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Soul Care When the Nest is Empty: First Line Friday Review

Join me for the First Line Friday Review of Soul Care When the Nest is Empty, the newest book in the Soul Care series by Edie Melson. This is a nonfiction book review.

The first line: “Fear. All parents struggle with a myriad of fears when it comes to our kids.”

My First Line Friday review of Soul Care When the Nest is Empty:

What a truth to drop right out of the gate. I’m not a fearful parent, and I doubt anyone would have considered me anything close to a helicopter parent. But even then, I had fears. Fears of my own failures in raising my children. Fears that I wouldn’t adequately express to my kids how talented and loved they are. I’ve even had some fears brought on by their choices that centered on their physical safety at times.

But even with these, I didn’t hold tight to the stages my children went through. I looked at it like my job was to raise them to be able to take the next steps successfully on their own. (Time will tell if that was successful.) With this mindset, each milestone wasn’t something to grasp hold of until all life was strangled from it. I looked forward to each new stage, the empty nest stage was no different.

I’ve been surprised by some of the results of the empty nest stage in my life. I’ve also known frustration at some of the situations that have come up since all my children have left the home. Whether it’s exactly what I expected or not, one thing is clear. This stage is probably a bigger adjustment than any I’ve faced so far.

That’s what I enjoyed about Soul Care When the Nest is Empty. Edie doesn’t present a cookie cutter view of this time of our lives. She admits we all come at it from a different place. She even opens it up that we might wrestle with different aspects depending on which child is leaving the nest.

Blending scripture and experience, Edie gives readers encouragement and challenge as they face this unknown frontier. But she doesn’t stop there. She’s also created practical and creative ways to express our feelings and determine our attitudes from this point on. These hands-on activities are easy enough for anyone to do and help cement the reading’s theme in the readers mind and heart.

Soul Care When the Nest is Empty:First Line Friday Review summary:

Whether you’re just starting this stage of life or have been navigating it for a while, there is something for you in this book. I give it five stars.

Get Your Copy of Soul Care When the Nest is Empty Here

 

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Castle on the Rise: First Line Friday Review

Castle on the Rise: First Line Friday Review

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron First Line:

“Fairy-tale weddings never included rain on the guest list.”

Don’t judge a book by its cover. But if it has a beautiful cover, you may want to give it a try. The endorsement on the front of this one is from Patti Callahan, and it says, “Enchanting and mesmerizing.” She could just as easily be talking about the cover as the story. The imagery on the front is welcoming and evokes the feeling of a fairy tale. Not that you’ll find a fairy tale inside the pages, though it begins with a fairy-tale wedding.

What readers will find is a beautifully written split time story featuring three different time periods, one in current day and two in Ireland’s history. The author did a wonderful job making Irish history come alive for the readers while drawing them into the lives of the fictional characters. And the weaving together of the places and families through the years is masterfully done.

With such a large cast of characters and stories to tell, it would have been easy to lose interest in one or more of them to a favorite. But I came to love each of them. Their stories, while similar in many ways, were all uniquely them. Joy, fear, love, and loss play a part in each life. And I’ll admit, there may be a couple tears staining the pages of my copy.

My Final Thoughts

For my review, I give Castle on the Rise a solid five stars. It’s a story I’ll keep on my shelf to return to in the future. I’ve already recommended it to friends, and I can’t wait to talk about the story with them. For those who take part in a book club, there are discussion questions at the end of the book.

Purchase Castle on the Rise on Amazon

 

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Cravings: Wednesday in the Word

Cravings. Most people associate cravings with pregnancy. I admit, I had my share of quirky food wants when I was expecting my three boys. While they may not have been odd, like pickles and ice cream, they were still over the top. With my oldest I wanted Long John Silvers. All. The. Time. Seriously, we had Long John Silvers at least once a week for about a month. For a place we can typically eat at once or twice a year and call it good, that’s a serious craving.

