A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Adults

Crown of Feathers Series

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So for the past month I’ve been listening my way through the Crown of Feathers Series by Nicki Pau Preto.   This series includes Crown of Feathers, Heart of Flames, and Wings of Shadow.  Young adult fantasy literature that grabs your attention and focus you to listen for details. I’ve replayed whole sections where I know I missed something because I got distracted by my work!  It’s got to be a good read if I hit the replay button eh?  🙂   If you aren’t part of Audible, get your own account! First month is free…

Anyways, I’ve so enjoyed this series with the Ashfire women, Sev, Tristan, and Sparrow.  Honestly though, sometimes I just wanted to shake Sev so he would develop some confidence in who he was.  And times when I just want Val to have a convenient accidental death.  These characters inspired a whole variety of emotion and an eagerness to see how they resolved their problems.   

crown of feathers series

The Details

Title: Crown of Feathers, Heart of Flames, Wings of Shadow
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
Series: Crown of Feathers
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 
Intended Audience: young adult
Genre:  fantasy, phoenix birds, action & adventure, siblings, 
Available formats: Audio, Hardcover
Read: Audio

About the author

Did you know that Nicki Pau Preto is a Canadian?  I was so surprised to learn this.  Though she isn’t fond of hockey, geese, or snow….so can she really call herself Canadian?  A graphic designer turned full-time writer she’s working on a middle school read called The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents.

Instead of going through the storyline of each of these books, I’ll invite you to go to Nicki’s website to learn about each one. Just click on the image! 

wings of shadow

So What Did I Think?

Each book has it’s own storyline and conclusion which I think is fantastic.  I hate when books just kinda stop and then you have to decide if you like it enough to read the rest of the story.  And yet, when each book ends… you want to know what happens in the next one!  That’s a good thing eh?

Crown of Feathers introduced us to the word of phoenix fire birds, their riders, and Val, Veronyka, and the rest of the main characters.  Veronyka finds a place to belong. A home that she can build from.  Hard things happen and we start to see the strong divide between Val and Veronyka. 

This book is a great start to the series, giving a good grounding into the heart of each of the characters. 

 Heart of Flames builds up some budding romances between Veronyka and Tristan, Sev and Kade, and more.  These relationships help them grow into better adults, while in many ways they are still very young in learning to adult.  I really wasn’t keen on the same gender relationship budding with Sev, but honestly, it kinda fit his personality/character.   We get to see the deepening of Val’s darkness, and struggle of Veronyka to be the person she needs to be.

Now I haven’t actually finished Wings of Shadow yet, but Val’s abilities in Shadow Magic have grown in well…kinda scary ways, and Sev starts to kinda figure out his worth a bit. And Veronyka is becoming a bit of a force of her own…. I’m so looking forward to seeing where the story goes. 

So if you like fantasy…. and big flying birds with riders out to do good in the world… then the Crown of Feathers Series will be up your alley.   Get invested in a world aiming for turmoil…. and see if peace results.  That’s what I am looking forward to finding out!  Join me!  🙂 

A Leaf and Pebble

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for A Leaf and Pebble through Voracious Readers. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

A Leaf and Pebble is by Andrew Monroe, a fantasy author who is new to me. This is book one of Learner Trilogy series. What an interesting world he has introduced me to.  Not only are people naturally born able to use magic, but you can also have others who can learn how to use magic.  Nil and Volant are on the run!  Will they get help to survive? 

a leaf and pebble

The Basic Details for A Leaf and Pebble

Title: A Leaf and Pebble
Author: Andrew Monroe
Series: The Learner Trilogy (book one)
Publisher: Independ Publishing
Pages: 389
Intended Audience: young adult, adult
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy Adventure, 
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Paperback
Received: PDF
Reviewed for: Voracious Readers

Author: 

Andrew Monroe is a lover of food (particularly desserts), coffee, books, and tabletop gaming.   Worker of various jobs in order to pay the bills… and his spare time is taken up by writing. 

The Book:

In a land of elemental magic (naturals) and Learner Skill (learners), a gripping tale of two friends who narrowly avoid death while attending the school under the mountain takes place. As both are forced to flee before finishing their studies, they must unravel and attempt to thwart a plot to plunge their homeland into war after ages of peace.  Can Nil and Volant uncover the mysterious group plotting to turn their five peaceful kingdoms in war-mongering enemies? 

So what do I think?

So, I like the story.  I want to know how the story ends, so Andrew needs to finish the next book in the series post-haste!

I received a PDF, and I really dislike reading books on kindle, particularly those not really formatted for kindle, but it did make for a good lunch-time read.   Just not as smooth a read as turning the pages of a book or as comfortable.  🙂 

Occasionally though, it felt like a page was missing. I’d be reading and then the story would jump, or I’d lose half a sentence, so that spoiled the progression of the story.  I’m sure that the final version (since this was published in 2019) has avoided those jumps. 

The characters:

Nil and Volant (the Leaf and the Pebble respectably) are likable individuals, though the propensity of Nil to find the nearest good-looking girl was an unnecessary distraction to the storyline. Very different in their personalities, yet mindful of each other as good friends are apt to be. 

The Storyline: 

A good protagonist needs an equally good antagonist.  The bad-guys are well connected, very much not nice guys, looking to benefit from a land in battle. Nil and Volant have their work cut out for them if they want to firstly, save their own lives, and secondly, prevent the reordering of their society.    

Action floods the pages with the young men narrowly avoiding death repeatedly, and running into and out of trouble every couple of days.   Folks to help them regularly pop into the picture, some to teach additional skills, some to provide respite, and others to put them into untenable positions with really only one way out.  They need to navigate all these situations while considering what is the right thing to do. 

Whose it written for?

Young adults I think will like this story.  It is written for a high energy crowd following the lives of two young men.  Not teens, but more young men, fellows not quite done with school, and just starting into their adult lives.  Young men who are bound to make mistakes, but old enough to realize when they need help, and young enough to be bold enough to move on when the adults are being too protective. 

All in all… Andrew Monroe is a new author to me and I’ll happily read the next in the series. It’s a fun, busy read.  It’s like a cozy mystery wrapped up in a world of fantasy, complex magic, and boys out to save their world!   🙂  Get your own copy of A Leaf and Pebble now!  🙂 

 

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

Can evil be beaten?  Yes, prayer and understanding that it’s just trying to mess with your head, and your faith, evil can be beaten.  Ms. Wright is clear about that as she brings us into a haunting, somewhat spooky word of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater. Not for the faint of heart despite the lack of gruesomeness, and was a book I read in short spurts as I like suspenseful books, but some are meant to be taken in short bits.  🙂 

the lost boys of barlowe theater by Jaime Jo Wright

The Basic Details

Title: The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater
Author: Jaime Jo Wright
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 384
Intended Audience: adult
Genre: Christian fiction, Christian Mystery Fiction, Mystery and Suspense, Romantic Suspense
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Paperback
Received: Paperback
Reviewed for: Nuts About Books

The Author:

I thought I recognized the author!   Jaime Jo Wright also wrote The Souls of Lost Lake!  I remember that book as a somewhat compelling read.  And again, we have a book that jumps from the past to the present.  This makes it one that wouldn’t work for me as an audiobook and where I have to pay attention to the headings!   

Anyways, what can I tell you about Jaime Jo Wright?  She loves coffee, cats, and gothic horror! She is a multi-award-winning author, with numerous bestsellers under her belt.  Her writing style will keep you at the edge of your seat, while reminding you about God himself. 

The Novel:

Running in two timelines, with missing boys in both.  Two women trying to solve the mystery of the missing boys and wanting the evil of the theater to stop.  Good men help them, and some romantic interests are shown, but isn’t primary to the storyline.   Greta in 1915 and Kit in present times.

Two Mysteries, yet related

Barlowe Theater haunts the town Kippers Grove.  Two women, in separate timelines, are determined to help the boys lost and to keep it from happening again.  Will they succeed in this suspense filled mystery?

You’ll find cliff-hangers, and some giveaways as you move from the present back to the past.  You’ll have to deal with the supernatural and have to fight to see what is true.  Kinda like real life eh?  Will be fooled by the devil’s wiles or see the truth hiding behind?

The writing is clear and easy to read, the story compelling.  Each of the ladies have struggles they need to deal with such as poverty and adoption as they work to solve the mystery.  I’m not going to give the story away, but do know the mystery IS solved.  It’s important to know that when reading a suspenseful book. 

If this sort of read is your cup of tea, pick it up!  You’ll be on your edge of the seat throughout!

Lost and Found

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for Lost and Found through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

Do you like Amish literature?  Like seeing that sense of community and faith in God?  Suzanne Woods Fischer has put together a nice romantic novel that is more thought-provoking than it is focused on romance.  You will find themes of mental illness, forgiveness, following God’s leading, grief, and spiritual growth.  The undercurrent through it all is Micah and Trudy, with things to learn before they can really see each other.  If you love bird-watching you’ll have the added joy of reading through bird watching journal entries! 

Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Basic Details for Lost and Found

Title: Lost and Found
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 320
Intended Audience: adult
Genre: Christian fiction, Contemporary Christian fiction, mental health, Amish, Contemporary Christian Fiction, Amish Romance, Amish and Mennonite fiction,
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Paperback
Received: Paperback
Reviewed for: Nuts About Books

The Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a prolific author, Lost and Found is just one in a long set of series about the Amish. She has written in several genres, such as historical fiction, contemporary, women’s romance, and children.  Ms. Fisher has written for years, starting with magazines, and then moving on to romance and non-fiction.  Mother, author, and person of faith, she spent some time living in Hong Kong but currently lives in California. 

The Story:

Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville…….

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley.

Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Looking Deeper

At first I thought this was going to be another sappy Christian romance but I WAS WRONG.  Is it a romance?  YES.  Is there some sappiness to it?   For sure!  (It wouldn’t be billed as a romance otherwise would it!?!!)  But this is more of a story of two young people needing to mature into themselves AND as they mature to being able to see what they must. 

Micah needed to see the truth of old love, his own competency, and how to stand for what is real and important.   Trudy needed to stand up for herself and not let family tragedy stop forward progress. As they learned these things, they became “better suited” to each other.

Their maturity and dealing with mental health issues were more important stories and I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that.  It makes the romance part of it seem more realistic to me.  🙂 

Since Micah and Trudy are avid bird-watchers I thought Ms. Fisher did an excellent job of adding in these bird-watching journal entries. It was kinda fun reading about the common loon, gray catbird, bobolink, and others. 

Though I enjoyed that the primary focus wasn’t on the romantic feelings betwixt Micah and Trudy I can’t really say that I enjoyed the read.  I enjoyed the bird journal entries, and overall the story was good, but the characters were “off”.  The old man who yelled all the time really threw me off and the laughter/joking about fainting goats.  It just sat wrong for me.  

BUT I loved the growth seen in both Micah and Trudy and learning about why an Amish community might up and leave.  Seeing the Amish community (in the form of Trudy) doing what she could to save the larger community around her.  Those elements were fantastic and I’m so glad Ms. Fisher focused on the bigger picture.  Simply wonderful that. 

The Warsaw Sisters

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for The Warsaw Sisters through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and it is so much appreciated. 🙂

Good and evil are part of what it means to live life isn’t it?   In war we often see more of the nasty side of what people can be.  Amanda Barratt takes the time to show us the courage of two young women, living in Poland, during WW2.  Walk into the wartime lives on Helena and Antonina. Marvel at their determination and survival skills as they manage the Nazi occupation of Poland. 

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barrat

The Basic Details for The Warsaw Sisters

Title: The Warsaw Sisters
Author: Amanda Barratt
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 384
Intended Audience: adult
Genre: Christian fiction, Contemporary Christian fiction, World War ll historical fiction, 20th century historical fiction, Christian historical fiction, 
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Paperback

The Author

Amanda Barratt says on her website “I’m passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history”.  And in The Warsaw Sisters I saw snippets of history brought to life I didn’t previously know about. Ms. Barratt is a Christian author who has written several books.  She often writes about WW2 as she’s fascinated by the contrast between good and evil. 

The Warsaw Sisters 

Takes in the lives of Helena and Antonina.   Sisters in Poland trying to survive the Nazi invasion of WW2. Through them we get to see how some of the Polish fought back against the invasion.  How they fought for their people and for the Jewish who lived among them. The question we have is, will their fight against the evil of the Nazi regime drive them apart? 

My Thoughts

I very much appreciated that each time the voice changed, or a date changed, we were clearly informed by section headings.  The font was easy on the eyes and made reading comfortable.  The story, though delineated by days/voices, was indeed a story and not a recitation of facts. 

The fact that the speaker varies between the two sisters means, that for me at least, this novel would not work as an audiobook.  BUT others might be better able at discerning the difference while listening. 

The added historical notes at the close of The Warsaw Sisters are informative, showing how the story was derived from the research that Ms. Barratt did. Very interesting and helpful.

I’m not going to tell you that The Warsaw Sisters is a happy read.  There’s lots of sadness throughout.  We see Germans doing some very nasty things and we see Polish turning a blind eye to atrocities. War is a horrible thing, and wars that include genocide are particularly nasty.  It spans the time of 1939-1945.

But I’m also not going to tell there is no hope or joy.   Joy in helping those who most need it.  Courage of people choosing to fight instead of giving up like sheep.  Bravery in choosing to do hard things.  Intelligence in learning new and necessary skills.   Wonder at the birth of a child.  The hope of the city of Warsaw rebuilt.

So it’s just like Ms. Barratt says ” In times of some of the greatest evil and inhumanity our world has ever known, there emerged glimmers of courage, resilience, and sacrifice. The juxtaposition of those fragments of light against the darkness is extraordinarily powerful and inspires me as I write.”  She fulfilled her own mandate don’t you think?  That balance between good and bad clearly seen in the lives of these women and the army they fight against. 

