Fiction Addict

Have you ever wondered what Ted Dekker’s The Gathering events are all about? This year the event was stripped down and held in Chicago and Dallas. We were live on location at both places and we had a great time mixing it up with all of the Dekkies. Sit back and enjoy our coverage of The Gathering 2.0 as Jake Chism, Kaci Hill, and Josh Olds give you a whirlwind tour of everything that transpired, fan reactions, and a guest appearance from Tosca Lee herself. Plus, we give our thoughts on other writers we think are worthy of Dekker-like attention. Enjoy!

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Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Valerie Fontaine is a beautiful young woman with the world at her feet. Daughter of a wealthy business man, she is educated beyond the average of most girls her age, she has grown up in comfort and she is self assured and filled with everything that society holds in high regard. And yet, when her mother passes away, everything that she had planned for her life gets swept away and lost in a tumult of grief and misunderstanding. Not sure of what she should do next; she leaves school without her father’s permission and ventures home. Her travels take her across several states in a land that is preparing for civil war.

When she arrives, she is bitterly disappointed to discover that her father, lost in his own grief, wants nothing to do with her. Instead, he pushes her toward a relationship with a young man that she has known for her entire life. Unfortunately James Ladden is not the gentleman that either of them imagined. Rough and completely disrespectful, Ladden assumes that Valerie will be his and he has no problem treating her as if she already belongs to him.

Enter Benjamin McCabe. The opposite of James, McCabe is the son of an acquaintance of her father. With her father indisposed by his grief and increased drinking and gambling, the task of entertaining Mr. McCabe is left to Valerie. Unsure of what her role should be and how to handle this unexplained acquaintance, she discovers very quickly that Ben McCabe is a man she would like to know better. Her young tender heart turns very quickly toward the handsome and gentle man and she discovers, as their friendship progresses, that the two are more compatible than they’d realized.

When I started reading this book, I was certain that it was going to be a typical period romance where the two very attractive people that, at first, don’t look like they belong end up together. Then we get the happily ever after…yadda yadda yadda. You know what I mean. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was much more to this than the typical romance. With some intrigue, twists and surprised, Boeshaar has crafted an enjoyable tale that takes us not only into the opening stages of a romance, but into the depths of what happens after ‘I do.’ And she’s done it in a delightful way that will keep you entertained and engaged with these wonderful characters. She’s done a great job creating not only a tense storyline with a mysterious plot, but building into the love story in a very real and honest way. I am very happy to see that we have more work from Boeshaar to look forward to this fall.

Listen to our interview with Andrea Boeshaar here.

Review copy provided by Realms.

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror

Publisher:  Scribner

Publication Date:  January 2008

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

As the result of a debilitating accident at work, Edgar Freemantle loses his arm and has significant damage to his hip and leg.  His brain also undergoes a transformation, as he loses some memory and language abilities.  Unfortunately, his wife is not able to deal with his new condition, and she divorces him.  To try to put his life back together, Edgar decides to spend some time away from Minnesota and chooses an island called Duma Key.  He rents a home and puts his old life in the past.  He makes an effort to exercise and to rehabilitate his body, and one of his goals is to wean himself from his strong painkillers before he becomes addicted.  He starts taking daily walks on the beach and each day goes farther and farther down the beach.  Once he finally gets to the next house on the beach, he meets a man named Jerome Wireman, the caretaker of the elderly and wealthy patron of the local art scene.  They become fast friends and share their difficult pasts.  Edgar eventually meets, and befriends the lady, Elizabeth, as well.

While on Duma, Edgar decides to take up painting again, which he dabbled in years before.  This time, however, he shows a talent he never knew he had.  He paints very odd, yet striking, paintings that seem to predict the future.  He learns that he is both receiving and sending messages to his new friends.  These messages tie him to both Wireman and Elizabeth in ways that they never would have imagined, and almost don’t want to know.  There is an evil lurking behind the painting talent, and it takes Edgar and his friends all they have within themselves to try to destroy that evil.

Stephen King seems to have two different styles: the truly horrific stories of ghosts and goblins, and the science fiction, otherworldly kind.  This one seems to fall under the latter.  The storyline focuses on real people with real issues, but at the same time, there is an evil force and an unknown power directing them.  Compared to others in this genre (The Tommyknockers, Desperation, Hearts in Atlantis), this one does better.  The characters are very likeable and the reader finds himself rooting for the characters.  Much of the information is mundane, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem as the reader absorbs everything happening all at once.  The evil is not so “out there” that it’s just too unbelievable, so it works.  True to form, however, King is wordy.  This book is big and long, and it does take a while to get through it.  For those looking for a light, quick read, this is not it.  For those looking for a serious book that will scare them, this is the right one.

As is Stephen King’s nature, he refers to pop culture from the 60s and 70s, so some of the references may not be acceptable in today’s more PC culture.  He uses profanity and violence, although they are not as common as they are in some of his other novels.  There is a bit of discussion about sex, but not much of it happens in this book.  King instead relies on just plain scaring the wits out of the reader to make the book entertaining.  He describes Edgar being alone in his house, at night, during a thunderstorm, and when he turns around, he is face-to-face with ghosts of children who died almost a century ago.  Those elements definitely cause the reader to jump, but not because of “blood and guts” gore.

All in all, Duma Key is a good story.  It doesn’t compare to some of King’s previous works, but it has the characters, the storyline, and the bump in the middle of the night to make it scary and entertaining.  King fans should be happy with the results.

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Jane Austen is amazing. Pretty much everyone on the face of planet Earth knows this information right? The facts support this. Movies, books, active fan clubs…  There’s even an eHow site that tells people how they can best become an Austenphile. No matter whether you’re a fan or not, you have to admit that those are pretty impressive numbers for a woman who has been dead for almost two hundred years.

The problem is that Georgina Jackson, award winning and critically acclaimed author, has no clue about anything to do with Austen. She’s never read any of her books and she knows nothing about her life. Why is Georgina’s lack of knowledge such a problem? Because when several hand written pages come to light as the beginning of an unpublished Austen novel, her publisher and agent pressure her into completing the novel. Over her head and pushed for 120,000 words on deadline that would make even the most prolific author crumple into a ball of despair, Georgina does the best thing she can. She runs.  Unfortunately in England, there’s nowhere that she can escape from Jane Austen. Even her best friend has started a business that is Austen-centric. Without intending to, she finds herself learning more and more about the grand lady herself and her followers.

I love Austen. Anyone who has seen my reviews on the site knows that. I am, however, cautious about books having to do with Austen. In my personal reading, I have found that it is a huge gamble when you dive into anything modern that has to do with Jane Austen. Sometimes you can come across some absolutely brilliant Austen-centric work but other times, you may have to slog through what feels like very bad Austen Fan Fiction. (Fan Fiction – amateur writers giving their own slant or views to already published work, most often found in film and television shows.)

Obviously Elizabeth Aston has come across the same thing. With her expertise in all things Austen (she’s got six Austen sequels/adaptations of her own on the market) Elizabeth Aston does a masterful job of capturing not only the heart of Austen’s writing, but also the passion of her fans. From the casual fans that only recognize Colin Firth to the rabid fans who know every intimate detail of Austen’s life, Aston has done an incredibly brilliant job at sharing with the reader a thumbnail sketch of what Austenphiles are really like.  It’s a hilarious and endearing and anyone who even has a passing admiration for Austen’s work can’t help but be entertained.

The heart of this book is about finding out who you are, what you love and how to connect with yourself. Georgina is a woman on a search to discover who she is. No matter whether you’re an Austen fan or not, this is definitely a theme that resonates. Who hasn’t questioned this in their own lives at some point?

Aston’s writing is rich, funny, entertaining and her knowledge of Austen is mind boggling. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey into the mind of a writer taking on such a daunting task. I was delighted, thrilled, and can’t wait to see what else Aston has up her literary sleeves in the future.

Review copy provided by Touchstone.

Genre: Literary

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

Released: April 2010

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

Henry is an author whose last book—a fantastical story involving animals—was both a critical and popular success, garnering literary awards and huge sales. Five years later, Henry has written a flip-book, one side of which is a novel and the other side an essay, both concerning the Holocaust. Despite the wild popularity of Henry’s previous book, the publishers dismiss Henry’s new manuscript, and Henry, distraught, moves with his wife to “one of those great cities of the world that is a world unto itself.”

It is in this great city that Henry receives an enigmatic note from an even more enigmatic taxidermist: “Dear Sir, I read your book and much admired it. I need your help.” Enclosed with this note are a short story by Flaubert and the first scene of a play the taxidermist is composing, a play with two characters, Beatrice and Virgil. Unable to check his curiosity, Henry finds the taxidermist and begins a journey that will change the way he looks at suffering and at the nature of storytelling.

