Review: Opening Moves, by Steven James

What better way to kick off the return of my blog by reviewing a book by one of my favorite authors? I'm sure a book giveaway would be better, but with so few readers, I'll have to boost my subscribers again before doing something like that. (Sorry. I refuse to give away my only copy, which I paid for myself.)

And so we begin.


Revulsion. Anger. Disgust. Lightheartedness. Wonder. Hope. Uncertainty. A gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. And yes, even joy. Those are some of the things I felt while reading Opening Moves. I even skimmed through it a second time just to see if I reacted in the same way. I'll have to answer for the most part in the affirmative.

Patrick Bowers, Milwaukee homicide detective, notices things. He has an uncanny way of seeing and remembering details that no one else does. He can put the puzzle pieces of a case together to reveal the big picture that has eluded others. But will he be able to connect several murders from different states and dismemberments from here in his own town to the single, or perhaps multiple, perpetrators?

Where to start? A prequel always seems risky, and James has said it wasn't his original intention to write one for this series (September Suspense Magazine, p. 58). But he's glad he did and so am I. I enjoyed seeing Bowers as a cop who longs for more, one who eventually makes it into the FBI. I have to think his new found friend Ralph Hawkins has a lot to do with that. And, digressing a little, may I say that Ralph is one of my favorite characters. He's a mammoth on the outside and a teddy bear on the inside. He and Pat have a way of communicating something without ever saying it—they read between the lines of each other's words. I love being able to “look in” on them when they're doing that.

For those who have never read James, this is a great place to start. For those who have read the whole Bowers series, Opening Moves gives you even more insight into Pat, introduces Dr. Calvin Werjonic with his geospatial techniques, and shows you how Pat meets his nemesis. You can read my reviews of the previous books HERE (although I have no idea how I neglected to write a review for The Queen, so, two you can read are: HERE and HERE).

I have to say that the most striking thing about James' books, this one included, is the theme of man's depravity. James will tell you that he doesn't want to glorify evil, but instead portray it for the reality it is, and then point to the fact that it can be overcome (see this interview: Title Trakk). I definitely see that, although it's still hard to read some descriptions of murder, especially when you know this stuff really happens. I guess it's good that it bothers me and that I'm not totally desensitized to the violence. It bothers me more that the man named Joshua grew up with the bible, knowing it, and yet turned his back on God's love and forgiveness because his father had twisted scripture too much, and Joshua had killed too much, to ever allow himself redemption. So sad. He rejects truth when he hears it because he feels so guilty. I always hate it when religious-type people are the bad guys. It eats at me. We who are the Body of Christ are human, yes. Absolutely. Not perfect. However, we have a God living in us that is supposed to be providing resurrection power for us. Where is that seen if not in a transformed life? Why are we not availing ourselves of this power and overcoming our circumstances, our desires, our thoughts, our actions? Granted, just because the guy is religious doesn't mean he's been changed by Jesus. I realize that. Far from it. These are things that James has made me think about, though.

I’ve read all of James’ novels and am not sure this one is my favorite. Yes, he’s an amazing writer, one of the best ever in modern fiction. I still lean toward The Knight or The Bishop as better. I don't know, maybe this book was just too disgusting, too dark. I let the book sit for a few days after reading and my thoughts have mellowed a bit. There's no story without the violence, and the story is amazing. And there is hope. Always.

I definitely recommend this book and look forward to the last two in the series, The King and Checkmate.

I'm back!

Surprise! Today marks the day I reactivate this blog. I'm still reviewing for three external sites--Title Trakk, The Suspense Zone, and now Fiction Addict. However, I missed being a part of the CSFF Blog Tour (thanks for reinstating me, Becky!) and also posting things more of worth than I do on Facebook. Speaking of Facebook, I've grown to really hate it in some ways, so maybe I'll take a hiatus from that and concentrate my thoughts here. To celebrate, I'll post a review soon. Unfortunately, I can't post anything I've done recently, because my last two reviews were for Fiction Addict, and I can't re-post them per their rules. But you can go HERE and HERE to see them. WARNING: These are NOT biblical worldview fiction, but my next one will be. Pretty sure Opening Moves by Steven James will be the one. So happy reading!

Adios, Blog--My One Word 2012

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

CSFF Tour: The Skin Map, by Stephen Lawhead

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

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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Valley of Bones, by Eric Wilson--my review

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...

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

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

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.