The Aleppo Code (Jerusalem Prophecies book #3) by Terry Brennan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Kregel Publications book blogger campaign. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  


ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Aleppo Code

Will the code reveal history's most powerful weapon for destruction--or humanity’s only hope? 

The living members of Tom Bohannon's band of adventurers gather again in Jerusalem--physically battered, emotionally exhausted, spiritually challenged, and in various stages of shock--to examine a copy of the tenth-century Aleppo Code, the oldest complete text of Jewish scripture. What the clues inside reveal could lead to the reuniting of the Ark of the Covenant with its true source of power, a weapon that could lead to victory for this ragged bunch trying to save the world. 

Hunted by the relentless assassins of the Prophet's Guard and caught in the web of an international conspiracy plotting the conquest of Europe, Bohannon's team searches the ruins of Ancient Babylon. Their search lands them amid the chaos that engulfs western Iraq, but they must press on to accomplish one of the most pivotal pieces of end-times prophecy. This intrepid group will uncover secrets that require them to risk everything for their faith, their country, and the peace of all mankind. 

Unfolding against the backdrop of an Israeli/U.S. strike against Iran and the planned economic overthrow of the European Union by the sinister, secret head of the international Muslim Brotherhood, The Aleppo Code is a heart-pounding race. Brennan takes an epic story on a grand scale and tells it primarily through the eyes of one man who is desperately trying to save the world as he follows God's purpose for his life. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Website/  Facebook/ Twitter 




The Aleppo Code Book Trailer





Dynamic Uno Here:   Before I go any further, if you have not read book #1-The Sacred Cipher, or book #2-The Brotherhood Conspiracy, please go read them first or you will not understand what is happening in this third installment of the story, nor will you enjoy the plot.  Don't say I didn't warn you...


While still reeling from the deaths of their friends, Tom and his team are still on the run in Jerusalem. While hiding among their new found friends, they learn that their adventure is not quite over.  It seems that there is still a scroll out there whose meaning, once deciphered, will lead to the most powerful weapon in the world--the one that threatens to bring about the end of the world. 

Tom and his companions are being pursued because the Prophet's Guard believe that they know how to decipher the scroll and find the hidden weapon to bring about total world destruction.  With the help of friends around the world, Tom and his group try to stay ahead of their pursuers while trying to break the code to find the staff of Aaron (the greatest weapon in the world).

If you enjoy action and suspense with a little bit of biblical history thrown in, you'll enjoy the Jerusalem Prophecies series by Terry Brennan.  These books are full of well-researched facts that have been interspersed with current events and a bit of imagination.  Welcome to the new age of treasure hunting biblical artifacts!  

Let me know what you think and Happy Reading!

Intersect: Where Your Story and God's Story Converge produced by Rob Peabody and Cris Rogers

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Litfuse Publicity Group book blogger campaign. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  

Intersect DVD (Awaken Movement, July 2015)

Follow the journey of five individuals as they tell authentic stories of circumstances that have forced them to examine how God might fit into their lives.

This five-week small group resource helps spark spiritual conversations. Starting spiritual conversations with those outside of the church is a worthy, yet often difficult and intimidating task. Intersect was designed to help overcome those barriers. It is an easy-to-use resource, perfect for sharing with co-workers, friends, neighbors, and family to enter into meaningful conversations.

Each film is accompanied by thought-provoking questions designed to encourage participants to examine the world in which they live and the life they are pursuing, always ending with a conversation on how Jesus intersects the current topic. Allow this powerful new film resource to engage those you are in relationship with and then propel them forward in their next step with Jesus.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

ABOUT THE PRODUCERS

Rob Peabody left his position as lead campus pastor of a mega-church in Texas in 2011 and moved with his wife, Medea, and their two sons to the U.K. He is now the co-founder and director of Awaken, a non-profit organization that exists to provide resources and creativity to the church and reach Londoners in their 20s and 30s with the Gospel. This work is commissioned by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and in partnership with the Church of England.

Peabody also currently serves as a missional consultant for multiple church networks. He appears regularly at the Spring Harvest conferences in Great Britain and will be leading a new upcoming national U.K. conference for young adults called The Pursuit.

In addition, Peabody has written a small-group film series entitled Kingdom Rise (2013), as well as the book Citizen: Your Role in the Alternative Kingdom (2014).

Connect with Rob Peabody at his online home atawakenmovement.com, like the Awaken Movement onFacebook (awakenmovement) or follow Rob on Twitter(@AwakenRob and @awakenmovement).

Cris Rogers is a writer, pastor, speaker and church visionary. In 2010, Rogers planted a church in the poorest area of London with a dream for it to be an explosion of joy within the tower block estate in which he works.

Follow Cris Rogers on Twitter (@RabbiRogers).

