Book Review: Animals of God, Volume Two

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Since we enjoyed the first book so much, my kids and I
couldn’t wait to dive into this second volume of Animals of God by Susan Peek. Sure enough, this book was as delightful and entertaining as the first!

This volume contains two well-developed stories. In the first, two captive, ravenous lions anticipate their next meal—a human sentenced to die in the Colosseum—but when the lions race to attack the beautiful young Thecla, something amazing happens!

In the second story, Chester the gosling longs to be just like his older brother Cuthbert, so he joins him on a daring cornfield raid. When a horrible fate befalls his brother, Chester believes all hope is lost—until he witnesses a miracle and learns the true meaning of the word “saint.”

Animals of God teaches valuable lessons of courage, faith, love, mercy, and more. These lively and memorable tales are never dry or preachy. They contain just the right touch of fascinating “scariness” for children while providing excitement, humor, and happy endings. And the illustrations are gorgeous.

Each story is told from the animal’s point of view and is divided into five chapters. My plan was to read one chapter to my kids each night before bed, but I kept on reading because we just had to know what happened next! And when the book ends, the fun continues with bonus coloring pages.

When I asked my 7-year-old which book he liked best, he said, “I like them both best!” Indeed, both volumes of Animals of God are top-notch children’s books that deserve a place in every Catholic family. They’re sure to be well-read and well-loved.

Animals of God, Volume Two is available in paperback.

New Release: Someday

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From the author of the stunning I Am Margaret series comes a powerful new release:

Someday by Carnegie Medal Award nominated author Corinna Turner is a powerful novel based on a horrifying real event: the kidnapping of 272 Nigerian schoolgirls on April 14th, 2014.

“If you want to die, sit down here. We will kill you. If you don’t want to die, you will enter the truck.” 

Ruth and Gemma have a Physics exam in the morning.
Becky and Alleluia are revising for their A Levels.
So it’s an absolute nightmare to be woken by the fire alarm in dead of the night.
But for them, and for 272 other girls from Chisbrook Hall girls boarding school, the real nightmare is just beginning.
Because ‘al-Qabda’ are taking them all away.
Whether they want to go or not.

Someday is available in paperback and as a Kindle ebook.

Read the first few chapters for free right here.

Book Review: Falling as She Sings

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Falling as She Sings by C.J. Sursum is a perfect book
for any lover of dystopian fiction. The premise of this book pulls readers in with a strong grip. Sursum’s novel is set in a future where women are the authoritative sex, living together in a private enclave; meanwhile, men are forced to fend for themselves outside enclave walls in the wild. Women are taught to view the male species as ferocious, immoral “brutes” who serve no purpose–aside from breeding. Life in the enclave is a sort of Utopian commune where life is simplistic and tranquil–for most, anyway.

For Menna, Domnina, and Odilia, the peaceful life of communal living slowly loses its appeal as the three women strike up unlikely and forbidden friendships with different “brutes” they have chance encounters with. Unanticipated attraction to the opposite sex, along with temptation to know more about the outside world, calls to these women in different ways. Readers experience the women’s struggles from three different points of view in the story. Is pure curiosity or loneliness enough to make you question your past and everything you’ve ever known? More importantly, is it enough to make you leave a safe haven that has always been your only home?

Sursum experiments with a variety of ideas about the sexes–mainly how men and women function with and without each other. While there are no obvious “Catholic” themes in this novel, the author hints that men and women, together in a partnership (marriage), are capable of bringing out each other’s strengths and virtues. The bottom line of the novel sings out clearly that neither sex wins when one has dominion over the other.

Falling as She Sings is available as a Kindle ebook.

Reviewed by Monica Eckert

Monica Eckert lives in New Berlin, Wisconsin and is a Catholic wife and mother. She loves to read and finds that she enjoys just about any genre, but Catholic fiction is among her favorite. When she’s not chasing after her two energetic little boys, she keeps busy by running the Elizabeth Ministry at her church and by working at a local family restaurant on the weekends.

New Release: After the Thaw

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A breathtaking Catholic romantic suspense novel!
After the Thaw Catholic romance Catholic suspense

After the Thaw by Therese Heckenkamp

Some wounds heal. Others leave scars.
Four years ago, Charlene Perigard survived a brutal kidnapping. Now sinister threats, a midnight attack, and a deathbed promise drive her to the little town of Creekside, where she encounters a man from her past whom she has long struggled to forget. Charlene’s wounded heart must choose between her fiancé and the man whose past is more scarred than her own. But in choosing, she may just lose everything.