Free from the demands of pregnancy hormones, I don’t usually experience cravings. It’s a frustration for my husband who often wants my input on where we should eat. I don’t really care. Anywhere we go, I can find something to eat. I don’t feel that strongly about the food I’m going to eat.

There is one exception. Tell me I can’t have something.

I’ve been dieting for a few months now. Several doctors have hammered home the point that I need to lose a lot of weight to reduce later health risks. Besides, I want to be able to enjoy my time with my grandkids. Playing with them is much easier when it doesn’t hurt to get up off the floor.

Knowing I need to lose the weight, I’ve committed myself to dieting. Nothing crazy. Mostly making better choices and watching portions. It’s very slow going. And painful. Not in the physical sense, but in the mental and emotional sense. The knowledge that I can’t have this or that (well, I could but it would reduce me to nothing but veggies for the rest of the day) has spurred on cravings like I’ve never experienced before.

Suddenly, my favorite potato chips (Pringles) and my favorite desserts (decadent chocolate anything) call to me from the shelf in the grocery store. Because I shouldn’t have them, I want them with a ferocity I never would have imagined possible. Once the cravings hits, I can’t stop thinking about them. My mouth practically waters in anticipation of what will come when I give in to the siren call of the food I should not be eating.

I try substitutions. They inevitably fail. I want the real deal, and my taste buds know the difference. Resistance is futile. More often than I should, I cave to the call of my favorite junk foods. Like the results of a box of Little Debbie snack cakes has on my hips, guilt settles over me for the long haul.

But there are cravings that come without guilt. I was reminded of that while reading John 4 this morning. After the disciples come back from the town, they offer Jesus food. He says he’s had food they don’t know about. Their confusion is obvious.

Jesus answers, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (vs. 34)

It’s noon. Jesus and His crew have spent the day walking. While Jesus takes a break at the well, the disciples go into town to pick up lunch. Not only is it the appointed time to eat, they’ve worked up an appetite with physical exercise. It’s not like the disciples are trying to force an extra meal into the day. They know Jesus has to be hungry. They’re hungry.

But Jesus waves off the food. He doesn’t need it. His cravings have already been filled because His desires are centered on doing the will of God and finishing the work He was meant to do. That’s where Jesus finds satisfaction and strength. His well-being doesn’t come from making sure His physical plate is properly divided into the correct fractions of proteins, veggies, and grains. It comes from doing what God is calling Him to do.

We’re told throughout the New Testament to have the same mindset as Jesus, to live more and more like Him each day. God’s plan is for us to look so much like Jesus in who we are and how we are that when others look at us, they see Him. This means adopting the attitudes and ways of Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our minds. What Jesus craves should be what we crave, and that’s to do the will of God and finish His work.

When I consider my physical cravings and compare them to my spiritual ones, I begin to see how far from having the mind of Christ I am. I want to do God’s will and the work He has for me. But do I crave it? Does the will of God consume my thoughts until nothing else will satisfy?

The Psalmist said he craved God the way a deer craves water. It’s in my relationship with God that I’ll find satisfaction, strength, and spiritual well-being. I know this. But do I crave God the way Jesus did? Is doing God’s will what nourishes me each day?

I’ve got to be honest in my assessment. It’s easy to say I crave God, but do the actions of my life confirm it? Do the ways I spend my days show an aching for God that moves me to action more than anything else in my life? Do I allow other things to be poor substitutes for God and accept their fleeting satisfaction that will leave me feeling empty later on?

Lord, help me crave You. Let me desire Your will in my life, my relationship with You, above all else. Fill my entire being with the desire to be in Your presence and doing Your work. Let me find lasting satisfaction only in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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Letter People: Wednesday in the Word the Saturday Edition

I wonder if all writers are letter people. For the Gen X and older in the crowd, I don’t mean fans of the Letter People show. Though I loved that show when I was little. Hmm. Now I’m wondering if all writers in those age categories are also fans of the show. But that’s for another devotion. This time I’m talking about people who write letters.

