Rise of the Fallen

Back Cover:A six thousand year war rages and now the demonic Fallen are coming for him—the one man shrouded in mystery. Only Validus stands in their way.
Validus is the last and least of God’s angels, but he’s seen much across the millennia since his creation. Empires have risen and fallen as angelic and demonic forces battle in a raging war that will determine humanity's fate – and the fate of his defeated brothers.
Eventually called to be an earth-bound warrior, Validus rises to a position of power and respect, commanding legions of angels through impossible battles and overwhelming odds. But when orders arrive from the Creator's most elite Messenger, he finds himself suddenly demoted to a task of apparent insignificance considering the fierce war they are waging against the demonic Fallen – the covert protection of one unbelieving man. 
Validus soon finds himself on a mission that will push him beyond his abilities as he battles to protect Drew Carter, for the Fallen are coming for him. Legions of them. 
As Validus races against time to discover why Drew is so important to humanity's survival, can he stand between Drew and all who would destroy him?

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I just love Chuck Black's books. So when I saw I could get his new book I jumped at the chance. (Again) :)
In the first book, the story is shown through the eyes of Drew Carter, who, after an accident, was able to see the spiritual realms of angels and demons. In this second book of the Wars of the Realm series, you see the story from the perspective of Validus, an angel who is sent to protect Drew from the fallen angels. As Validus struggles to understand God's plan for humanity, and why Drew is so important, you get to see "behind the scenes" of what Drew Carter is only beginning to see, and understand.

I really enjoyed this book, though with each chapter switching from the past to the present, it sometimes was confusing. Chuck Black did a great job writing this book, and I really enjoyed how realistic the fighting was, as the author was once a pilot in the airforce. 
I would definitely recommend the Rise of the Fallen.

I received this book free from Blogging for Books for an honest review.

I would rate this book 9 out of 10 stars. 

The Fire the Revelation and the Fall

Back Cover:Paul’s third missionary journey is underway as he heads to Ephesus where he’ll establish a ministry base for Asia, and as Max, Liz and Nigel work behind the scenes to make vital connections, uncover plots and inspire the formation of a New Testament. Little does Paul realize that his letters to the Philippians, Romans, and Corinthians will become the seminal letters of the Christian faith. Reunited with Dr. Luke, Paul uncovers a plot on his life by the Jews yet boldly travels on to Jerusalem where he is arrested and imprisoned in Caesarea for two years. Luke takes advantage of this time to interview Mary, John and other eyewitnesses of Jesus to capture in his journalthe greatest story ever told. All the while murder plots and power struggles abound in Rome with the rise of the infamous Nero as emperor.

When Paul finally appeals to Caesar before Governor Festus, so begins a treacherous voyage to Rome and a surprising encounter with the next generation of the Roman family of Antonius, Julius the Roman
Centurion. After months at sea and a harrowing shipwreck on Malta, Paul arrives in Rome yet must spend two years under house arrest before his trial before Emperor Nero. Julius arranges for his brother
Theophilus to be Paul’s legal counsel in Rome, and Luke writes two letters (Luke and Acts) to help him prepare Paul’s case. Hope abounds when Nero releases Paul and drops the charges of the Jews. He is finally free to continue his mission to spread the good news of Jesus. But the Enemy has other plans, and manifests once more as the evil lion Lucifer to come after the Christians. A wave of persecution sweeps across the
Roman Empire as believers are forced underground and face horrific death through Nero’s cruel whims or in the arena with lions. Peter and Paul are finally arrested and sentenced to death in Rome, but not before they write several last letters to strengthen the church. Nero’s excesses spell his doom, and a new era of emperors is ushered in with the rise of the Flavian Dynasty. With the rise of Domitian comes increased  persecution of the church and the exile of John on Patmos. He laments being the last remaining disciple but his hope is restored by the Revelation and release from Patmos.

This heart-gripping, action-packed adventure concludes a two-book saga that brings to life the events of Acts and the birth of Christianity while showing how each book of the New Testament came to be.