(Beatrice and Virgil, aside from being the namesakes of Dante’s guides through The Divine Comedy, are a donkey and a howler monkey, respectively, who the taxidermist explains are his “guides through hell.”)

Beatrice and Virgil—an interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction, using the modes of novel, short story, play, essay, and “games for Gustav”—is the newest book from Booker Prize–winning author Yann Martel.

The fiction/nonfiction blend is apparent in the book’s main character, Henry, who  purposely leaves the reader wondering how much of Beatrice and Virgil is autobiographical. Martel’s last book, Life of Pi, was also a fantastical story involving animals, lauded by readers and critics alike. Beatrice and Virgil was released nearly nine years after Life of Pi—perhaps due to wary publishers? And the novel’s subject, the Holocaust, is a subject perhaps most frequently treated in nonfiction accounts.

One of the effective images Martel uses to explain Henry’s (his own?) method is a suitcase. History is often forgotten because it fails to resonate with the masses. Art, on the other hand, packs the essentials of history into a format that has the power to deeply affect its participants. He writes of other artists, “[they] had taken a vast, sprawling tragedy, had found its heart, and had represented it in a nonliteral and compact way. The unwieldy encumbrance of history was reduced and packed into a suitcase. Art as suitcase, light, portable, essential.” Of Henry’s flip-book, Martel writes, “Was such a treatment not possible, indeed, was it not necessary, with the greatest tragedy of Europe’s Jews?”

While such a treatment might be possible (as evidenced by other fictions of the Holocaust), and while Beatrice and Virgil itself is well written, the book struggles in its overburdened format—stuffing too much into an already packed suitcase—and lacks the magic we know the author is capable of from Life of Pi. The book felt by turns either too heavy handed (“This is what I’m doing, and you must pay attention to this Important Symbol!”) or too obscure (“This is certainly symbolic, but I won’t tell you what it means!”).

The fiction I find most enjoyable is seamless. The author is performing magic before your eyes, but you don’t always know how he’s doing it. The constituent words are there—you can see them, say them—but at the end of the story, you are baffled at the rabbit’s being pulled from the hat. You have the impression that great magic has been done behind the scenes without knowing how the trick was performed. Reading Beatrice and Virgil felt like being at a magic show where the magician was either narrating every action as he was doing it, so that the rabbit’s appearance was no surprise, or performing the trick behind a curtain, so that you couldn’t see the rabbit even if it did appear. Despite the magician’s talent, without these aspects of showmanship and craft, it makes it difficult to be swept away in the story.

That said, I like the ideas that Martel engages in Beatrice and Virgil. It’s true that the most enduring histories are the ones we put into narratives because humans are essentially storytellers. I even liked the multiple methods he used to tell this story. But I found myself wishing that Martel had written Henry’s flip-book rather than the genre cocktail of Beatrice and Virgil. Fact and fiction are related, and it may be valuable for readers to be reminded of this. But in this case it seemed like the story was made to serve the ideas rather than the ideas serving the story. The result is a mainly cerebral experience, one that while “good for you” is not one you’re likely to repeat.

Beatrice and Virgil provides a novel way to think about the Holocaust and the limits we face in putting human suffering into language. While Martel’s goal of creating a suitcase for the Holocaust is noble, it is yet to be seen whether Martel’s suitcase will survive the test of time, and readers might be better served by taking different luggage on the trip.

Review copy provided by Spiegel & Grau.

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: February 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

What happens when a young dispossessed king gets backed into a corner? His people starving, his land filled and possessed by invaders, King Rhi Bran Y Hud has vowed that he will do whatever he can to return his kingdom to his people. After being wronged again and again by the conquering King, Red William, Bran decides that the next thing he must do is go to his mother’s people to see if they will help him regain his stolen throne.

This plan is not infallible though. Bran has not seen anyone from his mother’s family since he was in diapers and it also means that he must leave his people, the Elfael, alone to fend for themselves in the dark wood. Leaving two of his best men in charge, Bran sets off with a Friar Tuck to reacquaint himself with this branch of his family. Upon his arrival, he discovers that things are not as they seem and there is more work ahead for Bran than he realized. To make things worse, back at their home base, Merian has gotten the idea in her head that she should go home and raise an army to assist Bran. She has no idea that her father is no longer in control in her kingdom anymore.
Stephen Lawhead has packed this final chapter of his Robin Hood trilogy with adventure, heartache, glory and a beautifully sewn together ending that brings the fable to brilliant life. Reminiscent of his Song of Albion series and Pendragon Cycle, Lawhead once again uses his mastery of the written word to at the same time breathe life into a legend and create a vivid world that any fantasy reader can enjoy. Anyone who has read and enjoyed the Narnia series or Lord of the Rings will easily fall in love with Lawhead’s universe.

Filled with vividly beautiful descriptions, intricately woven plots and fast paced adventure, Lawhead’s characters are bigger than the legend he’s tackled. They are beyond fantasy, magic and illusion. The characters are elaborate, brilliant and heartbreakingly human. Bran is a young passionate king with a fire that needs to be tamed. Tuck is a faithful man of God struggling to serve his king in the best way he can. Merian is a woman in love who has yet to understand her feelings, yet loves Bran’s people as her own.

Lawhead’s books are a personal time warp into a long forgotten era. Filled with vivid characters, life and death struggles, mystery, intrigue and romance, they take place in a land so vibrant that you can practically smell the rich green moss and hear the cry of birds through the trees. If you have previously enjoyed any of Lawhead’s novels or if you have an interest in history or the Robin Hood legends, this is a series that you do not want to miss.

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Marta Schneider is determined to succeed. She knows what she wants in life and even though she’s young, nothing is going to stop her from getting everything that she wants. She refuses to allow anything to move her from that path. She certainly won’t let a frightened sister, a sick mother or an abusive father do that to her. Determined to rise above the roadblocks and speed-bumps that would slow or stop others in her situation, she turns everything into an opportunity to better herself.

I was completely entranced with Marta’s story through the stages of her life as she blew past outrageously difficult circumstances to succeed at nearly everything she attempted. By the time that she got married, settled down and started a family, I was firmly ensconced in the world that Rivers had created. And then the focus shifted.

Hildemara Rose, Marta’s young daughter, has just as much determination as her mother and unfortunately, just as many obstacles. She fights for everything she gets and has, at the best of times, a rocky, strained relationship with Marta.

When the perspective shifted to that of Marta’s young daughter, Hildemara Rose, I was admittedly a little jarred. My first thoughts were that I wanted to see more of Marta. This was, after all, her story! I had spent hours getting to know her, understanding her, and watching her overcome obstacles. I wanted to follow her and not this young girl who hadn’t been truly granted much of a part in Marta’s story. But as I kept reading, I discovered, once again, the brilliance of Francine Rivers. With the intimate knowledge of Marta’s past, we as the readers are able to experienced Hildemara’s life in a deeper, richer way than if we had only met one or the other of these women on their own.

Francine Rivers is a master of the heart. She cuts right to the center and passion of what drives people and creates an amazing connection between her readers and her stories. This book is no different. She brilliantly pulls together heartache and passion and wraps it around one of the deepest relationships in existence; that of a mother and a daughter. Written from her own family history, Rivers pulls no punches as she examines the mistakes that parents can make as they raise their children. Moments in this book were difficult to read, heartbreaking and at times, I found myself with tears rolling down my face. Again, this is where Francine Rivers excels in her writing. When reading her work, it’s nearly impossible to keep yourself from becoming personally entrenched in the story. With this beautiful multigenerational tale, this is doubly heart-wrenching. As I experienced Hildemara’s heartbreak in her relationship with her mother, I also ached at knowing where Marta had been and why this was happening. Rivers’ writing gave me a deeper understanding of every aspect of this story and really opened her own heart and family to me. My heart rolled when I reached the end of this book and I realized I was going to have to wait to see what would happen next.When does it release? Not nearly soon enough.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: 2008

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

So the last time we saw Bran Ap Brychan he was disappearing off into the woods with the maid Merian held captive and troops of soldiers chasing him. This is, it seems, nothing new for Lawhead’s most notorious outlaw to date.
This story opens in a far different time and place and with a totally new character thrown into the mix. Will Scatloke, or Scarlet, is the main voice of this book, showing us Lawhead’s characters from a different perspective. As an outsider recently joined with the Elfael people, Scarlet isn’t always trusted but we know from his perspective that he is fiercely loyal and will stay faithful to Bran and the people he pledged his life to protect. Even unto death.