Today is National Pen Pal Day. And it’s got me thinking about my pen pals growing up. My first one was the daughter of a missionary couple my family knew. She lived in the Philippines, and we wrote each other for several years when I was in grade school. I loved connecting with someone in another country and hearing about how she spent her days.

Then, I went to AWANA camp several hours from home between my seventh and eighth grade years. When I came home, I had new pen pals. Craig, Tara, and Doug wrote regularly, and I wrote them back often the day I received their letters. Doug’s letters dwindled after a while. Tara and I kept contact fairly regularly into high school. But Craig and I wrote consistently through high school and into college.  In fact, it was only after we were both married with kids that letters gave way to yearly holiday cards and eventually stopped altogether.

Though I only saw him in person once after that first camp experience, Craig was one of my best friends. I didn’t get to go to the movies or attend youth group with him. I rarely even spoke on the phone with him. Our friendship was confined to the page and moved at the speed of the United States Postal Service. More than one letter in a month was rare. But the distance and time didn’t diminish our friendship. We shared our successes and failures, our dreams and our struggles.

I don’t know if he would have considered me one of his closest friends, but I thought of him that way. Being an introvert made making friends in person a bit difficult. I was often overshadowed by those I was friends with, their personalities were so much bigger than mine. I had a few close in-person friends through the years, but they came and went like the seasons. Craig was the one who remained constant, and I could tell him anything. His letters helped get me through so many angsty teenage times.

Having a pen pal back then wasn’t like today where you can whip off an email and the recipient gets it in seconds. We had to wait for each other’s responses. Knowing this, we had to think through our responses before we sent a letter. There was no quick reply button allowing us to correct something we’d said. That made our correspondence even more meaningful. I’d anxiously check my mailbox every day starting two weeks after I sent my own letters. I couldn’t wait to hear from my pen pals.

While pen pals have, sadly, gone by the wayside for the most part, my generation wasn’t the first to have them. They didn’t even start with the United States Postal Service. Pen pals have been around as long as people have had some sort of writing implements. While their messages had a distinct purpose, Paul, James, Peter, John and Jude were all spiritual pen pals to the early church. Kept apart by the miles and sometimes prison, these early believers would write lengthy letters to the early churches. They would use their missives to thank, encourage, instruct, and correct these baby Christians in their faith.

How wonderful is it that in God’s own love letter to us, His Word, we have the opportunity to receive these letters as well? Think about it. The same letters written thousands of years ago to believers in need of direction and encouragement can and do speak to us now. God arranged that. Paul may have thought his letter to the Philippians was for their eyes only, but God uses this letter and every other book of the Bible to speak to us today.

He writes to us in the pages of His Word. We soak it in, and often, we write back through prayer journals and notes scribbled in the margins. Each of us have the most amazing, powerful, loving, and wise pen pal in the history of pen pals. As much as the memories of my pen pal days with Craig are, my earthly pen pal and his letters will never be as meaningful and understanding of me as the love letter my Father has written for me. And it’s a letter I can go back to repeatedly and find something new and perfectly fitted for each situation I face.

God is the most amazing pen pal ever. And He wants each of us to immerse ourselves in His letter to us. He wants us all to be His letter people.

Psalm 119:10-11 “With all my heart I have sough You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments, Your word have I treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against you.”

 

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The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip: First Line Friday Review

Today’s First Line Friday review is of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold.

Let get right to it. Here’s the first line of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip.

The First Line

“Clara Kip had prayed repeatedly to die in São Paulo.”

My Review

There are books that are so hyped on social media that they can’t live up to the praise they receive. Though post after post tells everyone how wonderful the story is, as a reader, you’re left with disappointment. Was the hype simply that, building up from well-meaning people?

This is not one of those stories. The characters are so rich. Mrs. Kip is someone we should all want to know. She’s someone we should all want to be. Having cared for my dementia plagued grandmother at the end of her life, I’ve seen the struggles of the elderly. (No, Mrs. Kip is as sharp as a tack, but she still struggles with other aspects of aging.) Having helped care for my mother-in-law who died of cancer, I’ve seen first-hand the issues that diagnosis can bring. I don’t know the author’s experiences with these things, but the way she portrays the struggles that become routine daily life in these circumstances is as near perfect as I’ve seen.

