Sky Zone--a great read!

Sky Zone: A Novel by Creston Mapes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




No one can look back on America's recent history and not think about the threat of terrorism. There are more incidents of it in the news than we want to hear about. For most of us, it hasn't hit too close to home, but it could at any moment. Jack Crittendon is about to find out what it's like.

Jack has been through some tough times, but nothing has prepared him for what's coming. Not only are he and his wife Pam struggling financially, but one day when he checks in for work, he gets way more than he bargained for. Providing security for Festival Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Jack and his ex -military, survival-crazy friend Brian Shakespeare, are thrown into a life and death situation. Independent presidential hopeful Martin Sterling is holding a rally at the arena--one that will pack the seats--but when Homeland Security uncovers intel of a possible terrorist attack, everyone is thrown into panic and chaos. Thousands of people are trapped inside the arena, along with Jack, Shakespeare, Sterling, Jack's reporter friend Derrick, and Everett Lester, former rock star-turned-Christian artist scheduled as part of the evening's festivities.

Who can stand against the evil men holding the public hostage to their every whim? Can Jack, Derrick, and Shakespeare stop the madness without getting themselves killed in the process?

The books in the Crittendon files keep getting better and better. The plot, elements of suspense, setting, characters, subject matter, and faith issues were handled flawlessly to create a complete work that I thoroughly enjoyed. The problems the characters had were ones anyone could relate to, and most of the situations were entirely believable. Although I saw a major twist coming a mile away, it didn't take away from the drama, and I maintain that this is definitely Creston Mapes' best book yet.

As a reader and reviewer who has been with Mapes from the very beginning, I loved that Everett Lester made an appearance in the story. It made me want to go back and read Dark Star and Full Tilt over again.

Without spoiling anything, I will say that Sky Zone is less about terrorism and more about a lot of other things, including maintaining our freedoms, being courageous under fire, being a witness by our example, the importance of our relationships, and God's providence. If I could use spoilers, I would talk a lot more about some other themes that came up, but I won't do that here. Discussion questions are included in the back of the book that address these for group or personal thought.



View all my reviews

Poison Town, by Creston Mapes

Below, I'm happy to review Poison Town, by Creston Mapes. I've long been a fan of Creston's, from his very first book. I received a free e-book directly from him, but was put under no pressure to produce a positive review. Go check out the author here:

www.CrestonMapes.com

www.Twitter.com/CrestonMapes

www.Facebook.com/Creston.Mapes

Jack Crittendon, a Trenton City, Ohio reporter, stumbles upon the biggest story of his career when his mechanic Galen Randall becomes ill in a similar manner as his late wife. Galen believes the local fiberglass plant's spewing of toxic pollution is to blame for both of their maladies. But Demler-Vargus is a huge company with far-reaching tentacles of power. What is the truth, and does Jack stand a chance of getting that truth out?

Meanwhile, Jack struggles both inwardly and outwardly with forgiving Granger Meade, the man who had recently kidnapped his wife Pamela. Though Meade claims to have found God in prison and wants to apologize to Jack and Pam, Jack will have no part of it. Pamela has forgiven and begs Jack to do the same, but apparently to no avail.

As Jack finds out more and more about the Demler-Vargus cover-up, he relies on co-worker and friend Derrick to help him further uncover the story, unwittingly getting them both into great personal peril in the process. What they find is more than they imagined and enough to get them both killed.

Engaging and easy to read, this story delivers on several levels. Solid writing and plot pacing carries it smoothly, along with interesting and varied characters. The idea of poison's effects—from the Demler-Vargus plant, and from the unforgiving heart of Jack—is clever, and fleshed out very clearly. If I had to complain a tiny bit, I'd say maybe Mapes is guilty of overkill on that part. The reader is smart enough to pick up on all of that without it being drilled repeatedly. But point taken.

Two of my favorite characters are Claire, Travis' girlfriend, and Derrick. Both of them help out their friends in time of need regardless of danger to themselves. They don't give up when things seem too difficult, either. Nice friends to have.

I highly recommend all of Mapes' works, especially Poison Town. To me, it's better than the first in the series, Fear Has a Name. Readers who want suspense melded with strong faith elements need look no further.

