Book Review: Emissary by Thomas Locke

Back Cover: With his twenty-first birthday, Hyam begins a journey that will lead him to his destiny--or his doom.

Hyam has always shown a remarkable ability to master languages, even those left unspoken for a thousand years. But now the shadow of suspicion that was cast upon him as a child prodigy at Long Hall is lengthening, and he must keep his identity hidden--or face annihilation.

As Hyam's mother slips toward death, she implores him to return to Long Hall before he settles down to farm his land. This journey born from duty becomes an impassioned quest for the truth. War is coming swiftly, and Hyam must rely upon his newfound powers and the friends he meets along the way in order to unravel the puzzling past and ensure that he--and the realm--will have a future.

My Review: I don't read enough fantasy. It took me a while to understand what was happening in this novel but once I was immersed in the culture and world Locke created, I couldn't put the book down. Hyam is your typical fantasy hero. He's a farmer who discovers his parents aren't who he believed they were. He is force on a quest to right all wrongs and protect the good from the evil forces gathering in secret places. When I got to the end of this tale, I wanted to start right in on the next book in the series. Unfortunately, I have to wait a year before the next book comes out. Fans of The Lord of the Rings should really enjoy this novel. You can learn more about this novel and the series at Thomas Locke's site.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I recommend this book to Tolkien fans and readers of fantasy.




Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: The Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn

Back Cover: An Ancient Island Holds an Ancient Secret . . .

Nick Hennessy, a young Texas journalist yearning for his big break, finds himself in Europe--his assignment, to investigate the alarming disappearance of invaluable Grecian antiquities. Nick has the credentials--and cover ID--to unearth the truth. And he knows just the researcher to help him...

Carey Mathers, fresh from her studies in forensic archeology, has accepted a job with the prestigious Athens Institute for Antiquities--a dream come true, really, particularly when the Greek isle of Patmos, where the Apostle John received his vision of the Apocalypse, was a particular focus of her research.

Dimitri Rubinos, for whom the Greek islands represent his life, holds on by his fingernails to the family charter boat business. But his country's economic chaos isn't the only thing that has turned his world on its head...

My Review: Once again Davis Bunn delivers a novel full of suspense, mystery and intrigue. I could not put this book down. From the moment Carey landed in Greece and discovered there was no promised job, I was hooked. As the story unfolded more questions begged to be answered. I love the way Bunn weaves interesting historical facts into the narrative. I have an urge to visit Greece and see the beautiful places described between the pages. I do hope Bunn writes more books about these characters and the other ancient texts they will help preserve.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this novel to readers of romantic suspense, lovers of international intrigue, and students of ancient Christian history.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Rare Earth by Davis Bunn

Excerpt: "You will go with them."

Charles objected, "My place is here."

"Your place is caring for the people of your church. This duty means you will accompany Marc Royce. And if he is to be trusted, you will share with him the secret."

Charles felt a thrill race up his spine. "You will allow this man to hold the future of your people?"

"Only if he is the one of my dream." The young-old man looked around the circle of elders, granting them the chance to object. But no one spoke. So he turned back and finished, "And only if he shows you a sign."

Once again the chief had managed to spook him. "What sign will that be?"

Philip rose with him, a rare honor. "You will know when God tells you." Rare Earth, pg 94-95.

Back Cover: Marc Royce stares out of the helicopter, a sense of foreboding rising with the volcanic cloud. Below, the Rift Valley slashes across Africa like a scar. Decades of conflicts, droughts, and natural disasters have left their mark.

Dispatched to audit a relief organization, Royce is thrust into the squalor and chaos of Kenyan refugee camps. But his true mission focuses on the area's reserves of once-obscure minerals now indispensable to high-tech industries. These strategic elements--called rare earths--have inflamed tensions on the world's stage and stoked tribal rivalries. As Royce prepares to report back to Washington, he seizes on a bold and risky venture for restoring justice to this troubled land.

But this time, Royce may have gone too far.

