Book Review: Resurrection by Jennifer Hartz

Resurrection
Future Savior #2
Author: Jennifer Hartz
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Inspirational
Released: May 31st 2011
Review Source: Author
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Time matters very little when you're dead. I discovered this intriguing fact after being tortured and stabbed to a tree in the strange land of Meric, a place where I discovered my unbelievable powers and experienced an adventure far more amazing than I could have ever imagined.

Now that I'm dead, I find myself stuck in my past, 1991 to be exact… or am I actually dead? Perhaps my adventure to Meric had just been a dream. My unbelievable destiny, all of the friends I made, and even Shaw, the man I fell in love with… just a dream?

Resurrection is the second installment of the Future Savior series. It starts off exactly where Conception ended. Much like Christina the reader is trying to figure out what really happened and if we will return to Meric sooner rather than later. Thankfully we don’t have to wait long before we return to Meric and Shaw, Christina’s watcher and true love.

However, returning to Meric does not stay joyous for long. War is ranging and secrets are being discovered at ever turn. Much like Conception, Resurrection is a quick read and it sets a pretty fast pace. It is an enjoyable read much like its predecessor and much like its predecessor it is also fairly predictable. They characters however, are still quite endearing and you cant help but worry for them and care for them.

In fact found myself yelling at Christina several times. Voicing my disapproval at the characters themselves is always a good sign. Its not a half hearted “Lord this girl is frustrating I just can’t stand them”, and being pulled for the story completely. It’s more of a, “Dammit Christina don’t listen to him keep hope alive!”

By the end of the story you can see where it is heading but knowing there is another book waiting to be read keeps me interested in seeing how things will turn out. Will Christina and Shaw get their happy ending? Or will the secrets and betrayals be too much for Christina to handle?

Book Review: Conception by Jennifer Hartz

Conception
Future Savior #1
Author: Jennifer Hartz
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Christian Fiction
Released: August 30th 2010
Review Source: Author
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) "I do not think it is a question of where, but when." were the words that Charis left my mother with thirty years ago when I disappeared from Meric . . . before I was born.

Shortly after being sent back I've been attacked by man-eating Vaipes. I've learned that my father was a power wielding Guardian. I've discovered that the silvery-blue eyes intriguing me my entire life belong to my Watcher, Shaw who is without a doubt the most handsome man I have ever seen. And somehow I need to stop a war mongering tyrant who can manipulate people's thoughts.

So my question isn't where or when. It is how? How can I help the people of Meric when I can't stop myself from falling in love?

Conception: Book One of the Future Savior has just about everything. Time travel, a kingdom in distress, magic and a man who puts your life above everything and anything else …what’s not to like!

The heroine of Conception is Christina Vaughn, a thirty year old teacher with a seemingly normal life in Pittsburgh, PA. That is until she is transported to Meric, a strange land filled with elves, giants, dwarfs and unicorns. As she tries to come to grips with this strange land and how it plays a role in her past, present and future she also has to deal with her growing feelings for her friend and Watcher, Shaw. Their relationship however is on the outskirt of the story as both Christina and Shaw are bound by their duty to the people of Meric. After all, we are talking about the greater good here so love can wait. There are still four more books in the series so I am sure there are a lot more twist and turns their relationship has yet to face.

When I first got Conception to review I wondered if this was going to be preachy. I mean sure it looks like a fantasy book but it’s called Conception Book One of the Future Savior for crying out loud. So, yes there is a religious undertone; however Conception is not a book standing on a soapbox pounding out bible verses to tell a story. The Christian themes are there but they do not overshadow the story. That said the book is a very nice start to a series. Besides, the ending has a nice little twist which definitely made me want to keep reading.