(I received a free e-book, but no pressure was put on me for a positive review. All words are mine.)

My One Word 2014

If you've known or followed me for any length of time, you'll know that I'm a big fan of my pastor's creation: My One Word. It has become so popular in the last couple of years, he even co-wrote a book with that name, and you can hear about MOW on K-Love radio.

I won't bore you with a rundown of my words from the last 6 years or so. They can be found in the archives of this blog. But I do want to share my choice for this year. I think this is going to be the most difficult yet, and I've had some doozies.

See, I'm a blunt kind of gal. I have opinions, I like to share them, and I like to be right. I've also been known to like having the last word. I don't sugar coat things. I get to the point. I don't like to play games. I get frustrated, upset, maybe even angry when things don't go the way I planned or when the kids (read "kids and/or husband") don't do what I wanted them to do or act the way I wanted them to act. I like to vent. I don't always have a pleasant tone of voice. Okay, rarely, but it's not on purpose. Anyway, when I first started praying about MOW this year, I didn't receive clear direction. Then one day the word "quiet" popped into my head and I thought, "Surely not, Lord! And if so, it does NOT mean silent!" As I continued to pray, God assured me He didn't want me to always remain silent, never saying what I think. However, what He did impress upon me is related, and requires more thought and work then just being quiet.

Before I reveal the word, here's the verse it comes from: Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. (NRSV) My word is SEASONED. It comes from a Greek word that means to season, make savory, full of wisdom and grace and hence pleasant and wholesome. For someone who doesn't always think long enough before she speaks, this seems daunting at best. For as long as I remember, I've had a problem with this. Many times I think to myself after a conversation has passed, or after I have gotten angry with someone, "Why did I say that?" Last year my word was LOVE, and I'd like to think I learned to love God and others a little better. Hopefully, that love can create a better way to say things, a gentler and wiser way to respond when I feel like blowing my lid or letting someone have it. Maybe there will be times when I should just shut it and be quiet, but I think most of the time it's just thinking and choosing to say things in a more positive tone or wording. Words mean things and they are powerful. God spoke them and the universe came into being. Our words are indicative of where our hearts are, and they can either build people up or tear them down. I want to respond, not react. I don't want regrets and fighting and anger. I want all of my conversations to be seasoned with God's love and His word, and wisdom that comes from Him.

Have you picked a word for this year? Share it here: www.myoneword.org

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3 (post #2 for me): The Shadow Lamp

I said I would give a review, and give one I will, although it will be a bit different than the ones I usually write. I have a lot of random thoughts/feelings about this book, some positive, some not, and I'll try to go over the more important ones here. However, I will have to give a SPOILER WARNING FOR ALL THAT FOLLOWS THIS SENTENCE. I can't discuss the book in detail without spoilers, so please do not read what follows if you haven't read the book yourself.


Pros:

I love that Kit, Mina, Cass, Dr. Clarke, the Zetetic Society, and Gianni, all find themselves together talking about what has caused the deceleration of the expansion of the universe and what may have caused it. When Kit tells Gianni about Arthur bringing his beloved wife back to life in the Spirit Well, we realize that this event is what has changed the course of the future and brought the multiverse into the threat of complete annihilation. I can make a wild guess and say that perhaps Kit will travel back to the Spirit Well in the past and try to prevent Arthur from doing this, therefore saving the world. But I don't know.

I'm not a scientist or physicist, and, even after reading all of these books I hardly understand either time or ley travel, but I loved all the discussions of science and space/time.

This isn't a pro about the book, but one about one of the tour participants who writes some good thoughts HERE about Gianni not really being a Deist and Etzel acting in a Christlike manner towards the incarcerated Burleigh and his men. I never thought of Etzel as that important to the story, but evidently he is.

The book, as the others, was written in a way that made me invest and engage in it, and left me wanting more. That's a good thing. I heartily anticipate the conclusion to the series. No doubt Lawhead will hit it out of the park, bringing the answers we've all been so desperate for in regards to what will happen.

Cons:

I had a slight problem with the fact that the book is called "The Shadow Lamp," though yes, they do try to find out what makes the thing work, but they never do. And if/when they do, is that going to help them go to the Spirit Well and stop the EOE?

I don't like the way all of the characters assume an old earth. I'm letting it go, but being a young earth girl, it peeves me.