After the Thaw is the long-awaited sequel to Frozen Footprints, but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

Available for $3.99 as a Kindle ebook and for $13.99 in paperback.

Read the first few chapters for free, right here.

New Release: The Rose and the Sword

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New inspirational novel just released by award-winning Catholic author Gina Marinello-Sweeney!

The Rose and the Sword (The Veritas Chronicles, Volume 2)
by Gina Marinello-Sweeney

Can a rose survive in winter?

Rebecca Veritas is a new college graduate, eager to pursue her dreams as a clinical psychologist. As she adjusts to her new surroundings in the big city of Los Angeles, she finds solace in a mysterious antique bookstore. Yet, as her thoughts still linger on someone from her past, she is unaware that the present has the potential to haunt her the most.

As time passes, a growing sense of unease quickly transitions into more disturbing events that make her question if all is as it seems. When circumstances take an eerie turn, Rebecca will find herself a player on a larger scale than she had ever anticipated, a scale that could cause one to pay the ultimate price.

In this riveting sequel to I Thirst (2013 YATR Literary Award for Best Prologue), the adventures of Rebecca Veritas, the young, introspective dreamer with an inclination towards random insanity, continue.

The Rose and the Sword is available in paperback.

New Release: A Perfectly Good Man

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A brand new inspirational romance featuring a Catholic heroine!


A Perfectly Good Man (Coffee and Donuts Book 3)
by Amanda Hamm

Heidi Ray has a decision to make. It’s a decision she probably should have made before she accepted the engagement ring. But Tyler is a good man. Why wouldn’t she want to marry him? After much prayer and reflection, several of Heidi’s relationships begin to look different.

Available in paperback and as a Kindle ebook.

Book Review: Animals of God

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Animals of God (Volume 1) by Susan Peek was a pure pleasure to read with my children! We read the book at bedtime over the course of numerous nights, but my 7-year-old couldn’t wait for me to finish, so he finished it on his own—and that kind of eagerness speaks for itself!

Such heartwarming, wondrous, and hope-filled stories are a rare kind of inspiring in today’s modern world. The stories are creatively told in engaging, kid-friendly language—from the animal’s points of views—which really makes the tales come alive. There’s also plenty of action to keep kids glued to the pages.

Enriched by charming illustrations, this unique and delightful collection includes three stories about three different animals:

  1. Little lamb longs for more than his boring everyday routine. One wondrous night, he witnesses an incredible star in the sky . . . and finds a joy and contentment to last forever.
  2. Joshua the mule, whose master suddenly stops feeding him for three whole days, is driven by hunger—until, transfixed by a little white Host, he becomes part of a miracle.
  3. A baby deer, lost in a storm, finds a holy man living in a cave, and they become the best of friends, but will they be separated by tragedy? Or will a heart-pounding woodland chase reveal immeasurable mercy and love in a most mysterious way?

With three complete stories and bonus coloring pages, you can’t beat the value of this book. But the biggest value is in the impact these stories will have on our children’s faith, imparting an innocent love of God to last a lifetime. What a fun and memorable way to bring Catholic truths to life for little ones!

Animals of God is sure to impress minds, hearts, and souls in the very best way. It is simple yet profound. It is thoroughly and traditionally Catholic. This is the Easter gift to give to all the Catholic children in your life. Readers will be eager for more—and won’t be disappointed, because Volume 2 is coming soon!

Animals of God is available in paperback.

Pre-order: After the Thaw

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After the Thaw by Therese Heckenkamp

Some wounds heal. Others leave scars.
Four years ago, Charlene Perigard survived a brutal kidnapping. Now sinister threats, a midnight attack, and a deathbed promise drive her to the little town of Creekside, where she encounters a man from her past whom she has long struggled to forget. Charlene’s wounded heart must choose between her fiancé and the man whose past is more scarred than her own. But in choosing, she may just lose everything.

An inspirational Catholic romantic suspense novel

By pre-ordering on Amazon, you will receive After the Thaw on Kindle the second it is released on April 5, 2016.

View the Book Trailer here.

New Release: Teen YA Adventure/Fantasy Novel

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Jacob of the Thundercloud by Zoran Majstorovic

When lightning hits his house, Jacob, an ordinary teenager, ends up in Ancient Egypt. He’s thrilled at first, but there’s one very big problem: Jacob is a devoted Catholic–and Egypt in ancient times isn’t the best place for Catholics.

Available in paperback and as a Kindle ebook.