The Shepherd's Voice by Robin Lee Hatcher

I give The Shepherd's Voice by Robin Lee Hatcher five solid stars. It is well-written, the story is not preachy, the relationships are realistic, and it shows God’s hand in the day-to-day lives of the characters. The Shepherd’s Voice takes place during the Great Depression, in the small town of Ransom, Idaho. The heroine of the story, Akira Macauley, is a plucky, independent redhead who runs a sheep ranch left to her by her grandfather. When she finds an unconscious hobo on her property, she offers him water to drink and moves him into the shade where he passes out. God tells her to bring him home and care for his needs. He wakes up in a bed in her home.

Turns out the man is Gabe Talmadge. He is originally from the town of Ransom, but he’s been gone--in prison for ten years. His father is a wealthy, greedy man who owns the whole town, who has never loved his son. Akira offers Gabe a job on the ranch and a place to live. He accepts and receives so much more. By her example and words, he comes to trust in Lord, and his life is changed. Of course, that doesn’t mean all his problems are gone. Everyone in the town knows his past.

I like that the story is realistic rather than a sappy, too-good-to-be-true version of life. The characters experience the whole gambit of emotions as they face trials, difficulties, love, and hope with growing faith. In fact, this is one of those rare books in which I find no fault.

I highly recommend The Shepherd’s Voice to anyone who enjoys Inspirational Romance. This story gently carries the message of God’s forgiveness, how to accept it, as well as how to learn to forgive yourself once the sin is confessed. It’s a book you won’t want to put down.

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Throne of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers—Book Two) 4 Stars

 

In Throne of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers—Book Two), author Morgan Rice continues the epic tale of the royals of Royalsport as they face a coming war amid personal tragedies. The cast of characters outside the royals add depth to the story that immerses you in a fantasy realm with knights, dragons, monks, sorcerers and ruthless enemies who bring to light an unfolding understanding of magical powers and the history of two kingdoms that were once one.

Morgan has done a masterful job of making me care about her characters and emotionally take sides. Whether you love them or hate them, each character does their part to move the story along and carry you deeper into the plot of a captivating world where good and evil fight for control. It’s one of those “just one more chapter” books that’s hard to put down. The only thing I don’t like about it, is that the story leaves you hanging and hungry to know what happens next. (And so I’m already reading, Born of Dragons, book 3 in the series).

If you’re a fantasy enthusiast and looking for a quick read, I recommend this one. 

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Realms of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers Book One)

Realms of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers Book One) is a masterfully told tale with a multitude of characters and subplots woven into a riveting story of a family of royals from Royalsport. Each character has a story, with flaws, strengths, and challenges that keep things interesting. And then there is Devin; the wildcard in this story. He is neither a royal nor the son of pheasant parents who raised him. Born under the dragon moon, what he is, is part of the unfolding of this story of two kingdoms on the brink of war and other than that, I will offer no spoiler.

 

It is often easy to lose track of characters when there are many, but that is not the case in Realms of Dragons. Each character is unique; some easy to love and some easy to hate, yet it isn’t quite so cut in dried. I enjoyed the way Rice wove in romance and violence without all the specific details but making it clear what is happening. 

The only thing that disappointed me about the book, is that it follows the same publishing route as many others these days in that the story doesn’t come to a conclusion at the end of the book. And so to learn the fate of the characters, you must purchase book 2 in the series. I confess, I’m already well into book two, Throne of Dragons, and have purchased book three, Born of Dragons (There are eight books in the series). I can’t recommend this book highly enough for fantasy buffs. You won't be disappointed.

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