Faith Through the Hard Times

Right or Wrong

 In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.

Ben Ross grew up a farmer's son and has nothing to his name but his Harvard education. A poor country lawyer, he doesn't see how he'll be able to fulfill his promise to make his father proud of him. When family friends introduce him to the Smith family, he's drawn to quick-witted Susanna but knows her family expects her to marry well. When Susanna's decision to help an innocent woman no matter the cost crosses with Ben's growing disillusionment with their British rulers, the two find themselves bound together in what quickly becomes a very dangerous fight for justice.

At first glance, this book followed the plot of wealthy ladies and a poor country boy. But when you meet Susanna and her thoughts of compassion, readers are drawn to admire her kindness and her view to do right. 

I really admired the character of Susanna, in which she tries to do right by her servants in her own home and reaching out to save someone else who have been wrongfully accused and wronged.

I can't really say too much more, or else I might give away the suspense of the book.

If you want to read it, you will have to wait until Sept. 15th because that is when it is published. But if you're like me, and you like reading books that haven't even been published to the public yet, join the program at:
Booksneeze.com.

City on Fire

As Vesuvius churns, a slave girl-turned-gladiator joins forces with an unlikely source to seek justice.

In the coastal town of Pompeii, a new gladiator prepares to fight. But this gladiator hides a deadly secret: she’s a runaway Jewish slave girl named Ariella, disguised as a young boy. A savvy fighter, Ariella determines to triumph in the arena, knowing her life will be forfeit should anyone uncover the truth.

Cato, a wealthy politician, moved to Pompeii after tiring of the corruption in Rome. But he soon learns that Pompeii is just as corrupt, and if he doesn’t play the game, his family could pay the price. Determined to bring about justice for the citizens of Pompeii, Cato searches for allies. But what he discovers instead is a confounding group of Christians . . . and a young female gladiator whose fame is growing daily.

Political unrest reaches a boiling point as Christians are jailed and executed, and the mountain in the distance threatens to destroy the city with its river of fire. Cato and Ariella must act quickly and courageously to save their loved ones before all is lost.

I waited for this book for so long after hearing and reading the summary of this book. Plus, it didn't help that the girl on the cover has an uncanny resemblance to someone I know. This book was really good. I was drawn into the plot and the whole story.

I can see myself in this girl. Even from a young age, whenever someone said I couldn't do something because I was too young or because I'm a girl, I would try to prove them wrong. Even when educators said no, I still try to prove them wrong.

So when I read about Arielle, I knew I wanted to know her story. I will gladly recommend this book to all the readers who like me have been pushed down in status, either because of their gender, race or their age by others who think themselves superior.

I got this advance copy from: Booksneeze.

It doesn't actually come out until Sept. 17th, 2013. 

Look to Jesus!

Everything!

This Week

Stranded

When Her Friend Goes Missing,
Every Minute Counts
Darcy St. James returns to Alaska to join a journalist friend undercover on the trail of a big story. But when Darcy arrives, she finds her friend has disappeared. Troubled by the cruise ship's vague explanation, Darcy uses her cover as a travel reporter to investigate further.

The last person Gage McKenna expects to see during his summer aboard a cruise ship leading adventure excursions is Darcy. And in typical Darcy fashion, she's digging up more trouble.

He'd love to just forget her--but something won't let him. And he can't help but worry about her as they are heading into more remote regions of Alaska and eventually into foreign waters. Something sinister is going on, and the deeper they push, the more Gage fears they've only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

I loved this book more than the 2nd book in the series: Shattered! But I would still recommend reading the second book before reading the 3rd book, so you would get to know the characters and the relationships between them.

The plot was so enticing and enriching. I could not put this book down after reading the prologue. I was totally sucked into the book. I wanted to know what was happening and who was behind it all.

The book was good because it gave no hints to the main suspect, until the author wanted to reveal it to you. I guessed wrong too because the characters were really good in covering it all up.

I highly recommend reading this book. After I read the last page, I was still pumped with the adrenaline from the climax of the plot.