And the way she handles each set-back is wonderful. Her faith doesn’t take away the disappointments and pain, but she spends her time focusing on what can be instead of what currently is. She’s fully accepted the idea of if you’re still here, there’s still work to be done.

Aidyn has some growing to do, though she’s just young enough to fail to realize her need. With love and gentleness, Clara Kip guides her on a path of deeper faith and maturity. The lessons aren’t always easy, but they are so worth it. For Aidyn and for us.

The scripture woven into the story is perfect for the situation and is a testament to living faith naturally in every area of life. It’s something many might be tempted to dismiss as preachy, but I don’t think they could be more wrong. Faith and a love for God’s words that permeates a person’s whole being, every area of their lives, isn’t something to consider odd or off-putting. Lived out with love, it’s something we should all aspire to.

This isn’t an easy read, but it is beautiful. And it won’t leave you unchanged. Personally, I want to grow up to be like Mrs. Kip.

Thank you for joining me on this first line Friday review of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. I know you’re going to love this story as much as I do. You can find The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip here: Get Your Copy

 

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The Wrong Season: Wednesday in the Word (a day late)

We’re in the wrong season to reveal the cover of a Christmas book, or to even think about Christmas.  At least, that’s what my husband would say. After Thanksgiving and until January first are acceptable times for talk of all things Christmas. Not a moment earlier.

And yet, here we are. I have, along with my three partners in writing, received our new book cover. It’s cute. Fun. And it’s a Christmas cover. I’m guessing not many people are feeling Christmas-y in mid-May. Most are thinking about Mother’s Day, graduations, and maybe even Memorial Day weekend coming up.

We’re in the wrong season (according to most, though I am not one of them) to rave about our new cover in excitement. For now, you get a teaser. We won’t make you wait long. After all, Christmas in July is a real thing. We can post all we want about the cover in July, and no one can say a word. I mean, die-hards like my husband will have something to say about it. But socially, it’s perfectly acceptable.

I’m glad I’ve seen my new cover, and I’m excited to show it. But, for now, I wait.

Waiting isn’t my strong point. I need to work on that.

It’s hard enough with something like a book cover. When the big things of life (the ones that really change things for better or worse) are hovering on the outskirts of my days, then it gets really hard.

There are things my heart longs for more than I can even put into words. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. The things you want to see happen in your life or the lives of those you love. Or maybe it’s clear direction you need, but it feels just beyond your grasp.

We pray about these things. God is the one to provide whether it’s our needs, dreams, or direction. We know that. So, we take Him the heavy things of our hearts. Trusting Him with them, we wait. We wait for direction, strength, provision, or whatever else the situation demands.

Waiting is hard. It’s like we’re in spring, and God’s best can only be found in winter. At times, the enemy tempts us with doubt. Maybe God isn’t listening or doesn’t care. Perhaps we fear some long-since forgiven sin keeps us from being worthy of His answer.

His intervention is so necessary. The situation, from our perspective, is urgent. Dire even. The answer must come now. Only it doesn’t.

The enemy may tempt us to take matters into our own hands. Don’t. It never works out well.

Waiting on God’s timing is the best, the only true answer. We may feel God has the wrong season set aside for the answer we seek. But God’s timing is never wrong.

So, we “wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

We cling to the truth that if we don’t “become weary in doing good … at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

We submit all our ways to Him knowing He “will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When we’re tired, we turn to Him knowing “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31

And when we struggle knowing it’s the wrong season for God’s answers, we look to the promises in His word and know “he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23.

Today may be the wrong season for our answers, but God has heard our prayers. Today He may be telling us to wait, but He will answer when the season is right.

