To Save a Life by Michelle Wright

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To Save a Life (A Star Creek Christmas Book 1) by [Michelle Wright]

To Save a Life by Michelle Wright is the first book in Ms. Wright’s “A Star Creek Christmas” series. It is a clean, sweet romance story with endearing characters that have hearts for helping others.

Kayla works in a library and as Christmas approaches, the library begins planning programs for kids and families. Kayla, who experienced lymphoma as a teen, suggests having fundraising activities to support local charities that help people and that help children going through cancer. Her suggestion is approved and the planning begins.

Ben, one of Kayla’s coworkers finds that helping Kayla plan fundraising activities is a way to get to know her outside of the library.

Ms. Wright is a talented writer who has created a setting that could be anyone’s hometown and characters facing real life challenges. Her characters feel like friends and it is easy for the reader to get caught up in their lives – to laugh with then, hurt with them, and cheer them on.

The only thing I struggled with in To Save a Life were the typographical errors that frequently distracted me.

To Save a Life by Michelle Wright is a feel-good story and when the reader reaches the end, it’s almost disappointing to say goodbye to Kayla and Ben. Participating in their lives is fun and engaging. If you like reading romance stories with a touch of humor about characters, that could be your friends or family members, who handle life’s struggles with courage in a hometown setting, you will definitely enjoy To Save a Life (A Star Creek Christmas Book 1) by Michelle Wright.

I give To Save a Life by Michelle Wright 4 stars.

Keira by Kate Willis

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As a Book Reviewer, this is my honest review of Kiera by Kate Willis. I was not required to write a positive review nor any review. This is the first book or story that I have read by Kate Willis, though it is not her first nor her only publication.

Kiera by Kate Willis is a novel about a young woman who is facing the military draft during a war as soon as she reaches her eighteenth birthday. She has no desire to leave her family and friends and have her life change so completely. She and her parents and brothers pray that God will provide a resolution to this problem.

Though I liked the story and it held my interest and kept me turning pages, I found it difficult to determine a time period for the book. The lifestyles of the characters could very well take place in the present day. However, the mention of checking the weather daily to see what the level of radiation is before going outdoors makes it seem as though it could be in the not-too-distant future. Ms. Willis also mentions her main characters using “devices”, which are clearly electronic technological devices, to access information and contact friends and family. No specific name was given to any device, though they didn’t seem like anything other than today’s laptops, tablets, and cell phones. Each was always referred to as “the device”. Nor was there ever any clear description or information regarding the war that is taking place in the story.

However, Ms. Willis did a great job creating well-developed characters that the reader can relate to, like, and care about. The internal and external struggles of the characters are what keep the reader engaged and turning pages. The reader walks through the struggles with Kiera and her family and with Brennan Stewart, both empathizing and sympathizing with them, and hoping they will have a happy ending.

There isn’t really a romance in this novel, but there is definitely a love story in this book. By that, I mean, it is a very slow developing deep love between two of the characters. It isn’t sensual. It is a deep, pure love, unlike what the modern world views as love.

The ending of the story is a bit confusing. The words “The End” appear at the bottom of page 279, but there is one page following that, where a scene involving a minor character takes place, and it isn’t clear why the scene is there. It almost seems like a set up for a second book, but there is no mention of an upcoming book or that Kiera is part of any series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, as I fell in love with the characters and I cared about them. Ms. Willis really did a wonderful job writing her characters, and they are definitely the heart and soul of this story, making it worth reading.

If you like character driven stories and like getting attached to and involved in the lives of a novel’s characters, you will definitely like Kiera by Kate Willlis.

Kiera is a Christian Fiction book and is a clean story – no profanity, no explicit violence, and no explicit intimate scenes. This novel is acceptable for both Young Adult and Adult Readers.

I do recommend Kiera by Kate Willis to readers who prefer character driven stories, and I give Kiera by Kate Willis 4 stars.

