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Category Archives: The Golden Reviewer
The Tutor’s Daughter by Klaussen
Julie Smallwood is the main character in this delightful book. She is fast on her way to being a spinster due to her vast knowledge of books. She reads constantly and hoards her books like they were gold. Her father runs a small academy for young men of the gentry.
The Tutor’s Daughter
by Julie Klassen
Bethany House Publishers
January 2013
The year is over, all the students have graduated and gone home. Julie’s father receives an offer to come to Cornwall and tutor Sir Giles Weston’s two young sons. The two older Weston boy were taught by Professor Smallwood and this seems an ideal situation for Sir Giles since the boys’ mother thought they were to young to be away from home. Her father is delighted by the invitation and soon they are on their way to Cornwall.
The Smallwood’s arrival at Weston Manner is anything but pleasant. . Something very strange is going on. Julie and her father soon settle into the routine of tutoring the boys and are enjoying their stay in the country. Julie is beginning to have feelings for one of the Weston men. She is aware nothing will come of her feelings, but she can dream can’t she. Why would a Baron’s son want to have anything to do with a lowly tutor’s daughter?
Suddenly Julie’s life is turned upside down. Pranks are being played on her. Strange love letters are being slid under her door, she hears music being played late at night, a large hand appears on her mirror, and someone is coming into her room at night. These are things she can live with, but when she gets locked in an abandoned chapel and almost drowns, her father calls a halt and they return home to their small academy.
Will Julie’s love be returned by Mr. Weston or will she live out her days as a spinster – longing for what might have been?
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is well written, a page-turner and the plot holds you spell-bound. I fell in love with Julie from the first page and you will too.
Highly recommended.
Romance Editor Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Fresh off the Boat by Huang
Eddie Huang is best known as a rising chef, a blogger provocateur, and the founder of Boahaus in New York. Eddie Huang is an Asian-American who has defied every “model minority” stereotype. This book is an inspiring story about family, identify and finding a place to belong.
Fresh off the Boat
by Eddie Huang
Spiegel & Grau
January 2013
He was a kid who did not respect authority. got into trouble easily because of his attitude, and did not get along with his mad family. His father always seem to put him down and his mother yelled a lot. He was/is a bright person, but did not always use common sense. The book is a lot about food. Food seemed to be Eddie’s anchor – lifeline.
The book was interesting, but I didn’t like it. The language is very filthy – too much – did not need. This foul language seems to distract from the real story. Eddie appears to be a person with a large chip on his shoulder and a very filthy mouth. Let’s hope his blog is a lot cleaner than his book.
Not recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
A Home in Drayton Valley by Sawyer
A story of hope, heart aches, disappointments, and love.
A Home in Drayton Valley
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Bethany House
October 2012
Tarsie Raines and her friend Joss and Mary Brubacher with their two children leave 1880 New York for Kansas. Tarsie hopes to get her friend Mary to a warmer climate, Mary is sickly and conditions in New York are not helping her. They hook up with an unusual wagon train. All the members and the Wagon Master are black. Joss is very prejudice and is reluctant to follow a black man, but Mary’s pleas prevail and they set off. Tradegy strikes on the trail and Mary passes away from her illness. Before she dies she ask Tarsie to take care of her children and to love Joss and bring him to Lord. Tarsie promised Mary, but how can she love Joss – he is mean, prejudice and has a foul temper. However, she did promise Mary and she would try to honor Mary’s last wish. When the train arrives in Kansas, the wagon train goes on it way and Joss and Tarsie set out for Drayton Valley. Tarsie tells Joss about Mary’s dying wish and ask him to marry her. Joss is reluctant to do so, but he needs someone to care for the children so he agrees,
Life in Drayton Valley is hard for Tarsie. Joss isn’;t interested in her as a woman – he only wants her to take care of the children and him. Tarsie meets Ruth, a colored women, with three children. Her husband is the boss at the local winery where Joss is now employed. Ruth befriends Tarsie and she agrees to teach Ruth how to read. Joss is dead set against this and forbids her to teach Ruth. She ignores him and the entire town and continues to seek out Ruth.
Tarsie has come to the end of her rope. She is leaving Joss and the children. This is very hard on her as she loves the children as her own and to her surprise has fallen in love with Joss. Joss is arrested for stealing. and Tarsie is held captive by the men that are responsible for the theft.
