Fiction Addict

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Viking

Publication Date:  May 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Twelve-year-old Nora is sent from London by her mother to live as an evacuee in the countryside of Kent.  Upset at being abandoned, she decides that she hates her mother.  At Kent, in the “round up,” Nora is chosen by a pastor and his family to live with them.  She is elated that they have a daughter, Grace, who is Nora’s age.  She loves the countryside and all it has to offer: clean air, places to play, food, daily home-school lessons from Reverend Rivers, and, most of all, people who love her.  After a while, however, Nora notices that Reverend Rivers spends all of his days at the church and Mrs. Rivers locks herself into the music room, where she plays the piano over and over and over.  Left to their own devices, Nora and Grace spend their days reading, swimming, exploring, and just enjoying life.  As they grow into their teens, however, Nora is guilt-ridden because she starts to have romantic feelings toward Grace.  She never acts upon them, however, but instead hides them and is consumed by guilt.

The story is told alternately from Nora as a young girl and Nora as a cancer-stricken, older woman who tells her story to the young, single, homeless mother who lives across the street from her.  She invites the young woman to live with her and as their lives intertwine, she shares some of her deepest, darkest secrets.

From the way this book is described, one would think it has to do with the guilt and conflicts one feels as a lesbian in the early 1940s.  While this is certainly a point of the story, it mostly revolves around the coming-of-age moments that shape Nora’s life.  It is more about loving someone so deeply and honestly than about a sexual preference.  It shows the wonderful bonds of friendship and how those bonds hold no matter what.  Nora demonstrates just how strong those bonds can be.

The book is well-written and told in a very honest voice.  The reader sees the good and the bad of people, and how others react to such behaviors.  The story is immediately captivating and heartwarming while moving along at a good pace.  As each chapter ends, the reader is left eager to continue to the next one.  It’s definitely a bittersweet story.

There really isn’t any foul language in the story, as Nora is sheltered quite a bit by a religious family.  Even later, when she is living in London, there is rarely any swearing.  Sex is implied in both a young girl’s pregnancy and the abundance of hookers standing in doorways of the London streets, but there are no graphic scenes to cause discomfort.  There is one scene in which a young lady has an abortion, and subsequently bleeds out, and that can be uncomfortable for the reader, especially one who does not want to read about abortions.  It deals with many adult themes and should not be read by children.   Otherwise, the book is fairly innocuous.  Days of Grace is an interesting, bittersweet book that makes for a fairly quick read.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Patrick Davis had it all—a beautiful wife, a Hollywood home, and a screenplay that was picked up by a major studio and made into a movie with an up-and-coming star. But just when he’s seemingly poised on the brink of serious success, he’s suddenly on the verge of losing everything. With his marriage on the rocks, his career in jeopardy, and a six-figure lawsuit pending against him, his formerly storybook existence has turned into a horror movie. When he starts getting DVDs showing footage of him going about his daily life, he’s at first confused, then alarmed, then angry. Patrick’s entire life is being meticulously scrutinized. But why?

Then the phone calls begin. And the e-mails. And then the demands. Whoever is watching Patrick knows everything about him—what he does, where he goes, whom he talks to. He can’t go to the police, and he has no choice but to do what is asked. But when the true intentions of his stalkers finally come to light, Patrick will have to decide whether to give up or fight back. In the process, he will learn what his true priorities are and how to value what really matters most.

They’re Watching is a tightly constructed thriller. Author Gregg Hurwitz spins out the suspense in the first-person narrative little by little until the tension is so high there’s nothing to be done but stay up all night and finish the book. The plot manages to avoid being formulaic while still giving readers the twists and turns they expect. The author is to be commended for telling a great story full of intrigue, betrayal, and high stakes without resorting to the graphic sensuality and violence adopted by many of his peers. Utterly entertaining, They’re Watching is an ideal escape for mystery/thriller aficionados. With sympathetic characters, great pacing, and superb writing, this book should easily secure Hurwitz’s place among today’s premier writers in this genre.

Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Publication Date:  June 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Jasmine Bush is devastated when her four-year-old daughter, Jackie, is missing at the mall while Christmas shopping.  Jasmine immediately contacts the authorities and waits, and waits…  She is concerned that her less than desirable past has caught up to her and someone from that past has stolen her child.  She contacts her ex-lover, Brian, who is Jackie’s father, for support instead of leaning on her husband, Hosea, to draw strength.  In the midst of all this, Brian is trying to repair his broken marriage to Alexis, and while he feels the need to comfort his daughter’s mother, he is stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Hosea, the pastor at one of New York’s largest churches, gathers friends and family and anyone who will help for assistance in finding their little girl.  Everyone uses the power of prayer.

Sins of the Mother shows just how difficult life can be sometimes.  It shows just how deeply grief can affect us and make us do things we wouldn’t normally do.  We turn to the wrong people and don’t turn to the right ones.  We act irrationally and with a great deal of emotion.  We question every move we make.

While not as intriguing as it could be, Sins of the Mother shows that when the going gets tough, it’s best to make an effort and rely on God’s strength.  It gives the message that there is hope no matter what, and that people must have faith.  For all the conflicts in this story, there are some quick resolutions that don’t quite follow real life.  Yes, this is fiction, but the book seems to rely too much on creating a lot of obstacles and then, at the last minute, wrap everything up neatly.  There isn’t always a happy ending.

Sins of the Mother uses a religious theme quite a bit throughout the story, and it shows characters trying to follow the Word.  For the most part, therefore, there is little swearing; however, there are several sexual scenes that describe the act in great detail.  Readers not interested in that aspect of the storyline should be aware of those scenes.

The book jacket is meant to entice someone into reading this book, and in this case it did, but the book fell flat and just did not promise the fascinating reading it promised.  It was hard to tell if it really was a Christian book, or a romance novel disguised as a Christian book.  For anyone wanting a quick and easy read, however, it would be adequate.

Review copy provided by Simon and Schuster.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Publishing Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

“After retiring, you’ve been like an unemployed barber who shaves his cat for want of anything better to do,” Mrs. Ali chides her husband, a retired government clerk. Mr. Ali agrees and so he begins a matchmaking business to occupy his time.

Much to the couple’s surprise, the marriage bureau soon represents clients all throughout their region of Southern India. The now busy marriage bureau irks Mrs. Ali. The phone rings constantly and a steady stream of strangers parade through her front yard, demanding Mr. Ali’s constant attention.

