Christian Author Laura Davis

You can buy Higher Honor at Amazon

When I saw the cover for Higher Honor, my immediate thought was that I was not going to like this book, because it looked like a military novel and I don’t usually enjoy that type of genre. Word of warning - never judge a book by its cover! Higher Honor was more than I ever expected.

Written by award-winning journalist Susan Kirkland, Higher Honor gives the reader a glimpse into life on a military campus. The main character, Cadet Captain Cassidy Sanders is in her senior year at the John McIntosh Military Institute and she is the first cadet Inspector General, tasked with ensuring that hazing was not taking place during the training of cadets. Cassidy has her hands full and being a girl does not make her job easy, especially when it comes to Captain Chris Benton. Angry and stressed with taking care of his ailing father, Chris lashes out a Cassidy one night, brutally assaulting her. What one never expects is how the rape is resolved and what Cassidy eventually does about it.

I experienced a cavalcade of emotions reading this book – anger, frustration, compassion, joy – and that was just with one character in the story! The story is well written, beautifully executed and has a wonderful message of forgiveness and redemption. Kudos to the author! I look forward to reading more from Susan Kirkland.

 Buy it at Amazon!

Visit Somaly's Website!

http://www.somaly.org/

SUMMARY: Born in Cambodia and orphaned at an early age, Somaly Mam, a Buddhist sex trade survivor, grew up never knowing her real name or birthday. As a teenager, Somaly Mam was sold into prostitution and spent years in the brothels of Cambodia where she witnessed and experienced the full-blown horrors of the human sex trade – rape, torture, and nearly unfathomable abuse.  After her eventual escape, she could not forget the young girls (some as young as 5) left behind in the brothels, and so she returned to serve them. Her new book, "The Road of Lost Innocence," is her newest means of advocacy. It tells her personal story, ultimately inviting people of conscience, such as our Christian community, to become involved (or to continue involvement) in this war against an epic evil, a modern battle for "the least of these." Truly, not only is this book worth reading, it's worth sharing.

I am a child advocate for Compassion Canada and as I read this heart wrenching story about the life of Somaly Mam, it brought to my mind the hundreds of neglected and abused children that Compassion tries to find sponsors for everyday. Somaly Mam's Road of Lost Innocence is unfortunately, too familiar for many young girls in third world countries. The difference for her, was that she did not have an organization like Compassion come along and help her out of the horrid life of child prostitution that she had been sold into, she had to escape herself and that is what makes her story so remarkable.

A word of warning if you are going to read this book - it will shock you. Somaly's life was harsh and she tells everything that happened to her, withholding nothing. Her main point in writing this book is to make everyone in the world aware of the horrible things happening to children in Cambodia and around the world. Children as young as five years old, sold as sex slaves!

To her credit Somaly Mam did more than escape from her torturers, she created a foundation for young girls and children like herself who are trapped in sexual slavery. She created a safe-haven for them to go, but not without threats against herself and her family.

Today Somaly Mam is the cofounder (she started the organization with her husband, who was instrumental in rescuing her) and president of AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Situations), based in Cambodia, and president of the Somaly Mam Foundation, based in the United States. Under her leadership, the two organizations seek to save and socially reintegrate victims of sexual slavery in Southeast Asia. 

Everyone needs to read this book for two reasons:

1. Portions of the proceeds from the book are donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation. And

2. Because of that, by purchasing this book you will be helping  a child that otherwise would be left to suffer.

 I've always loved to read books of the paper variety and never thought I would bother reading an eBook, until 'Chion' by Darryl Sloan came up for a tour on the Christian Fiction Review Blog. Based on the reviews of others, I downloaded it and was incredibly surprised at how much was packed into this tiny little book! It is full of suspense, mystery, terror and even a little romance between our two main characters Jamie and Tara.

