Fiction Addict

We’re honored to feature Mike Dellosso in our Author Spotlight. Mike is the author of The Hunted, Scream, and the upcoming Darlington Woods.

You can listen to our interview with Mike here.

Mike Dellosso:

I was posed with the question, why do I write fiction? Let’s start big and work our way down.

I write because, like most writers, I suppose, I can’t not write. It’s my way of expressing myself, my way of sharing with anyone who will read what I write what’s in my head and on my heart. There’s a little man inside me with a big mouth and writing is my way of letting him have his say.

I write fiction because I believe in the power of story. I believe in its ability to take a reader and transport her to another time and another place and set her in another person’s shoes. I believe in the power of story to not just entertain, but to change a person’s life, or at least cause her to think about changing her life.

I write Christian fiction because I firmly believe it’s what I’ve been called to do. Look, I realize I’ve been given a great gift here, not just the writing itself but the opportunity to write, and I don’t want to blow it. I see it this way, there’s a great sea of people out there—writers—millions of them, just itching to let their voice be heard, and God chose to hand the megaphone to me. And with it He said, “Mike, this is your chance, your opportunity, what are you going to say?” I don’t take what I’ve been given for granted for one second; I take it very seriously. So when I write I write with purpose. I want my writing to matter. I look at every book I write as quite possibly the last book I’ll ever write and I want to make it really count. I don’t write fiction just for Christians, I write fiction with a Christian message for everyone, a message of hope and redemption and salvation, a message of changed lives and regenerated hearts. For me, that’s what it’s all about, that’s the core of why I write.

I write Christian suspense fiction because, let’s face it, life is suspenseful and scary. Monsters are real and we face them every day. Villains are all around us, scheming and conniving to inflict us with fear and harm us. No, I’m not paranoid and I’m not delusional. I’ve seen the scary side of life and I’ve battled monsters. I’ve known fear and uncertainty on a first name basis (for me, it goes by Cancer). I know it’s all very real and very scary and very suspenseful.

So now you know most of what is in my head regarding why I do what I do. For the rest of the story, follow my blog at www.mikedellosso.blogspot.com or visit my website, www.mikedellosso.com.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

In six weeks, Brad Cutler will marry the woman of his dreams. Laura, perfect for him in every way, shares the same faith, morals and goals. Unfortunately, the past Brad thought he buried long ago breathes down his neck threatening to ruin everything he’s built.

Brad travels back to North Carolina to find Emma, the ex-girlfriend he abandoned nine years earlier after the bad choices of a fateful summer led to an unwanted pregnancy and abortion. He hopes to atone for his past wrongs, but in doing so, he risks everything. Laura now wonders if she even knows the man she is about to marry.

In Shades of Blue, Karen Kingsbury once again delicately weaves a story of love, faith and redemption. She tackles difficult issues and expertly shows how the choices we make change our lives forever, not only affecting us, but also those we love the most. Brad’s character demonstrates how bad decisions can lead to a lifetime of pain and regret. At the same time, though he cannot change the past, he shows that the hope of forgiveness and redemption always exist.

Not your typical romance, Shades of Blue focuses mostly on Brad and Emma’s broken past and journey to restoration while Laura struggles with anger and forgiveness miles away from her fiancée. Some Christian clichés do come through, making the narrative feel forced in places, but Kingsbury makes up for it by dealing with a complex issue, such as abortion, with gritty realism that palpably draws readers in.

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: September 2008

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

As a toddler, Bod escapes the brutal murder of his family by wandering from his home into a nearby graveyard. There, the resident spooks protect him from the murderer who has targeted him. The ghostly Mr. and Mrs. Owens decide to raise him within the graveyard and name him Nobody (Bod) Owens. Bod explores his home and learns the ways of the spirit world from his “parents,” his immortal guardian, Silas, and a host of other eccentric creatures who protect and educate him. As he grows, Bod yearns to discover the world outside the graveyard—but in that world, a murderer waits for him.

Neil Gaiman offers a unique spin on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book with this supernatural coming-of-age tale. The Graveyard Book won the Newbery Award, but the content of this book may be better suited to young teens than children, given the disturbing nature of some of the scenes.

While an interesting tale, occasional portions of it seem to wander unnecessarily and the antagonists lack clear motivation at the end. When Gaiman does supply this motivation, it feels too similar to, and less fully justified than, a certain other magical YA book. Indeed, a number of elements contain Potter references; perhaps this is deliberate, but it feels more like borrowing than demonstrating appreciation for a similar book.

Still, this is a well-written, engaging work that is rich in sensory detail. Gaiman’s flair for characterization and narrative transports readers directly into an eerie setting where they grow to feel nearly as at home as Bod himself.

Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy

Publisher: Hyperion

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

The last time we saw Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, they were on the earth as it was exploding…again. It would seem that the complete destruction of the earth in every dimension and timeline, along with the majority of the cast, would effectively seal the fate of the franchise. This, at least, was what Eoin Colfer was working against in And Another Thing…, the sixth book in Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. And while Colfer’s method of resurrecting the series is clever and his task of continuing Adams’s legacy is admirable, he ultimately falls short of the magic of the original books.

First of all, this is not a standalone book. Readers unfamiliar with the original Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books will probably not understand And Another Thing… If you haven’t read the original books, quit reading this review and go read them now (at least the first three; if you want a gold star, read So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish; I wouldn’t blame you for leaving Mostly Harmless alone). So, now that you’ve read the original books, we can proceed.

The book opens with earth poised on the edge of destruction, again. I won’t spoil how Arthur, Ford, Trillian, and Random miraculously survive—again, again—but they do. And in the process, they reunite with their old pal Zaphod Beeblebrox, the loose cannon former president of the galaxy. They also reunite with a perhaps not-so-recognizable character from their past, Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged, the unhappy immortal on a mission to insult the universe.

Their meeting Wowbagger—and his particularly insulting insult of Zaphod Beeblebrox—is what starts the plot moving. In response to Wowbagger’s unforgivable slander, Beeblebrox vows the impossible: he will kill an immortal.

But killing an immortal requires more than just two heads. Zaphod must reconnect (and hopefully reconcile) with his former rock-star protégé, the thunder god Thor. Thor and Zaphod have had their problems in the past (mainly referencing a viral video of Thor in a bustier), so getting him on board with any project—even one with murderous intentions—will be a bit of a challenge.