After a few disheartening interviews for a potential assistant, Mrs. Ali wagers with her husband. If she can find a suitable assistant, he’ll treat her to a nice dinner out. In short order Mrs. Ali finds the level-headed Aruna, who possesses her own talent for matchmaking. Sadly, Aruna plans no matches in her own future because her family can’t afford a dowry; or a wedding. But fate tosses Aruna and the Ali family a few surprises.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People brightened several rainy afternoons in my summer. I thoroughly enjoyed the humorous and true-to-life people, the twists and turns of the plot and the exotic details of life in Southern India. As an American, I appreciated the author’s brief, non-intrusive explanations of Indian culture. The story resembled a Jane Austen tale set in the east but and generously sprinkled with humor.

Farahad Zama’s first novel, The Marriage Bureau for Rich People won the Melissa Nathan award for Comedy Romance. I recommend this book for people who love sweet romance and fun, lighthearted stories.

Review copy provided by Berkley.

If you haven’t been reading Steven James, then you are certainly missing out on some of the best thrillers out there. Recently, Jake Chism caught up with the author to discuss the latest release, The Bishop, as well as future book and TV news. Enjoy!

You can read our review of The Bishop here.

More about Steven James:

Steven James is one of the nation’s most innovative storytellers and a bestselling author. He has written more than twenty books and is a full-time speaker, having appeared more than 1,500 times throughout North America, Europe and Asia since 1996.

His first two thrillers, The Pawn and The Rook were both top ten CBA fiction bestsellers and were finalists for the 2008 and 2009 Christy Awards as best suspense. The Knight was selected by Suspense Magazine as one of the top 10 thrillers of 2009.

James has had many outlets for his creativity. He holds a Master of Arts in Storytelling. In 1997, when he completed this degree, he was one of only a hundred people in the world with such a degree.

For years, James has focused on crafting nonfiction books that explore and broaden the connections of story, imagination, and Christian spirituality. He has recently contracted several more titles with Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. His recent nonfiction books include A Heart Exposed and the critically-acclaimed Story: Recapture the Mystery, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. He has been honored with six national awards for his writing and storytelling, including a nomination for an ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award.

In addition to his books, James has written hundreds of articles and stories that have appeared in over eighty different magazines and publications, including Writer’s Digest and Guideposts for Teens.

James lives and writes in eastern Tennessee near the town of Jonesborough, the heart of the modern storytelling revival. He likes rock climbing and science fiction movies. When he’s not writing or speaking, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Romance

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Dates: June 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

In the middle of a very quiet out of the way beach in North Carolina, there’s a mailbox. It doesn’t stand in front of a house or a condo. It’s literally in the middle of the sand and its labeled “Kindred Spirit.” This mailbox is the centerpiece for Marybeth Whalen’s first venture into the world of fiction, appropriately titled The Mailbox.

Lindsay Adams was introduced to the mailbox by her first love, Campbell, when they were teenagers. Lindsay poured out her heart in a special letter to the ‘kindred spirit’ that first year and she was hooked. After that, she made sure to make a trip to the mailbox to share everything that had happened in her life in the past year. Even after Campbell made a decision that shattered both of their hearts and caused them to take different paths in life, Lindsay stayed faithful to her mailbox tradition.

Now, years later, Lindsay is back at Sunset Beach with her children. She’ll be spending some significant time at her family’s beach house while she tries to work her way through her husband’s unfaithfulness and her divorce. She knows it won’t be easy, but Sunset Beach has always carried a very special place in her heart. So what happens when she finds out that Campbell is still living there and that he, too, is divorced? Will the old feelings come back? And who is the Kindred Spirit that’s been reading all of her letters all of these long years? Will that revelation make a difference?

Marybeth Whalen’s venture into fiction is an emotional journey with relatable characters and realistic dialogue.  As Lindsay tries to figure out her part in the divorce and who she is now, the emotions she goes through are real and painful at times. Being a mother of two kids doesn’t help. Whalen examines the affects of divorce not only on the kids but on each of the people involved. She also deftly explores the dangers of letting your thoughts and emotions wander and the value of trust in relationships.

Lindsay’s growth through this process isn’t an easy journey, but Whalen handles the difficult topics with ease and encouragement toward God in tough situations that we don’t always understand.  She also takes us back to what it was like to be a teenager in the 80’s and what it’s like to see those same people now, decades later. Especially when there are mistakes or hurt in the past twenty years. Who doesn’t have some sort of issues in their past that they need to deal with at some point? Campbell and Lindsay need to work out their issues of the past while trying to figure out how they can get a fresh start.

The Mailbox is a perfect summer or vacation read. With moments of lightness and comedy, memories of the 80’s permeate this emotional yet delightful tale of love lost and found and a mailbox in the middle of nowhere.

Review copy provided by David C. Cook.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Center Street

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“Happiness is a gift that shines within you. The wish of your heart will soon come true.”

Sophie Jones reads these words in her fortune cookie minutes before her world shatters. A tragic car accident leaves the nine-year-old to face life and its misfortunes alone. While she holds a bleak outlook, Sophie doesn’t let that keep her from moving forward. As a grown woman, she owns a chocolate shop where the top sellers are her Misfortune Cookies. Dipped in bitter chocolate and containing a message of gloom she handwrites every day, they are a “treat” inspired by her latest tragedy — Garrett Black.

Garrett Black made Sophie believes that maybe, just maybe, happiness could exist for her. He turns out to be her biggest heartbreak yet when days before the wedding he walks out without so much as an explanation.

Garrett returns begging for a chance to explain why he left. Refusing to be hurt again, Sophie proposes a bet he cannot win. He must put an ad in the paper that says, “Wanted: Happiness.”  If one hundred people reply with something that isn’t fleeting or temporary she will go out with him on one date, otherwise Garrett must leave her alone.

What starts out as something innocent quickly spirals out of control when a reporter sees the ad and runs it on the evening news. Soon letters stream in by the hundreds and Sophie finds avoiding Garrett harder than she imagined.