As this sequel to Lawhead’s book Hood proceeds, we find out that Merian is still living with the Elfael though not as Bran’s wife. She remains a very annoyed captive who deeply loves the people Bran leads. Glimpses are shown, through Will’s eyes, of the deep love shared by Merian and Bran, though the two remain apart for all intents and purposes.

Once again, Lawhead leads us on a merry chase through the deep dark woods inhabited by Bran and his people. We learn more of the plots that have conspired to keep Bran away from his rightful place as King and his people living in the forest, away from their homes. The plot is deeper and more involved than anyone realizes, putting Bran and his followers in an even more precarious situation than before.

Lawhead’s use of a different voice than those previously heard from in Hood manages to give the story greater depth and eloquence as he shows us beloved characters through another’s eyes. We journey through the ensuing months since Hood ended and follow Bran as he makes his way through the treacherous political landscape of his beloved country.

Sometimes there’s a danger when you have a second book in a trilogy that the story becomes ‘filler’ or only serves to carry us through from the author’s beginning to the end. It’s not unusual for second books to be somewhat boring. Lawhead’s storytelling in this book remains strong and steadfast. When you end this book, you’ll be eagerly reaching for the third book in the series, Tuck, to find out what danger, temptation and adventure waits to meet our beloved hero this time.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2008

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Stephen Lawhead is a master storyteller. From the mind of the man who brought us amazingly vivid characters like Taliesin and Llew Silverhand comes the tale that everyone knows but with a Lawhead twist. Robin Hood. Who was the man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor? How did he become an outlaw that royalty despised and people practically worshipped? Lawhead turns his mind to exploring the legend, the fantasy and the reality of this legendary character.

Bran Ap Brychan is the prince of his kingdom. Literally. His father is the King and Bran has grown up with an abundance of privilege and all of the stressors that come with it. Never feeling like he meets up to his father’s expectations, Bran struggles with being a little bit spoiled, a lot of entitlement and an overwhelming amount of frustration. When his father is killed in an ambush and the kingdom taken over by invaders, Bran has no idea what to do next.

Impulsively, he lets his anger take over and nearly gets himself killed in the process. If he hadn’t been discovered and assisted by a wise woman in the forest, he would have been nothing more than an epitaph in his father’s kingdom. But the woman helps him heal and along with that, teaches him the value of patience, honor and maturity. As Bran works through the long arduous recovery from his injuries, he comes to understand that there are people depending upon him. No longer do they turn to him as a prince, but as his father’s next in line, the King.

What can an angry, impulsive and immature young man do to lead his people when they are stuck in captivity? How can he rescue his father’s kingdom and bring everything back to where it should be?

These are the answers that Lawhead demands of his character throughout the story. He sows the adventure and reaps the rewards with Bran’s growth and development. Following this story breathes more than new life into the Robin Hood legend; it creates a whole new world for Lawhead to shine through in his masterful writing.

In typical Lawhead fashion, the characters are complex and diverse with just enough humor and realism added in to ensure that they aren’t caricatures of themselves. The plot moves quickly and follows several intersecting storylines at the same time and the setting is, as always, gorgeous.

Lawhead’s books cannot be consumed quickly. They are to be chewed thoughtfully, savored over time and allowed to seep into your very marrow until they become a part of you.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed Elizabeth Olmedo

Six years after swearing she would never return home, Jenny Lucas stands on the old doorstep, with her five-year-old-daughter, Isabella, in tow. Wishing she was anywhere but her North Carolina hometown, Jenny faces her aging grandmother and father, as well as David — her high school boyfriend and Bella’s father — who has yet to learn he has a daughter.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jenny relives the past, this time through her mother’s eyes. Jenny prefers spending her final months in any way other than confronting her past, but Bella needs a home and people to love and care for her when that fateful day arrives. For her daughter’s sake, Jenny fights to push aside her wishes and feelings. With the help of her faith and the people who love her, wounds slowly start to heal and a new life emerges.

Gina Holmes’ work is stunning in her heart-wrenching, debut novel. In Crossing Oceans, Holmes carries her readers on a journey of love and forgiveness. I strongly advise readers keep a box of Kleenex handy. Holmes masterfully reaches the emotions, delivering a mix of love, anger, sorrow, and hope. Both the plot and characters are refreshingly real. Faith is addressed in a true-to-life fashion, and not in an artificial, preachy manner often typical of novels in this genre.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone searching for a story that feeds the heart. I hope this is only the first of many novels by Holmes.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Jake Chism and Tim George had a great time catching up with novelist Mike Dellosso to discuss his new book, Darlington Woods. Join our discussion as we explore the idea behind the story, the place of the horror genre in faith-based fiction, and the big news for Mike’s future. You can check out our reviews of Darlington Woods here.

More about Mike Dellosso:

Mike Dellosso is the author of three novels of suspense, The Hunted, Scream, and newly-released Darlington Woods. Publishers Weekly described his writing as psycho-spiritual suspense. In addition to writing, Mike’s “real job” is in physical therapy, and he is also an adjunct professor of writing at Lancaster Bible College. He lives in Hanover, PA with his wife, three daughters, and black Lab, Josie.

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Genre: Horror

Publication Date: May 2010

Publisher: Realms

Jake Chism’s Review:

Rob Shields is lost. After the tragic death of his wife and son, he seemingly has no direction and no desire to move forward. Reluctantly, he travels to a small town in Maryland to see the house that was left to him by his great aunt. While there Rob begins to find strange connections to his son, Jimmy, and becomes more and more convinced that he is alive. With far and trepidation in his heart, Rob travels to Darlington Woods, a mysterious place shrouded in secret and darkness that might just hold the answers he is seeking.

Mike Dellosso has become one of my favorite writers over the last couple of years with his terror filled stories that are bursting at the seams with spiritual light. In Darlington Woods, we find these same elements on full display, but couched in a whirlwind cat and mouse game between man and freaky beast. Dellosso’s “darklings” are a fun and creepy creation that give this particular story even more of a freak out factor than his previous works. Add to the mix an ever increasing sense of dread and madness, and you’ve got a gripping tale that demands to be devoured.

It should come as no surprise to Dellosso fans that this is a very theme driven novel, and specifically we get some great illustrations of light overcoming darkness. That’s not to say that character development and plot are lacking, but Dellosso sticks to what he does best: exploring spiritual themes in the midst of human tragedy. Readers who purely want to escape in their fiction might be turned off by such an approach, but for those who love to be challenged and stretched while being entertained, Dellosso is right up your alley.

With each installment Mike Dellosso seems to only get better, and I can easily see how Darlington Woods could become a fan favorite.  With the recent news of a multi-book contract extension, we can be sure that Dellosso will continue to scare the light into us in fun and unique ways.

Tim George’s Review:

What do Joe Saunders, Mark Stone, Rob Shields and Mike Dellosso all have in common? They are nice guys who have encountered monsters the rest of us hope to never have to face. And the first three would not exist were it not for the tangible monsters author Mike Dellosso has battled in the real world. Dellosso’s newest thriller, Darlington Woods, returns to some of the themes the author explored in his debut novel, The Hunted. Once again we have an isolated little town with dark secrets and an everyman hero desperately searching for a family member. And, as in Scream, we are given a villain to be remembered.  But Darlington Woods takes things up a notch with its sheer fear factor and for lack of better words – sanctified creepiness.

When Rob Shields shows up to claim a house left to him by an aunt he never met he finds her home town of Mayfield a bit odd. But when he begins to have dreams that his supposedly dead son is still alive and a local waitress tells him about a place in the woods called Darlington, Rob’s journey escalates from strange to bizarre. The single narrow road that leads to the dead end village of Darlington should be clue enough; this is not the kind of place one picks for a Sunday afternoon ride. To reveal any more would only spoil the fun and the impact of one fine thriller.

Everyone has monsters of the soul: things they fear, people they cannot face, situations beyond their control. And like the people of Darlington many spend their life just trying to keep those “Darklings” at bay. But in this story, one man learns the power of light over fear and what it means to face his monsters in spite of the terror they bring to the soul. Over the last couple of years, Dellosso has helped to shape what to some seems a contradiction – Christian horror. As with his other novels, Darlington Woods is powered by its strong themes of light and darkness, hope and fear, good and evil. All explored by an increasingly powerful voice.

Once again Mike Dellosso has managed to shine the light of God’s grace into the darkest crevices of the human condition with amazing clarity.

Check out our interview with Mike Dellosso here.

Review copy provided by Realms.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

The Rio Grande was not just murky. It was toxic… To many illegal immigrants, its flowing waters signified hope and opportunity for a better tomorrow, while others viewed the river crossing as a means of smuggling drugs or spreading terrorism. But for Danika, the depths meant death, and it didn’t’ discriminate among its victims.

