Fiction Addict

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by:  Melody Ballard
Geiger is like no man you’ve seen or will ever see again.  No one really knows who he is, or where he’s been, or where he’s going; even he doesn’t know.  He is focused and unemotional, there is no warmth, there is no joy, there is no anger. Some may know what he does, but the man himself is a mystery. Geiger just is. Geiger is the Inquisitor.

Geiger’s specialty is Information retrieval; he has his own brand of torture.  His job is to get answers, and he always gets what he wants. His strength is his extraordinary ability to gauge and interpret every movement, and nuance and movement of his victim.  He can reach into depths of their soul without maiming their body.  Geiger is a living lie detector and he is totally focused.

When Geiger refuses to extract information from a twelve year old boy his own world changes. His is given an ultimatum –  extract the information himself  or the boy will be turned over to Dalton, the torturer who’s brutality is legendary. Dalton’s specialty is pain and mutilation.  Unlike Geiger’s victims, many of Dalton’s do not walk away in one piece, or alive.

This fast-paced story is filled with action, twists, suspense and a host of unlikely characters. There’s Geiger’s psychiatrist;  he’s  working with Geiger to find the cause of his  debilitating migraines and to uncover the mysteries of Geiger’s past. He is also going through a painful divorce. There’s Harry, Geiger’s business partner who arranges Geiger’s contracts and who deals with his own demons.   Lilly is Harry’s schizophrenic sister and Ezra is the twelve year old boy who is kidnapped.  Smith has done a masterful job of blending together these implausible characters.

The Inquisitor is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. The plot is filled with  unanticipated twists and turns, the characters are vivid, and the suspense builds to a crescendo then climaxes to and unsettling end. I hope this review peaks your interest and allows you to embark upon a whirlwind journey into the world of  The Inquisitor.  To tell you more would only spoil the surprise.  I will tell you this, I have read that there is talk about making a television series based upon Geiger.  I highly recommended this novel to anyone  with a penchant for action packed thrills a minute.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: April 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Mariah Lyons’ life is shattered when her father is murdered and her mother, an Alzheimer’s victim, is accused of the crime. The police believe Kathleen killed her husband during one of her lucid moments because of his infidelity. Desperate to believe her mother’s innocence, Mariah sets out to uncover what happened that night.

Father Aiden O’Brien tells her that just prior to his death, Jonathan Lyons believed he had found one of the greatest religious and archeological treasures of all time — a letter written by Christ to Joseph of Arimathea. With this new knowledge, Mariah is convinced that her dad’s murder is related to the parchment and not to his affair. She finds that those in her father’s close circle of friends are harboring hidden secrets of their own.

When people who were close to the late Biblical scholar start disappearing, it becomes obvious that no one is safe. Someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden and he/she will stop at nothing — not even murder — to keep it from coming out. Mariah will rely on Alvirah Meehan, the lottery winner turned sleuth, to solve this mystery.

In The Lost Years, Mary Higgins Clark returns with another suspense-filled novel that will keep one’s heart racing until the end when the killer is finally revealed in a shocking turn of events. With plenty of suspicious characters going around, the Queen of Suspense leads her readers down one rabbit trail after another that will have their mind spinning as they try to unravel the clues.

Clark’s fans will recognize characters like Willy and Alvirah Meehan and Father Aiden O’Brien who return once again, better than ever. As always, Clark delivers another great book which I definitely recommend.

Review copy provided by publisher.

After our podcast review of Travis Thrasher’s Temptation, we just had to get the author on the line to discuss the book and The Solitary Tales series as a whole. Enjoy!

Warning: Spoilers abound…listen at your own risk!!

About Travis Thrasher:

Critically acclaimed and creatively diverse novelist Travis Thrasher has made a career out of defying expectations.Writing stories that have moved, haunted and provoked readers, Thrasher has told tales in a variety of genres. His one common theme is brokenness, and his one common tactic is surprise. He lives with his wife and three daughters in a suburb of Chicago.

Website: http://www.travisthrasher.com/

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Literary

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: February 2012

Reviewed by Marianne Peters

The Last Storyteller is the last in a trilogy by Frank Delaney, but his tale could stand alone as a moving account of an Irish man trying to knit together his past, present, and future.

Ben McCarthy is struggling to overcome his sins and failures, mostly having to do with the disappearance of his wife Venetia twenty years ago. When we meet him, he is pursuing his vocation to become a storyteller under the tutelage of John Jacob Farrell O’Neill, a master of the art. The structure of the novel is actually an extended flashback as Ben pens his memoirs, addressed to his children, starting at the time his wife returned unexpectedly to Ireland with her second husband, an abusive showman who uses Venetia as a prop.

Years ago, Ben searched and found Venetia, already remarried. He was not courageous enough at the time to rescue her, and when he finds her abused and humiliated, he struggles to overcome his fear again. But rescuing Venetia is just one of Ben’s problems. He has accidentally become associated with Irish rebel gun runners, who use him as a cover for their operation. How can he rid himself of these criminals and keep Venetia safe? Why do the stories O’Neill tells him always foretell events in Ben’s own life? Will he ever be whole again? Or, like his native country, is he splintering apart?

Though a familiarity with Delaney’s first two novels in the series would enrich this novel, it is not necessary in order to enjoy Delaney’s piercing portrait of Ben, a man who longs for his lost family, but fears his own weaknesses have driven them away forever. His own tale is interwoven with myths, legends, and folktales from Ireland, demonstrating the power of story to shape one’s purpose and identity.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publication Date: April 2012

 Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Detective Ash Levine’s romantic weekend is cut short when his lieutenant calls him to investigate a double homicide. One of the victims is the son of a city councilman notorious at the department for causing problems. With little to go on, Ash plunges into the investigation. The search for the killer will bring him face to face with all sorts of people — bereaved family members, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, and even the Russian Mafia.

However, the truth comes at a price and it isn’t long before Ash finds himself in the crosshairs. Suspended from the police department and possibly facing criminal charges, Ash is determined to find the killer. He hopes to not only give the victims and their family justice, but also clear his own name.

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Jake Chism, Lori Twichell, and Josh Olds talk about Travis Thrasher’s new book, Temptation, the third installment in The Solitary Tales series.

Warning: Spoilers abound for The Solitary Tales series…listen at your own risk!!!

This podcast can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Josh Olds recently caught up with Estevan Vega to talk about his new book, The Forsaken.

From a young age, Estevan Vega (author of the ARSON series) has been fascinated with the world that exists between the real and the supernatural. With an imagination that stretches the boundaries of the mind and hits with a pulse-shattering realism, Vega’s writing has been called eerie, thrilling, and poetic. It will captivate you and leave you on the edge of your seat. Welcome to his world. For more info, check out his site www.estevanvega.com or follow him on facebook (we are arson) or on twitter (@estevanvega).

