Enhanced by Candace Kade Book Review

About the Book

Book: Enhanced

Author: Candace Kade

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Release date: March 14, 2023

Lee Urban is living a lie.

In a society where everyone’s DNA determines their destiny, being a Natural means automatic relegation to the gritty and dangerous Outskirts. With the harnessed power of gene-editing, the ability to create a super-human race has transformed the world and offered the opportunity of a genetically enhanced life. But only to those who can afford it.

Born a Natural, Lee Urban was adopted into the Enhanced high society of the Asian Federation and forced to conceal her genetic roots. When her dream of attending Peking University becomes a reality, she is determined to go despite a warning from a mysterious source.

Targeted by a hacker bent on exposing her true DNA, Urban faces off with an Artificial Intelligence Game that puts her—and her lies—to the test. What was supposed to be a dream come true turns into a lethal gamble of hide-and-seek with her genetics. Can Urban continue the act, or will the cracks in her story expose her and endanger her family?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a good debut science fiction novel. The futuristic setting is realistic. The possibility of genetic alterations for humans is real. Adding abilities from animals, such as wings for flying or increasing abilities, such as strength, is a very possible future. There is a bit of added mystique by placing the novel in a future China.

The character development is good. Urban is a great heroine. She is faced with many of the issues young adults face today, such as feeling she does not fit in. She is pursuing a future determined by her parents and the society in which she lives. She is concerned about her social score, much like youth today are obsessed with their media presence. Like many today, she must decide what really matters and what she would have to sacrifice to be herself.

There is lots of action in this novel. Someone is attacking Urban and the action scenes with Urban battling enhanced opponents are very exciting. Even this septuagenarian found them compelling.

There is not an evident faith message in this novel though I get the impression the adventure has just begun. The novel has a suitable end yet we are left with the potential for a sequel. I'll be watching for it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Candace Kade grew up in China and currently lives in Austin, Texas. When she’s not missing Chinese food, she’s busy writing, exploring new countries, volunteering, hiking in national parks, teaching her husband Mandarin, and keeping a baby human alive.

More from Candace

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong?

It could be something as small as showing up at a party alone to something bigger like moving to a new city.

In ENHANCED, Urban also feels like she doesn’t belong. In New Beijing in the year 2124, everyone has amazing genetic enhancements given to them through CRISPR gene-editing technology.

Everyone, except Urban.

New Beijing is full of humans with breath-taking DNA. Inceptors with brain enhancements allowing them to read micro facial expressions, Supers who can withstand hard hits and extreme temperatures, Aquas able to breathe underwater, and more. There are eight main gene pools, and Urban doesn’t belong in any of them.

Instead, Urban’s born a Natural, without genetic enhancements, and secretly adopted into New Beijing. She’s forced to hide her genetic roots to protect her family, and pretends to be something she’s not—enhanced.

Urban’s story is personal to me.

As a Third Culture Kid, I’ve spent most of my life straddling two worlds and, trying to fit into places I felt I didn’t belong. At the age of four, my family moved from Ohio to China. I spent my childhood as the only foreign kid at my Chinese schools, neighborhood, and sports teams.

Since then, I’ve often returned to China. I was actually living and working there while writing ENHANCED.

Despite the frequent trips, I didn’t feel “American enough” or “Chinese enough” growing up. Maybe it’s because I botched most American sayings. Maybe it’s because no matter how good my Mandarin was, people looked at my white skin and assumed I didn’t belong in China.

It’s taken me years to come to peace with this.

Urban struggles with something similar. She must balance the Enhanced and Natural worlds all while trying to keep her web of lies from tangling and tripping her up. Which, of course, gets harder when she’s selected as the next AI Games contestant.

When I wrote this book, I was living in Beijing and going through one of the hardest seasons in my life. I had never felt so lonely. There was a song that brought me great comfort during this time. The chorus goes:

“God only knows what you’ve been through,

God only knows what they say about you,

God only knows the real you,

There’s a kind of love that God only knows.”

-For King and Country.

I played that song on repeat while writing Enhanced. It reminded me that God sees us and knows us intimately. With him, we are never truly alone.