Danika Morales is a Border Agent, patrolling along the Rio Grande and attempting, along with other agents, to do the impossible – stem the flood of illegal immigrants and the even more dangerous influx of Mexican drug cartel activity. Though she believes her job is for the good of the country, Danika is an agent because of a far more personal reason: her husband was murdered two years earlier and the case is yet to be solved. In spite of her own efforts to move on, the unanswered questions about her husband’s murder and her Border Agent brother-in-law’s growing instability and volatility stand in the way. When attempts are made on Danika’s life and her niece disappears, the battle for America’s security becomes something more, a battle for faith and family.

Sworn to Protect is a romantic suspense that deals with a difficult and often controversial subject. DiAnn Mills does a great job of keeping the entertainment value of the story and the weight of the subject matter in balance. Through the medium of a story, Mills reminds us of how complicated the issue of illegal immigration is. On the day her husband was murdered our heroine discovered he had been an illegal immigrant activist for some time. The doctor she finds herself falling far, though not an activist, regularly treats battered illegal women with the promise of not reporting them. And, unknown to Danika, her trusted housekeeper of years is working in the country under forged papers. Even the people who seem most upstanding and legitimate in this border town are in fact holding illegals in what amounts to virtual slavery for their own financial gain.

With over one million books in print and fifteen novels, DiAnn has changed directions in her writing career from cozy mysteries and romance to the arena of suspense with good success. Readers that love Terri Blackstock and Dee Henderson will find the Call of Duty series a welcomed addition to their reading library. It’s refreshing to see seasoned authors like Robin Carroll, Vicki Hinze, and DiAnn Mills stretching their wings a bit and perhaps the wings of their readers as well. Hardcore suspense fans may find the emphasis on relationships a bit of a test but issues of family and loyalty are matters we all can relate to.

With solid characters, a convincing plot, and good story resolution, Sworn to Protect is a fine addition to the field of faith-based suspense. For those who go hay-wire when they discover a book they are reading has a hint of religion in it, be forewarned. Though far from preachy, this is definitely a novel that deals with matters of faith. Then again, when faced with the mysteries of life and death, most people in the real world struggle with what they do and do not believe about ultimate matters. Danika’s journey illustrates this well. Just compare an opening sentence of this novel with its last …

… for Danika, the depths meant death, and it didn’t’ discriminate among its victims.

… for Danika, the depths had brought back life and love.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Genre: Children’s / Young Adult

Publisher: Walden Pond Press

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I must admit: I love Australian authors. Their books are usually charming, exciting, and have such a unique voice that it’s hard to stay away. And when I found new author Richard Newsome’s debut book, The Billionaire’s Curse, I was extremely excited to find a new series to follow along with. The first book in The Archer Legacy delivers on many levels, and will definitely find many fans following the end of The 39 Clues.

When Gerald Wilkins finds out that he has to skip snowboarding with his best friend Ox for school break and instead go to England for his great-aunt’s funeral, he’s devastated. What could be worse than going to a funeral for some old stiff that he’s never even met in his life? But then he gets the letter from beyond the grave and in his aunt’s handwriting: “…I expect you’ve figured out that I was murdered. I want you to find out who did it.” Gerald has no idea what to do. But soon he becomes caught up in murder, a missing diamond, and a mystery as old as the English countryside. Can Gerald and his new friends Ruby and Sam figure out who killed his great-aunt before the murderer comes after them next?

Newsome has created some fun and unique characters that follow along in the vein of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the villain is right in line with an Anthony Horowitz creation. It’s exciting to follow Gerald and share in his bafflement at the lifestyles of his rich family members, the secrets surrounding the Archer family, and his encounters with the shadowy figures out to find him.

The mystery and puzzles are done very well, and a few scenes are downright creepy in all the right ways. The set-up for the story does take a while, but there’s enough humor and fun to make up for the lack of plot progression. Some moments almost felt a little bit too silly for their own good, but then others became deathly serious. There’s also a smattering of offensive language that seemed a bit out of place when it appeared. By the end, there’s some very intriguing plot points developing, and everything wraps up with the promise of more to come.

Overall The Billionaire’s Curse is a fun, adventurous romp that, while a bit stiff at moments, will definitely be enjoyable for the tween market.

Review copy provided by the Amazon Vine Program.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Dan and Amy Cahill are up to their faces in mysteries. And now they’re on a flight to China as book number eight, The Emperor’s Code, in the New York Times bestselling series The 39 Clues, begins. The only lead they have to go on is a vague symbol painted in the background of an old movie, The Last Emperor, and that might even be just a false lead. And with the many branches of the Cahill family out to steal their clues and murder them both, every step forward could be their last. But when Dan and Amy are separated from each other – they both have to face the reality: either find each other, or find the next clue and risk losing the only family they have left.

Gordon Korman is not new to The 39 Clues. He also authored book number two, One False Note, which had felt somewhat off track after Rick Riordan’s first entry, The Maze of Bones. I was a bit worried if Korman could pull off another book in the series, but he definitely did, and this one ranks as one of the best so far. The writing is crisp and moves along; just like any other book in the series, but what really shines here are the deeper characterizations that sometimes felt lacking in previous books. Dan and Amy are really explored as they separate from each other on the hunt, and it was a very unique opportunity for Korman to be able to reach inside their heads and give us more of their fears and thoughts about the things that have happened to them both. But he doesn’t skimp out on the humor, action, or puzzles. And in some ways, the danger was all the more real as they travel into some of their most dangerous situations yet.

While the casual reader will enjoy this next book in the series, those who want to dive a little deeper will find some very intriguing puzzles fitted into the book itself. One code hidden throughout the volume will likely be one of the most shocking clues yet to the overarching storyline of the series, while a couple of other small clues hidden on the front cover will provide some hints that have yet to be understood. Also, the ending note that is usually just a general letter to some branch of the Cahill family mentioning they “Stop Dan and Amy” is something very different this time – and it makes me wonder if there is a huge twist that, in typical Riordan style, is almost impossible to see coming.

All said, The 39 Clues series is one of those once-in-a-publishing-lifetime events that comes along and really creates something out of itself, with ingenious references to historical figures, unique puzzles and clues, and all building up to something that promises to be truly astounding. With only two more books to go, things are definitely on a swift-moving track and all we can know for certain is the end is very, very near.

Review copy provided by Scholastic.

We’re talking Sci-Fi in our latest author round table discussion. Marcher Lord Press novelists, Stuart Stockton and Kerry Nietz, join Jake Chism and Tim George to discuss what makes good science fiction, the art of writing quality sci-fi, and an inside look into Marcher Lord Press. Enjoy!

More about Stuart Stockton:

Stuart Vaughn Stockton is a writer of science fiction and fantasy stories. He began creating worlds in Jr. High and has never looked back.

Stuart’s manuscript Starfire and his Saurian language impressed suspense author Brandilyn Collins when she first heard him using the language at the ACFW Conference in Denver 2004.

This inspired her to create the character of Ted “S-man” Dawson in the Kanner Lake suspense series. In the series S-man was shown using bits of the Saurian Language as well as writing scenes from Starfire.

Stuart lives in Colorado with his wife, Tiffany.

More about Kerry Nietz:

Kerry Nietz is a refugee of the software industry. He spent more than a decade of his life flipping bits—first as one of the principal developers of the database product FoxPro for the now mythical Fox Software, and then as one of Bill Gates’s minions at Microsoft. He is a husband and father, a technophile and a movie buff. He has two previously published books: a memoir entitled FoxTales: Behind the Scenes at Fox Software and Book 1 in the DarkTrench Saga: A Star Curiously Singing.

You can also subscribe to our podcast through iTunes.

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Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Olivia Morrow is dying, but she faces a horrible choice. Her deceased cousin, Catherine, touched many lives as a nun. Now the Catholic Church is considering her for sainthood. But a secret torments Olivia and threatens to destroy Catherine’s post-mortem sainthood. With days left to live, should she speak the truth or take it to her grave?

Dr. Monica Farrell is a young, attractive pediatrician, loved by patients and co-workers alike. Her background, however, remains a mystery. During his lifetime, her father tried everything to uncover the identity of his birth parents. Years later, after a series of chance events, Monica finds herself calling a complete stranger who knew Monica’s birth grandparents. This stranger is none other than Olivia Morrow.

Unfortunately, before the two women can meet, Olivia passes away in her sleep. But what originally seems like a natural death leaves Monica unsettled. The more Monica searches, the more questions arise, and with it the certainty of foul play.