Dynamic Uno here:  Intersect comes with its own Study Guide to help you explore each of the five topics (Expectations, Rest, Disappointment, Trust, and Control) in greater depth with your group.   

Each session starts with a question that relates to the topic and adds another question that helps you delve even deeper into that week's theme.  The videos are fairly short with individuals describing their real-life  situations that pertain to that particular week's topic.  Then, there's a "Bible" story that is told in such a way that the characters come to life to illustrate how God can be sought in each situation.  Afterwards, there is a short passage from the Bible (The Message version) with more discussion questions and a challenge to speculate how this topic can relate to your own life and situation.

I did this study on my own, but I think I would have had a better understanding and gotten a lot more out of it had I participated in a group setting.  I enjoyed the short video clips and answering the questions on each topic.  It really made me think about how I view my circumstances with each of the topics and whether or not God is trying to teach me something as I struggle with each.  

I'm not sure how to use this as a tool for reaching others for Christ, but I do know that using it in a small group would actually open up the conversation for how God works within my own life that I could share with others.

I really like this simple and straight-forward method of sharing how God works through various situations.  This would be a perfect study for those who have limited time, but want to make a connection to others through shared experiences and struggles.  I'll definitely be watching the Awaken Movement to see what else they create to inspire us to become Kingdom bringers in our own communities.

Let me know what you think and Happy Viewing!

The Secret of the Journal: Rope of Sand by C.F. Dunn (book #3)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book for free from the publisher through the Kregel Publications' book  blogger campaign and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


About the Book: (Information taken from the Kregel Publications site)

The third installment of the acclaimed romantic thriller series

This third volume, set in rural Maine’s deep winter, follows the developing relationship between British historian, Emma D’Eresby, and American surgeon, Matthew Lynes. Emma unravels Matthew’s alarming past and begins to comprehend how very different her future might be with a man whose identity must never be revealed.

Emma nervously meets Matthew’s family. She encounters his seventy-year-old son, Henry, and learns how unique the family really is. As Christmas approaches, it is clear that Emma is not welcomed by all: what does Matthew’s great-granddaughter have against her, and what might his sinister psychiatrist granddaughter, Maggie, be prepared to do?

Bound by their faith, Matthew and Emma have accepted that they must wait to be together until his wife dies. Very reluctantly, Emma meets Ellen—an elderly woman with a core of steel—and learns how living with Matthew will mean concealment and lies. How can they have a life together?

Read an Excerpt here!

About the Author: (Information taken from her Goodreads Author Page)
Writing as CF Dunn, I thrive on creating romantic thrillers with a historical twist, drawing on a degree in history and a career in literacy development to write stories that touch on people’s frailty and their unexpected strengths. Everyone has a story to tell, and I explore how the legacy of the past impacts on the present and shapes the future. The question is, can anyone escape their history, and how will it determine the path they choose to take?

My love of Maine and my family's long legacy in the county of Lincolnshire provide a rich heritage and vital elements in the evolving story of The Secret of the Journal series.

Blessed with a historian husband, two creative daughters and a quirky Corgi, I divide my time between running a specialist dyslexia and autism school we founded in Kent, and writing in Cornwall.

Stalk the Author: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook



Dynamic Uno here: I fell in love with The Secret of the Journal series while reading book #1, Mortal Fire.  The characters had so many facets and intricacies woven into their stories that I became engrossed in learning more and more about their lives, and ultimately, worried about their outcomes.  (Can you say addicted?) 

Somehow I missed the release of book #2, Death Be Not Proud, so I was unaware that the lives of Matthew, Emma, and the others were continuing without me.  Thankfully, I ordered it through Amazon: Death Be Not Proud (The Secret of the Journal)  and started reading it right away so that I could find out what happened after the cliffhanger of Mortal Fire.  (It was just as captivating!) 

I immediately dove into book #3, Rope of Sand, when I finished book #2.  The beginning pages of this book were a recap from the ending of Death Be Not Proud, but some of the details were changed a bit so it threw me for a bit of a loop at first.  However briefly distracted, I was immediately sucked back into the story as Emma celebrated Christmas with Matthew and was introduced to his "extended" family members.

While most of Matthew's family accepted Emma into their fold, there were a few family members who resisted the idea that she would eventually become a permanent fixture within their household. The resentment resulted in a bit of mischief that almost caused Emma to die.  Fortunately, Matthew and his son, Henry, are doctors, so they were able to revive Emma before she was lost to them all.  Tests were run, and it was discovered that Emma had her own special gift of helping others (although you'll have to read the book to find out about her talent).