Add in a colony of displaced earthlings in search of a god to worship; an unlikely series of (interrupted) tender moments between a woman and an alien; a jealous and scheming daughter with an infinite supply of credit at her disposal; a man with an unlucky tendency to be on planets scheduled for demolition; and a crew of vindictive Vogons, hell-bent on destroying any trace of earth left in the universe, and you have a promising premise for a continuation of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Unfortunately, there seem to be some problems in execution. The original problem with the book, at least in my opinion, is not Colfer’s fault. The previous final book of the Hitchhiker’s series, Mostly Harmless, didn’t really leave him with much to work with. Mostly Harmless is the weakest of the Hitchhiker’s books, and this continuation is forced to pick up where that book left off. Because of this, it takes a long time to repair the damage done in that book and get into the flow of the present story. There were several points early on where, had I not simply wanted to say I’d read every Hitchhiker’s book, I might have abandoned it altogether.

In addition to its taking a while to get going, the book’s pacing is hard to adjust to. My favorite part of the original books is the interspersed entries from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (the book within a book). Colfer has picked up on this being the fans’ favorite part, but he seems overzealous in implementing it. While one should not go into the Hitchhiker’s series expecting a fantastic plot, the plot is what holds the book together. (It’s similar to the straight man on a TV show—Kramer, George, and Elaine may be the funnier characters on Seinfeld, but there wouldn’t be a show without Jerry.) In And Another Thing…, Colfer’s intrusions are more of an annoyance than a delightful aside (not in all cases, but in many). It was almost too much of a good thing, and it made it hard to get into the clever and funny plot that was there.

Despite these criticisms, there are some true flashes of genius in this book. First, the plot that Colfer has created is interesting (at least in concept). The interviews with out-of-work gods are certainly worth reading. Colfer’s description of the Vogon vessel Business End are inspired. And as the book progresses, Colfer seems to grow more comfortable writing about these characters he’s acquired secondhand. What the characters say and do seem a plausible extrapolation of Adams’s creation, especially toward the end of the book.

Eoin Colfer is not Douglas Adams, and no one really expects him to be. Still, while Colfer is throwing out various nods to the original series, using the right terminology, and employing similar storytelling methods, it is hard to shake the feeling that there is something askew in what is happening—the universe is not quite the way we remember it. (The closest analogy I can think of is Darth Vader at the end of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Yes, he looks like Vader, sounds like Vader, and the impostor might fool a newcomer to the series, but anyone who has seen the originals knows that what’s on the screen is a cheap imitation.)

I didn’t expect this book to be as good as the others, or even “Hitchhiker’s canon” (which Colfer admits at the beginning this book is not), but I had high hopes for a further exploration in Douglas Adams’s universe. Ultimately, I’m content with the original Hitchhiker’s books, and this book reminded me what I love about the originals. While I don’t think And Another Thing… will win any converts to the series, it may prove an amusing distraction to the already initiated and bring them back to the books that started it all.

Facebook Special Offer

for

Her Fearful Symmetry

by Audrey Niffenegger

We’re at it again! Regal Literary has 25 hardcover and 10 Advanced Reader’s Copies of Her Fearful Symmetry ready to go to the book’s Facebook fans. All you have to do is become a fan of Her Fearful Symmetry on Facebook, send an e-mail to hfs@regal-literary.com with the subject “Facebook Special Offer – I’m a fan!” by November 13, and we’ll enter you into the lottery.

The Her Fearful Symmetry Facebook page features video interviews with Audrey, links to reviews, a list of Audrey’s appearances and much more about Audrey’s new book.

http://www.tinyurl.com/facebookhfs

Hurry up and join the page today—

And don’t forget to e-mail hfs@regal-literary.com and let us know you’re a fan!

Genre: Horror

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication date: June 2, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

A plane touches down at JFK International Airport in New York, taxis for a few hundred yards, and then inexplicably comes to a halt and shuts down. All attempts to communicate with the pilots or anyone else on board fail. Finally a security agent enters the plane, only to find it full of corpses. The cause of death is a mystery; no trace of poisonous gas, toxins, or biological agents of any kind can be found on the plane. The only similarity between the victims is the tiny puncture in each of their necks.

The mystery deepens as the investigation continues. Strangely, none of the corpses seem to be decomposing. A mortician working late hears a loud noise from inside the cooler where the bodies have been stored. The next morning all the bodies are gone. The mortician is nowhere to be found.

This is the chilling scenario created by award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and veteran author Chuck Hogan in their first joint effort, The Strain, the first of a three-book series about a horrible vampire-creating virus unleashed upon New York City. The authors paint a gritty, realistic picture of an outbreak of vampirism, including a fascinating look at the biological changes occurring within those who have been “turned” as well as governmental response and public reaction to the crisis. The cast of characters includes the CDC agent tasked with investigating the mysterious plane deaths, an old Romanian who has been waiting in fear for this moment for decades, and a shadowy billionaire who seems intent on ensuring that the evil unfolding in the darkness of the New York night will prevail.

As vampire stories go, The Strain is excellent. Thrilling, frightening, and well-written with great character depth, a familiar setting, and realistic plot lines, the book succeeds wonderfully in doing exactly what stories like this are meant to do—remind us that no matter how civilized and sophisticated we are, there’s still something deep inside us that’s scared of the dark. A word of caution—these are not the romanticized, young-adult vampires of the Twilight series, and they’re not the smooth-talking vampires of Bram Stoker or Anne Rice. Hogan and del Toro’s creatures are an altogether different breed. The book contains lots of violence, some language, and some genuinely frightening scenes. This book is by no means for everyone. But fans of the horror genre will appreciate the realism and suspense the authors inject into the plot.

If the idea of watching movies like I Am Legend and Dawn of the Dead makes you cringe or turn away in disdain or disgust, you’d better leave this book on the shelf. But readers who enjoy good old-fashioned vampire fiction will love this book.

We’re partnering with Strang Communications to bring you our Scream Giveaway. 5 random winners will receive a copy of Mike Dellosso’s Scream.

To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line “Scream Giveaway”.

2. Tell us how you found about the contest.

3. Include your mailing address (where you want the book sent if you win).

That’s it!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on November 2nd. Entries received after 11:59pm on November 1st will not be eligible.

