Blood & Water - Giveaway and Review

The Fischer family comes from a long line of Lobster-fishermen. It's how they make their life living off of what the sea provides. However like those who also set traps, there are those that feel how difficult the times have become and have sought out to steal from the Fischer's. Lately when they've been checking their traps, they are coming up empty.

Rivals between the Fischers and an old man called Yellow has existed for quite some time but no one has ever dared to cross the invisible line of causing a war until now. However when his father Elliot dies unexpectedly while having an argument over the welfare of the family and stopping the looters, Michael feels disconnected.

Removing the coins off his fathers eyes during the funeral and keeping them in a piggy bank on his dresser, his family is soon haunted by the apparent ghost of Elliot and terrible things begin to happen to those around them. The war has begun.

In the novel, Blood & Water by Ephraim Rodriguez, we are met with a story of a lobster-fisherman's heritage and livelihood making a living from catching lobsters in a difficult time. Like a modern day tale from Edgar Allen Poe, the reader is drawn into a complicated world of what begins to happen to members of the family including Serene, Elliot's wife and the rival enemy named Yellow.

A twist tale of suspense is what Ephraim has woven in this novel. It can get complicated to understand but I encourage the reader to persevere until the end. You will not be disappointed at the book jumps through time while keeping the suspense going on with Elliot's presence. I received this book compliments of Ephraim Rodriguez for my honest review. I would have to rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars simply due to the writing style is different than what I am used to. Once you get past the first chapter, you catch on and can enjoy the pace of the story.

For more information about the book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, click on the links below:

Blood & Water by Ephraim Rodriguez

Thanks to the generosity of Ephraim Rodriguez, he is offering a giveaway copy to one lucky reader of my blog. Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. Would love to have you follow me on my Facebook, by clicking here. Just leave me a message telling me your a book review follower.

3. You must be a US resident or have a US mailing address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. I need a way to email you if your the winner, so please be sure to include your email address with your comment. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols. Leave me a comment and let me know why you'd love to win a copy.

The giveaway will end on August 17th and I'll notify the winner via email at that time.

Forbidden: The Books of Mortals

Fleeing pursuit, with only moments to live, a young man named Rom stumbles into possession of a vial of blood and a cryptic vellum. When consumed, the blood will bring him back to life; revive his emotions; when decoded, the message will lead him on a perilous journey that will require him to abandon everything he has ever known and awaken humanity to the transforming power of true life and love. But the blood will also resurrect hatred, ambition, and greed at terrible risk.

Set in a terrifying, medieval future, where grim pageantry masks death, this tale of passionate love and dark desires from master storytellers Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee peels back the layers of the heart for all who dare take the journey.



The Books of Mortals: Three thrillers. Two authors. One last chance for humanity. The Books of Mortals are three novels, each of which stand on their own, yet all seamlessly woven into one epic thriller. The journey begins September 2011 with Forbidden. Mortal will be published in September 2012 and Sovereign will be published in September 2013.

My Review:

Set in the very realistic future of our world, geneticists have been working on the DNA structure within the human brain to control which emotions we can feel. In order to create a perfect world capable of working together, humans have been given a retrovirus called Legion that wipes out all emotion from them except fear. When they can only feel fear, they will do whatever it takes to make sure that the world exists in a manufactured version of peace.

Rom is thrust into the discovery late one night when an old man in alley way tells him that his father was killed protecting the secret that could once more provide humanity with hope and restore order. Leaving Rom with nothing more than a cryptic message in a box, wrapped around a vial of blood with 5 measuring lines on the outside, he is forced to uncover what has been missing in his life that he never knew was ever there.

The Order wants nothing but to keep things the way it has been for the past 480 years and when they discover the secret of the blood exists, they will stop at nothing to make sure that all evidence of it is removed before they can undo the way people have been living their whole lives. Once more Chaos is on the verge of being thrown back into the world and the presence of good and evil once more will battle to restore humans back to the way their Maker designed.

I received Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee compliments of Center Street Publishers, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. Being a huge fan of all of Ted Dekker's written works, this was truly a delightful surprise when it arrived in my mail. Once more Mr. Dekker's works have kept me glue to his novel until the final page is turned. The only disappointment is always finishing much too soon, leaving me wanting more.

These two wonderfully talented writers have managed to tap into something no one else has bothered to think about. What if all our emotions to feel anything at all, were simply removed and the only thing we could comprehend was only fear? No love, no hope, no joy or even sorrow. This futuristic spin in this new compelling series will captivate you and leave you desperately wanting more. This one rates a stellar 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author or even where to get a sneak peek into the book, then don't waste any time and click on the links below:

Forbidden: The Books of Mortals by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

You can also follow Ted Dekker at his website by clicking here, or on Facebook by clicking here.

The Silent Order

What happens when you mix a story of mystery and crime alongside a bit of Amish romance?

You have the perfect ingredients for a new novel, The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson!!!

In this action packed thriller, you are taken back to the late 1920's at a time when the Prohibition period was going on. Italian mobster families were in competition to see who could make the most money selling corn sugar to make alcohol. Only like all good old fashion mob style books, one family will always be trying to take out the other.

It's been Rollin Wells, a detective for the Cleveland police force whose primary goal has been to eliminate both the Cardano's and the Puglisi's and once again make the streets of Cleveland safe once more. However when the love of his life, Liz Cardano is murdered, revenge seems to be his motive now over justice.

Katie Lehman and her 9 year old son, Henry have loved living in the quiet Amish town of Sugarcreek for quite some time. Her latest problem has been dealing with Jonas Miller and his recent proposal of marriage. She isn't quite sure that marrying him is the ideal reason for someone to get married but thinks he would make a great father for Henry.

However one day when visiting her friend Ruth, they discover something in Ruth's barn that will weave the lives of Katie and Rollin together and uncover some secrets in both of their lives that have remained hidden for too long.

I received this wonderful novel compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. This is a first for me blending a Mafia crime scenario along side your traditional Amish romance but it worked out very well. With Melanie Dobson doing such an extensive bit of research into both of this storylines, you have a well mixed masterpiece and one that anyone would love to read. This one is a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author and even a first chapter peek, then you will want to read on!!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Silent Order Summerside Press (November 1, 2010)by Melanie Dobson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.

Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is

collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Silent Order, go HERE.