The Women of the South (The Voyage) by Hila Har Cohen

The Women of the South (The Voyage) by Hila Har Cohen

Taken by a rival tribe at a time of war, all Ni-Han wants is her freedom. Discovering her hidden abilities, she needs to decide between love and fate.

Ni-Han is an exceptional, young woman with special powers. When war breaks out between rivaling tribes on the southern continent, she witnesses her parents’ brutal murder and is taken captive.

There, she meets four other captive women. Their shared destiny is an immediate bond, an enduring friendship that survives tremendous upheavals, the hardships of war, and their romantic liaisons.

In time, Ni-Han discovers her hidden abilities, is exposed to family secrets from the past, and falls in love with the handsome Leo.

Will she trust him enough to devote herself to their relationship, or will she follow the path of fate?

Book review:

I have to say I really enjoyed The Women of the South by Hila Har Cohen. It is superbly written and kept me captivated to the very end. It is a romantic fantasy story where the main protagonists are not warrior men, but women. Brought together by terrible hardships, our main character uses the gentler powers of healing and her intelligence to discover her hidden strengths and conquer evil.

Ni-Han is our hero. She has special powers and a cleft lip. Her story begins as her and her loving family set forth on an arduous journey through their battle-torn country. Things don’t go well, and Ni-Han witnesses the brutal murder of her parents, she is taken captive and only stays alive because of her quick thinking and herbal skills.

In captivity, she meets up with other women and they soon bond together. They learn if they work as one, they can, not only survive but, outsmart their captors and escape. However, freedom brings its own hardships and Ni-Han takes on the role of crusader fighting for justice and what is right.

I really like the fact that the hero of this book is seen as abnormal and disfigured by the culture she lives in. So many heroes, men and women, are perfect – too perfect to be true in fact. It was refreshing to read about a strong, intelligent woman who despite the so-called physical issues she faces, was able to become recognized for her brilliance and courage.

Also, Ni-Han makes a much more believable hero than an armor-clad warrior. She is not perfect, but still manages to change her world for the better. I found this aspect of the book really appealing. It gives all of us hope that regardless of who we are we can still make a significant difference to the world if we choose. Reading her story filled me with hope.

The Women of the South by Hila Har Cohen is action-packed and a real page turner. I found myself being drawn into this fantasy world by the wonderful writing techniques of the author. Her use of prose was the one of the best features of this book. This book will certainly please avid fantasy and romance readers, and also appeal to a much wider audience because it is well written and so entertaining. Book reviewed by Susan Day for Chick Lit Café.

Order your copy now and enjoy a story of courage, friendship, loss, love, and the will to survive.

 Purchase The Women of the South by Hila Har Cohen today!

Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Synopsis:

In this 1935 historical suspense thriller, praised as “riveting and gripping” (Robert Dugoni, NY Times Best Seller of My Sister’s Grave), Ed Bowman, small town reporter for the Casey Clarion in Virginia, is unjustly convicted for the murder of his wife, committed by an escaped prisoner whose murder trial he just covered with an exclusive article that virtually guaranteed a guilty verdict.

Sentenced to life in the State Penitentiary, and losing faith in God to right his situation, he determines to redeem his shattered life and makes a daring escape to track down the killer in a high-risk chase across six states to the salt flats of Wendover, Utah. But an unexpected betrayal by a befriended Mormon leader brings his plans to a sudden stop, leaving him with no hope short of a miracle.

Review:

Unfinished Justice is a novel set in 1935 and based on the true story of Ed Bowman, a reporter for a small town newspaper in Virginia. When Ed covers the murder trial of Gunther Buford, he writes an exclusive article after overhearing a confidential conversation between Buford’s defense attorneys that virtually guarantees a guilty verdict. The man is convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair.

Buford breaks out of prison, intent on seeking revenge by killing the reporter who wrote the story. But in the ensuing violence, Ed’s wife is killed instead and Buford flees. In an ironic twist Ed is convicted of his wife’s murder and sentenced to life on a chain gang. For years Ed labors while being viciously abused. Finally, after four long years of planning his escape, Ed manages to gain his freedom.

Determined to locate Gunther Buford and bring him to justice, Ed tracks Buford to the small town of Wendover, Utah where the man has a new identity and occupation, and has also changed his appearance. Ed now has to determine who Buford really is, find evidence to prove he killed his wife, then clear his own name by bringing him to justice.

Unfinished Justice is a fast paced, riveting story filled with injustice, danger and even some romance. Extensive research by Janis Hutchinson went into this hard core novel that depicts life on chain gangs back in the 30’s. The descriptions are vivid and shocking to read, yet very engaging and enthralling.

The characters are well developed and fleshed out. Ed evolves throughout the story and comes to realize that God was with him the whole time. He is a strong, likeable character who is relatable. The author did a great job with all the characters and descriptions, and I felt like I knew them and was there with them.

Unfinished Justice is a fascinating read which features a time in the past that rarely gets portrayed in historical fiction novels. It reminds me of the fugitive, but slightly different. The harshness of chain gang life is depicted accurately and brilliantly.

This is one of the best suspense, thriller and fugitive type stories I have ever read. It is a gripping page-turner. I couldn’t put it down and kept reading faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next. Janis Hutchinson is an excellent writer and has done a beautiful job with Unfinished Justice. The storyline is full and exciting. The ending is intense and satisfying. I would read this one again―it’s that good.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson.

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