Intriguing & powerful
340524
While New Age enlightenment had never intrigued me, reading this book had helped me understand a little bit of why someone might get involved in it. But, as mentioned in the book, I believe also, that there is only one way to true peace and understanding and New Age studies are not it.
Also, thank you for bridging the suicide story line. It is near to me so this part affected me immensely.
A good read. Once I started I didn't want to put it down.
4824512
At first I couldn't decide if I liked this book or not. The more I read, the more drawn in I became. It came to the point I didn't want to put it down. Everything that happens all comes together beautifully and the story has a powerful message. I would highly recommend this book to all readers.
2821004
An intriguing read whether or not you are a believer.  I could not put this book down until I finished it.  This story is about the power of love which can transcend time and space.  When it is "true love" it does not die but goes on through eternity. The love between the main characters was a daring subject matter for Ms. Glidewell to undertake.  I believe she succeeded in revealing the power of their love and the flaws we all must live with quite artfully.  Everyone makes mistakes and do foolish things.  We are all hopelessly flawed.  This truth makes all her characters come alive in ways I've never seen before.  They are anything but shallow and if you wanted to know more or see more of the character's stories then Ms. Glidewell has succeeded yet again by leaving you wanting more.  Can't wait for more mystery from her.
2945885
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book as I haven't read Susan Meissner's work before but I was surprised how quickly I was drawn in...and finished the book in 7 hours! Definitely one hard book to put down when it's time to go to bed!

"The Shape of Mercy" is about three women spanning 3 generations whose lives are so different yet sharing a similar story of faith, love, and struggle against life, expectations and judgment.

The story is a blend of contemporary and historical and the time difference is almost hard to distinguish as the story progresses. I found myself expectant and apprehensive as the trial for Mercy "the accused witch" was approaching. I felt hopeful that the townsfolk would see the truth beyond the lies/deception and trust in God's mercy and grace. Yet, I realized that Mercy was destined and it was something that God has allowed to happen for a greater purpose than she could've ever known.

I found the story engaging, haunting, and unsettling that I kept thinking about it long after I read the last page. It's a rare thing to find a story that's so oddly powerful, it's almost heartbreaking and you feel like not wanting to continue reading the story for fear of seeing the outcome unfolding before your very own eyes. But it's even rarer to find an author whose writing captures the moments of truth in history about good people falling victim to the uncongenial mores of society and still manages to pull out strings of insights and messages of love and redemption in a flare of hope.

Ms. Susan Meissner has penned a very interesting reality with standout characters whom I enjoyed getting to know. I look forward to the next book with pleasure.

RECOMMENDATION:

"The Shape of Mercy" is perfect for readers who like emotional tales of faith, hope and love with a dash of mystery & intrigue and a dose of history & romance.
2070038
It might seem strange that I could be horrified & enthralled at the same time, but Ms. Young managed to create a story that does both. What happens to Bree & the other girls should horrify everyone, but her strength & fighting spirit are uplifting. Her uncle Dre has a shady past, but his love of Bree drives him to find her, no matter what it takes, & he brings in a team of friends & relatives to bring her home. Angela, Dre's on-&-off-again girlfriend, does her part to help find Bree. Loretha's tireless work to help the girls get out of "the life" is an inspiration. I did not expect a book about the sexual trafficking of young girls could leave me feeling so good. I highly recommend this book!!
2242615
A.D. 30 is an intriguing tale of Maviah, a Bedu woman.  The illegitimate child of her father, Sheikh and leader of his people she is sold into slavery.  Years later she returns to his house to live as an outcast, unwanted.  When his enemies attack he turns to his daughter, the only one he can trust in his time of need and asks her to take a Roman dagger to Herod to plead for his help. He is captured and held captive as she escapes.

Maviah travels across the dessert, facing sand storms, running out of water, and other trials.  Finally she reaches Herod's palace where he is less than happy to help her.  While visiting Herod she finds a way to visit a traveling teacher, a mystic with the power to heal.  Yeshua!

His teachings are strange, foreign to her, He speaks in riddles, who can understand his true meaning?  Maviah longs to know more and is drawn to the teachings of Yeshua, yet needs to help her father.

A.D. 30 is masterfully crafted and full of the truth of the way of Yeshua.  It is an amazing glimpse of what life at the time was like, making Yeshua's teachings radical and confusing.  I can't recommend A.D. 30 enough, and I can't wait for the sequel A.D. 33.  This books is for everyone, it will bring the gospel to life before your eyes.
443862
I personally found the book to be very intriguing and would highly recommend it to any teen to young adult. Jeannette Walls is a magnificent author and really captures the mood in the story. While reading this book, I realized just how many things I had to grateful for in my life, including my parents. So often I had to remind myself that this is a memoir and these situations really did happen to her. There is so much suspense and excitement! It truly is a powerful and eye-opening experience.

The story is told in first person by Jeannette Walls as she goes into great detail describing her childhood and what growing up meant to her. As a child, Jeannette's family, consisting of her three siblings and parents, never really had much money. In fact, they were poverty stricken. Due to this, they could not live in one area for very long and were always on the move. Just as her mother always says, "everyday is an adventure".