Olivia’s one true love, the late Alex Gannon, famous doctor and scientist who created a fortune in medical patents, died loving another — Catherine. In his will, he left his wealth to any possible child he may have fathered. But through extravagant lifestyles and bad choices, his nephews Greg and Peter Gannon have squandered the estate with the help of their fellow board members. Should someone ever step forward to claim the inheritance, the truth of their exploitation would come to light. Silence is vital to the board members of the Gannon foundation, crucial enough to kill for.

So Mary Higgins sets the scene for her latest novel, The Shadow of Your Smile, with a wide range of unique characters all with seemingly separate subplots. As their worlds narrow, their lives overlap to form a common thread sprinkled with lies, hope, fear, and murder. Clark is one of the few authors I’ve found who can juggle so many characters without losing the reader. Her mind works in such intricate ways that she delicately weaves complex and intriguing webs that draw the reader in and hold them captive until the last word.

As in most of her books, Clark explores a controversial issue. In the case of The Shadow of Your Smile, she deals with the seemingly exclusive worlds of medical science and religious faith. Refreshingly, Clark’s novels are “clean” offering a great read without vulgarity to anyone who loves an invigorating thriller. I strongly recommend them.

Review copy provided by Simon and Schuster.

This month on Lori, Loree, What’s the Story we dive into that oft neglected dark side of writing: business. If you have questions about whether your writing can be considered professional or a hobby or what receipts you can keep, this is the podcast you don’t want to miss. We answer your questions yet again and give you a variety of advice to help make sure that your writing business remains just that, a business. Check it out. You won’t be sorry!

You can also subscribe to our iTunes feed for this episode and all of our interviews and podcast episodes.

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Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: April 2010

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Maya Davis loves coffee and is not a big fan of eating healthy. She will gladly drink her body weight in caffeine and eat frozen foods for every meal of every day.  She’s not looking for love. She’s happy in her job as a barista at a local coffee shop (Cool Beans). She loves her friends. She loves her dog. In short, she’s completely content where she is.

Until her roommate, Jen, brings her new boyfriend, Travis, to meet Maya. Then things get a little sticky. You see Jen’s new boyfriend is Maya’s ex, but Jen doesn’t know that and apparently, neither does Travis. Since he and Maya dated years ago, she has cut and dyed her hair and lost some weight. This presents an interesting dilemma for Maya. Should she tell Jen and risk hurting Jen’s feelings or should she wait it out and see how serious things get? Or should she just go get another cup of coffee and forget about the stress for right now? Which choice do you think is the right one? And now, the better question, which one do you think Maya chooses?

If you picked getting a cup of coffee and forgetting about the stress you got the right answer. Well, as far as Maya is concerned.
Maya Davis is a snarky fun young woman who has a great way of viewing the world and Erynn Mangum expresses her values and views in a non preachy but totally realistic way. Instead of Maya being a perfect person who always chooses the right thing because the Bible says so, Maya is very realistic in her attitudes. She does what most of us in the world do. She avoids situations that make her uncomfortable or that might hurt people she loves. Oh and did I forget to mention a potential love interest in the middle? And it’s not Travis either. It’s a mixed up plot with a lot of fun inner monologue from Maya and interaction between Maya and those around her. Though the story isn’t full of angst, heavy romance or drama, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Mangum’s characters are heartwarming, delightful and fun with just enough conscience to make you cringe in sympathy at their troubles and distress. The pacing of the story is light and fun, easy to read (or devour) and at the end, it feels like time well spent. Even though I’m not a coffee drinker, I found myself craving the smell and flavor of a medium roast or dark roast. I longed for a girl’s night in pajamas with my best girlfriends and a movie (and did that last night actually – I credit Maya for the inspiration!) and a fun place to work like Cool Beans.

It appears that this is the first of a series of books from Maya’s perspective. I cannot wait to dive into Latte Daze, the next book, and find out what trouble comes Maya’s way this time.

Shaun Stevenson’s Review:

One thing is for sure: Erynn Mangum must love coffee. And chocolate. And watching Runaway Bride in pajamas. Because all three definitely appear in her new book, Cool Beans: A Maya Davis Novel. Maya Davis is twenty-four, single, working daily at the local coffee shop, Cool Beans, and loving life. That is until her roommate and best friend Jen starts dating. But she’s not just dating anyone. She’s dating Maya’s ex-boyfriend, Travis, from five years before. And thus, Maya’s perfect little world is flipped completely over. Can she deal with this new awkward relationship, her ever-annoying brother Zach moving back to town, and just sleeping through the night without her dog waking up the entire apartment complex?

Mangum returns after finishing her Lauren Holbrook series with a new setting, new characters, and more humor and relationship drama. At times, Maya is very similar to Lauren from the previous series, with many of the same quirks and habits, and it was hard to distinguish the two characters from each other. The basic construct of Maya’s world felt very similar to Lauren’s, with single’s group on Wednesday nights, a coffee shop, and church every Sunday. But that’s about where the similarities in plot and character end. About a fourth of a way through, Maya begins to emerge as a character of her own.

The writing moves along swiftly. Most of the chapters are made up of dialogue between Maya and her friends, and Mangum uses these conversations to advance the story. A few of the ending “twists” are pretty easy to see coming, but the characters are so enjoyable that they make up for the weaker plot. The reason for Maya’s breakup with Travis in the past is built up throughout the novel, but when the reality is revealed, it was almost a bit of a let-down, as we’ve been expecting something quite different from the truth. The drama never completely envelops the story, and things stay pretty light-hearted throughout.

Fans of Mangum’s earlier books (Miss Match, Rematch, and Match Point) will enjoy a new outing with funny characters and hints of Robin Gunn Jones-esque drama. All said, reading Cool Beans was often like sipping through a cup of coffee – warm and satisfying through to the end.

Don’t miss our interview with Erynn Mangum here.

Review copies provided by NavPress.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Sir Thomas Cromwell. Most people recognize the name but not many could tell you exactly who he is, what he did or how he impacted the course of history.  Let me fill you in just a little. To start things off he was the 1^st Earl of Essex. He was also Henry VIII’s chief minister from 1532-1540. Do you have a better idea of how he impacted history now? Yes. So do I after reading Hilary Mantel’s book.

It’s hard to cover new ground when it comes to Henry VIII. With hundreds of books and movies and television programs based on this time period and this famous monarch, very little is fresh ground. Mantel, however, has found a way to make even Henry’s popular story new and exciting. She has shared the tale through the little known and far less understood Thomas Cromwell.

The book follows Cromwell’s rise from poverty and a drunken abusive home to arguably the most powerful and influential man in the free world. How did he shake off the past and move beyond it? What about his family and love life? Did he have one? Mantel addresses these questions with stunning description and a tense driven storyline.

The writing style can be off-putting during the read though. Sometimes it’s difficult to shake out who is doing what or who is speaking and it takes several reads to get back into the pacing. This can be hard on the reader since the book is so long and the plot details are thickly woven. The book is not an easy weekend read by far, but when you’ve completed the story, you have far more information regarding this period in history and specifically, this man and what he did to impact history.

If you are a fan of history or historical fiction, this is a book you might enjoy reading. I enjoyed the story and finding out more about Henry VIII through the eyes of this little known character, but as I said, it was not an easy read. I garnered lots of information and appreciated the characterizations that Mantel put forth and wished that it could have been shared in a little easier manner. I don’t shy away from difficult reads. I love stories that are complex and multilayered as this one is. I just had some issues with the writing style and the complexity of the read itself.

Mantel supplies the reader with a wealth of information that casual researchers, historians or readers wouldn’t normally know, therefore leaving the reader more knowledgeable and hopefully, entertained along the way.

Review copy provided by Henry Holt.

Genre: Supernatural, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Laila is running from the demons of her past and they are quickly closing in. Sure, she’s made her fair share of mistakes, even bringing much of the hurt upon herself. She longs to escape and be free, but more than that she wants to be whole again, to somehow find a way to gather up the shattered pieces of her life. For too long she has tried things her way and it’s only brought her here: fleeing a mysterious stranger who knows what she did and wants to make her pay. As the demons of her past close in, Laila must decide whether to confront them or forever remain broken.

Travis Thrasher has tackled a wide range of genres in his career: romance, suspense, mystery, adventure, and more recently horror. Most publishing and marketing experts would wag their fingers at this scattershot approach, but Thrasher has managed to pull it off with his indelible talent. What I love most about Thrasher’s writing is the passion he brings to each story. He consistently creates characters that jump off the page and well defined plots that propel the story forward. This has allowed him to transcend genre and his writing always seems to reflect and celebrate the power of story. Broken is certainly no exception, and may just be his best yet.