Don’t miss our interview with Mike Dellosso and our Scream review.

Tim George recently caught up with Mike Dellosso to discuss his latest novel, Scream, and to get a preview of what’s to come. A special thanks goes out to LeAnn Hamby of Strang Communications for setting up this interview.

More about Mike Dellosso:

Mike Dellosso lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jen, and their three daughters. He is the author of Scream, and The Hunted, a newspaper columnist, and has edited and contributed to numerous Christian Web sites. He received his BA from Messiah College and his MBS degree in theology from Master’s Graduate School of Divinity.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page (recommended for best quality).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Congratulations to the winners of our Nine Dragons Giveaway!

Gwendolyn Bruno (Rhode Island)

G. S. Moch (Texas)

Karen Pedersen (Arizona)

Jeff Leiboff (Georgia)

Staci Whitlock (California)

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Nina Parker has her demons like we all do. It just so happens that her demons live in the bottom of the next bottle. Alcohol has taken over her life and the thirst has separated her from everyone she loves. Saddled by guilt and desperation she makes another attempt at rehab, hoping she will find the strength to fight through her addiction.

After a successful stint of sobriety, Nina decides to return home to Abby Hills with her estranged daughter. Soon Nina befriends a mysterious stranger who seems to be more than infatuated with her. When a series of grisly animal deaths and a murder occur in her peaceful hometown, Nina begins to suspect that something sinister is lurking in the shadows. Nina must now turn to an unlikely ally to fight the both the darkness within and the terror that threatens to harm everything she holds dear.

Everywhere we look vampire novels are crowding the shelves and it comes as no surprise that the Christian market is suddenly becoming more open to the concept. At the risk of being lost in the shuffle and alienating herself from a conservative readership, Tracey Bateman has set out to write a vampire story that is both redemptive and relevant. I think Bateman does just that in her first foray into supernatural suspense.

To be fair, readers who are looking for the next Twilight or True Blood may not appreciate the story they find here. Yes there are vampires, but they are mild compared to the violent and sensual blood suckers that are so often portrayed in the genre. One could even argue that this story could have been told effectively without the vampire angle at all. Nevertheless, Bateman does a great job of effectively using the vampires to give this story a strong suspenseful feel.

The strength of this novel is found in Nina’s battle with addiction. Her fight to win back her family and conquer her demons is inspirational for anyone who has ever lived through similar situations. Nina’s personal journey alone is enough reason to pick up this novel, and this is a great story to pass on to friends and family who are dealing with addiction.

Is Thirsty the greatest vampire novel ever written? Well, I don’t think it was meant to be. Take the vampires or leave them. The choice is yours. Just don’t let your fear of the unknown or your overexposure to a familiar genre get in the way of experiencing this powerful story.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: Guideposts Books

Publication Date: February, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

A couple of weeks ago, I went off on a total Jane Austen binge. I contacted Jake here at Fiction Addict and gave him a list of books that I wanted to read – almost all of them involving Jane Austen’s wonderful writing. (Watch for What Would Jane Austen Do, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Vampire Darcy’s Desire…all coming up for review soon!)  Jake was awesome (as usual) and within just a couple of days, my mailbox was overflowing with big oversized envelopes stuffed with books. All of them inspired by the great lady herself, Jane Austen.

I reached for this book first because really, what self respecting woman hasn’t wished for Mr. Darcy or even the somewhat less spectacular Mr. Bingley to rescue them from the modern dating scene? (Although I suspect that some of my friends and myself have been just as much in love with Colin Firth as with Mr. Darcy, but that’s a different review now isn’t it?) Regardless of this, I felt an immediate kinship and sympathy with this title. (I feel like I should say here that I’m married to a wonderful man who puts up with my adoration of both Mr. Darcy and Colin Firth in such a way as to make me love and adore him even more. That’s pretty impressive.)

So now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, shall we attend to the book that we are here to discuss? Indeed!

Emma Douglas has spent her entire academic career studying, lecturing on, and writing about Jane Austen. She is, in short, the quintessential Janeite.  She is quite pleased with the way her life is going until, in one shattering and slightly queasy moment, she discovers her husband and her teacher’s assistant involved in something very biological on the kitchen table. Things go downhill from there. He and his mistress accuse her of plagiarism and thus, not only do we meet our heroine in the middle of a personal crisis, but a career crisis as well.

Instead of giving up on everything she’s ever known, Emma decides that now is the time to separate from everything she’s become comfortable with and, on a lark, she gets rid of a lot of material items and finances her own trip to England to track down Jane Austen’s lost letters.

Here is where I need to back up and give a little history lesson. Jane Austen, being a writer, was an avid and prolific letter writer. It is believed by scholars that during her lifetime, she wrote over three thousand missives to a variety of people. Upon her death, her closest and most beloved fan, her sister Cassandra, destroyed a majority of her letters and allowed the others to be made public. Now that you know that fact, we can move on with the review.

Emma has received information that a very special group of people in England still have ALL of Jane’s letters and that they were not, in fact destroyed. This is not only intriguing to Emma, but it casts her a lifeline in the middle of her chaotic life. The discovery of these letters could mean the revival of her career in academia. She chases after these tidbits of information with the smallest whisper of logic and an incredible measure of passion.

Along the journey, she discovers more about Jane Austen than she’d ever thought possible and also begins to look at her beloved works of writing in a completely new light. On top of all of this, she learns more about herself than she’d understood before.

This book was a delight to read. For anyone who loves Jane Austen it is an absolute must. With exquisite attention to detail, Pattillo uncovers Jane Austen’s life for the reader who hasn’t had the opportunity to research on his or her own and she laces it through with a fictitious story that is delicious and wonderful to follow. Several times while reading this book I thought “Why didn’t I put those pieces together?!”

A little bit Pride and Prejudice mashed up with Sense and Sensibility and a chase worthy of National Treasure or Indiana Jones, you’ll delight in the world that Pattillo has created around a beloved international author and the stories she chose to tell and some she didn’t.  I was disappointed when the story ended. Not because it ended badly, but simply because it ended. I wanted to know more and follow what happened next. Thankfully there is a sequel due soon. I can’t wait to get my hands on Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Aidan O’Neill is a firefighter in Reno, Nevada and very good at what he does. At least he has been until recently. But now, driven by the distraction of his father’s death, an arsonist like none he’s seen before, and a gnawing sense that the fires he faces have a personal grudge against him, Aidan’s tough exterior is beginning to show signs of falling apart. Add to that, he is losing the woman he thought he would marry and making some serious mistakes in a job where the smallest error can cost lives and we have a man in deep need of regrouping.