I also don't like that it seems somewhat inevitable that the universe/multiverse/world (whatever you want to call it) will collapse into itself and annihilation. That doesn't fit in with the "Omega Point" or with God's bringing forth a New Heaven and New Earth at the end of time as we know it. IMHO, nothing near that would ever have a chance of happening. Anything that happens catastrophically to the earth will be only what happens in Revelation. Whether or not those events change anything but the earth and our galaxy I don't know, but I know we will not all be annihilated. But it is fiction, after all, and for the characters, it's a distinct and scary possibility, even if it isn't for us in real life.


I guess that's it for me. I've enjoyed what others are saying about this book/series. Please go read our other participants' thoughts as I have been doing. I appreciate the way they enlighten me further.

CSFF Blog Tour presents: Stephen R. Lawhead's The Shadow Lamp

So releases Book 4 in the Bright Empires series, a series that reaches beyond one genre and mixes fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction. I'm a big fan of Lawhead and of this series, but I had a hard time writing a review of this one. I'm still thinking on it and will post one tomorrow, but for now, here are links to my reviews of the previous books in the series:

The Skin Map
The Bone House
The Spirit Well

Also, here are the tour links where you can check out/buy the book and see about the author:

Buy The Shadow Lamp on Amazon
Author Website
Author FB Page

Lastly, here are my fellow participants' links. Definitely see what they have to say:
Julie Bihn
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jojo Sutis
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Rachel Wyant
Phyllis Wheeler
Deborah Wilson

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

More Reviews to Check Out

So last year I found an author named Richard Paul Evans who writes Young Adult adventure/sci-fi. It's very clean (no language or sex) and only mildly violent. The values of friendship and doing what is right no matter the cost are exalted. I don't normally read YA, but I am enjoying these for the aforementioned reasons. My review of the latest installment, Michael Vey: Battle of the Ampere, should show up on Fiction Addict soon. Here are links to my reviews of the first two books:

Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25 (Book 1)

Michael Vey: Rise of the Elgen (Book 2)

Book Reviews to Check Out!

I've been a little busy with life, but I have published a few reviews lately. Here are the links if you are interested!
Fear Has a Name, by Creston Mapes, should be up soon on The Suspense Zone, too!


Iscariot, by Tosca Lee

The Tehran Initiative, by Joel C. Rosenberg

The Fifth Assassin, by Brad Meltzer

My One Word 2013

LOVE

My pride almost got in the way while trying to choose a word for this year. I mean, love, really? Boring. A thousand people probably choose the word love every year. It sounds so generic and easy. What will people think when I tell them I need to work on “love?”

This word came up in my mind almost immediately, along with a short list of a few other words. Then, God confirmed it with a bible study my small group is doing in the book of Deuteronomy, a devotional I read, and Mike's sermon on January 27th.

When I think of the person I want to become, I envision one who responds to others kindly, who is compassionate, caring, patient, unselfish. I know that I can get very annoyed with people. Often. I know that if things don't go my way, and/or someone is IN my way, I'm not too nice about it. I know from studying the Hebrew words for love, that love is not only a choice, but a feeling, being bound to another, or having loyalty to another. And from the New Testament, I know that God equates loving Him with obedience (even more difficult), that we ought to love Him first and foremost, and then love our neighbors as ourselves. People will know we are Jesus' disciples because we love each other. Love covers a multitude of sins, it never fails.

I also know that if I can't understand (or at least increase my understanding) or accept God's love for me, that I will have a hard time truly loving others. So, this word is very complex and multifaceted for me. Love means that I rest in God's love for me and extend that love to others. It means that I respond with others' well-being in mind and not just my own. Jesus treated people like they were important. He made time for them. I need to treat people like Jesus did. There are so many areas in which I can grow in this journey toward Christ-likeness. I felt a need to go back to the basics, as it were, to start over with what Jesus said were the most important things.

In Matthew 22, Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then in John 13 He says, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” And finally, John the Beloved, disciple of Jesus, writes in I John 4: “Dear friends, if God loved us that much we also should love each other. No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is made perfect in us.”

