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The Dark Monk- eBook Review

July 10, 2012 By Virginia 7 Comments

The Dark Monk is the second book in The Hangman’s Daughter tales by Oliver Pötzsch. As I mentioned in my review of The Hangman’s Daughter, I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the serises, and wasted no time downloading the second book, The Dark Monk, onto my Kindle.

This novel, like The Hangman’s Daughter, is situated in Bavarian town of Schongau in the seventeenth century. Unlike The Hangman’s Daughter, the reader is taken all across the countryside in this tale of whodunit that is filled with mystery, intrigue, and a few spine tingling chills.

The story starts off with the parish priest, Andreas Koppmeyer making a remarkable discovery in the church basement. Before he can convey the mysterious discovery, he is murdered with poison donuts (the priest had a reputation for overindulgence in sweets). What follows is a series of brilliant riddles that lead the hangman, Jakob Kuisl; his daughter, Magdalena, a midwife in training; and Simon Fronwieser, son of Schongau’s doctor across the countryside in search of a long lost and mysterious treasure of the Knights Templar. Jakob, Magdalena, and Simon are impeded by a group of nefarious monks who also seek to find the treasure.

When I was a little girl, I used to get into trouble for sneaking a flashlight to read under the covers, after the house had quieted for bed, because I just could not put a story down. This is one such story. I could not put it down. I devoured the pages of The Dark Monk, much as I did The Hangman’s Daughter. Pötzsch is, indeed, a clever wordsmith and his characters are well crafted.

My only complaint? That the next novel in the series, The Beggar King, has not yet been published in English. It is scheduled to hit the shelves on January 8, 2012. That is 181 days that I have to wait. It has been said that the measure of a good book is how much time you spend wondering, after you finish it, what the sequel will offer? If that is the case, The Dark Monk and The Hangman’s Daughter rise to the top, because the characters continue to speak to me well after I’ve finished the pages! I find myself randomly thinking of them and I have NEVER actually cared when, or even IF, a book was going to have a sequel. This series, for me, is the exception! One. Hundred. and. Eighty. One. Days.

***I received copies of The Hangman’s Daughter and The Dark Monk for review as a BzzAgent. Opinions are my own. ***

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The Hangman’s Daughter- eBook Review

July 9, 2012 By Virginia 6 Comments

The Hangman’s Daughter is an historical novel, penned by Oliver Pötzsch, that begins in seventeenth century Germany (1660, to be exact) when a boy, who had been savagely beaten and stabbed, is pulled from the river by a woodcutter with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder.

The local hangman, Jakob Kuisl, is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is involved. This fast- paced historical thriller is gripping. At once you are intrigued by the historical aspects of the life of an executioner and care about the characters and their fate.

Oliver Pötzsch–a descendent of the Kuisls, a famous Bavarian executioner clan, weaves historical accuracy into his fictional count and uses the names of his real ancestors for key characters including Jakob Kuisl, his wife Anna Maria, and their children Magdalena (for whom the tale is named), and twins Georg and Barbara. For dramaturgical reasons portions of the book are simplified from what would have taken place in seventeenth century Bavaria.

The Hangman’s Daughter was published in it’s original German text in 2008, then translated, by Lee Chadeayne, and published in English in 2010.

A few of the action scenes were a bit tedious, and I have to wonder if they would have seemed so if I were able to read the original German text, or if something may have been lost in translation. More than once I found myself wandering in seventeenth century Bavaria and was amazed at the transportation to another time via the page. I enjoyed learning about the rivalry between “modern medicine” and traditional potions prescribed by unschooled practitioners like the Hangman. I also enjoyed learning more about the political and social structure of the time. I consumed the story of The Hangman’s Daughter quickly, and wasted no time downloading the sequel, The Dark Monk, to my Kindle.

***I received copies of The Hangman’s Daughter and The Dark Monk for review as a BzzAgent.***

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Cows Can’t Jump Review plus Giveaway (7/11)

June 27, 2012 By Virginia 25 Comments

As you know, my kids love story time. We (by we, I mean I) try to read several stories to them each day. Any time I have an opportunity to steer them away from worn out favorites to a new and interesting book, I jump at it.