This story has everything needed to make for good suspense. The hero is nowhere near perfect yet determined to do the right thing. The action moves along nicely with only a few scenes that sag just a bit. While there is a surprise twist along the way the real villains are the fire and the darkness threatening one’s man’s emotional, mental, and spiritual moorings.

Through the Fire is Shawn Grady’s debut novel but it is obvious he is no probie when it comes to firefighting or writing. His descriptions are vivid and the action entirely believable. While some may find themselves a bit overwhelmed by the technical details of firefighting, Grady uses those details to offer the realism needed to put one’s self in the boots of his main character. But in the end, the real hero of this story is not Aidan but the one who sees though all the smokescreens of a wounded man’s life and conquers his soul. In the words of Aidan O’Neill, “I felt warmth inside me. A timeless, familiar, and wonderful presence. And in my heart I yielded.”

A hard place to come to … a wonderful place to find.

We recently spent some time with novelists Steven James and Tim Downs to discuss research in fiction writing. We tackle everything from research methods, fact integration into plot, and the importance of research in story crafting. A special thanks to Steven James and Tim Downs for their time and to Calvin Moore for organizing this podcast episode.

This podcast episode can also be downloaded from our iTunes page (recommended for best quality).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Genre: Legal thriller, Political thriller

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication date: February 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

For a relatively short book, Tim Green’s Above the Law seems to contain a bit of everything. A haggard and heroic lawyer, a corrupt politician, a dirty cop, international intrigue, human trafficking, border-security issues, a drug-running operation, murder, vigilante justice, a wrongful death lawsuit, and more. There’s an awful lot packed into this story, which is well-written and enjoyable but suffers a bit after a good start, due largely to reader overload and unfulfilled plot potential.

When an illegal migrant worker is shot on a prominent senator’s Texas ranch, the incident is quickly declared a tragic hunting accident. Perhaps too quickly, Casey Jordan, operator of a legal aid clinic in Dallas, thinks when the dead man’s wife comes to her asking for help. When the wife is deported after being threatened with having her baby taken away, Casey smells a rat and opens an investigation into the shooting and other suspicious goings on at the senator’s ranch. What she finds is shocking—and dangerous, especially when the senator strikes back, first using the media to attack Casey and then sending the Environmental Protection Agency to shut down her clinic. Desperate, Casey heads to Mexico to find and retrieve the wife of the slain worker, hoping for evidence that will prove the senator’s guilt. But the senator has already shown he won’t go down without a fight, and when the attacks threaten to turn deadly, Casey realizes she is engaged in a battle for her life.

The book starts out strong, as Green explores the legal and political ramifications of the shooting, and Casey’s involvement as the legal advocate for an otherwise helpless illegal immigrant adds texture. Green takes aim at border politics as he sets up what appears to be the foundation for a fascinating courtroom battle. But the story never reaches the courtroom, as Casey instead launches her own investigation, and the second half of the book, while thrilling, feels a little out of control as the story bounces back and forth across the border and between characters.

The overly complex plot notwithstanding, Green is a talented writer, and his characterizations and scene-setting descriptions put the reader right in the middle of the story. The action scenes are intense, and the ending is satisfying if a tad abrupt. There’s not much to dislike about the book; what’s disappointing is that what at first seems like a thoughtful, issues-based thriller evolves into a rather flat, complicated shootout. Above the Law is entertaining and definitely worth reading for action fans; it’s just not quite as good as it could have been.

Genre: Legal thriller

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication Date: January 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

More than fifteen years after John Grisham first took the world of legal thrillers by storm, he hasn’t lost a step. The Associate is every bit as suspenseful and entertaining as The Firm, The Runaway Jury, The Street Lawyer, or any of the other 23 best-sellers he has penned over the years. While perhaps not as thrilling as The Firm or as evocative as The Last Juror or The Testament, this book is clearly the work of an excellent storyteller.

Kyle McAvoy is about to graduate from Yale Law School and head off for a year or two of public-service law work—doing his duty to society before entering the high-stakes, high-reward world of corporate law. But his plans change when he is contacted by a man claiming to be in possession of a video implicating Kyle in a crime that occurred years ago. The man threatens to release the video to the public, effectively squashing any chance of a successful legal career, unless Kyle joins a New York law firm and illegally feeds his contact inside information about a multibillion-dollar lawsuit. Kyle reluctantly agrees—but he has a hidden agenda of his own. If he can prove his innocence before actually breaking any laws, he just might be able to escape with his reputation intact. But the stakes are high; if he fails, he may forfeit not only his career but his life.

Interestingly (and probably unfortunately to some) The Associate has some elements that seem very familiar from previous Grisham books. The young lawyer slaving away for a faceless corporate behemoth, performing essentially mundane tasks for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, forced against his will to do something that turns out to be financially profitable, trying to figure out how to buck the system and turn the tables on his conspirators—these storylines have all occurred in previous novels.

What John Grisham offers readers is not so much uniquely new stories as familiar-seeming stories with a unique twist. Few authors can pull this off without seeming stale and repetitious. Grisham succeeds, and his success is evident not only by the number of readers who continue to come back for more but by the entertainment value his books offer. The Associate is vintage Grisham. The familiar characteristics combine with enough new material—and just plain good writing—to make it absolutely entertaining.

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Bantam

Publication Date: May 2008

Reviewed by Jake Chism

After his not so normal stay at St. Bartholomew’s Abbey, Odd Thomas hits the road and finds himself in Magic Beach, California. In tow are his trusty ghost dog, Boo, and the restless spirit of Frank Sinatra. He finds work as a live in chef for a former silent movie star, all the while enjoying a rare moment of normalcy in his chaotic life.

As Odd fully expects, the normalcy doesn’t last and soon he is plagued by a nightmare of catastrophic proportions. His experience with the strange and unusual tells Odd that something big is about to go down, something more ominous than anything he has ever faced before. Using his psychic magnetism, Odd befriends a young girl named Annamaria who seems to be in the middle of whatever is about to happen. As Odd searches for the source of the impending doom, he uncovers a deadly plan that carries global implications. Once again, this lowly fry cook from Pico Mundo is the only one who can save the day. However, this time around the fate of the entire country rests on his shoulders.

