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Adios, Blog--My One Word 2012

2012-01-31T15:59:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, this blog will go inactive as of today. This will be my last post for an indeterminate amount of time, as other things have risen on my priority list and replaced keeping this monster going.

And so, here it is: My One Word 2012

TRUST
What kind of person do I want to become this year? That's such a loaded question. There are so many things I'd like to be, so many things I want to do better, so many habits I want to get rid of. But my relationship with God is the center of all this, and if it's not growing, then I'm not really going to accomplish anything of worth. Any progress would be in my own strength, and that's not ideal or even acceptable.

I've been doing My One Word ever since the beginning in 2007. Some words have proved very fruitful in my life; others, not so much. But that wasn't the words' fault. It was my own. Often, I didn't keep focus as I should. But 2012 is a new year and I'm determined to deepen my walk with God through fully trusting Him. With every area of my life.

It seems so impossible. When I think of what I want to be and do, I think of what's holding me back. I think, “Why is it I don't do what I already know God has told me to do?” “What is holding me back?” The biggest answer to that is fear: fear of loss, discomfort, loneliness, rejection, death, sickness, aging, eternity. The list can go on.

But I know that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. It is wide and deep and long and unconditional. He holds me in His hand and will not let me go. I am chosen, sealed, kept. All things work together for my good.

So, what kind of person do I want to be? Someone at peace, not driven by fear, firmly planted in God's word and ready and willing to go and do whenever the Lord calls. I want to see the blessings of a close walk with God, not what I'm giving up or losing. I want to trust God with everything, not holding back because of I'm afraid of the consequences. I want to boldly move forward after hearing from God because I know His way is best and He loves me.

Is it scary? Absolutely. Can I do it? With God's help, yes. Will it take deliberate work? Yes. Will it be easy? No. Will it be rewarding? Yes. I have to do this—God has laid it on my heart. So here we go!

Jeremiah 17: 7, 8 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Pick your own My One Word here: My One Word

An Announcement, etc.

2012-01-20T11:54:00.000-05:00

You know how life is...we have seasons where a certain thing is very important, when the time it demands from us is acceptable, enjoyable. But then activities are added and others have to be subtracted. I'm thinking it's time to let the blog go.

I will no longer be participating in the CSFF Blog tour (it's the only one I do anymore) because I'm too erratic with it and I don't think I'm helping the tour or the authors. I won't be reviewing books here anymore because I do that with Suspense Zone and Title Trakk. The only thing I will probably miss posting are my yearly updates on My One Word...which I am still thinking about this year but haven't decided on yet. I think that will be my last post for this blog.

I hate deleting things that have been online...I don't like thinking that people can't reference my reviews or other thoughts if they want to (even me, in case I can't find the file on my computer), so I'm leaving the blog up, at least for now. But it will be inactive, so don't expect to see any more posts, except one before the end of the month for MOW.

I'm going to try to commit to journaling more, for personal use, and then use FB for any important notes that I want friends to see. If anyone reads this and can think of a good reason to maintain my blog, please let me know. Since I'm not writing anymore, I don't see a web presence, at least with this venue, being too important. I do love the blog tours (I used to be a member of three), but with home schooling, church, bible study, and other things, I can't swing them anymore. I'm glad to at least still be reviewing occasionally for the aforementioned wonderful sites.

So yeah. Thanks for following and for reading, those of you who did.

CSFF Blog Tour: The Bone House, by Stephen Lawhead

2011-10-25T13:59:00.001-04:00

The Bone House is the second book in the Bright Empires series. You can read my brief review of The Skin Map, the first book HERE

Kit Livingstone, taught by his great grandfather Cosimo, has learned the art of ley line travel, a way to step into different universes at different times in history. Along with Sir Henry's driver, Giles, Kit continues his quest for the elusive skip map, which is they key to understanding the mysteries of the multiverse. Kit's friend Mina, who is thrown unwittingly into 17th century Prague, adapts quite well and by the end, can travel more easily and accurately than Kit, thanks to a ley-finding device. Though they were separated, they find their way together again in The Bone House. For a while at least.

I discovered Lawhead years ago with his epic novel Byzantium, and I have been enthralled with his writing ever since. Sadly, I haven't yet read all of his works, but next to his Robin Hood trilogy, the Bright Empires series is his best to date, in my opinion.

Lawhead's fiction isn't your regular genre fiction. And it isn't your regular Christian fiction, either. On both counts, I'm thankful. Lawhead strangely bridges gaps between literary and genre fiction, and Christian and mainstream fiction. The Bright Empires series transcends genre and religion; it contains suspense, sci-fi, fantasy, and historical elements, while not having either an overtly Christian character that goes about trying to save others or any points about which the author preaches to the reader. Lawhead is too brilliant for that. That said, the spiritual implications of the story are far-reaching, if not just to make the reader think about how big God and His creation are.

My only complaint with the series is that I still have too many unanswered questions that I'm dying to have answered with the third book. And that's my own fault. Every time I think about Kit's travels and the legacy (or absence of) of Flinders-Petrie, of the cave men and the Egyptians, of the Burley men...I'm stunned. I'm emotionally involved, even though I didn't think I would be even as far in as the middle of The Skin Map. We don't even learn the significance of the bone house in The Bone House until far into the book, but its importance is striking.

I give the book 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. I only took off a half a star because Lawhead skipped around in time and place so much from chapter to chapter, sometimes I had to pause and remind myself where/when everyone was and set myself straight before I continued.

Lawhead is so above me, that I can't even explain how good the book/series is with much clarity. So I guess I'll stop now and leave that to others who can.

The Book Link
Author's Web Site

Participant Links (Check 'em out!):
Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Jeff Chapman
Carol Bruce Collett
Karri Compton
D. G. D. Davidson
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Janeen Ippolito
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Marzabeth
Katie McCurdy
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Review of One Step Away, by Eric Wilson

2011-08-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

Eric Wilson never just writes a book. His stories are always rife with meaning, linked with each other somehow, and always compelling.

Bret and Sarah Vreeland have a great marriage and family, but their world is being torn apart by the stress of their financial situation. Even good jobs and a good church family can only go so far in helping them manage. Something's gotta give, but they have nothing left to give. Add to that Sarah's continuing grief over a lost fiancé and Bret's strained relationship with his dad, and you have a recipe for disaster.

You'd think the Vreelands have enough on their plates, but the evil one is looking for someone to test. Like in the Book of Job, Satan seeks to pull the creation away from the Creator; however his time, he wants to do it through blessing instead of loss. What will the couple do with more money than they ever dreamed? Will they turn their backs on God and instead rely on themselves? This is what the reader will find out when Sarah unexpectedly inherits an estate worth six million dollars.

As one could guess, the money brings troubles of its own. But Bret and Sarah couldn't have imagined having to deal with an unknown stalker who will ultimately threaten their very lives.

Wilson has long been an author to be watched. His trademark contemporary suspense with historical links and supernatural underpinnings are genius and highly underrated in the fiction world. With One Step Away he has created a lightning-paced drama both suspenseful and emotive. Fans of Fireproof, Flywheel, and Facing the Giants will appreciate the treatment of the Vreeland family's plight and how they handle themselves in the midst of trial. Fans of the Jerusalem's Undead and Aramis Black series will enjoy the danger, mystery, and surprises along the way.

I highly recommend this book and hope there are many others like it to come.

Visit Eric's website here to find more great fiction.

CSFF Blog Tour: Darkness Follows, by Mike Dellosso

2011-06-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

Sam Travis thinks he is going insane, and he just might be. After having to take an extended leave from his work as a carpenter due to a nasty head injury, life is hard enough. But when he hears shots outside his Gettysburg home, it's not just a random event. He starts hearing the voice of his dead brother, while waking from his visions to a Civil War soldier's journal—but it's in Sam's handwriting. He has no memory of writing it.

So who is the enigmatic Samuel Whiting and how does Sam know so much about his life and about the war? Nothing makes sense anymore, and Sam's life takes a downward spiral into depression and hopelessness. If not for the love and faith of his wife and young daughter, his life would certainly be over. What can save him from the darkness, and from himself?

I wish I had read any of Dellosso's other books, so I would have something of his to compare this book to, or at least have some sort of reference to what his writing was like. But since I haven't, I would have to say his writing sort of reminds me of Travis Thrasher's. Not exactly, but sort of. And I'm not entirely thrilled with Thrasher's stuff (a bit too weird and dark), so maybe that created a problem for me.

Dellosso weaves Civil War history into this suspenseful tale, one of the more interesting aspects of the story, along with the allusion to sins of the fathers traveling down through generations. There was quite a bit of violence and depictions of abuse, which some readers may find distasteful, but the author brings everything to a satisfying ending. That said, I didn't care for the last few chapters, which served as more of an Epilogue/Afterward. I'm not sure all that was needed, or at least it could have been tied up differently.

I did like the strength of the daughter's love for her dad and God. It showed the power of a child's faith, and God's ability to do anything to get people's attention. There would have not been much of a story without her.

“The darkness” that came over multiple characters seemed to me like demon possession, although it wasn't specifically made out to be so. I have never believed that a Christian can actually be possessed. So maybe this is more of a matter of “oppression” but I'm not sure. And of course I could be wrong. I'll be interested in what others say about it.

All in all for a book of suspense, I'd give it a 3 ½ or 4 out of 5. The clever idea of 1863 and the present paralleling each other, along with overarching themes of love, faith, prayer, and perseverance made an otherwise okay book really good.

THE BOOK LINK
AUTHOR WEBSITE

Participant Links:

Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Chris Deane
Cynthia Dyer
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

A Good Website I Recently Found

2011-05-19T13:30:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Girls

They're doing an online summer book study right now, which I think is pretty cool. And anything that can help our walk with God, well, I'm for.

CSFF Blog Tour: The Ale Boy's Feast, by Jeffrey Overstreet

2011-05-15T22:06:00.000-04:00

When I heard we were doing a tour for this novel, I was excited because I had already read it and knew it was a fantastic ending to the Auralia Thread series. You can read my review HERE.

The Book Link

Author Website

Check out the blogs of our other participants!

Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Shane Deal
Chris Deane
Cynthia Dyer
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Inae Kyo
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Karen McSpadden
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler

CSFF Blog Tour: The Resurrection, by Mike Duran

2011-03-22T11:54:00.001-04:00

This story, to me, is about how people respond to the supernatural. I've long been a fan of supernatural suspense. We often forget in this material world that there are invisible things happening all around us that affect us more than we could imagine. God wants us to step up and live for Him when we can't see or understand—”Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29b NIV)

Reverend Ian Clark has let his faith fall by the wayside for longer than he cares to admit, sees an apparition in his corner (which he repeatedly ignores), and has formed an association with a less than savory professor who we know from the beginning is bad news.

Enter Clark's “prayer team” that includes Ruby Case. She's a normal woman, a wife and mom, who cares about her family, friends, and church. Nothing could prepare her for what happens when she attends the funeral of a local boy. He sits up in his casket right after she touches him. Needless to say, it causes an uproar in the town and people take sides as to the cause and meaning of the event.

Things become more and more serious as Ruby and Clark find out what's really going on in Canyon Springs Church and Stonetree. Curses and demons become more than stuff of legend and imagination. And people will die.

---

I've been reading blog posts and book reviews from Mike Duran for years. I'm not sure where I first heard of him—maybe it was from The Lost Genre Guild, who are huge proponents of speculative fiction. His thoughts are fresh and interesting, and I could tell he's a good writer just from his non-fiction.

That said, I'm not sure I can rant and rave about The Resurrection and say it'll be the next big hit. But it's not bad, either. It's quite good. I enjoyed it from a reader's perspective. While I didn't sympathize as much as I would have liked to with Reverend Clark, I thoroughly enjoyed Ruby's character, though. All the characters were three-dimensional and had their own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. I admired Ruby's guts, and I'm glad Clark finally found some gumption as well.

From a reviewer's perspective, I kept thinking this was Peretti-esque. That's not necessarily a negative thing, I guess. I can't think of anything else to really compare it to. I kind of knew where it was going, in general, and I did expect many of the plot points. But the story was handled well and Duran did do something with one of the characters that I didn't see coming. I do kind of wish it had more witty moments. I'm probably spoiled, and I don't even know why this occurred to me, but it wasn't funny. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. Hey, that's okay, too. It did read as more heavy and eerie and contemplative.

All in all I think this is a great inaugural opus and I expect even better things in the future as Duran grows as a writer.

THE BOOK LINK

MIKE'S WEBSITE

PARTICIPANT LINKS:

Noah Arsenault
Brandon Barr
Red Bissell
Book Reviews By Molly
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Wanda Costinak
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Janey DeMeo
Cynthia Dyer
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McNear
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

CSFF Tour: The God Hater, by Bill Myers

2011-02-21T11:20:00.001-05:00

Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie is a professor at the University of California. He's also a reclusive atheist. Nothing thrills him more than to explain the detriment religion is to humans, which makes it nearly inconceivable that he is friends with believer Annie Brooks and her son Rusty. Nicholas' world is shaken when abducted by false FBI agents trying to find Nicholas' brother Travis, a computer genius who has designed the most important technology of the 21st century.

Nicholas and Annie are drawn into even more danger when Travis shows them the most intricate programming he has ever seen, but there is a problem, and Travis is counting on Nicholas to help him. Meanwhile, the search is on for those who will stop at nothing to obtain Travis' valuable secrets.

Myers never ceases to amaze and to inspire. His stories are imaginative and poignant, always entertaining and bringing home time-honored truths. Although the reader gets a good sense of what is going to happen, he still inserts elements of surprise. There is something for everyone in this thought-provoking tale.

***SPOILERS****SPOILERS****SPOILERS****SPOILERS****

Usually I leave out any spoiler in my book reviews, but I feel compelled to comment on a major event near the end of the story. Do not continue to read if this will ruin the book for you.

I was drawn in by the compassion Nicholas had for Alpha 11 and the other people in the community. He saw how their society had failed so many times because they had no knowledge of their creator or the “rules” for living in their world. They had yet to stumble upon the right answers because they were never given full information.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This is what Jesus says in the book of John and then goes on to prove he has this kind of love by literally dying for mankind. This kind of sacrifice is what Nicholas learns by the end, and why it was necessary. A perfectly fitting conclusion.

***END SPOILERS***END SPOILERS***END SPOILERS***

Amazon Book Link

Author Website

Bill Myers FB Page

Participant Links--Check 'em out!

Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson
Kathy Brasby

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All words and opinions are mine, and not coerced.

My One Word 2011

2011-01-19T14:08:00.002-05:00

New Year's resolutions—they don't work for most people. I know they've never worked for me. And they've never worked for my pastor, Mike Ashcraft. He loves the beginning of a new year and five years ago he decided to do something better than making another resolution he wasn't going to keep. He decided to think about what kind of person he wanted to be, something he needed to work on, and whittle it down to just One Word. He put One Word in front of him that whole year and watched his life be transformed. Then he shared it with us, his congregation. And now we have a website including people's One Word stories, a blog, and journal found HERE that has literally spread across the nation.

So far my words have been:
2007 – surrender
2008 – perseverance
2009 – abide
2010 – perspective

I had almost picked “best” for my One Word (as in giving God my best, and doing my best in everything I do) but it didn't stick. I also considered “focus” and “live” but they weren't right either. Mike said a week ago Sunday that our One Word would probably be one we were very uncomfortable with. That hasn't been true of me in past years, but little did I know it would indeed be true this year. As I asked God what to choose, a word popped into my head that I didn't expect and honestly didn't really want to hear—a word that is going to require a lot of me, and yet that is simple in many ways—PRAY.

Yes, PRAY is a verb, a doing word. I tried to get away from a doing word last year. It only went well until about August and then it fizzled out like flat soda. “Perspective” proved to be a bit too nebulous, and it was my fault for neglecting a lot of the Word Journal entries I had committed to complete. Still, I do think the word “perspective” helped me keep my head in some situations that were very stressful last year. Which is a good thing.

This year I think God is throwing me back to the basics of Christian living. I've been a believer for 31 years. I have studied prayer, I have prayed out loud in groups, I have written about prayer, I have made spreadsheets detailing my prayer lists. I know a lot about and have experienced a lot of prayer. I have seen many answers to prayer. However, my life is obviously deficient in this area or God wouldn't have given it to me. Maybe I haven't been as faithful in prayer as I needed to be. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” We are told in the Bible to pray continually, pray so we won't fall into temptation, pray with persistence, pray in Jesus' name, pray about everything, pray on all occasions.

Jesus is a wonderful example for us to follow in this regard. He often got up early and went off alone to pray (see Mark 1:35). He taught His disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). His prayer for us and the world is found in John 17. And I would be remiss if I didn't reference his selfless prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39b).

If we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). God promises to answer when we call on Him. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b).

What kind of person do I want to be? I want to be a person of prayer. I want prayer to be my first thought, not my last resort. I don't want to have knee-jerk reactions, but a prayerful heart that is responsive to the Spirit and to others. I want to lift my fellow Christians up, to be there for them when they need me to pray. I want to be more faithful to pray for those I know who need Jesus, who need to take another step towards Him. I want to see answers, even miracles happen because I took the time to petition the Lord of the Universe for His will. I want prayer to transform me into His likeness, to make me more caring, loving, God-dependent, joyful, concerned, faith-filled, confident, empowered.

God only knows the ways in which my One Word will change me. And it's up to me to put PRAY into action, to plan my life accordingly so it will remain always with me and become an integral part of my life. I'm apprehensive and yet excited because I trust God—his character, his promises, his ways. I don't have to be afraid, because I can trust Him with my life, both now and forever.

So how about you? Have you picked your One Word?

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T22:50:00.004-05:00

And a white one it is...we had a great time celebrating today.

CSFF Tour: The Skin Map, by Stephen Lawhead

2010-11-02T13:57:00.003-04:00

First off, know that this is the first book of a series (something I didn't realize until after reading) and the end will leave you hanging in space and maybe confused. That said, it was a good read, if a little slow.

Kit, who leads a boring life in England, is visited by his should-be-dead great-grandfather Cosimo, who proceeds to take him to another dimension via "ley lines" only a few people know about. After returning home, Kit enlists his girlfriend Mina to go with him on one of these other-worldly journeys only for them to end up separated from each other in different times and places. Kit tries to find Mina while also trying to find out about the elusive skin map.

Lawhead is one of the most detailed and well-researched fantasy writers I've ever read. He totally immerses himself in his stories (in one interview he said he has been thinking about The Skin Map for 15 years or so) and it totally shows in his plot and setting complexities.

I'm only a fan of historical fiction in certain instances, and this is one of them, because it's not really historical fiction--no more than it is fantasy or sci-fi or adventure. It's an amalgamation of all those imbued with Lawhead's signature style, albeit a bit lighter and with less moral/spiritual meat.

The Amazon Book Link
Author Website

Participant links:

Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
George Duncan
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson

Subtle disclaimer: My words are my own and I was given nothing for this review. I even bought my own book.

