Book 2 in the Series.

This is the second book in Anne Rice's series about Christ. (Thus the name.) Anne Rice is most famous for a very different kind of book. She became found the Lord after her husband died. Since then she has started this highly researched historical novel series. I just finished the second book. It took longer to get into than the first one but was well worth the effort of sticking with it. I would recommend reading both.

...After Twilight

I was in a book depression after finishing Eclipse. I had a miserable time trying to get into another book. This was this first book that I finished "post Twilight". It is a wonderful true story of a woman and her travels. Jen Minor was a little put off by the beginning where the author just leaves her marriage. I want to stress that this is not what the book is about and the author talks about how difficult her divorce was for her. But more than that it is about her trying to find God and love in all parts of the world.
Please read it.

Mark of the Lion

Soooooooo, I'll just start with this series . . . There are three books here in this volume: A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn. I have a couple of things to say about this series.

1) Ever since I've finished these books, I've been in a book depression. Really. Nothing and I mean NOTHING has compared (especially to the first two) to these books. 2) My friends and I talked about Hadasseh and Atretes like you all talk about Jacob and Edward (who, I look forward to meeting when I can get my hands on your Twilight series . . .aren't you all envious that I get to read them for the FIRST time???) and 3) These books are full of history (so you're learning), faith (challenged while your being entertained) and action (so you can stay awake since the only time you have to read is all the kiddos are in bed) while reading them. You'll need to prepare yourself for some blood and gore during the first couple of chapters, but HANG IN THERE - you won't regret it. Well, maybe when you kids are screaming for dinner and your husband comes home and your heart is being so torn by Hadasseh that you feel nothing for the REAL people in your life, like your sweet family.

Here's the synopsis of the books:

#1 A Voice in the Wind: This first book in the classic best-selling Mark of the Lion series brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a character they will never forget--Hadassah. The year is 70 AD. Hadassah has been captured at the fall of Jerusalem. Taken to Rome, she is bought to serve the Valerian family. The Valerians are having their own problems. Decimus, the father, is very traditional, yet his children, Marcus and Julia, embrace all the decadence Rome has to offer. Hadassah wants to share her faith in Jesus the Messiah with this family, but she cannot find the courage to do so. Meanwhile, Atretes has been captured in Germany and taken to Rome as a gladiator. As their lives intertwine, they will all face problems that will challenge who they are and what they believe.

#2 An Echo in the Darkness: Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.

#3 As Sure As the Dawn: Atretes. German warrior. Revered gladiator. He won his freedom through his fierceness . . . but his life is about to change forever. ** I don't think this one is as good as the first two in the series, but still good.

I can't say that it was worth the time.

This book was okay. The lady at the library recommended it to me. And I had just told her to read Twilight, so in the spirit of mutual book recommendations, I thought I would give it a try.
It is about a family that is messed up like any other. The characters are all well developed. A former white mayor, his dead wife and ruined career. His estranged biological son and his beloved adopted black sons. A run in with their birth mother and their birth sister. It is all set in Boston so I found some of the references interesting because I used to live there.
It was interesting enough but with so many other books out there to read I don't think I can give it my whole heart recommendation.

Harry Potter- J.K. Rowling

I'm a little confused as to why this book has gotten no mention on any blogs thus far. A book of fantasy, it is written very well (all 7 of them) and keeps you excited and intrigued the whole time. Strongly recommended to anyone who has not read them, and anyone who has read them I'm sure will recommend them also.

Ok...so if you liked Twilight you might like this book by Elizabeth Kostova. It is a pretty interesting read full of history and scary vampires in a cool way.

If any of you read it let me know if you like it or not.

Thank you Candis for inviting me to be a part of your blog!

The Captain's Bride by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Lisa Tawn's book had the unfortunate experience of being read by me while I was waiting for Eclipse to show up at the library. When Eclipse did show up, I read both books at the same time, but Lisa Tawn's was read more out of obligation than deep interest. I have to give this book more credit than that, though. It was a good story with some good characters. However, I found the story to be somewhat predictable (i.e. I knew which characters were going to die, etc.). Still, I liked it enough to get the second book in the series (which I liked far less than the first), and I even got the third one this week (which is already better than the second). They definitely aren't page turners, but they're cool if you like seafaring action and strong female characters. A female sea-captain is a neat idea. --Kelly

Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs

This book is fabulous. It's one of three and all three are amazing. They take place in Scotland during the 1700's, and the twist is that they are a retelling of a Biblical story. It's so cool how Higgs weaves in the story but makes it unique as well. Speaking of bawling your eyes out, I did my share of that with this series. --Kelly

Need a good cry?

I hesitate to recommend this book. I bawled my eyes out all the way through. I started it on Friday night and finished it on Sunday afternoon. On Monday morning my eyes were still puffy. But, I wanted to put up something new since others have been too "shy" to put in a book Posting. Go ahead girls... -Candis

First of All...

I am just going to get us started with everyone's favorite. Plus, I am wondering if any of us want to get a quick fix by making comments about it. I miss Edward!!! - Candis