Dean Koontz never fails to blow me away with his Odd Thomas novels. As always, the Odd One is clever and endearing with his engaging dialogue and unexpected moves throughout the story. As with the previous Odd novels, Koontz peels back more and more layers of Odd’s intriguing life, never quite giving us clear answers but all but guaranteeing that we will come back for more. The mysterious Annamaria is a delightful addition to the mix and Frank Sinatra’s performance in the police station is one of the best Odd Thomas scenes to date.

I’ve read many of Koontz’s novels, but none capture my heart and imagination as much the Odd Thomas books. Asking me to pick a favorite Odd tale would be like asking me to pick my favorite episode of Lost. Why not have it all? It’s simply that good. Oddie is back and just as enjoyable as ever.

Genre: Thriller, Crime

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication date: May 12, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are each accomplished writers with several successful solo novels, but it is when they collaborate on the best-selling novels featuring the enigmatic Agent Pendergast and his NYPD counterpart, Vincent D’Agosta, that they really shine. With Cemetery Dance, they move away from the overt spiritualistic mysticism of The Wheel of Darkness and back into more familiar dark-thriller territory, albeit with some interesting religious undertones.

Never timid, the authors start the book by killing off a popular recurring character familiar to readers from previous novels. When acclaimed journalist William Smithback is brutally stabbed in his apartment and his new wife, Nora Kelly, is injured, Pendergast and D’Agosta team up to investigate. The evidence quickly points to a disturbed tenant of the building. It’s an open and shut case, with one problem—the suspect has been dead for over a week. Strange voodoo symbols found at the crime scene, together with suspicious reports of animal sacrifices perpetrated by a cult nestled in a secluded corner of Manhattan Island, leave the duo pondering the reliability of the physical evidence. And when the deceased Smithback himself shows up at an award dinner and knifes a fellow reporter, rumors of zombies (the correct spelling is “zombii,” Pendergast asserts) fly.

D’Agosta, ever the skeptic, suspects a more human plot, but Pendergast, who possesses some familiarity with voodoo rituals and black magic from his New Orleans childhood, isn’t so sure. Now, with animal-rights activists descending upon New York to protest the city’s refusal to oust the mysterious cult and fears of supernatural murderers growing, Pendergast and D’Agosta find themselves in a race to uncover the truth before the entire city erupts.

With its fast-paced action and horrific crimes tempered by witty dialog and brilliant police work, Cemetery Dance has everything readers have come to expect from these authors. Since each book in the Pendergast series is intended to function as a stand-alone novel, old and new fans alike should be able to enjoy the story with or without having read the previous books. The book does contain a fair amount of violence and some disturbing religious imagery, particularly having to do with animal sacrifice and voodoo-related ceremonies; Preston & Child don’t write for the faint-hearted. But dark-thriller fans are in for a treat as these authors deliver yet again.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

When some people hear “historical” and “well researched” their eyes glaze over in anticipation of what most undoubtedly will prove to be a boring read. Not so with Pirate Hunter by Tom Morrisey! Instead what we get is the story of two men separated by three hundred years yet joined by their love of the sea, treasure, and the pressing need to unburden themselves of resentment for the wrongs done to them by their fathers.

The two main characters at first seem to have little in common. Greg Rhode is a college educated treasure hunter with a secret affinity for bluegrass music. Bold Ted Bascombe is a sixteen year old boy set free from a Dutch slave trader by the famous pirate Captain Henry Thatch.  Their stories weave in and out of each other throughout Pirate Hunter as both fall in love and both try to reconcile their Christian faith with the unresolved pain caused by fathers who failed them miserably.

If Johnny Depp is your idea of a typical pirate you may want to set that aside for the picture Morrisey paints in its place. Captain Hatch and Bold Ted are both believers who worship every Sunday. That is, unless they are claiming a ship as the property of the local governor. The Captain is a man feeling the weight of the contradictions of his life and the path he has led his young protégée down.

The technique used to tell this story works on every level. Morrisey moves us from past to present so smoothly it sometimes takes a moment to remember the characters are separated by three centuries. Though the conclusion leaves a few questions unanswered they are not the important ones. Both characters begin their journey believing treasure is what matters most. And it is; just not the kind they first believe. As always, the greatest treasures are not gold bars and rubies. The most valuable things in life are what are valuable in eternity. Something Bold Ted and Greg Rhode discover together in the most mysterious of all seas, the human heart.

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Detective Harry Bosch is called in on what looks to be a typical robbery murder in a convenience store in south Los Angeles. As Bosch explores the crime scene he begins to notice things that don’t add up. A string of evidence leads Harry and the team to a notorious triad member. Just as the case is breaking wide open Bosch gets a message from someone in Hong Kong who is holding his daughter captive. Either he lets his suspect go, or he will never see her again. Driven by determination and fear Harry Bosch catches the next flight to Honk Kong to save his daughter and bring her home.

Michael Connelly serves up this fifteenth installment of his Harry Bosch series in superb fashion. You would think after writing a character for so long that Connelly might begin to lose his edge or run out of great story ideas. Thankfully, neither is true in this case. The Bosch we fell in love with so long ago is evident throughout these pages and we’re reminded once again why Michael Connelly consistently soars to the top of the bestseller lists.

As always we are drawn into the plot through Harry Bosch’s detailed detective work and his commitment to the badge. I love “hitting the streets” with Bosch and chasing down leads and nabbing suspects. Connelly’s meticulous detail never seems overbearing and always serves to effectively drop the reader into the middle of everyday detective work.

Much of this story takes place in Honk Kong and it was fun to see Bosch in a different environment while he searches for his daughter. Along the way he makes unlikely allies and leaves a wake of bodes in true Harry Bosch style that fans have grown to love. Connelly somehow keeps the tension throughout this setting, while at the same time giving us a revealing glimpse into both the beauty and seediness of China’s global metropolis.

The strength of this novel is found in Bosch’s relationship to his daughter. There’s plenty of suspense, action, and hard boiled detective elements to go around, but it all works together to highlight the personal nature of this story. A man desperate to save his daughter no matter what the cost? That’s enough to keep the pages churning for sure.

