Robin Hardy Reviews

Page Eight

Added December 10, 2007

Latter Annals of Lystra Book 5: Dead Man's Token

Author: Robin Hardy
Publisher: Westford Press
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2007
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Fantasy
Format: Trade paper
Price: $15.95
ISBN-10: 0976196484
ISBN-13: 978-0-9761964-8-8
Author Email/Website: http://robinhardy.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Dead Man's Token will leave its mark with readers! This fifth book in the Latter Annals of Lystra series continues with the same dynamic storytelling tradition as the previous novels, as old characters return in a new and dangerous situation.

A long-sealed secret passage in Westford has been breached and the implications are enormous. Through this hidden hall, an enemy of Lystra gains access to the bedchamber of Nicole, the beloved wife of Surchatain Ares, and kidnaps her from her bed. As Ares tracks her, he realizes her assailant is someone who was assumed to be dead. Are they searching for a ghost? When the identity of this invader is made known, a series of secrets seem to spill out of the cracks in the castle, threatening the peace and security of the entire province.

Returning to Westford is always a welcome adventure. Although this is the fifth book chronicling the story of Lystra, the author supplies enough background information to entice new visitors to this realm. The strength of this series is in the much-loved characters, as they reach beyond the printed page to touch readers' hearts. The familiarity of this place and its people provides a strong emotional appeal, lending a genuine and urgent concern to the story line.

Robin Hardy always graces her books with a gentle touch of spiritual insights, which are woven into the tales as golden threads of wisdom. As Ares battles against secrets and half-truths, the dangerous and spiraling effects of these lies in his province is made apparent with increasing tension and turbulence. Yet, the Surchatain confidently relies on God for direction, and the results of this trust bring the story to a dramatic and purposeful conclusion. Lystra becomes the realm by which Christian principles are given free reign, thereby making it a world that holds a hint of heaven.

As I turned the last page of Dead Man's Token, I sincerely hoped that Robin Hardy would invite me to return to Lystra soon!

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Added August 13, 2007

Sammy: Ghosts

Book 6 of the Sammy series

Author: Robin Hardy
Publisher: Westford Press
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: July 2007
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Contemporary
Format: Trade paper
Price: $14.95
ISBN-10: 0976196476
ISBN-13: 978-0-9761964-7-1
Author Email/Website: http://robinhardy.com/
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

He's back! Sammy Kidman, Dallas's most disarming detective, returns for another installment in one of my favorite series. This time, our hunk of a hero is battling ghosts - memories and mishaps from his past that are trying to frustrate his future. Written as cleverly and creatively as the previous books, Sammy's latest adventure has the excitement, the romance and the spiritual insights readers have come to expect from this series.

In this novel, Sammy's day job with the police department takes him undercover at a modeling agency. In fact, it's the same agency where, in a previous book, he had caused a ripple modeling for underwear ads. As he investigates a number of unexplainable incidents that threaten to destroy this company, Sammy gets in a few tight spots, (and I'm not talking about underwear!) causing both himself and his readers to gasp in surprise.

Yet, the present tense is not the only thing making our hero tremble. When his ex-wife accuses him of killing her best friend in college, Sammy's recollection is a bit shaky. Tracking down the truth of his own past takes our detective on paths he fears to tread. Summoning strength from his Christian beliefs gives him the courage to continue as well as hope for the future.

Robin Hardy has a winning series with lovable Sammy Kidman. His courage as a cop and his compassion as a Christian fill each book with an enjoyable combination of danger and dependence. As Sammy tracks down the bad guys, he never fails to look up to God, as his source of strength and success. And because of that, readers are gently reminded of the limitless love and guidance of our Lord.

Thanks Robin, for giving us a hero who not only saves the day, but has his eye on eternity as well.

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