, has been fighting against the cruel forces of the Legacy.  He and his wife, Trista will soon celebrate their first wedding anniversary when disaster strikes.  While sent out on an assignment, Trista is taken hostage by the enemy Legacy and is used as a medical experiment.  Her memories of Chase and her previous life are wiped clean and replaced with new memories and a new identity among the Legacy.  Chase is determined to rescue her, but his attempt fails and he and his crew are being held on a spaceship for the insane, undergoing shock treatments to ensure their compliance.  Will he be able to escape and rescue her, or has he lost her forever?  Will she ever remember him?

The author writes a tale with many twists and turns in a sci-fi setting.  The plot kept me reading, although the names and the abbreviations of some of the people and equipment confused me.  Ms. Bazer did not fully explain “Logia” which further added to my confusion.  However, once I deduced the meanings of the words and abbreviations, I enjoyed the story.  (She does include a glossary at the end of the book, but I wasn’t aware of it until I had finished the book.)  I would read a sequel if one is available.  If you enjoy sci-fi with a slice of romance, you will enjoy this book.  I appreciate receiving a free copy from the publisher and this is my honest review.

Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate

Hope Springs is the little town where Grandma Geri’s family and friends come together to support her during her cancer diagnosis.  Her family members are surprised to learn that she has hidden a secret from them for years.  In revealing it, she puts herself at risk of rejection by those she loves.  Meanwhile, her granddaughters are also dealing with difficult life lessons and encountering lost loves. 

Kim Cash Tate weaves themes of family, loyalty, love and loss throughout this book.  Not having read any of her previous books, I found it difficult to keep up with the many different characters.  Her theme of racial reconciliation was presented plainly.   However, because it was difficult to keep the characters straight, I wasn’t always sure of their racial heritage, and that made understanding the plot trickier.  Now that I have been introduced to the main characters, I would consider reading her previous books.  As a Christian author, she handles modern-day issues of sexual purity and pregnancy outside marriage sensitively.  Her characters, though flawed, learn and grow in grace from their mistakes.  The book didn’t have a “perfect “ending, but a realistic one.  I am grateful for the free copy from the publisher and this is my honest review. 

Hot Dogs and Hamburgers by Rob Shindler

 

Rob Shindler writes an inspiring story of a father’s determination to help his son learn to read.  Rob, like many fathers,  had difficulty accepting his child’s learning disability.  After he denied his son’s problems for a while, Rob determined to do something to fix the situation.  But first he must understand how to teach a person to read.  He joins a literacy organization in Chicago and begins to tutor adults how to read.  The adults love his unorthodox approach and he begins to see the inklings of success.  Through the process of teaching the adults, he realizes what it is exactly, that his son needs to do in order to read.

I loved this story.  As a teacher, this story rang true.    It was very inspiring.  Rob’s honesty about his situation is refreshing.  So is his unorthodox approach to teaching adults to read.  I applaud his determination to help his son.  This book made me want to investigate volunteer options in my own city.  I hope that Rob continues to positively impact the lives of illiterate adults.  Read this book and his story will influence your life, too.

House of Mercy by Erin Healy

 

Beth Borzoi lives on a ranch and loves animals, especially horses.  She aspires to be a vet.  Because of a freak accident involving a wolf and another rancher’s valuable horse, her family will lose their ranch and ministry.  Her father believes that her estranged grandfather, Garner Remke, holds the key to rescuing their ranch.  Shortly before her father’s death, he urges Beth to search out Garner and bring him home.  She goes in search of him on horseback, but is followed by a mysterious wolf, perhaps the same one that caused her catastrophic accident.  She manages to find Garner, but he is fighting for his life and Beth must now try to save him from probable death. 

Erin Healy is one of my favorite Christian writers.  This book had layers of plot that kept me reading, despite the fact that I am not a fan of Western novels.  The author weaves a thread of the supernatural throughout this book, and I find myself still trying to grasp the symbolism.  The book ended, but left me wanting to know more of what happened after the last page.  I hope there will be a sequel as many questions were left unanswered.  I intend to read as many as books as Erin Healy writes.  She is an excellent writer and I highly recommend her works.  My thanks to Booksneeze, which provided the free e-book for me and this is my honest review

The 13: Fall

 

 

The United States is in dire trouble.  Her military is weak from years of budget cuts.  China, on the other hand, has become strong and decides the time is ripe to expand its borders by striking the US. The Prophet contacts the president with a warning that the US needs to repent and return to God.  The president must find out if the Prophet’s message is bona fide or a hoax.  He commissions 3 specially equipped people to hunt down the Prophet.  As the situation goes from bad to worse, Boz, John and Taylor must do their best to find the Prophet before it is too late.  Will the Prophet have the answers that they need?  Will they be able to find him?

This book was a compelling read.  The authors had done their homework in current events.  It seemed a bit too close to reality for comfort but the plot kept me reading.  The story ended at a hopeful point and left me wanting to read the next book.  For a first novel, I thought it was a good book.     

The Choice by Robert Whitlow

 

Sandy Lincoln, popular cheerleader, dating a football player finds herself pregnant her senior year in high school.  Despite the temptation to abort her baby, she decides to carry him to term.  Her boyfriend deserts her and she must make a temporary new home with her aunt in another city and another school.  As her pregnancy progresses, she begins to think that she is carrying twins.  At a gas station a stranger approaches her and tells her that the babies must be separated at birth.  Sandy follows this advice and the boys grow up ignorant of the fact that they each have a twin.

Sandy goes on to establish a successful life for herself as a teacher, but still wonders where her boys are and how they have fared in life. She becomes involved in helping a student who is pregnant and in a twist of fate she meets one of her sons and then the other.  She must decide if she should reveal  her secrets.

I have been a Robert Whitlow fan and have read all of his previous books.  This one, however, left me disappointed.  The writing seemed flat and I had to force myself to finish the book.  It did pick up speed and suspense in the last 30 pages, but previous to that I read out of duty and not enjoyment.  I appreciate Mr. Whitlow’s underlying message, but thought that his writing didn’t carry it effectively.  If you are a Robert Whitlow fan, stick with his other books.  I appreciate the publisher giving me a free copy and this is my honest review.

The Reason by William Sirls

 

This book’s plot revolves around the idea of what might happen if Jesus returned to earth as a carpenter today.  How would He impact the lives of those around him?  Whom might he heal?

The little boy in the story has contracted leukemia.  As his mother pursues treatment for him, she comes in contact with several doctors and a carpenter, Kenneth.  The doctors do their best to treat him and Kenneth tells her that her son will be made well if she will only believe.  Meanwhile, miracles seem to occur in Kenneth’s proximity—things that he will not explain.  Despite their relationship with Kenneth,  the little boy worsens.  Will her faith be rewarded?

The author gives one of his characters an answer as to why the miracles occur—because God loves you.  However, this raises more questions.  Why was the blind minister healed but not his mentally challenged son?  Does God not love him?  The story was interesting, but I found that the theology left me with questions.  However, the author’s personal story at the end of the book was very fascinating and made as good reading as his novel did.  I enjoyed this book but found it wanting for some strong theological underpinnings.