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This book is one of my favorites. Jenny has done another wonderful job weaving the story of the New Testament, and bringing it to life. I feel like I'm right there as Paul is writing his letters to the church, and how the Fire is spread throughout the world. This book holds so much within it's pages, and shows you what it's like to follow Christ. 

I would encourage everyone to read this book. You won't be able to put this book down, and I am sure you'll have quite an adventure.

I would rate this book 10 out of 10 stars.

The Wind the Road and the Way

                             
                                 

This post is long overdue. Sorry for the long delay...
Back Cover: Eleven terrified disciples cower in the Upper Room, wondering what is to become of them. Jesus is dead, crucified on a cruel Roman cross. It’s only a matter of time before the Jewish leaders come after them to crush what their self-proclaimed" Messiah started with ‘The Way’ movement. Little do these men know that soon they will boldly turn the world upside down as they fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission. A self-righteous, model Pharisee named Saul sets out on a zealous quest to arrest and murder as many followers of ‘The Way’ as he can, beginning with Stephen. Little does this Christian killer know he’ll soon be stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus to become the greatest Christian that ever lived. Through his pen he’ll prove that no one is beyond hope: ‘if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.

After a brief, joyous reunion with Jesus and the exhilarating arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Order of the Seven animals split up for multiple missions as Christianity explodes onto the world’s stage. Max, Liz and Nigel set off with Paul as he faces beatings, rejection and imprisonment to bring the Good News to the world. Al accompanies his favorite fisherman-turned-Apostle Peter to find the first Gentile convert while creating a perfect secret symbol for the Way. Kate is blessed to protect Mary and John in Jerusalem where the Church gets its start. The team must face a dark, pagan world riddled with false gods, arrange crucial introductions, assist with jail-breaks, and plan risky escapes while overseeing the writing of a New Testament that will inspire and guide believers for centuries to come. But they still find time for fun and games with a monkey named Noah and a lizard named Nate as the Animalympics are born during the human Isthmian Games.

This heart-gripping, action-packed adventure begins a two-book saga that brings to life the events of Acts and the birth of Christianity while showing how each book of the New Testament came to be. The Wind, the Road, and the Way covers Resurrection morning through Paul’s second missionary journey. The Fire, the Revelation and the Fall (2015) completes the events in Acts, Peter and Paul in Rome, Roman Christian persecution in the arena and John’s Revelation on Patmos. Watch the miraculous rise of the Church through the fiery trials sent by an Enemy who will stop at nothing to kill anyone who dares to be called Christian.

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 From Jesus' ascension to Paul's letters you are on an adventure of a lifetime

 Jenny does such an excellent job bringing biblical times to life. Her research is thourough and her creativeness is exciting to read. She is such an amazing person, always enerjetic and taking time with her readers. I would definitely recommend this book, and the sequel coming out in March.

I would rate this book 10 out of 10 stars.

Wild Thing

                 
Back Cover: Twelve-year-old Winnie Willis has a way with horses. She can gentle the wildest mare, but other parts of her life don't always come as easily. Along with her dad and sister, Lizzy, Winnie is learning how to live without her mom, who was also a natural horse gentler. As Winnie teaches her horses about unconditional love and blind trust, God shows Winnie that he can be trusted too. Readers will be hooked on the series' vivid characters, whose quirky personalities fill Winnie's life with friendship and adventure. In #1 "Wild Thing, " Winnie's fearful heart finally begins to trust God again as she tries to gentle the horse of her dreams, Wild Thing.

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As a horse lover and having a younger sister in love with horses, Winnie the Horse Gentler was a great series to read, and for young girls who love horses. I loved reading about Catman and all of Winnie's friends, and the tips they offer through their program at the pet store. 
The first of 8 books, Wild Thing is about Winnie after another hard move to a town where she doesn't know anybody. With her love of horses she soon helps a horse everyone else deems unbreakable and call her "Wild Thing". 
This book is definitely a great read for girls who love horses, and love to read. 

