Tag Archives: spirituality

book reviews, fantasy, novel

Review of Soul Taker by A.J.Alexander

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OVERVIEW 

This series is about the Archangels who make up the Council of Heaven. Each book is about how they find their consorts. 

A fun read and an interesting concept.

BLURB

After long years in the line of duty as a ‘Soul Taker’, Kate is worn out.

When she gets a new job offer from the ‘Powers Above’, she accepts her new job as a Guardian gratefully without knowing that her teacher is one of the most powerful beings in existence, the Archangel Raphael.

Along with Raphael, she takes on her new task and the connection between them grows.

Raphael helps, protects and supports Kate, but suddenly, she becomes a target for the Demons of Hell.

STORY

This book begins with Katie, an angel who is the Soul Taker of the title. She is tasked with helping souls to Heaven, or in some cases, Hell.

When we meet her, she’s been doing the job for hundreds of years and longs for a change. Then she is approached by two angels, one of whom is Raphael, an archangel.

Raphael realizes that Kate means more to him than he expected, which causes him to fight furiously against danger. If he fails, Kate’s future will contain eternal darkness, evil, and torture.

They ask her if she would like to become a Guardian Angel, and she readily agrees. This will mean training with Raphael.

Her training is not without some dangers, though. She catches the eye of Lucifer.

I won’t say any more except that she and Raphael fall in love. I don’t want to give away spoilers.

CHARACTERS 

The angels are wonderful. They have human feelings and temptations just like the rest of us.

Katie has her doubts about her feelings for Raphael, but even more about his feelings for her. She is a kind and loving angel (I nearly said person) who is ideally suited to being a Guardian. 

But she is also incredibly brave and strong under the most difficult circumstances. A truly likeable character who, after her initial awe at being with Archangels, the most powerful beings in the universe, begins to treat them normally.

Raphael is really cool. On their first meeting, he is dressed in cowboy clothes. I really like him. He has a sense of humour, and cares deeply for humanity, especially, of course, Katie, when he eventually recognises their love.

Lucifer is depicted as a smart, fashionable man. He can put on a certain charm when he wants to, but it hides his truly evil nature.

There are many other characters, of course, all of whom have their own characteristics.

WRITING.

I enjoyed Ms Alexander’s writing. She tells the story in a straightforward way that is easy to read, but keeps you wanting to know what happens next.

There were very few typos and the grammar was good. 

She described the angels well, and I could see them in my head quite clearly.

All in all, a good, light read.

I gave it 4*

  My ranking of books. In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.

5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.

4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.

3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.

2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.

1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.

history, quotes

Charity Begins at Home?

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I am responding to a post by Clancy Tucker that he posted on his blog, https://clancytucker.blogspot.com/. It was about The Peace Corps set up in 1961 by President Kennedy. The idea was to get young people to go abroad to countries that needed help and give that aid. Someone made the comment that he did not think there would be many volunteers from the current generation as they don’t seem to be into volunteering.

Be that as it may, my thoughts went to people here in the UK, not usually the young, who are against foreign aid. They often quote the Bible, although how many of them know they are doing so I’m not sure.

What they say is ‘Well, Charity begins at home, so we shouldn’t be sending all this money abroad in foreign aid. We should be spending it on our own people.’

They are interpreting this saying as ‘Charity begins (and ends) at home. This is not how I see it at all.

My interpretation is twofold.

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 I see it as a message to parents to teach their children about kindness and love. If the parents don’t show kindness, love and helpfulness in the home, then the children won’t learn it. Thus, Charity begins at home, and as the children grow up with such a loving and caring background, they will then be able to extend that love to others.
 Then there is the other side of the same coin. If you cannot be charitable to those you live with, you cannot be charitable to those outside your immediate family.

That is how I see the saying. Unfortunately, too many disagree with me and rail against the help we send to poor countries.

Please leave any comments below.

Next week, as it’s the first Tuesday of the Month, I’ll be posting the next instalment of Asphodel’s story.

novel

My review of Winter’s Captive by June Bourgo

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georgia

 Blurb

Recently separated from a cheating husband, a pregnant Georgia leaves her home to spend a month with a childhood friend in Yukon Territory. Her stay takes an abrupt turn when she is kidnapped by bank robbers. She escapes into a vast area of north western British Columbia, known as ‘the last frontier’. Against all odds, Georgia is forced to make decisions to endure the cold, harsh winter. Will she make the right choices to not only ensure her survival but that of her unborn child?

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The character of Georgia captured me and I followed her every move with interest. I enjoyed watching her grow as she faced her ordeal in the wilderness.

Her husband left her pregnant and after a terrifying ordeal, Georgia finds herself faced with an even more terrifying experience—giving birth alone in the wilderness. She finds the strength to survive through a surprising means and grows both spiritually and emotionally.

This is not the kind of book I usually read, but I found that it is one of those books that you want to keep reading to know what happens next, but don’t want to finish. I am glad to se that June V. Bourgo is writing more books about Georgia. I am anxious to see how she continues her spiritual and emotional growth.

This book has a lot to teach its readers about spirituality, and I have learned a lot from reading it.

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