Speaking of jumping… have you heard Cows Can’t Jump?

See…

Cows Can’t Jump and Cows Can’t Quack are two fun filled books by Dave Reisman published by Jumping Cow Press. They are both sure to become time honored classic picture books, as they are beautifully illustrated (by Jason A. Maas) and cause little ones to ask lots of questions. I love books that do that!

Jumping Cow Press recently donated a copy of each book to the NFED for their annual Don’t Sweat It Golf Tournament and Charity Auction event. They also sent me a copy of Cows Can’t Jump for story time with my kids. My kids enjoy the book, and it will make a great beginning reader for Mister, as the text is bold and simple.

Jumping Cow Press would like to give a signed copy of “Cows Can’t Quack” and a signed copy of “Cows Can’t Jump” (two winners – one book per winner) to lucky TBC readers.

Learn more about both books and the author by following @cowscantjump on Twitter or liking Jumping Cow Press on Facebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t want to wait to add these to your collection? Cows Can’t Jump and Cows Can’t Quack retail for $7.99 each and are available on Amazon and http://www.barnesandnoble.com. Get them now…

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The Fourth Fisherman

May 31, 2012 By Virginia 7 Comments

Every once in a while, a story comes along that just grabs you. The Fourth Fisherman is just such a story.

Back in 2006, three Mexican fisherman were rescued by a Taiwanese tuna fishing trawler after more than nine months at sea. The men managed to survive in a small open boat without any supplies through the blistering sun and storms at sea. They fought starvation, dehydration, and hopelessness to beat death… their only lifelines were faith and a well worn Bible.

I remember seeing a brief headline around that time, about the fishermen’s survival, but their story was eclipsed by others in the media.

Meanwhile, Joe Kissack was a successful Hollywood executive. He, and his life, exemplified the American dream. He owned a small mansion, sports cars, the best suits, and more. He had arrived. Despite the appearance of success on a grand scale, Joe’s personal life was in shambles. He experienced suicidal depression, became addicted to narcotics, and began pushing his family away. A thoughtful friend gave him a Bible and prayed with him. Kissack’s life changed dramatically.

When he learned about the surviving fisherman, he knew he had to pursue the story. It didn’t make sense, but he had to do it.

The Fourth Fisherman is a great story about following God… even when it doesn’t make sense! It is about not letting go of faith, when it looks like faith is all you’ve got left to hold on to.

I read The Fourth Fisherman in one four hour drive. Of course, I wasn’t the one driving, my Dad was. And I sat in the back seat, completely absorbed! Kissack masterfully interwove the story of the fisherman and their rescue with his own story. The way he alternated between the two stories was compelling, and inspirational.

I would recommend The Fourth Fisherman to anyone who enjoys inspirational literature, is going through a rough patch, or just plain likes a good book about the redeeming power of God.

***I received a courtesy sample from the publisher to facilitate an honest review. I am not required to write a positive review.***

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Beckon- A Book Giveaway (4/29)

April 14, 2012 By Virginia 3 Comments

I recently read Beckon, by Tom Pawlik, which I received from Tyndale and shared my review here.

As I said in my review, it was my first Pawlik novel, and despite the heebie jeebies that spider like creatures gave me, I simply could NOT put it down. The book was pure literary adrenaline, and convinced me that I should read more Pawlik.

More frequently than not, when I post a review of a book I receive from one of the book blogging networks, that is the end of said review. Imagine my surprise, then, when I received an email from Mr. Tom Pawlik himself, thanking me for my review.

(not to mention my surprise that he was familiar with Hay Wells Syndrome!!!)

Anyway! He graciously offered four signed soft-cover copies of Beckon for giveaway. Squee! I think that’s awesome!

About Beckon… Some things are better left undiscovered. Three people—an ex-cop investigating the mysterious disappearance of her cousin; a business genius looking to retire AND looking for a miracle cure; an anthropologist researching a legend in hopes of finding closure—all find themselves in Beckon, a small town in Wyoming. All three discover, one by one, that the town they hoped held their answers has a ghastly secret that the residents will protect at all costs… will any of them survive?

See for yourself…

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