A very interesting ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It will make you laugh, make you cry, you will experience the prejudice against the colored people, and you will pray that Tarsie finds the love and peace she so richly deserves.
Highly recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
The Pleasures of Men by Williams
The Pleasures of Men brings the hot, teeming streets of Victorian London to life.
The Pleasures of Men
By Kate Williams
Voice
August 2012
Young Victoria has just entered her second year on the throne. A major recession has hit London. Nineteen year old Catherine Sorgeiul lives with her uncle. who is rather strange. She is deadly afraid of him and rarely leaves her room when he is home. Catherine is intrigued with the gruesome murders of young girls sweeping the city. The serial killer has been nicknamed the “Man of Crows”. Catherine begins writing stories about the murders. She secretly leaves the house at night and takes to the streets putting herself in the killer’s place. As her voyages into the streets of London brings her farther into the underworld of London, she discovers disturbing evidence against her uncle. Could he be the Man of Crows?
A very interesting suspense story that will keep you turning pages far into the night. Be sure to leave the light on as it is very scary. I loved the book.
Highly recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Prophet by Peretti
“…You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
Prophet
by Frank E. Peretti
Crossway
1st Printing 1992
John Barrett, Jr.- anchorman for “NewsSix at Five “- has a problem. His world is slowly unwinding – it is being jarred to the breaking point. He has an outstanding story but the station will not let him air it. John Barrett Sr. – the prophet – recently had a fatal accident. John had always been a little ashamed of his God-fearing, Bible thumping father, and did not want anyone to know they were father and son. To make matters even worse, John’ s estranged son Carl has returned and is living with John’s mother. Carl is challenging John’s integrity. He wants to paint the face of his real father – not the one the public sees on the daily news. John is hearing strange voices – is he going mad?
Governor Hiram Slater is campaigning for re-election. Slater believes reproductive freedom is a fundamental right of every woman. In other words – legal abortion. with no question asked or with parents knowing. There is something fishy about Martin Devin – the Governor’s Chief of Staff. Governor Slater’s daughter Hillary died suddenly and John believes the real reason has been covered up by Slater. Shannon – Hillary’s best friend – received a first every Hillary Slater Scholarship and is sent to a far away university. This seems rather odd to John.
To make a long story short – John gets to air his story, but it has lost its punch. In a Press Conference Slater announced the real cause of Hillary’s death ,but denies he knew the real reason at the time.
The story brings home the things politicians and their hired guns will do to win an election.
An excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Touching the Sky by Peterson
Laura Marquardt has a problem. She is drawn to the dashing Captain Brandon Reid. The only problem – he is a Yankee and she is every bit a southern belle fresh from the tragedy of the Civil War.
Touching the Sky
Land of the Lone Star 2
by Tracie Peterson
Bethany House
June 2012
She is deeply concerned that her young sister Carissa is being courted by Malcolm – an ex-
Confederate soldier. He seems too good to be true. Her parents are all for the marriage, but Laura has her suspicions. Laura wants to educate the freed slaves. This, of course, is a no-no. Who ever heard of such a thing. Her father and the town people are deadly against a young women dealing with the Negros.
After the marriage, Laura discovers her sister is being abused by her husband. She takes matters into her own hands and brings Carissa to her parents home. Malcolm is very angry and kidnaps Laura and Carissa.. It is up to Captain Reid and his men to rescue the women and foil Malcolm’s plot to destroy the town.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Ms. Peterson does an excellent job of describing the feelings of the people that existed between the Confederates and Yankees. The war is over, but the hostilities remain. The defeat of the South is a bitter reality.
Highly recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Inescapable by Mehl
Lizzie Engel left her Mennonite hometown Kingdom, Kansas at the age of eighteen never to return. She was forced to leave home in disgrace. She has built a life for herself at Harbor House, but this is all falling apart. Her boss Sylvia has suffered her second heart attack and is forced to resign. Her replacement Sylvia doesn’t like Lizzie and has accused her of stealing money from the home. To make matters worse, she is being stalked by a stranger and receiving threatening notes.