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Main Character Monday Interview: Tangled Promises

Welcome to another Main Character Monday interview! Today, I’m chatting with Clara Reinhold from Tangled Promises by Lynn Watson. Tangled Promises is Lynn’s debut novel, and it releases on May 21st.

Welcome Clara. Let’s start with you telling me a bit about yourself.

My brother, Curt, is seven minutes older than me. Ja, we’re twins born in Germany in 1855. We’re the oldest of The Baron Kraig Reinhold and his wife Lydia’s children.  We have three younger siblings, Hannah, seventeen, Emmaline, thirteen, and Wilhelm who is almost eleven. I love children and reading a variety of stories and fairytales. Today I feel like I’m living the story of Romeo and Juliet meets Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolff. Daniel, our family carriage driver, will forever be the one I love.

That is quite the mash-up of stories. Makes me wonder who the big bad wolf is in your tale. Tell me something about you that readers may find surprising?

You won’t learn this about me in Tangled Promises, but I love to play marbles. Growing up, Curt and I and the other children in Gut Apfelhof spent hours competing. I usually won. Sitting on the ground in long gowns and petticoats is not a very ladylike endeavor, our seamstress, my maid, and and my Mutti (mom),  complained much about the damage inflicted upon by my dresses and slippers.

It’s been forever since I played marbles, but even then, I didn’t have a dress and slippers to worry about ruining. What is your favorite book in the New Testament and why?

I’ve always loved the grace by faith message of Ephesians, and endeavored to obey and honour my Vati and Mutti like Paul penned in chapter six, trusting God’s promise that if I did, I would live a long life on earth. At the moment, I find myself wondering why my Vati (dad) is provoking me to wrath by promising my hand to the awful Georg Wolff. I wouldn’t want to live a long life with that character at all.

Ah, I think the big, bad wolf may be getting clearer. And I can see why, especially knowing you love another, honoring your parents might be a bit harder in your circumstances.  It kind of reminds me of Gideon. God called Gideon to lead his army. Gideon didn’t believe he could, but he trusted and did as God asked. Have you ever felt like you weren’t equipped to do what God asked you to do? What did you do?

If Vati cannot be convinced to change his mind about me marrying Georg, trusting God in that situation will be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I wonder if it’s God’s will or just my Vati’s. It’s so hard to trust for God’s best. I keep praying asking Him if He sees my predicament.

I can’t wait to read your story to find out whether or not your father changed his mind and how you reacted if he didn’t. I might feel immensely under equipped in that situation too.

Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Is there one of these you find easier to accomplish? Is one harder?

Georg. You’ll meet this despicable man early in my story. When he behaves terribly toward me and others over and over again, I admit my desire to turn the justice part to vengeance on my part.

For you to call him despicable, he must be truly awful. I can see where doing justice would be difficult when dealing with someone like that. If you could leave readers with one message, what would it be?

In our Gut Apfelhof community,we all, commoner and nobility alike, grew up together and have always been best friends, treating one another with love, care and respect. My current circumstances and my Vati’s reaction to them would indicate the rules, the traditions of nobility that declare some worthy and others not, are the most important thing to consider.  I would like readers to remember that God loves everyone the same. No one is better than another or more worthy than another no matter their station.

That is a great lesson to remember. And I can’t wait to read Tangled Promises to find out more about your life, your love, and your struggle to honor your parents in the face of disappointment. Now, before we end this interview, I’d like to ask some just for fun questions. 

If you could have one exotic pet, what would it be?

Oh, I’d love to have a bright blue and yellow parrot. I’d name her Cecile, because among the name’s many meanings, it is an expression of compassion, kindness, and beauty in a world that applauds outer appearances above all else. Georg is all about appearances and regales everyone bragging about his privileged life. Secretly, I’d want to teach Cecile some not so kind comebacks. Sadly, that wouldn’t be very kind of her, though, would it?

Maybe not, but it is understandable. If you could travel through time, would you?