I wrote this book for anyone who feels like they slip between the cracks of society—like they don’t belong. My hope is that you feel seen and understood.

You’re not alone.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 31

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 1

Texas Book-aholic, April 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 3

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 5

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 6

Inklings and Notions, April 7

Blogging With Carol, April 8

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, April 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 9

Simple Harvest Reads, April 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, April 11

Mary Hake, April 11

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 12

Through the Fire Blogs, April 13

 

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Targeted in the Desert by Dana Mentink Book Review

About the Book

Book: Targeted in the Desert

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 28, 2023

Family secrets have Felicia Tennison, and the sister she never knew existed, on the run. Someone is after them, and Felicia will have to turn to someone she never wanted to see again for help—her ex. Sheriff Jude Duke vows to protect them as they race to uncover why the little girl is a target. But the search to find the answers could cost them their futures.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review 

This is another good inspirational romantic suspense from Mentink. Felicia is a good heroine. Caught off guard with a possible relationship heavy with responsibility, she steps up the the task. She is brave in the face of potential harm. And she is very resourceful when in danger.

But this is really the story of Jude, the last family member to be highlighted in this series. He is plagued with fears of becoming like his irresponsible father. That is an obstacle he will have to overcome for the possibility of romance. We wonder if Mr. Judy will be able to do so. (You have to read the book to find out how he acquires the name.)

While this book is the sixth in a series and closes out the family series, it reads quite well on its own. It is a good suspense novel for those who like an exploration of character thought along with a good faith message.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 I have reviewed all of the books in this series and you can read the reviews: Framed in Death Valley, Missing in the Desert, Death Valley Double Cross, Death Valley Hideout, and Christmas Crime Cover-Up. 

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a USA TODAY and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author. She’s written more than forty mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. She is honored to have received two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. Please visit her on the web at www.danamentink.com to sign up for her newsletter, or find her on Twitter, Facebook and Bookbub.

More from Dana

At last! We’ve arrived at the final book in the Desert Justice series! It seems like just yesterday I was finishing book one, about cousin Beckett Duke who was falsely imprisoned. Then we met cowboy Levi and his twin Willow, dog lover Austin, donkey rescuer Nora and FINALLY sheriff Jude Duke gets his story! I am a fan of a hero with some miles under his belt, aren’t you? Could it be because I’ve got more than a few under mine? Ending this series is bittersweet because I am thrilled that the Dukes all received their happy endings, but I’ll miss writing about their adventures in Death Valley. Hope you’ll come along on my next series. (Could be there are bloodhounds in our fictional future!)

God bless!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 29

Lily’s Book Reviews, March 29

An Author’s Take, March 30

Vicky Sluiter, March 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 31

Blogging With Carol, March 31

Texas Book-aholic, April 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, April 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 2

For Him and My Family, April 2

Betti Mace, April 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 3

Simple Harvest Reads, April 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Holly’s Book Corner, April 4

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 5

Daysong Reflections, April 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 5

Bigreadersite, April 6

Splashes of Joy, April 6

Blossoms and Blessings, April 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 7

Pause for Tales, April 8

EmpowerMoms, April 8

Labor Not in Vain, April 9

Book Looks by Lisa, April 9

For the Love of Literature, April 10

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, April 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 11

Through the Fire Blogs, April 11

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Bones Under the Ice by Mary Ann Miller Book Review

About the Book:

Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff of Field' s Crossing, Indiana— and now she has her first murder case

Two days after a blizzard hits Field' s Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a fifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this death marks the beginning of Jhonni' s first homicide case.

Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni' s opponent for sheriff from four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point.

Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large— all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the killer and mend her battered spirit before it' s too late?

My Review:

I liked this novel, a new author and the first in a series. Miller has done a good job creating an engaging heroine. Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is a tenacious law officer, working hard to solve two murders even though faced with opposition. She is a flawed character in that she has a past that haunts her and one she has to own up to. She is vulnerable yet strong.

