Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

I recently received a copy of Calitare Restore in my mailbox. Alixandria DeSpain and Lucinda Laughlin sent me a copy of their book and requested I consider it for review. I added the book to my ever-growing stack. It took me a few weeks before I pulled it from the shelf. I had no idea the adventure that lay ahead of me; if I had, I would have immediately opened the cover.

DeSpain and Laughlin have created a delightful land called Calitare. Mermaids and magic abound. Willow, Evadne,and their adopted brother, Gustave, live happily with their father the King. Then war threatened the inhabitants of Calitare. The sisters stand strong in the midst of battle, relying on God for strength and salvation.

I found this story amazing. Calitare is Christian romance and fantasy. The love story is one of purity and innocence. The authors manage to share the gospel with readers. I am reminded of C.S. Lewis. In their own way, they have described the relationship between humans and God. They demonstrate salvation, forgiveness, and grace in a way that is easy to understand. They manage all of this without being preachy. Their tale is filled with enough adventure to keep the reader eagerly turning the pages. Calitare will appeal to all ages. This is the first book in this series. I will be watching closely for the names Alixandria DeSpain and Lucinda Laughlin. I think we will be hearing much more from them.