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Ethereal Influence #1
Ethereal Influence: The Birth
A person's faith can waiver when life becomes difficult. It is during those times when God's angels can appear and attempt to deliver guidance. Alas, God is not the only one with angels. The death of Laura's baby shakes her faith to the core, leaving her open and vulnerable. With her faith in the balance, her soul becomes the battle ground between good and evil. The angels Ben and Ryan war with one another over whether or not Laura's faith can be restored or her plunge into darkness will continue.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2011
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 18, 2012
Review of Ethereal Influence by Lana Bradstream
Laura and Adrian are a young couple living in a small, rural town. Their lives are relatively normal with close family and friends nearby. Though they don’t have a lot of money, these two are obviously in love and hopeful of their future together as they allow themselves to start trying to get pregnant. They’re understandably thrilled and nervous when they find out Laura is expecting. Laura’s is a high-risk pregnancy due to her hard-to-control Type 1 Diabetes. Even with the health and money worries, Laura and Adrian’s relationship grows equal to their excitement over the impending arrival of their daughter whom they’ve already named Kaylynn.
Their labor and delivery are beautifully described by the author and as a reader, I felt like I was right there in the room with them when baby Kaylynn came into the world. I also felt the wind knocked out of me when the doctor walked in and out-of-the-blue informed the young parents that their daughter had died while in the hospital nursery of SIDS.
Beyond devastated, Laura and Adrian live through a gut-wrenching time of dysfunctional mourning. The author again is so crisp in her description of these events, I walked around in a daze for a while feeling as though I was experiencing the death and loss a little more than vicariously.
Time doesn’t heal the wounds between the two, and while Laura tries to find escape in her work as a reporter, Adrian comes home from his work as a mechanic to his own escape--violent video games. Six months after their loss, Laura leaves for a two-week conference where she happens to meet a man named Ben. Ben reveals to her that he is an angel of God and he was sent as a messenger to tell her that her daughter Kaylynn is still alive and being raised by a couple with whom she is acquainted.
She returns to her home and tries to convince Adrian of what she was told. He thinks she’s gone mad with grief. Desperate to get her daughter back, Laura struggles with her own morality. Another being, an angel of Satan named Ryan, fuels the fury and venom Laura feels toward those she feels betrayed her. The battle over Laura’s soul is intense—a tug-of-war between good and evil.
I loved the spiritual elements in this story. Lana Bradstream is fearless in her portrayal of the battle between God and the devil. I felt a sense of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters as I read this story. Very well done, and highly recommended!
Laura and Adrian are a young couple living in a small, rural town. Their lives are relatively normal with close family and friends nearby. Though they don’t have a lot of money, these two are obviously in love and hopeful of their future together as they allow themselves to start trying to get pregnant. They’re understandably thrilled and nervous when they find out Laura is expecting. Laura’s is a high-risk pregnancy due to her hard-to-control Type 1 Diabetes. Even with the health and money worries, Laura and Adrian’s relationship grows equal to their excitement over the impending arrival of their daughter whom they’ve already named Kaylynn.
Their labor and delivery are beautifully described by the author and as a reader, I felt like I was right there in the room with them when baby Kaylynn came into the world. I also felt the wind knocked out of me when the doctor walked in and out-of-the-blue informed the young parents that their daughter had died while in the hospital nursery of SIDS.
Beyond devastated, Laura and Adrian live through a gut-wrenching time of dysfunctional mourning. The author again is so crisp in her description of these events, I walked around in a daze for a while feeling as though I was experiencing the death and loss a little more than vicariously.
Time doesn’t heal the wounds between the two, and while Laura tries to find escape in her work as a reporter, Adrian comes home from his work as a mechanic to his own escape--violent video games. Six months after their loss, Laura leaves for a two-week conference where she happens to meet a man named Ben. Ben reveals to her that he is an angel of God and he was sent as a messenger to tell her that her daughter Kaylynn is still alive and being raised by a couple with whom she is acquainted.
She returns to her home and tries to convince Adrian of what she was told. He thinks she’s gone mad with grief. Desperate to get her daughter back, Laura struggles with her own morality. Another being, an angel of Satan named Ryan, fuels the fury and venom Laura feels toward those she feels betrayed her. The battle over Laura’s soul is intense—a tug-of-war between good and evil.
I loved the spiritual elements in this story. Lana Bradstream is fearless in her portrayal of the battle between God and the devil. I felt a sense of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters as I read this story. Very well done, and highly recommended!
December 19, 2011
Received for review from author.
This is the first e-book in a planned series, where angels and fallen angels battle against one another to see who can exert the most influence on a human in a time of need. The story focus on Laura, who just delivered her first child, but lost the baby a few hours later due to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). As a few months pass, and Laura is still coping with the death of her baby when she meets two angels. One is a messenger of God, Ben and the other is a follower of Lucifer, Ryan. Both angels give Laura startling new information on what really happened to her baby, all while trying to guide/influence her decisions.
