Search for the Astral Dragon

 

Bryan Davis's latest book, Search for the Astral Dragon, is a heart-pounding, emotionally intense story suitable for middle-grade readers and older. Megan Willas spent her childhood helping her parents pursue freedom and justice--or so she thought. Now enslaved on a space freighter, she still clings to hope that her mother will find and free her. 

The themes of this book strongly reminded me of the author's earlier Dragons of Starlight books; freedom, hope, and the value of all human life. At the same time, it has a vivid, unique setting with nonhuman aliens, memorable characters, and an intriguing plot. 

I heartily recommend this book for sci-fi fans, avid readers, and anyone looking for a good read. 

The book can be purchased at online retailers or at the author's website.  I also did a brief dramatic reading. 

Heaven Came Down: Book One of The Oculus Gate

 Imagine a world where angels have descended from heaven, uniting mankind behind a common creed, ending war and crime. It sounds ideal--but there's a darker side. In Heaven Came Down, the first book in the Oculus Gate series, readers are introduced to a small band of freedom fighters who are desperate to free humanity from these 'angels.'

I've read most of Davis's previous books, but this series takes a different angle, more action-adventure than fantasy. It also takes place over a much shorter timespan, two or three days rather than weeks or months. The fast pace and growing tension kept me reading until I'd finished.

This book and the rest of the series can be purchased on Amazon here, I have also posted a video of my dramatic reading from the first chapter of the book.

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Eye of the Oracle--dramatic reading and contest promotion

 Bryan Davis is hosting a contest to celebrate 20 years of being a full-time
author! As part of the contest, I am posting this video review and dramatic reading scene from Eye of the Oracle, the first book in the Dragons in Our Midst series!

This book is both a prequel and a sequel to the Dragons in Our Midst quartet. I heavily recommend reading those books first, as the events prove pivotal to the overarching plot in this book, which stretches from before the flood up to the modern era. But to those who are already familiar with the DioM world, this book shouldn't be missed. It introduces amazing, wonderful characters who demonstrate amazing faith and courage against overwhelming odds, as well as creating a memorable world. 

His books can all be purchased  HERE 

Can I Just Hide in Bed Till Jesus Comes Back?

Can I Just Hide in Bed 'til Jesus Comes Back?: Facing Life with Courage, Not Comforters by Martha Bolton and Christin Ditchfield

This nonfiction book from Tyndale House Publishers shares friendly advice for people who are overwhelmed by life.  It's primarily written for women, but I think men would find some of the tips useful as well. The light, direct style makes it seem shorter than 256 pages.  It has several personal stories, as well as amusing lists and Scripture verses. The chapters are short, perfect for reading in brief moments. 

While I appreciate what the authors were trying to do, the book wasn't quite what I expected. I have been dealing with depression for a few years. so when I saw this book, I thought it would be helpful. Maybe it's just my situation or preferences, but the lighthearted tone and humorous style didn't really fit well with the topic. It seemed too quirky and pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Maybe some people prefer it that way, but the tone felt like it wasn't taking issues seriously.  

I received a free copy from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Two of five stars.

They Were Single Too

They Were Single Too by David M. Hoffeditz is an updated nonfiction book highlighting eight Biblical individuals.  It's primarily informative about the Biblical figures mentioned. The book has one chapter each on Paul, Anna, Martha, Jeremiah, Ruth, Joseph, Nehemiah, and John the Baptist. I really appreciated the variety of people mentioned--Anna's years of widowhood present an entirely different perspective than Paul's ministry or Joseph's temptations.The book is less than 150 pages long, and each chapter ends with a few brief questions for reflection.
I found this book quick and easy to read, with a good tone and perspective. It might be a good conversation starter for a a small group.It also has good historical context and background for the Biblical characters.
Some books meant for single adults are just aimed at 20-something year olds. The author of this book acknowledges that not all singles are that age. The examples cover a wide range of ages, so that singles of a variety of ages will find something useful in this book. I really enjoyed reading it and will probably read it again.  If you're looking for something addressing church culture and singleness, this is an okay place to start but not really sociology-oriented.
Three and a half of five stars.

The Unreformed Martin Luther

Nearly 500 after Martin Luther (supposedly) nailed his 95 Thesis to a church door, his historical significance is undeniable. But just who was he? Over time, the truth has been clouded by myths and legends. Did his wife escape a convent in a herring barrel? Did he intend to create a new denomination?
In The Unreformed Martin Luther, author and theologian Andreas Malessa examines 25 of the most common "facts" about Luther, considering the historical context, Luther's own words, and more. At the same time, he reviews the basic history of Luther's life and provides a background for those who may not be familiar with early Protestant history.
This 160-page book is written in a conversational, easy-to-read tone.  Middle schoolers and older should be able to read this without too much difficulty, but interest will vary. It's a good introduction to church history for a variety of ages, but parents of younger children might what to skip over some of the chapters.  The author also does a good job of showing how Luther's influence impacts the church and society today.
I would give this book three stars out of five. I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

Questioning Evangelism

Witnessing is hard.  Even if you get up the guts to start the conversation and it seems to be going well, sooner or later, there'll be a question you just can't answer.
But maybe that isn't such a bad thing. Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman, offers a different method for sharing the gospel. While there are many good Christian apologetic books, that's only one part of the puzzle. Sure, you can argue that the world is so complex it has to be created, or that the historical evidence supports the Bible's accuracy--both of which are true--but basic concepts such as absolute truth are taken for granted.
Instead, this book suggests starting with questions.

Answering a question with a question, then, often has significant advantages over using direct answers. It brings to the surface the questioner's assumptions. It also takes the pressure off you-the one being asked- and puts the pressure on the one who is doing the asking.

As well as asking questions, the book also encourages believers to listen during conversations.  Trying to badger someone into accepting the gospel with an overload of evidence can easily backfire. The book also includes several examples of how conversations could go when faced with common objections.  

I really appreciated this book because it seems like a more natural way of witnessing, and one where you don't have to have all the answers
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I was given a copy of this book by Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.