Excellent Story, worthwhile read!!
351328
Being a filmmaker and a Christian I am always looking for positive and uplifting stories. Stories that have moral, that can be used as a source of outreach and ministry. I find many sources of material that people say "this is a good story with Christian characters and morals, with a positive outcome". Each time I get excited thinking I have found the "one", but each time I am disappointed over and over again. People who attempt to create art with a Christian theme often fail because they try to appeal to much to the popular culture while being 100 % faith driven, what usually happens is they end up with a muddled mess. They often do more harm than good. The Christian character often come off as poor and dumb, as if they are the only ones who need faith. Not here, not with this author. He has created one of the most interesting set of Christian characters I have ever seen. They are middle class, intelligent and our protagonist in this story is not some careless teen filled with angst and rebellion, but rather the valedictorian of her graduating senior class. She made a mistake, even with the good life she lives. Now she faces a dilemma and thinks as any teen would, first to keep it a secret then take care of the problem and move on. We all know in real life it doesn't work that way, and this teen is on a real life journey to learn that lesson for herself. I love the father, I love the way he  acts and reacts to the situation, he is like many of of us real life dads, the kids think they have pulled something off without him knowing it, but he knows, he is just intelligent enough not to let her know he know right away. There is suspense, drama, hurting and healing. And through it all the message of the importance of human life born or unborn shines through. And in the bigger picture, the message of the gospel shines through, we all need a savior, we all need to be forgiven, we all need to forgive, we all need Jesus! Scott Degelman has produced a brilliant, thought provoking and intelligent work of fiction that parallels real life so closely it shouldn't be called a work of fiction at all! Everyone should buy this and read it for themselves and then have someone else (including any teens you have in the house) read it too. You won't be disappointed. Definitely worth the price of admission.

David Holland
Director "Ghost Train" (2010)
San Diego CA, August 2009
124271
Excellent story! I listened to the Audible version but wanted to make sure this is posted in Amazon as well. I had purchased the ebook and Audible versions some time ago but put them off, fearing it might be too depressing, as the subject of the holocaust and Auschwitz obviously will bring forth many emotional reactions.  I think this book should be read in high schools, if for nothing else than to demonstrate how a civilization can erode a little bit at a time, and can change its perspectives as well as how things can be hidden in plain sight, that sometimes folks will put blinders on and look the other way if something does not effect them directly. It is important to reflect on the fact that this could occur and impact most any cultural group, in almost any variable of country, placy or time - yes, even today. This story was written in a format that was easy to follow, visiting the characters past as well as the present, and how the slide of the society put the folks involved in a position where they had no choices but to go along with how things were evolving, their jobs taken away, their ability to get food, then they were taken from their homes in the middle of the night. It also showed that there were people who tried to assist them through the trying times, to the limit of their abilities. Tastefully reminds us of the horrors to their full effect yet not so graphic or grotesque as to cause someone to stop reading. The ending also was a plus, a light giving hope for the future yet respecting the memory of the past. Well done.
2041323
I was a little hesitant to buy this book, but very glad I gave it a chance!  The story was excellent,  funny, heartwarming,  frustrating,  you know all the elements that make up a good story!
284231
I liked this book a lot. It had been on my "to read" list for a while. When I finally sat down to read it, I wasn't disappointed. The juxtaposition of the pictures into the story is fascinating, all the more so when you read at the end that each picture is real and wasn't just taken to enhance the story. I don't want to give anything away in the review (even though others probably have, since this isn't a new book), but suffice to say the story is sufficiently interesting and intriguing. Could it have been better, sure. Could it all have been explained in a bit more detail, yes. But I enjoyed reading it, and it was a quick read. Looking forward to a sequel!!!!
4591884
excellent story, and i am really glad to have come across it. although i have heard many stories of deity Shiva through pandits, and elders in family, this was my first reading. And it gives new food to thought; that A) Shiva was a human, B) History has many ways to manipulate information as demanded by time, C) Shiva might just be a story that is molded in a way that is required by the present generation and may be a complete work of fiction.

author is a really fresh to read, he is very narrative and descriptive, such that, his books can be converted straight into a movie!

It takes a while to get used to Amish, because he also has a habit of utilizing today's information and knowledge of technology / infrastructure and taking us on a ride that confuses our understanding of time & evolution! sometimes i felt confused because i have grew up with an idea that human knowledge on technology has evolved over century and has improved gradually, but when you read his books you are made to realize that even our ancestors had knowledge of these technology and that it was lost in time and history. - That takes a while to grasp ! which i still couldn't - so i ignored my understanding of time and evolution after which the book is quite enjoyable.

i also found that the story is dealing with today's world and today's matter and camouflaging it nicely into a story of gods and history.
805791
I almost didn't choose this book due to the poor reviews.  However, I'm quite glad I did.  I really enjoyed the story. I could nit-pick it to death as did several other reviewers... but, but I'm not a literary reviewer... just an avid reader reporting his experience in reading the book. I went into it with an uncritical mind for the purpose of just enjoying the story.

And enjoy the story I did.  It held my interest; I was able to relate to the characters; it had dog heroes and people heroes to aid and assist Samantha who is a hero in her own right.  If you like the supernatural, and you like animals, and you understand the human energy field, and you enjoy triumphs of the human spirit, than you will enjoy this book.

As previously mentioned in other reviews, there are some copy editing issues with misplaced quotes, commas, etc.  Read around that... there aren't "that many" in any event.
395319
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is well conceptualized with clearly defined strong characterization and a story that keeps you going till you finish the book!!
 I am eagerly looking forward to other books of this author.
2236941
Excellent story, keeps you reading.  Plan on reading the whole series.  Well worth the time and money, you won't be disappointed.
2614820
I received this as an Arc & am voluntarily reviewing it.

I really enjoyed this story! It was very well-written with a deep story of mystery, fight for what is right & love!! I loved it so much that I could not put it down for anything!! This ends in a cliff hanger with the next book due to release soon & I am anxiously awaiting its release! It is a book you will enjoy!!
3233816
Good story. Some people should take heed!
The characters are deep, the story is good! I highly recommend this book!
4143007
Very good and interesting story.  Definitely worth reading.
1357303
Really great story, excellent world development, interesting characters.  Really liked our heroine, Kayla and those of her caste.  A future world built on a rigid caste system and those who struggle against it.  Such questions about separated classes, defining people by skin color and birth status (or means of birth), what defines someone as human, is it moral to "play God" and how does that compare to current scientific research and genetic manipulation.  So not just an exciting and interesting story with drama and romance and mystery, but one that raises so many ethical issues and how the world of "Loka" compares to our world.  Great story- read it!!!!  HAPPY READING!!!
Tim
3929489
Absolutely a great book!! Easy to read, get into the characters ( lives & struggles). Very impressively put together story!!
1733162
What an excellent story with an unexpected twist at the end! I hope to read more by this author in the future!
2604226
I highly enjoyed this story. The most interesting thing to me was the limited perspective of a child in a situation where much information is hidden from him throughout the story. There are some dark things going on, but the story is unfolded in a very organic way, with good timing of using flashback story-telling. The decisions the characters have to make, and the consequences of those decisions are just as complex as they are in real life, so in that sense it was a very believable story and set of characters. I would definitely recommend it.
4435468
I couldn't put this book down. Wonderful story!!
4074560
This is an  enthralling  story about a man whose life and marriage are redeemed through a spontaneous decision to visit  a sick friend. The author's style and insights make this book well worth reading!!