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Genre: Science Fiction / Young Adult

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Published: April 2012

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Robert Laughlin is just your average, ordinary, everyday high-school guy. He gets nervous around girls, isn’t terribly popular, and gets picked on by his alpha-male older brother who happens to be mom’s favorite. But he’s also a contestant on a reality show, which isn’t very ordinary, especially since it’s called America’s Next Superhero. Oh yeah, Rob isn’t just a reality show contestant—he’s a superhero that goes by the name Failstate.

Despite his abilities, there’s a far cry between super-powered and superhero. Rob’s ability—causing the stable state of individual molecular structure to fail—is difficult to control and often results in him frying electronics and other such devices. He’s doing the best he can with what he’s got, hoping to win the contest in order to earn his superhero’s license, but it’s his charismatic older brother, a superhero known as Gauntlet, who gets all the praise.

Things go south when one of the contestants is killed during an off-show patrol. Failstate was supposed to meet up with Lux to go on patrol, but when he nears their meeting area, it notices some commotion and finds Lux already near death. Feeling responsible for her death, Failstate teams up with Lux’s partner Veritas and begins to investigate and opens up a mystery that goes deep into the heart of superhero history.

John Otte’s debut novel Failstate can kind of be described as Sky High meets The Incredibles, with twists that Disney wishes they’d thought of. At the core of the novel, is, of course, Rob aka Failstate. Rob is seen as a loser and a misfit even though he’s been given these incredible powers. He doesn’t fit in with the normal kids, because he has a secret too big to reveal, but he doesn’t fit in amongst the better-trained and better-powered cadre of superheroes either. To top it all off, his brother succeeds at both. Conflict surges between the two brothers, not just on the show and over their powers but also over the affections of a girl. It’s the classic underdog story rewritten in a fresh way in a fun genre.

It’s the theme of Failstate that really makes the novel. Rob is just an ordinary kid with extraordinary powers out to save the world. But isn’t that what all Christians are called to be? Combining superpowers and faith, Failstate goes through the same journey many of its young adult readers are living out, albeit on a less flashy and grand scale. The plot stretches the bounds of plausibility at times, but when you consider it centers on a reality show for superheroes, it’s quite forgivable. Otte’s debut packs quite the punch, delivering a fun read with some thoughtful themes. Wholesome, wholehearted, and wholly entertaining, Failstate continues the Marcher Lord Press tradition of offering up the very best in Christian speculative fiction.

Genre: supernatural, mystery, thriller YA

Publisher: David C. Cook                 

Publication Dates: April 1, 2012

 Reviewed by Lori Twitchell

I’m going to start this review with a very clear warning. If you haven’t read either of the first books in the Solitary Tales series by Travis Thrasher (Solitary and Gravestone) just stop right here and go purchase the other books first. I hate to spoil a brilliant read for anyone and Thrasher’s series is exactly that. So if you’re not acquainted with the series, go get it now. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. And do not hesitate. When you’ve finished the first two books, then come back to find the review of this one.

Okay with public service announcements of the way, let’s get to the review!

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Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: February 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant has four days left to live. Her best friends were both murdered exactly one year apart. As the last remaining friend of the childhood trio, Charlie is convinced she is the next victim. However, she is determined to not go down without a fight. For that reason, she has spent the past year training and preparing for January 21. Should the worse take place, Charlie knows who she wants to investigate her own death — Detective D.D. Warren.

In her line of work, D.D. has seen and heard a lot of things, but even this seasoned detective is surprised when she hears Charlie’s story after spotting her at a crime scene. At first, D.D. isn’t sure what to believe, but when evidence seems to tie Charlene to several crimes, the detective is certain of one thing. She is sure that Charlie is in the middle of something and is resolved to find out what.

Packed with heart-pounding intrigue, Catch Me is one novel that mystery and suspense fans won’t want to miss. Lisa Gardner creates a world so gripping that it will suck the reader in as the clock steadily counts down the hours until that fateful day. In a story where one doesn’t know who to trust, the reader will feel the walls closing in as an intelligent and unknown killer masterfully isolates Charlie, taking away anything that can protect her.

Catch Me is definitely a nerve-wracking plot that will keep the reader on edge. The author has found the perfect balance, knowing how to make one’s heart speed up without pushing it to the point of discomfort. While this is not the first story with Detective D.D. Warren, I didn’t feel like I missed any crucial information even though I hadn’t read the others. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Gardner’s novels.

Genre: Mystery – Thriller

Publisher: Dutton/Penguin Group

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels, has unleashed another mystery thriller with his latest novel The Hunter. Lescroart takes his readers on a surprising unplanned journey filled with a multitude of twist and turns. A young wife and mother is brutally murdered in her Bay Area apartment. Flash to forty years later, Private Investigator Wyatt Hunt receives an anonymous text, asking him “How did your mother die?” The texter insists that the murderer is still out there, and is willing to give Hunt clues as to the identity of murderer, but refuses to identify themselves. Also interesting is, the way Lescroart weaves fact with fiction by revisiting the massacre at Jonestown –  where over 900 people in a cult led by Jim Jones died in a mass suicide in 1978.

One can appreciate how Lescroart manages to grab the reader’s attention in the first chapter with that short simple text message from an anonymous and untraceable number “How did your mother die?” a question that leads Wyatt and his Hunt Club investigative team on a journey to unravel the mystery of his biological mother’s death.

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: February 2012

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Teal Morgan-Adams experiences a series of emotional events after she is stuck in traffic during a typical L.A. earthquake. It all culminates in her fifteen-year-old daughter, Maiya, wanting to know who her biological father is. Even though she and her stepfather have an amazing and enviable relationship, she needs to have so many questions answered. In her quest to find out who he is, she learns that he did not abandon her, as previously thought; he never knew she existed because Teal never told him. During an extended visit to Teal’s small hometown in the Pacific Northwest, Teal faces all the memories and difficulties that drove her away in the first place. In the process, however, she grows closer to her half-sister Lacey and to Maiya.

In some ways, this is a contemporary drama that plays out in different and interesting twists; in others, it is a sappy novel that emphasizes the importance of family. Either way, Heart Echoes illustrates how Teal has grown both emotionally and spiritually from the time she leaves her hometown as a pregnant single woman to the professional, God-fearing, married mother she is when she faces her past. She knows she needs to have God in her life in order to do so, but it takes her a while to fully give over to Him. Once she does, it’s as if all things fall into place. Teal’s journey definitely shows her faith.

This story is not the most original one, but it is good at showing people how they can avoid major life mistakes. Teal, in thinking she is doing the right thing, actually causes more harm in the long run. Of course it ends with a sappy and happy ending all tied up in a bow, but it does maintain realism by reflecting on how families are today. Not everyone lives with two parents and a sibling in a house with a white picket fence and a dog, and Sally John make a strong case for being honest. By leaning on God and listening to her heart, Teal is able to be honest with those she loves and with herself.