When classes resume on campus, Emma learns that Professor Staahl is accusing her for his damaged reputation when she gets served with the court papers. Realizing that her nightmare has returned in real life, she grows concerned when she realizes that the only people who really know what happened on the night she was attacked were Staahl, Matthew, and herself--inevitably throwing Matthew in the spotlight, a place he has learned to avoid.

Will Matthew's secret be divulged through the trial?  Will Emma be able to produce evidence that she was not complicit in the attack by Staahl, or will his hidden allies manage to set him free?  All these and questions and more will be answered by reading Rope of Sand.

I enjoyed reading this installment of The Secret of the Journal series because we finally met characters we had only been introduced to briefly and were able to see how they interacted with one another.  I felt that this book was a bit heavy and drawn-out with the court case thrown in because it wreaked havoc on everyone's lives, but it did bring more of the "family secrets" to life and caused Emma and Matthew's family to claim "sides."  

I was a bit disappointed because I had hoped we would see a wedding  and get the "happily ever after" ending that I so want to see for Matthew and Emma, but this was not the case at this point in their lives.  Guess I'll have to wait for the penultimate book #4, Realm of Darkness, to be released.  (Yay!  More Matthew and Emma!!)

If you enjoy suspense, mystery, intrigue, and history, you'll love this series--although you MUST start at the beginning or you'll have no idea of what's happening and why certain details and story-lines are so important.  

Purchase the Book here: Kregel Publications 

Let me know what you think and Happy Reading!
  

The Brotherhood Conspiracy by Terry Brennan

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Kregel book blogging program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 




Title: The Brotherhood Conspiracy (book #2)

Author: Terry Brennan

Format: trade paperback

Genre: Christian, Suspense, Thriller, Fiction

Source: Kregel Book Blogging Program

Published: Kregel Publications / 2013 / ISBN: 978-0825443176 / 368 pages

Buy the Book: Kregel Publications 

Find the Author Online: Website / Blog



 Another AMAZING book by Terry Brennan!  I read the first book in this series, The Sacred Cipher, back in 2009 and have looked forward to this sequel ever since!

The Brotherhood Conspiracy takes place not too long after Tom Bohannon and his friends unearth the secret below Jerusalem's Temple Mount and the Muslim's Dome of the Rock.  A large earthquake completely obliterates both structures, causing a temporary truce between both factions. 

Unfortunately, more secrets are yet to be revealed from the scroll. Commissioned by the President of the United States, Tom and his cohorts are entrapped in a deadly mission--one more dangerous and with higher stakes than before--to decode the cipher and find the Tent of Meeting before they are killed by unscrupulous groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

Will they be able to uncover the secrets in time?  Who will survive the attacks by assassins?  And why is this Tent of Meeting so important to various countries and rulers?

You'll have to read the book to find out! 

*************************************************************************

I thoroughly enjoyed the action and adventure in this novel.  At first, it was a little hard to understand who the key players were because it has been a few years since I read the first book; however, once I became engrossed in the story and the actions of the characters, it didn't matter so much because I could tell who they were "working for" and which "side" they were on, with a few surprises here and there.

I enjoyed the details and the descriptions of the characters--especially the unforgettable Rizzo with his theatrics and tough-talking demeanor and a heart of gold.  I also enjoyed the history and biblical aspects intertwined to create an adventure that is worthy of the big screen.

I found The Brotherhood Conspiracy to be scary in the sense that it closely mirrors what is happening in the Middle East and other current events.  As Terry Brennan states, many of the items in the book are based upon research and fact, but there are parts that are completely fictional (So he says...Just how much inside information is the author privy to?)  It's also very thought-provoking because just as the President in the book and Tom's friends mentioned, we are heading in the "end days" and it's going to be quite a roller-coaster ride.

If you're looking for a suspenseful and action-packed series that will keep you on the edge of your seat (and quite possibly researching events on your own), look no further because Terry Brennan's books are MUST READS!!

Overall Impression: Rating: 5 out of 5 

 

Read an excerpt of The Brotherhood Conspiracy here!

Let me know what you think!  Happy Reading!!

The Secret of the Journal: Mortal Fire by C.F. Dunn

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Kregel Blog Tour Service book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Title:  The Secret of the Journal series, Book #1: Mortal Fire

Author: C. F. Dunn

Format: trade paperback

Genre: Christian, Suspense, Thriller, Touch of Romance

Source: Kregel Book Blog Tour Service

Published: USA: Kregel Publications / August 2012/ ISBN: 978-0-5-85721-202-3

Buy the Book:
U.S.: Kregel Publications / Amazon /  Barnes & Noble / Overstock / Christianbook / 
UK:  Amazon / Book Depository / Overstock / Sainsburys / WH Smith / Waterstones

Find the Author Online: Twitter / Facebook / Blog

View the Book Trailer here!

Want to Read an Excerpt?