I look forward to seeing what God will do with me and this word. Part of me is scared that I'll fail miserably and be in a constant state of stress and anger, or just apathy. I'm not sure I really know what love looks like in my life right now. I just know I'm not loving God or others the way I should. It's not a regret-based word (Mike talks about this in his book), but it is one that looks forward to changing the heart and the behavior that springs from it.

The Sanctuary, by Ted Dekker

Those of you who know me know that I've been a Dekker fan for almost a decade, since right after he wrote When Heaven Weeps, and I discovered his magical ability to write about God's love and His redemptive story for mankind in a more unique way than I had ever seen before.

Over the years, his message has not changed, although he crafts both fantasy and suspense in different ways to suit his purpose. His latest offerings have been amazing, including the co-written Books of Mortals series. The precursor to The Sanctuary was The Priest's Graveyard, which introduces and develops the main characters in both books, Danny and Renee.

I feel like I always say this, or at least many times say this, but this book is one of my very favorites of Ted's. It's got everything in spades--great characters, thoughtful themes, sacrificial love, fast plot, twists and turns, surprise ending, and everything else you come to expect from Dekker. I finished reading it weeks ago and I'm still raving about it, still thinking about it. You will, too.

I won't rehash the plot here. You can read about that on Amazon or somewhere else. Here are some good reviews from my friends at Fiction Addict. I tend to agree more with Josh's review, because I didn't think the book was too violent or graphic, like Lori did (I reserve that opinion for some of Steven James' books.) Hands down, the book is nothing short of fantastic and I bid a fond farewell to Danny and Renee (At least I think I do--I don't know of any plans to bring them back.). Kudos, Ted.

The Spirit Well - CSFF Blog Tour Day 2

The Spirit Well continues the saga of Kit and Mina, who use ley line travel in their quest for the skin map's secrets. Although they don't have the whole skin map (it was torn into sections), they still have come a long way in mastering inter-dimensional travel. Library Journal, on the Amazon site, gives a good little rundown of the plot HERE. A cast of characters find themselves in ancient Egypt, the Stone Age, Damascus, an Italian monastery, and 13th Century Oxford, among others. All are connected in some way to the map.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have read and reviewed the previous two books in this series and enjoyed them immensely. Lawhead has a writing style unmatched by any author I've come across. He's not overly wordy like Hugo or Tolkein, but he can definitely set a scene while forwarding the story. My head spins to think of the knowledge and research that went into this bear of a pentalogy.

That said, I admit if there was such a thing as time-travel lag (akin to jet lag), I may have contracted it while reading this book. There were so many individuals in so many places/times that I had to remind myself nearly every chapter what/when was happening. Not to mention that one realizes that when an author lists a full two pages of characters at the beginning of a novel, a bit of concentration will be in order. Perhaps I wasn't up to the challenge, but at least Lawhead gave us a list. And a forward of sorts explaining what had happened previously. (That being true, I caution readers to not start with this installment, but please start at the beginning and read all the books in order, or you will be hopelessly lost.)

The plot moved forward well and ended in a good spot. I will admit that at first, I erroneously thought that this book was the last in the series, not the middle one. Oops. Already having read half the book, I kept thinking there was no way Lawhead could wrap everything up yet. No way. So I consulted the web and found that indeed there were two more novels to go and breathed a sigh of relief.

I highly recommend this series for anyone who likes Lawhead, fantasy, legend, sci-fi, or imaginitive fiction of any sort.

In conjunction with the CSSF blog tour, I received a copy of this book for review.

CSFF Blog Tour: The Spirit Well, by Stephen R. Lawhead, Day 1

I'm so glad to be back on the CSFF Blog Tour! I've been a bit busy with other things for the last several months and had to step out for a while, but I'm back!

I love Stephen Lawhead and love his series. This is one of the most imaginative (if not confusing!) series I've ever read, and it's a joy to read and review these books.

Here are links to my reviews of the previous two books in the series, The Skin Map and The Bone House.

Buy the book on Amazon HERE.

Visit Lawhead's website HERE.

Check him out on Facebook HERE.

My review comes tomorrow, so for now all I have in parting are the links to all my fellow participants' blogs. Happy reading!

Jim Armstrong
Julie Bihn
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Jeremy Harder
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Janeen Ippolito
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Joan Nienhuis
Lyn Perry
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler

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