Heart Echoes, with a hint of profanity, addresses premarital sex and drug use. It may not be appropriate for younger readers.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: November 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

It’s everywhere, but you never see it; it could kill you, but you don’t even know it’s there. It’s another world completely, one you’re a part of even though you hardly ever realize it. It’s Micro and what you find there will be nothing like what you expect. Is this posthumous thriller, Richard Preston builds on the manuscript left by the late Michael Crichton to throw readers into a world every bit as terrifying as Jurassic Park. Only much, much smaller.

When seven graduate students jump at the chance to take a job with the startup company Nanigen MicroTechnologies, they think it’ll be a great opportunity to pad their resumes. They’re promised tools and funds unlike anything academia could offer. And Nanigen delivers in a big way. Of course it’s not all about science. Nanigen has a dark side as well, one that’s much more profitable than scientific discovery—at least in terms of cold hard cash. The students see Nanigen as an opportunity to discover the undiscovered, to explore where no one else has explored. But Nanigen CEO Vincent Drake has other applications in mind.

A few of those students uncover Drake’s plans and end up in a battle for their lives—shrunk to the size of the insects in the micro world. David versus Goliath plays out on a grand scale across the island of Oahu as the students must not only deal with their minute size, but the terrifying Micro world they’ve been thrown into. Each of their specialties and skills come in handy for their survival, but not all will make it back alive. It’s only a matter of a time before the effects of being shrunk kill them, so it’s a race against the clock to get back to Nanigen and somehow reverse the process. And even then they’ll have to find a way to stop Drake.

Micro is a truly immersive thriller, taking readers to a place they’ve probably never been before and showing them the true terrors that surround them and would certainly kill them if they were only smaller. Sometimes this causes the plot to get bogged down in explanation as readers need to be able to understand this new world. Sometimes the action gets broken down to explain some sort of scientific fact. But it does a have a purpose and overall the science of the book does not get in the way of the story and rather adds to its interest.

The group dynamic—these seven grad students who aren’t exactly the best of friends and have to figure out how to work together—is sometimes good, sometimes poor. Crichton and Preston do a good job of showing their struggles, idiosyncrasies, and petty feuds, but at points their pettiness just seems unbelievable given the fact they know that they need one another to survive. (Or maybe I somehow have some faith left in the human race.) Each character is also more-or-less an obvious achetype (The Leader, The Bully, etc.) rather than being three-dimensional.

In the end, Micro isn’t the instant classic the inside flap promises. The writing suffers at points (for example, at one point, a character who has had an arm paralyzed by a wasp sting is said to remove the stinger with both hands), the dialogue is somewhat stilted at points, and character development is somewhat weak, yet I still found myself drawn into the journey and kept turning pages. Micro isn’t Crichton’s best, but if you’re a fan of science or a fan of Crichton, you may want to pick this one up.

Genre: Drama, Romance

Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Karen Kingsbury’s Forever Faithful Trilogy brings together three heart-wrenching stories that confront readers with some of life’s most difficult trials. Kingsbury takes her readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride they will not soon forget.

In Waiting for Morning, Hannah Ryan’s closest companions are bitterness, anger, and hatred. A drunk driver took the life of her husband and oldest daughter. Propelled solely by revenge, Hannah is determined to see the driver pay dearly for his actions. In the process, she shuns God, alienates her only surviving daughter, and rejects anyone who doesn’t support her agenda. Soon her life has spiraled so far out of control that Hannah is not sure she can find her way back. It will take a kind prosecutor called Matt, a widow, and her husband’s dying words to set Hannah on the path to healing.

The second novel, A Moment of Weakness, follows the lives of Tanner and Jade, two childhood friends, who are separated only to find each other again as adults. They enjoy a wonderful summer together falling in love, growing in their faith, and learning who they are. Nonetheless, bad choices tear them apart once more. This time, it appears that all their dreams are gone for good. However, ten years down the road, Jade’s cheating husband wants to destroy her in a custody battle that is obtaining national attention and the only person who can help save her son is none other than Tanner himself.

Halfway to Forever, the final novel in the trilogy, reunites the readers with Hannah, Matt, Jade, and Tanner. Hannah has rebuilt her life with Matt. They are in the process of adopting a little girl, but when new information comes to the light, Grace is ripped from their home and lives. After having lost two loved ones already, Hannah isn’t sure she can survive losing yet another daughter. Meanwhile, Tanner and Jade are fighting a life-threatening illness. After years of waiting for the woman he loves, Tanner could still lose her and this time forever.

With these two couples, tears will be shed and lessons learned. In Waiting for Morning, Kingsbury explores the world of drunk driving and its devastating effects for everyone involved. She also shows that when hate and bitterness creep in, they corrode the soul like rust. Suicide is another topic touched in this novel. In A Moment of Weakness, Kingsbury expertly tackles the issue of sex outside of marriage and all the pain and suffering caused by stepping outside of God’s perfect plan for our lives. The last book, Halfway to Forever delves into life-threatening illnesses, abortion, and adoption. All three novels cover themes such as repentance and forgiveness. They show us, as the name of the trilogy so clearly states, God is Forever Faithful. This series is not a light read. It is for those who are willing to be challenged and confronted with truth. One doesn’t have to experience these specific issues for the books to apply. I was continually amazed at how many times I felt like the lessons or scriptures were written just for me.

The novels are infused with raw emotions and gritty reality that seize the reader. Relevant themes make the stories relatable. And while the author embarks upon controversial issues, Kingsbury handles them delicately from a faith and love-filled stance. Be prepared for tears. I had to pull out a Kleenex on more than one occasion. Many of the characters wiggled their way under my skin as I rooted for some and became utterly frustrated with others. Each book in this series forced me to stop, think, and analyze experiences in my own life. I recommend the Forever Faithful Trilogy to readers who are looking for happy endings without completely sacrificing realism.

Last summer we fell in love with Isaac Marion’s debut novel, Warm Bodies. We’re thrilled to be able to share this new video interview with Isaac from Regal Literary.

Be sure and check out our review of Warm Bodies and our podcast interview with Isaac Marion.

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Man is man regardless of the century. Every struggle is ultimately with one’s self. Every decision a choice. An opportunity to be either zero of one. More often than not, we choose zero. But sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we win over the darkness. Exceed our specifications. He stoops. Touch the steam. Be a one.

(from Freeheads)

Sandfly is a debugger. For all us freeheads that means he serves at the whim of my masters, the Abduls, to correct whatever goes wrong with their machines. And they have many machines, all designed to do their work for them. But is hard for us to understand that since we are freeheads, unhindered by the constraints of an implant that prevents us from disobeying our masters in any way.

Sandfly is sent by his master to a place few of his world ever go – space. There he discovers a fantastic secret tool of interstellar exploration known as Dark Trench. What happens next is left for you to find out. You, meaning all you freeheads that dare read A Star Curiously Singing. People like Sandfly have paid a terrible price for instant and direct access to all the information of the world, freedom to think for themselves. And, freedom to know the truth.