Reluctantly Yours by Jessica Marie Holt

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Reluctantly Yours: A Granny Matchmaker Romantic Comedy (Granny Pact Book 1) by [Jessica Marie Holt]

As a Book Reviewer, this is my honest review of Reluctantly Yours by Jessica Marie Holt. I was not required to write a positive review nor any review.

Reluctantly Yours by Jessica Marie Holt is a delightful, humorous clean romance story. Ellie and June have been friends forever and have shared many adventures and made many memories together. However, now they are facing what may be the greatest challenge they have ever faced. But they have a plan – the Granny Pact.

Ellie’s grandson, James, is unmarried, as is June’s granddaughter, Sarah, and these grandmothers have vowed to help their grandchildren’s romantic happiness along, whatever it takes. But James and Sarah aren’t so easy to convince, and these two have a past that their grandmother’s don’t know about, which complicates everything.

If you enjoy clean sweet romantic comedy novels, you’ll enjoy Reluctantly Yours by Jessica Marie Holt. The delightful scheming grandmothers are endearing as they try to help their grandchildren fall in love, as they both want what’s best for their grandchildren, and the thought of actually being family after all these years is appealing to them as well. Their antics to influence this romance are humorous as their grandchildren begin to wonder what is wrong with their grandmothers.

James and Sarah aren’t easily convinced that romance is in the cards for them, but they make some attempts at spending time with each other just to humor their grandmothers. However, their past continues to prevent any new blossom of romance. Will they be able to put the past behind them?

Jessica Marie Holt has created realistic characters with flaws and weaknesses and real-life struggles. They could be one of your family members, one of your friends, or maybe one of your neighbors. This story and its characters are engaging and will live on in your memory even after you turn the last page and close the book or e-reader.

Reluctantly Yours by Jessica Marie Holt is well written and fun to read. It’s a quick, easy read.

I give Reluctantly Yours by Jessica Marie Holt 5 stars.

Promises Unbroken (The Moretti Trilogy #1) by Kristina Hall

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As a Book Reviewer, this is my honest review of Promises Unbroken (The Moretti Trilogy #1) by Kristina Hall. I was not required to write a positive review nor any review.

Promises Unbroken by Kristina Hall is a Christian Mystery/Suspense novel that will have you burning the midnight oil just to read one more chapter.

Mae Ashton’s family isn’t what it used to be. Part of the reason the family has changed is because Mae’s sister has disappeared, or as many believe, died. But Mae believes her sister is still alive, so she writes a note to her fiance and leaves town to find her sister.

This book begins with danger and action as Mae realizes she’s being followed. Just after Mae is threatened, her fiance, Davis, shows up, determined to take Mae home or help her, but he’s definitely not leaving without her. With each chapter, the suspense and danger facing Davis and Mae mount and Mae regrets being the reason Davis is there.

When Davis first meets Alberto Moretti, a ruthless henchman for a corrupt businessman, he suggests that Moretti read the Bible. As the story continues, both Davis and Mae have run-ins with Moretti.

Throughout the novel, Davis encourages Mae in her walk with the Lord by quoting scripture. Davis also to tries to discuss faith and the Bible whenever he can fit it into a conversation with Alberto Moretti.

Ms. Hall has created a suspense filled novel with a thread of the Christian faith flowing through it in the midst of the danger. This book is also reminiscent of historical mafia stories where the criminal is the head of a family who has been involved in criminal activities for more than one generation. The story is well written, and though it is the first book of a trilogy, the ending is satisfactory and doesn’t leave the reader hanging on the edge of a cliff anxiously awaiting the next book.

There is plenty of suspense and some tense moments. The romance is clean and mild. There is some violence, but the violent scenes are brief and are not explicit.

I give Promises Unbroken by Kristina Hall 5 stars.

What Does Mr. Person Fear? by Patrick Lauser

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Patrick Lauser has written and released a new children’s book. It is written in Shakespearean meter — a poetic form.

What Does Mr. Person Fear? by Patrick Lauser is a unique children’s book. Master Axel, a brave rabbit, has come to visit Mr. Person and is concerned by the look of fear upon Mr. Person’s face. He examines every part of Mr. Person’s house, finding many frightening things and asking Mr. Person which one is it that frightens him.

Mr. Lauser also provides the illustrations for What Does Mr. Person Fear? and does a great job of showing things that are scary to children, like the beasts in Mr. Person’s bedroom. I would caution that preschool children could find some of the illustrations scary and may not understand the story. However, I encourage parents of children ages 5-8 to share What Does Mr. Person Fear? with your children. It is a unique story with an unexpected ending. It has a very encouraging message that could make for great discussion.

I enjoyed reading What Does Mr. Person Fear? by Patrick Lauser and give it a 5 star rating.

Cover Reveal for What Does Mr. Person Fear?”

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“What Does Mr. Person Fear?”

A haunted house children’s book in Shakespearean Metre.
To be released next Friday!

Master Axel, a sturdy, steadfast rabbit, finds a terrified person named “Person” living in a house full of hideous horrors. Master Axel wonders which of the many monsters is the reason Mr. Person is so terrified, but it turns out to be more of a mystery than the exploratory rabbit expected…

Mr. Lauser also created the cover. Here is how he says he did it:

Everything on the cover is hand-drawn, including the text and the gradient around the edges (done with sponges). It’s just cleaned and arranged on the computer (to get the texture, the title is in fact zoomed in on tiny writing).

Patrick Lauser will be releasing his book trailer for this book tomorrow and I will either share it or a link to it here. I’m sure you won’t want to miss it.

Cover Reveal

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Patrick Lauser is releasing his first children’s book soon and tomorrow is his Cover Reveal Day. I will also be sharing in his Cover Reveal, so be sure to stop back tomorrow to see Patrick Lauser’s Cover for “What Does Mr. Person Fear?”

Rubrum by Keith Eldred

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RUBRUM: A novel retelling of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by [Keith Eldred]

Many authors have written what are deemed “retellings” of fairy tales. Instead, Keith Eldred chose to write a “retelling” of a well-known classic Christmas story, A Christmas Carol. Mr. Eldred has created a more modern setting.

Evan Easter is a loner with an abusive past. He is a loner who receives a visitor who hasn’t walked the earth in years, as well as a couple other visitors from beyond the grave. He also receives a summons that causes him to fear for a child he has never met.

Keith Eldred writes in the style of the classic authors, and in Rubrum, he moves the reader back and forth from present to past and back again, and occasionally hops from one character’s head to another’s without warning. Evan Easter is a very likeable character who gains the reader’s sympathy from the start. Mr. Eldred gives a very clear picture of Evan’s life, both past and present, which, at times, seems to draw the story out. Evan’s life is filled with hurt, misery, and loneliness, but he has chosen the loneliness.

Despite his tragic, lonely life, Evan has a very caring heart, so when he is summoned and told of a situation in the life of a child he has never met, he fears for the child. Evan is a man of great and deep thought. He thinks long and hard about everything before he chooses whether or not to act.

Rubrum is the story of a likeable character, and though the ending isn’t really sad, readers who want happy endings may be disappointed. But whether you want a happy ending or can be satisfied with an ending that isn’t really sad, Rubrum is worth reading just to get to know Evan Easter because he’s a remarkable character that everyone can relate to in one way or another, and he has a message for all of us.

Rubrum is different from any other book I have ever read, and Evan Easter will live long in my memory. Rubrum’s genre is listed as Psychological Literary Fiction. And though it’s very different from A Christmas Carol, I believe Evan and Scrooge may have some things in common. However, I believe Keith Eldred gives us a much deeper psychological look at Evan Easter than Charles Dickens offered of Scrooge.

If you are a reader who likes unique characters and stories that will give you things to think about long after you turn the last page and close the book, I suggest you read Rubrum by Keith Eldred.

I give Rubrum by Keith Eldred 4 stars.

FREE for 5 Days! Get Your Copy NOW!

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Here it is — the opportunity I told you about, to get Clean Fiction Magazine for FREE!

You only have 5 days to do it, so don’t wait! You’re bound to find some great gift ideas for the readers in your life!