Steph B. (2015)
4707000
This is the first time I have read a book by this author and was very pleasantly surprised at how well the book was written, I found the book to be interesting & fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. What you will find in this book is: a young female tattoo artist with strange & unusual powers (Alix), a male EMT who wanted a tattoo and discovers deeper emotional feelings (Troy Sullivan), drama, intrigue, suspense, action, twists & turns, violence, witches, witch hunters, demons, conflict, spells, shapeshifters, lust, emotional feelings, love and erotic scenes. The story-line and plot is well thought out and written. The characters are quite well developed with emotional feelings according to the situation they find themselves in. I look forward to reading future books from this author.
3831594
I understand The Necromancer to mean: a black magician who communes & converses with the dead, to try & predict or influence the future! In this story this is Omar who is the evil destructive wizard; versus Michelle, the opposite, perhaps a healer & preserver of life; who has come to the Hawaiian island of Oahu to escape a violent sex attack & who's trying to move on from her physical & psychological scars. Omar sees his future through Michelle and aims to seduce her; whereas Michelle is plucking up courage to take part in a sexual relationship after her traumatic experiences but will past events be explained... There's witchcraft, rape, murder, drugs, rites, rituals & unexplained power from Omar & his followers. There's gradual realisation & awareness with Michelle, her new friends & colleagues, that the mysterious fast paced events that involve Omar & his followers show they are powerful, dangerous enemies that need defeating. Pamela M Richter is a comparatively new indie author whose work within this paranormal theme shows considerable promise. She's researched carefully the psychology and physiology of the rape & subsequent effects on Michelle. The story also shows careful & accurate research went into other areas for example,knowledge of the pagan/Wiccan religion rites & rituals; plus the geography & culture of the beautiful Hawaiian islands come to life through her rich & varied choice of language. How it ends you need to read for yourself & it's a bargain buy at present. The more discerning & critical reader will pick up on occasional spelling, syntax & grammatical errors however, these are few & far between & do not distract from the story. I would offer a word of caution to those who've endured sex attacks & those with severe arachnophobia that this may make uncomfortable reading for you.
I hovered between awarding this 4 or 5 stars but believe in encouraging new authors so gave 5! I look forward to Ms Richter's next work!
2525339
From the first page you're drawn in & captivated. I literally couldn't put it down. With twists at every turn and a narrative style that gets at the very heart of things, this daring novel will have you at one moment thrilled & the next thoughtful as our Traveller hero goes about his business; and finding out just what that is will keep those pages turning, guaranteed. For one that's worked in the corporate world I was poignantly reminded of just what kind of culture it is & the author's fabulous adoption of it for the background of this novel is beautifully executed. Read this book.
2009554
An excellent read, with a quick pace & background tensions that inspired me to consume the tale & want for more. Ms. King crafts an intricate land woven of familiar ethnic customs embossed with threads of culture unique to the settings & peoples.
The reader follows the tale of a cloistered orphan on the cusp of adulthood, thrust into a world that seems to force it's own destinies upon her. As she struggled & grew, I became more & more connected to her spirit, her strength, & her determined will to change the destinies of those she loves.
4766780
This was an intriguing story from the very beginning. Two stories in one, I was at various times fascinated by psychic abilities transcending time and space, and at other times riveted to the story of a young girl forced to leave her home and eventually use only her own wits to get her through. My heart ached with her trials, an orphan dependent on the kindness of strangers. Both stories were satisfying and I do hope the characters continue in another book, as I came to like them all. I also enjoyed the history of St. Petersburg; never having known anything about it, the place came alive to me so that I felt as though it was I traveling through the streets and into the various buildings. I highly recommend this book.
4433298
I love to read & was excited about the premise of this book.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that this is just a book about religion.  What I appreciated most was how it satirized the Republican & Democratic battles that have paralyzed Washington. It is such an inventive approach, God versus Satan, only you don't know who is who!  The book reminds me a lot of the "Left Behind" series.  I'm very, very ecstatic to report that not only did this book deliver, it over-delivered. The story is a tale of morality, humanity and ambition.  All hell breaks loose when 2 men both claim to be the Second Coming of Jesus. Both preform  miracles  & claim that the other one is secretly the devil. The author keeps their true identities just murky enough so you're never sure which is which.
 I was happy to see that this is the first of a 3 part trilogy. Looking forward  to see what happens next, because this was an extraordinary book. Can't say enough positive things about it. Completely blown away by it & think it should be on the NY Times Best Sellers List.
4561913
This is a deeply layered, yet intriguing study of the dynamics of a group of friends, when unforeseen circumstances shift their internal group dynamics. The story is complex and thought provoking, while also being an enjoyable and deep read. I found myself really touched a few times. I could see myself in many of the characters. Highly recommended.
4679712
Mr. Elgaaen has written an intriguing  book that gives us a look into a world beyond the experiences of most of us.  A world filled with visions of heaven, ministering spirits, astral travels, and a beautiful knowledge of the limitless love of God and of the power of the Holy Spirit.  The book encourages us to seek out the positive energy available to us from that Higher Power to enrich our lives, overcome our troubles and live a happier life.  It is a fascinating story.
1235348
I adored The Celestine Prophecy and this book took away into that same realm of sychronicity, paying attention to the clues that life is offering to us each day.  I couldn't put the book down, I loved the characters and the plot of personal discovery.  This book touched me deeply, I could identify with the protangonist and her growth to personal power. I envion this book could make a fascinating film, very timely considering what is happening in our world right now. It reminded me to pay attention to where I am putting my daily focus. Am I connected to the dark forces of fear and hatred or the forces of love and how we each are affecting our world with our perceptions and the actions we take on a daily basis.
2105600
I got this book, not knowing what to expect, and was incredibly pleasantly surprised.  This interesting, invigorating story, told in the voice of multiple characters, creates a beautiful and powerful novel that I'm soon not to forget.  With the story of friendship, naricissism, and problems, this novel details the lives of six women who, in a long weekend, are going to be changed.

Though the small chapters with each woman can at some points be confusing, even difficult to keep track of, eventually the novel pulls through with a unique and powerful world of men and women in turmoil and happiness, trying to forge their way through the world.