More importantly it leads the reader to consider what Sandfly discovers on Dark Trench. “A” is not God. There is another. One who is so much more. He is “A³”.^. Does “A” stand for Allah in this story? We are never told. But there is no doubt who “A³”is. He is the One “who stoops” down to man and becomes one of us. He is the One who created all. The One who the stars sing about.

Continuing Sandfly’s story in The Superlative Stream, Nietz carried us on an adventure with Sandfly and his female companion, Hardcandy that is both dazzling and introspective. What they discover when they reach their destination challenges everything they have ever believed and known. With Dark Trench disabled, Sandfly and Hardcandy find themselves on a world of seeming blissful perfection. On this planet, the beings all seem to work in perfect harmony with no laws or implants to force them to do anything. But like many things in life, Sandfly comes to wonder if there might some hidden agenda in the beings’ interest in earth. What follows is beyond description.

Completing the Dark Trench Saga, we now have Freeheads. Sandly is determined to return to earth and see what has become of those he sent back with his revelation of a Star Curiously Singing. But Einstein was right about the speed of light (more or less). The 300 or so days Sandly has been on his journey equates to 40 years when he returns. Much has changed – much has not.

In spite of a brief stop on the moon and a reunion with an old friend, Sandfly can’t shake the calling he feels to take his newfound freedom to Earth. He’s been found by the One who Stoops – one totally opposite to “A”, the tyrannical god invoked to enslave earth’s masses. Now faithful to the true God, A Cubed, he determines to stoop as low as required to free mankind. In the words of Eric Wilson, “Burroughs and Bradbury, it’s a thrilling, deeply intelligent and deeply spiritual journey through a future that is all too real.”

Review copy provided by author. 

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

A far cry from his usual fast-paced, gory, psychological thrillers, James Patterson’s Christmas Wedding instead focuses on family, love, and happiness. Gaby Summerhill, widowed at a young age, has decided to get married again. In a surprise twist, though, she is not revealing who the groom is- not even to the potential grooms! She has three dear friends, each of whom has asked her to marry him. Only when she walks down the aisle will she reveal her new husband. Of course, her adult children have to arrive at her home in time- and safe and sound. Each child’s arrival brings a back story that brings life to the characters.

Since it is such a sharp contrast to Patterson’s usual storyline, it takes the reader a few chapters to become accustomed to the different format. Obviously, Patterson is not a romance or family drama writer, but he manages, along with the help of DiLallo, to do a decent job crafting a nice family story. The only thing that is somewhat distracting is the fact that Gaby believes it is fun to make such an important decision all by herself. By not telling anyone else who the groom will be, she appears a bit self-centered and spoiled. Readers will get to know her warm and caring personality as the story progresses, but this one major point keeps sticking out as well. Of course, the story has a happy ending, so everything is neatly tied up with a bow by the last page, which is probably what most readers of this genre want. In this particular situation, it works.

The Christmas Wedding deals with spousal abuse, alcohol abuse, and drug use, so it is intended for mature readers only. Otherwise, it is full of quirky family love. Patterson and DiLallo understand that families are not perfect, and they demonstrate that in the Summerhill family dynamics. While not everything will be resolved, there is definitely a strong sense of family love and support that makes the reader happy with how things go.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Inspirational

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: November 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Thomas Brandt and his family have had a rough year. Because of his Dad’s drinking and abuse, his Mom was forced to move Kevin and his sister to a new town with a new school and a not so new trailer. Try as he might to fit in, he’s become the target of the school bully and to make matters worse, his mother can’t even afford their Christmas this year. Desperate for help, she reluctantly decides to sign her kids up for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program.

Kevin Morrell can’t believe his bad luck. With Christmas just around the corner and the birth of his twins on the horizon, he finds out his business might be forced to close. As Kevin swims around in a sea of self-pity and worry he tries to be strong for his family. He wants to have the faith of his wife, but he feels farther away from God than ever before. Despite his doubts, he decides to do one small act of kindness that will unknowingly change the lives of two families.

Paper Angels is one I’ve been anticipating for some time. Jimmy Wayne’s hit song, “Paper Angels“, has been a source of inspiration to his fans for many years and I couldn’t wait to see how Thrasher and Wayne translated that message into novel form. Fans of both will instantly be aware of the dual story line throughout the novel that subtly (and sometimes not-so subtly) reflects the personal experiences of both. For this reader at least, those personal touches made the story lines and characters that much more intriguing.

Despite how much or little you may know about this partnership, rest assured Paper Angels can be enjoyed by all. The timeless messages of sacrifice and hope are on beautiful display throughout, all set perfectly against the backdrop of the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Yes, this story tries hard to bring awareness to that program, but it also accomplishes much more in the end. As a parent I walked away from this story with a greater appreciation for my family and how blessed I truly am. More importantly, this story has stayed with me throughout this holiday season reminding me that true joy comes from giving.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Lucas Lane Publishers

Publication Date: December 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Travis Thrasher hit his stride when he began releasing The Solitary Tales a year ago. With both Solitary and Gravestone, Thrasher set up a complex and multi-layered world for Chris Buckley to enter and explore, while dealing with his own heartaches. So many mysteries surround the small town of Solitary, North Carolina, and many of them have yet to be solved in the first two books of the series.

So, keeping readers happy while waiting for the next installment in this astounding series, Thrasher has released this “b-sides,” Something I Can Never Have. If you have not read both Solitary and Gravestone, stop now and go back to read those first. I promise you won’t be disappointed. But for those who have finished those dark and creepy tales, read on.

Something I Can Never Have is a collection of letters written by Pastor Jeremiah Marsh, who is introduced in Solitary and continues to scare throughout Gravestone. Some dark mysteries circle around the pastor, and here, we have a glimpse into his life before coming to pastor the large church just outside the main town of Solitary. What follows is definitely a frightening collection, and truly begins to show Marsh’s slip toward madness and suddenly chilling recovery. There are definitely a few surprises lurking here, and while not solving the greater mysteries of Solitary, this short novella does give us a few bits of information about Pastor Marsh.

Since Jeremiah Marsh is penning the letters comprising each chapter, the writing style differs from the main books. It doesn’t come across as choppy, but instead flows in the unsettling manner you’d expect from Marsh. Parts of this one reminded me more of Thrasher’s Isolation, and the letters definitely dive into some deeper topics and very disturbing scenes.

In some ways, reading this short book was cruel: it truly reminded me why I loved The Solitary Tales, and it also reminded me of how much I couldn’t wait before Temptation, book number three, is released. It would be great if Thrasher released more “b-sides” – more short tales of various characters from the series. Fans will definitely eat it up. I know I did. And maybe, Pastor Marsh did too…

Book purchased by reviewer.

Genre: Military Suspense/Thriller

Publisher: Barbour

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Nightshade protects those in need.

But who protects Nightshade?

Someone has dismantled the covert group, scattering its members around the globe. Kazi Faron accepts the task of rescuing and reuniting the team. Her plan is to get in and get out. A plan that is easier said than done. Those who don’t want Nightshade back in operation will stop at nothing to keep the group apart. Kazi brings her own ghosts to the mix and if Nightshade’s enemies don’t finish her off, they will.