Sweet Misfortune by Kevin Alan Milne provides a fun and light read that keeps the reader hooked. I greatly enjoyed this book, so much so that I didn’t set it down until I finished. Kevin Alan Milne will prove to suspicious readers that men can write fun, sassy romances. While Sophie’s life overflows with heartbreak, the story never bogs down with sadness. On the contrary, it remains light and optimistic even though the main character is a “the-glass-is-half-empty” kind of girl. Following the main theme, each chapter opens with a fun misfortune that I often felt compelled to share with others.

Sweet Misfortune frequently elicited laughter and now proudly perches on “My Favorites” list. I definitely will read this story again—very soon! I wish I could find more books that left me as happy as this one. If you like romances, you cannot miss this novel.

Review copy provided by Center Street.

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Viking Adult

Publication Date:  July 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Rose Daley ran off to England and married that good for nothing Frank Mackey. She was never heard from again. At least that’s what everyone thought. Everyone except Frank Mackey. He knew that Rose Daley hadn’t married him. When she never showed up on the night they were supposed to run away, he figured that she’d finally realized he wasn’t the right man for her and that she’d left. No one knew any different until her suitcase was discovered over twenty years later. Then everyone wondered what happened to Rose Daley.

Frank Mackey, now a detective, walks the razor’s edge as he tries to figure out how to juggle a completely dysfunctional family that he left behind twenty years ago and his current position as a cop. He needs to stay out of the case at the same time he’s pretty much the core of the entire thing.

Mackey’s family is more than dysfunctional. It’s painful, agonizing and yet, because we see them through Mackey’s eyes, completely ordinary. Someone who has grown up in an abusive home knows nothing other than that abuse and French captures this idea with painful clarity. Mackey doesn’t spend hours bemoaning his circumstances or seeking counseling. It’s what is and there’s nothing that can be done about it but move through the day. One day at a time.

The world created by French is three dimensional, colorful and brilliant.  At times, the difference between living in Ireland and living in the U.S. made it feel like I was reading a sci-fi novel about a completely different world.  Then again, the shifts back to the 80’s may feel alien to readers who didn’t get to experience them as a teenager. I, for one, really enjoyed remembering the teased hair and jean jackets. (And no matter what my mother says, I was not responsible for any ozone deficiency issues. Even with all that Aqua Net I used.  I’m sure of it.) The moment we find out about Rose’s suitcase, French grabs our hearts like a train’s engine that’s just been snapped on to a transportation car. From that point on, it’s all we can do to hold on tight and keep up with her amazing twists, turns and gut wrenching realizations.

The language used by French in description and creating these characters is absolutely gorgeous. When reading this book, it’s like standing in a museum and getting lost in the finest painting by your favorite artist. Layers upon layers, rich and deep, fill this book and these characters. French writes from the perspective of someone who understands the gritty harsh realities on the street and knows what it takes to survive. As the story unfolds, these layers peel away and show that it’s never just something on the surface or as simple as it appears. The story remains vibrant and almost a living breathing entity itself. The plot twists take your breath away and at times you think to yourself “Why didn’t I see that one coming?” And that’s when you know that there’s so much more below the surface that you have yet to discover.

This book may not be for everyone. It is gritty and there’s some language and descriptions that may not sit well with sensitive readers. All in all, French’s tour through tough Irish neighborhoods and dysfunctional families is a breathtaking ride that is sure to keep you engaged, interested and entertained.

Review copy provided by Viking Adult.

Travis Thrasher is no stranger to our podcast and we recently invited him back on to discuss his new book, Solitary. Listen in as we talk about his first experience in the YA market, his future projects, and the shocking ending to the first book in this new series. SPOILER WARNING!!!

More about Travis Thrasher:

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

This quote from Stephen King’s novella, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, sums up the goal of every single one of Travis Thrasher’s novels: providing hope. As the novelist of twelve works of fiction, Travis has spent a decade fighting against being typecast and labeled.

“It’s a natural thing for novelists to be put into a box,” Travis says. “My goal has always been to tell stories about flawed characters who find redemption, whether it’s in a love story or a supernatural thriller.”

Having lived in places as diverse as Munich, Germany, and Sydney, Australia, during his youth, Travis moved to the Chicago area during his junior year of high school. That’s where he has remained.

After graduating from Trinity Christian College, Travis landed a job at Tyndale House Publishers as Author Relations Manager. He worked for over a decade in that position, acting as liaison between the publisher and the authors. But writing always came first, and Travis was fortunate to have his first novel published in 2000. It was THE PROMISE REMAINS, a sweet love story in the vein of Nicholas Sparks.

“I wrote six or seven dark, ambitious novels that went nowhere,” Travis says. “It was only after writing a simple love story about unrequited love that I got my first break.”

Getting that first book published was a dream come true, but Travis always saw himself having multiple books in print. Travis’s drive and imagination have allowed him to see a variety of books published: from love stories (THE WATERMARK; THREE ROADS HOME) to suspense (GUN LAKE; ADMISSION; BLINDED) to drama (THE SECOND THIEF; SKY BLUE) to supernatural thrillers (ISOLATION; GHOSTWRITER).

“I tell people this is not the way to build a writing career, but I’m thankful I’ve been able to build mine the way I wanted to. I want to entertain and surprise readers, and to continue to build a readership that will take journeys with me, whether they’re going to 1929 Brazil or current day Geneva, Illinois.”

2010 will mark a decade of publishing for Travis. It will also be a significant year with the release of BROKEN by Faithwords in May and SOLITARY by Cook in August.

“I’m excited about these two upcoming stories that will surely surprise and move readers,” Travis says. “BROKEN is about a young woman who is just that—broken and bruised by this world. SOLITARY is the first in a teen series that combines a love story with the supernatural. Both are powerful stories.”

His goal continues to be to tell powerful and moving stories that will reach fiction readers of all types. As a fulltime novelist for over two years, Travis feels he’s still just warming up.

“There are things I learn about the writing process and about myself with every novel. I believe my best stories are still in front of me, waiting to be discovered like a buried treasure. I’m thankful that I’m able to dig a little more every day.”

Travis lives with his wife and three-year-old daughter in a suburb of Chicago.

Don’t miss our podcast review of Solitary and our print reviews.

Beginning August 9th, we’ll be giving away 10 autographed copies of Solitary. Please check back for more info.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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We couldn’t wait to get our hands on Travis Thrasher’s latest, and after devouring Solitary we just had to share our thoughts with the world. Listen in as Jake Chism, Josh Olds, and James Andrew Wilson dissect Travis Thrasher’s first YA novel. The cover art, the first person narrative, and especially the shocking ending…we break it all down for you Fiction Addict podcast style.