Only in stories. In my reading and studies, I have discovered no matter our trials, throughout history, people have always had problems and most of them far worse than the difficult expectations that have been placed on me. I might enjoy a glimpse into the future to learn if God has a beautiful outcome for my alarming present dilemma.

That is a great outlook to keep. Though, I have to agree. Sometimes getting a glimpse of how things will turn out could be nice. 

Sunrise or sunset?                  Sunrise

Chocolate or Vanilla?              Vanilla

No electricity or no plumbing? 

Living here in rural Germany in 1881, that’s a difficult question to answer. We’re all very excited that the convenience of electricity will soon be a part of our lives. I hope I never have to give up our flushing water closet.

One final question, Clara. Can you describe Lynn Watson in only three words?

Loyal, Authentic, Purple

That’s a unique answer. I don’t think anyone has ever answered with a color before. But, knowing Lynn, it is fitting. Thank you for spending some time with us today on this Main Character Monday interview.

And now for a bit about your author, Lynn U. Watson. 

Lynn U. Watson is a devotional writer, occasional quilter, reflexologist, and great-great-grand-daughter of a baron from Southwest Germany. Lynn combines her passions and her heritage Stepping Through Time Stitching Stories of Faith.Snippets of her family story inspire her fiction writing. She and husband, Steve, make their home in Bartlett, TN, where Jasmine the resident feline considers herself Princess of the Palace.

Readers, if you’re as intrigued as I am about Clara’s story, you can pre-order your copy of Tangled Promises today. Use the link below to do so. Also, Lynn is giving away a prologue to anyone who pre-order the story. I’m also including the link to claim that gift below.

In addition to what promises to be a great story and a fun free gift, Lynn is hosting an online party for her book on June 11th. Though not necessary to join in the fun, reading the prologue will help this online “charades” party make more sense. If you’d like more information on how to join the party, follow Lynn on social media.

Preorder your copy of Tangled Promises.

Claim Your Free Gift with Preorder

Website: https://lynnuwatson.com

Newsletter sign up:  https://bit.ly/LynnUWatsonJoinMyCommunity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynnuwatsonwriter

Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1108709330081009

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnuwatson

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lynn-u-watson

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16289814.Lynn_U_Watson

 

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First Line Friday Review: The Girl with a Dragon’s Heart

Welcome to this week’s first line Friday review. Today’s first line comes to us from the third and final book in the Firebird Series by Dawn Ford. The book is The Girl with a Dragon’s Heart, and it’s available now on Amazon.

Without further ado, here is the first line of The Girl with a Dragon’s Heart.

“I gasp at the sight before me.”

MY FIRST LINE FRIDAY REVIEW:

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, and The Girl with a Dragon’s Heart is a great way to end Tambrynn’s story. As with any fantasy, adventure story the created world makes a huge difference. This author gives readers a world that is simple enough to understand and complex enough to entice us to go deeper into the story. I was left knowing exactly which kingdoms would make an almost (or really) magical place to visit and which ones would be more like a deadly version of Survivor with me being voted off in the first round. I could see the devastation caused by evil and imagine the healing that could take place in the presence of good.

The people groups are nicely fleshed out, and the individual characters are truly individuals. Like Tambrynn, you’re left wondering if she’s trusting the right people, headed for disaster, or both. I have my favorite people, and I’m sure each reader will come out with their own. Along with Tambrynn, readers have glimpses into the why beyond the actions of various characters. This allows them to develop past being cardboard cutout characters.

Even after book three, I feel like the story could have done without the (very mild) suggestion of romance between Tambrynn and Lucas. That’s not to say it wasn’t well done. It was believable and not distracting from the main themes of the story. I simply felt the story was strong enough on its own to do without the nod to romance.

There’s enough action, magic, adventure, and danger to keep readers fully immersed until the end. That fight against evil and Tambrynn’s ability to fully accept who she was created to be (with all that means for her) is what makes this a story you won’t want to put down. I give it five stars.