The small town setting is developed well too. We see how dirty politics can be in the community. We find out about small town feuds from the past influencing actions today. And the town provides some good support characters from a jealous deputy to two old codgers smarter than the young ones and a strange hermit style fellow.

I like to learn something when I read fiction and was happy to see information about windmill farms. They can be a source of income for a farmer in trouble but they are also very controversial in the community.

Miller's writing style is good. I'm hooked and will be looking for the next in this series.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Mary Ann Miller has been a bookworm from the moment she learned how to read. She is a Northern Illinois University graduate where she met her husband. An Illinois native, she moved south to Winter Garden, Florida, with her husband, Mike, to escape the snow and start a new chapter as a mystery writer. Bones Under the Ice is her debut novel and the first book in the Jhonni Laurent Mystery Series. You can find out more at https://www.maryannmillerauthor.com/. 

Oceanview Publishing, 336 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Gut Feelings by Dr. Will Cole Book Review

About the Book:

The definitive guide to understanding the connection between what you eat and how you feel, offering a 21-day plan to reset your relationship with your body and heal the gut inflammation caused by stress, shame, and trauma—from the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting and Ketotarian.

It’s easy to suffer from frustration and confusion when it comes to nutrition and health. With so much focus on what, when, and how to eat, the emotional component of eating tends to get left behind. Dr. Will Cole sheds light on the relationship between your physical and emotional health, providing a framework for you to better understand the gut-brain connection and influence that connection for the better. He illustrates how stress and shame can cause gut inflammation and sabotage your health in a process called Shameflammation. On the other end, problems with the gut can often present themselves in the form of mood swings, anxiety, and food cravings. True health isn’t just about what you eat, but how you feel.

Shameflammation can be the reason for chronic health conditions such as autoimmune disorders, leaky gut, IBS, and other GI disorders. Thankfully, it’s possible to heal the connection between the physical and mental with good food and somatic practices that support a healthy gut and brain. Dr. Cole offers holistic tools to help you reevaluate your relationship with food and your body, getting you back in touch with your gut feelings. His 21-Day Gut Feeling plan helps you bridge the gap between your emotions and your health, including:

 • More than fifty healing recipes, such as Breakfast Fried Rice, Scallop Noodle Bowls, and Honey Grapefruit Sorbet
 • Dietary prescriptions founded upon flexibility and awareness
 • Mindfulness techniques to strengthen your intuition and discover your priorities

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

Recent studies have shown the importance of the gut. It is called our second brain. Cole draws our attention to the relationship between gut health and emotional and physical health, how the foods we eat impact mood and health.

We are familiar with gut feelings. They can be positive like excitement and hope. But Cole points out they can also be negative, like stress and shame. Such gut feelings can actually sabotage health.

Cole gives us much information on the kinds of foods beneficial for good gut health and the kinds of emotions and mental practices good for mental health. They go together. Each day in his 21 day plan includes a tip on gut health and one on emotional health.

I like his plan. It is not a “diet” but is rather more of an exploration on how to best provide foods most beneficial for the gut. Since not everyone reacts to food the same, we get to experiment and try options. Suggestions are given, say for getting protein, but we have a number of choices. He includes food lists and recipes but they are optional. We can also explore mental wellness practices. One day might suggest breathing options while another encourages to spend a few moments in nature or quietly sipping a cup of tea.

This is a good book for anyone desiring to have whole body wellness, physical and emotional. There is a great deal of information provided and a systematic plan to implement the choices we make. What we put in our mouths and think in our heads is important to our total wellness. Reading this book is very helpful in both areas.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional medicine expert specializing in thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal dysfunctions, digestive disorders, and brain issues. Dr. Cole graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences as a doctor of chiropractic, and his extensive post-doctorate education and training is in functional medicine and clinical nutrition. Dr. Cole consults people around the world via webcam at www.drwillcole.com and locally in Pittsburgh. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo: © Tamara Muth-King

Rodale Books, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Handmaiden by B C Talbott Book Review

I have vague memories of a television image of Kathryn Kuhlman in black and white in a sweeping gown. She certainly had presence. It came through even in a static marred small television screen. As Talbott writes, “Kathryn Kuhlman was a perfect blend of character and mysticism.” (116) She had a unique style and she used it to the glory of God. Her services were mesmerizing and I was surprised to learn she spoke spontaneously, the Holy Spirit her source. It was no surprise she had a love of clothes and jewelry.

