Dragonwitch - Coming Soon!

An Ancient Evil

Long ago, Etanun buried his sword in the depths of the Netherworld then vanished from all known history. One day, it is said, his heir will find the sword, and the Dragonwitch, firstborn of the Dragon King, will be finally slain.

A Desperate Hope

These stories are no more than nursery rhymes. In a world of cold reality, what room is left for fairy tales? Lady Leta of Aiven is pledged to marry a man she does not love . . . sleepless Lord Alistair struggles to unite the stubborn earls of the North Country . . . Mouse is lost, far from home, slaving as a kitchen drudge . . .

. . . and the reclusive Chronicler, keeping the records of Gaheris Castle, bears a secret so dangerous it could cost him his life and plunge the North Country into civil war.

An Impossible Journey

But when nursery rhymes begin to come horribly true, will these unlikely heroes find the strength they need to fulfill a prophecy of fire? For the Dragonwitch lives. And she has vowed vengeance on all who have wronged her.

______

Coming Summer 2013

Tales of Goldstone Wood

Timeless Fantasy that will keep you Spellbound!

(www.anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com)

I Am Second

I am Second is a book containing a number of short stories about people in disparate walks of life who have found themselves challenged by the claims of Jesus Christ and have taken the step of living for him first and foremost, hence putting themselves second. Rock stars, prostitutes, football players, coaches, tv personalities, businessmen, children, and married couples are among those whose lives have been changed by the message of Jesus Christ. Many of the stories are also found in video format at the http://www.iamsecond.com website.

I originally took the 22 day challenge found on the website and looked forward each day to new stories of how Jesus worked in the lives of people. I jumped at the chance to read the book when it came out. Hearing how a cancer victim lives her life in peace, how a daughter and her mother became reconciled, or how a motorcycle accident brought was the harbinger of a positive change in the life of a person are all inspiring stories. The stories are all very different and was great seeing how God gets the attention of people and changes lives.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.  Available now from your favourite bookseller.

Unstuck

Unstuck is written for those Christian living in a dry and weary land, who know there is something more to life, but don't seem to have the promised abundance. It is meant for those for whom the daily devotion is but a drag, Scripture doesn't leap off the page, and the Holy Spirit flutters far away. The book discusses the reasons why we get in a rut, the solution to get out of the rut, and how to grow. Connected with that is a way to help us grow, including encouragement in the form of a phone call, text message, or email. It is not a one-size-fits-all spiritual exercise program, but one tailored to your needs.

I found the book pretty easy to read. Does it accomplish what it set out to? Well, actually that depends on how each reader responds. If you don't engage with God and the Bible, the it didn't work. And it's not for everyone, as it focuses a lot on technology, so more relevant to the younger crowd.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Moonblood

In her new book Moonblood, Anne Elisabeth Stengl continues to tell the story of Lionheart, Red Rose, and other characters introduced in the preceding two books. Lionheart banished Red Rose into the Wilderlands to forestall losing his kingdom, but it doesn't work. Lionheart retreats to the Hill House and eventually goes in search of Red Rose. Meanwhile Red Rose's history is revealed and we find that she is in grave danger: not only her, but much of the world. Only Lionheart can save her, but he must once again choose between himself and someone he loves. Will Red Rose decide to trust her betrayer?

I must admit that halfway through this book I skimmed the last chapters to find out how it ended. It was getting hard to read when things kept getting gloomier. And I'm glad I continued reading, because although things continued to get even gloomier, the end was very positive and I'm once again looking forward to the next book. Stengl has a very vivid imagination, yet, like all good allegories, at the same time conveys a strong message.

Advanced reading copy has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

You're Already Amazing

Holley Gerth sits down with a cup of coffee to chat about your life. She listens, responds, encourages, and even prods a little. At the end of your coffee time, you get up, rested and ready to face a little more of life's challenges. That's what this book is like, written in a friendly style, meant to encourage and help you realize your God-given potential, even pruning a little here to make the good that God gave you stand out. It goes through some of the standard personality styles, but in a more folksy and down-to-earth way. Although I've used a number of personality inventories, I did learn some new things about myself. An easy read, but like good coffee, you can let it mellow and linger as you contemplate your life. Yes, although it is meant for women and all the examples are about women, I did find it useful for me. It gives those of us who serve others the permission to stop for a bit and recharge, find the balance that God wants in our life.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available now at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Veiled Rose

After her first novel Heartless, Anne Elisabeth Stengl continues development of her fantasy world in the second book of the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. This time we are taken to Southlands, a land where we had been briefly in her first book. Leo and his cousin Foxbrush are sent away to a mountain retreat to study over the summer. Leo longs for adventure and finds it, befriending someone shunned by the rest of the world. Masks rule the world, where people are not who they seem to be. Behind it all, evil is lurking.

Although not as pronounced as in her first book, the allegory to Christian life shines forth, with love, truth, and a quest for meaning as themes. There is definitely more of a fantasy element in this book. I didn't enjoyed as much as the first book, probably in part because I already understood some of the allegory. However, I did find it touched me more personally than did the first. And I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series Moonblood.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available now at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Real Marriage

Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife Grace have co-written a novel book about marriage in which they discuss marriage and sex, replete with anecdotes, not meant as voyeuristic but to provide real examples of how once couple worked through marital issues to have a healthier marriage. With a chapter devoted to men written by Mark and another to women written by Grace, the book speaks issues shared by all of us. One important chapter discusses how to work through issues: bitterness, forgiveness, repentance, and fighting for your marriage. Sex is a topic left for its own half of the book, including topics such as the proper place of sex in a marriage, pornography, and a discussion of various types of sexual activity.

I found this to be a very candid book on marriage and sex. I've read a number of these types of books and none are as honest as this. I appreciate the insight the authors provide from their personal lives, as it gives hope to those struggling with their own issues. Yes, this is a good book, one to be read and digested.

Advanced Reader's Copy of the book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.