Thank you for joining me for the First Line Friday Review of The Girl with a Dragon’s Heart by Dawn Ford. If you’re ready to join Tambrynn’s adventure, use the link below.

Where to purchase your copy:

https://scrivenings.link/thegirlwithadragonsheart

This book is also available through your Kindle Unlimited Subscription.

Already read it? Show the author some love with your own review on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, or your own blog.

The post First Line Friday Review: The Girl with a Dragon’s Heart appeared first on Heather Greer.

Lion Warrior Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit

Lion Warrior Review

About the Book

Book: Lion Warrior

Author: James R. Hannibal

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: April 23, 2024

The dragon war has breached the barrier.

The forces of the Liberated Land are near to breaking. Without a heavy and rapid shift in the Assembly’s strategy, a dragon invasion will be unstoppable.

Connor and Kara have kept the full knowledge of the Red Dagger’s location secret for almost a year. A chance to destroy Heleyor and end the war is within the Lightraider Order’s grasp. They must now reveal what they know and call for action.

With time running out, Connor, Teegan, and Aaron attempt to recover the dagger, and Kara helps the Airguard train a new corps of soldiers— windfighters—in their own bid to change the war’s tide. Meanwhile, Lee and Zel search for Heleyor’s army of tortured Aladoth. This force, thousands strong, has vanished. They’re heading for a hidden portal, and may emerge at the heart of Keledev at any moment.

Every path that lies before the cadets seems a great risk. The slightest misstep may cost them their lives, their loved ones, and their homeland. But to do nothing means certain failure. To succeed, they must charge ahead into dark uncertainty and trust the Rescuer.

MY DRAGON WARRIOR REVIEW: I know Dragon Warrior is the third and final book in the Lightraider Academy series, but I don’t want the story to end. I have only just realized I somehow missed the second installment, Bear Knight, but I will be rectifying that as soon as I finish my review. As much as I enjoyed the first and last books in the series, I know I don’t want to miss the book that ties them together, even if I have read the ending first.

And what a great ending it is! The attention to detail the author gives to the lightraider world brings richness to the story. And it’s not just the physical setting of the story either. The characters are completely developed leaving them feeling like friends from another time instead of characters on a page. Though the cast of characters is full, the fleshing out of each one prevents them from being lost in the crowd.

One of my favorite things about the story is the way the author weaves in scripture so seemlessly. I know that’s kind of the point of the series, but it’s accomplished in a way that if someone didn’t know scripture at all, they wouldn’t be put off by its use in the story. It flows naturally through the action. The author has done a great job bringing the spiritual battle of life into the physical in a way that is entertaining. For believing readers, the story goes beyond entertainment. It’s an encouragement and challenge to employ the truth of scripture in the everyday happenings of life. And though the story uses more scripture than any other story I’ve read, it never feels forced or preachy.

Dragon Warrior is a fantastical joy to read. If you have fantasy loving teens in your life, they need to read this series. And, of course, you should read it too. I give it a full five stars.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

As a former fighter pilot, stealth pilot, and tactical deception officer, James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He is the award-winning author of thrillers, mysteries, and fantasies for adults and children, and he is the developer of Lightraider Academy games. As a pastor’s kid in Colorado Springs, he guinea-pigged every youth discipleship program of the 1980s, but the one that engaged him and shaped him most as a Christ-follower and Kingdom warrior was DragonRaid, by Dick Wulf—the genesis of the Lightraider world.

 

 

More from James

There and Back Again: A Game?

The transition from book to game and back again is no easy thing. I’ve been on a steep learning curve since the day I started writing Wolf Soldier, the first book in the Lightraider Academy trilogy. Lion Warrior is the third.

I should walk back a step. Lightraiders is a game. Did you know that? It began as DragonRaid, a 1980s fantasy adventure game designed for teaching Biblical learning and discipleship. DragonRaid had a huge influence on my Christian walk in my teens. I now have the honor of carrying the concepts designed by the game’s original creator, Dick Wulf, to a new generation through games and stories. Before he went on to be with the Lord, Dick was kind enough to write a foreword for Wolf Soldier.

