Valeria's Cross by Kathi Macias & Susan Wales ~ 3 stars

Valeria's Cross

Kathi Macias and Susan Wales

Abingdon Press

About the book:

*I'm not including the blurb for this book because it implied lots of things that were untrue about the book events and characters. If you want specific examples I can give them, I just didn't want to spoil certain things for readers.*

My review:

I was pretty disappointed in this book. But I’ll get to that in a minute. I had no *idea* that this book was based on true events and people. I thought it was completely fiction. However, I still thought that the writing could have been a little better. Especially at the beginning you were “told” things that were happening in Valeria’s life rather than experiencing them with her. It was a little like listening to a speaker who talked in a monologue. You were told things a little impassively and that didn’t help me to create a “relationship” with Valeria and be interested in her personally.

Now, I understand that for the most part this is a true story so they couldn’t change what happened in any big way, but I cried and cried throughout this whole book! The persecution of the Christians was well portrayed, but I tend to like stories that have the persecution and a redeeming ending. So for the most part, my disappointment in the book couldn’t be helped since it was based on real people’s lives, but I still think the writing could have been better. (I hate to give an unfavorable review, but this was my honest opinion. I sincerely hope that other people will enjoy the book more than I did.)

Thanks Abingdon Press for my review copy of this book.

Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor ~ 4 stars

Highland Blessings

Jennifer Hudson Taylor
Highland series #1

Abingdon Press

About the book:

Highland warrior Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. When he forces Akira to wed him, hoping to end a half-century feud between their clans, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment. . .Yet her strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce. But there is a traitor in their midst . . . and murder is the ultimate weapon.

My review:
(This is an ARC, so it’s not the final edited version.) I liked the book and think the story line was really good. Akira was just about a saint. I probably would have strangled Bryce. ;) The characters were great and the plot was great, but I would change a few things about the book. There were some places in the book that I would have talked about rather than mentioning in passing later. It seemed like there were some opportunities in the book to create tension or some other feeling and there wasn’t a scene for that part. It was just mentioned later on in the day or week. Also some of the scenes probably could have been a little more drawn-out than they were. Like when they catch the bad guy it is over a little too fast for me. I think this has tons of potential and I’m looking forward to reading the final version!

Surrender the Wind by Rita Gerlach ~ 4/5 stars

Surrender the Wimd

Rita Gerlach

Abingdon Press

About the book:

Surrender the Wind is the story of Seth Braxton, a patriot of the American Revolution, who unexpectedly inherits his loyalist grandfather’s estate in England. Seth is torn between the land he fought for and the prospect of reuniting with his sister Caroline, who was a motherless child taken to England at the onset of the war.

With no intention of staying permanently, Seth arrives to find his sister grieving over the death of her young son. In the midst of such tragedy, Seth meets Juleah, the daughter of an eccentric landed gentleman. Her independent spirit and gentle soul steal Seth’s heart. After a brief courtship, they marry and she takes her place as the lady of Ten Width Manor, enraging the man who once sought her hand and schemed to make Ten Width his own.

From the Virginia wilderness to the dark halls of an isolated English estate, Seth and his beloved Juleah inherit more than an ancestral home. They uncover a sinister plot that leads to murder, abduction, and betrayal--an ominous threat to their new life, love, and faith.

My review:
Seth Braxton is a hero that will sacrifice what he wants for what is best for the one he loves. Juleah is a sweet character, but one who will also stand up for what she believes in, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I really liked both of these characters. I loved how Rita made all the characters in some way related, and when they first met they had no idea the impact they would have on each other’s life. I love when you meet someone, and then you go on and never realize who they were or the major part they would one day play in your own life. There was one of those characters that I dislike very much. A pompous person who is somewhat in charge, but won’t listen to reason even though they are wrong. But, he was taken care of in the end. I liked how everything turned out (I can’t say what I want to because of spoilers!) and thought that it was well resolved. The epilogue was great too! I love epilogues because they seem to finish off the character’s story line, without having to read the whole rest of their lives.