The pacing of the story was good, not too slow but not to fast. I was expecting the book to have a more paranormal element to it but there wasn't much. The only paranormal element to the story were the angels, and there was only one brief battle scene between the two opposing sides. The book actually had a more religious feel to it than anything, which isn't really what I normally read. Overall a good book, with many surprises towards the end. There were certain scenes in the book where Laura told her husband and psychiatrist that an angel appeared to her, everyone thought she was crazy. I even thought everything was her state of mind, but boy was I wrong! I think readers will be just as surprised as I was when we find out what happened to Laura's baby.
This is the first e-book in a planned series, where angels and fallen angels battle against one another to see who can exert the most influence on a human in a time of need. The story focus on Laura, who just delivered her first child, but lost the baby a few hours later due to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). As a few months pass, and Laura is still coping with the death of her baby when she meets two angels. One is a messenger of God, Ben and the other is a follower of Lucifer, Ryan. Both angels give Laura startling new information on what really happened to her baby, all while trying to guide/influence her decisions.
The pacing of the story was good, not too slow but not to fast. I was expecting the book to have a more paranormal element to it but there wasn't much. The only paranormal element to the story were the angels, and there was only one brief battle scene between the two opposing sides. The book actually had a more religious feel to it than anything, which isn't really what I normally read. Overall a good book, with many surprises towards the end. There were certain scenes in the book where Laura told her husband and psychiatrist that an angel appeared to her, everyone thought she was crazy. I even thought everything was her state of mind, but boy was I wrong! I think readers will be just as surprised as I was when we find out what happened to Laura's baby.
March 16, 2012
Laura and Adrian are a happily married couple. They find out that Laura who struggles with diabetes is pregnant. This is a high risk pregnancy because of the diabetes. Laura delivers a seemingly healthy little girl. Then they are told that she has died from SIDS. The death of their daughter, Kaylynn, tears their family apart.
This story is about their struggle with stress, grief, guilt, lonliness, anger,and bitterness. The author gives the story a twist with the addition of angels. Ben is the angel sent to help Laura make the right choices and to show her God still loves her. Ryan is the fallen angel sent to deceive her and bring her down the road to destruction.
I enjoyed the story even though it started out slow. I would have rated it higher but there was a problem with the prologue not really fitting with the rest of the story.
This story is about their struggle with stress, grief, guilt, lonliness, anger,and bitterness. The author gives the story a twist with the addition of angels. Ben is the angel sent to help Laura make the right choices and to show her God still loves her. Ryan is the fallen angel sent to deceive her and bring her down the road to destruction.
I enjoyed the story even though it started out slow. I would have rated it higher but there was a problem with the prologue not really fitting with the rest of the story.
March 25, 2012
I like the concept that Lana had for the book. But I found it hard to read and some parts of the book to be confusing. The first chapter dragged and gave too much detail. Another frustrating part of the book was that some of the details just wasn't necessary or didn't tie in with the plot for instance: "She had not idea what to do with chickens -- other than butcher them or take their eggs." It left me thinking so what else can you do with chickens? And then after reading that I realized it didn't matter. I appreciate Shut up and Read giving me the opportunity to read this book.
January 15, 2012
Laura and Adrian are a happy couple. They both work hard and have a great social life with friends and family. When Laura finds out she is pregnant, she is scared and elated. They hadn't planned on having any children yet, but she and Adrian are both thrilled. With her having diabetes, she knows it will be a hard pregnancy but she is up to the task.
Laura worries a lot but her heart is in the right place. She and Adrian are both devout Christians and that belief gives them faith that everything will be ok. Through-out the pregnancy they visit with Adrian's brother James and his wife Carol a lot. So when Carol brings over some friends that Laura has never met on the day she is to be induced, she is a bit angry. But nothing will ruin her perfect day, so she pushes her feelings to the back of her mind.
The delivery is pretty smooth and soon Laura and Adrian are holding their new baby daughter Kaylynn in their arms. But their blessing soon turns into a nightmare when hours later, the doctor informs them that Kaylynn has passed away with no apparent causes. The death of their child shocks Adrian and Laura and the tragedy threatens to tear their marriage apart.
Rather than spend time with one another grieving, they each grieve on their own. Laura throws herself into her work and while away on a conference, meets Ben. Ben is an angel who brings peace to Laura, but also informs her that Kaylynn is alive - she was switched with a dead infant and sold to parents who want to adopt. Laura wants her daughter back at all costs and rushes off to tell Adrian.
He doesn't believe in her talk about angels and assures Laura that she needs counseling. She is adamant about Kaylynn being alive and sets out to prove it on her own. When another angel shows up called Ryan, he leads her to a darker path. Will Laura be able to choose the right path and get Kaylynn back? Or will her path lead her to destruction? Not only of herself but to others? She needs God's guidance to help her, as well as love.
Final Birth is an amazing spiritual journey with Laura. The high and darker points of her life and how she chooses which path to take and why will have you questioning your own self, if put in the same situation. Great character development, seamless writing, and a good vs. evil subplot will keep you turning the pages! A haunting and engaging story from a talented new author!