SPOILER WARNING!! Please listen to this podcast after you’ve read the book if you do not want the story spoiled. Check out our spoiler free print reviews here.

Beginning August 9th we’ll be giving away 10 autographed copies of the book. Please check back then for more details.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

Review copies of solitary provided by David C. Cook publishers.

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Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Publication Date:  June 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

While shooting a movie in Rome, It-Girl Mercy Talbot is seen climbing a fountain in the city center.  Before she has her chance to slip and fall to her untimely death, Juliette Greyson rescues her and takes her back to her family’s rustic Italian estate.  There Mercy falls in love with the grounds and insists that the rest of the movie be shot there.  Along with her own childish and drug-induced behavior, she brings along with her more self-absorbed actors, neurotic filmers, writers, and producers, and her recovering-addict, former rock star “self-help guru.”  With all these people on the grounds, Juliette and her cousin must deal with murder, mystery, and narcissism, just what they hate.  Julia is at her estate for a break from her own hectic life in the hotel industry of Hollywood, and Mercy brings even more.  Just what everyone needs!

This reader finds The Starlet to be just what it is advertised as being: narcissism, Hollywood-eque, and backstabbing.  There are plenty of drug-induced behaviors to keep readers entertained for a while, and there are even a couple of murders.  HOWEVER, this reader is not interested in the gossipy storylines of People, US Magazine, and such.  The murders don’t seem to flow well, and they are interrupted so many times by immature behaviors that it is hard to follow any mystery or murder.  For readers interested in a quick and fluffy read, this may be for them, but for an honest-to-goodness, get-into-a-good-plot story, it lacks.  If superficial is the way to go, then The Starlet delivers.

As mentioned before, there are a great many scenes in which the characters do drugs.  This is not the gritty, back-alley drug scene; this is glamorizing drug use to the highest.  People glamorize the drugs (OxyContin and cocaine) and rely on them as a way to get through the day.  And the night.  And the next day.  Sex is also common in this story, and Juliette gets carried away by two different men in almost as many days.  The descriptions are pretty intense and nothing is left to the imagination.  One man is rather promiscuous, and this is also described in detail.  Curse words abound in the novel, and the F-bomb makes a regular appearance.  For anyone looking for these “deadly sins,” the reader has found the jackpot.  For those less adventurous, they may choose to stay away from this book.

The book is what it is: for readers looking for sex, drugs, and murder, this is the perfect summer or beach read.  For those looking for something a little more substantial with a more down-to-earth plot and characters, The Starlet will not deliver.

Reviewed by Simon and Schuster.

Genre: Literary

Publisher: Riverhead

Released: July 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

For Maile Meloy’s newest collection of short stories, the epigraph (by A. R. Ammons) says it all: “One can’t have it both ways and both ways is the only way I want it.” Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It is a collection of eleven short stories, and while the stories feature different characters, settings, and situations, they are thematically linked through longing and ambivalence.

I’ll start by saying that Meloy’s writing is fantastic. I mentioned in an earlier review that I think the best writing is seamless, and the effect of reading the best writing is similar to watching a great magic act: you marvel that magic has taken place under your careful observation, and there’s little you can say toward explanation. That’s how I felt in reading each of Meloy’s stories in Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It. The prose is unadorned, at times seemingly flat. The sentences seem like ordinary sentences. But it is the author’s genius of craft that takes these everyday materials and creates something of beauty.

Beauty may seem distant from the subject matter of this collection—most of the stories deal with longing and discontent in general, and many of them focus on adultery in particular. Yet despite the sometimes sordid material and the many unlikable characters doing unlikable things, Meloy achieves beauty by forging empathy.

One of the best examples of this is the story “Two-Step.” The story opens with two women talking, the first woman speculating that her husband is having an affair. The second woman, a coworker of the first woman’s husband, tries to reassure her that he probably isn’t. Through their conversation, several facts are gradually revealed to the reader: the husband is having an affair; the first woman is the man’s second wife, and the man left his previous wife to marry her; and the second woman is the woman the husband is currently having an affair with. This scenario doesn’t seem to leave room for much empathy, since all three characters in the story are cheaters. But Meloy’s skill is such that the broader emotions—what it feels like when we are betrayed, or when we unintentionally hurt others by pursuing our own desires, or when we want so badly to have both stability and change—are what come through in spite of the particulars.

Ambivalence is another consistent thread through this collection, and it is perhaps nowhere better expressed than in the story “The Children.” A man in the midst of an affair decides it’s time to tell his wife that he’s leaving her. But breaking up is hard to do. He finally realizes what a mess he’s in, what leaving his wife (and the titular children) will mean. He is at the fork of two competing desires, both equally strong, and he realizes that he can’t have it both ways.

And that is illustrative of the situations that Meloy describes so well in Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It. Life is not full of having cake and eating, too—despite what we are shown on television. Meloy presents the many places where life is a strict dichotomy, an either-or. In some cases a decision may be delayed, but ultimately a decision must be made. These decisions are sometimes costly and sometimes plain disastrous, and many times they are the result of our own errant desires. As illustrated in “Two-Step,” cheating is a double-edged sword: a union sown in subterfuge and deceit is likely to reap the same. Meloy’s book, while helping the reader empathize with its characters and carefully and beautifully delineating dilemmas, is also a warning against the situations its characters find themselves in. As a reader, I see that the characters are in a tough spot and I empathize, but I also will do whatever I can not to put myself into their situations in the first place.

I should mention that there are a few moments of levity in the collection, stories not as intense or gloomy as the others. “Spy vs. Spy,” for example, believably (and humorously) describes a dysfunctional family and the ambivalence that comes with some family relationships, equal measures love and hate. “O Tannenbaum,” while the tension in the air is thick, is an enjoyable story of the unexpected adventures that befall a family on the way home from the supposedly joyous endeavor of choosing a Christmas tree. But perhaps the lightest story in the collection, and also my favorite, is “Liliana,” in which a man’s dead wealthy grandmother comes to stay with his family in their lower-middle-class home to determine if he’s a worthy heir for her fortune.

Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It proves that Maile Meloy is certainly a writer to watch. The stories, while containing adult situations and language, nevertheless succeed in being beautiful, even magical.