The Bishop, by Steven James--Revell Blog Tour

2010-08-02T14:32:00.007-04:00

This review is going to sound like I got paid to write it (well, my skills aren't that incredible, but still) or at least sound like I'm a psychotic overzealous fan; however, I received nothing for it except a free review copy of the book. Which is entirely enough payment for me. And I'm not psychotic. Promise. :)

If you look at my previous reviews of James' novels, you'll see that I am indeed crazy about the whole Patrick Bowers Thriller series:

THE PAWN Review at Suspense Zone

THE ROOK Review (here on my blog)

THE KNIGHT Review (here on my blog)

The Bishop continues the intrigue of Patrick Bower's cases, and explores further his relationships to his daughter Tessa, ex-girlfriend Lien-Hua, would be more-than-friend Cheyenne Warren and even DEA Margaret Wellington. Throw Tessa's real but estranged dad Paul Lansing in the mix and Pat is bound for even more trouble.

Patrick must track not one killer but a pair of them. When a young woman is found dead, killed in an unbelievably heinous fashion, Pat knows he is in for his most difficult case yet. Worse, the killers seem to anticipate the agents' every move, proving worthy opponents for Pat's keen intellect.

Though The Bishop is over 500 pages long, nowhere does the action slow too much or the author include unnecessary padding to lengthen the story. On the contrary, each plot line is so fully developed and interwoven, the action so intense, that I dare any reader to not feel saddened that the ending is near.

I always try to make James' books last, but I cannot put them down and usually end up reading them in one or two sittings. He did not get his Masters in storytelling for nothing (Can you believe universities actually award that degree?). The man can flat out write and I'm extremely picky.

As with his other books, I can't tell too much about it without giving spoilers (which I don't like to do) so everyone is just going to go out and buy it and judge for themselves. Suffice it to say that I don't like monkeys nearly as much as I used to...and I'm scared of a few other things now as well. But The Bishop does end rather nicely, less open-ended than the others in the series, and ties up quite a few ends, if not everything.

Rating: Five stars, two thumbs up, one very satisfied reader.

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2010-07-21T12:33:00.001-04:00

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Valley of Bones, by Eric Wilson--my review

2010-06-25T21:43:00.003-04:00

Happy. Satisfied. Excited. Thoughtful. These are some of the emotions I felt after finishing the last of the Jerusalem's Undead series. Though I'm sad that the saga is over, reluctant to let the characters in these three books (as well as from other Wilson novels) go, and eager for whatever is next, I can say that the conclusion did exactly what it should have. It was all I hoped for, if a little less traumatic than I had originally expected.

And so the battle between the evil, undead Collectors and the good, doubly-alive Nistarim continues with losses on both sides. Gina Lazarescu has had to fake her own death and go into hiding, separated from her son Jacob, who she previously thought was dead. But her hope for his future, along with Those Who Resist, keep her strong and on task. Along with Cal, Jed, Josee, and Sarge, Gina trains and waits for the time when they can finally rid the earth of the evil that is literally sucking the life out of humans. From Oregon to Israel, our beloved characters push the drama to its ultimate end, with every story line melding into a finale worth the wait.

Nowhere is the struggle between good and evil written so originally, yet so understandably like our own real-life conflict. Wilson makes sure the reader is disgusted by the methods of the enemies by picturing them in all of their grotesqueness. He also shows downfalls as well as triumphs of the heroes who are so much like you and me. Over and over the story shows Nazarene blood prevailing no matter the failings of its followers or the obstacles they face.

I really don't know how Eric will top this, although, considering how far he has come in his writing, I have no doubt that he will continue to surprise and amaze us with something truer, deeper, and more breathtaking. I can't recommend reading only one of these three books in the series, because a reader really needs to start from the beginning and go all the way to the end—which is a great thing for those just discovering Wilson, since all of the books are released now and there will be no waiting in between!

Coming Soon...

2010-06-19T17:30:00.002-04:00

Yes, I've gotten a little distracted by super-couponing, but in this economy, you can't blame me. It has become somewhat of an obsession, and although I'm still reading and reviewing, I haven't taken the time to post enough reviews of the good stuff I've been reading.

You can still find my reviews at Title Trakk and The Christian Suspense Zone as well.

But here's some new info...

At the beginning of August, I'll be posting a review of the long-awaited Steven James novel, The Bishop, which I know will rock our collective socks off.

If I can recover from company and kids going to camp, I'll finally post, hopefully next week, my review of Eric Wilson's Valley of Bones, which was a more than fitting ending to his incredible series.

So, my apologies for dropping the ball, as it were. My love for fiction still resounds throughout the internet and I intend to get back to promoting it with more fervor and more frequent posts.

CSFF Tour: By Darkness Hid, by Jill Williamson

2010-05-19T18:52:00.002-04:00

Amazon Book Link

Visit Jill's Blog Here

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to read this book yet, although it sounds really good. I didn't receive one for the tour and my household is on a kind of spending freeze, so yeah. I've only heard great things, though, as I'm sure our other participants can attest to. Here are their links:

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

CSFF Blog Tour presents: Raven's Ladder, by Jeffrey Overstreet

2010-04-26T12:06:00.003-04:00

MY REVIEW:

Displaced King Cal-raven and his people must leave the shelter of Barnasham and head off to the New Abascar Cal-raven has seen in his dreams. But there are many obstacles to re-establishing his people, one of which is House Bel Amica. Their wealth, beauty, bounty, and strange religion all draw Abascar's remnant in and ensnare them, making them want to stay in the seaside city instead of striking off for their new home.

Even Cal-raven gets sidetracked from his original plan (albeit it's a good sort of sidetracked), agreeing to help Cyndere, Jordam, and Ale Boy rescue the prisoners of House Cent Regus.

I liked that the author showed us several characters' points of view, including Jordam, Cyndere, Cal-raven, Tabor Jan, Emereine, Ale Boy, and others. I had hoped that many of the previous books' characters would come into play, and I was not disappointed.

I've loved this series from the beginning. The first two books were incredible. Overstreet certainly has a gift for story-telling and for immersing his readers into the fictive fantasy world. However, this third book in the series made me feel like I was wading through molasses--too slow of a pace. Much of the problem was probably that I didn't realize there would be a fourth book until the very end. That fact made me accept the open-endedness of this book and see it in a little different light. ('Course, I'm the person who hated The Empire Strikes Back because it was too dark, hopeless, and left things hanging, so take my opinion for what it's worth.) I think Overstreet focused more on character development here than packing the action, although there is plenty of that as well.

The positives far outweigh any negatives regarding this story. I have no doubt the last installment will be spectacular, and I look forward to reading it.

The Amazon Book Link
Author Website and Blog

Participant Links:
Brandon Barr
Rachel Briard (BooksForLife)
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

Unneeded disclaimer: I did NOT get a free copy of this book from the CSFF tour. However, I did get it free from another website that I review for, but no other compensation, and my words are my own.

Update

2010-04-19T12:34:00.003-04:00

No reviews lately, but I have been reading. I just finished James Patterson's new Alex Cross book called Alex Cross' Trial. Extremely absorbing, if you can handle the language. He handled the story with excellence, in my opinion, as difficult as the subject matter was (racism around the turn of the 20th century).

I'm also re-reading The Bride Collector for review and have one or ten other things going on.

For now, I'm excited because I've gotten involved with extreme couponing and am obsessed with saving money. I just got two boxes (yes boxes, not reams) of Hammermill Copy Plus paper from Staples for $5 each! Wanna know how? Go here:

Southern Savers

This is my new favorite website. Jenny finds me all the deals!

Another Frugal Day!

2010-03-25T11:28:00.004-04:00

I got these 16 items all for $13.86! That bag in the front is some more frozen fruit--you can't tell by my camera angle. Whoops. AND, I have a coupon for a free gallon of milk on my next trip. That's worth around $3!

Now a Frugal Fanatic!

2010-03-24T11:22:00.005-04:00

Sorry for departing from the books/writing theme, but I just had to share.

Thanks to super-couponing I got the above 16 items for only $10.70!! The Coffee Mate creamer alone is usually around $3 and so is the Dole frozen fruit. We use these items all the time.

Taking advantage of coupons in the Sunday paper and printable ones online in conjunction with Harris Teeter Triple Coupon Week really paid off. Find out how to do this on the Southern Savers site. And no, I do not receive perks for mentioning Jenny's site. I just love it that much! You should see the deals I get from Walgreen's and CVS every week. Amazing.

Tea With Hezbollah

2010-02-11T16:04:00.003-05:00

Expect a thoughtful review later. I haven't yet finished the book. Know now, though, that this is unlike anything you've ever seen from Ted or anyone else for that matter.

My One Word 2010 - Perspective

2010-02-02T11:13:00.000-05:00

Amazing how long it took me to pick a word this year. Maybe it's because I had a hard time hearing from God. Admittedly, I made less use of my word "abide" last year than I should have. Somehow, somewhere, the spirit behind last year's word got lost and I wandered in a desert of wishy-washiness.

But all of that is aside now. For the last few weeks, I've been batting around possible words to focus on--words such as committed, consistency, example, disciple, obey, faithful. But as I thought about those words, I realized that they, as well as the last three words I've chosen (surrender, perseverance, abide), are "doing" words. They talk about something I should do. Pastor Mike said recently that we need to concentrate on what God wants us to BE, not what he wants us to DO. Sure, being godly requires doing some things. But it starts with that character, that attitude, that longing, that righteousness, that faith inside of us. Our doing overflows from who we are.

And so, after much ado, I've chosen the word PERSPECTIVE. Some important synonyms: mindset, attitude, frame of reference, viewpoint. I want God's perspective, not my own. I don't want to live by my own ideas of what to be and do. I want to know God and his word enough to see God's ways and methods and where he's moving. I want to see myself and others through his eyes. I need a bigger, better perspective--one that's not so selfish and myopic.

It's usually easy to pick a bible verse to go with my word. Usually my word is inspired directly by a certain scripture. Not this time. I had to think about it for a while to know which verse to relate to my word. Here it is:

I Corinthians 2:16b - "But we have the mind of Christ." The whole paragraph before this verse talks about how we can't know God's thoughts apart from God's Spirit, and how the Spirit reveals things to us. We have God's Spirit so (among other reasons) we "may understand what God has freely given us." I'm meditating on that part some more so I can figure out what it means to me. Like Paul said in Philippians 3, "I consider everything a loss to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ..." and in Romans 12, "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I have to change my attitude, my mindset, to the one God has, as much as possible. This is going to require more bible study, more prayer, more reflection. I'm not sure where this word will take me, but I have no doubt I will grow closer to the One that holds me in his hand. The great and glorious One whose thoughts and ways are higher than mine, and yet, who has given me the mind of Christ. Big stuff.

Lord, save me from my own view of things. Change my attitude and transform my mind. Give me your mind, eyes, and heart. Grow me into a person who knows you so well that I see things from your perspective and act accordingly. Amen.

Becoming New

2010-01-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

It's a new year again. Time to take stock of our lives, seeking to use the present to redeem the past and consequently change our future.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come." (HCSV)

It goes without saying that our new lives in Christ should be different from our old lives without Christ. We are made for him, and our daily walks should reflect a moment by moment dependence on him. However, being is more important than doing. As my pastor puts it, "What will we be?" not "What will we do?" How should our mindset change in order to become what God wants us to be?

I've heard several pastors/teachers/speakers saying the same sorts of things about this very topic. My own pastor spoke last week of the importance of being quiet and listening to what God says to us in his Word. About slowing down and how you know that you're too busy if you don't have time for God. Is the pace we are running at right now sustainable? Or are we heading for an eventual breakdown? I have seen this happen and it's not pretty. It would behoove us to re-evaluate our priorities and see what needs to be switched around or canned completely.

Dr. Richard Swenson, a futurist, speaker, and author talks about putting margin into our lives. About how we have to say no to things. I recommend listening to him speak and/or reading articles he has written. He's an expert on many subjects and puts everything into perspective clearly and logically.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you." - Matthew 6:33 (HCSV)

This is the most important thing when thinking about renewing our minds, softening our hearts, and slowing down our pace in order to listen to God--putting the kingdom of God first. After all, we belong to that kingdom, and its advancement should be of utmost value to us.

Ephesians 3:14-21: "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. [I pray] that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. [I pray that] you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth [of God's love], and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think-according to the power that works in you--to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (HCSV)

Slow down and listen to God this year. Focus on being and not doing. If you are listening closely to the Spirit, he will tell you what you ought to do. But focus instead on being. Then look and see how your calendar/schedule changes as a result. See how your attitude and outlook changes. Our God is doing a new thing, and he is doing it through us.

Peace.
(cross posted at the Ted Dekker website on the Modfia blog)

2010-01-04T13:19:00.002-05:00

Karri Compton is a contributing author to this collaborative fiction book, created by twenty-seven authors and artists from six different countries.

An immigrant and her young daughter, struggling to reach their dream…a special needs child, searching for hope…a newly released ex-con, seeking forgiveness. They have one thing in common—they’re about to be touched by God in a way they never imagined.

All through a simple postcard.

Brought up in a strict Muslim home in London, Sulafa has recently experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Now, despite fear of discovery and its consequences, she knows she has to spread the good news. In an act of bravery, she sends out postcards with a single message: Let me pray for you. Her simple postcard request impacts lives and brings hope in the midst of hopelessness.

The second of many anticipated books from Peculiar People, Delivered is a collection of short stories that intertwine to deliver a single message. It is the work of twenty-five authors with one united voice, proclaiming the power of God to transform lives, and His ability to do the miraculous in the most ordinary of circumstances.

Quote of the Day

2010-01-02T15:30:00.001-05:00

"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is." --Albert Camus

Stay tuned for my New Year's blog--it's in process now.

Old Fiction

2009-12-09T09:40:00.002-05:00

I must admit, if a novel is more than a few years old, I probably won't pick it up to read unless it's one that was really popular and recommended.

Several weeks ago, I found a copy of Francine Rivers' As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion series), first published in 1995 in a library sale. If you're an avid reader of Christian fiction, you know how it has changed in the ensuing years as well as the publishing industry.

I've heard Rivers is an excellent storyteller as well as an impeccable researcher. Redeeming Love is probably her most well-known--all of my friends rave about it. No, I haven't read it yet. I know, I know, please don't start with the accusations. It's just that I don't like romance unless it's done right and the only other book I've read that's remotely close in nature to that one is Kay Arthur's Israel, My Beloved (I did like that one.) So, give me more time. :)

Anyway, back to As Sure as the Dawn. It's the third (and I think final) book in the series. I did not read the earlier books, and now I'm conflicted on whether to read them or not. Why? Keep reading.

This book is a story of standing up for Christ, being a witness, loving people into the kingdom, and much more. Atretes, the gladiator from the previous books, has bought/won his freedom and now lives in his own villa. He has been betrayed by his lover, Julia, who no longer wants to marry him and has, as far as Atretes knows, thrown their baby son into the sea to die.

He finds the boy in the care of one of John the Beloved's followers, an Ionian named Rizpah. The rest is a story of how she leads Atretes to Christ and they take the gospel back to his homeland of Germania.

I find no fault with the story line. It seems historically accurate and the characters leap off the page in their realness. For some, it may seem very preachy. Sometimes this bothers me, but not here. I found it inspiring and very moving.

Now for the downside. And this is, I think, the only downside I can find--the POV. Rivers uses 3rd omnicient POV, head-hopping from one line of dialogue to another. You never quite know whose thoughts you will be hearing. She usually pairs thoughts with whoever is speaking, but it's not a hard and fast rule. For someone like me who has mostly read deep/close 3rd person POV for years now (one person's POV at a time per scene), and been told that this type of writing is not appropriate or viable in the market anymore, it was something I could not get used to. It plagued me at every paragraph. The characters were developed well, but I could never really get into their heads because in one line someone would be thinking something and in the next, another person would be doing the same thing. It was like watching a ping-pong match, but more frustrating. She writes like a narrator is telling us the story, and whatever that narrator sees is happening, even if it's the way someone feels or what he/she thinks, it is written in that way, not from the person's sole POV.

Here's an example of what I mean with the omniscient POV(This scene is between Atretes and Rizpah--we see into both of their minds multiple times):

(Atretes speaking)"Give him to me, or by the gods, I will take him from you by force!"

Caleb awakened and began to cry softly. Rizpah felt his small fists pressing against her breasts. Eyes filled with tears, she looked up at Atretes and knew he would do exactly as he threatened. She could not risk Caleb being harmed. Loosening her shawl, she held Caleb out to him. The baby cried harder, his small arms flailing. Her milk came, increasing her anguish. "He's hungry."

Atretes hesitated. His son looked small and fragile. He looked at Rizpah and saw her anguish. Tears poured silently down her cheeks. Face rigid, he reached out and took his son. The infant cried harder. (The previous paragraph was in Rizpah's POV. We now see what Atretes is seeing. It's considered "telling" when words like "knew" and "looked" are used in 3rd close POV.)

Rizpah crossed her arms over her heart. She looked up at him. "Please, Atretes, don't do this." Never had he seen such a look of anguish on a woman's face. (See, you think you're going to be in Rizpah's head, but at the end of the sentence, you see that you're not.)

"Get out," he said hoarsely.

"Please--"

"Get out!" he shouted, and the baby began to scream.

Uttering a sob, Rizpah turned away.

"Don't forget this," he said and kicked the pouch of money after her.

She swung around at the door. Picking up the pouch, she flung it into the fountain, glaring at him through her tears. "May God forgive you, for I cannot!" With one last look at the child, she fled, sobbing.

Atretes strode over and watched her rundown the steps and across the courtyard. He kicked the door shut before she reached the gate. (from Atretes' view again)

~~

I'm told that this sort of writing would never get published these days. So I guess it's good Rivers got this in when she could. Those of us writing now can't get away with it anymore.

Set Apart Blog Tour

2009-11-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

Because Living IN this World Doesn't Mean Living LIKE the World

I'm excited about this bible study. I heard Jennifer speak at my church about 11 or 12 years ago, and she made a big impression on me with her unique perspective on prayer. So much wisdom in this woman. She has a lot of good things to teach us about prayer, and after a cursory look at this study, I'm positive that she has much more to say about the Christian life. I've already decided to recommend this study to a women's group that I'm in--they need a new book to go through and I think this one might be the ticket. It is theologically sound, informative, unique, and not too lengthy. Perfect for a small group to tackle.

I'm happy for the opportunity to promote it.

About the Author:

Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker. She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Her book Heart’s Cry has been named National Day of Prayer’s signature book. You’ll find articles and daily quotes from Jennifer at the National Day of Prayer website. Her book, Live a Praying Life, has been called a flagship work on prayer.

Jennifer was widowed in 2005 after 26 years of marriage to Wayne Dean, her partner both in life and ministry. They are the parents of three grown sons. Jennifer makes her home in Marion, KY.