I liked this look at her life. It sheds new information on a fascinating woman. Talbott takes us through her childhood, salvation at fourteen, traveling with her sister and husband evangelists for a summer at sixteen. Kathryn had seen miracles and loved it so much she spent five years with them. When her sister and husband separated, Kathryn continued, ministering in Idaho for five years, then on to Denver. We read of the death of her father, the smooth and seductive Burroughs Waltrip, the controversial marriage and later divorce. She experienced a death to self and returned to her original call. She had a long ministry in Pittsburgh and then in Los Angeles, ministering in the 7,000 seat Shrine Auditorium. Her popularity exploded and Hollywood stars came to hear her. Medical doctors verified the miracles, writing books about them. 

This book is a very good look at the person and ministry of a unique woman. Talbott shares insight into Kuhlman's ministry, romance, shopping trips, the decision that hurt others, her split with Dino, the subsequent problems, and more. The latter part of the book also contains some of her messages and the thoughts of those close to her. And the photos, new views of Kuhlman, are delightful to see. This is a good biography of an amazing woman, honest but compassionate. I recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about Kathryn Kuhlman and her legacy.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

BC Talbott: Most of BC's career has been spent working within the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California. Her experience has included working as an actor, singer, writer, and public relations executive in entertainment marketing. Over the years, BC has been recognized in Cosmopolitan Magazine and other publications as a leading female entrepreneur owning numerous successful companies. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband, Todd, and her two fur babies.

Word and Spirit Publishing, 264 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

A Heart on Fire by by Glen Berteau Book Review

About the Book:

You are alive right now for a reason--your purpose predestined for such a time as this.

As the world slips deeper into darkness, most Christians feel stuck, powerless to effect change. Yet changing the world--your world--starts with you, right where you are, with a heart full of fire for Jesus. 

Grounded in biblical teaching and drawing from his own renewal experiences, pastor and revivalist Glen Berteau emboldens you to get fed up with the ineffectual status quo, showing you how to

· ignite the supernatural power God has placed in you
· be filled up with the Holy Spirit
· get fired up for what God can do through you
· see beyond your current circumstance
· and live a faith without limits

You're a Kingdom weapon, energized by God's mighty power and forged to stand strong for what you believe, tear down strongholds, eradicate hatred and bring dead things to life. You are chosen to change the world.

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

Having been revived from a deadly heart attack, Berteau knows it is a miracle for him to be alive. He has a deep relationship with God and lives a revival lifestyle. He is on fire and he wants believers to be set on fire for revival too.

This book is full of encouragement, reminding readers they are the light of the world and have been chosen to change the world. While Berteau wants believers to be fed up with what is going on in the world, they are not to run from sinful people. Jesus went after the lost sheep and so should believers. Having a revival lifestyle will mean having your heart open to being healed through giving and receiving forgiveness.

Berteau's writing style is powerful. He gives many personal stories. He is realistic as some do not end well. Some people reject salvation. He is also honest about the condition of the Christian community. The world is a mess, he says, and the Church is not doing any better.

Berteau emphasizes needing the power of the Holy Spirit. He distinguishes being born in the Spirit and being baptized in the Spirit so this is a good book for charismatic Christians. He is firm on believing to receive but I felt he skirted the prosperity teaching sufficiently.

Berteau believes the world needs revival. He also believes revival will not happen outside until it happens inside. He explores the aspects of the believer's life that will produce such a lifestyle of personal revival. This is a good book to read to have one's heart set on fire.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Glen Berteau (www.glenberteau.com) is an evangelist, teacher and author and the founding pastor of The House. He holds three master's degrees in pastoral ministry, theology and ministerial leadership and has traveled the world sharing the Gospel. Glen and his wife, Deborah, live in Texas.

Chosen Books, 208 pages.