Inescapable
by Nancy Mehl
Bethany House
July 2012
At the end of her rope, Lizzie takes her small daughter Cherry Bear and flees to her hometown of Kingdom. Lizzie soon learns that the dangers she ran from is much closer to home than she imagined. She also learns that she had misjudged the people of her town. Not sure who she can trust and fearful for her life she runs to the only person whose love is inescapable – her Heavenly Father.
A delightful read. Ms. Mehl is an excellent writer of suspense.
Highly recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by MacNeal
Britain’s beloved monarch may be approaching ninety, but there is another younger side of Her Royal Highness. Special Agent Maggie Hope is back. She made her debut in MacNeal’s first novel Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy
A Maggie Hope Mystery
by Susan Elia MacNeal
Bantam
October 2012
World War II sweeps the Continent and England steels itself against German attacks. Maggie Hope is an M1-5 Operative. who has hidden talents. She has completed training and hopes for a juicy assignment. To her great consternation, she is sent to Windsor Castle to tutor the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The upstairs-downstairs world of royals and servants proves to be very dangerous indeed. Maggie must be on her toes at all times. Castle life is not what she had envisioned it to be.
Maggie is assigned a senior handler to whom she is required to make timely reports. She doesn’t always see eye to eye with her handler which causes some minor problems. Things really heat up at the Castle when the Young Princess Elizabeth is kidnapped. Maggie resolves to do everything in her power to help rescue the princess. What happens and who the kidnappers are will surprise you.
Ms. MacNeal is an excellent writer of historical fiction. She perfectly captures the spirit of wartime Britain. I loved the book and you will too.
Highly recommended.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
The Intercept by Wolf
WOW WOW WOW! This is the best nail-biting, page-turning, twisty suspense book I have ever read. It will literally take your breath away. The story will keep you glued to your chair with all the lights on and wondering just what will happen next.
The Intercept
Dick Wolf
William Morrow
December 2012
Bassam Shah has arrived in the Big Apple from Denver. Supposedly he came to check on the family’s coffee cart. In lower Manhattan Detective Jeremy Fisk arrived late at the Joint Terrorism Task Force Meeting. Bin Laden is staying at the home of Arshad Khan. Laden has visitors. They are discussing their next attack on the United States – especially New York City. Laden is angry. Once again we have foiled their attempt to bomb the subway. Bin laden states – “we must direct our energy toward a target of such powerful symbolic importance to the Americans that its destruction will resonate for generations.”
Scandinavian Flight 903 is approaching the Boston Airport from Sweden. Everything is going fine until suddenly one of the passengers- a Yemeni – tackles Flight Attendant Maggie – holding a knife to her throat. He has a bomb and is threatening to detonate it if he is not allowed in the cockpit. Several passengers rush him and wrestle him to the floor. The plane is re-routed to Bangor international Airport where the terrorist is taken into custody. They become heroes and are dubbed “the six”. Since the terrorist didn’t really have a bomb. Detective Fisk is a little confused. Was this just a trick and something bigger is going down?
Baada Bin-Hezam is in town. He is another on the terrorist list. In a Manhattan apartment, Aminah Bin Mohammed, an American woman turned Muslin, completes her final task. She is just waiting for a phone call. What is going down? One moment of delicious anticipation involves Bin-Hezan’s slow descent to the street. As he steps out of the building an army of cops converge on him. Another makes the decision to let someone in her hotel room late at night, then all hell breaks loose. A third man is planning something so big it will rock the world to its core.
Will Fisk and his crew discover the real plot in time to prevent another 911 incident in the Big Apple? How has Bin Laden been getting his messaged to Al-Qaeda operatives? Just who or what is the real target. The 4th of July celebration is in two days. The new tower at Ground Zero is to be dedicated with the past and present presidents in attendance. Could this be their target? Just how many terrorist are involved?
Dick Wolf is the architect of the most successful and long-running show in television history – NBC’s Law & Order. This is his literary debut and the first in a series featuring NYPD detective Jeremy Fisk.
I can’t recommend this book too highly. There are genuine surprises, moments of sheer panic, and suspense/terror that will take your breath away. I loved it and can’t wait for Wolf’s next novel to be published.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
The Unbidden Magic Series by Marilee Brothers
Compelling, heart warming and just plain funny. A wonderful book of Moon Magic – supernatural – a page turner.
