Robin Hardy Reviews

Page Six

Added October 7, 2006

Latter Annals of Lystra Book 4: Road of Vanishing

Author: Robin Hardy
Publisher: Westford Press
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: Available now
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Fantasy
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $15.95
ISBN: 0-9761964-4-1
Author Email/Website: www.robinhardy.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Don't miss Road of Vanishing! Robin Hardy has taken the familiar and lovable characters of Lystra and placed them in a supernatural setting, filled with spiritual implications and pulse-racing danger. As the pages turn, Ares, Nicole and the faithful army confront an enemy with deadly designs and unprecedented powers. Readers will be pulled into the swirling vortex of the story, leaving them breathless with anticipation, but hopeful for a triumphant conclusion.

Returning to Westford brings a wonderful reunion with these much-loved characters, yet the author has creatively added a few twists to the relationships. The marriage between the Chataine Renée and Counselor Carmine is experiencing some difficulties, while the twin daughters of Ares and Nicole appear destined for different futures. These personal problems at the palace stir up the embers of unrest, which flame into an inferno when word reaches Ares that a slave trader captured Chatain Henry. As a rescue mission is organized, a mysterious portal that distorts time and distance is discovered. As men begin to vanish, the future of Lystra grows dim. Ares and his men need to make some split second decisions to insure the longevity of their beloved homeland.

The supernatural element lends an ominous feel to the novel, as it captivates readers with an intriguing twist. A profound sense of danger hovers over the story as the army battles against time and space, as well as physical foes. Hidden information about this portal increases the hazards, and seems to make victory unattainable. Readers will be swept along on a whirlwind of action, which increases in speed and depth as the pages turn. Scattered throughout the book is the author's trademark application of spiritual insights. Written within this land of fantasy is a road leading to the very real themes of love, hope and faith.

The Road of Vanishing makes life's important issues crystal clear.

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Added July 6, 2006

Sammy - Little Misunderstandings

Book 5 of the Sammy series

Author: Robin Hardy
Publisher: Westford Press
Available At: www.campusi.com
Publishing Date: June 2006
Genre: Fiction: Christian
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $14.95
ISBN: 0-9761964-3-3
Author Email/Website: www.robinhardy.com
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Sammy Kidman is having a bad day. Actually, he's having a bunch of bad days. Every time he turns around, someone is accusing him of something he didn't do, like kissing his best friend's wife or pistol whipping a suspect. As Sammy anxiously waits for the truth to be revealed, he starts to see the hand of God pointing him toward a more excellent way. Now all he has to do is find out how to get off this treadmill of trouble before he loses his wife, his job and possibly his life.

Readers will thoroughly enjoy spending time with Dallas police detective, Sammy Kidman, in this fifth book of the series. Sammy is just as sexy, sassy and spiritual as ever, but he demonstrates a deeper level of Christian commitment in this story. Battered by a barrage of misunderstandings, feelings of anger and frustration naturally surface and try to gain control. Yet, there is also a gentle and insistent pull by the Holy Spirit, leading Sammy into a more thoughtful approach to the truth. A subtle, but spiritually powerful message about judging others is incorporated into this novel, as this lovable police detective investigates the unexplainable grace of God.

Author Robin Hardy consistently gives readers a taste of reality wrapped in a layer of heavenly. Amidst the hectic life of Sammy Kidman, there appears quiet whispers from God reminding him of his eternal destiny and the way he should live in the here and now. A series of serious misunderstandings puts Sammy on the defensive, but a session of prayer restores his perspective. Readers will be swept along with the fast-paced story, but come to rest in a quiet haven of peace.

Sammy Kidman doesn't wear a cape but he exemplifies the supernatural that exists in a believer's life. Leaping over tall buildings in a single bound is good for television, but Sammy lives in the real world. (Okay, the fictional real world.) The problems he encounters ultimately leads him closer to God and those around him. Sure, Sammy is a super man, but we all love Sammy because he's a man after God's own heart. And there's no way to misunderstand that.

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