Review copy provided by Riverhead.

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

It’s the year 2602 and tolerance rules the galaxy. In an effort to abolish religion, the Kesek secret police have destroyed all traces of dangerous religious books, including the Torah, the Koran, and the Bible. Imagine Baden Haczyk’s surprise when he stumbles across an ancient book while scavenging an abandoned ship. As Baden studies the book he discovers that has indeed found a Bible and he can’t stop reading it. Before he knows it the Bible is talking to him and the words are pouring through his mind.

Baden’s father, Simon, is unnerved by the discovery and wants Baden to get rid of it as soon as possible. Of course, there is no harm in making a nice profit of the much sought after relic. Unfortunately for the Haczyk family, the Kesek police know about the discovery and will stop at nothing to destroy the most dangerous book of all. The galaxy is on the brink of war, and Baden and his book are right in the middle of it all.

I love it when a novel comes out of nowhere and surprises me. Steve Rzasa has quietly flown under my radar for awhile, but after hearing the buzz about Marcher Lord Press I had to give this one a try. I’m so glad I did!!

First and foremost, this is great sci-fi and an all around fun story. I am a big Star Wars fan, and from time to time I love to read Star Wars novels. As I was reading through The Word Reclaimed I was amazed that the quality of writing was either on par with or even better than so much of the material in the Star Wars expanded universe. Rzasa is a terrific sci-fi writer and if you love space battles, intergalactic adventure, and good ole fashioned heroes VS villains action, then you will thoroughly enjoy this novel. Even the most hardcore sci-fi fans will appreciate Rzasa’s creativity and execution.

On a deeper level, Rzasa challenges readers with a bold message reminding us of the importance of the Word and the very real danger of tolerance in our culture. Baden’s courage is admirable throughout as he stands up for what he knows is right despite the obstacles he faces. The cast of characters surrounding Baden are depicted perfectly, bringing an epic feel to the struggle and the perfect amount of depth to this story.

Steve Rzasa has found a place on my bookshelf and his writing is worthy of more attention. If you are looking for great sci-fi and a story that will both challenge and entertain, then look no further. Book 2 is in my stack and I am more than anxious to dive back into this journey that has completely captured my imagination.

Review copy provided by the author.

Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery

Publication Date: August 2010

Publisher: David C. Cook

Jake Chism’s Review:

Chris Buckley never thought he’d end up in a place like Solitary, North Carolina. After his parents divorce he reluctantly moves with his Mom back to the strange little town she grew up in. Everything about Solitary feels off to Chris. The way the kids in his new high school look at him, the way everyone seems to know a secret except for him, even the feel of the town itself. Everything feels wrong, except for the way he feels about Jocelyn Evans. He finds himself hopelessly drawn to her, despite her efforts to push him away. As Chris falls deeper for the girl he has to have, he approaches a darkness that will shake him to his core.

Bold. Edgy. Beautiful. Terrifying. These are the words that ran through my mind after I closed the last page of Travis Thrasher’s latest. Solitary is Thrasher’s first attempt at a series and his first foray into the YA market. If you are going to make an entrance, why not stand up and demand some attention? That’s exactly what Thrasher and David C. Cook Publishers have done with this outstanding story that is as haunting as it is addicting.

The first person narrative of Chris Buckley is the shining element here. I loved being immersed into Chris’s world as he juggled the struggles of a new town, a mysterious love, and a broken home. Everything Chris feels and experiences masterfully flows off the page allowing the reader to dive in and look around this strange and scary place he finds himself in. The relationship of Chris and Jocelyn is especially handled well as Thrasher explores the emotional and physical struggles teens face in everyday life.

Solitary has such a creepy feel to it throughout, and I found myself flying through the pages desperately trying to make sense of the bizarre elements we are introduced to at just the right places. I was surprised at just how edgy this story was, and it was a pleasant discovery indeed. David C. Cook is known as a Sunday school curriculum publisher, so I expected something much lighter and well…”churchy”. Rest assured…”churchy” this is not, however Chris’s spiritual and family struggles make Solitary more relevant to so many teens who face similar circumstances in our culture.

Solitary is the kind of novel the Twilight (don’t worry..no vampires here) crowd will enjoy, and dare I say contains the depth and level of creativity that could have made Twilight a great series instead of a good one.   In the end, Thrasher leaves us with a twist that will have everyone talking and will no doubt be divisive amongst some readers. I’m blown away by what Thrasher and David C. Cook have just brought to us and I can’t wait to read more.

James Andrew Wilson’s Review:

Strange men wearing trench coats are staring at you, everyone in the school warns you to stay away from the girl you can’t help but be drawn to, you find a creepy, abandoned cabin out in the woods, and you can’t shake the sense that somebody or something is watching you, following you, staring in your window at night and probing your very thoughts.

Welcome to Solitary.

Travis Thrasher has already proven himself capable of writing page turners about things that go bump in the night, but with Solitary, he ups the ante. You get the sense very early on that something is not right about this town. There are deadly secrets, questions that nobody seems to want to answer. Thrasher does an admirable job of dropping in new mysteries all through out the book, so that by the time you finish, your mind is buzzing with theories and you are frantic for book two.

Thrasher is no stranger to first person narrative, and here he squeezes out all of its potential, thrusting us into the head of sixteen-year-old Chris Buckley. Chris is about as likeable a character as they come. He’s no wimp; we see him spouting off smart remarks to the face of the school bully, going out in the dead of night to explore the eerie woods alone, and expressing a general lack of disregard toward the threats to mind his own business and to just blend in like everyone else.

Chris isn’t the only character to like here. His attraction, Jocelyn Evans, is complex and elusive, and like Chris, we as readers are dying to know what she is hiding. Chris’s other friends, Poe, Rachel, Newt and Ray are all well drawn out characters that are each unique and enjoyable to read.

It is obvious that Thrasher is a fan of such TV shows as Lost and Twin Peaks, and that they played a role in the inspiration for this series. Fans of those types of stories will find plenty here to love.

People who don’t generally pick up young adult fiction shouldn’t shy away from Solitary. Not for one moment did I feel like this was any less engaging than Thrasher’s adult fiction. In fact, I’d rank it right up there with Ghostwriter as my favorite Thrasher novel to date. (Psst, fans of Ghostwriter, be on the lookout for the Dennis Shore reference.)