Thrasher shifts gears a bit from Isolation and Ghostwriter, toning down the scares without losing the supernatural edge that I loved in both novels. This is a fast paced read supported by engaging dialogue, well depicted locations, and a powerful twist in the end. Each chapter begins with a journal entry from Laila and these scenes were by far my favorite.

With Laila, Thrasher has given us such a beautiful, messed up character. While you may not be able to relate to the specifics of her struggle, you will find yourself thinking about the broken pieces of your own life and the journey we all travel towards redemption. In the end I was moved by the revelations and awed by the way Thrasher pulled it off.

I’m sure Travis Thrasher has people in the “biz” constantly telling him to work on his brand, pick a genre, blah, blah, blah, etc. I applaud him for following his heart and pouring himself into every line, no matter where his books may be sorted on the shelves. If you long for memorable characters and stories that captivate then you can’t go wrong with Travis Thrasher.

Review copy provided by Faith Words.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Puffin Books

Publication Date: 2008

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Mibs Beaumont anxiously anticipates her thirteenth birthday—the day when the Beaumont children each discover their “savvy”, a special power of supernatural origin. She wonders what her savvy will be and if it will be as powerful a gift as that of her older brothers.  But then her father sustains terrible injuries in a car accident and slips into a coma. As the Beaumont children cope with this terrible news, Mibs’ birthday arrives, and with it, her savvy. Determined to help Poppa with her new gift, Mibs boards a Bible-seller’s pink bus and sets out to reach the hospital. Unfortunately, the bus driver, the cops and new discoveries about her savvy thwart her efforts. Will she reach her father before it’s too late?

The Newbery Honor-winning Savvy by Ingrid Law is a sweet, coming-of-age tale with a magical twist. Lively language makes Mibs a charming young lady for whom readers intuitively root. The savvy serves as a unique device to hook the reader, but Mibs’ story really revolves around complications with friends, rivals, family and boys. This combination powerfully engages readers with the miraculous and holds them with realism.

The first half of the book is stronger than the second, but readers barely notice as they find themselves involved with Law’s vividly endearing characters. Savvy is a refreshingly pro-family read without preachy or didactic overtones.

Review copy provided by Puffin Books.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

With Percy Jackson’s Rick Riordan presiding over the story arch of the Scholastic-born series The 39 Clues, things had to be good. And they have been. With seven books released (the eighth arriving in a few days), a huge online marketing campaign, collectible cards, and a feature movie to release under the direction of Steven Spielberg, what else could there be to do with the series? That’s where the new Agent Handbook comes in.

Building on the success of the books, the Agent Handbook compiles a lot of the basic information together into one handy volume. Complete with character profiles, Cahill branch descriptions, letter-head for forging notes, and other tidbits, this book becomes something a dedicated fan of The 39 Clues will want to have on the shelf. Main characters are described in detail, giving interesting facts about what family branch they come from, their greatest weaknesses and strengths on the hunt for the clues, and some notes along the bottom that are definitely going to reveal a few hidden things about the series. In some places, journal entries and photographs of various clue hunters are included, providing some unique insight into such people as the Holts, the Kabras, and the Wizards.

Much of the space of the book is taken from blank pages where readers can journal their own secrets from the clue hunt, as well as letterhead from each family branch that can be removed from the book. A back section contains pages of codes and some hidden messages, that once deciphered, will give readers some exciting hints they may have missed all along. And then, some of the greatest surprises come from the very end, where the books are listed out – all ten of them – and include some special secrets about each title, as well as the upcoming three. Unfortunately, book ten is still under high classification, so we can’t see everything, but some of the facts regarding books eight and nine (still to be released) do provide a few shocks.

Finally, there is a section to keep track of which cards readers have collected from The 39 Clues Card Packs. And true to form… scribbled notes around certain cards give hints as to which ones might just give more information about Dan and Amy’s parents, what lies at the end of the clue hunt, and Madrigal secrets.

While this one may seem rather useless to people just coming into the books, long-time and newer fans of The 39 Clues will definitely enjoy the Agent Handbook, and will spend some time trying to crack the codes and secrets scattered throughout. And they might just discover something very revealing about the mysteries surrounding the Cahill family secret.

Genre: Women’s Literature

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

Billie Waits is accustomed to hardship. She provides for herself and her severely-handicapped daughter on the paltry, but faithful, monthly checks from her estranged husband, Porter. But one month, the mailbox remains empty and Billie grows worried. She suspects foul play, but her attempt at an investigation hits a fast dead end.

In the midst of her upheaval Billie learns that her flawless older sister Margaret has condescended to leave the big city and spend a summer on their father’s farm. Billie senses something is awry since her sister has only made brief appearances there for several years. But amidst the sweltering afternoons of canning produce with their family friends, Mamie and Emerita, Billie learns that everyone, even Margaret and Porter, endures some kind of hurt.

As a caretaker and relative of a severely-handicapped individual, I appreciated Patricia Sprinkle’s realistic portrayal of the joy and full-time responsibility that comes with caring for disabled children. Hold up the Sky includes some sexuality between an unmarried man and woman, which may bother some readers, but the author handles it tastefully and the characters are refreshingly repentant.

Sprinkle is a best-selling author, most well known for her Thoroughly Southern Mysteries, although Hold up the Sky, certainly has elements of mystery, it’s only part of the primary story line. I certainly couldn’t tell she was treading new ground. This book provides a thoroughly enjoyable and endearing story told in a pleasant and easygoing style. What a pleasure to read!

Review copy provided by Penguin Books.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Dan Mercer has been caught. Reporter Wendy Tynes has just nailed him on national TV with her Caught in the Act program, as Dan shows up at a home to meet an underage girl he met online. Dan and those who know and love him plead his innocence, but incriminating evidence found in his home and on his computer claim otherwise. Before Dan’s case can go to court, a vigilante takes Dan’s life in front of Wendy’s eyes, and despite her eyewitness account, the authorities can’t find any evidence to support her claims.  An accused pedophile is put down, a killer goes free, and everyone is happy.

Everyone except for Wendy, that is. As much as she longs for justice in this case, she is appalled at the way it was carried out. As she does her own digging into the case she gets caught up in an investigation of a missing girl from her son’s school. Pieces slowly fall into place, linking both cases, and the truth that Wendy uncovers is more shocking than she could have imagined.

Harlan Coben continues to soar with his latest suburban thriller. Coben has become a master of taking the familiar comforts and perceptions of suburbia, and turning them on their head to reveal the very real fears and dangers that reside there. Caught isn’t so much a story about internet predators as it is a story about families and community responding to tragedy. As we get glimpses into how different characters are dealing with their own troubles, Coben takes us on an intriguing journey full of the mystery and suspense that he is known for.

I’ve always felt Coben’s greatest strength is his characters, and we get a lot of them here.  Authors often make the mistake of bringing too many characters into a plot, but when placed in the hands of a master storyteller like Coben, this technique only enhances the story. I have no doubt fans will be clamoring for more Wendy Tynes after this story, and rightly so. Her strength coupled with her broken past will easily draw readers in. Coben even has a bit of fun with a middle aged white rapper named Ten-A-Fly that readers will either love or love to hate. In true Coben fashion, we have some fun cameos from former characters including the always fascinating Win.

There are a lot of moving parts here, but Coben easily keeps the story woven tightly and part of the fun is knowing Coben will somehow tie it all together in the end. The twists serve their purpose, but by no means are they mind blowing. Nor do I think were they meant to be. I was moved by the final reveal, not for the clever way it was packaged, but for the emotional impact that tied all the threads together. Harlan Coben not only tells great stories, but he gets into the hearts and minds of his readers. That’s what separates this guy from the pack and the reason he is at the top of my list.

Review copy provided by Dutton.

Genre: Suspense/Fantasy

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

I am cold …I am not an angel, nor am I demon … I am a Drifter, something God created in his spare time and then forgot on the fringes of reality …Do  you see me?

Drift is the story of two lost souls. One is the adopted daughter of a Mafia enforcer kept more as pet than person. The other is a being so disconnected from time and substance he exists only to be tethered to someone, anyone, more real than he himself is. In some cruel form of control Baby Doll has never been told her real name, though she has begged to be told since a little girl. And on the day, as a young woman, Baby Doll attends the funeral of the man who held her virtual prisoner her entire life everything is changed by those four haunting words, “Do you see me?”

Baby Doll sees a young man whom she can only think to name, Boy. The story he tells her is as fantastic to her as it will be to the reader. Boy has no idea what he is or how long he has existed. His life gains substance only as he remains tethered to one person. Only the person who he becomes attached to can see him and there is no guarantee how long the connection will stay intact. To tell anymore more of the story would be an injustice to both the author and the reader.

At first glance, Drift is a fantasy or perhaps an allegory. Admittedly the concept may at first scare some readers off (it almost did me). But, give yourself half a chance and you will find yourself drawn into as intense a story of redemption as fiction can offer. Boy serves as a surreal picture of what it means to feel invisible as so many people in our culture do. Baby Doll is his alter ego: wealthy, well groomed, well educated, and just as much without substance. In the end, Drift is about discovering our reason for existence.

Baby Doll watched the city roll by outside her window and found herself humming. It was an old song, a church song that told a story about a man who found a pearl and then sold everything he had just to buy it. She couldn’t remember all the words, but she wondered if she was more like that man in the song, or more like the pearl. Part of her desperately hoped to be both.

For those who don’t know, the author, Sharon Carter Rogers, is as much an enigma as Boy and Baby Doll. Ever since her earlier novels, Sinner and Unpretty, first appeared readers have been trying to figure out who Sharon is but even the publisher offers little help. Whatever her true identity, she writes in prose that literally bleed with raw emotion. Sometimes it seems as though the writer herself is whispering along with Boy, “Do you see me?”

Review copy provided by Howard Books.

#1 NY Times Bestselling Author David Baldacci joins Jake Chism and Josh Olds to discuss his new novel, Deliver Us from Evil. Listen in as David shares the story behind the novel, the details on the enhanced eBook edition, as well as some news on upcoming books and films. A special thanks to Miriam Parker at Hachette Book Group for setting up this interview.

More about David Baldacci:

David Baldacci was born in Virginia, in 1960, where he currently resides. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Mr. Baldacci practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C., as both a trial and corporate attorney.

David Baldacci has published seventeen novels: Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner, The Simple Truth, Saving Faith, Wish You Well, Last Man Standing, The Christmas Train, Split Second, Hour Game, The Camel Club, The Collectors, Simple Genius, Stone Cold, The Whole Truth, Divine Justice, and First Family; and in his young adult series, Freddy and the French Fries: Fries Alive! and Freddy and the French Fries: The Adventures of Silas Finklebean. He has also published a novella for the Dutch entitled Office Hours, written for Holland’s Year 2000 “Month of the Thriller.” Baldacci authored a short story, “The Mighty Johns,” as part of a mystery anthology published in 2002.

His works have been in numerous worldwide magazines, newspapers, journals, and publications. Baldacci has authored seven original screenplays. His books have been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries. All of his books have been national and international bestsellers. Over 90 million copies of Mr. Baldacci’s books are in print worldwide.

Check out our reviews of Deliver Us from Evil here.

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Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Four years after the first Gatekeepers novel released, Anthony Horowitz returns to his sometimes fantasy, sometimes science fiction, sometimes horror series for young adults. It’s been a wait for fans of the books, but now Horowitz delivers the next chapter in this thrilling series with astounding pacing, plotting, and a finish that ranks among his absolute best.

The story continues during events that take place in Nightrise, book three. Things open up with Scarlett Adams, living in England and enjoying a relatively simple life until she stumbles through a doorway in St. Meredith’s Church. Transported far from home, Scarlett faces a nightmare: there are men after her and she doesn’t know why. All she does know is that they want her alive. Soon everything spins out of control: Scarlett’s family is breaking, her life is falling apart, the people around her are dying, and her own will is about to smashed to pieces. Unless Matthew Freeman and the other three gatekeepers can rescue her in time…

Necropolis was a huge undertaking, and it’s easy to see why Horowitz waited so long to piece things together for its release. From Peru to England to Hong Kong to Macao and Miami, the story flies the characters all over the map. Horowitz takes a few cues from his horror stories in this one, and really ratcheted up the gore level. A few scenes definitely made me squirm, and other places I was breathless, flipping page after page to see what would happen. His action scenes shine brightly here, and even rival some of his Alex Rider books. Horowitz also seemed to try and make the evil creatures a little more frightening than before. In books two and three when the Old Ones are revealed, they were more comical than terrifying. But in Necropolis, things take a dark, dark turn as the evil seems much more sinister than ever before.

Some sections did plod a bit, such as when Scarlett first arrives in Hong Kong. For about the first fifth of the book, Scarlett’s point of view takes over, but then things switch up and start bouncing between Scarlett and Matthew, the main character in two of the previous books (Raven’s Gate and Evil Star). And Horowitz even experiments with journal entries from Matthew’s perspective. The journal sections did jump from the flow of the story, but they worked to give us an inside view of Matthew’s thoughts about the things happening all around him. The suspense does build, sometimes too slowly, but the final climax blew away almost every other ending Horowitz has done so far. The final chapter is so perfectly executed and left on such a perfect cliff hanger that I couldn’t help but sit quietly in awe after I had turned the last page.

While this book might be just a bit too gory and violent for some readers, fans of Horowitz’ previous novels and of The Gatekeepers series will definitely enjoy this penultimate book before the final saga of Matthew Freeman and the Power of the Five.

Listen in as novelists Travis Thrasher and Sigmund Brouwer answer your questions about the writing craft.

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Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Charlie West wakes up one day and a year of his life is gone. Mysterious thugs are after him and the police want him for the murder of his friend, Alex. As Charlie tries to makes sense of it all, he discovers he is in the middle of a major terrorist plot and he has no idea how he got involved. Reluctantly, Charlie decides to go to the only place where he might find some answers: home.

Andrew Klavan has more than left his mark on the adult thriller genre, but with this fresh new Young Adult series he is quickly proving what a multi-talented storyteller he is. While The Last Thing I Remember hooked me with it’s breakneck pace and tension, The Long Way Home has captured my imagination with the strong character development and themes of friendship and heroism that Klavan explores. The real heroes of this story are Charlie’s friends, who never doubted him and are ready to do whatever it takes to clear his name. I found much more character depth here than I anticipated and it made the book that much better. Never fear, though. Fans who are looking forward to the action and intrigue will find plenty here to cheer about.

With two more books to go in The Homelanders series, I find myself anxiously waiting what Klavan has up his sleeves. I’m buying everything Klavan is selling, from the excellent first person narrative, to the gut punching action; to the perfect doses of humor and wit…it’s all working for me.

With top notch series like The Dreamhouse Kings and The Homelanders, Thomas Nelson is blazing one heck of a trail in the Young Adult market. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Don’t miss our interview with Andrew Klavan!

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Jake Chism sits down with NY Times Bestselling novelist Eric Wilson to discuss his latest release, Valley of Bones. Listen in as they talk about the bittersweet ending of a series, the future for Eric, and other writers to look out for.

More about Eric Wilson:

Eric Wilson credits his childhood as a missionary kid in Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia, for his becoming a novelist. He grew to love language and the arts. In high school, he added basketball and track and field to his interests.

After graduating from college, Eric was encouraged by his wife to “write what was in his heart.” He penned a pair of supernatural thrillers, Dark to Mortal Eyes (2004) and Expiration Date (2005). He followed these with two Aramis Black mysteries, The Best of Evil (2006) and A Shred of Truth (2007). He’s recently done novelizations for the surprise theatrical hits, Facing the Giants, Flywheel, and Fireproof, which was on the NY Times best-seller list for seventeen weeks and sold 250,000 copies.

His most recent project is the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy. The first book, Field of Blood (’08) was followed by Haunt of Jackals (’09), with the finale Valley of Bones coming in April 2010.

Eric has worked as a youth pastor, warehouse manager, cabinet maker, espresso shop owner–and now, at last, a novelist. He and his wife, Carolyn Rose, have been married nearly twenty years and live with their two teenaged daughters in Nashville, TN.

Websites: WilsonWriter.com and JerusalemsUndead.com

Don’t miss our review of Valley of Bones and our autographed giveaway.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

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Genre: Literary

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Released: February 2010

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever by Justin Taylor comprises fifteen stories of love, loss, and longing. While Taylor’s precocious talent is unquestionable, this collection ultimately feels as purposeless as the characters it portrays.

The stories in the collection address different aspects of young adult life—first love, feelings of being trapped in a place, trying to fit in, leaving the parents’ faith, “finding yourself,” etc. The stories are more descriptions, vignettes, sketches than fleshed-out stories. Readers looking for a driving plot are best served looking elsewhere (though this in itself is not a criticism). The hardest thing to handle in these stories for me is that the characters are static, starting and finishing in roughly the same place with no growth. (Perhaps this is how the author views adolescence, as a state of indefinite limbo until someone or something drags you out.)