Readers not familiar with Michael Connelly’s work should be aware that he holds nothing back when it comes to authenticity. All of the language and violence you would expect from a hard nosed detective story are evident here, and readers who are looking for a “lighter story” might take exception.

Whether you are a veteran fan of Harry Bosch or a newbie to this series, Nine Dragons can be enjoyed by all. Michael Connelly is at the top of his game and shows no signs of slowing down.

We’re partnering with Hachette Book Group to bring you this awesome giveaway. 5 random winners will win copies of Michael Connelly’s brand new novel, Nine Dragons. To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line, “Nine Dragons Giveaway”.

2. Include your mailing address (where you want the book sent if you win).

3. Tell us how/where you found out about this giveaway.

That’s it!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on October 26th. Entries received after 11:59pm Central on October 25th will not be eligible.

Congratulations to the winners of The Rayne Tour Giveaway. The following people will receive copies of Always Watching and Last Breath by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins:

Linda Jeane Howell (Texas)

Julie Whitmire (Colorado)

Erin Laramore (Ohio)

Misty K. Sampson (Indiana)

Megan L. (Florida)

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Young Adult

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Shaley O’Connor has always longed for the father she never knew. Being the teenage daughter of a rock star certainly has its perks, but Shaley would gladly trade all the glamour and spotlight for a chance to meet her dad. However, two of her friends have recently been murdered and it seems like her father may be behind it all. Shaley and her mom, Rayne, delve into the past looking for answers unaware that someone is coming for them both.

Last Breath takes up right where Always Watching left off and immediately we’re pulled in by the tight suspense and mystery surrounding Shaley. We’re treated to a great storytelling device this time around that gives us a glimpse into the past and propels the story ahead. The suspense and mystery elements are strong throughout and Shaley’s spiritual journey never seems forced or manufactured.  Rather the questions and doubts come across as a natural reaction to the fear and turmoil she is facing.

Brandilyn and Amberly Collins continue to shine in a young adult market that so desperately needs quality stories laced with positive messages. Though geared towards teen girls, this series can be picked up and enjoyed by anyone who loves great suspense. Give the Rayne Tour a try and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

Don’t miss our interview with Brandilyn and Amberly Collins.

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Young Adult

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: May 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Shaley O’Connor has the kind of life most girls would do anything for: A rock star mom, limitless wealth, and the celebrity status to boot. What teenager wouldn’t want to tour with one of the world’s most famous bands? Unfortunately, the fame soon loses its power and appeal when one of Shaley’s closest friends is murdered back stage at the latest concert. As new evidence comes to light she soon realizes her own life is in danger. Not knowing who to trust, Shaley turns to the God who has always seemed so far to help her in her greatest time of need.

Mother and daughter team Brandilyn and Amberly Collins have stormed onto the YA scene in exhilarating style with this great new series. Always Watching is a fast paced whodunit set against the intriguing backdrop of rock star celebrity. From the opening lines, we are immersed into Shaley’s exciting life as a celebrity’s daughter. It doesn’t take long for us to see that fame is not all its cut out to be. Indeed Shaley’s struggle to balance her public status with her true identity is one of the most interesting aspects of this story.

When you read Brandilyn Collins you expect mystery and thrills, and once again she doesn’t disappoint. Her adult fans will find much to rave about here, while new teen readers will love the youthful voice and perspective that Amberly Collins brings to the table. Underlying the tension and dread is a strong spiritual message about trusting in the God who is always watching over us. In the end we are left with the closure we long for and a promise of even more mystery to come. The Rayne Tour is in full swing and you can guarantee that I won’t miss a show.

Genre: Drama

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Tullyandkate. They’re the main characters of Firefly Lane. Actually, it’s Tully and Kate, but they’re really two opposite peas in the same pod. This is their story.

Growing up in the seventies, living through the mad crazy hair and wild colors of the eighties, into the nineties and through to the turn of the century, we follow these two girls through heartache, rejection, high school, college, careers, marriage and kids. In one word, life.

From the first moment that I started reading Firefly Lane, I was absolutely hooked.  A little younger than the girls in the book, I grew up in the 70’s and the 80’s and 90’s were my decades. (Yes, I claim both of them for various reasons.) Even now, like one of the characters in the book, I’m a mom of three kids. In other words, I relate.

I think that’s what was amazing about this book. It wasn’t an over the top soap opera drama. It wasn’t science fiction or a bodice ripper. It was real. Honest. Open. A woman who hasn’t had a hair cut or color in a long time because she’s too busy being a mom. Or a girl who can only see that her mom won’t let her do anything and misses the love that’s behind the protection.  And then there’s the girl who refuses to let other people define her while at the same time struggling for acceptance.

This book was stunning in its simplicity. It’s an easy read. I got it in the mail on Thursday and despite the heft of its 500+ pages, I had finished it before Saturday evening. That includes the three kids and the job.  This would make you think that the whole thing is light hearted and easy going, but it’s not. Though she mixes humor and romance in, Hannah does not skim over the hard topics. She explores not knowing when or how to say you’re sorry. Or saying you’re sorry too often. And then there’s unrequited love.  The pain of rejection.  Misunderstanding. Feeling like you’re not as good as you could be. Hannah hits it all and does it with such brilliance that by the end of the book you’re sobbing and wondering where Tully is now.  Is she alright? Did she find what she was looking for? Is Marah okay….?

And then you remember. It was fiction. They aren’t real. They may be based on real people, but they’re still fiction. It was a book. Something that you read and put on the shelf. Not someone that you call when you need a hug.

But this was so much more than ‘just a book.’ This was a wonderful exploration of everything in life that matters. At the end, it felt like I’d made a new friend. When my journey with Firefly Lane was over and I closed the cover, I popped in “Dancing Queen” and danced with my kids. Thank you, Kristin Hannah, for making it so much more than it would have been before I read the book.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: June 2009

Jake Chism’s Review:

Kaycee Raye is scared of…well…everything. All of her life she has struggled with paranoia and irrational fears, something she believes was passed down from her troubled mother. Kaycee has found a way to deal with the fear by writing a column that has taken on a life of its own and has turned Kaycee into a household name. Up until now the column has been both fun and therapeutic as she has found a way to connect with readers who share many of the same fears and experiences. Unfortunately for Kaycee, someone out there is watching her and waiting for just the right moment to unleash the greatest fear she has ever known.

