The Traitor's Heir ~ A Book Review

Every man has a destiny. His is to betray.

For over five hundred years the River Realm has laid in the hand of the Master. And it is the dream of every young man to join the Gauntlet; the Master's army who is out to overthrow the growing rebellion of Serpents. For Cadet Eamon Goodman, that dream is about to become reality as he takes the oath to serve the Master. 

But in his swearing ceremony, something unexpected happens and a dark, haunting voice starts to control his thoughts, offering him unlimited power. Eamon is confused and unsettled. When his friend is captured and found guilty of being a Serpent, he volunteers to take her to Duntruik, the capital, with the hope of rescuing her.

When their ship is set upon by Serpent men and a young cadet is hurt, Eamon finds he has the power of the King's Grace. Even more confused than before, Eamon discovers that the stories he had been told as a child are true. The line of Kings is alive and well, and the next king is his old friend Hughan, whom he thought long dead. 

Swearing to serve the King as his First Knight, a name that stirs him as none before, Eamon is sent to serve the King in the heart of the Master's kingdom -  Duntruik itself. 

With two completely conflicting, completely unbreakable vows on his shoulders, who is Eamon going to decide to serve? The self enthroned Master? Or the one true King? 

♥ ♥ ♥

First off let me say that The Traitor's Heir was a great allegory of the gospel. I could see how Hughan (The King) was the figure of Jesus or God. His grace came upon Eamon and enabled him to do things he was unable to do apart from him. He gave Eamon a peace and a power he did not understand. Hughan was thought dead by those close to him and revealed himself first to Aeryn, (who we find out later is his betrothed) the close friend of Eamon who he later saves from death. 

Eamon shows the person of faith and the walk of it. He is sworn to serve the Master, and struggles with staying true to the King. He vows to serve the king in the heart of the Master's domain. My favorite part of the book is where Hughan asks Eamon to serve him in this way.    

Eamon looked once more at Hughan. "What would you have me do?" he asked. 

"Keep your promise to the Hands. Go with them to Dunthruik and there, First Knight, in the very heart of my enemy's stronghold, I would ask you to serve me." 

~ The Traitor's Heir • By Anna Thayer ~

I feel that this is the exact thing our King of Kings asks us to do every day. To serve him in a world steeped with the the Master (devil) and he is our power against him.

While I did love this book, I have to give it less than five stars due to a couple things.

1) While the allegory was wonderful, there was a use of profanity that shocked me. The term b*****d was used multiply times as were d**n, d****d, b***h and a*s. While this is a UK published book, and things are laxer over there then here, there is no reason for this amount of swearing. Especially since this is a 'Christian' publisher. 

2) Eamon is a man who is losing himself in the Master's world. This said, he is being tempted and lured by the Master to reveal his secrets. One way is by a lady. There is parts where Eamon falls and succumbs to the woman's beauty and what she offers him. Nothing explicit is mentioned, but a observing reader knows where they are going and what they are doing. 

I can't tell you what to read. You must be the judge. I loved this book apart from the two things mentioned above. I won't be recommending it for anyone younger than 16 and will be hesitant to share it with anyone I know is new to the faith, struggles with swearing, etc. There are two more book sin the series as well, so if you are a must-read-every-book, I wouldn't suggest this book to you. 

I give this book a four star out of five. 

I was given this book for my honest review from the Cook Club Network.       

Crazy Little Thing Called Love ~ A Book Review

Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first engaging novel in a brand-new series about destination weddings, the power of love, and the possible mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”

Paramedic Vanessa Hollister has put her adolescence behind her, including the unwanted label of being the new kid in town over and over again, thanks to her father’s military career. She’s overcome what her mother called “the biggest mistake of her life” and is planning an elegant destination wedding in Destin, Florida with her new fiancé. But will the reappearance of her first husband from her what-were-you-thinking teenage elopement disrupt her dream of an idyllic beach wedding?

As a professional storm chaser, Logan Hollister is used to taking risks. However, a reckless decision during the last tornado season has him questioning the future of his team, the Stormmeisters. Coming face to face with his ex-wife eight years after their divorce compels him to confront his greatest regret: losing Vanessa. Does their past give him the right to interfere with her future?

A fast-moving, powerful hurricane throws Vanessa and Logan together as they evacuate to a storm shelter along with other residents of the Florida Gulf Coast. Forced to spend time together, the pair battles unexpected renewed feelings for each other.

Vanessa and Logan are faced with a choice: Should they accept, once and for all, their teenage marital mistake? Or is God offering them a second chance at happily ever after? 

(Taken from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492612-crazy-little-thing-called-love?ac=1)

♥ ♥ ♥

This book ... oh my word. I was a little hesitant due to the fact that Vanessa and Logan were divorced and she was engaged and the her and Logan got back together. Sound kinda fishy right?

But this book was anything but! Mrs. Vogt weaves the past a present together into a perfect blend of faith, love and destination weddings!

Logan is a stormchaser, which honestly was super cool! The past he is struggling to let go of isn't just letting Vanessa go; it also is the fact that one of his team members ended up in the hospital. I love how he learns to forgive himself. 

Vanessa also learns to forgive. But she also learns what true faith in God is. I thought it was awesome how, once she finally gives everything over to God, how he brings the pieces of her life back together. Who better than the creator of the universe to organize this crazy mess we call our lives? 

I give this book a five stars. Mrs. Vogt blends the past with the present and I am crazy in love with this book.   

I was given this book for my honest review by the Book Club Network for my honest review which I have done. 

The Potter's Lady ~ A Book Review

Rosemaire McKay, newly graduate of the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, convinces her brother, Ewan, to buy a pottery. She is convinced that she can bring in the contracts for her brother. She also reconnects with Joshua Harkness, who owns a rival pottery business but vows to help her.

Rylan Campbell has never liked change. So when Ewan McKay buys the pottery he works at, he braces himself for all sort of change. But it isn't Ewan who brings the change, it is pretty Rose

McKay. When they begin to lose business, Rylan suspects Joshua to be taking advantage of Rose.
When a contest design is announced, can Rose and Rylan put aside differences and join forces to save the pottery both love?

♥ ♥ ♥  

This book was very sweet and well written. Rylan's character jumped out at me, because like him, I hate change. The way he handles Rose and the changes she brings shows that God can bring good things from the bad. 

The deceit of Joshua hit a little to close to home as well. My family and I have gone through our share of betrayal and it was comforting to know it happens to everyone. 

I loved that the main characters were Irish. It added a flavor to the book that made it even more enjoyable. I learned a lot about pottery as well, which I thought was cool. When I was younger, I wanted to make pottery and it was interesting to see the advanced process that it took to make them in the late 18th century. 

This book was given to me for my honest review which I have give. All opinions expressed are my own.