Griffin “Legend” Riddle sits in a maximum-security prison, charged with a murder he did not commit. When a mysterious woman shows up to break him out, he only has seconds to make his choice. He decides to follow. What comes next is a journey across countries and continents to bring home his team and uncover the threat to their lives. But can he depend on this independent, hot-blooded woman who likes being in charge?

Ronie Kendig hit a grand slam with the writing of Firethorn. It is the fourth book in the Discarded Heroes Series and she did not disappoint those of us who eagerly awaited her next turn at the plate with the bases loaded. The first three books were definitely hits, but Firethorn delivered the much-anticipated homerun.

Be prepared for a tear jerker. Kendig brings home the horrible and unfair cruelty of war, making readers aware of what our real, true life heroes and their families face every day. This book requires a box of Kleenex at your side. Saying goodbye to these characters who have become like best friends throughout the series is not easy.

Through Griffin and Kazi, two individuals with serious faith issues, Kendig shows the reader the importance of learning to trust, not only those around us, but God—the Ultimate Protector. Kendig’s fans won’t want to miss the conclusion of the Discarded Heroes Series.

Tim George recently caught up with NY Times Bestselling Author Lis Wiehl to talk about her latest book, Waking Hours.

Lis Wiehl joined FOX News Channel as a legal analyst in 2001 and she is Bill O’Reilly’s sparring partner in the weekly “Is It Legal?” segment of The O’Reilly Factor. She is a Professor of Law at New York Law School, writer of the weekly “Lis on Law” column on FoxNews.com, host of “Wiehl of Justice” seen on Fox stations, and she appears weekly on Imus in the Morning.

Her bestselling Triple Threat novels published by Thomas Nelson won praise from many colleagues in the professions of media and law, including Pam Veasey, writer and executive producer of CSI NY; Nancy Grace, Headline News host and former prosecutor; Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton; as well as FOX News colleagues Bill O’Reilly, Megyn Kelly, John Gibson and Alan Colmes

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: August 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I knew going in that Mockingjay wasn’t necessarily a happy-go-lucky ending to an action-packed and highly controversial series about teenagers killing each other. The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were both equally bleak, and painted a world seemingly devoid of any sort of moral compass. Things ended badly in Catching Fire and with some major twists. And now, Katniss Everdeen returns to face her biggest challenges yet. The question remains: will the forces against a young girl from District 12 make her stronger? Or will they break her completely?

Suzanne Collins picks Mockingjay up right where Catching Fire left off – with Katniss flying in a hovercraft to the mysterious District 13 – a place where a revolt against the evil Capitol has been brewing for some time now. The new society is stark and organized, and offers much more to people like Katniss and her family, but the question keeps egging at the back of her mind: where exactly is her freedom? Sure, she has food to eat now. She has quarters assigned to her family in a hospital-like environment. But still there are those in authority even in 13 that would control her. That would seek to use her. And now she has to decide which path she will take: Revolt against everything, or join a revolution that merely views her as a pawn? With her friend Peeta captured in the Capitol, and a war looming on the horizon, death is only right around the next corner.

I will say this up front: I highly dislike Collins’ first chapters. They seem to take too much time setting things back up and often seem highly over-written. But once this book takes off in the second and third chapters, things just don’t let up. Katniss is faced with one terrifying decision after the next, and as every bulwark in her life is torn down, she has to learn to rely on herself to make it. Her character evolution is very interesting. In The Hunger Games, she begins as an idealistic and brave girl who will save her sister’s life. As she grows in Catching Fire, she begins to seek independence, but comes to see everything requires dependence – her dependence on others, on the Capitol, on the hope of a resistance, on Peeta. On Gale. But in Mockingjay, those things are slowly stripped away, until all she has left is herself. With Peeta captured and Gale caught up in the resistance, Katniss doesn’t know where her place is. And this book is her struggle to find that place.

Collins, as always, shines in the action. I couldn’t help turning pages faster and faster as Katniss and Gale enter wartime situations to battle the Capitol. The writing was charged with excitement, and with some of the plot twists right up to the very last few chapters, it really did leave me breathless. Panic overcame me many times as I wondered: Who is going to possibly survive any of this? I began to dread the ending, wondering if Collins would finish painting her depiction of society in a bleak way or not. While I refuse to spoil the end, I will say that I was satisfied with it. Collins does wrap things up in a beautiful way, the perfect ending that she could have chosen for such a trilogy.

Readers who enjoyed the actual Hunger Games in both books one and two, will probably come to Mockingjay expecting more of the same. What is here is very different. The whole series had to change positions and switch over to this sort of a finale. Collins has been building her viewpoints on what war and an oppressed society does. In so many ways, the Capitol reflects Western Civilization – a place that has everything and wastes everything, while the Districts mirrors places the West relies on for food and exports. It’s a fascinating look at the way societies interact and work with each other, and it definitely is sobering to the reader to consider the possibilities of such a society in the real world.

Dystopian fiction can’t find a better series than The Hunger Games. It truly is an epic trilogy that will be around for ages to come. And while Mockingjay slips a little with momentum, the end of Katniss Everdeen’s story is one that must be read. For when the end comes, then a new beginning can truly start to grow.

Book purchased by reviewer.

Dragons of the Watch  by Donita K. Paul

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Adventure

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Several years ago, Mrs. Paul introduced us to the world of Amara with The DragonKeeper series.  It was instant love. Two years ago, though, Mrs. Paul went back to a time before the Dragon Keeper with two of her characters, the wizard Fenworth and his librarian (and unwilling partner in crime) Librettowit. She tells of a time they hopped continents a place called Chiril who had never heard of Wulder, Paladins, dragons, or dragon keepers.

Book one of this new series, now called The Chiril Chronicles, was originally titled The Vanishing Sculptor but has been renamed The Dragons of Chiril, where we were introduced to the lovely emerlindian Tipper, an emerlindian prince named Jayrus, and a tumanhofer artist named Bealomondore. It’s through this band of oddball questers that Wulder is introduced to Chiril and a world literally coming apart. Book two, Dragons of the Valley, took us further in-country and into a plot of treason, enemy invasions, war, and a flavoring of a love triangle, wherein the cruel Oddidodex tries to take advantage of the outcome of the previous book.

Dragons of the Watch, however, is a bit of a different bird. It centers around the artist-turned-soldier, Bealomondore, a couple years after the war.  Now, I have to admit: Bealomondore has probably been my favorite throughout The Chiril Chronicles, and I’ve always felt he got a bit shortchanged in the previous installments (other characters’ faults, not Mrs. Paul’s).  He’s a lover first and a fighter second, reserved and comfortable with his sketchpad. By Dragons of the Watch, though, dear Bealomondore has transformed from starving artist to well-renowned sculptor, painter, military hero, statesman, and friend of Prince Jayrus and Princess Tipper.