To say that Brandilyn Collins is prolific would be an understatement. You would think that a writer who cranks out a novel every few months would sooner or later hit the wall and lose their edge. It’s bound to happen right? Guess again. If Collins has proven anything to me it’s that she is not only a master of her craft, but there literally seems to be no end to the depth of her talent.

Exposure has many of the elements that we have come to expect from Collins: intensity, tension, high-caliber suspense, and engaging mystery. It’s all there and once again works well. We are also treated to a unique story telling device that really propels the narrative along. While I figured out the twist early on, never did the story lose steam in my mind. Collins knows how to grab readers early on and she never gives us a moment to even consider letting go.

Where Brandilyn Collins always excels is her ability to bring us strong spiritual insight through what her characters experience. Many fans will be able to relate and sympathize with Kaycee’s struggles in this story and will be moved by her journey to overcome. Collins once again delivers a pulse pounding story that will have you on the edge of your seat and will leave you desperate for more.

Tim George’s Review:

Willmore, Kentucky is the home of two fine institutions: Asbury College and Seminary and Bradilyn Collins. The first is dedicated to training men and women in the Wesleyan tradition and the other to scaring us witless and then pointing us back to the only One who can truly overcome evil. With Exposure, Collins carries us to a new level of psychological suspense as we follow the personal struggle of one woman with her greatest enemy: fear.

Kaycee Raye writes a column for the Willmore newspaper in which she shares her ongoing struggle with countless phobias. Though the column has helped many with their own hidden fears it has labeled Kaycee as somewhat of a crack-pot with the local police. That, and her numerous calls reporting dangers that, as far as they can tell, only exist in Kaycee’s mind. When the young daughter of a friend turns up missing, Kaycee finds herself on a collision course with her own fears and something so dark and hidden neither she nor you will figure it out until the very end.

Collins follows a great tradition of Hitchcock and Koontz in allowing the reader to paint the picture of evil without doing it for them. It doesn’t take decapitations and gallons of gore to leave one wondering if they forgot to lock the door before they went to bed. Well crafted words and a creative mind can do that job quite nicely. Consider this scene from Exposure and draw your own conclusions …

Finally she rolled over and lay still, spent. Her eyes fixed upon the far wall, unseeing.

Something shifted inside her.

At the center of her soul where hope used to live, a black dot appeared. Deeper. Eating toward the outside. The hopes that had guided Lorraine’s life began to crumble into the pit and disappear … falling until the darkness swallowed them up …

From the bottom of that black hole she felt the throb of a new suffocating spirit.

Fear.

(Don’t miss our interview with Brandilyn Collins).

Recently Lori Twichell was honored to catch up with the famous author to discuss her new novel, Her Fearful Symmetry, the influence of art on her writing, and her love for Dr. Who. A special thank you both to Audrey Niffenegger and Michael Strong of Regal Literary for making this interview happen.

You can read Lori Twichell’s review of Her Fearful Symmetry here.

More about Audrey Niffenegger:

Audrey Niffenegger was born in 1963 in the idyllic hamlet of South Haven, Michigan. Her family moved to Evanston, Illinois when she was little; she has lived in or near Chicago for most of her life.

She began making prints in 1978 under the tutelage of William Wimmer. Miss Niffenegger trained as a visual artist at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and received her MFA from Northwestern University’s Department of Art Theory and Practice in 1991. She has exhibited her artist’s books, prints, paintings, drawings and comics at Printworks Gallery in Chicago since 1987.

Her first books were printed and bound by hand in editions of ten. Two of these have since been commercially published by Harry N. Abrams: The Adventuress and The Three Incestuous Sisters.

In 1997 Miss Niffenegger had an idea for a book about a time traveler and his wife. She originally imagined making it as a graphic novel, but eventually realized that it is very difficult to represent sudden time shifts with still images. She began to work on the project as a novel, and published The Time Traveler’s Wife in 2003 with the independent publisher MacAdam/Cage. It was an international best seller, and has been made into a movie.

In 1994 a group of book artists, papermakers and designers came together to found a new book arts center, the Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts. Miss Niffenegger was part of this group and taught book arts for many years as a professor in Columbia College’s MFA program in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Arts. She still teaches at Columbia College; currently she is teaching writing courses that specialize in text-image relationships. Miss Niffenegger has also taught for the Newberry Library, Penland School of Craft and other institutions of higher learning.

Miss Niffenegger is a founding member of the writing collective Text 3 (T3). Recent T3 endeavors include the litmag little Bang and some rather amusing dinner parties.

Miss Niffenegger’s second novel, Her Fearful Symmetry, was published in 2009 by Scribner (USA), Jonathan Cape (UK) and many other fine publishers around the world. She recently made a serialized graphic novel for the London Guardian, The Night Bookmobile, which will be published in book form in 2010. Other current projects include an art exhibit at Printworks Gallery in September, 2010, and a third novel, The Chinchilla Girl in Exile. (From www.AudreyNiffenegger.com)

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page (recommended for best quality)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Genre: Romance, Drama

Publisher: Scribner

Publication Date: September 29th, 2009

Lori Twichell’s review:

“Elspeth died while Robert was standing in front of a vending machine watching tea shoot into a small paper cup.”

Thus begins Audrey Niffenegger’s first novel since The Time Traveler’s Wife.  Now let me start out this review by saying that I am a first level geek for Niffenegger’s work.  I fell in love with The Time Traveler’s Wife and when I discovered that this book was coming out, I was over the moon. When the book finally arrived in the mail, I tore into the package like Christmas. I even paraded it around the house saying “Look! See what Mommy got in the mail! Isn’t it awesome?!” (My son, by the way, was nonplussed with the big book that had no pictures.)

Her Fearful Symmetry combines a ghost story with romance, sibling rivalry and woven throughout, death. The setting of the book is quite literally in the backyard of the famous Highgate Cemetery in London and as you may have noticed in the first sentence of this review, the main character of the book dies. That’s how the book starts. It’s not really your typical ghost story or romance. But that’s okay. Niffenegger’s normal is always anything but typical.