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars

tyndalerewards.com

Runaway

                                   

Back Cover: A new series by Dandi Daley Mackall, author of the best-selling Winnie the Horse Gentler series! "I've run away seven times--never once to anything, just away from. Maybe that's why they call me a "runaway," and not a "run-to."" Meet 16-year-old Dakota Brown. She used to love all things "horse" until she lost everything, including hope. The minute she sets foot on her foster parents' farm--Starlight Animal Rescue--she plans her escape. But can an "impossible" horse named Blackfire and this quirky collection of animal lovers be the home she's always dreamed of? Starlight Animal Rescue: Where problem horses are trained and loved, where abandoned dogs become heroes, where stray cats become loyal companions. And where people with nowhere to fit in find a place to belong.

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Runaway, the first book in the Starlight series, is a series that goes along with the Winnie the Horse Gentler. A foster teen, Dakota, has bounced around the foster system for a while. When she goes to a family who lives on a farm, she immediately plans to run away for good. But the foster family she's with is more than she thought it would be. As the time soon comes, will she go and start over, or stay with the family?
I really enjoyed this book, and I would suggest it to anyone who loves animals and foster families. 

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

tyndalerewards.com

Light in the Wilderness

                                  

Back Cover: Letitia holds nothing more dear than the papers that prove she is no longer a slave. They may not cause white folks to treat her like a human being, but at least they show she is free. She trusts in those words she cannot read--as she is beginning to trust in Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant cattleman who wants her to come west with him.

Nancy Hawkins is loathe to leave her settled life for the treacherous journey by wagon train, but she is so deeply in love with her husband that she knows she will follow him anywhere--even when the trek exacts a terrible cost.

Betsy is a Kalapuya Indian, the last remnant of a once proud tribe in the Willamette Valley in Oregon territory. She spends her time trying to impart the wisdom and ways of her people to her grandson. But she will soon have another person to care for.

As season turns to season, suspicion turns to friendship, and fear turns to courage, three spirited women will discover what it means to be truly free in a land that makes promises it cannot fulfill. This multilayered story from bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick will grip readers' hearts and minds as they travel with Letitia on the dusty and dangerous Oregon trail into the boundless American West.

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I very much enjoyed this book. Though it did get a little confusing at times because there were so many characters that the author showed you. It soon explained itself. 

What drew me to this book was the main character, Letitia, is a newly freed slave, and the characters travel to Oregon, a favorite state of mine. Once I got the book, I was even more excited when I learned it was based on a true story. 

The book was great, exciting, interesting, and was fun to read. As a history lover I really like how Jane Kirkpatrick caught the feelings of the different people, those who are freed slaves, Indians, and pioneers. As well as what it was like to live in the 1800's. Which is rare for certain book that are historical fiction. A great read for those who love books, historical fiction, and a biography in a novel.

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I was given this book free from Revell for an honest review.

Annison's Risk

                                 
Back Cover: A game of hide-and-seek takes Maddy Nicholaivitch to Marus, where she is taken in by a beautiful princess who has just married the conquering king. After overhearing the secret plans of the king's most trusted advisor, Maddy must decide if her loyalty to the princess is worth the price of her life. Based on the biblical story of Esther, "Annison's Risk" takes readers on a journey with a queen who is willing to risk her life in order to save her people. Any fan of Tolkien will appreciate this fantasy story, and with a new cover and interior graphics, it's better than ever!

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One of my favorite series, Passages, brings the Bible to life in a new perspective. In a world called Marus, kids from Odyssey are doing daily activities when they are suddenly transported into another land, with a story similar to our own. Maddy is one of these kids. As Maddy is helping Annison, Marus' new queen, she thinks she is in a fairy tale. But as things become dangerously complicated, she is soon involved in bringing information to the queen that could change the world. Maddy must decide if she will continue to have a child's mind and play games, or a mature perspective to save Marus.

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

tyndalerewards.com