About the Book:

(Marion, Kentucky) - In a world of self-love and materialism it's reassuring to know that God's Word has a better plan for living. Renowned author and speaker, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, provides insight to the life of Christ, specifically the Sermon on the Mount, in her new book, Set Apart: A 6 Week Study of the Beatitudes.

Through careful study of the Hebrew traditions of biblical times, Dean leads participants into a deeper awareness of this early ministry sermon series by Christ.

Jennifer guides readers to a heightened understanding of each beatitude, correlating the Ten Commandments with the Sermon on the Mount to tie these Old and New Testament principles together. Dean shares how living the Set Apart Life is an exciting and life-changing spiritual journey. Participants surrendered to Christ will see a total transformation: outward actions of holiness as well as inward attitudes of joy. Believers following along in this workbook will experience the life God intends. This blessedness comes from seeking and knowing God. Anything outside the realm of Jesus Christ results in emptiness--the ultimate opposite of blessing.

Each chapter includes interactive questions for readers to answer, emphasizing God's desire to reproduce the character and attitudes of Jesus in each Christian's life. Along with the Bible study book, there is a Leader Kit that includes six DVD sessions and a CD with bonus material for small-group leaders. Jennifer's website, www.prayinglife.org, provides opportunities for previewing the Set Apart materials and extra resources for pastors and leaders.

Click here for an introductory video to the study.

An Interview with Jennifer Kennedy Dean

You are known for your extensive research and your fresh insights. Do you have a method for gleaning new concepts?

Of course, the truths are not new, but I think I sometimes am able to frame old truths in new ways. I always find that when I put the words of Jesus into their original Hebraic setting and experience the scene through the viewpoint of His real-time audience, some new little fragment of truth finds its way into my thinking. I like to let the Scripture breathe. To let it sit in my heart until its full aroma has time to emerge. There's the hard-core research, and then there's the marinating. Turn your imagination loose and unfurl your curiosity, and listen to the living Word.

You have a series of Bible studies in the format of Set Apart, designed to be interactive. This series of studies has video series and leader's kits available. What is the advantage to this kind of format?

I try to produce a new Bible study with video series every year. I like the interactive format because I like to pull the reader into the Scripture to experience the Word. I like to challenge the reader to interact with the thoughts and ideas and to take the time to absorb them and apply them, rather than just to read. The other thing I like about this format is that it can be done by an individual, or as a group. In the video series, I like to be able to teach the main points of the material and set the learners' up for a productive week of personal study. I love feeling like I get to be part of your Bible study group! The kits have lots of other resources for leading a small group in the study.

Several of your studies have theme songs that go with them, as Set Apart does. How do these songs come about?

I have developed a song-writing relationship with a talented musician named Roxanne Lingle. I write poems, we turn them into lyrics, Roxanne composes and arranges the music, and Roxanne records the songs. For Set Apart, we have the theme song in the form of a music video, which is a new addition. In the leader's kit you have the audio track, accompaniment track, lead sheet, and the music video. The theme song becomes an important and worshipful part of the study experience.

The Music Video

Adapted from Set Apart by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

"I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:9-10).

My weakness is my greatest asset in the Kingdom. My weakness is where God meets me. My weakness is where Christ's power is most clearly displayed in me. Only when I am confronted with my own helplessness can I experience the power of Christ in me.

"Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness, and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness." (O. Hallesby, Prayer)

I recently had the tiniest glimpse of how powerfully helplessness speaks. A few years ago, I lost my husband to brain cancer. During the final months of his illness, he became utterly helpless. The man I had leaned on for 26 years, whose strength I counted on, was now dependent upon me for his every need. During those weeks, my ear was tuned to his every sigh, his every restless movement, every change in his breathing pattern. If I had to be out of his room for even a few minutes, I had a monitor with me so I could hear him if he needed me. When he was strong, I was not so attentive. His needs did not fill my waking moments, when he could meet them himself. His helplessness spoke louder than any word he might have spoken. Because of his helplessness--because I knew he could do nothing on his own--I was on watch day and night.

My experience is but a pale shadow of the reality of the Kingdom, but still it helps me understand how my weakness is the opening for His strength. The fact of my helplessness is the only prayer I need. It speaks louder than eloquence.

Let your helplessness and your weakness be the offering you bring to Him. He is not waiting for you to be strong. He is waiting for you to recognize that you are weak.

GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

Please leave a comment to be entered in a drawing to win the following items from Jennifer. If you are a leader (small groups, book club, Bible Study, Women's Ministry), please note that you are--you will automatically be entered in the contest. If you are a member of one of these groups at your church or community, mention that you are a group member.

You will be entered to win:

A Set Apart Leader's Kit (video and leader resources and a student book) retail $79.99

A copy of Fueled by Faith (retail $19.99)

Jennifer will have a live web event just for your group.

THIS BLOG TOUR COORDINATED BY KATHY CARLTON WILLIS COMMUNICATIONS. A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THE BOOK, SET APART, WAS GIFTED TO ME IN EXCHANGE FOR RUNNING THIS TOUR ON MY BLOG.

Something I Don't Normally Do...

2009-10-24T15:53:00.002-04:00

My focus here is usually the reading, writing, reviewing, and promoting of Christian (or if you wish, biblical worldview) fiction. However, now and then I'll read a book from the general market. Some contemporary novelists I enjoy include John Grisham, Dean Koontz, Sue Grafton and James Patterson.

My latest foray into this realm came last week with my discovery of Koontz' Relentless. Some reviewers say Koontz is stuck in a rut--that all of his characters sound the same and his plots are overused. I don't agree. While Relentless wasn't his best, in my opinion, it certainly ranked somewhere near the Odd Thomas novels, which are my favorite of his.

Some things I like about Koontz:

1. His villains are always completely evil. (Perhaps there is an exception I can't remember. Feel free to comment and enlighten me.)
2. His heroes are normal people who somehow cross a bad guys' path, and as a consequence must fight for their lives. In other words, they are not public figures, especially talented, or have anything too remarkable about them.
3. The characters are quirky. He uses characters who are autistic, geniuses, have a specific medical problem, see dead people, have a dog or a kid with a special gift, etc.
4. There is always laughter. The dialogue is dry and witty. Always.
5. There is love. He portrays strong family relationships and shows family fighting for each other at all costs.

He also frequently uses dogs that are extraordinary, and though interesting, isn't really one of my favorite things about his novels.

So, for the something I don't normally do. I will recommend Relentless. It's a little graphic in spots, but I think the positives far outweigh the negatives. It's engaging, funny, and inspiring. And the good guy wins. :)

CSFF Tour this week: Haunt of Jackals, by Eric Wilson

2009-10-18T22:46:00.005-04:00

My review:

This novel, second in the Jerusalem’s Undead series, continues the story of Gina Lazarescu, a special lady who is more than what she seems. She must hide from the Collectors—immortal spirits who inhabit the bodies of the dead in order to wreak havoc on humanity—partially by finding and killing the Nistarim, the Concealed Ones, who carry the world’s cares on their shoulders and aid Those Who Resist.

Cal Nichols, one of the original Nistarim and Gina’s father, works to keep not only Gina safe, but also Dov Amit, a young boy on the side of good. One of the orphans in Gina’s care, Pavel, shows signs of being a Concealed One. They must both escape to America in order to stay under the Collectors’ radar. Throughout the book, Gina and Cal fight Collectors and banish the blood-drinkers forever to torment.

Wilson is in his element in his treatment of themes, fleshing out ideas such as: God uses ordinary people, love covers a multitude of sins, evil may be unseen and yet deadly, things happen for a reason, and there is strength in numbers (two are better than one). True to form, Wilson brings many historical elements into play, such as the Dracula legend, Nazi programs, and Russian czars.

From Italy to Romania to Israel to Germany to China to the Pacific Northwest, the scope of this tale just keeps growing. The Collectors are everywhere, but so are Those Who Resist, and the Nazarene blood will prevail.

Usually, the first book in a series is the best--sometimes the second story in a trilogy loses something and wanders a bit without satisfying resolution. Not so with Haunt of Jackals. Everything is in full swing here and the action doesn’t let up. We are let in on more secrets, such as finding out who the mysterious journaler is and more about Cal’s past. All told I found Haunt to be even better than Field of Blood, and I didn’t know how that would be possible. I eagerly anticipate the release of Valley of Bones next year.

Learn more about Eric's writing here:
Eric's Website
Jerusalem's Undead trilogy site

Buy the book here:
Book Link

And finally, here are our other tour participants' links:

Brandon Barr
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

May I recommend...

2009-10-06T21:51:00.003-04:00

This is my second Bug Man novel, and I'm wishing I had caught all of Downs' books in order. I've read some dry humor in my day, but Nick's dialogue had me frequently bursting into laughter. The other night I actually got in trouble because I was up late reading and my husband was asleep next to me--"was" being the operative word. I literally had to stop reading because I couldn't silence my chuckles. I blame Nick.

Lest anyone think it's only a funny book, fret not. It's got a great plot, great characters, and a few serious as well as dangerous parts. Definitely suspenseful and definitely a must-read.

SPECIAL interview with my friend and soon-to-be-world-famous author (prophetic, yes?) Kaci Hill

2009-09-21T16:52:00.008-04:00

*insert wild applause here*

So, everyone who knows me should know I'm an avid Dekker fan. Kaci and I "met" online through Ted's message boards. I met her in real life at the 2nd annual Gathering and saw her again at the 3rd. I've gotten to know her better now that I'm a moderator, too, and I'll tell you I like her more and more all the time. She really has her head screwed on straight and is so very talented. (Yes, I like certain adverbs.)

Anyway, I asked her a bunch of weird questions--well, maybe not weird, but certainly invasive and time-consuming--which she was kind enough to answer. Here's the transcript for your enjoyment.

First, a few words about Kaci for those ignorant enough not to know already (kidding):

Writing has been a way of life for Kaci Hill since she was a child. She wrote long-hand until high school and felt lazy when she received her first laptop. During and after college, she found a unique love in substitute teaching at both the junior high and high school levels. When she's not dealing with drama and English, tutoring, editing, or grading, she reads, blogs, or frequents The Circle, home of Ted Dekker's message forum. It was in The Circle that Ted read some of Kaci's work and asked her to co-write what would become her first published novels with him, Lunatic and Elyon. Kaci lives in Texas with her family and yes, she has seen the bats.

1. When did you start writing?
I’ve been telling stories since before I could actually write. I started putting pen to paper as a fifth grader (at the latest). My sophomore year I got a laptop and started going back and forth between writing by hand and using a computer. I didn’t start considering writing as a profession until somewhere in college, however. It’s just something that’s always been a part of me.

2. How many completed novels have you written?
I’m honestly not sure. Several.

3. What is your favorite genre to read? To write?
I read mostly suspense/mystery and supernatural fiction, only recently coming into the fantasy world. My writing…I like to think it tends to cross genres, mostly in the alternate reality and fantasy-esque worlds. But then, people tend to consider anything that doesn’t quite fit in a box “fantasy.”

4. List some of your favorite and most influential books (fiction and nonfiction).
Fiction: I cut my teeth on Peretti and Bill Meyers, Ted, of course, Robert Liparulo, Brandilyn Collins, Kay Arthur’s Israel, My Beloved, Karen Hancock, Donita K. Paul, Tim Downs, Stephen Lawhead, Tosca Lee, Clay Jacobsen’s Interview with the Devil. That’s…a lot of supernatural influence. Sad part is I know I’m forgetting someone. I will say my middle school years were saturated in the end times and supernatural stories (Blood of Heaven trilogy among them).

As for non-fiction: Josh McDowell (mostly his speaking), Dallas Willard (lately), John Piper, J.I. Packer (Knowing God), A.W. Tozer, Andrew Murray, Voice of the Martyrs’ various books, Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God, the Understanding the Times authors, Kelly Minter, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Ergun Caner, David Nasser, and, again, I know I’m forgetting several people.

5. How does your faith make its way into your fiction?
How does it not, is the better question. In 2003 (I think) I decided to make a point to try to leave my faith out of it, and it turned into one of my most blatantly faith-inspired writings. Honestly, I see the supernatural as merely something outside our range of perception, but something no less tangible, just like some light and sound is outside our range on the spectrum. Moreover, faith is never in a vacuum, and I think that to speak as if the Scriptures are no more realistic than Greek mythology is to deny a key element of our faith. The history of Christianity seems to be getting lost, the heritage and inheritance, and I think that’s largely part of the frustration we see today. So my faith is in my fiction because, honestly, faith and religion are a part of life, and there’s no escaping either.

6. Describe the Books of History series and give a brief glimpse into Lunatic and Elyon.
It begins with Johnis, Silvie, Billos, and Darsal in Chosen, when the four are given a secret mission by two Roush to retrieve the four Lost Books of History. And from there things go a bit crazy. They eventually cross into the Histories and…that’s all I feel comfortable saying. Lunatic picks up where Chaos leaves off, with three of them returning into the world they left behind, only five years later. For readers, again, that makes Lunatic two and a half years after the events in White.

7. What do you hope readers take away from Lunatic and Elyon?
Lunatic and Elyon are largely about loving the enemy, and the idea of living as a missionary among people who may well kill you. There’s a lot going on, sacrifice, prejudice, the seductive nature of evil—but it all, in the end, boils down to who your heart belongs to. The love of Elyon, the love for Elyon.

8. How did you make acquaintance with Ted Dekker and eventually come to co-write with him?
I met Ted at a book signing, and also joined his website, where I eventually became a moderator. We traded writing-related emails, and the mod staff had several teleconferences. I also used to post excerpts, which he evidently read. Eventually he contacted me saying he was looking for a co-writer and asked me if I was interested, and would I send him some samples.

9. What are some things you wish you had known about authors and publishing before you started the process?
I think on some level I’ve listened just enough to people who’ve done this for decades that I can’t say anything surprised me. I think I can say, however, that this has been the most intense editing process I’ve ever engaged in. More or less, I don’t think I fully appreciated how many people go into the process before, and how much goes just into the preliminaries.

10. What is your favorite part of writing? Least favorite?
I’m not sure I have one. I will say, by drafts five and six I’m honestly reaching the point of mental exhaustion. There were a few days I couldn’t remember which version we were on.

11. Are you a planner or a seat-of-the-pantser or a mixture of both?
I’ve moved from total SOTP to a combination. To date, I rarely look at my notes once they’re written, but I do storyboard some now, though I tend to equate it to planning a road trip. And I will reorganize, revamp, and rewrite those notes multiple times, often without looking at previous notes—and finally learned that dating them is…helpful.

12. Which comes first? Plot or characters?
As far as when ideas come…either. As to which is more important, neither. Plots are nothing without characters; characters alone do not a story make.

13. How do you get into the heads of your characters?
I generally just sit down and start writing. I also tend to write many apocryphal scenes (meaning they aren’t part of the “canon” of the story). Occasionally I act out a scene, but only if I need the visual. I also tend to use the Google image search to get ideas for scene setting. It’s like meeting anybody else—the longer you’re with them, the more you know.

14. Do you do a lot of research?
I don’t do a ton, but it’s mostly on an ‘as needed’ basis. For Sins of the Son, for example, I spent a month and a half comparing religions and reading mythology. For Lunatic and Elyon, I mostly consulted the other Circle books.

15. Where do you get ideas for your stories?
More accurately, where don’t I get ideas? If I sit long enough something will come to mind, caliber notwithstanding. I’ve gotten ideas reading books, watching movies, driving down the road and noting a billboard, TV ads, real life stories, and…just people-watching.

16. What is your best advice to up and coming novelists?
Two things. One, be around people—the real ones. Other writers, people who hate to read, etc. And they aren’t assets; they’re friends. Two, keep writing. More accurately, keep learning.

17. What is your last completed work?
Bogswallow.

18. What are you working on now?
Cinderbeast (sequel to Bogswallow) and a potential, untitled project that’s only in the brainstorming stage.

19. What are your future plans as far as which project to put forth next?
TBD. I obviously want to publish on my own. At the moment it’s a matter of the right story in the right place at the right time.

20. You have a friendship as well as a working relationship with Ted. What is he really like?
I already felt I knew Ted fairly well, so I can’t really say he took me by surprise or anything. If you went to the Gathering, the Ted you saw is Ted. For those who didn’t, he’s passionate about everything, and he’s been a great friend, co-worker and mentor. He doesn’t get mad or impatient, and he’s been a constant. Honestly, working with Ted was great.

21. Tell us what it’s like to work closely with a professional editor.
Enlightening. Again, nothing too profound, other than with multiple editors you really do have to pick a direction sometimes. And, really, most of the time the editor is right.

22. Parting words?
Thanks for letting me play.

GREEN, by Ted Dekker - my review

2009-09-03T13:38:00.003-04:00

What started out as an epic trilogy now becomes the Circle Series with Green: Book Zero. Electrifying readers everywhere, Dekker now brings us full circle with a novel that ties up all the loose ends from Black, Red, and White, and draws from Showdown, Sinner, and the Lost Books of History also. Talk about all-encompassing. It still amazes me that over all these years, Ted has kept this massive story cohesive, absorbing, and meaningful.

So much happens in Green, it would be impossible for me to give a rundown of it, especially without using spoilers. But since I’m used to doing reviews without spoilers (over 200 in the last 4 years) I’m going to stick with what works for me.

Thomas Hunter’s world is not Paradise. His son Samuel is questioning every belief the Circle holds dear, and threatening to destroy them all by waging war with the Horde. After years of non-violence some are indeed ready to take up the sword and follow Samuel into battle to finally rid themselves of evil once and for all.

On our earth, 36 years after the Raison Strain, Billy Rediger (most recently seen in Sinner) is back with an agenda of his own--find the one remaining vial of Thomas Hunter’s blood--but for what nefarious purpose? Can Kara stop him before he,too, falls off the deep end?

Everyone’s reality is turned up on its end in this apocalyptic conclusion. Time travel abounds as does the violence and treachery in both worlds. Good or evil: which will triumph? Will Thomas and his beloved Circle survive? What will become of the Horde and the Eramites? Of Samuel?

Nothing can prepare you for the final moments. Go in with your eyes and heart open to the love of Elyon and encounter the experience of a lifetime. I know I will forever be changed because of Ted and this series in particular. No one I know of in Christian fiction has created such an apt depiction of our history and the workings of our God in such fashion. We can only hope and pray that Ted’s mind is brimming with more genius and he continues to share it with us.

For more in depth discussion, visit http://thecircle.teddekker.com/and join the Circle Series group. Dive deep.

And the winner is...

2009-08-30T18:46:00.003-04:00

MARGIE VAWTER!!!

Congratulations to Margie Vawter, the winner of my totally random drawing for The Knight. I'll get in touch with her tonight and get that baby in the mail!

Thanks to those who commented. I'd really like to give away more books, but the truth is, I can't afford the postage to give away a book a week like I'd like to. I guess you all will just have to settle for my reviews and other ponderings about writing, God, and whatever else tickles my fancy.

How is Music like Fiction?