For example, “In My Heart I Am Already Gone” starts with Kyle not liking living at home, and his relationship with his girlfriend, Sara, is “we date and we break up and date, and there have been others, for both of us . . . but as the years have moved our old friends away, married them off, or put them in their graves, our rediscoveries have lasted longer and longer.” They stay with each other mostly out of habit, even though they don’t seem to care for each other. The world moves around them, but they are stuck. The story’s conclusion finds Kyle in the exact same place, saying, “I will never escape this town.” While this stasis can be an effective storytelling technique occasionally (even the decision to stay the same or surrender is still a decision, an act of will), it loses its power with continual use.

Malaise and angst pervade the entire book. I found that this is best illustrated by an ambiguous statement Rose, the narrator in “Weekend Away,” makes: “Every day of your life is getting something you never asked for.” This sentence, obviously, can be taken multiple ways. One doesn’t ask to be born; every day is a gift, something to be celebrated. Rose, however—and most other characters in this collection—see this on the other side. “I can never have what I really want”; every day is an affliction, something to be endured. Since you can never have what you really want, why not snatch what happiness you can get? Thus, the characters behave more like wanton children than adults. They are self-centered, unfaithful, and unconcerned with the consequences of their actions. They exploit sexual relationships and drugs (both graphically described), only thinking of themselves. Their lives seem purposeless and empty, and it leaves the reader feeling that way, too.  The characters imagine that getting out of their current situation will change their lives; they don’t realize that the problem may not be their environment, but themselves and their own selfishness.

That Taylor’s writing is so promising makes the emptiness of the collection that much harder to bear. Style is an important factor for me, but especially in a literary collection like this one, where plot is not the driving force, there needs to be substance as well. As it is, the collection feels much like the list of the Abu Ghraib tortures that the narrator makes in “Jewels Flashing in the Light of Time”—a catalogue of vices designed for mere titillation. These vices, like the characters, are well described, but they lack a guiding principle, an insight that tells us why we should care. Taylor is very good at writing the sentences, not so with the paragraphs.

Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever does have its high points and will certainly connect with “unmoored” twenty-somethings like the characters in these stories, and Taylor is certainly a writer to watch with interest. But as for me, I think I’ll wait until he has something to say before I read anything else he writes.

Review copy provided by Harper Perennial

Bestselling novelist Andrew Klavan joins us to discuss his new novel, The Long Way Home, Book 2 of The Homelanders series.

More about Andrew Klavan:

Andrew Klavan is the author of such internationally bestselling novels as True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Don’t Say A Word, filmed starring Michael Douglas.  He has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award five times and has won twice.  His books have been translated around the world.  His latest novel for adults, Empire of Lies, was about media bias in the age of terror, and topped Amazon.com’s thriller list.  He has also begun publishing a series of thrillers for young adults, The Homelanders, which follows a patriotic teenager’s battle against jihadists.  The latest book in the series is The Long Way Home.

Andrew is a contributing editor to City Journal, the magazine of the Manhattan Institute.  His essays and op-eds on politics, religion, movies and literature have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Washington Post, the LA Times, and elsewhere.  His video feature, “Klavan on the Culture,” can be found at PJTV.com.

As a screenwriter, Andrew wrote the screenplay to A Shock to the System, which starred Michael Caine, and to 2008’s One Missed Call, which stars Ed Burns and Shannyn Sossamon.  You can visit him online at www.andrewklavan.com.

Check out our review of The Long Way Home.

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

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Genre: Graphic Novel, Historical

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Released: September 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth is a fictional retelling of the life of mathematician, logician, and philosopher Bertrand Russell and his quest to discover the foundational underpinnings of mathematics. A book about a mathematical quest may not sound appealing and certainly not deserving of the word “epic” in its subtitle. But Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos H. Papadimitriou, using the graphic novel format, have successfully created an engaging, clever, and ultimately satisfying foray into the world of logic and math that should keep readers engrossed even after they’ve finished it.

The book opens with author Apostolos addressing the reader directly, explaining what he’s hoping to accomplish in a book he’s working on concerning the quest for the foundation of mathematics. He wants to tell a good story whose heroes happen to be mathematicians and logicians, but in order to tell it well, he consults with a computer scientist friend of his, Christos, who can explain the deeper mathematical subjects as they arise in the writing. Apostolos and Christos meet in the studio where the artists are working on the preliminary sketches for this book, and Apostolos relates to Christos the story that Logicomix will tell. This is the first frame of the story: a group of friends in modern-day Greece telling the story of Bertrand Russell’s quest for the foundations of mathematics to each other.

The story Apostolos tells begins with Bertrand Russell in the United States in 1939, three days after Hitler invaded Poland, soon to give a lecture on the role of logic in human affairs. Russell is intercepted on his way to the lecture hall by a group of American anti-militarists who want Russell to rally others to their cause: keeping the United States out of World War II. Russell gives his lecture as planned, inviting these people to hear him. This is the second frame: Bertrand Russell tells a group of Americans his story to help them make decisions regarding World War II.

Russell’s story begins in childhood and ends at the Americans’ decision point. He relates how his childhood was filled with uncertainty, and mathematics provided the only stable grounding for his life, at one point even saving him from suicide. Discovering that there are portions of mathematics that even mathematicians accepted on faith, Russell devotes his life to establishing with certainty the roots of math. The story follows him through both his personal and academic life as he begrudgingly realizes that things in the real world do not always have a rational explanation.

While the discussions in Logicomix focus on sometimes heady subjects, the frames in this story provide a way for the authors to explain the concepts to the uninitiated. (As I mentioned before, Russell’s story—and the story of mathematics—is told among friends, who are not shy in interrupting the narrative when a concept doesn’t make sense to them. There is a “Notebook” section as well, which follows the story and provides additional information on key players and ideas in the quest.) By telling the story in frames, the authors are also able simultaneously to show the real-world implications of what Russell relates in his own tale and to explore the themes of logic and madness, belief and certainty, and temperance in all things in a variety of contexts that might not be possible in a straightforward narrative style.

Even if the story in Logicomix were not interesting, the book’s art would make it worth reading. Logicomix is a true graphic novel. The drawings are not just illustrations; they help to tell the story. In one place, for example, when young Bertrand Russell is learning Greek, the authors use different letterings for Russell and for his teacher to show their varying mastery over the language. Because the full-color art, beautifully rendered, does part of the storytelling, Logicomix is not overrun with bulky text. Even though the subject matter is harder to digest than some other graphic novel fare, this balance between pictures and words helps it avoid getting bogged down.

Logicomix presents foundational ideas of logic and math in a reader-friendly way that is both informative and enjoyable. Readers who like their fiction unencumbered by detailed (sometimes technical) discussions may prefer to look elsewhere for their next fix, but for readers who have an interest in philosophy, graphic novels, or just interesting and clever storytelling, Doxiadis and Papadimitriou’s book is the logical choice.

Review copy provided by Bloomsbury USA

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Time George

Natalie Sinclair went to the Republic of Dhambizao to find ways to bring healing to the African country but what she finds is a sickness far more devastating and insidious than Ebola or Malaria. Just five days before national elections, which hope to prove peaceful, Natalie meets Joseph Komboli. The young man tells her a horrifying story of “Ghost Soldiers” that raided his village and took his family away to work as slaves in the mineral mines. Somewhere near that village is the proof, a camera he used to record an evil everyone from high government officials to humanitarian workers refuse to admit even exists. Soon Natalie, Joseph, and Dr. Chad Talcott find themselves in a race for their lives to prove what no one wants to believe.

Though better known for her cozy mysteries and light romance, author Lisa Harris moves to new ground in this the first of her Mission Hope Series. Sure, there’s a budding romance and the usual relational issues one might expect from Lisa’s writing but that is where the similarities between her previous works and Blood Ransom end. Human trafficking and modern day slavery is real and too often either ignored or glossed over. Through the medium of fiction and suspense we are immersed in a world that unfortunately is far from fiction. The author is a missionary in Mozambique and it is obvious she knows what she is talking about. There is nothing cozy or romantic about a people abused by their own government and exploited by the greed of those they will never see face to face. Blood Ransom is about slavery but it focuses more on those who need to be convinced rather than those who are actually suffering. We see little of the plight of Joseph’s family mining for precious metals so we can have cheap cell phones in the Western world. Instead, the author focuses on the difficulties involved in proving such atrocities are real and in finding anyone who cares. But there is hope in this story. Good men like Dr. Talcott do exist and others who have become callous and cynical can still have their hearts pricked.

This is an excellent first suspense novel for a seasoned romance writer. The pacing is good and we are swept along with the main characters in their desperate attempt at shining the light on a great darkness. While the ending is bit rushed, all in all Lisa Harris had done a great job of telling a good story while at the same time dealing with a difficult topic. That balancing act is seldom accomplished with great success and this novel is an exception to the rule. We look forward, as this series continues, to the hope this author shines on her beloved continent and the people that live, love, and suffer there.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.