My Review: As a volcano spews its ash in the air, one man goes missing, whole villages are being evacuated for no reason, and one company seems to be behind it all. Only Marc Royce stands between in the way, but will he live long enough to discover the truth? Rare Earth is a tale of thickly woven deceit, and intents bigger than anyone originally imagined. I really enjoyed Bunn's work. He did a fantastic job creating this page turner.
My Rating:

My Recommendation: I recommend this book to readers of suspense and fans of Davis Bunn.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn

Excerpt: The Town Car swept through the surrounding traffic like a beast of the deep. The rear window was now all the way down. Marc tensed with the others, and reached for the gun he no longer wore.

Then an old man’s face appeared in the open window. The lone passenger was white and old and paid the congregation no mind. He leaned forward and spoke to his driver. Apparently the window was down simply so the old man could enjoy the
fine spring day.

Appearances, Marc knew, could be deceiving.

The limo swept around the corner and disappeared. The gathering resumed their Sunday chats. Marc gave it a few beats, long enough for his departure not to be tied to the limo, then walked around the corner.

As expected, the Town Car idled at the curb. With Marc’s approach, the rear door opened. He slipped inside, leaving every vestige of the church’s peace outside with the sunlight and the cool spring air. Lion of Babylon, pg. 9-10.

Back Cover: Marc Royce has been a State Department agent involved in covert operations--that is, until personal issues lead to his dismissal.

When Alex Baird goes missing in war-torn Baghdad, State comes calling again. Alex is a CIA agent--and a close friend of Royce. Three others have also dropped out of sight--a nurse, an aid worker, a wealthy young Iraqi. Are these cases linked? Rumors circulate about a kidnapping conspiracy, yet both American and local officials refuse to pursue it.

Blocked at every turn, Royce eventually unearths a trail of secret encounters between sworn enemies. What he discovers could transform the course of rivalry and reconciliation throughout the Mideast. As the human and political drama escalates, can one man summon the courage to make a difference?

My Review: I could not put down this book! I had to finish it. I had to see how things would turn out. There was no going back once I opened the cover and stepped into the story. Davis Bunn did an amazing job with this story, and I am so pleased that I was given a chance to read an review this book. I was drawn into the story. I wanted to solve the mystery. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters. All the while I held my breath, because of the danger, suspense and intrigue. You will not be left disappointed!

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to readers of suspense.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke

"As the sound of their racing gallop over the cobblestones faded away, Abigail moved her head to see the entire community of believers standing in stunned silence. No longer the wedding music. No longer the laughter and camaraderie, the dancing and feasting. Once more their world had abruptly changed, and they were reminded of who they were, where they were. Aliens in their own land. Judeans, certainly, yet viewed as enemies by both their own religious leaders as well as the Roman conquerors." The Hidden Flame, pg. 17.

Abigail and her brother Jacob are left with the group of believers in Jerusalem when their guardians have to flee for their lives. There is growing unrest in the city. Religious leaders want to get rid of the followers of The Way. The Romans wish to quench the attacks of the Zealots, and the church continues to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Even with the power of the Holy Spirit moving and alive within them, Abigail finds herself an object of desire for two men. Both are unacceptable. Neither have trusted in the Risen Lord. Can she trust God with her future? Each day brings the early Church closer to persecution. Will they be ready? Who will throw the first stone?

The Hidden Flame is the second book in the Acts of Faith series. I have not had the opportunity to read the first book in this series The Centurion's Wife. I think it would be helpful to have read that novel before reading The Hidden Flame.

I found the story a little hard to follow at first, but attributed that to having missed the first book in the series. It was interesting to see how Bunn and Oke brought to life some very well known Biblical stories. I enjoyed meeting Peter, Stephen, Ananias and Sapphira as well as Saul of Tarsus. I think that the authors did a great job showing us the Jewish customs of courtship and marriage as well as the struggle that the early church went through in Jerusalem.

I would recommend this book to lovers of Biblical fiction.

(I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review.)