2009-08-25T11:57:00.002-04:00

There has been quite a lot of disagreement in the world of Christian fiction in recent years (and I suppose in Christian music, too) about balancing story and message in Christian (biblical worldview, CBA, or whatever you want to call them) novels. Many readers are tired of the same old story lines with a preachy style and a mandatory character conversion. Other readers denounce more "edgy" books that uphold story and questioning over overt message and giving answers.

I was listening to an old CD of mine this morning, produced in 1994, called "Everything That's On My Mind" by artist, composer and producer Charlie Peacock. On the last track, an interviewer asks him questions about the CD, his life, and his music. Charlie talks about why this album is different than some of his other ones, and why it is so introspective. He also talks about using a live band to record with instead of doing so much of his instrumentation alone on his computer, and why he wanted the music to be simple and consistent. Below is a partial transcript of his answer to one of the questions. I'll tie this in to fiction in a moment.

Interviewer: Why was consistency so important to you?

Charlie: Because I didn't want people to miss the lyrics. When you're all over the map musically, there's gonna be some degree of people that can't enter into the music simply because they don't like the form of it, and I felt by creating a consistent style of music and consistent instrumentation that it would serve the content. I don't think Christians can ignore the degree to which the medium is the message in our culture. Let's try not to do that. More often than not, people need to be able to walk into the music first, and then the lyrics, second. That wouldn't be my first choice of the way I would want it to be, but that is the way it is. And if people can't do that, that is, to walk right into the music and enjoy it and then find their way into the lyrics then the chances of them ever getting to the meat of what the artist is trying to say is pretty slim.

When I heard that I thought, wow, that's the way it is in fiction, too.

The medium is so important to the delivery of the message. In essence, Charlie is saying we have to please, or entertain, the listener (or for my purposes, reader) in order for them to enter into the music and connect with the lyrics (the message of the story). We can't just plop the message out there any old way and expect people in our time and our culture to lap it up just because it's truth. Who are we trying to reach in our music or our fiction? The medium is as important as the message. The message will never be heard if there isn't something for the listener/reader to enjoy and get into first. Only if they're already engaged will they be able to hear the message. So write the novel with the story in mind. Make sure it's great, so the reader can engage. Don't just write to bash them over the head with a message.

Baker/Revell Blog Tour for THE KNIGHT, by Steven James

2009-08-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

Comment on this post by Friday midnight for your chance to win a FREE copy of THE KNIGHT. And make sure you leave some kind of contact info in case you're the winner--I'll e-mail or PM you to let you know if that's the case. Book will be mailed Monday, August 31st.

MY REVIEW:

Just when I thought James’ thrillers couldn’t get any better, he shatters my erroneous notions. Third in the Bowers Files series, The Knight holds nothing back. The most diabolical killer yet is on the loose, committing some of the strangest murders Denver has ever seen.

Patrick Bowers, an environmental criminologist for the FBI and expert in geospacial investigation is called in when a woman is found dead inside an abandoned mine holding a human heart that’s not her own. Along with fellow agent Cheyenne Warren, Bowers follows the dead bodies and clues until he is close to losing his own life.

While the investigation continues in Denver, Bowers must also travel to Chicago to testify in the trial of a criminal he arrested on one of his previous cases. What happens there will determine the course of both of their lives.

James maintains a fine balance between masterful storytelling and character development. The plot will entertain and hold the reader’s absolute attention with its elements of surprise. Fans of James’ earlier novels will enjoy Tessa’s maturation, as well as her growing relationship with Patrick. Romance brews, marriages are strained, parental secrets are revealed, and additional minor characters add to the complexity of existing character relationships.

I honestly don’t know how James is going to one-up himself next time in The Bishop. Every chapter is exquisite, every word necessary. When it comes to other suspense authors, I’ll admit to skimming through paragraphs sometimes to “get to the good parts,” but not so with James. I actually catch myself re-reading sometimes just to savor the words a second time. It’s surprising that I haven’t read the whole thing again, though I’m planning to soon.

I’ve been torn in regards to whether or not I should add spoilers to my review. Hopefully, people will see the warning and stay away if they haven’t yet read the book. But sometimes accidents happen and I certainly don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. So I’m going to stay away from commenting on the culprit, who for now will have to remain “Giovanni,” and my thoughts on his revelation.

Just one parting thought--I now wish I would have paid more attention in World Literature class. :)

Available August 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

2009-08-21T15:20:00.003-04:00

Here's the press release for my new favorite book, The Knight. The Baker/Revell blog tour starts Sunday, August 23rd, when I'll be posting my review and GIVING AWAY one FREE copy to a lucky commenter during the week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Donna Hausler
dhausler@BakerPublishingGroup.com

Killer is on the Loose with an Ancient Manuscript as His Guide

New thriller from critically acclaimed novelist takes readers on a shocking roller coaster ride to stop this violent killer before it’s too late.

Steven James is one of the nation’s most innovative storytellers—with a Master of Arts in Storytelling degree to prove it. For the past decade, he has been crafting compelling and evocative stories that pull readers into the thick of his brilliant, mind-bending plots, and his latest creative endeavor is no different: The Knight, the third installment in his bestselling series of thrillers, is full of the chilling twists and adrenaline-laced action that readers have come to expect from James.

The Knight picks up in The Bowers Files series, starring FBI criminologist Patrick Bowers, who is assigned to tracking the country’s most dangerous killers. But when he is called to his most disturbing crime scene yet, Bowers begins to realize that this criminal mastermind has actually been tracking him.

To get to the bottom of this cold-blooded case, Bowers uses his cutting-edge investigative techniques to decipher the evidence and discovers that the murderer has been using an ancient manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes. This sends Bowers on a race against time to stop the killer before he takes his next victim in another grisly crime.

But even as he is working to crack the clues of this bloody trail, Bowers finds himself stumped by another matter: An old murder case haunts him, causing him to question himself and wonder which is more important—truth or justice. The answer might set a killer free or change Bowers into a criminal himself.

Keeping readers guessing until the very end, James has earned rave reviews from the likes of Publishers Weekly, which called his thrillers “a wild ride with a shocking conclusion.” The Knight offers readers more of the same, as the satisfying follow-up to his previous bestselling psychological thrillers in The Bowers Files series, The Pawn and The Rook.

“Heart-pounding excitement…
Once the last page is turned, you’ll be tempted to flip back to the beginning to see where you missed vital clues. Top-notch suspense!”
— Romantic Times review of The Knight

Praise for The Pawn

“Riveting.” —Publishers Weekly
“An exhilarating thriller.” —Mysterious Reviews
“Brilliant.” —Ann Tatlock, Christy-award-winning author
“There is nothing not to like.” —The Suspense Zone
“An exceptional psychological thriller.”—Bookshelf Review
“Seriously intense.” —Pop Culture Tuesday

Praise for The Rook

“It’s a wild ride with a shocking conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Readers will be on the edge of their seats.” —Romantic Times top pick
“Steven James has mastered the thriller.” —The Suspense Zone
“Suspense thriller writing at its highest level.” —TittleTrakk.com
“Steven James hooked me with his debut, The Pawn. Now in his explosive
sequel he has absolutely blown me away.” —The Christian Manifesto

Praise from real-life investigators

"Steven James's ability to use modern, up-to-date investigative techniques to solve his criminal mysteries places him at the forefront of current mystery writers."
— E. Cleon Glaze, retired FBI agent, Alaska

"Steven James combines 21st-century high-tech law enforcement techniques with 18th-century Sherlockian deduction to craft an exciting, suspense-filled story."
— Dr. Kim Rossmo,
Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation, Texas State University

Available August 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

CSFF August Tour: Offworld, by Robin Parrish

2009-08-17T15:08:00.004-04:00

Book artwork courtesy of Bethany House Publishers.

MY REVIEW:

As someone who respects Robin’s work and yet wasn’t entirely thrilled with his superhero-ish trilogy, I hoped against hope that Offworld would sweep me out of my reading chair into a science fictional whirlwind. Thank God my hope was not misplaced.

When astronauts Christopher Burke and his team Terry, Owen, and Trisha return from a long mission to Mars, they discover the welcome wagon has left the building. Or the planet. In their quest to find signs of life and a reason behind the disappearances, they meet a young lady named Mae, presumably the only person alive besides them.

Finally connecting their seemingly hopeless situation to an anomaly on Mars, they get closer to the truth and cataclysmic danger. They’ll have to outwit the culprits if they want to come out alive.

Other authors have done the oh-my-gosh-everyone-on-earth-has-vanished plot routine. Parrish’s take on this, however, is all but routine. I loved the explanation behind the removal of earth’s populace--very high tech and cool. And excellent character development makes the reader stay engaged throughout the story. I definitely liked Offworld the best of anything Parrish has written.

Click here to go to Robin's website.

Amazon Book Link

Man, do we ever have a lot of participants! Make time to visit 5 or more of these sites for reviews and more:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Canadianladybug
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
Nissa
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Steve Rice
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Stephanie
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Elizabeth Williams

No Condemnation

2009-08-12T07:52:00.002-04:00

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1

If you're perfect, have no problems, never make mistakes or never beat yourself up about mistakes, DO NOT read this.

~~

Many of us give ourselves a hard time when we've messed up. Even if we are Christ followers, we somehow don't believe that God really forgives us every time we sin, that we are still in a relationship with him, that he still loves us just as much as the day we first chose him. Sure, when we disobey or rebel against God, we suffer a loss of fellowship, consequences, and conviction. But after repentance there is no reason to keep rehashing our guilt. Because it's gone. Washed away.

How do I know this? Because I've dealt with it my whole life. I call it beating myself up. Not just about sin, but about imperfection, not getting it just right, etc. This is not a happy way to live. And I've come to realize it's because I don't trust God. What? You heard me. My insecurity is because I don't trust what God has told me about who He is and what He's going to do. I forget about my place, which, in God's view, is this:

Ephesians 1:11 - chosen
Ephesians 1:13 - marked with a seal, the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 2:6 - seated with Christ in the heavenly realms
1 Peter 2:5 - living stone being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood
1 Peter 2:9 - a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation
Jeremiah 31:3 - loved with an everlasting love
Romans 5:1 - at peace with God, have access by faith to his grace in which I stand
Colossians 1:13 - rescued from the dominion of darkness, brought into the Son's kingdom, redeemed, forgiven

More next time.

Day Two: Randy Singer and The Justice Game, My Review

2009-07-28T11:49:00.002-04:00

Now for my review of The Justice Game. I really enjoyed it and while I was glad of the outcome, it didn't happen the way I expected.

In 1988, a teenager opened fire with an assault weapon in the Christian school where Randy Singer’s children attended and his wife taught. Though none of Singer’s family was hurt, the shooter killed a teacher, Karen Farley, and injured others before his gun jammed and he was captured. Randy ended up representing the Farley family against the gun store. This was Randy’s introduction into the gun debate and his inspiration for The Justice Game.

An angry man who thinks he has been wronged by a news anchor’s exposé charges into a television station and murders the anchor with weapon he obtained illegally. Now the family is suing the gun manufacturer, saying they are liable for the woman’s death.

Enter the lawyers--Kelly Starling for the defendant and Jason Noble for the plaintiff. Both are bright and successful, but with pasts that can be exploited to turn the trial in different directions than either had anticipated. The stakes keep being raised and the tension mounts to life-threatening proportions before the end. Who will win the case? Can anyone emerge unscathed?

Not only is this an exceptionally written legal thriller, but the author constructed a means for the reader to interact with the story and even determine the outcome of the trial before the book was completed. At this link ( http://randysinger.net/justice-game-video ) you can see a video of the lawyer’s closing arguments and vote on the desired outcome. Months ago, Singer tallied the votes and used the majority’s verdict as the jury’s decision in the book’s case.

The subplots work to make the story even more complex and enjoyable. Particularly interesting to me was the detailed description of shadow juries and how they are used in trials. I had no idea people really did this. I highly recommend The Justice Game to suspense and legal thriller lovers, and especially to those who haven’t yet discovered Singer’s unique, gripping writing.

Randy Singer Blog Tour: The Justice Game

2009-07-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm happy to be a part of this blog tour. I've enjoyed Randy's books for many years, and this is one of his best. I'll be posting again later this week, but for now, here's what the author and book look like:

The Justice Game is unlike any novel I've read, and I've read my share of legal thrillers. Randy decided to write about a huge case with gun control being the main issue. But instead of controlling the verdict himself, as any author would, he polled his readers to see what they thought. Then he let the majority rule (how democratic of him!) and wrote in their verdict (which, I'm proud to say, I was part of).

Here are two videos: one of Randy talking about the book, and the other kind of like a book trailer, only not--it's like fake news footage of the inciting incident of the book--very realistic.

Randy

News Footage

And lastly for today, here is a great Q & A, in case you're curious, like me:

1. Randy, you bring a unique perspective to your writing because you are also an attorney and a pastor. How do you juggle these three things and still have a life?

It helps that I love doing all three. It also helps that, while they’re all very different, they draw on common skill sets. For example, principles of powerful story-telling are important for a pastor, lawyer and (obviously) writer. I’m a little ADHD and like being able to go from one thing to another. I tell people it’s like crop rotation—keeps things fresh. And, to be honest, writing is more like relaxation for me than a job. It gives me a break from the pressures of the other “real life” jobs and lets me go into a world where I get to control things! (Can we say “God complex” here?)

But none of that really answers your question. Three things help me juggle. One, I try to stay focused on the big stuff. It’s not that I do the little stuff second, I try not to do the little stuff at all. Second, I stay focused on what I can do well and let others worry about the stuff that is out of my control. In other words, I’m a master at delegation (think Tom Sawyer and the white picket fence). And third, I’ve learned to get comfortable with the fact that I will always have stuff in each of these areas that does not get done. As long as the ball is moving forward, I’ve got to be satisfied with that.

As for the part about having a life—I would have to object to that question on the grounds that it assumes facts not in evidence. :)

But seriously--I thank God that, in His grace, He allows me to do three separate things that I love doing so much. My prayer is that I might bring glory to Him in three different ways as I minister in each of these areas. (And yes, being a lawyer is a ministry.)

2. In all your novels, you often address a particular topic. How did you decide to address gun control in The Justice Game?

I like to write about moral issues that have no easy answer. On the issue of gun control, there are some pretty strong emotions on both sides. And people have typically trenched in—spouting off rehearsed arguments rather than trying to understand each other. But when you frame the issue in the context of a story, you can sometimes by-pass the automatic intellectual defenses and speak straight to the heart. I tried to create compelling characters on both sides of the story to help readers sort through the types of honest arguments that people of good faith make and then decide for themselves.

But on a larger scale, the issue of gun control is not really the focus of The Justice Game. The more important issues raised are these: (1) In America, can you “game” the criminal justice system? I have proposed a hypothetical system in The Justice Game that could do just that. (2) Can the main characters in the novel escape their past sins (and secrets) or will they let themselves remain captive to them? I once heard Rick Warren say that courage comes when you have nothing left to hide. That’s a concept I explore in The Justice Game.

3. As an attorney, you served as lead counsel in a school shooting case in Virginia. What happened and what impact did the case have?

This is from the author’s note at the beginning of the book:

On December 16, 1988, a fifteen-year-old student named Nicholas Elliot took a Cobray semiautomatic handgun to Atlantic Shores Christian School and opened fire. He shot and killed a teacher named Karen Farley and wounded an assistant principal, then burst into a trailer where a Bible class was meeting. When he attempted to open fire on the students huddled in the back corner of the trailer, the gun jammed. The Bible teacher, Hutch Matteson, tackled Elliot and prevented the kind of tragedy that hit Columbine High School in Colorado several years later.

Atlantic Shores was the school where my wife taught. It was the school my kids attended (though they were not there that day).

And when I learned that Elliot had purchased the gun illegally from a gun store in Isle of Wight County through a transaction referred to as a “straw purchase transaction,” I represented the family of Karen Farley in an unprecedented lawsuit against the gun store.

The verdict shocked everyone.

In terms of the impact this real case had on my writing—it made the writing of the book both harder and easier. Harder because we lost a friend in the Atlantic Shores shooting and it was difficult to relive the emotions of the shooting and subsequent case. Easier because authors should write what they know best. I didn’t have to imagine what the feelings of the attorneys would be as they tried this case of national importance on an issue with such raw emotions. I had walked in those shoes. From that perspective, this book might be the most realistic book I’ve written.

4. You had your readers determine the verdict in the court case at the center of the book. Why did you decide to go this route?

Two reasons. First, I thought it would be fun to create an interactive experience for readers. We put together a fake newscast with snippets of the closing arguments—just enough to inform readers about the case and let them vote. Second, I was trying to be balanced on this issue of gun control. What better way to demonstrate balance than to let the readers decide the verdict? Oh yeah, and third (if it’s not too late to add a third), the book ends up being about much more than just the verdict in the gun case. I knew that the ending would work out fine whichever way the verdict came out.

5. This spring marked ten years since the shooting at Columbine. How do you think that tragedy impacted today’s gun laws?

I think Columbine had a greater impact on school security than it did on our nation’s gun laws. I can’t trace a single national change in gun laws to the tragedy at Columbine. Even here in Virginia following the shootings at Virginia Tech, there was little that resulted from that tragedy in terms of additional gun control. In each case, the argument can be made that no matter what gun laws you have in place, the criminals will still be able to get their hands on guns. Restrictive laws only make it harder for law abiding citizens.

6. This is an issue that people feel very strongly about, one way or the other. Why do you think it is such an emotional issue for people?

Guns are powerful symbols of individual freedom and the right to protect oneself. Gun enthusiasts tend to be distrustful of government (for good reason) and see the right to bear arms as a bastion (pardon the pun) against governmental intrusions on individual rights. They also believe that it is ultimately up to them, not the government, to keep themselves secure in their own home. Take away their guns, and you’ve taken away their ability to defend themselves. On the other side, many people who believe in gun control have seen or been a part of needless tragedies where easy access to guns has proven deadly. Years ago, high school students might get in a fist fight and one or the other would end up with a bloody nose. Now, gangs use guns to settle scores—resulting in pointless homicides. Gun control advocates would argue that a gun should be at least as hard to get as a driver’s license.

Protecting your home, self-defense, the slaughter of young men in the inner city—these are emotional issues, all centered around the gun control debate.

7. How has the church typically viewed the issue of gun control versus gun rights?

Which church? White evangelical churches tend to be pro-gun. They typically emphasize the individual rights of citizens to protect themselves and safeguard themselves from a tyrannical government. African-American churches, especially those in the inner city, are typically in favor of more restrictions on firearms. This is because their families feel the brunt of gun violence.