The Unbidden Magic Series
Compendium featuring:
Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon
by Marilee Brothers
Bell Bridge Books
2008 – 2010
The main character is Carlotta Emerson, known as Allie. She is a 15 year old girl living with her mother in a travel trailer parked by Blaster’s – a prize bull – pen in Peacock Flats, Washington. Allie has supernatural powers that she has yet to learn how to control. She has been given a Moonstone pendent by her good friend Krizzy who is a Romany gypsy. Allie has a weed smoking guardian angel Trilby who is trapped in SEATAC Airport Concorde A. She goes to Peacock Flats High School and has two friends that are part human and part demon. Allie boyfriend is a television star on Mexican television.
Strange things are happening to Allie. People are trying to kill her and the Children’s Service is plotting ways to remove her from her mother’s care. Allie takes a journey to the land where her grandmother is Queen of the Fairies. The encounters that Allie has while in the distant land will amaze you. What happens to Allie as she tries to save the world is a story of courage, trial and error. just plain luck, and a lot of magic.
The Moonstone Series is a set of four stories combined into one book. They are a delight to read. The book is packed with magic, unbelievable courage, supernatural powers and suspense. This book is truly a page turner that will keep you glued to your chair and just a little bit afraid.
Highly recommended for readers of all age.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
A Once Crowded Sky by King
When the heroes leave, who will save us?
A Once Crowded Sky
by Tom King
Touchstone
July 2012
The superheroes of Arcadia City fight a wonderful war, and play a wonderful game, forever saving yet another day. They have sacrificed Ultimate – the greatest hero of them all. This sacrifice cost Ultimate his life and stripped them of all their powers. These comic book characters have now been transferred from the marvelous to the mundane,
After too many battles and too many friends lost, The Soldier of Freedom is ready to hang it all up – letting go of the glory. However, this is not to be. A new disaster has struck from the sky. What or who is causing all the problems? Property is being destroyed – people are dying. It is time for the heroes to take action. Where is PenUltimate – the sidekick of Ultimate? He has become the most powerful person in the world. But PenUltimate doesn’t want to play the game anymore. He only wants to stay at home with his wife.
Without his amazing abilities, Soldier is forced to seek help from the others. All the old heroes come to the rescue – Devil Girl (DG), Strength, Prophetier, Star-Knight, Mashallah, Starry (Distant Sun), Sicko, Freedom Fighter and Runt. Without their powers, what can they do? They must rely on PenUltimate. They must force him to change his mind, defeat the enemy, and save yet another day.
The characters are like comic book characters – fiction – but yet like humans. The book is a little hard to follow. I didn’t particularly like the book, but those that are into comic book heroes will love it.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
True Believers by Andersen
Karen Hollander is writing a book. A book about the thing she did in the late 1960s an episode she has kept secret for forty years. Today she is a celebrated attorney and once had her name placed in nomination for the Supreme Court. She worked for President Clinton who they called “Fat Boy”. Karen has done some pretty bad things in her past. With the imminent publication of her memoir – now is the time to let the world in on her shocking secret. She is finally sharing her past life with her national-security-cowboy boyfriend. Her Occupy activist granddaughter accidentally reads a few pages and insists on reading each chapter as it is written. Will she be surprised at the things her grandmother did or will she take it in stride as she is somewhat of a rebel herself?
True Believers: A Novel
By Kurt Andersen
Random House
July 2012
Karen accompanies her granddaughter to Miami to protest “The special G-20 summit”. Things get a little hairy in Miami. Karen’s daughter can’t believe her 60-something year old mother would do such a thing. After all, she is a celebrated attorney and really shouldn’t encourage her granddaughter to protest anything. Karen can’t wrap her mind around the fact that she has never been indicted or served time in jail. Who has been looking out for her all this time, especially her violent protests against the war? Some agency should have a long list of what she did. She would ask Stewart to help her.
This is an interesting read, but not very believable. There is some foul language, which contributes nothing to the book.
I didn’t particularly like the book. The book is fiction, but just a little too much fiction for my taste.
Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is an 80 year old avid reader reviews the newest in Christian fiction and non-fiction with a sprinkle of the secular on top..
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
