Read my review, an excerpt, and a teaser on my blog during and after my blog tour stop on May 23, 2012 - http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-tour-made-grade-seized-by... ( )

Read my review, an excerpt, and a teaser on my blog during and after my blog tour stop on May 23, 2012 - http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-tour-made-grade-seized-by... ( )

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Those interested in alternate spirituality, Native American history and mythology, those who enjoy well-told stories

My Thoughts: What a cool idea for a story! The general gist is that all the other gods and goddesses have decided Jehovah is just too uppity and want to take him down a peg. It's obvious that the author has done a great deal of research into the Native stories and tales, including creation and destruction myths, and woven them into this great story. There is even a special guest appearance by Loki, which ought to make some people quite happy.

This is a five-book series, so the pace is leisurely, allowing plenty of time to develop the characters and plot points without feeling rushed. The story flows smoothly, however, and is engrossing and entertaining. I'm so happy that my friend Kriss recommended these books to me. Looking forward to several more days' worth of terrific reading.

If you like learning about other aspects of spirituality, if you are interested in Native American stories and tales, and if you enjoy a well-told story (and won't be offended by the presentation of Jehovah as power-hungry and petulant), then you should definitely check out this excellent series.

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized
Book 2: Fissured
Book 3: Tapped
Book 4: Gravid
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Naomi has a pretty sweet life. Respected as a skilled mediator, she has an almost uncanny knack for getting people on both sides of a dispute to agree. And her handsome boyfriend Brock has just proposed to her. But a white buffalo calf is bowing to her in her dreams. And who is the Native American man who has been following her around? Naomi doesn't know it, but things are about to change.... ( )

The writing style flows very easy and the story is wonderfully entertaining. The characters are all well developed and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you turning the page for more. I am excited to read the next in the series. A very light, magical read that will have you guess and wonder about religions and spirituality. ( )

Naomi Witherspoon, after graduating from law school and getting a job with a large law firm in Denver, decides she’d rather be a mediator rather than a litigator. She finds, to her surprise, that she’s really good at it, too, and has a string of successful mediations to back her up. Her former law school classmate, and fellow lawyer at the firm, Brock Holt, asks her to marry him. So, what can go wrong?
She soon finds out, when she starts having dreams about a white buffalo calf that bows to her, and in the dreams there’s a mysterious woman, the White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman. When the woman speaks to her, and informs her that she is the Chosen One, her troubles begin. Naomi finds herself caught between what appears to be a materialistic money-grabbing scheme by one of her firm’s clients and her affection for a Native American man who is trying to protect sacred ground. Strange appearances begin to occur, not just in her dreams, but in reality.
What, she desperately wants to know, has she been chosen for? When she learns that she is the one chosen to mediate a war between the gods, her life takes a complete left turn.
Lynne Cantwell’s Seized is a novel that weaves fantasy, religion, and reality into a pastiche that will seize your imagination and keep you turning pages until you find out what’s going on. Deft dialogue and narration, infused with a bit of humor, make this a must-read, and, not just for lovers of fantasy. Cantwell will have you questioning your basic beliefs as you root for Naomi during her quest to forestall Armageddon. A great book, the first in the Pipe Woman Chronicle series, and a definite five stars. ( )