8. What do you see happening in the national gun debate going forward?

Not much movement on either side. President Obama has been the best thing for gun store owners since the invention of the revolver. Fear that Obama might push for greater restrictions on gun usage has generated record sales in most stores. But the fact of the matter is that President Obama hasn’t shown much stomach for a fight on this issue. On the judicial side, the Supreme Court recently recognized that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms for individuals, not just militias as some gun control advocates had previously claimed. (There is some dispute over whether this just applies to the federal government or also the states). But the Court also said that the right was subject to reasonable regulation and control. You could hear the “Hallelujahs!” from attorneys everywhere since this virtually guaranteed a case-by-case fight over what regulations might be reasonable. So in summary, I think we’ve reached a stalemate on the gun control debate with the exception of these legal skirmishes over the details of attempts by cities and states to regulate the right to bear arms.

9. Since we’ve been discussing a heavy topic, we need something lighthearted to close out this interview. What’s your best lawyer joke?

It’s not actually my best, but it’s pretty quick.

They’ve started using lawyers instead of rats in laboratory experiments for three reasons: (1) there are more of them; (2) the scientists would sometimes get attached to the rats; and (3) there were some things the lab rats just wouldn’t do.

The Enclave: CSFF Day 2

2009-07-21T15:00:00.002-04:00

For more answers from Karen herself (like what I copied for you yesterday), visit her blog. But you may not want to go there if you haven't read the book. It contains minor spoilers as to part of the plot.

As promised, here is my review:

I was so enamored with this novel that I had to e-mail the author before I even finished it and tell her how excellent it was. Among other things, I told her how I’d be surprised if this didn’t turn out to be her best selling novel yet. I’m thankful that I found Arena all those years ago and turned into a Hancock fan.

Lacey McHenry, new research assistant at the Kendall-Jakes Longevity Institute, runs into trouble shortly after she’s hired. Not only have all the frogs in the tank escaped, but a strange man attacks her in the lab. When she tries to investigate, the powers that be cover up any evidence of the break-in and accident. What are they hiding?

Though geneticist Cameron Reinhardt is clumsy, aloof, and forgetful, Lacey feels he’s the only one she can trust to help her sort things out. They sort of team up and work together to find the truth and expose those who are up to some pretty nefarious deeds.

I rooted for the good guys, hated the bad guys, felt empathy and hate and frustration, and my heart beat faster quite frequently. Readers will experience a variety of emotions, keeping them safely encompassed in Hancock’s fictional world.

Speaking of the world, Hancock didn’t create a fantastical world for this book--it’s our own. However, the characters experiment, play God, encounter the occult, and discover some very disturbing and fantastical things/beings along the way.

I only wish I could say more about the plot and themes, but I would be giving too much away for those who haven’t succumbed to the curiosity they must be feeling about this novel. :)

CSFF July Tour: The Enclave, by Karen Hancock

2009-07-20T11:13:00.006-04:00

I'm excited about this book! It was fantastic. My review tomorrow, but for now, here's info about the novel from the author herself from her blog on Wordpress--link at bottom of page (I left out the spoilers):

How did you develop the initial story idea/plot line for The Enclave?

Way back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, long before I began developing The Enclave, Biosphere II was a hot topic around Tucson, one I followed with great interest. It was (and is) a giant greenhouse designed to be a completely self-sustained world, cut off from any dependence upon earth, including air and water. Inside, 8 volunteers spent two years of their lives, from 1991 to 1993, seeing if they could survive without opening the hatch. (For the record, they could not.)

Unfortunately, what was initially presented to the public as a reputable scientific experiment was later revealed to be the outworking of theories of the cult leader who was behind it all. Members of the experimental team were also members of a world wide cult of “Synergists”. One of my long time friends was the veterinarian contracted by the group to advise them on care for the livestock they took into the Biosphere with them. She provided a number of intriguing anecdotes that confirmed the cult rumors. The whole thing fascinated me and I knew I wanted to write a story some day based upon it.

In considering what sort of world within our world I could create for The Enclave, it seemed to me that the Biosphere story would be a perfect model. My intent in this book was to explore the ways that different organizations and communities draw people in and keep them in bondage to their creeds, which are in opposition to the ways of God.

Because our perceived reality is often a composition of layers of deceit, I wanted to echo this in the story.

Book Link
Karen's Website
Karen's blog

And here are the links to my fellow participants' sites:
Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Canadianladybug
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Heather R. Hunt
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Mike Lynch
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Stephanie
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Elizabeth Williams

CFBA presents: Fatal Illusions, by Adam Blumer

2009-07-06T13:41:00.000-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fatal Illusions
Kregel Publications (March 5, 2009)
by
Adam Blumer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adam Blumer lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his wife, Kim, and his daughters, Laura and Julia.

He works full-time as a freelance writer and editor. A print journalism graduate of Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), he served in editorial roles for fourteen years at Northland Baptist Bible College (Dunbar, WI) and Awana Clubs International Headquarters (Streamwood, IL).

He has published numerous short stories and articles. Fatal Illusions released by Kregel Publications (Grand Rapids, MI) is his first novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An amateur magician, an unassuming family . . . a fatal illusion Haydon Owens wants to be the next Houdini. He has been practicing his craft and has already made four women disappear. All it took was a bit of rope and his two bare hands.

The Thayer family has come to the north woods of Newberry, Michigan, looking for refuge, a peaceful sanctuary from a shattered past. But they are not alone. Little do they know that they are about to become part of Haydon's next act. Time is running out and already the killer has spotted his next victim. Who will escape alive?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Fatal Illusions, go HERE

“Fatal Illusions is an engaging, fast-paced read with a captivating storyline that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Highly recommended!”--Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Night Watchman

“An awesome ride!”--Rosey Dow, Christy Award winning author of Reaping the Whirlwind

“Adam Blumer tells a fast-paced story that weaves together a serial killer, a physically wounded pastor and his spiritually wounded wife. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing.”--Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers

CFBA: Ghostwriter, by Travis Thrasher

2009-06-09T19:52:00.001-04:00

This sounds like a fantastic book. I didn't get it for review, but I look forward to buying it as soon as I can.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Ghostwriter
FaithWords (May 28, 2009)
by
Travis Thrasher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007.

Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has to novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.

Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu that looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.

Stop by and visit Travis at his Blog where you can sign up to follow him on Facebook and Twitter!

Also check out the radio interview with Travis on Monday June 8th at BlogTalkRadio/FaithWords

ABOUT THE BOOK

For years Dennis Shore has thrilled readers with his spooky bestselling novels. Now a widower, Dennis is finally alone in his house, his daughter attending college out of state. When he's stricken by a paralyzing case of writer's block and a looming deadline, Dennis becomes desperate. Against better judgment, he claims someone else's writing as his own, accepting undeserved accolades for the stolen work. He thinks he's gotten away with it . . . until he's greeted by a young man named Cillian Reed--the true author of the stolen manuscript.

What begins as a minor case of harassment quickly spirals out of control. As Cillian's threats escalate, Dennis finds himself on the brink of losing his career, his sanity, and even his life. The horror he's spent years writing about has arrived on his doorstep, and Dennis has nowhere to run.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Ghostwriter, go HERE

CSFF Blog Tour presents: TUCK, by Stephen Lawhead

2009-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Loved this series! What a spectacular conclusion. A must read.

MY REVIEW:

Fans of Rhi Bran and his group of ragtag followers will adore this final chapter in the saga. Tuck takes on a main role in this, the third volume, and he is wittier and more brave than ever.

Frustration and disappointment follow the ousted countrymen. How will they drive the usurpers of the kingdom out and take back their rightful land? Who can they count on in their time of distress?

I highly recommend the whole King Raven series. Lawhead's writing is impeccable and sure to entertain and excite fantasy lovers everywhere.

Buy the Book

Stephen Lawhead's website

Participants’ Links:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Alex Field
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Terri Main
Margaret
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Caleb Newell
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Epic Rat
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson

CFBA this week: According to Their Deeds, by Paul Robertson

2009-05-06T17:03:00.000-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
According To Their Deeds
Bethany House (March 1, 2009)
by
Paul Robertson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul Robertson is a computer programming consultant, part-time high-school math and science teacher, and the author of The Heir. He is also a former Christian bookstore owner (for 15 years), who lives with his family in Blacksburg, Virginia.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Deadly Game of Justice Versus Mercy Charles Beale lives outside the shadow of Washington, D.C. Politics and power matter only when a client crosses the Potomac to visit his Alexandria Rare Books shop.

But that all changes when a former client--a man deeply connected in the Justice Department--is found murdered after a break-in gone bad. When Charles reclaims at auction the books he'd once sold, he quickly discovers he's bought more trouble than he could have ever imagined.

Inside one volume are secrets. A collection of sins that, if revealed, could destroy reputations, careers--even lives. Charles soon learns he isn't the only who knows. Going to the police means ruining a multitude of lives. But staying silent puts a target on his shop, his wife--and himself. Charles must decide: Should one mistake really cost you everything?

If you would like to read the first chapter of According To Their Deeds, go HERE

Books on my Want List

2009-05-01T22:04:00.007-04:00

As a book reviewer, getting free books is a perk I enjoy. However, sometimes I don't get the books I really want for free. Here's a list of some killer fiction that I'm either going to go buy tomorrow (thanks to a Barnes & Noble gift card that's not used up yet--yes!) or pre-order.

Fossil Hunter, by John B.Olson (archaeology is always cool)

Haunt of Jackals, by Eric Wilson (vampires, oh my!)

The Knight, by Steven James (oh yeah, who can resist serial murders?)

The Justice Game, by Randy Singer (law and order, baby)

BoneMan's Daughters tour and review

2009-04-17T14:44:00.001-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Boneman's Daughters
Center Street (April 14, 2009)
by
Ted Dekker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Would you kill an innocent man to save your daughter?

They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who’s abducted six young women. He’s the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die.

Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.

Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan’s estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.

But the FBI sees it differently. New evidence points to the suspicion that Ryan is BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted, and in the end, only one father will stand.

If your an avid Dekker fan, and would like wallpaper and counters for your blog, go HERE.

You can listen to an audio clip HERE

Watch the VIDEO:

If you would like to read the first chapter of Boneman's Daughters, go HERE

MY REVIEW:

The BoneMan. A serial killer who abducts young woman after young woman, hoping one of them will become his daughter. When they disappoint him, he breaks their bones until they die. So far six have been sacrificed. The murderer, now behind bars, is being released because of compromised evidence. Is he innocent or guilty?

Ryan Evans, intelligence officer par excellence, is being forced to think like God. In a war-torn world that relies on violence in order to acquire and maintain freedom, Evans has been playing God unawares with the rest of America. But when he is captured by Muslims in dust-ravaged Iraq, his mind and emotions will be shaken to the core. His family is threatened, which makes him realize how much he loves them, perhaps for the first time.

Now the BoneMan holds Ryan’s own daughter--the unthinkable for a father. He himself is a wanted man--some think he and the BoneMan are one and the same. How will he find her before he is caught himself? Before BoneMan tortures and kills his only child? Is there anything he won’t do to save her?

Dekker continues to up the ante in his writing, amplifying the suspense almost to the breaking point, until the reader is left breathless for resolution. Using the classic “FBI hunts bad guy” plot mixed with “father of victim makes it his personal mission to stop the bad guy,” Dekker goes a step further and stirs both emotion and spirit. He shows us the Enemy’s deceitful lure, his longing to be beautiful and to have us follow in his steps, his desire to steal us from our true Father. However, the true Father’s love trumps any promise the Enemy can make and in his infinite love pursues us, does whatever it takes to rescue us. What could be a greater message?

I found this novel to be partially a throwback to Dekker’s classic When Heaven Weeps with elements of Adam and lots of new material to sink my teeth into. Everyone can get something out of this book, but it’s not for those who like everything neat and rosy. It is, however, in a way, a great love story.

Prepare for evil to be unveiled, love to be revealed, and sacrifice to be made. Your heart will join Ryan’s and be driven by love to protect that which is precious to you. You will be reminded of God’s heart for you. Watch light dispel darkness and truth triumph over evil as it should. This is Dekker’s best yet, both thrilling and touching--highly recommended.

Deadlock, by Robert Liparulo: Tour and Review

2009-04-14T08:15:00.002-04:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Deadlock
Thomas Nelson (April 2009)
by
Robert Liparulo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. Readers of his action-thrillers were not surprised when his visual storytelling style caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”

Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted last year with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers released in January, and number four, Timescape, comes out in July. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”

He is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects a bit of the supernatural into his gun-blazing stories. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on the critically acclaimed short story he contributed to James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.

ABOUT THE BOOK

John Hutchinson thinks it's no coincidence that Brendan Page runs this modern Praetorian Guard, and that the billionaire military industrialist must have had something to do with the atrocities his son Declan committed in Canada. The Canadian and U.S. Justice departments disagree, but Hutch has been digging for dirt ever since.

Brendan Page has some dirty not-so-little secrets. he's built an empire on supplying futuristic weapons and highly trained soldiers to the world's most powerful armies. But he's saved his most destructive weapons for himself.

When Hutch discovers the secret of Page's success, Page decides to teach him a lesson. But the operation goes terribly wrong, and Hutch's son is kidnapped. While a lone man stands little chance against the best black op soldiers ever issued M-16s, Hutch manages to survive longer than Page anticipated. As far as Hutch is concerned, high-tech helmets, machine guns, and hand grenades are nothing compared to a man determined to save his son. It's a lesson he sets out to teach Page-and one that he can only hope works as well in the real world as it does in his heart.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deadlock, go HERE

MY REVIEW:
Deadlock continues the story of John “Hutch” Hutchinson from the first book in the series, Deadfall. Over a year earlier, Hutch and some friends had gone hunting in Canada when a rich, crazy man named Brendan Page took a small town hostage and brutally murdered several people with a new satellite-based laser weapon. Hutch made friends with Laura and her son Dillon, who he protected from annihilation, a relationship that continues in Deadlock.

Now, Hutch has an obsession with finding a way to bring Page down. He spends all his time, even time he should be spending with his kids he has to share with his ex-wife, plotting. Things heat up when Laura and Dillon come to visit and Logan, Hutch’s son, is kidnapped from his home.

Liparulo never lets up on the tension, while drawing the reader in with glimpses into the characters’ hearts. It’s another winner in my book. I enjoyed Deadfall and I enjoyed Deadlock even more.

The Book Link

CFBA feature: Angel of Wrath, by Bill Myers

2009-04-01T10:05:00.001-04:00

I haven't read this book yet, but really want to because Voice of God was cool. Myers is a highly imaginative writer.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Angel Of Wrath
FaithWords (April 8, 2009)
by
Bill Myers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Well, one thing led to another and even though I got C's in my one writing class in college (and told God I could do anything for him but write) I got my first writing job for a TV series. And then another and then some directing jobs and finally some books. (I think I've written and/or directed a few dozen films and about 60 books). The projects have won about 40 awards, I get to travel all over the world, and I'm having the time of my life. I often think that none of this would have happened if I lived my life my way. I would have never chosen writing and directing for a living. Instead, I might be in somebody's mouth this very minute drilling away as a dentist. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being a dentist, it's just not what I was designed for. So, everywhere I go, I encourage people to say yes to God, no matter how foolish it may feel, because by doing that, they'll be in the center of His will and living a cooler life than they'd ever dreamed possible. It's not always easy and it can be a little scary…but it's anything but boring!

Today I live in California, not too far from Hollyweird (where I'm still trying to make a difference) with two cats, two kids, one dog and one wife.

Another Faithword book by Bill Myers is The Voice.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Thirteen-year-old Jazmin, her ex-Special Ops uncle Charlie, and former FBI agent Lisa are reunited in the second of the Voice of God series to stop a an assassin driven to murder members of a megachurch led by Lisa's brother. This assassin has drawn in a coven of teens toying with satanic practices to support his efforts. The naive youth engage in ceremonies that appear to usher in the death of each of his victims. When their rituals open a portal into the spiritual realm, a terrifying and mysterious entity crosses over to our world.
The battle culminates with the capture of Lisa's father as the next target and a Black Mass requiring both their deaths as a sacrifice. The team will, once again, have to rely on all their wits, strength, and faith to survive in this action-packed, unearthly warfare.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Angel Of Wrath, go HERE

Win 10 Free Novels!

2009-03-19T14:30:00.001-04:00

Do you read Christian novels? Do you buy Christian novels? GRPR (Glass Roads Public Relations) is conducting a research study and wants to know more about you! If you would like to participate, go here to take an anonymous survey about buying Christian fiction. At the end, you can enter to win a library of TEN Christian novels!

Mini-review of great book

2009-03-12T13:11:00.002-04:00

A while ago I posted with the CFBA about Terri Blackstock's Double Minds. At the time, I had not read the book. But I picked it up at B&N the other day, and I'm so glad I did. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

My favorite aspect of it was the insight into the Christian music industry. As someone very interested in music in general--and more specifically, faith-filled songs--a look at the good, bad, and ugly of being a recording artist in this business was enlightening. Blackstock focuses on our minds and how they waver between faith in God and what we know he wants us to do, and doubt, compromise, and people-pleasing. The story had just the right pace and proved to be very believable. And, the author forewent the "someone gets saved/everything is peachy keen now" ending for a more reasonable, real world resolution.

I recommend this for music and suspense lovers. The second time I read this it will not be for enjoyment, but to learn about the crafting of a good suspense.

I'm a Winner!

2009-03-09T16:59:00.002-04:00

Recently, I told you about a friend of mine, Tracy Ruckman, who started Write Integrity Editorial Services. She had a big contest to celebrate her new business, and I won what she calls "The Image-Building Package." Read about it here:

Pix-n-Pens

I'm so excited! Tracy is a super person who is great to work with. I'll have an update later to announce my newly designed website, a la WIES. Thanks so much, Tracy!

CFBA this week: Terri Blackstock's Double Minds

2009-03-04T22:46:00.002-05:00

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Double Minds
Zondervan (February 1, 2009)

by
Terri Blackstock

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock hasn’t always written for the Lord. Just over a decade ago she was an award-winning secular novelist writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, and Silhouette. With thirty-two titles published and 3.5 million books in print, she found that she was miserable. The compromises she had made in her career had taken their toll on her spiritual life, and she yearned to renew her relationship with Christ.

After much soul-searching and wrestling with God, she finally told the Lord that she would never write another thing that didn’t glorify Him. Thinking she might never be published again, she began planning ways to supplement her income, while she worked on her first idea for a Christian novel.

Because she enjoyed reading suspense novels, she tried weaving a faith message into a fast-paced page-turner with ordinary people in jeopardy. When Christian publishers expressed great interest, she realized that a secondary job would not be necessary. God was paving the way for her to enter the Christian publishing world.

Since that time, she’s sold 2 million Christian novels. She has over thirty Christian titles, many of which have been number one best-sellers. Her latest book, Dawn's Light is part of her popular Restoration Series. True Light, reached number one on the Top 50 of all Christian books the first full month it was in stores. Night Light was the winner of the 2007 Retailer’s Choice Award for General Fiction. Other reader favorites include her Cape Refuge Series, her Newpointe 911 Series, her SunCoast Chronicles Series and her “Seasons” books written with co-author Beverly LaHaye.