Laura worries a lot but her heart is in the right place. She and Adrian are both devout Christians and that belief gives them faith that everything will be ok. Through-out the pregnancy they visit with Adrian's brother James and his wife Carol a lot. So when Carol brings over some friends that Laura has never met on the day she is to be induced, she is a bit angry. But nothing will ruin her perfect day, so she pushes her feelings to the back of her mind.
The delivery is pretty smooth and soon Laura and Adrian are holding their new baby daughter Kaylynn in their arms. But their blessing soon turns into a nightmare when hours later, the doctor informs them that Kaylynn has passed away with no apparent causes. The death of their child shocks Adrian and Laura and the tragedy threatens to tear their marriage apart.
Rather than spend time with one another grieving, they each grieve on their own. Laura throws herself into her work and while away on a conference, meets Ben. Ben is an angel who brings peace to Laura, but also informs her that Kaylynn is alive - she was switched with a dead infant and sold to parents who want to adopt. Laura wants her daughter back at all costs and rushes off to tell Adrian.
He doesn't believe in her talk about angels and assures Laura that she needs counseling. She is adamant about Kaylynn being alive and sets out to prove it on her own. When another angel shows up called Ryan, he leads her to a darker path. Will Laura be able to choose the right path and get Kaylynn back? Or will her path lead her to destruction? Not only of herself but to others? She needs God's guidance to help her, as well as love.
Final Birth is an amazing spiritual journey with Laura. The high and darker points of her life and how she chooses which path to take and why will have you questioning your own self, if put in the same situation. Great character development, seamless writing, and a good vs. evil subplot will keep you turning the pages! A haunting and engaging story from a talented new author!
March 23, 2012
This story is one of choices, emotional devastation and a mother trying to rescue her child and her marriage. A decidedly chaotic story full of hope then devastation; anger and concern; and the choices we each must make between good and evil.
I thought the story was great, the theme unique and the writing was pretty well done. I did not see how the prologue story had anything to do with the main story and should not have even been included. It left me frustrated, not knowing how Anna had anything at all to do with the story, except as something just thrown in. It really didn’t make any sense. Then the ending was a bit odd – left me with more questions than answers. I liked the story itself for the most part, but felt it needed something more to make it flow better.
Overall it was a good, emotional read and kept me questioning what I would do, and how I would handle the circumstances Laura was in. It is always a good author who can keep the reader guessing, and keep a reader’s interest.
As always, my reviews are my personal opinion - each person has different likes and dislikes. I encourage you to give this book and author a chance!
Ebook available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble for only $0.99
*I received a free ARC ebook copy of this story for my review. All reviews are my personal opinion. See my Policy & Disclosure page for more info.
I thought the story was great, the theme unique and the writing was pretty well done. I did not see how the prologue story had anything to do with the main story and should not have even been included. It left me frustrated, not knowing how Anna had anything at all to do with the story, except as something just thrown in. It really didn’t make any sense. Then the ending was a bit odd – left me with more questions than answers. I liked the story itself for the most part, but felt it needed something more to make it flow better.
Overall it was a good, emotional read and kept me questioning what I would do, and how I would handle the circumstances Laura was in. It is always a good author who can keep the reader guessing, and keep a reader’s interest.
As always, my reviews are my personal opinion - each person has different likes and dislikes. I encourage you to give this book and author a chance!
Ebook available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble for only $0.99
*I received a free ARC ebook copy of this story for my review. All reviews are my personal opinion. See my Policy & Disclosure page for more info.
January 23, 2013
The worst book I've ever read and probably the worst book ever written. It's too bad I got an electronic version, because I would literally build a bonfire JUST to burn this book. The premise seemed good enough - a happily married couple struggling with a high risk pregnancy - but the execution was not. I got the sense that the author had taken two different manuscripts and shuffled them together like cards. All over the place. Overall, I felt confused through most of the book and extremely offended through the rest. Though I am extremely religious, the religious undertones in this book were almost sarcastic in their level of melodrama. Do not recommend.
March 26, 2012
At first I didn't like this book, it took me a full week to get 1/4 of the way through (it made me cry in parts), but today I decided I was going to sit down and read the rest of it and I'm glad I did. Still won't make my favorite books but it's a good christian story. I liked the cliff hanger at the end and I think I'd read book 2 if there was one. This book was definetly different than pretty much anything I've ever read so far. 3 (and 1/2) stars from me.
February 14, 2016
The idea of battling angels is very terrifying. When I started reading this book I did not stop until I was done. The idea of angels playing with someone’s sole is beyond anything I have ever thought of.
I thought the book was very well written and a real page turner although it left me a bit on the shocked side.
I thought the book was very well written and a real page turner although it left me a bit on the shocked side.
March 26, 2016
I loved this book! It was intriguing and kept me coming back for more over and over. The characters are awesome and develop throughout the story. At no point was this book become stagnant or boring. It obviously has religion but it's not at all preachy or what you would expect from a book with religion in it, it makes you think though.
May 14, 2013
As a person of Faith, I believe that angels are everywhere. They are on this Earth to serve God by protecting and help to guide his warriors. This is a wonderful read that serves to testify to what I know to be true.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews