Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix
In Lamorlaye, France there is a castle with a history that began in the 1940s and is about to be unearthed.
American Marshall Becker is at the top of his game professionally as his restoration business is going international. Personally Becker has never been lower. To fight his demons he's turned to alcohol and shut himself off from the world.
Becker finds himself completely out of his element as he works against the clock to restore the castle before the deadline Fallon, the owner gave him. The work isn't a problem. It is the presence of Fallon's twin six year olds and their nanny, Jade. Along for the ride is the interior designer, Therese, and a recluse who lives on the property, Jojo. Soon his drinking becomes in obstacle in getting his work done as well as a mysterious visitor who searches the castle at night.
Challenging him along the way is Jade. The energetic nanny with a unique outlook on life. She's pushing him to be kinder and face the alcohol problems. Her perspective on life increasingly aggravates him and then breaks him as he learns of the motivation behind her outlook.
As renovations continue, secrets are uncovered. There is a tie to the 1940s that is clear from the beginning. If you know history, then you understand the significance of the dates. WWII is underway and the castle in France has been occupied by Nazis. Soon history becomes present as an event 60+ years in the making happens.
I enjoyed Tangled Ashes, Phoenix wove an interesting tale. The main character in the story was the castle. She presented it beautifully, making me want to visit France and bypass the Eiffel Tower for Lamorlaye.
I must admit I was more intrigued with the WWII portion of the story. Despite seeing where it was headed early on, Phoenix kept me interested in the journey to get there. The modern day story was good. Becker is a hard man to like even as a fictional character. His growth came slowly and really it wasn't a marked growth by the end of the book.
As a personal taste - I could have done without the multiple paragraphs on the nightmares Becker was having. I'm not a fan most of the time of detailing dreams or nightmares. Many authors try to ambiguously haunt their characters in an effort to drive up the drama. As a reader this is infuriating. Phoenix may have hidden clues to Becker's demons in the nightmares, but I took to skimming them.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Deployed
Deployed by Mel Odom.
This is the first book I've read by Odom. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
Bekah Shaw is a Marine reservist. She's a single mother trying to make a better life for Travis. Unfortunately life isn't making it easy for her. An altercation with a drunk friend of her ex-husband drops her into trouble with the law. Her trial is delayed when she is given orders.
Heath Bridger is fighting to free himself from the shadows of his father. Heath followed his father in the family business and is a successful lawyer. He is also a Marine reservist who is called away in the middle of a case in which he is trying to save a man from Death Row.
Rageh Daud was trying to live a peaceful life. He'd walked away from the violent life his father had groomed him for. The death of his wife and son hurdle him back into the lifestyle he was comfortable with. With renewed vigor Rageh builds an army to stand against the militia taking over Mogadishu.
There is another character that we meet in the beginning. I remember his name being Pike. Is that first or last? I don't know. He appeared to have an interesting story but we were introduced to him and he made fringe appearances before disappearing.
Odom writes a great military story. I've recently read three autobiographies of military men. They were each fascinating reads. Odom captured the action of war with the same ease as these men. He broke into more detail and at times that had me skipping a paragraph or two.
However, Odom missed his mark when it came to fleshing out the stories of each character. As I mentioned Pike has what I would say is a very interesting back story. I would have loved to have learned more or seen it at work more within Deployed. It was as though Pike was there but he wasn't. Which is odd given the amount of time we spent being introduced to him. The end of the book came rather abruptly by the time the story started rolling. I'm hoping his second book in the Called to Serve series picks it up, but I haven't read a synopsis for it.
The theme of Deployed is peace. Bringing peace in the midst of war and finding peace within yourself. While Odom doesn't dig too deep there are lessons to be taken from the book.
The story within Deployed belonged to Bekah Shaw and Rageh Daud. However, we were thoroughly introduced to some other characters all which now have large question marks above their heads. As well as the fate of Rageh Daud.
Odom writes military action with ease. I felt transported over there as easily as if I was watching Black Hawk Down. I'll be looking for the second book because I want to know what Bekah, Heath, and Pike are up to.
This is the first book I've read by Odom. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
Bekah Shaw is a Marine reservist. She's a single mother trying to make a better life for Travis. Unfortunately life isn't making it easy for her. An altercation with a drunk friend of her ex-husband drops her into trouble with the law. Her trial is delayed when she is given orders.
Heath Bridger is fighting to free himself from the shadows of his father. Heath followed his father in the family business and is a successful lawyer. He is also a Marine reservist who is called away in the middle of a case in which he is trying to save a man from Death Row.
Rageh Daud was trying to live a peaceful life. He'd walked away from the violent life his father had groomed him for. The death of his wife and son hurdle him back into the lifestyle he was comfortable with. With renewed vigor Rageh builds an army to stand against the militia taking over Mogadishu.
There is another character that we meet in the beginning. I remember his name being Pike. Is that first or last? I don't know. He appeared to have an interesting story but we were introduced to him and he made fringe appearances before disappearing.
Odom writes a great military story. I've recently read three autobiographies of military men. They were each fascinating reads. Odom captured the action of war with the same ease as these men. He broke into more detail and at times that had me skipping a paragraph or two.
However, Odom missed his mark when it came to fleshing out the stories of each character. As I mentioned Pike has what I would say is a very interesting back story. I would have loved to have learned more or seen it at work more within Deployed. It was as though Pike was there but he wasn't. Which is odd given the amount of time we spent being introduced to him. The end of the book came rather abruptly by the time the story started rolling. I'm hoping his second book in the Called to Serve series picks it up, but I haven't read a synopsis for it.
The theme of Deployed is peace. Bringing peace in the midst of war and finding peace within yourself. While Odom doesn't dig too deep there are lessons to be taken from the book.
The story within Deployed belonged to Bekah Shaw and Rageh Daud. However, we were thoroughly introduced to some other characters all which now have large question marks above their heads. As well as the fate of Rageh Daud.
Odom writes military action with ease. I felt transported over there as easily as if I was watching Black Hawk Down. I'll be looking for the second book because I want to know what Bekah, Heath, and Pike are up to.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Rescue Team
Rescue Team by Candace Calvert
Kate Callison has a habit of running away. This time she has run into a firestorm as the interim director of Grace Hospital's ER. Kate built impenetrable walls that she is determined will stand. The death of a newborn won't break them. The emergence of her distant father won't crack them. The kidnapping of an infant won't tumble them. The affection of a cute cowboy won't soften them. She's stepped into a maelstrom in the ER as she's filling in for the missing Sunni. The lovable, compassionate, kind Sunni who was beloved by staff and who Kate will never be a decent replacement for.
Wes Tanner is a volunteer with Search and Rescue. He's a kind-hearted cowboy that every girl dreams about except Kate. Despite her attempts at remaining a good distance from him, life keeps putting them together. Wes might actually scale those walls Kate built, until tragedy brings about the truth of her painful past. Can Wes forgive Kate for the one sin that he has deemed unforgiveable?
Rescue Team continues Calvert's skilled writing of the trauma, tragedy, and excitement of an ER. She mixes life outside the doors of an ER and the battle for life within the doors. Rescue Team had perhaps my favorite underlying theme. Do we draw lines and declare that certain actions/decisions/sins/mistakes are unforgiveable? Can we place ourselves in someone else's shoes and see their heart? Are we capable of the compassion necessary to look beyond the actual act and see the brokeness/confusion/pain/helplessness that often leads to those actions?
I really enjoyed Rescue Team because the message was one that I've been mulling over recently. It is so easy to draw a line in the sand and claim a side, however sometimes that line gets washed away with the tide and we need to be prepared to step over it.
Kate Callison has a habit of running away. This time she has run into a firestorm as the interim director of Grace Hospital's ER. Kate built impenetrable walls that she is determined will stand. The death of a newborn won't break them. The emergence of her distant father won't crack them. The kidnapping of an infant won't tumble them. The affection of a cute cowboy won't soften them. She's stepped into a maelstrom in the ER as she's filling in for the missing Sunni. The lovable, compassionate, kind Sunni who was beloved by staff and who Kate will never be a decent replacement for.
Wes Tanner is a volunteer with Search and Rescue. He's a kind-hearted cowboy that every girl dreams about except Kate. Despite her attempts at remaining a good distance from him, life keeps putting them together. Wes might actually scale those walls Kate built, until tragedy brings about the truth of her painful past. Can Wes forgive Kate for the one sin that he has deemed unforgiveable?