We’re introduced first, however, to the female lead of this story, Ellicinderpart (Ellie), a tumanhofer goatherdess  living in the hills some distance from the Amber City. She’s a sweet, determined little thing with a big heart. Her family receives an invitation to the royal wedding, and her aunt and uncle agree (or, rather, insist) to take her.  No sooner have they started out, though, then one of the goats gets loose, and she’s got to get him back on her father’s land. Ellie hops off the wagon, intending to rejoin her aunt and uncle in a few hours, and then finds herself inside an invisible, enchanted glass bottle in a giant city, being chased by giant six-year-olds.  A dashing, slightly gruff, young man saves her from these rude enemies. Oh, yes, it’s Bealomondore, also headed to the wedding, also trapped, and hiding in a giant library. And that’s just the beginning.

Again, Mrs. Paul creates fully developed, lovely characters and spins a dense story laced with themes of justice and mercy, honor, and family.  She’s always been elegant in her ability to weave truth naturally into a story, and she does so this time, too. Reading her books is much like visiting with an old friend, and I look forward to whatever she’s got next.

Genre: Legal / Horror

Publisher: Pinnacle

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Mallory Caine is a lawyer with a taste for intelligence in her men.  She goes for the brainy college types- especially the brain portion.  Being a zombie will do that to you.  But Ms. Caine isn’t your average, stiff-armed, head-cocked, moaning zombie.  No, a healthy dose of night cream applied liberally every morning helps keep the decomposing flesh at bay.

Mallory is not a zombie without a conscience, either.  Every life, every meal haunts her.  But she must feed in order to keep the fraction of life she has.  Otherwise, she would die without her soul, and she can’t do that.  No, Mallory must stay alive in order to find out who murdered her, who turned her into the monster she is now, and why.  Is there any cure for being a zombie?  Pay Me In Flesh puts a whole new spin on leading a double life, with its main character trying to make her living by defending in the court of law and getting her meals by picking up men on the street.

It’s tough to catch a break in a city like L.A., especially when Mallory is hearing voices and constantly getting dive-bombed by birds.  Things get complicated when her vampire friend Traci Ann is framed for murder- a murder that Mallory knows her client didn’t commit.  How does she know this?  Because Mallory herself was responsible for the policeman’s death.  When Mallory decides to defend the shape-shifting supernatural, she must go head to head with her ex-boyfriend and prosecutor, Aaron Argula, in a battle of wits and desire.  Whether the desire stems from hunger or passion, Mallory couldn’t say.

As she progresses, Mallory must deal with a corrupt system of police, lawyers, and judges who thwart her at every turn.  At night, the battle rages on to a fight for her undead life against a sword-swinging, head-slicing zealot with a vendetta against zombies.  Will Mallory be able to defend her friend without revealing her own secrets? A wry read, the story dips and twists at every turn, keeping the elusive conclusion just out of sight.  The gore is kept at minimum, with our heroine using her trusty hook-nosed pick instead of the traditional zombie method of biting.

The book promises more to come, as Mallory Caine’s story is far from over at the end.  She has yet to solve her own murder, or come to any sort of resolution with her ex or the green-eyed detective that she quarrels regularly with.  Pay Me In Flesh will keep you intrigued until the end, with its wit and unpredictable plot.

K. Bennett displays a broad knowledge of his home city, Los Angeles, as well as the law profession he once worked in.  This is his first zombie book, following his bestsellers Deadlock and Try Fear, published under a name familiar to many, James Scott Bell.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Publisher:  Putnam Adult

Publication Dates: Sept 13, 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twitchell

Eve Dallas is a woman of strength, courage and above all, honor. These are not traits that she learned during her childhood or her formative years. Instead, they’re traits picked up, honed and sharpened to a deadly point in the years since becoming a police officer. And each and every one of them are about to be tested.

On her rookie assignment, just out of the academy, Eve had the misfortune to come across Isaac McQueen, a sick, foul and deeply disturbed man whose favorite hobby was taking young girls, using and abusing them and then killing them. He also kept careful track of each one with a number carved into their chests. Dallas was baptized by fire with the McQueen case and she was beyond relieved when she was able to put him away. Now years later, Dallas is a seasoned homicide detective –the best on the force. But it still rattles her to the core when she discovers that McQueen has escaped prison and that he’s got a personal vendetta against her. More concerned for the others in the case than herself, Dallas dives headfirst into the investigation with her team and loved ones all close around her for support. Little does she know that the case that pushed her to be the exceptional cop that she is today is about to
take an even darker and more personal turn than she’d thought possible.

McQueen, knowing just enough of Eve’s past to be dangerous, takes his talents to Dallas which requires Eve to leave behind her comfort zone and go back to the place where she earned her name. With Roarke in tow to keep her safe, Eve throws herself heavy and hard into bringing McQueen down.

Just when I think that J.D. Robb has taken me everywhere she can with Eve Dallas, another layer is pulled back, revealing more depth and history for an already complex and well beloved character. This book brought Eve, Roarke, and everyone around them to a new level of intrigue, danger.  Mixed through it all Eve has to deal with a lot of self introspection. How did she become the woman she is today? How did she evolve? Is it something wrapped in her DNA or is it choices she made along the way?

I loved this book. I had only just decided that Robb’s earlier outing Treachery in Death, was my favorite Dallas book but now, Robb has handed me a dilemma. Rich with backstory and history of Dallas and the struggles of everyone around her on how best to protect and love her, this book opened up my favorite characters and gave me even more respect for each of them. I could not read this book quickly enough and have already recommended it time and time again to people that I know would love it. Though it’s heavy in backstory, you can still enjoy the murder mystery without knowing all of the fine details of Dallas’ early life. If you have read any books though, and are a Dallas/Roarke fan like myself, this book will tear your heart out, stomp on it, and then slowly piece it back together and hand to you completely remade.

If you like murder mysteries, futuristic books or romance, this one’s for you.

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Megan Connors lives in a man’s world. As part of the secret service, she’s constantly fighting to prove she’s just as capable as her male counterparts. And for the most part, Megan has succeeded. She is being considered for an opening in the PPD (Presidential Protective Division). However, before any decision is made she has one more assignment—protecting the vice president’s daughter. In order to do this, she must work under the command Ash Zanders who is known for being tough, critical, and completely against women in the special service. To make matters worse, he’s vying for the same PPD promotion she is.

Ash has been on Lindsay Hall’s protective detail for a couple years. He has watched as drugs and alcohol have spun her life into a downward spiral. Her years of running with the wrong crowd have caught up with her and someone wants her dead. To keep Lindsay safe, they secretly transport her to a ranch where she can undergo rehabilitation. But, protecting Lindsay from herself will present as great a challenge as finding the person or persons behind the threats. Ash isn’t happy either with the new agent assigned to his team. Megan may have an impeccable record, but the secret service is no place for a woman.