Solitary is creepy, fun, and impossible to put down. I can’t imagine a much better beginning to what is sure to be a mind-bending, stellar series. Put this one at the top of your list, and don’t be surprised if you’re picking it up a month later to read it again.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

So now I’m on the threshold, feeling like a paratrooper about to jump, knowing my chute was packed by people who don’t care how hard I land.

And so goes the life of Detective Roland March the not-so-loveable hero of J. Mark Bertrand’s debut solo novel, Back on Murder. March is a career homicide detective taking the last gasping breaths of a once stellar career. Personal problems, some poor career choices, and less that winning relationship skills have left him wondering how much longer he really has. Then along comes a gangland shooting and he gets one more chance, maybe his last chance, to regain his form and remind everyone in his department what made him such a good cop. But his keen detective’s sense lands him right where he doesn’t want to be, on a select task force looking for a kidnapped girl – the daughter of Houston’s most famous mega-church leader.

Everything about Back on Murder harkens back to the kind of cops I grew up with in detective novels, TV shows, and movies. Using a first person perspective (as all good detective stories did) we find ourselves inside the skin of a guy who honestly doesn’t like himself much more than anyone else around him. Not that he’s a bad guy; he just lives in a world that doesn’t make sense any more. Consider the following lines as Detective March struggles to understand an argument he has just had with his wife:

The kind of fight … that leaves me baffled, wondering how we ended up like this. …In a movie, I would take her in my arms, press my lips to hers, and after struggling for a second she’d give in, flinging her limbs around me … But that’s not how it happens … I want to hit rewind … I want things to be easy between us again .. the way I remember us being. But I don’t know how to get there.

Several supporting characters serve as a mirror in which both the main character and the readers can consider themselves: a new task-force partner who hasn’t forgotten her faith and a guilt-ridden youth pastor who is danger of losing his. But in the end, this is March’s story. Will he get it back together, solve the case, put his marriage back together, and find himself in the process? It’s a good thing this is just the first installment of the Roland March Mystery series because it doesn’t like there are any simple answers to our hero’s deepest questions.

J. Mark Bertrand co-authored Beguiled along with Deanne Gist to great reviews and his solo should receive the same. If you like happily-ever-after stories where the characters all wear labels on their chest telling you who to cheer and who to boo, this may not be the book for you. But if you want a story where characters talk and act like real people – some resting in their faith, some having no faith all, and some struggling to regain their faith – Back on Murder is the ticket for a really good read.

Review copy provided by Bethany House.

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“You can’t out-sin the cross” and that is exactly what Linda Nichols’ Not a Sparrow Falls is about — redemption and the power of forgiveness.

Mary Bridget Washburn has made her share of bad choices. Now on the run from a criminal past, Mary changes her name and seeks refuge in a small, Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia. But a new name and a town full of strangers can’t ease Mary’s fears of discovery. She makes a simple yet comfortable life for herself despite the cloud of dread looming overhead. Then one night a young girl’s plea for help seizes Mary’s heart setting in motion a series of events that will change the course of her life as well as those around her.

Ever since the death of Anna, dearly loved mother and wife, the MacPherson family is falling apart. Alasdair, a single father for two years, struggles to raise his three young children and pastor the local church his family has led for several generations. Some of the elders want him out, and the church teeters on the verge of splitting.

When Mary and Alasdair’s lives intersect, they find that in order to move forward, they must first let go of the past. Doing this will present challenges. One of those involves his own sister whose life has always revolved around the past and tradition.

I am happy to add Not a Sparrow Falls to my library. A fun and easy read, I finished it in a day. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Mary Bridget and Alasdair are loveable characters that despite their mistakes the reader can’t help rooting for them. Everyone makes bad choices in their lives. Stories like Not a Sparrow Falls give us the hope that second chances exist.

While the reader knows who will end up with whom; the predictability by no means detracts from the story. I really enjoyed the relationship between Mary and Alasdair’s oldest daughter, Samantha. However, the end feels a bit rushed. I found this disappointing because I enjoyed the rest of the book so much. I wished Nichols had fleshed out the resolution a little more. Still, I highly recommend this novel to romance lovers as well as readers who enjoy stories of second chances.

Review copy provided by Bethany House.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Harper Festival/HarperCollins

Publication Date: January 2010

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

What happens when ten rubber ducks fall overboard? A delightful adventure ensues. In Eric Carle’s 10 Little Rubber Ducks, children accompany the ducks as they drift and mingle with wildlife. In the end, one rubber duck encounters a very special situation of his own.

This book features Carle’s trademark paint and paper cutout illustrations in bold colors. The rhythmic language overflows with repetition and a touch of onomatopoeia. Counting concepts and direction words provide educational opportunities.

As a board book, this tale may be a bit wordy for the very young, but they can still enjoy the various animals and guess the names of each creature. Preschoolers will enjoy the language and vivid illustrations of marine life.

A simple, but appealing tale that is as likable as rubber duckies themselves.

Review copy provided by HarperCollins.

Genre: YA

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Dates: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Bryn O’Connor loves theater and drama. She is really good at it too. Except that her boyfriend doesn’t like it. He’s one of the most popular guys in school and when he doesn’t like something, you should really not to like it either. When you don’t do what he likes, he might do something bad. Like hit you. A lot. He might even do it so much that you end up in the hospital. This is what happened to Bryn. A simple argument turned into a car accident. When she arrived at the hospital, they discovered injuries that were not consistent with a car accident. That’s where everything started on a downhill spiral. It’s when her father found out that Preston beat her up a lot. It’s when the police got involved. Charges were pressed.  And after that? Things really got bad.

Since her mother is in another country, this is where Bryn’s grandmother steps in and volunteers to come and stay with them for a while. Bryn is nonplussed. The memories she has of her grandmother are awkward. Her grandmother is a beautiful and famous surfer. Bryn feels she is the opposite of that. She’s expecting that when her grandmother arrives, it’s going to be all sorts of questions, interrogations, and pushing. She’s more than shocked when it doesn’t go that way at all. And what’s Preston saying about all of this? Why are there websites popping up online about Bryn and her ‘lying ways?’ Just how far will all of this go? Will someone else get hurt?