Rescue Team continues Calvert's skilled writing of the trauma, tragedy, and excitement of an ER. She mixes life outside the doors of an ER and the battle for life within the doors. Rescue Team had perhaps my favorite underlying theme. Do we draw lines and declare that certain actions/decisions/sins/mistakes are unforgiveable? Can we place ourselves in someone else's shoes and see their heart? Are we capable of the compassion necessary to look beyond the actual act and see the brokeness/confusion/pain/helplessness that often leads to those actions?
I really enjoyed Rescue Team because the message was one that I've been mulling over recently. It is so easy to draw a line in the sand and claim a side, however sometimes that line gets washed away with the tide and we need to be prepared to step over it.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Fifteen years as an adult
Fifteen years ago today I graduated from high school. I don't believe I am old enough for this.
It is funny to think how I would have planned my life out if given the chance. I'm positive it wouldn't have taken the path it did. I am eternally grateful for the path it took even if I've complained some through the years.
My graduation speech was written by a naive 17 year old who felt the anticipation of a plethora of opportunities ahead of her and the confusion of which one would be the right choice. The only right path was the one that I embarked on. I remember contemplating my potential career paths. Penciled in by my ten year reunion would have been a wedding and a couple of kids. Life certainly didn't happen that way.
On Monday I'll begin again. I'll be starting a new full-time, permanent job. The first since I was laid off nearly a year ago. This moment is eerily similar to the one that occurred out of high school. I jumped on an opportunity and waited to see where what adventures it would take me on. This job is much like the opportunity that presented itself to me out of high school. I didn't exactly see it coming but I'm eager to see where it will take me.
In the meantime I'm comforting myself with the fact that I don't feel like I've been out of high school 15 years. I've crossed that line from young adulthood to adult, but I still feel like the kid who is anxious to see what dreams will come true and which ones will be replaced with something better.
What is making me feel a bit old is that my niece has completed KG. Yeah, I am still trying to wrap my head around that.
It is funny to think how I would have planned my life out if given the chance. I'm positive it wouldn't have taken the path it did. I am eternally grateful for the path it took even if I've complained some through the years.
My graduation speech was written by a naive 17 year old who felt the anticipation of a plethora of opportunities ahead of her and the confusion of which one would be the right choice. The only right path was the one that I embarked on. I remember contemplating my potential career paths. Penciled in by my ten year reunion would have been a wedding and a couple of kids. Life certainly didn't happen that way.
On Monday I'll begin again. I'll be starting a new full-time, permanent job. The first since I was laid off nearly a year ago. This moment is eerily similar to the one that occurred out of high school. I jumped on an opportunity and waited to see where what adventures it would take me on. This job is much like the opportunity that presented itself to me out of high school. I didn't exactly see it coming but I'm eager to see where it will take me.
In the meantime I'm comforting myself with the fact that I don't feel like I've been out of high school 15 years. I've crossed that line from young adulthood to adult, but I still feel like the kid who is anxious to see what dreams will come true and which ones will be replaced with something better.
What is making me feel a bit old is that my niece has completed KG. Yeah, I am still trying to wrap my head around that.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Take A Chance On Me
Take A Chance On Me by Susan May Warren. Part of the Deep Haven series.
Darek Christiansen has a history in the small town of Deep Haven. He is a widower. His wife, Felicity, was killed in a vehicle accident by his best friend, Jensen Atwood. All Darek wants is to save his family's resort and raise his son, Tiger, without ever having to encounter Jensen.
Assistant district attorney, Ivy Madison, has moved to Deep Haven looking to find somewhere she can finally put down roots. She hasn't had anything resembling a home that she can remember. In an effort to integrate herself into small town life in Deep Haven, she buys Darek in a charity bachelor auction.
As Ivy begins to settle into her new home, she is caught between the justice her job demands of her and her feelings for Darek. Anger and blame are forcing everyone in Darek's life into two separate corners. There are those who blame Jensen for Felicity's death and there are those who blame Darek. Ivy's pivotal role in Jensen's plea bargain could force her out of Darek's life. Darek's anger could force Tiger to be removed from his custody.