When those after Lindsay discover her location and make it clear that they can reach her whenever they want, Ash and Megan will be forced to work together to keep her safe. In the process, the two will come to understand and respect the other and with that will come feelings and emotions neither one is prepared to face.

In Attracted to Fire, Diann Mills delivers everything you would expect from a suspense/romance novel. The characters are likeable. I found myself especially rooting for Lindsay as she struggled to regain control in her life and make the difficult journey of self-discovery. Ash is the classic “woman-hater” and Megan the typical woman who breaks through his defenses and eventually takes over his heart. Though I didn’t find any shocking twists, I did enjoy reading Attracted to Fire. This is novel for those looking for a story with romance, suspense, and faith.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Just in time for our own “doomsday” predictions, The Leftovers allows us to imagine what would happen if the Rapture, or End of Time, really did happen.  In Perrotta’s version, there is a Sudden Departure in which people absolutely vanish in the middle of whatever they happen to be doing.  Some entire families disappear, but in most cases, only one family member or close friend disappears.  Kevin, the mayor of his small suburb, doesn’t lose anyone directly, but his wife joins a cult-like group in order to deal with these changes.  His teen daughter becomes despondent at losing her mother, and his college-student son quits school and follows a corrupt evangelist.   While Kevin’s family is the main focus of the story, Perrotta introduces us to other characters who are intertwined in the lives of Kevin’s family.

I have never read one of Perrotta’s books and didn’t know what to expect, and to be honest, at first, I was confused.  Each chapter focuses on a different character, and at times it was difficult following who was who and what he or she was doing.  I also had a hard time understanding how the concept of the Sudden Departure was explained; it left me wondering what exactly happened.  I am glad I stuck with it, however, because the characters quickly developed and established relationships with each other.  The whole notion of the Sudden Departure made more sense, and I was able to see the thought process behind the characters’ decisions.  I don’t necessarily agree with some of the decisions the characters made, but I can understand their motivation.

Due to the topic of the book, some people may be offended by its content.  Readers interested in seeing how people react to such a tragic event will appreciate the storyline.  The whole plot was thought-provoking and managed to keep my attention, once I got into it.  Because it does address cult-like behavior, some readers may not enjoy this.  Additionally, Kevin’s daughter Jill starts rebelling and engaging in promiscuity, which may also offend some readers.  While not described in graphic detail, readers will get an eyeful of sexual situations.   For those able to overlook the sexual content, give it a chance.  The Leftovers grows on the reader and engages in a completely offbeat manner.

Artist Kirk DouPonce chats with Josh Olds to give us a behind the scenes look at book cover design.

Kirk DouPonce of DogEared Design has been designing and illustrating book covers for the past 15 years. During those years he’s gotten to work for some of the biggest (and smallest) publishing houses in the US and the UK. His work has graced the covers of books by authors such as Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Steven James, Karen Kingsbury, Brandilyn Collins, John MacArthur, and Max Lucado. Kirk lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with his wife and four children.

You can view his portfolio at DogEaredDesign.com

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: New Hope

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller 

Enslaved in the sex trade for nearly ten years, Mara’s daily life is filled with brutality inflicted on her by her clients, Enforcer and Jefe (the boss).

Jonathan, a high school senior destined for Bible college, is more focused on earning enough money to keep his car running than he is on the horrors in his own neighborhood. That is, until he delivers a pizza to a hotel and encounters a half-naked girl fleeing from one of the rooms. The awareness of a sex trade in America comes crashing around him.

Deliver Me from Evil by Kathi Macias is the first in the Freedom series and one of those books that reviewers long to recommend. For its addressing of social justice issues, for the love that has been so evidently poured into the pages, for the good it could do in society. However, the book has a problem. Jonathan’s family feels stilted and one-sided. Their lives and discussions revolve around sex trafficking and little else. It feels as if this is all the family thinks about. They come across as boring, perfect Christians, a big no-no. This reviewer found herself hurrying through the sections about Jonathan and his family to reach the far more compelling stories told through the eyes of the trafficking victims.

These scenes drove home the reality of prostitution rings and offered insight into how such things can happen. And it is here that Kathi Macias shines. She manages to convey the atrocities inflicted without being graphic. The numbness of the seasoned “prostitutes” is especially well-conveyed.

Macias manages to give a face to countless unknown victims, and although flawed in style, the book should be read for awareness’ sake.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Children’s / Young Adult

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Percy Jackson has no idea who he is. Where he has come from. What has happened the past sixteen years of his life. All he knows is that an unnamed force keeps drawing him south. Drawing him to a place where Roman demigods – children of the Roman gods and humans – train for battle against any foe that might threaten Camp Jupiter. Percy arrives, and soon finds himself thrown in with the outcasts:  a bumbling would-be soldier named Frank, and a mysterious, and somewhat deadly girl named Hazel. And now, the three of them have to embark on a quest to save Camp Jupiter from the evil threatening to erase Rome’s mark from history forever. The only problem is the mission is suicidal. All of them – Percy, Frank, and Hazel – have been destined to die.

Rick Riordan’s return to the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympian gods is a very welcome one. Riordan knows exactly what he’s doing as he leads Percy through danger after danger. Long gone are the days of random Greek monsters cropping up to fill in the action. Riordan uses every encounter for a reason – to build up the quite complicated characters, or to deliver some devastating plot twists. With The Son of Neptune, book two in the Heroes of Olympus, Riordan definitely delivers more of his trademark myth and mystery.

Once again, Riordan splits up the chapters between his three lead characters – each chapter from one of their points of view. And unlike with The Lost Hero, where I found myself slightly annoyed (wanting to get back to my favorite character), in this book, it seemed to work much more seamlessly. All three characters are highly enjoyable, and fun to follow along as they deal with their own demons of the past. Read the rest of this entry »

Steven James joins us to talk about the new Patrick Bowers thriller, The Queen.

Read our review of The Queen here.

More about Steven James:

Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written four other award-winning Patrick Bowers novels as well as many works of nonfiction. He has a master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and creative storytelling on three continents. He lives near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.

To learn more about Steve visit him at: stevenjames.net 

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed in the audio player below.

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Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee recently joined us to talk about their new novel, Forbidden. Join us as we talk about the collaboration process, this exciting new series, and things to come.

Check out our podcast review of Forbidden here and our print review here.

More about Ted Dekker:

Ted Dekker is a New York Times bestselling author with more than five million books in print. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between unforgettable characters. You can find him online at Teddekker.com and Facebook.com/teddekker.

More about Tosca Lee:

Tosca Lee is the author of the critically acclaimed DEMON: A MEMOIR, HAVAH: THE STORY OF EVE, and the Books of Mortals series with NY Times bestselling author Ted Dekker (FORBIDDEN, September 2011; MORTAL, June 2012; and SOVEREIGN, October 2012).

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below.

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Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Date: July 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Rosemary Thomas is about to face death. Execution. Lethal injection. Found guilty of murdering her estranged husband—God (and the jury) knows she had the motive—but she didn’t commit the crime. At least that was her claim. Of course, that’s what they all say.