Once again, Nancy Rue has scored a direct hit on the mind of a teenage girl in the midst of horrifying situations. Last venture out, Motorcycles, Sushi & One Really Strange Book, she tackled the difficult topic of ADHD and emotionally unstable parents. This time, a teenager abused by her boyfriend and bullying pushed to the extreme are her hot button topics and she once again approaches them with tender style and respect. Inside the mind of a teenage girl is not always the easiest subject matter for an adult writer trying to reach a young adult audience. I, for one, remain impressed with Rue’s style and technique as she moves through this fast paced story.

Again we have an adult role model that seems nearly too good to be true. This time, instead of a parent, it’s a grandparent who understands everything with a keen perspective and seems to not make mistakes. And like last time, I’m more than willing to give grace for this ‘perfect’ character. As I was reading, I was tucking away lines and thoughts and ideas for when my girls venture into teen drama. Parts of this book frightened me with the vehemence, anger and vitriol spewed at Bryn’s character when she was doing the right thing. Then again, all one has to do to understand that Rue has captured the teenage mind well is watch the news. Stories like this one, where kids bully other kids (to death in some instances), have become all too commonplace in the news. Nancy Rue seems to have her finger firmly on the pulse of the troubled teenager. Once again, she’s brought us a story with drama, intelligence, a little bit of romance and a lot of insight into the teenage mind.

With this story, I’ve become a passionate Nancy Rue fan and would heartily recommend her to anyone who would like a little bit of advice, insight, or a new way to reach a troubled teen.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Publication Date: December 2009

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

The emotional spectrum is represented in the picture book, My Heart is Like a Zoo. Debut author Michael Hall compares human emotions to feisty zoo animals in unusual situations: hippos drinking apple juice and walruses lounging on towels, for example. Expressive, contrasting colors on each page capture attention while the paper cutouts of the creatures, crafted largely from heart shapes, add a unique point of interest to the illustrations.

My Heart is Like a Zoo gives parents and children opportunities to discuss a plethora of ideas while enjoying rhyming language. Feelings, colors, counting, shapes and animal names are represented here. An endearing twist at the end demonstrates the true setting of the story.

This vibrant, welcoming book practically screams to children, “Read me! I’m made for you.” A noble first effort by Hall.

Review copy provided by HarperCollins.

Genre: YA

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Dates: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Jessie Hatcher is fifteen and she’s got what most people would consider a pretty tough life. Her mother has a variety of emotional issues, her dad is dead, and she has ADHD. Most of the time, she’s completely on her own while her mother is in her ‘in-bed’ phase. She makes all the decisions, gets herself to school and back, and figures out her own meals.  The couple of days at a time that her mother gets out of bed are tiring while she cleans the house with her toothbrush, but they’re few and far between, so Jessie has the system down.

That is until the day that her dad calls her on the phone. What? Her dad? The aforementioned parent who was dead? Yeah. That same one. Seems that Jessie’s mom told her that her dad was dead, but he really wasn’t. So now he wants to meet her and get to know her. Since she’s no longer flying under the radar, Jessie can’t figure out how things could get any worse. That is, until her mother attempts suicide. Yeah. That is worse. What could possibly happen next?

Nancy Rue stunned me with her portrayal of a teenage girl’s mind. Especially one wrapped up in such emotional turmoil and with ADHD to boot. I was so completely wrapped in this story; I couldn’t stop myself from reading portions of the book out loud to my family.  In the same way I was instantly drawn into the story, the few pages I shared with them brought them in just as quickly. It was love at first read with this book.

I think one of the things I enjoyed best was the “RL” book that Jessie discovered at the airport. When she picked it up off of the seat, she thought she was stealing it and this would force her father to send her back home. It didn’t. And she didn’t. It comes out later that the book was left there for someone else who might need it. Jessie needed it. “RL” you see, is a ‘real life’ version of the Bible, with language that modern day teenagers can understand.

The plot moves quickly. Written in the first person perspective from a girl whose mind bounces all over faster than you can say sushi, you have to expect that. The dialogue is brilliant, witty, and perfectly on par with what you would imagine a teenage girl might say in this situation.  The only point I’d make in characters is that Lou, Jessie’s father, seems perfect. Even his mistakes aren’t that colossal and he very quickly apologizes for them. I don’t know if I have a problem with this because he’s a really great example of what we should try to be, but don’t always accomplish. In sharp contrast, Jessie’s mom does pretty much nothing right whatsoever. Much like Jessie’s life, there’s no simple middle ground. Then again, with teenagers is there a lot of simple middle ground?

Motorcycles, Sushi & One Really Strange Book is the first in a new series from Nancy Rue. Called the Real Life series, it follows the ‘RL’ book and what happens with four different girls when they find the book. I’m more than intrigued. I can’t wait to see the new books in the series and see who Nancy Rue brings to the forefront next.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

From squirrels to cocoons, a tree bustles with life; even the leaves are busy producing oxygen. The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward encourages readers to take a closer peek at nature and the simple wonders right at hand. Readers gaze at chipmunks, spiders, woodpeckers, owls and other creatures in their rituals around an oak tree.

Elegant rhymes add to this book’s charm. A unique narrative perspective—the tree’s—guides the reader on a tour through the book and around the tree.

Beautiful, detailed oil paintings illuminate the joys of wildlife abounding near and within trees. Tiny details, like a ladybug on a leaf or grubs by roots, add to the realism of the illustrations.

This story truly invites the reader to “come and see” this busy tree. It reveals just enough of nature to whet our appetites—the kind of book that makes us fall in love with the wild and rush out to the nearest park or backyard in hopes of glimpsing a scurry or flutter.

Review copy provided by Marshall Cavendish Children.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

The initial premise of Matthew Skelton’s The Story of Cirrus Flux sounded good. Who wouldn’t enjoy a story with daring chases, non-stop threats, and mysteries galore? Because when Cirrus Flux, an orphan boy living on the outskirts of London, inherits a strange sphere, suddenly everyone is after him and the sphere. From the evil Madame Orrery to the designs of the wretched Mr. Leechcraft, everyone is trying to get their hands on the power contained within Cirrus’ sphere. And with the help of a young girl, Cirrus has to face his most dangerous adversaries and only hope to survive.

But… things don’t go so well for the book in execution. While intriguing all along the way, The Story of Cirrus Flux just never really delivers. It felt like someone was trying to shout, but could only ever whisper. The opening chapters come out very slowly, and I couldn’t help telling myself, “It’ll get better, just stick with it – soon the action will start in.” But it never really did. Even to the finale, which I was hoping would really give me what I had been waiting for, came across anti-climatic and almost plain out dull.