Terri is literally a native of nowhere since she was raised in the Air Force, She makes her home in Mississippi. Terri and her husband are the parents of three adult children--a blended family which she considers one more of God's provisions.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Struggling to succeed in the Nashville music scene, talented singer/songwriter Parker James finds the competition fierce – even deadly. A young woman’s murder, industry corruption, and a menacing stalker draw Parker into danger and intrigue. Nothing is as it appears, and unraveling the truth challenges everything Parker believes about her talent, her future, and her faith.

The young girl with the Bohemian style was on the floor where she’d fallen, between Parker's computer case and her file cabinet. She wore a long, flowing skirt—lavender, the color of calm—and camel-colored Uggs. She lay on her back, her long, wavy blonde hair matted with blood.

For struggling singer/songwriter Parker James, the music business has just turned deadly. Her desk in the reception area of a busy recording studio has become a crime scene, and Parker finds herself drawn into a mystery where nothing is as it seems.

Unraveling the truth puts her own life at risk when she uncovers high-level industry corruption and is terrorized by a menacing stalker. As the danger escalates, Parker begins to question her dreams, her future, and even her faith.

Double Minds is a double treat—combining a compelling suspense novel with an inside look at the world of the Christian music industry in Nashville. Terri Blackstock grabs readers at page one and keeps them riveted until the final plot twist is untangled.

You can preview a Book Trailer on her site HERE

If you would like to read the first chapter of Double Minds, go HERE

**This book is definitely on my TO READ list--it sounds right up my alley.

Day 2: CSFF Blog Tour

2009-02-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I gave a link to my review and to others' reviews. Since you loved what you saw...here are the links to Jeffrey Overstreet's sites so you can get more familiar with him and consequently buy his books. :)

Website

Blog

Facebook Page

CSFF Blog Tour presents: Cyndere's Midnight, by Jeffrey Overstreet

2009-02-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Second in the Auralia Thread series, Overstreet has created another tapestry of depth and texture. I enjoyed this one even more than the first, and any fan of Fantasy will grab these up.

Buy it here

View my review at The Christian Suspense Zone here.

And of course, you'll find more great content at my fellow bloggers' sites:

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Magma
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
Wade Ogletree
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Alice M. Roelke
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Jill Williamson

Good News for Writers

2009-02-11T10:37:00.005-05:00

Are you looking for someone trustworthy and experienced to design your writer website or edit your manuscript? I'm happy to announce that Tracy Ruckman at Write Integrity provides these services and more. Go check out her site here:

Write Integrity

And, if that wasn't enough excitement, she is holding a contest on her Pix-n-Pens blog. Visit soon to see what you can win. I've entered her contests before--they are well-organized and fun, too.

Tracy is an accomplished professional who has inspired and encouraged me in my writing journey. Acquaint yourself with her today. You'll be glad you did.

My One Word 2009

2009-02-04T18:22:00.002-05:00

What kind of person do I want to become?

That's a hard question. Most of us can tick off a laundry list of adjectives that answer it. But it gets overwhelming when we realize how much work God still needs to do in us. I know it's that way for me.

For the last few years, my pastor has suggested throwing away the "New Year's Resolution" and adopting a "My One Word." For more information, visit the website here: My One Word

This is my third year picking a word. In 2007 I picked "surrender." I was struggling with what God wanted me to focus on, and with my own desires for my life. But focusing on surrender helped me see what God wanted and not what I wanted.

For 2008, I picked "perseverance." I tend to obsess about things, but quit them when they get too difficult or I find a new passion. I decided I wanted to finish my first novel before I turned 40 (in September), but that didn't happen. However, I entered NaNoWriMo and finished it November 30th. Thank God for perseverance. I needed it.

It has been a struggle the last month or so trying to pick a word for this year. I want God to accomplish so much through me. However, I often rely on what I already know to propel me forward in my walk with God instead of keeping a vibrant, day-by-day, moment-by-moment relationship with him, hearing his voice in the here and now. I tend to be a run-around Martha instead of a sit-at-his-feet Mary.

So this year "abide" is my word. In John 15, Jesus says that apart from him we can do nothing. If I am not constantly attached to the vine, I cannot bear fruit. My vain attempts at success will be failures without him. And I want to bear fruit that will last. I want to become more like Christ--to have his heart and his mind and to fulfill my purpose. In this way, he is glorified.

Thank you, Mike, and Port City Community Church. I have grown so much through My One Word and through your ministry.

For more info about my church, click here: PC3

New Year, New Must-Read Book

2009-01-12T09:55:00.002-05:00

"Finally!" is my usual response when another of Ted's books releases. Kiss will not disappoint new readers or those who have come to expect excellence from Ted. The storytelling is awe-inspiring and to me feels like a throw back to some of his more romantic tales. Both authors can be proud of this breathtaking plumb into the workings of the mind, heart, and soul.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
KISS
Thomas Nelson (January 6, 2009)
by
Ted Dekker
and
Erin Healy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.

*******************
Erin Healy is an award-winning fiction editor who has worked with talented novelists such as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hildreth, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Gilbert Morris, Frank Peretti, Lisa Samson, Randy Singer, Robert Whitlow, and many others.

She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding storiesbefore their collaboration on Kiss, the first novel to seat her on "the other side of the desk."

Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a Colorado-based consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of two children

ABOUT THE BOOK

Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name. Shauna.
I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend-how could I have forgotten him?-my uncle and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can't be true-can it?

I believe the medicine is doing strange things to my memory. I'm unsure who I can trust and who I should run from. And I'm starting to remember things I've never known. Things not about me. I think I'm going crazy.

And even worse, I think they want to kill me.

But who? And for what? Is dying for the truth really better than living with a lie?

Sometimes dying with the truth is better than living with a lie.

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion.

Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged. Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it.

In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

If you would like to read the first chapter of KISS, go HERE

Watch the Video Trailer

What people are saying about KISS:

“The human brain could actually be the real final frontier—we know so little about it and yet it drives the world as we know it. So when authors like Erin and Ted bravely explore these mysterious regions, going into complex places like memory and soul and relationships, I become hooked. The creativity of this suspenseful story is sure to hook other readers as well. Very memorable!”
~Melody Carlson, author of Finding Alice and The Other Side of Darkness

“Dekker and Healy prove a winning team in this intriguing, imaginative thriller.”
~James Scott Bell, bestselling author of Try Darkness

“Kiss by Erin Healy and Ted Dekker is a superb thriller that hooked me from the first sentence. The original plot kept me guessing, and I may never look at a kiss the same way again. I’ll be watching for the next book!”
~Colleen Coble, author of Cry in the Night

“The writing team of Erin Healy and Ted Dekker has taken me through a page-turner with Kiss. It’s one of those books that you think about when you’re not reading it. I highly recommend it, especially if you don’t mind staying up late because you can’t put the book down!”
~Rene Gutteridge, author of Skid and My Life As a Doormat

The book link

Prepare Him Room

2008-12-17T18:12:00.001-05:00

As the lyrics to a favorite Christmas hymn say, “Let every heart prepare him room.”

Our pastor has been talking about the arrival of Christ. And what our response to that should be. I think sometimes we as believers and followers of Jesus push this idea aside. We think that we have already let him into our hearts and lives and so it does not apply to us. This is the wrong perspective.

How many of us, if Jesus physically walked into our homes, would be uncomfortable, shuffling things we are ashamed of into closets or cupboards, straightening our clothes and wondering how long he was going to stay so we could get back to normal?

We can’t pretend the clutter is not there. We can’t shove things behind the sofas of our hearts and expect Jesus not to see them. Every nook and cranny is his to search and to transform. Are we allowing him access to the very depths of us?

How are we allowing Christ room in our lives? Not just now in the holiday season, but every day? His will is for us to be conformed to his image, to do good works, to go and make disciples, to be holy. The list goes on.

What one thing can you give Jesus more access to in your walk with him? Something that perhaps you have not brought to him in prayer because you didn’t want to deal with it. Some area that causes unrest or guilt but that brings too much pleasure to lay entirely at his feet. Some sacrificial gift with which he will be pleased.

Think about it. Make more room for him in your life. He deserves it.

CFBA presents: Dark Pursuit, by Brandilyn Collins

2008-12-03T15:36:00.002-05:00

I'm sorry to say I haven't had a chance to read this one yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. Brandilyn is always interesting, but usually not scary enough for me. :)

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dark Pursuit
Zondervan (December 1, 2008)
by
Brandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. She is currently working on her 20th book. For chances to win free copies of her work, join her Fan Club on Facebook. Here’s what Brandilyn has to say about why she wrote Dark Pursuit:

In John Milton’s Paradise Lost Satan’s followers, kicked out of heaven, boast about storming the gates and reclaiming their territory. Beelzebub scoffs at their boasting as merely “hatching vain empires” and suggests a different revengeful scheme: seduce mankind away from God. So Satan visits the Garden of Eden to teach humans the very thing he and his cohorts have learned to be futile—the dark pursuit of hatching their own vain empires instead of following God. He presented man with this “gift” of death, disguised as life. And man fell for it.

Upon this theme of man’s fall and spiritual blindness, I created the characters and events in Dark Pursuit. The story clips along at a fast pace, with much symbolism running underneath.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dark Pursuit—A twisting story of murder, betrayal, and eternal choices

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she’s rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she’s about to discover a third. She’s even more shocked to realize the culprit—her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief’s son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks...

Read the first chapter of Dark Pursuit, HERE.

CSFF Blog Tour presents: Shade, by John B. Olson

2008-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Fairly recently, before I knew this tour was coming up, I read and reviewed Shade. I really, really enjoyed this novel. Here's the link to my review:
Suspense Zone review

I hope some of the other participants interviewed him. If so, please visit those sites. John is a super nice guy who answered a bunch of my questions about the book via e-mail. Unfortunately, I can't share those questions and answers here, because we talked about too many plot points.

However, I can say that there will be a second book in the series called Powers that should answer some of our questions and relieve some of our confusion. Sounds good to me!

The Book Link
John Olson's website

Participants' links:
Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Spotlighting TitleTrakk.com--A Must See Website

2008-11-09T22:03:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the 1st ever
TitleTrakk.com Blog Tour!

This week we're chatting about:

The Fantastic Fall Giveaway Contest!

Just in time for the holidays, you could win over $335 worth of books, cds and dvds!

Today, Glass Roads PR features THE ROOK, by Steven James

2008-10-15T10:37:00.002-04:00

Recently on this blog, I featured my review of The Rook. James has one of the best writing styles, imho, of any author I've ever read. And I've read hundreds if not thousands of novels. Of course, it doesn't hurt that my favorite genre is suspense. I think James is destined to acquire a huge following. I know I'll be reading everything he releases.

Check out the link below and read what I have to say about this book.

Happy reading!

It's Finally Here! Eric Wilson's Field of Blood

2008-10-09T20:25:00.002-04:00

A little bragging here: I've had this book for quite some time, but now it's available to the general public! So read my review and then go out and buy it. You won't be disappointed.

I can honestly say I’ve never read a novel anything like this one. It’s really hard to put into words everything Field of Blood is. Suffice it to say that it’s a must read.

The ancient site where a traitor’s blood was spilt two millennia ago is a potential breeding ground for vile, unearthly spirits who wait to be freed from their vaporous wanderings. In 1989, their hopes are granted when excavators accidentally disturb tombs outside Jerusalem. The Collectors inhabit bodies of the dead, feeding on the blood of the living, and often infesting them with thorny brambles on which they feast.

For Gina Lazarescu, life in Romania as an almost twelve-year-old is hard work. Her mother is overprotective, her father dead. After a handsome stranger holds a secretive conversation with her mother, she is whisked away with them away from the home she has always known to avoid impending revolution and other unnamable dangers. She will not forget the man’s promise to watch after her and find her again one day.

Gina is special, and she’s in danger, but so are many others. Each person must make the choice as to which side they will be on, and take responsibility for those choices. I’ll stop there with the plot so as not to reveal too much.

True to form, Wilson digs deep into history and human nature to produce the mother lode of supernatural fiction. Blood sucking vampires aside, Field of Blood isn’t overly weird or “out there.” Everything that happens is connected and has a reason. Lots of things are hidden just enough to cause confusion (at least for me), but I’ve been promised by the author himself that those things will be explained in the next book.

I give Wilson points for creativity galore, a satisfyingly complex plot line, adequate suspense, and the flowing style I’ve come to love in the course of his writings. He effectively portrays the sickening and the beautiful, exalting true life. Life is in the blood, after all…whose blood flows through your veins?

Marcher Lord Press in the spotlight

2008-09-22T08:00:00.005-04:00

CSFF proudly promotes Jeff Gerke's new independent publishing venture, Marcher Lord Press. Believe me when I say this is a good thing for speculative fiction. No, it's a great thing.

Here's a definition of MLP from the site itself:

"Marcher Lord Press is the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction.

Whether it's fantasy you love, or science fiction, time travel, chillers, supernatural thrillers, alternate history, spiritual warfare, superhero, vampire, or technothriller—if it's speculative and it comes from the Christian worldview, Marcher Lord Press is your publisher.

Marcher Lord Press is a small, independent press that bypasses the traditional Christian publishing industry to get Christian speculative fiction directly into the hands of the fans who devour it."

Here is the MLP link: Marcher Lord Press

The brains behind the site is Jeff Gerke (pen name Jefferson Scott). If you've never heard of Jeff, then you just don't read good fiction.

Check out his website here for a comprehensive list of speculative fiction at your fingertips: Where the Map Ends

Congratulations, Jeff! We look forward to the launching of your new site!

Be sure to visit the other tour participants' sites for more info and fun:

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Courtney
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Kameron M. Franklin
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Mike Lynch
Terri Main
Margaret
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Greg Slade
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise
Tina Kulesa
Jason Waguespac

THE ROOK, by Steven James

2008-09-12T10:27:00.003-04:00

I can't say enough about this author or this series. Steven James knows how to craft a story. He has admitted that he doesn’t want to get bored with what he’s writing, and the complex plot structure in The Rook only serves to prove that he’s serious about creating a page-turner. Believe me, there’s absolutely no time to get bored with James’ stories.

Patrick Bowers is again on the case, one which involves a serial arsonist. When he accidentally stumbles across a wacked out homeless man committing suicide, Patrick knows there is more to the incident than meets the eye. Clues lead in unexpected directions, like to an aquarium, shark research, and stolen technology with global implications.

While embroiled in the puzzlement of his job, Patrick must also build a relationship with his angst-filled teenaged stepdaughter. Between girl and woman, she longs for freedom, yet makes unwise choices that force Patrick to monitor her activities. Can he protect her from the world while letting her grow up? Might she be entangled in his investigation like she was during the last case?

One of the first things I noticed about this novel, second in the Patrick Bowers series, was the lack of creepiness. Yes, the villain(s) is/are still evil, but the tale has a different feel. The author, in an interview you can hear HERE, states that he wanted The Pawn to feel more like a psychological thriller and The Rook to feel more like a techno-thriller. I say he was successful. It’s really incredible how involved the story becomes up until the very end, when, as all good books do in my opinion, the reader experiences a big twist.

Whether for personal entertainment, a book club, or a gift, be sure to pick up this electrically-charged action-lover’s dream. I can’t wait for the third installment, The Knight. I wonder if the series will have to end after James uses up all the chess pieces (only 3 more!). That will be a sad day.

In the Shadow of Lions, by Ginger Garrett

2008-09-10T12:31:00.001-04:00

This book is one I unfortunately have missed. I thoroughly enjoyed Garrett's previous book, Dark Hour. She's a great writer and I look forward to having the time to read this.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
In The Shadow Of Lions
David C. Cook; 1 edition (September 2008)
by
Ginger Garrett

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ginger Garrett is the critically acclaimed author of Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther, which was recognized as one of the top five novels of 2006 by the ECPA, and Dark Hour. An expert in ancient women's history, Ginger creates novels and nonfiction resources that explore the lives of historical women.

Her newest release is Beauty Secrets of the Bible, (September 11, Thomas Nelson) based on the historical research that began in her work on Chosen. The book explores the connections between beauty and spirituality, offering women both historical insights and scientific proofs that reveal powerful, natural beauty secrets.

A frequent radio guest on stations across the country, including NPR and Billy Graham's The Hour of Decision, Ginger is also a popular television guest. Her appearances include Harvest Television, Friends & Neighbors, and Babbie's House. Ginger frequently serves as a co-host on the inspirational cable program Deeper Living.

In 2007, Ginger was nominated for the Georgia Author of the Year Award for her novel Dark Hour. When she's not writing, you may spy Ginger hunting for vintage jewelry at thrift stores, running (slowly) in 5k and 10k races, or just trying to chase down one of her errant sheepdogs. A native Texan, she now resides in Georgia with her husband and three children.

ABOUT THE BOOK

"I am the first writer, The Scribe. My books lie open before the Throne, and someday will be the only witness of your people and their time in this world."

So begins the narration of one such angel in this sweeping historical tale set during the reign of England's Henry VIII. It is the story of two women, their guardian angels, and a mysterious, subversive book ... a book that outrages some, inspires others, and launches the Protestant Reformation.

The devout Anne Boleyn catches the eye of a powerful king and uses her influence to champion an English translation of the Bible. Meanwhile, Rose, a broken, suicidal woman of the streets, is moved to seek God when she witnesses Thomas More's public displays of Christian charity, ignorant of his secret life spent eradicating the Bible, persecuting anyone who dares read it.

Historic figures come alive in this thrilling story of heroes and villains, saints and sinners, angels and mortals ... and the sacred book that will inspire you anew. Fans of Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury will love Ginger's intriguing combination of rich character development, artful settings, and inspiring historical insights.

If you would like to read an excerpt from In The Shadow Of Lions, go HERE

The Book Link

Broken Angel, Day 3: My Review

2008-08-27T09:23:00.002-04:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed this blog tour. Here is my review:

Caitlyn is not your normal girl. But it is not your normal world. A future America divides itself according to religion or lack thereof. Appalachia is inhabited by fundamentalists whose leader will do anything to keep the Outside out and his people in. The dangerous Outside teems with tolerant sinners. And scientists. Those like escapee Jordan Brown, Caitlyn’s father.

But he can’t bear to tell Caitlyn all of his secrets. Not what happened before she was born, not why she is the way she is. He just wants to save her life, to give her a chance to be free. As free as she can be.

There are others who search for Caitlyn, not to save her but to capture her. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Can Jordan and Caitlyn make it safely back Outside before men bent on power capture them?

This dystopian tale is part sci-fi part mystery part suspense. The characters are so rich, you forget the pace of the book and just let it carry you along to its stunning conclusion. Caitlyn endears herself to the reader through her innocence, trusting nature, and frail strength. She is indeed the backbone of the story and one can’t help both applauding and pitying her.

Themes of scientific research gone awry and severe extremes in religion can also be seen throughout the novel. It explores what may happen to people when these circumstances control their lives.