The task, when it came to me, was monumental: take a highly allegorical game with isolated location details and expand it into a full-realm book series while also building a new version of the game designed for today’s teens and families. By His grace, God placed men and women in my path who came alongside me to help—fellow believers who are creators from the realms of Tolkien, Star Wars, DC Comics, and Disney. Without them, it could not have been done.

We’ve been building the game in the background for three years. At the same time, the books have served as a transition from the old to the new. Lion Warrior completes that transition, and the book and the new Lightraiders Adventure Bible System game for teens will release almost simultaneously.

If you read through the series starting with Wolf Soldier, you may get a feel for this transition. The first book is more allegorical and tightly focused, much like the original DragonRaid game. Fantasy terms used in that story draw from the original game, with only a few new terms introduced. Bear Knightbegins to broaden that perspective. It stretches past allegory and introduces several new ideas that you’ll find in the new Lightraiders game. In Lion Warrior, my hope is that you’ll finally have a picture of the fully developed realm from the Liberated Land in the south to the frozen islands in the far north of the Dragon Lands. And that story is fully steeped in the new game with terms and game mechanics slipped in for astute readers to find.

So, we’ve come full circle. DragonRaid became the story world in Wolf Solder. Then, as I and the team God sent to me rebuilt the game for a new generation, new elements found their way into Bear Knight. And now we have Lion Warrior, fully based on the new Lightraiders discipleship game. If you read the full trilogy and check out the game, I hope you’ll see it all growing together.

I do love the idea of game to story or vice versa. Are there other game/story combinations you love?

Blog Stops

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 25

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 26

Artistic Nobody, April 27 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, April 27 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

Fiction Book Lover, April 30 (Author Interview)

Where Faith and Books Meet, May 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 2

By the Book, May 3

For the Love of Literature, May 4 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, May 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Blogging With Carol, May 6

By The Book, May 7 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, May 8

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, James is giving away the grand prize package of a signed hardcover copy of the book, three Starlots acrylic gem dice (diamond, sunfire, and ruby), a postcard with character art on the front and a map of Talania on the back, and Amazon $100 gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2b145/lion-warrior-celebration-tour-giveaway

The post Lion Warrior Review: On Tour with Celebrate Lit appeared first on Heather Greer.

Window of the Heart: First Line Friday Review

Window of the Heart is my first First Line Friday Review. I’ve posted Friday reviews before, but I wanted to try something new. We’ve all seen First Line Friday posts on social media. I thought, why not use the first line in my Friday reviews? I didn’t see a reason not to. So, I am.

Window of the Heart’s First Line (or paragraph in this case)

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lennox Malone pointed to the front of the chapel. “Sara Beth, there’s a toilet on the stage!”

My Review of Window of the Heart

This is the third book in the Stained-glass Legacy series, and it brings the Dunne family into contemporary times. The stained-glass window has not faired well, but that’s where Ty Dunne comes in.

I loved Ty. He may not be where he wants to be, but at least he knows what he wants. He’s my favorite in the book. As a reader, I can feel his struggle to live up to his family’s expectations while being true to what he feels he should be doing. I love that he supports Lennox from the beginning, even though she’s as prickly as a cactus. I even like his long hair that Lennox so badly wanted for him to cut.

Lennox has seen the rough side of love and life. It’s not a wonder she doesn’t want to find it for herself, doesn’t want to even believe it exists. With her ordered and in control personality, it’s no wonder surprises (no spoilers here!) knock her for a loop.

The author does a great job of weaving an element of faith into the story without coming across forced or preachy. And it’s great to “watch” the growth of the characters as individuals and together. You don’t want to miss this third book in the series. And if you haven’t read the first two, you want to read those too.

Where to purchase the series:

Window of Opportunity – Book One

by Heather Greer

Window of Peace – Book Two

by Regina Rudd Merrick

Window of the Heart – Book Three

by Amy R. Anguish

 

 

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