Take A Chance On Me is a love story. The typical elements of a romantic love story are present but at the heart of this story is the beauty of God's love. Jensen Atwood is a murderer. Darek Christiansen hasn't forgiven Jensen and is swift to anger. Ivy Madison believes that she is incapable of being loved. They each forge the battle of deserving God's love versus receiving God's love.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the insistence that God loves us regardless of how we come to him. He doesn't love us because we've redeemed ourselves. He redeems us because He loves us. When you take a chance on loving someone romantically, you are risking that at some point in time you won't meet their expectations. When God loves He loves us as we are. He'll meet us where we are at, cover us with His grace, and walk beside us as we traverse life.
Susan May Warren crafts fictional tales that really drive home the principles that Scripture has laid out.
Darek Christiansen has a history in the small town of Deep Haven. He is a widower. His wife, Felicity, was killed in a vehicle accident by his best friend, Jensen Atwood. All Darek wants is to save his family's resort and raise his son, Tiger, without ever having to encounter Jensen.
Assistant district attorney, Ivy Madison, has moved to Deep Haven looking to find somewhere she can finally put down roots. She hasn't had anything resembling a home that she can remember. In an effort to integrate herself into small town life in Deep Haven, she buys Darek in a charity bachelor auction.
As Ivy begins to settle into her new home, she is caught between the justice her job demands of her and her feelings for Darek. Anger and blame are forcing everyone in Darek's life into two separate corners. There are those who blame Jensen for Felicity's death and there are those who blame Darek. Ivy's pivotal role in Jensen's plea bargain could force her out of Darek's life. Darek's anger could force Tiger to be removed from his custody.
Take A Chance On Me is a love story. The typical elements of a romantic love story are present but at the heart of this story is the beauty of God's love. Jensen Atwood is a murderer. Darek Christiansen hasn't forgiven Jensen and is swift to anger. Ivy Madison believes that she is incapable of being loved. They each forge the battle of deserving God's love versus receiving God's love.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the insistence that God loves us regardless of how we come to him. He doesn't love us because we've redeemed ourselves. He redeems us because He loves us. When you take a chance on loving someone romantically, you are risking that at some point in time you won't meet their expectations. When God loves He loves us as we are. He'll meet us where we are at, cover us with His grace, and walk beside us as we traverse life.
Susan May Warren crafts fictional tales that really drive home the principles that Scripture has laid out.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
I wasn't dropping no eaves.
Perhaps one of my favorite lines from LOTR. I love the play on words and the innocence of Sam.
Today while helping someone out, I read something they had written about me. It was very sweet and a confidence booster. They've eluded to these thoughts before but never really voiced them to the extreme that they wrote them. It was encouraging given that I start a new job on Monday.
Oh yeah. I start a new job on Monday!
I'm stoked about this. After the lay off and months of unemployment and temping and yadda yadda yadda, I thought this day might never come. It has arrived though! Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
In the meantime there are some other things going on that prevent me from completely celebrating this good news. I'm still processing and can't really write about it because I'm not sure how everything is going to go down. At this point only God knows and time will tell. I'm holding on to this verse that was part of the Proverbs 31 devotional today. If you are looking for a good daily devotional, I highly recommend Proverbs 31. They bring wonderful words of encouragement and spirit checks to your email. They are also on all those wonderful social media sites that keep us all connected.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)
Today while helping someone out, I read something they had written about me. It was very sweet and a confidence booster. They've eluded to these thoughts before but never really voiced them to the extreme that they wrote them. It was encouraging given that I start a new job on Monday.
Oh yeah. I start a new job on Monday!
I'm stoked about this. After the lay off and months of unemployment and temping and yadda yadda yadda, I thought this day might never come. It has arrived though! Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
In the meantime there are some other things going on that prevent me from completely celebrating this good news. I'm still processing and can't really write about it because I'm not sure how everything is going to go down. At this point only God knows and time will tell. I'm holding on to this verse that was part of the Proverbs 31 devotional today. If you are looking for a good daily devotional, I highly recommend Proverbs 31. They bring wonderful words of encouragement and spirit checks to your email. They are also on all those wonderful social media sites that keep us all connected.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)
Monday, June 3, 2013
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