The main character in this book, as I mentioned, is Elspeth. She’s the dearly departed without really having departed. For some reason, Elspeth hasn’t really gone away. So when her mirror twin nieces arrive from America to take over her apartment, things get a little awkward. We follow her journey as she spends her days and nights trying to figure out ways to communicate with the girls. She also spends a lot of time trying to get out of the apartment and see Robert, her lover who lives in the flat below the girls. As Elspeth struggles with her lingering presence and lack of purpose, she notices something odd. Her niece, Valentina, has begun to have feelings for Robert. This puts Elspeth in an even more awkward position than just sleeping in a drawer. She doesn’t know what to do. Should she stop it? Encourage it? Yes. I know. Some moments of the plot do feel a little daytime soapy when you repeat them out loud.

Thankfully Niffenegger’s mastery of character development and description makes things feel far less sudsy than your average soap. She can pull off the most stunning descriptions of characters, events, and locations with the simplest turns of phrase. She can draw you in to the oddest set of storylines and characters with just a few sentences. Even as you’re thinking, “This isn’t really my style” you will come across something that takes your breath away and requires that you read it multiple times to really capture the depth of it. Her writing remains brilliant, beautiful, and stunning.

Now to be fair, the plot wasn’t something that I would normally enjoy and the ending felt like it came far too late in the story. Everything could have really been wrapped much sooner than it did. And in all honesty, I scratched my head at the abrupt climax of several major storylines. But still, it’s Audrey Niffenegger. She writes so beautifully and so brilliantly that even if you get to the end and ask “What?” you still had an amazing journey along the way.

Marianne Peters’ review:

Grief. Ghosts. Two sets of twins. Lovers separated by death and distance. Family secrets. And London’s Highgate Cemetery, an ancient burial ground full of storied occupants. Who can resist a novel with all these compelling elements?

Her Fearful Symmetry begins with Elspeth Noblin’s death and her adventures afterward as she haunts her London flat.  In her will, Elspeth mysteriously leaves her flat to her estranged twin sister’s twenty-year-old twin daughters. Her nieces, Julia and Valentina, share a creepily intense sibling bond. They move into Elspeth’s former home, located in a building which borders famous Highgate cemetery. Julia forms a friendship with upstairs neighbor Martin, a gentle, brilliant, but hopelessly obsessive-compulsive man who refuses to leave his flat. The twins also meet Robert, Elspeth’s grief-stricken former lover who is writing a history of Highgate cemetery and working as a volunteer guide there. When Robert and Valentina form a romantic bond, relationships between the living and the dead begin to unravel.

Highgate itself becomes a character in the novel. Its history, architecture, inhabitants, and daily rituals create an atmosphere of decay, a reminder of the inevitable. Descriptions of the cemetery are the most enjoyable part of the novel, along with Niffenegger’s rendering of ghost-life. Elspeth grows in ghostliness as she attempts to communicate with the twins and with Robert, her erstwhile lover. Niffenegger imagines Elspeth evolving from a misty disembodiment to a visible, powerful presence, and watching her discover her strength and begin to insert herself into the twins’ lives makes for compelling storytelling. Nothing good can come of it.

Like her previous novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger renders a fantastical situation plausible with imaginative detail – for instance, what does it feel like to pull a soul from a body? Unlike her previous novel, her characters did not venture far from type, which made the outcome predictable.  Predictable, but still eerie fun, especially with a setting such as Highgate cemetery, full of ghosts and memories.

Don’t miss our interview with Audrey Niffenegger.

Jake Chism recently caught up with mother and daughter writing team, Brandilyn and Amberly Collins. In our interview they discuss The Rayne Tour series, writing in the Young Adult market, and what it was like to work together. A special thank you goes out to both Brandilyn and Amberly for taking the time to chat with us.

More about Brandilyn and Amberly:

Brandilyn Collins, known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®, is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Coral Moon, Crimson Eve, Eyes of Elisha, and many other novels. She has written twenty-one books.

Amberly Collins is a junior in college in Long Beach, California, majoring in marketing. She’s active in her Alpha Phi sorority and dotes on her Yorkie puppy, Bear.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

Visit Brandilyn’s Web site at www.brandilyncollins.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We’re partnering up with Zondervan once again to bring you The Rayne Tour Giveaway. 5 random winners will receive copies of Always Watching (autographed) and Last Breath, the first two books in The Rayne Tour series by Brandilyn Collins and Amberly Collins. To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line, “The Rayne Tour Giveaway”.

2. Include your mailing address (where you want the books sent if you win).

3. Tell us how you found out bout this contest.

That’s it!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S and Canada. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on October 12th. Entries received after 11:59pm Central on October 11th will not be eligible.

Don’t miss our interview with Brandilyn and Amberly here.

Congratulations to our Ace Collins Giveaway Winners. The following people will receive autographed copies of Farraday Road and Swope’s Ridge:

Jo Ann White (New Mexico)

Shelley Ayres (Colorado)

Molly Throgmorton (Arkansas)

Benjamin Whiting (Texas)

Cindy Stokes (Florida)

Genre: General Fiction

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Ashely Barrett

Emory Chance is reeling in the aftermath of her daughter’s murder. Daisy’s absence forces her to face the truth about her own negligent parenting and drug addiction.

While nursing her Texas-sized regrets a mysterious cross-stitch proclaiming God’s judgment appears on her porch. Shortly after, Daisy’s fourth grade picture disappears. And someone begins mailing her typed prayers about grace and the love of Jesus. The messages of love and encouragement confuse and sometimes anger Emory while the messages of looming doom from the cross-stitch and the Defiance townsfolk frighten her, though Emory anticipates judgment from God and people.

But who would steal a picture of Daisy? Is Daisy’s murderer trying to make a statement? Is he the man she saw in a vision with snake tattoos slithering up his arms?

A Slow Burn, the second book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy is by no means a sagging sequel. The intensity keeps the reader absorbed until the very last page. I love the people in this story and their struggle to both give and receive God’s grace. Unlike Daisy Chain, the first book in the series, A Slow Burn is narrated by Emory Chance, Daisy’s troubled and enigmatic mother.

If you loved Daisy Chain, A Slow Burn won’t disappoint. If you haven’t read Daisy Chain and you enjoy women’s fiction go back and read Daisy Chain before you begin A Slow Burn.

I only regret finishing A Slow Burn because now I have to wait for the final book in the trilogy. I hope it’s released soon!