It has been a few years since I’ve read any of Brouwer’s work, and I’ve decided that’s too long. Out of the Shadows and Crown of Thorns were excellent mystery novels filled with cultural secrets and history. I’m glad Brouwer delves into the sci-fi realm here--and this isn’t the end. Book two is coming. I will definitely be picking up that one as well.

Broken Angel, Day 2: Interview

2008-08-26T12:00:00.002-04:00

And now for my interview with Sigmund Brouwer:

Q: You write in several different genres. Do you have a favorite?
A: I'm going to give a weasel answer here and say that I don't have a favorite genre, but justify it by adding when I write, I don't feel like I'm in a genre, but just focused on a story. Characters and their problems are paramount; genre is just background.

On the other hand, genre is a reality, so it's silly to pretend otherwise, and in the end, I think I like best what perhaps isn't classified as a genre yet -- visionary suspense. Broken Angel can fit in science fiction, but hopefully readers will enjoy a roller coaster ride as if it's a thriller too. If someone ever described my writing as Harlen Coben meets Michael Crichton, I'd pretend to be embarrassed by the acclaim, but you can guess otherwise.

Q: How have you grown and changed as a writer in the years since your debut as an author?

A: Any growing and changing is not the result of writing, but because of the wonderful influence of my wife, and our children, who came along after I'd been published for years. I'm a typical guy, and have to fight the temptation to use this genetic wiring as an excuse for excessive golf, tardiness and all my other weaknesses. But becoming a daddy has changed the core of my life, and I hope this is reflected in everything about me, including my writing. I see it, looking back, in Broken Angel too, a story about a father and daughter. I'm going to shamelessly plug brokenangelsong.com, because the music video there (Beautiful Bird, reflecting the theme of the book -- freedom) has my wife and our daughters.

Q: Where did you get the idea for Broken Angel?

A: I was asked to write a future-based story on genetics. Before our daughters came in our lives, I'm sure the story would have been much different, but as a daddy, I began to wonder about the consequences of experimenting on humans, and what would happen if you felt the guilt of hurting the child you loved, and were willing to sacrifice everything to protect this girl.

NOTE: (I asked Sigmund about some of the loose ends at the end of the novel, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has not read it. So suffice it to say, he told me he was working on a sequel. Sweet.)

Q: Did you model Caitlyn in any way after a real person?

A: Although I'm so focused on story when I write that I rarely think about metaphors and themes, I've come to realize that Caitlyn's life is each of ours.

We're each born into mystery and tragedy -- life is a mystery, like the questions about eternity that come with our existence. Tragic? As the only species aware of our mortality, we are doomed to know that each joy we have and the loves in our life will be extinguished by death.

We have a destiny beyond comprehension, once we leave the prison of our bodies.

Life is harsh, and tries to break us.

Even as life tries to break us, we have a sense of longing for the beyond, and we instinctively fight to soar.

Q: What do you want to write in the future?

A: In the future, I'd like to keep writing about the future, and tackle ideas like using evolutionary science to trace a genetic code back to the Adam and Eve and the first moments of human consciousness in all of history, or memory transfers that give defacto immortality, or a carnivorous fungus that grows computer-generated intelligence or. . .

Don't miss CSFF's August tour novel: Broken Angel, by Sigmund Brouwer

2008-08-24T23:11:00.004-04:00

You heard me. Don't miss this book! And don't miss my posts, either. Tomorrow I will feature an interview with Sigmund himself. Then Wednesday, my review.

Ready for a multi-sensory experience? Sigmund is married to Christian music artist Cindy Morgan. She has written a song called "Beautiful Bird" that goes with the book. You can see the video here.

If that's not enough for you, visit Sigmund's website and read about all the other things he's into besides writing for adults and kids here at coolreading.com.

And, as always, you can buy the book here.

Listed below are my fellow posters for this month's tour. Check 'em out!

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Mark Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Magma
Margaret
Shannon McNear
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Sean Slagle
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams

Today I feature another book I haven't had time to read!

2008-08-20T11:12:00.003-04:00

CFBA's latest feature:

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A mysterious book with a dangerous secret.

An evil brotherhood out to conquer the world.

One man stands between them . . . with his family in the balance.

In the twelfth century, Henry the Lion collected the rarest relics in Christendom. And to protect his most precious acquisitions, he encoded the whereabouts in a gorgeous illuminated manuscript called The Gospels of Henry the Lion.

The manuscript has been showing up and disappearing ever since. No one knows where the relic has been hidden . . . or its ultimate power.

Only one man holds the key to the mystery.

He's carrying it in his briefcase at his son's school for show-and-tell, and he thinks it's a fake. But he's about to find out just how real it is.

Because the wolves are rapidly closing in. And if August Adams can't decode the secret in time, the world's balance of power will forever be altered.

A mysterious book with a dangerous secret.

An evil brotherhood out to conquer the world.

One man stands between them . . . with his family in the balance.

In the twelfth century, Henry the Lion collected the rarest relics in Christendom. And to protect his most precious acquisitions, he encoded the whereabouts in a gorgeous illuminated manuscript called The Gospels of Henry the Lion.

The manuscript has been showing up and disappearing ever since. No one knows where the relic has been hidden . . . or its ultimate power.

Only one man holds the key to the mystery.

He's carrying it in his briefcase at his son's school for show-and-tell, and he thinks it's a fake. But he's about to find out just how real it is.

Because the wolves are rapidly closing in. And if August Adams can't decode the secret in time, the world's balance of power will forever be altered.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band Jars of Clay, has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. His songs have recently been recorded by Disney pop sensations Aly & AJ, American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and more. Bronleewe has worked with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Michael W. Smith, International pop singer Natalie Imbruglia and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Bronleewe was raised on a farm in Kansas, where he lived until he left for college in 1992. At Greenville College in Illinois, Bronleewe formed the band Jars of Clay with his dorm roommate and two neighbors, and the group soon found success. Though Bronleewe opted to leave Jars of Clay early on to pursue an academic career, he soon found himself in Nashville, co-writing, producing, and playing music professionally.

To add to his list of accomplishments, Bronleewe has expanded his love of story telling beyond music into authorship. He is currently penning a 5 book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. His first book Illuminated began the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within.

Bronleewe currently resides in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers through his church to help disadvantaged youth in the community. Bronleewe enjoys reading, taste-testing good food and watching sports, as well as indulging his interests in art, architecture, design and science.

The Book Link!

CFBA tour presents: Merciless, by Robin Parrish

2008-08-18T11:26:00.003-04:00

Hello, blogosphere! My post will have to be short today, because it's my anniversary and I have lots of other things to do.

I didn't receive this book from CFBA, but I do have it via a website I review for. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to it yet. Robin's first two books in the series were very interesting and I have reviews for both in the archives of this blog.

So go visit my CFBA friends and read what they have to say.

Happy reading!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The world as we know it has ENDED.
DEATH and CHAOS creep across the globe and only the POWERLESS can RISE UP to stop it.

But can anything stop the onslaught of the DARKWORLD

From the earth's depths crawls a figure with skin like granite, flames for eyes, and the face of Grant Borrows.
Oblivion has arrived.

Every clock around the world has stopped. Time has frozen.

The Secretum have fulfilled the prophecy, unleashing on earth the most powerful being to walk the earth in thousands of years. His name is Oblivion and his touch is death.

He can't be slowed.
He can't be stopped.
And he can't be killed.

But as long as any live who trust in hope and love and freedom, the fight is not over.

They have only one chance before he brings forth the Darkworld.

Oblivion is: Merciless

"Robin Parrish is the kind of writer who understands how to entertain from the word go. His stories are sure to shape fiction for years to come."
~TED DEKKER, author of ADAM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Parrish had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist. In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract.

More than ten years he spent writing for various websites, including About.com, CMCentral.com, and Infuze Magazine, which is a unique intersection between art and faith which he also conceived of and created.

One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book, Relentless -- but two sequels including Fearless and Merciless. A trilogy that unfolded in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and this year, 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books.

Robin Parrish is a journalist who's written about pop culture for more than a decade. Currently he serves as Senior Editor at XZOOSIA.com, a community portal that fuses social networking with magazine-style features about entertainment and culture. He and his wife, Karen and son live in North Carolina.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merciless, go HERE

Buy the book here

Review of The Bell Messenger, by Robert Cornuke with Alton Gansky

2008-08-06T10:48:00.003-04:00

Ask anyone who knows me and they will say that I do not like historical fiction. In fact, I haven’t touched it since I was in high school, and the only ones I read were Eugenia Price and Catherine Marshall, if those even count. Now and then I’ll read good biblical fiction from authors like Ginger Garrett and Alton Gansky.

A copy of The Bell Messenger came to me, and honestly, the only reason I cracked it open was because the prolific Alton Gansky contributed (and also because it involved archaeology--I’ve always enjoyed that).

I was pleasantly surprised by the complex plot and emotive prose. The main character is really a bible--one that has been passed down through generations of people--and not necessarily the kinds of people one would think.

The first owner is a young Confederate preacher, involved in the Civil War not as a soldier, but a messenger of God. He bequeaths the bible to the man who shot him-- a man named Jeremiah Tate who is jaded against the government and God.

Somehow (we learn how as the book continues) Gary Brandon, a recent college graduate, comes to own the bible in 1980. He does his own research to find out who has written notes in the bible’s margins and what certain letters mean that were tucked away in its pages.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the way God’s purposes are portrayed in this book. God uses all kinds of people to further his work and even the toughest end up making sacrifices they never would have dreamed about before. There are so many rich and varied characters--the reader will enjoy getting to know each one.

Indeed, God’s word does not return void if people speak it and live it boldly. This is an excellently crafted story that will be enjoyed by lovers of faith, archaeology, mystery, and historical fiction.

What a deal!

2008-07-31T22:55:00.003-04:00

Great news from one of my very favorite authors, Eric Wilson. Any of you who like supernatural thrillers must read Field of Blood.

I will have a review here on this blog soon, hopefully including an interview with Eric.

Happy reading!

CFBA book of the week: Try Darkness, by James Scott Bell

2008-07-23T09:18:00.002-04:00

I read Try Dying back when it was released and enjoyed it. Although I haven't had the opportunity to read this one yet, I plan to soon. Make sure you go read what others are saying about this book. James Scott Bell truly is a phenomenal writer.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica’s, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancée and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding. Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the underrepresented from his “office” at local coffee bar The Freudian Sip. With his new friends, the philosophizing Father Bob and basketball-playing Sister Mary Veritas, Buchanan has found a new family of sorts.

One of his first clients is a mysterious woman who arrives with her six-year-old daughter. They are being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest that Ty soon discovers is represented by his old law firm and his former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won’t back down. He’s going to fight for the woman’s rights.

But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.

The trail leads Buchanan through the sordid underbelly of the city and to the mansions and yachts of the rich and famous. No one is anxious to talk.
But somebody wants Buchanan to shut up. For good.
Now he must use every legal and physical edge he knows to keep himself and the girl alive.

Once again evoking the neo-noir setting of contemporary Los Angeles, Bell delivers another thriller where darkness falls and the suspense never rests.

“Bell has created in Buchanan an appealing and series-worthy protagonist, and the tale equally balances action and drama, motion and emotion. Readers who pride themselves on figuring out the answers before an author reveals them are in for a surprise, too: Bell is very good at keeping secrets. Fans of thrillers with lawyers as their central characters—Lescroart and Margolin, especially—will welcome this new addition to their must-read lists.”
—Booklist

“Engaging whodunit series kickoff . . . Readers will enjoy Bell's talent for description and character development.”
—Publishers Weekly

“James Scott Bell has written himself into a niche that traditionally has been reserved for the likes of Raymond Chandler.”
—Los Angeles Times

“A master of suspense.”
—Library Journal

“One of the best writers out there, bar none.”
—In the Library Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JAMES SCOTT BELL is a former trial lawyer who now writes full time. He has also been the fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine and adjunct professor of writing at Pepperdine University.

The national bestselling author of several novels of suspense, he grew up and still lives in Los Angeles. His first Buchanan thriller, TRY DYING, was released to high critical praise, while his book on writing, Plot and Structure is one of the most popular writing books available today.

The book link

CSFF Tour this week: Dragonlight, by Donita K. Paul

2008-07-21T15:21:00.002-04:00

I've heard nothing but praise about Donita and this series in particular. Not a dragon fan, I haven't read these books, but if I ever get a chance, I think I will pick them up.

Check out these links:
the book link
Donita's website
Donita's blog

Be sure to visit other tour blogs to read reviews and interviews from my distinguished colleagues listed below.

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
* Beth Goddard
Mark Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Magma
Terri Main
Magma
Margaret
* Shannon McNear
Melissa Meeks
* Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Deena Peterson
Steve Rice
* Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
* Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams

God bless and keep reading.

All Worthwhile

2008-07-06T13:22:00.001-04:00

My youngest daughter's birthday is July 4th, so it's an extra celebration for us. She's always so excited to get fireworks on her birthday. This year a friend of ours offered to take us in his boat to the Cape Fear River, where fireworks would be shot off of the U.S.S. Battleship North Carolina.

We traveled quickly south down the ICW (Intra Coastal Waterway), wind ripping through our hair and clothes. The salt spray got us a few times as well when our boat crossed another boat's wake, causing the boat’s bow to slam up and down against the water.

A landlubber, I'm not fond of choppy waters and fast speeds, so when we reached the mouth of the river and had to make a right turn in order to come inland, I got a bit nervous. Thankfully, our friend slowed down for me.

It took about an hour to reach our destination, where we were among at least 30 other boats and thousands of on shore spectators. We were trying to set anchor when the display began. I've seen fireworks everywhere from Washington, D.C. to Germany to Disney World, but there's nothing like sitting directly under them when they explode. The sound was deafening and I had to shield my eyes several times because of the brightness. But the feeling of being a kid again, oohing and ahing, trumped any discomfort.

Finally, the show ended and we began our trek home. Now, of course, it was totally dark. The river current was against us, so it took longer to get back to the waterway. Thank God for GPS and depth finders, because we nearly hit a few of the unlit markers when we strayed too close to the boundary of the safe range. I felt so helpless, not being able to control the water or the boat or where the markers were in the almost pitch black. The red and green flashing signs and the GPS were the only things there to guide our friend in the right direction. Thankfully, he was very experienced.

Finally, about two hours later, we arrived back at the marina. I was never so happy to see good ole terra firma! I thanked God silently and our friend aloud for the safe and fun trip. Even though parts of the experience were nerve-wracking, the fantastic show made it all worthwhile.

Isn't that how our lives are sometimes? God is the captain of our boat. He alone knows where the channel is, where the signs are, where the dangers are. He slows down for us sometimes when we're scared. But we have to cross choppy waters--it's inevitable in the journey he's taking us on. But he's faithful. His promise to be with us when we pass through the waters remains a hope for us. And at the end of the journey we will look back on the joys and the trials and see that it was all worthwhile.

The Circle Gathering 2008

2008-06-10T15:37:00.003-04:00

Too overwhelmed for words...

CSFF Tour proudly presents: The Begotten, by Lisa T. Bergren

2008-04-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

Check out and buy this great book here

Visit the author's website

MY REVIEW:

Medieval Italy--home of Roman Catholicism, burning of heretics, fierce arguments concerning icons and illuminations--the setting for one of the most creative fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time.

The author’s premise is this: What if the lost, uncanonized letters of St. Paul to the Corinthian church were found and kept secret for centuries until the appointed time? What if, in those letters, there was divinely inspired prophecy about a group of people with spiritual gifts that would amass and become a force to be reckoned with?

Father Piero, a Franciscan monk, has been entrusted by his teacher with a portion of these letters. His documents contain illuminations that picture some of The Gifted. He knows that he is one of these gifted because his likeness appears in the pictures. Somehow he must find the others depicted and gather them together for the cause of Christ. Other than that he knows little and must rely totally on faith for the rest.

Lady Daria D’Angelo, Gianni, Father Piero, and an odd band of friends follow God’s leading as events that they never could have imagined unfold. Shadow and deception threaten to take the town of Siena in their grasp unless right can overcome.

I have not studied in depth this period of history as it relates to Christianity and Catholicism, but the author obviously builds upon mindsets and power struggles existing during this time period. She sets the stage plainly for a good-and-evil battle of immense proportions. The most poignant point she makes is that “the Church” may not be on God’s side after all, but on the side of darkness. Scary stuff, but so goes the way of religion in history--it’s not all piety and charity.

I found this novel engrossing and very well-conceptualized. The danger was palpable and the reader is put through a wide range of emotions. The author delivered her story through expert character formation, plot, dialogue and conflict to create a thoroughly enjoyable tale. I highly recommend it and have already ordered the next book in the series, The Betrayed.

And finally, check out the other blogs on this tour for more goodies:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Michael Greene
Jill Hart
Michael Heald
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Terri Main
Margaret
Melissa Meeks
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachelle Sperling
Stuart Stockton
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

CFBA features: My Soul to Keep, by Melanie Wells

2008-04-17T18:06:00.002-04:00

Melanie is one of my favorite authors. Below the obligatory info I've listed a link to my review of the book and an interview with Melanie (done previously a month or so ago). Enjoy!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

As nasty as I knew Peter Terry to be, I never expected him to start kidnapping kids. Much less a sweet, funny little boy with nothing to protect him but a few knock-kneed women, two rabbits and a staple gun…

It’s psychology professor Dylan Foster’s favorite day of the academic year…graduation day. And her little friend Christine Zocci’s sixth birthday. But the joyful summer afternoon goes south when a little boy is snatched from a neighborhood park, setting off a chain of events that seen to lead nowhere.

The police are baffled, but Christine’s eerie connection with the kidnapped child sends Dylan on a chilling investigation of her own. Is the pasty, elusive stranger Peter Terry to blame? Exploding light bulbs, the deadly buzz of a Texas rattlesnake, and the vivid, disturbing dreams of a little girl are just pieces of a long trail of tantalizing clues leading Dylan in her dogged search for the truth.

“Like water rising to a boil, My soul To Keep’s suspense sneaks up on you…before you know it, you’re in the thick if a frightening drama…Superbly crafted.”
---ROBERT LIPARULO, author of Deadfall, Germ, and Comes A Horseman

“Written with passion, a good dose of humor and, dare I say it, soul, this novel reminds us that we all, with grace and good fortune, bumble our way toward salvation.”
---K. L. COOK, author of Late Call and The Girl From Charmelle

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A native of the Texas panhandle and the child of musicians, Melanie Wells attended Southern Methodist University on a music scholarship (she's a fiddle player), and later completed graduate degrees in counseling psychology and Biblical studies at Our Lady of the Lake University and Dallas Theological Seminary.

She has taught at the graduate level at both OLLU and DTS, and has been in private practice as a counselor since 1992. She is the founder and director of LifeWorks counseling associates in Dallas, Texas, a collaborative community of creative therapists.

When the Day of Evil Comes is her first published work of fiction, and the first of a three-book series. The second work, The Soul Hunter was released in May, 2006. Melanie lives and writes in Dallas.