The other factor here is the fact that the book is set in the world of the late 18^th century London, and much of the book centered around explaining some different parts of the history of the times: from the beginnings of natural philosophy to mesmerism and foundling hospitals, there’s quite a heavy dose of history that is interesting, but not quite helping the story move along.

There’s also the strange twinge of fantasy that seeps throughout the book. Some will definitely want to describe Skelton’s work here as fantasy, but fans of such books will probably not be too interested in the magic side of the book, which is barely even present, and when it does appear, seems so out of place that it just doesn’t really work.

The point of view switches back and forth between Cirrus and the heroine of the story, Pandora. And although their stories intertwine with each other, they are hardly ever together until the very end of the book and for a brief moment in the middle. It was almost slightly infuriating to follow them along as they made decisions that just didn’t seem to make sense, but served to keep them both separated.

All said, while promising to be an exciting adventure, The Story of Cirrus Flux just never really comes to what it could have truly been: exciting.

Review copy provided by the Amazon Vine Program.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

The big race approaches and Hamster wants a hot rod. But he needs help to build it! In this rhythmic tale, readers help Hamster create his car and speed through the race.

Hot Rod Hamster by Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord and illustrated by Derek Anderson is an exciting read that engages even boys without excluding the girls. Readers progress from the junkyard to the race to the finish line, cheering for the tiny racer the whole time. They have a stake in the outcome, after all, since the refrain, “Which would you choose?” invites audience participation in Hamster’s decisions.

Expressive acrylic paintings use bright colors and add a playful sense of fun to the book. Masterful rhymes and cartoon bubbles of dialogue pace the story and develop character—something the little orange hamster has in spades. A subtle lesson also weaves through the book: determination matters more than size.

Readers will find this book as exuberant and confident as the hamster protagonist. A perfect read for young car and race fans.

Review copy provided by Scholastic Press.

Genre: Suspense, Supernatural, Paranormal

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: June 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Maia Peters hunts ghosts. Or at least she used to. The daughter of world famous paranormal investigators, Maia grew up traveling from haunt to haunt on their hit TV show.  Now she is in college and longing to leave that life behind, and the unwanted celebrity status that comes with it.

Heiress Jordin Cole wants to see a ghost and is willing to do anything and spend any amount to make it happen. After tracking Maia down, Jordin convinces her to lead the investigation and take them to the most haunted places in the U.S. As they travel to historic locales and dance with the dead, Maia begins to sense that something is very wrong with Jordin.  It’s not until Jordin disappears a year later that Maia begins to put the pieces together and uncovers a frightening reality. The nightmare is coming and Maia doesn’t know how to stop it.

Robin Parrish stands up and screams for attention with his clever and absorbing fifth novel. From page one we are treated to a new level of Parrish’s talent through the first person narrative of Maia. This style draws the reader in with ease, and gives the haunting scenes throughout more depth and emotion. While it would be a stretch to classify this is a horror novel, there are plenty of scenes that will leave you breathless and anxious for more.

As the story unfolds Parrish alternates chapters between Maia and Joridn’s paranormal investigations and Maia’s search for Jordin a year later. This type of back and forth writing might come across as confusing or distracting in lesser hands, but Parrish more than pulls it off in LOST-like fashion.  As I began to see where the story was going I was both surprised and intrigued. There have been lots of twists on the paranormal genre, but I’m not sure we’ve seen one quite like this. Luckily, Parrish knows how to weave a good story and if you pay close attention throughout, you shouldn’t be surprised at the new direction we’re led to in the end.

Nightmare is the kind of novel that will have people talking, both inside and outside the Christian market. Are ghosts real? Is there a difference between demons and ghosts? What happens when we die? Parrish tackles these hot button themes with class and an open mind, asking readers to examine their own beliefs and questions. In the end I was humbled by the poignant question Maia arrives at. What question is it? You’ll have to read the book and find out! Never fear, you’ll enjoy every moment of Robin Parrish’s latest and by the end you will be longing for more.

James Andrew Wilson’s Review:

Maia Peters has seen it all and them some. Her parents are renowned ghost hunters—paranormal investigators! She’s been with them on their popular TV show, exploring the most haunted places in the world. She is recognized virtually everywhere she goes. And getting a little tired of it. So when fellow college student Jordin Cole comes looking for a ghost buster buddy, Maia tells her to get lost. But Jordin insists, and the promise of substantial payment lures Maia back into the dark—back to the haunted life she’s been running from.

Robin Parrish has told of heroes and super powers, he’s told of space and the end of the world, now the speculative fiction writer gives us Nightmare, a spooky romp through the murky world of the paranormal. Turn out the lights, hide under the covers with your flashlight—it’s time for a good old-fashioned ghost story.

In terms of scale, Parrish has pulled back this time. This is an intimate story, much more character driven than his previous novels, and it benefits from it. Parrish does an admirable job with his use of the first person narrative, and Maia Peters is a fun character to read, even if she’s a bit snotty at times.

As for the spooks and specters, the paranormal encounters are some of the highlights of the book. In their quest for true sightings of the unexplainable, Jordin and Maia visit a number of real world locations, each of which are thoroughly researched and wonderfully detailed. Parrish knows just when to have the shadows jump out from the corners, and there’s plenty of creepy scenes here to satisfy scare junkies.

Parrish continues to hone his craft as a writer, and while Nightmare features some of his strongest writing, I’m still scratching my head at his apparent insistence on the tiresome use of adverbs and italics. He seems to be trying to hard to convey what is already clear in the dialogue. An easy fix, and I hope to see him do away with these clunky writing elements in the future.

Of all the novels Robin Parrish has written, this is the one that I think will appeal to the widest audience. There is something here for everyone to enjoy. If someone has apprehension about a “Christian paranormal” book, they should at least give Nightmare a chance. Parrish is asking the questions that we’ve all wondered at one time or another: Are ghosts real? Are they demons? What was that noise?

Nightmare is the perfect novel to keep you turning pages late into the night. It’s an escapist treat, a fine piece of work, a spine-tingler that’s sure to delight.

Don’t miss our podcast review of Nightmare and our interview with Robin Parrish.

Review copies provided by Bethany House.