The premise is unique - what would happen if you woke up one wintry morning and found that the snow outside could kill you? You can't walk on it, or shovel it or melt it away. You are stuck inside without food, water or electricity until someone saves you. But no one can, because this snow isn't regular snow - this snow sticks to you. Forget about making snow angels - if you try that you'll be glued to the ground forever! Is it a terrorist attack or a weather phenomenom? I'm not telling! You'll have to download or purchase this book for yourself! Click the pic at left to get the book!

I recommend this book for ages 12 and up.

I have quite a long list of books I've read and you kind find them at Shelfari. A great place for book lovers!

With Endless Sight  is the third book in the series Crossroads of Grace. It was my first introduction to the author Allison Pittman and I must say, it won't be my last. One of the things that I liked about this novel was that I could pick it up and read it and not be confused about what had gone on in previous books. So, if you haven't followed the series, you can pick it up at the end. However, after I read With Endless Sight I was so enamored with the characters and the story, that I went out and got the first book Ten Thousand Charms!  The message of Salvation, faith and relying on God for protection and provision are prominent in this book. The descriptions of the Oregon Territory painted a beautiful backdrop to the time period and the struggles the early settlers endured. I know that I will be watching for more books from this author in the future!

In Gentle Journey, Elaine Lyons Bach has created a loveable character in Eden Barrett who longs to help society's downtrodden with her talent as an artist. I was captivated with the story from the first page. This book will be featured next month with the CFRB Book Tour, so I will save my review for then. In the meantime here is a summary taken from the back of the book.

When her initial plans fail, as a last resort, she finds work as a governess in the home of Colin Ashton, Seventh Earl of Edmund. There she hopes to continue to pursue painting in her spare time. Her beliefs and her choice to rescue two climbing boys from their abusive master, yet refusal to give testimony against the sweep cause her to cross swords with her handsome employer more than once, putting her employment in jeopardy. Her charge, Diana, is an intelligent, though lonely preteen, confused about what she perceives as her power to cause things to happen - bad things. Though diametrically opposite in beliefs, against her better judgment, Eden is attracted to the thoughtful and thought provoking Lord Edmund. All signs point to the fact, however, that Colin is courting his beautiful and sweet natured neighbor Cassandra Bradley. Diana is doing her best to keep her brother and Eden apart by encouraging him to believe Eden is secretly engaged to the handsome officer who brought her to Chadilane. Cassandra's military brother forms a tender for Eden while his family stays at the manor for a house party. Eden must defend herself when this suitor forces himself upon her, only to be placed in greater peril when the sweep returns with a secret grudge. Lives are transformed in this adventure of passionate faith and enduring love.

In Fuse of Armageddon Brouwer and Hanegraaff have created a political thriller with so many twists and turns that when I was almost at the end of the book, I still didn't know who our hero could trust. Maverick hostage negotiator Mulvaney Quinn must come face to face with his past in order to stop a terrorist threat that could trigger World War Three. Unfortunately, for Quinn he's facing an unholy trinity of Christian Freedom Fighters, a Jewish fanatic, a Muslim terrorist and oh, yeah - a cop who wants to charge him with serial killings in the United States. If that's not enough excitement for you, throw in a heavy dose of Hanegraaff's version of endtimes theology and this book will keep your heart pumping.

Joel Rosenburg has done it again! Unlike other end-time novels that are currently on the market, Rosenburg manages to capture the events of today and weave in end-time prophecy. His ability to predict the future as evidenced in his previous novels, is uncanny. One wonders if the events he wrote in Dead Heat will come true in the near future. Could it happen as Rosenburg writes? I'm not going to tell you what he predicted in this novel, instead I urge you to pick up this book. This political thriller will leave you with the eerie feeling that the events written in its pages could happen very soon.

This book is a must have for all Christian writers! It is designed to bring Christian writers closer to the source of their inspiration. It is the only Bible Study designed specifically for the Christian writer! It has really helped me to focus on what I'm writing, who I'm writing for and how I'm portraying Him. Full of warmth, insight and devotion this book, now in its second edition, is destined to become a standard for years to come.