The Book Link

Link to my review on the Suspense Zone

My interview with Melanie on the Suspense Zone

CFBA book of the week: Amber Morn, by Brandilyn Collins

2008-04-07T14:17:00.002-04:00

I haven't read this book yet, but if it's anything like the others in the series, it's sure to be a show-stopper. Here's the rub:

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than sixty seconds.

Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she’d collapse—and the twitching fingers of the gunman would pull the trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.

Dear God, help us! Tell me this is a dream . . .

The shooter’s teeth clenched. “ Anybody who moves is dead.”

On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read “Scenes and Beans” bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside.

Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the “comments” section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can’t possibly provide. But if he doesn’t, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die...

Amber Morn is the climactic finale to Collins’ widely read Kanner Lake series. All first three titles in the series, Violet Dawn, Coral Moon, and Crimson Eve, were bestsellers. Library Journal placed Crimson Eve on its Best Books of 2007 list, and hailed it the “Best Christian suspense of 2007.”

A few early reviews of Amber Morn:

“… essential reading … a harrowing hostage drama.” – Library Journal

“… heart-pounding … breakneck pace … satisfying and meaningful ending.” – RT Bookreviews

“This cataclysmic ending left me breathless … Kanner Lake is the Best Suspense Series of 2007/2008.” – deenasbooks.blogspot.com

“Collins has saved the best for a last .. a powerful ensemble performance.” -- BookshelfReview.com

“… a staccato tempo … Sometimes you just have to close the book in order to come up for air.” – Dale Lewis

“…a masterpiece of page-turning suspense with a cast of dozens.” – Peg Phifer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline

“Don’t forget to b r e a t h e …®”

Brandilyn writes for Zondervan, the Christian division of HarperCollins Publishers, and is currently at work on her 19th book. Her first, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.

She’s also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons), and often teaches at writers conferences.

Brandilyn blogs at Forensics and Faith. Visit her Website to read the first chapters of all her books.

The Book Link

CFBA presents: Betrayed, by Jeanette Windle

2008-03-26T15:12:00.002-04:00

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Fires smolder endlessly below the dangerous surface of Guatemala City’s municipal dump.

Deadlier fires seethe beneath the tenuous calm of a nation recovering from brutal civil war. Anthropologist Vicki Andrews is researching Guatemala’s “garbage people” when she stumbles across a human body. Curiosity turns to horror as she uncovers no stranger, but an American environmentalist—Vicki’s only sister, Holly.

With authorities dismissing the death as another street crime, Vicki begins tracing Holly’s last steps, a pilgrimage leading from slum squalor to the breathtaking and endangered cloud forests of the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere. But every unraveled thread raises more questions. What betrayal connects Holly’s murder, the recent massacre of a Mayan village, and the long-ago deaths of Vicki’s own parents?

Nor is Vicki the only one demanding answers. Before her search reaches its startling end, the conflagration has spilled across international borders to threaten an American administration and the current war on terror. With no one turning out to be who they’d seemed, who can Vicki trust and who should she fear?

A politically relevant tale of international intrigue and God’s redemptive beauty and hope.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As the child of missionary parents, award-winning author and journalist Jeanette Windle grew up in the rural villages, jungles, and mountains of Colombia, now guerrilla hot zones. Her detailed research and writing is so realistic that it has prompted government agencies to question her to determine if she has received classified information. Currently based in Lancaster, PA, Jeanette has lived in six countries and traveled in more than twenty. She has more than a dozen books in print, including political/suspense best-seller CrossFire and the Parker Twins series.

A NOTE:

This will be my last CFBA post for awhile. I've left the Blog Alliance for several reasons, one of them being I'm not crazy about all of the books that are being featured and another that my life has gotten crazy busy and I need a breather from some internet things.

MY REVIEW:

I must admit I had never heard of Mrs. Windle before this book. From the first page I could tell that she definitely had a way with words, with describing a scene and making me feel as if I was there. Her familiarity with South American landscape and way of life is evident. The Guatamala government's depiction was just plain scary and hopefully not as accurate as it seemed!

I enjoyed the way the author created such a realistic storyworld, inserted fantastic elements, and threaded God's love and purpose through it all. Worth the read.

CFBA presents: ADAM, by Ted Dekker

2008-02-20T14:42:00.003-05:00

He died once to stop the killer...now he's dying again to save his wife.

FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has become famous for his well-articulated arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” is about to end abruptly with an unexpected death-his own.

Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by the loss of memory of the events immediately preceding his death.

Daniel becomes convinced that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes during which he alone saw the killer’s face. And the only way to access them is to trigger his brain’s memory dump that occurs at the time of death by simulating his death again…and again. So begins a carefully researched psychological thriller which delves deep into the haunting realities of near-death experiences, demon possession, and the human psche.

"As always with a Ted Dekker thriller, the details of ADAM are stunning, pointing to meticulous research in a raft of areas: police and FBI methods, forensic medicine, psychological profiling-in short, all that accompanies a Federal hunt for a serial killer. But Dekker fully reveals his magic in the latter part of the book, when he subtly introduces his darker and more frightening theme. It's all too creepily convincing. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can't help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we're not careful."

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), and Obsessed, with two more...Renegade, and Chaos to be released later this year.

MY REVIEW:

To say that this novel is a psychological thriller is an understatement. The human psyche is deeply explored, as well as more about spiritual forces than may at first appear. Abuse, fear, evil, victimization, freedom of choice, religion, triumph over evil, truth over lies, courage, and love all have a part in the whole. But the whole is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

What might happen to someone who is severely abused as a child in the name of religion? Is it possible to escape that evil, or must you succumb to it at some point in your life? Can good triumph over evil? Will it always? How much can one person endure before they break? Are demons real? Can they really overtake someone who gives them access? Don’t we all have the capacity for evil inside ourselves? Dekker explores answers to these questions.

I usually preface my Dekker reviews with the disclaimer that I may be a bit too passionate when it comes to his books. I’m a huge fan and he never ceases to flabbergast me. Adam is no exception. Dekker continues to up the ante and churn out gale-force plots with gargantuan spiritual oomph. Hence my admiration.

Do I have anything negative to say about this story whatsoever? Not remotely. No doubt, thriller lovers everywhere will find merit in this newest offering. If it sounds like I’m still holding something back, well, I am.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what stole a bit of my fascination from me regarding this book. Recently, I reviewed another excellent thriller by a relative newcomer to the Christian fiction scene, Steven James, called The Pawn. In fact, it had only been a week or two since I read it when I acquired Adam. See, The Pawn was arguably the best thriller (and even the best book of any kind) I’ve ever read, and I couldn’t help but compare the stories since The Pawn was also about a serial killer. It scared me to think that someone could supersede Ted’s place in my heart and knock him gently to #2 just from one book.

But never fear. I can’t be swayed so easily, especially considering Ted’s track record and deep spiritual diving. His writing has always been spot on, but I can see his growing maturity not only in his words, but in his themes. Do not miss this one. I’m sure it will be talked about for quite a while.

The book link

CFBA feature today: Fallen, by Matthew Raley

2008-01-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb . . . and Jim’s married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor’s world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page.

Fallen is the story about Jim’s relationship with Dave—how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable, but finds the situation getting worse and worse. It’s also about Jim’s other relationships. Just as he discovers hypocrisy in Dave, Jim discovers his own sins against his wife and daughter.

The Book Link

MY REVIEW:

Jim is the chairman of the local Baptist church and a bank manager. One day while at work, he looks across the street to the Bean, local coffee hangout. To his surprise, he sees Dave, his pastor, step out of a beautiful woman’s car, dressed nicer than he does in his church office on a workday. What could the explanation be? Is this woman his sister, an old friend, a counselee, a friend of his wife’s?

When Jim confronts Dave, Dave admits to a small impropriety, but brushes it off at first. Then, as Jim continues to dig, Dave confesses his marriage is rocky and he started confiding in an old high school friend. Jim is not convinced that this relationship is as platonic as Dave makes it out to be.

What Jim uncovers is bigger and more infuriating than he ever would have guessed. Can he do the right thing for his church and his pastor? And himself? Will the church survive this latest upheaval and be able to move on?

The subject matter in this novel is something that needs to be dealt with. Though fictionalized, I know that scenarios like this happen in real life to real people in authority. The author has rightly brought this to our attention so that we will be aware and ready to deal in a godly way with people who have fallen into sin.

I had a great interest in seeing how the story played out, so I began reading in earnest. However, it was really hard to get into. Long stretches of backstory and/or flashback had me skimming as well as long sections of rather stilted dialogue between two people. Both the narrative and dialogue seemed to stretch on and rehash some of the same ideas over and over. Often, I felt nothing was really happening except Jim questioning himself and questioning Dave.

Yes, the point was made that pastors should not be islands, shouldn’t be all-powerful. Some do take advantage of trusting parishoners and get away with a lot. On one hand we should not be overly judgmental, but on the other hand they should, as leaders, be held to a higher standard. I applaud the author for bringing out the fact that even pastors can fall into sin and be oblivious to the fact that they need help. And the lesson “there but for the grace of God go I” holds its own. In the end, some redemption did occur--the last few chapters were by far the best writing of the whole book.

I have always wondered whether a book like this would ever be published by a Christian publisher. In fact, I’ve toyed with the idea for years of writing a similar novel, one that exposed hypocrisy in the pulpit and worked to help maintain accountability in the pastorate. Because, you see, I’ve seen it up close and personal.

Several years ago, the church my husband served as Worship Pastor went through major upheaval because our pastor had, like the pastor in this novel, had an affair. Only in our case, it was with a woman from the congregation. A woman that had come to him for counseling because of her rocky marriage.

As time went on, his deceit went further. His affair led to a pregnancy and to an abortion that he paid for. Imagine our shock when my husband and I saw the young lady at a restaurant in town and she openly confessed this to us. She said he promised he would leave his wife and children for her when the time was right.

The man preached good, solid, sometimes fiery sermons. He lived the total opposite. How could such a thing happen? How would the church ever recover from something so huge, so blatant, so shocking? The sad fact is that that church has never fully recovered. Each subsequent pastor has stayed a brief year or two and attendance has dwindled to a mere fraction of what it once had. All because a pastor refused accountability, presumed himself to be a one-man show, thought he could handle everything himself. He fell and made a mockery of the Christian life.

Of course, these things can be redeemed. He can be forgiven and can change with God’s help. All of us sin and all of us are in need of God’s transforming power. The church, with God’s help and the people’s willingness, can move on and become a force for good in the community. But it is a long, tough road when a trusted leader betrays you. Those scars run deep and you never forget those events.

So when I read this novel, old emotions came over me and made me remember things I’d rather put away forever. I pray my experiences in such a church keep me always God-focused so I will not fall into sin and try to cover it up, so I will be aware of masks and secrets we all have. So I will be truthful but gracious when I run across something similar in the future.

God help us all.

CSFF Blog Tour Presents: Auralia's Colors, by Jeffrey Overstreet

2008-01-20T17:35:00.000-05:00

I recently reviewed Auralia's Colors here on my blog. Click here to read it.

Also, I interviewed Jeffrey over at The Christian Suspense Zone. Click here to read the interview.

Since I'm link-happy today, here are some more tasty ones:

The Amazon Book Link

The Book Web Site

Jeffrey's Blog

Go see what our lovely participants for this month have to say:

Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Jackie Castle
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Pamela Morrisson
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachelle Sperling
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

2008-01-05T17:25:00.000-05:00

First of all, I have to say that I am ruined. Mr. James has totally ruined me. It’s like I have just finished off a bar of the best imported German chocolate. How could I ever go back to Nestle? Why would I want to? Will any suspense or thriller ever grab me and shake me and not let me go like this one? Will I ever feel this pulse-pounding, fingernail chewing, sickening, exciting feeling while reading a novel again? I just finished the book today and I think I’m going through withdrawal. I can’t believe the last page is turned and it’s over. I’m sad. What a shame it had to end.

What is all the hoopla about, you ask? Patrick Bowers, an environmental criminologist for the FBI, is consulting on the case of a lifetime. A brilliant serial killer is systematically murdering young women, leaving a chess pawn at each crime scene. But as piece after piece of the puzzle become available, nothing seems to fit. The sicko is always one step ahead of the good guys, taunting them and raising the stakes. Patrick’s recent widower status, estrangement from his stepdaughter, and having to work under an unpleasant former acquaintance escalate his stress level and create additional interest to the story.

The Pawn has a killer plot—complex and riveting, it had me guessing, reeling, sweating, and hanging on for dear life at the end of every single chapter. There is nothing not to like. My only warning is for the squeamish--the book contains several vivid descriptions of victims’ torture as well as post mortem details. The stark realism captured me and brought me totally into the story. I felt as if I was in peril myself, frantic for resolution.

And yes, Virginia, there is a spiritual element. The quest for faith and love run deep within the pages, and not only for the main character. At first glance, this may seem a plot-driven novel, since everything that happens is so paramount to the story. But you will definitely root for Pat, his daughter, and the other law enforcement officers. You will discover that even in the midst of certain evil, there is a God who exists and cares. One that will overcome evil, if not in the next few pages, ultimately.

For you suspense lovers out there, this frenetically paced drama will have you drooling for more. The Rook is the second book in the series, due out in a few months.

(This review has been cross posted on the LGG blog, and has been submitted to both The Christian Suspense Zone and Dancing Word Writers Network. Many will hear about this novel if I have anything to do about it.)

My One Word for 2008

2007-12-31T21:17:00.000-05:00

At the end of last year, our pastor encouraged us to select one word (www.myoneword.org) that would be our motivation for godly living this year. I picked “surrender” for 2007. There were several things in life I gave up as a result of this. One being writing. I felt God’s call to do that. However, he has given me this thing back for some reason. Despite its serious toll on my mind and emotions, for some reason, God has not taken away the desire to craft a novel. He has only deepened it.

And so, wanting to complete a rough draft of about 75,000 words before I turn 40 on September 14th, I’m going to need a lot of my “one word.” It is “perseverance.” The driving force behind this word is the scripture found in James 1:4—“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

In my case, perseverance is needed to finish my work in progress. I know my tendency to get excited about something, obsess about it, and then let it fall by the wayside later. If I’m to achieve my goal, I need to stick to the plan and write about 307 words a day. Thank God it’s a leap year—I get an extra day. Woohoo!

So I guess I’m going to keep track of my progress here on my blog. That should help me stay on track and accountable to some degree. And I’ll enlist the help of some writing friends, of course. Writers need each other, no doubt.

So, sock it to me, 2008. I’m ready for you.

(I know it's late!) On the 12th Day of Christmas...

2007-12-27T10:01:00.000-05:00

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

2007-12-24T16:51:00.000-05:00

Attention, please! Chosen, by Ted Dekker reviewed

2007-12-23T22:44:00.000-05:00

It has been 13 years since Thomas entered the world of the colored forest—a world filled with talking bats, green lakes, and a deadly skin disease.

Now, as Captain of the Forest Guard, Thomas defends Elyon’s people and their seven small forests against the encroachment of the desert-dwelling Horde.

The Guard’s numbers are small compared to the Horde army. Thomas looks for new recruits among young men and women a mere 16 and 17 years old. Four of them will become envied squad leaders, provided with rewards and responsibility.

After the four are named, Thomas sends them on a quest into the desert to prove their worth. But when they encounter enemy Scabs, they must escape or be killed.

Instead of finishing their mission and returning home, the group meets an unlikely ally who dispatches them to search for a new treasure—the Seven Books of History—books both powerful and dangerous that can change the course of history. Can the four comrades confront unthinkable evil and live to tell about it?

Dekker continues the story of Thomas’ forest world in his own unique fashion. Another hero is born within the pages of Chosen, one with character and courage to face fear and death with certainty that he is on the right side.

I will never get tired of Dekker’s style. He somehow keeps raising the bar and then one-upping himself with each new work.

The Lost Books series is sure to be a hit not only with younger readers (to which the stories are aimed) but to more seasoned ones like me. Book Two, Infidel, releases in January 2008.

There is so much to uncover inside this story and so much yet to come. Don’t just take my word for it. Take a deep dive into Elyon’s waters and enter a new world. You’ll be glad you did.

The 10th Day of Christmas...

2007-12-22T20:47:00.000-05:00

Celebrating the true meaning of the Christmas season, GRPR is proud to introduce to you the twelve days of Christmas. Twelve inspired devotional thoughts written by some of the best and brightest authors in the Christian industry.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....

The Gift of Memories

God's Gift of Memories

by Marlo Schalesky

Memory is a powerful thing. We hear a song from our high school days and we’re transported to sweaty school dances and blasting the radio in our first car. The smell of brownies baking takes us back to pigtails and ponies. We drive by the house we lived in as a kid and remember the swingset in the backyard and how that rotten kid from next door blew spitwads through the hole in the fence.

Ever gotten sick on a type of food? You’ll never want to have that again. And don’t even think about naming your child after that whiny little brat that sat behind you in the fourth grade, even if your spouse loves that name.

Memory. It’s why we treasure photos, display mementos, keep in touch with people from our past. It’s why God set up festivals for the ancient Israelites and told them to erect memorials at significant places in their history.

Memory. It’s why the sight of a stuffed stocking takes me back to those early mornings in my childhood when my brother and I would wake up before dawn, run to the fireplace, get our stockings, and race back to my parents’s bed. Mom was always ready. Dad pretended to complain. And together, with lots of giggling and the thrill of anticipation, we’d pull out the gifts from our stockings one by one. Simple things, boring really. Candy. A toothbrush. Some silly plastic toy. Things that would be used up or forgotten in just a few short weeks. And yet, opening stockings is my favorite Christmas memory from childhood.

Why? I think it’s because good memories are not necessarily made from the “big stuff.” Rather, they’re fashioned out of warmth and happiness and times together. They’re woven with laughter, colored with simple, plain joy. They come from times when you experience love.

So, this year, I’m thinking about the memories I’m making now, for my kids, and for myself. I don’t want those memories to be ones of a Mom who’s running around with too much to do and too little time to do it. I don’t want them to be of hustle, bustle, shopping, wrapping, cooking, cards, and gifts thrown under the tree. I don’t even want them to be of the cool stable-and-horse set that my girls will unwrap on Christmas morning. Or the cheap kid’s guitar for my oldest (age 7), or the new “ooo-ahh” (stuffed gorilla) for one of my 2-year-old twins.

Because the toys will break, get old, get lost, or they’ll outgrow them. But they won’t outgrow the happy memories of family times together. The memories of decorating Christmas cookies with laughter and joking – those won’t get old. The times we make a gingerbread house together, or sit down and watch the Grinch – those won’t break. The simple things make the best memories. Times when we’re together as a family, having fun, enjoying the traditions we’re building together.

So, that’s my goal this Christmas, to weave memories of peace, love, togetherness, because that’s the best gift I can think of to celebrate Jesus’ birth -- Memories that bring a smile to the face of children . . . and to the face of the King.

2007-12-19T11:15:00.000-05:00