I received the opportunity to review this book from the publisher. While I never received a copy from the publisher, I was able to borrow the book from my local library for this review. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Every Flower of the Field by Sara Davison Book Review

About the Book

Book: Every Flower of the Field

Author: Sara Davison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: February 15, 2023

Safe is the most dangerous feeling of all.

For as long as she can remember, Rose Galway has been a captive, controlled by one man or another. To her, though, God is the one holding the keys, refusing to set her free despite the desperate pleas she has sent heavenward.

Detective Laken Jones has known hardship too, including the daily trauma of racism. Still, nothing he has gone through compares to what Rose has endured. He wants nothing more than for her to experience hope and healing and maybe even happiness in her life.

But first he has to find her.

Laken is willing to risk everything to set Rose free. And to help her find her way to God. Even if that means letting go of her—and the future he envisions for the two of them—forever.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This novel is not a light one. While it is engaging, it deals with the serious issue of the rescue and recovery from years of having been brutally trafficked. It is well written with emphasis given to the thoughts and feelings of the woman experiencing recovery and the man who rescued her and cares deeply for her welfare. There are good doses of suspense too as the villain does not give up easily.

This novel really portrays the journey of healing from sexual abuse and being trafficked. There are the nightmares and the terror, real or imagined. Davison also shows the restoration that can come from trusting God along with the trusting the actions of a godly man.

Dealing with this serious issue, the novel may contain trigger scenes for those having endured similar experiences. Nonetheless, it is a touching novel written in an engaging manner.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and two sparrows for a penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband, Michael, and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.

More from Sara

Neil Gaiman once said, “Fiction gives us empathy. It puts us inside the minds of other people, gives us the gift of seeing the world through their eyes…” To me, that is one of the primary reasons to read and to write fiction. Every time I write a scene with a character, it’s my job as the author to put myself inside that character, to think what they are thinking and feel what they are feeling, and to draw readers inside that character too.

When what that character is experiencing is deeply painful or traumatic, that job can be extremely difficult. In my series, two sparrows for a penny, the main characters of the first two books, Every Star in the Sky and Every Flower of the Field, have has been caught up in sex trafficking for several years. What they experienced wasn’t easy to write about, especially since, although Tala’s and Rose’s stories are fictional, I am painfully aware that so many women have been or are currently in the same horrific situation.

It may be difficult to read about too, although the stories also contain humor and love and family and, ultimately, hope. Still, it is so important that stories like these are told. If Neil Gaiman is right, reading about what others are going through increases our empathy, our compassion, for their plight. And empathy and compassion are catalysts for action. If we turn away from suffering, pretend it doesn’t exist, we do nothing to help alleviate it. But if we face it, acknowledge it, we might find in ourselves the courage to take a stand against it, to do what we can to help, to let these women know that they are not alone. That they are precious to God and they are precious to us.

The title of this series is two sparrows for a penny, which comes from Matthew 10:29: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” Every human being caught up in the unspeakably heinous world of trafficking is loved by God. He sees them and knows what they are going through and, one day, he will mete out perfect justice to all who perpetuate this evil. My hope and prayer for these stories is that readers will be compelled to pray for the women and some men who are victims of this practice and maybe even become involved, through a reputable agency, in working to help free those in captivity.

And I also hope and pray readers will be reminded that, whatever they are going through in life, they are never alone either. As God knows the name of every star and takes care even of the flowers of the field, He knows every one of our names and watches over us as well. Tala and Rose finally come to realize that, even in the midst of horrific circumstances, they were never alone. God saw them, remembered them, brought them out of captivity, and will continue to walk alongside them as they begin their long journeys of healing and hope.

And He promises over and over in His Word that He will do the same for every one of us.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 23

Lily’s Book Reviews, March 23

An Author’s Take, March 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 25

Texas Book-aholic, March 26

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, March 26

Betti Mace, March 27

The Sacred Line, March 27

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 29

deb’s Book Review, March 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 31

For Him and My Family, March 31

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 2

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 4

Blogging With Carol, April 5

Rebecca Tews, April 5

 

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)