"Stolen," by Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD with Cecil Murphey

There is hope, even on the darkest of days
Katariina Rosenblatt was a lonely and abused young girl, yearning to be loved, wanting attention. That made her the perfect target. On an ordinary day, she met a confident young woman--someone Kat wished she could be like--who pretended to be a friend while slowly luring her into a child trafficking ring. A cycle of false friendships, threats, drugs, and violence kept her trapped.

As Kat shares her harrowing experiences, her ultimate escape, and her passionate efforts to now free other victims, you'll see that not only is sex trafficking happening frighteningly close to home--it's also something that can be stopped. Stolen is a warning, a celebration of survival, and a beacon of hope that will inspire you.

As a person who has never had to go through this nightmare, I found it difficult to relate too, to start with, but the further you get into this book, the angrier I got.  It beggars belief that these young people don't have people to watch out for them.  It also shows how vulnerable these young people are and how they reach out for the slightest bit of kindness, from where and whom ever it comes from.

This book should be a must read for young children from the ages of 11 upwards.  As it shows them what to look for and what to avoid.  I know this is not limited to just the States and this is probably happening all over the world, it has to stop.

Thankfully Kat has turned her life around and is doing something to help others who are living this nightmare.  

Stars out of 5 : 4 The target audience for this book should be pre-teens and teens.  It was an interesting read as it opened my eyes to something I knew very little about.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Brickmaker's Bride," by Judith Miller

"The Brickmaker's Bride," by Judith Miller

In the clay-rich hills of the newly founded state of West Virginia, two families tentatively come together to rebuild a war-torn brickmaking business.

Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again.

Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart?

This was a lovely story about the underdog winning through hardwork, devotion to his family and his love of God.  Ewan was a great lead character that you couldn't help but love.  In contrast Winston was the total opposite, the man courting Laura.  It takes Ewan coming into Laura's life to realize that Winston is not the man for her.

I loved the details written into this book, from the fashions worn, to how bricks were made.  It was a well researched book and made it easy for the reader to image all of these things.

Ewan's uncle was a man you didn't know whether to feel sorry for; due to being married to Margaret, whose main ambition in life was to be the creme of society and made everyone around her pay for her failures.  Or to to hate him for all his slippery ways.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5 A book where it is no surprise what the outcome will be, but it does have its twists and turns along the way to keep things interesting.  Well worth the read and the second book in the series will be released later on in 2015.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Patmos Deception," by Davis Bunn

"The Patmos Deception," by Davis Bunn

An Ancient Island Holds an Ancient Secret . . .
Nick Hennessy, a young Texas journalist yearning for his big break, finds himself in Europe--his assignment, to investigate the alarming disappearance of invaluable Grecian antiquities. Nick has the credentials--and cover ID--to unearth the truth. And he knows just the researcher to help him...

Carey Mathers, fresh from her studies in forensic archeology, has accepted a job with the prestigious Athens Institute for Antiquities--a dream come true, really, particularly when the Greek isle of Patmos, where the Apostle John received his vision of the Apocalypse, was a particular focus of her research.

Dimitri Rubinos, for whom the Greek islands represent his life, holds on by his fingernails to the family charter boat business. But his country's economic chaos isn't the only thing that has turned his world on its head...

I did not like the ending of this book.  It left you in mid air to my mind.  There were more questions to be answered and more of this story to be told.  Otherwise this was a good book.  I enjoyed the historical aspect to it and the description of the Greek Isles.  Made you want to be there and brought them to life.

Bit confused about the romantic intentions of Nick and Dimitri towards Carey.  Without giving away the storyline, you will not find out who holds the key to her heart in this book.  Whether there is a sequel to this book who knows?

This book kept you on your toes as you got caught up in the drama and intrigue; and there were enough twists to keep it interesting as well.  It wasn't hard to read and you could put it down and pick it up without forgetting where you were at in the story.

Stars out of 5 : 4 Great book, terrible ending!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".