Why I Read this Book:  Many people are unaware of my fascination with history.  After all, I chose to major in literature instead of delving in to the world of the past.  (That's a story for another day.)  In any case, when I first saw Kregel advertising the book tour for Mortal Fire, I knew I was going to be in love, just from reading the brief synopsis.  A book combining history, a good mystery, and literature ...put the phone on silence and bring on the tea!

What I Liked:  Knowing that C.F. Dunn is "across the pond," I figured British spelling and vocabulary would be used throughout the book.  I was not disappointed.  For those of you wondering if it detracts from the story, please know that it does not.  In fact, as Emma is from the UK, it lends an air of authenticity to the story.

When we come across a traffic accident with a fatality within the first few pages, I wasn't sure what to expect.  After all, I was just being introduced to the characters and I didn't really know their motives yet.  Reading on, I found myself being sucked into the story as Emma, being a stranger in a strange land, found her way amongst the academia and was introduced to new friends and some unsavory characters on staff. 

I enjoyed getting to know her colleagues and students (from Emma's perspective) and enjoyed the conversations about Emma concentration of history and how it has shaped her beliefs.  I even enjoyed the anticipation of a blossoming relationship that held immense mystery.  But as a librarian, I doubly enjoyed Emma's trips into the land of literature to find the journal she so intensely wanted to understand.  I even understood her actions with the journal, but was disappointed that she was stopped so violently from learning its secrets.

The characters are complex and multi-faceted.  Just as I thought I understood what they were thinking, something would crop up and completely change the direction of my own thinking.  (Isn't this true of us as living humans as well?)  I'm completely engrossed in the story and want to know what happens next.  No, I need to know what happens.  Does Emma discover the mysteries surrounding her recent relationship?  How will she react to the truth that she so desperately wants to uncover?  And what will the secrets in the journal reveal about her own and others' pasts?

What I Didn't Like:  The ending.  No, seriously.  I don't want to say too much to give away the story, but I was aggravated at the ending, only because I don't have book #2 : Death Be Not Proud in hand to continue reading.  We're left at a cliff hanger and I'm dying to know whether my theories are correct in what's happening in the plot.  I'm attached to the characters and I want to make sure they're okay.  That, and I think I'm in love with Matthew too.  Hurry up with releasing Book #2 PLEASE....

Overall Impression:  Fabulous work!  You will not be disappointed if you pick up this book (series).  Make sure o carve out some time to read it because you will not want to put it down.  Yes--it's that enthralling!

Rating:  5 out of 5 


Let me know what you think!  Happy Reading!

Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson

Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow but what she finds is an empty mansion 150 years old. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories?

When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, Camden wonders what really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town--and her life--forever.

About the Author:Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good. A former corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family, Melanie has worked in the fields of journalism and publicity for more than  eighteen years. She and her family live in Oregon.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publicationsas part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


Title:  Refuge on Crescent Hill
Author: Melanie Dobson
Format:  Trade Paperback
Genre: Christian Fiction / Suspense / Hint of Romance
Source:  Review copy provided by Kregel Publications for an honest review.
Published: Kregel Publications / 2010 / ISBN: 978-0-8254-2590-5 / 272 pages / $13.99
Buy the Book: Kregel Publications / Amazon
Read An Excerpt: Refuge on Crescent Hill
Find the Author Online: Melanie Dobson / Blog /  Email

Special Note:   Refuge on Crescent Hill will be available on Amazon Kindle FREE for one week starting October 31!


Why I Read this Book:  When I first saw the tour posted by Kregel and read the brief synopsis, I knew I had to read this book.  After all, history tied in with a suspenseful mystery surrounding a house?  All things I love to read!

What I Liked: Despite the odds against her--no job, no income, and a town threatening the only thing she has left--Camden decided to (grudgingly at first) trust in God and let Him work everything out for her good.  It's always a hard lesson, no matter how many times you have to learn it, but Camden was able to over-come the obstacles placed in her path through her faith in God's help. 

I also enjoyed reading the history about Crescent Hill and hoping that the characters were able to find the treasure to save the house or that Alex would be able to get grants or something to preserve the historical significance since there were hidden tunnels used in the Underground Railroad.  (Seriously, how cool would it be to find out your house has underground tunnels and that they played a significant role in history??  How awesome!)

What I Didn't Like:  I hated the hopelessness that several of the characters were feeling--like everything is lost and that there's no reason to fight anymore.  I've felt that way many times in my life and it's heart-breaking when someone else (either real or imagined) has to go through the same thing.

Overall Impression: Great book!  I couldn't put it down because I wanted to find out what happened next in the story.  If you enjoy suspense with a little bit of history, you'll love Refuge on Crescent Hill.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Let me know what you think!  Happy Reading!