All Father by Koos Verkaik

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

Peter Jonker has special gifts at his disposal. As a provoked, frightened child, he has come under the spell of master painter Poolman and his evocative, terrifying canvases. Poolman has spun gory tales about Wodan, god of the Germanic tribes, and the fearless Scandinavian berserkers. And now it seems Peter has seen the magic truth behind those sagas. In his agony he discovers unknown talents, and soon it is said he has the possession of immortal powers! Haunted by the fantasies of his youth, the adult Peter is going downhill, and in his vulnerable state strangers intervene trying to reach their own dubious goals by taking advantage of him. Wodan is looking for him and wants him to join the Army of the Dead - Berserkers who carry death and destruction... Peter's life becomes a choking nightmare. Is he responsible for the death of four people, or being set up by unknown forces? Brought under hypnosis, the horrible truth may come out... Koos Verkaik, born in Bolnes, near Rotterdam, is a prolific Dutch author of fantasy, science fiction and horror - a master at creating sensational work full of magic, horror, mystery and adventure! At the age of 16, Koos published the comic Scotty Clay in weekly Sjors, four pages every week. At 18, he wrote his first science fiction thriller, ADOLAR, during one weekend. He now he has over sixty titles in publication. After meeting Bill Thompson, editor of both Stephen King and John Grisham, in the USA, Thompson became very enthusiastic about the work of Verkaik, working together with Koos on several manuscripts. Sarah Book Publishing is proud to be chosen to publish Verkaik's All Father!

My Thoughts:

Peter Jonker has a gift. There are those out there who would take advantage of him and his gift for their benefit. As a young boy he was told the stories of Woden, god of the Germanic tribes. Now this god is hunting him? What is the purpose? Is it good or evil. There are murders. Is Peter responsible? All of these are questions you will find answers to when you read this fast paced book. The adventures just keep rolling in until suddenly you find yourself at the end asking, “Did I really just read that?” One thing I’ve noticed is that with this author we get a look at the gods of other cultures that we here in America may not be familiar with. I think it is this thirst for knowledge that has made his books so appealing to me.

I’ll Always Be With You by Violetta Armour

Genre: Adult, Realistic Fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

If you are looking for a great book, one that will tug at your heartstrings then look no further. This is a story that could have been ripped right out of the headlines. It is told through three points of view. First we have Teddy, the son and survivor of a horrible accident. He is dealing with survivor’s guilt because  he was at the wheel when a drunk driver hit them killing his father. Then we have his mother Mary who is trying to hold it all together for the sake of her three children, help her son “deal” with the accident while feeling she is being guided by her husband to make decisions that will affect them all. Finally there is  Rosetta, the girlfriend from the past, a past that frowned on blacks and whites dating.  All three of them deal with grief in their own way.

There are several things I found amusing. Whenever Teddy comes upon a situation he immediately sees a headline.  His first friend is a girl he has to share a locker with. Mindy is very unusual. She had one best friend who moved away. She remembers the weirdest, random facts and they seem to pop out  at the most inopportune times. But Mindy really was a character I loved.

The author did a great job of showing realistically how death can tear a family apart, while at the same time showing that it doesn’t mean we lose our memories of the one who died. She also showed the process  that grief takes and how it is different for each person. The steps to getting back on their feet and learning to live life again was so realistic.  I have only one warning for you. Do NOT go into this book without a box of tissues.  This is a great way to start off my new year of reading. Definitely a book I will recommend to everyone. There are life lessons for all. It is such a clean read that I believe it is a book I will put on my shelves at school, because it seems every year I find one student who experiences a death in their family and maybe what they learn by reading Teddy’s side of the story will help them. 

A New Kind of Battle by Elizabeth A. Patterson

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Middle Grade
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

Come on, Henry said, stepping up onto the window ledge. Estelle is right. We can't let anything happen to Sersha. Henry s bravery encouraged her and she nodded her head as he jumped. She watched his wings become visible, spreading wide as he sailed through the air. Climbing onto the ledge Haley jumped after him. It has been a while since teenage twins Henry and Haley Miles moved to the Bonner homestead in Idaho, stumbled onto a map and key, and discovered a portal into another world filled with fairies, magic, and danger that eventually led them to uncover the mystery behind a long-held legend. Now fairy Princess Sersha is trapped on the wrong side of the portal and her brother, Prince Valian, is injured and unable to leave the city of Roan. After the twins are visited by Estelle, a witch, who tells them they must protect Princess Sersha at all costs, the four return to Roan through her postern. As soon as they arrive at Hilda s brick cottage, the twins learn that Prince Valian is healing, but that the land of Wisen has been overrun by strange occurrences. Its creatures are going berserk and fights are abundant. As they begin to investigate, Haley discovers she is competing with Prince Valian s callous nurse for his attention, even while she is being pursued by a dark, handsome sorcerer. Worse yet, now Queen Lilia has disappeared. As the famous foursome split up in search of the missing queen, they are forced to embark on a journey into unknown territory as love, jealously, rage, and humor leave their mark upon the fairies. "

My Thoughts:

Haley and Henry are twins who find themselves going back through a portal to Roan. They are going back to check on Prince Valian who was injured. Hayley had feelings for the prince and was sure he had feelings for her. However, his nurse seems to be getting in the way. Things are changing quickly for the fairies. If you are looking for a quick paced book to read that is full of adventure then this is definitely the book for you. It picks up where the previous one left off. Definitely a great book to start off your new year of reads