On Moonberry Lake

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for On Moonberry Lake through Nuts about Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Walk into a touch of mystery, the love of family, the burgeoning friendships, and the small town attitude of On Moonberry Lake.  A story for women about women, their uniqueness, and how quickly they can respond to emergencies, and a few good men at their side.   Holly Varni has written a heart-warming story that makes for a perfect weekend read. 

on moonberry lake

The Basic Details for On Moonberry Lake

Title: On Moonberry Lake
Author: Holly Varni
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Series: Moonberry Lake
Pages: 336
Intended Audience: adult
Genre: Christian fiction, family life fiction, Contemporary Christian fiction, Christian romance, small town fiction, contemporary romance
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Paperback

Author Notes:

Growing up in Nebraska, but now living in California with her professor hubby, Holly Varni writes stories about Moonberry Lake. She wants to give readers characters they can connect with, admire, laugh at, and most of all love.  She raises up boys and works in hospice (where she gets to listen to life stories).

Book Notes: 

Cora Matthews’s life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever “normal” is.   Perhaps she can find the answers if she returns to the family home on Moonberry Lake. 

A host of eccentric neighbours, and the job of rebuilding the family lodge, give Cora the time she needs to let go of her past and build toward her future. 

on moonberry lake

My Thoughts

I loved the eccentricity and heart in Cora’s neighbours.   I found some of the small-townishness perhaps a bit overplayed, but interesting folks.   The other day at work I noted that we all have our own uniqueness’s and the best we can do is embrace them in ourselves and others.   So it is for the folks on Moonberry Lake.  Almost everyone has heart for their neighbours, makes mistakes, some have faith in God, and they all pull together when things are hard.   Is everything all roses?   Certainly not.  Conflict between people, hurt and misunderstanding, dangerous events, and what not.  They happen.  And sometimes in a story it feels a bit far-fetched.  Like are there SO many eccentric people living in this small-town?  Does a tornado have to happen to destroy all Cora and Widgy’s hard work?   

But the point of the story is to tell an engaging story with characters that draw you in and make you love them.  Even Mr. Wells with all his struggles was a character you just want to wrap your arms around and hold close.  It’s a fun weekend read.   Is there romance in it?  YES.  And the whole “instant connection” thing drove me crazy as always, but it ended up not being central to the whole story.  AND I LOVE THAT!  Don’t you too?   When a story has more depth than the romance between two people.

Go on, get On Moonberry Lake and enjoy a light christian romance with a feel-good vibe. 

Five Years After

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product Five Years After through Ascot Media Group. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

The fourth in a series of dystopian literature by William Forstchen, Five Years After brings us into a cozy college town led by John Matherson. Follow along as John tries to navigate an ever changing society.  Dealing with struggling world governments, an alternative American government, and plague.  Will John figure out the answer for dealing with it all? 

Five years after - william r forstchen

The Basic Details for Five Years After

Title: Five Years After
Author: William R. Forstchen
Publisher: Forge Books
Pages: 352
Series: John Matherson, volume 4
Intended Audience: adult
Genre: Dystopian literature, Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction
Available formats: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Paperback
Received: paperback advanced reading copy
Reviewed for: ascot media group

Author and Book Notes

William F. Forstchen is an American historian and novelist.  He has put together several books including this series about the world after a world-wide disaster.    The only information I could find on him was with this wiki article. 

Five Years After supposes what life might look like after an EMP takes out all electronics on a world-wide basis.  Could any ships be in operation or could governments communicate with each other?  What might happen if plague might hit?   Is the New World Order the answer to America’s future?  John Matherson, Vice President of the fledging Republic struggles to find the right solutions to the problems faced. 

Five years after - william r forstchen

What You Get

You’ll find the font and text relatively easy to read.  I did admittedly struggle with the grammar and spelling mistakes.  I don’t usually find those in ARC versions of the book so I hope they have been resolved before final publication. 

Even though I haven’t read the original three books in this series, I found this an interesting read even though at times I wished the story would progress more quickly.  How many times do I need to read of his deep enjoyment of a good smoke? 

I was delighted that this truly is a story and not some romanticized version of what the future might hold if the world did indeed get struck with an EMP.  What would that mean in a society and how might a people group choose to defend themselves and work toward a better future? There aren’t always easy answers and Forstchen grapples with decisions to be made. 

Knowing how the story ends has made my need to read the first three books in the series less compelling.  It would have been fascinating to see society grapple with the sudden changes thrust upon them, and seeing the growth they have made within five years is worth applauding. 

The ending is surprising! So not a solution that I had anticipated, and then the story just ended.  Isn’t it always nice to know if a decision made is the correct one? 

All in all, a story I’m happy to have read.