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The Three (Forsaken Sons – 1) by Christa Kinde

In the Chronicles of the Kings, there are stories of a band of elite warriors. But before their daring feats became legendary, David’s mighty men were teenage boys serving an upstart king.

Benaiah toils in the burial trenches of stinking battlefields to earn enough food to fill his belly. He’s an outsider in the land of Israel, set apart from God’s chosen people by fair skin and eerie eyes. But an angel and a prophet unveil a startling destiny. When he travels with Samuel to anoint a shepherd boy from Bethlehem, Benaiah swears to see David safely to his throne. But not alone.

He must seek out the Three, a trio of warriors whose monstrous strength makes them unstoppable. Clues to their whereabouts have been laced through the lessons of Job. Poetic descriptions of a valley of horses and the storehouses of snow lead Benaiah into the hidden fringes of heaven. But his quest twists into a flight to the finish when whispers of the boys’ existence reach their Fallen fathers.

A covertly anointed shepherd boy. A trio of half-human mongrels. And the captain who would lead them into legends.

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About the Author

Christa Kinde, Storyteller

Behind the scenes, I’m a cheerful homebody whose many talents include dish-washing, laundry-sorting, and the weaving polysyllabic words into everyday conversation. First to know, last to tell, happy to try, and always true. A plotter and a plodder, a dabbler and a devotee. Weaknesses include bright colors, crazy socks, and alliteration. More to the point, I spend my days planning studies, plotting stories, and putting my nose to the proverbial grindstone… because as much as I loves writing, it’s work. Finding the perfect word, turning a phrase so it sparkles, giving a plot just a bit of a twist—they’re worth every iota of effort. I’m delighted to have discovered what I want to do when I grow up!

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My Review

5 Stars

This is the story of Benaiah, half angel and half human. His appearance marks him as different so those around him don’t trust him. He is living by working in the trenches at the battlefield. But then a prophecy sends him on a journey to anoint the shepherd boy. Benaiah decides to do whatever it takes to help David get to his throne so he goes to gather the three men that are to be David’s warriors.

I have to admit that I don’t know as much about all of the different stories in the bible but I do know the story of David and Goliath. I really liked this story. I felt for Benaiah for being shunned by his difference. I loved his travels and all the different things he does and the various people he meets.

I have to say the thing I really liked was how you see humanity in these characters as they have their own abilities and weaknesses. Watching them grow as character and seeing them become the warriors gave this story that step from a religious story to one that I could relate to.

I think this is a great start to a new series and I am very excited to see where it is going to go from here. I will definitely be checking out Christa Kinde’s other books as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank the Author for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Decanted Truths by Melanie Forde

For Irish immigrant families like the Harrigans and Gavagans, struggle has been the name of the game since they arrived in Boston in the nineteenth century. For twice-orphaned Leah Gavagan, who comes of age in the Depression, the struggle is compounded by bizarre visions that disrupt her daily life — and sometimes come true. She has difficulty fitting in with her surroundings: whether the lace-curtain Dorchester apartment overseen by her judgmental Aunt Margaret or the wild Manomet bluff shared with her no-nonsense Aunt Theo and brain-damaged Uncle Liam. A death in the family disrupts the tepid life path chosen for Leah and sets her on a journey of discovery. That journey goes back to the misadventures shaping the earlier generation, eager to prove its hard-won American credentials in the Alaskan gold rush, the Spanish-American War, and The Great War. She learns of the secrets that have bound Theo and Margaret together. Ultimately, Leah learns she is not who she thought she was. Her new truth both blinds and dazzles her, much like the Waterford decanter at the center of her oldest dreams — an artifact linking three Irish-American families stumbling after the American Dream.

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About the Author

For most of her writing career, Melanie Forde ghosted on international security issues. She published her first novel, Hillwilla, in 2014, followed by On the Hillwilla Road in 2015. Her West Virginia trilogy culminates in Reinventing Hillwilla, published in 2018. 2018 also brought forth her Irish-American family saga, Decanted Truths, 20 years in the making.

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My Review

5 Stars

This is the story of two Irish Families, the Harrigan’s and the Gavagan’s initially around the time of the Depression. The first part kind of centers around Leah Gavagan who is an orphan and raised by her aunt and uncle. Leah is turning 18 and her aunt wants to send her to school in New York so she has some training to make a living.

While Leah is in New York, tragedy strikes and Leah ends up leaving school and returning home. This tragedy strikes Leah’s Aunt Margaret with the loss of her son. Margaret’s health declines until she passes away and her secrets come to light. After learning about Margaret the family has to process the now uncovered secrets and go on with their lives.

This was an interesting story and I found myself wanting to know more about the family members and their histories. I really liked Leah and felt bad that she was sent to school where she clearly doesn’t want to be. But learning about tough Margaret’s secrets make me realize how the different things we chose to do can affect so much more than just our lives, it also can affect our families and friends.

This is a great read and one I recommend checking out if you like historical stories. I really liked the slight paranormal gifts that you see with the family too. It really added a little touch to make the story even more connected. It is definitely worth checking out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank the Author for the opportunity to read and share this book along with waiting forever for me to get a review written. Thank you for your patience.

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