Christopher Thomas had been the curator of San Francisco’s McFall Art Museum, which, by all appearances, should have been a rather posh and cushy job, relatively free from worries or stress. He, was a philanderer, yes, and used his wife only to gain power within the world of art, but really, she should be the one thanking him for putting her higher up on the social ladder. In the end, it would matter for nothing, as both ended up dead.

But ten years later, the cop who oversaw the arrest of Rosemary Thomas is now convinced of her innocence. Somewhere, a killer still lurks, and his investigation reveals a tangled web of lies, deceit, and double-crossings. Jumping between timelines of the present and ten years prior, No Rest for the Dead, takes what seems to be an open-and-shut case and peels back more and more layers to reveal a grand scheme that could implicate any number of people. Christopher Thomas was a ruthless man with shady dealings in both his personal and professional lives. As Nunn unravels the case, he finds himself shocked by how deeply tied and twisted his new suspects actually are.

No Rest for the Dead is a unique collaboration of twenty-six top-notch writers, each submitting a chapter or more for the book. The old saying goes that too many cooks spoil the broth, but editors Andrew and Lamia Gulli do an excellent job of bringing the novel together into a cohesive whole. A few chapters here and there stand out as mildly out of place in technical areas such as character vocabulary or tone, but overall the authors do well in understanding the characters they’re given. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Austin and Mercy’s lives collide in the wake of September 11. Pain, anger, and regret threaten to wreck their lives. Austin Finley is a New York City cop haunted by the horrifying images of that day and the phone call he had ignored. Mercy Samara is the shrink who holds his job in her hands. When she deems him unfit for active duty, Austin resigns from the department, refusing to be trapped behind a desk.

Years later, Austin has built a new life for himself in Baltimore where he now works as an EMT. With the help of his new found faith in God, Austin has gathered the broken pieces of his life and released the hurt and hatred that held him back. While responding to a 911 call at a high school, his path intersects once more with Dr. Samara who works as a guidance counselor there. This time, the interest they feel toward the other is immediate as they embark on a somewhat unconventional relationship. While their reunion resurfaces old scars, their biggest challenge is her lack faith in his God. Despite their love for each other, this is one area neither one seems willing to compromise on.

From Ashes to Honor is a story of endurance and of rising from the ruins. Loree Lough delivers characters that are both flawed and loveable. Read the rest of this entry »

NY Times Bestselling Author Eric Wilson joins us to talk about his new book, One Step Away.

Read our review of One Step Away here.

About Eric:

In college, Eric took journalism courses and served as contributing editor for the newspaper. He also published travel and educational nonfiction pieces in periodicals during the early ’90s, but his first novel wasn’t published till 2004. Since that time, he has published nine additional titles.

Eric accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior in 1971. In the following years, he traveled with his parents in Eastern Europe, smuggling Bibles during the time of the Iron Curtain. Back in the States, Eric attended a Christian high school and did youth group missions trips. After graduation, Eric worked with Operation Mobilisation and YWAM in Europe and China, where he again served the Suffering Church. When his parents divorced after twenty years of marriage, however, it challenged Eric to know what he truly believed and to cling to God more than ever. Back in the US, he completed four years at a Bible college and worked as a youth pastor for five years.

Both Eric and Carolyn have a heart for the destitute, abused, and depressed. They hope to serve again on the mission field in the years to come, while still writing and using the talents God has given.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below.

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Genre: YA

Publisher: Harcourt

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

The story of Theseus and the Minotaur has come down through the ages relatively untouched. Now, Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett turns this myth on its head by relating the tale as if it was actually lived by the humans of that time—the real story, if you will. Much like the film Ever After puts a realistic spin on the tale of Cinderella; Dark of the Moon does the same for this myth.

Ariadne embraces her destiny as future goddess of the moon, but she longs to learn more about the world outside her home of Krete. When a shipment of slaves arrives as a tribute fromAthens, she sneaks down to the ship to see what she can learn of other lands. Instead, she meets Theseus, the son of the king ofAthens, a young man destined to die at the hands of a monster beneath the palace. If he is to live he must kill the beast. In a twist, this monster, Asterion, is Ariadne’s brother and not a monster at all, but a freakishly strong, mentally childlike human—not a bull-human creature. Ariadne is caught in the middle of a budding friendship, her religious responsibilities and her brother.

At first glance, this book sounds intriguing and action-packed, but honestly, the story languishes a bit as it expounds on the religious underpinnings that inform Ariadne’s daily life. Dumps of information and complicated theology make this an unlikely read for adventure seekers as the book is less concerned with Theseus’s adventures and more with Ariadne’s internal struggles. Indeed, the book is a coming-of-age story with a young would-be goddess learning to find her place as goddess. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Children’s / Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

The Cahills are back in the new 39 Clues series, Cahills vs. Vespers. And this time the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been before. The team of authors behind this ground-breaking, multi-media book series have really outdone themselves in kicking things off with The Medusa Plot. With six new cards, more hidden puzzles, and danger behind every turn, Gordon Korman brings us the latest, and perhaps best, entry yet.

Amy and Dan Cahill thought they could return to their normal lives after the massive globe-trotting clue hunt. And two quiet years have gone by. Years filled with training for Amy… and a sinking depression for Dan. Then the Vespers strike – kidnapping various members of the Cahill family. Every moment Dan and Amy waste could cost them one of their family members. The clue hunt never prepared them for this. Not even Grace Cahill – the family mastermind – prepared them. For the first time, they are truly alone. And unless they follow the Vespers’ instructions to the letter, people will die.

Nothing could have prepared me for The Medusa Plot. Each chapter and page held new secrets. New surprises. Korman is at the absolute top of his form, and this easily bests any of his previous entries in the series. In fact – this new set of books promises to be worlds better than the first eleven. After a couple books, it wasn’t too hard to guess what the 39 clues might be for. But this time around – things are much more mysterious. And the hidden codes in the book make things even more intriguing. As usual, pieces of history are intertwined with the plot, taking Amy and Dan on some wild excursions and into some very deadly places.

Korman has amped up the action – with some great sequences, and also some rather frightening ones as well. The tone of this new series is definitely a bit darker than before, with issues between Amy and Dan, as well as a few unnerving plot developments. While there’s no explicit gore, there are a few scenes that might make younger readers squirm. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Nick Heller is a guy you want on your side. Former special ops, now making a living as a private spy, he uses his unique skill set to help those who want a job done right. When a family friend’s daughter goes missing Nick is only too happy to get involved, especially when the captors send a live internet feed of the girl buried underground. Nick is now in a race against time to find her and those responsible for this unspeakable act of torture.

With only two books released in this series, I can safely say that Nick Heller is one of my favorite characters in thrillerdom. Joseph Finder always excels in keeping his audiences hooked with perfectly crafted plots, relentless suspense, and endearing protagonists. But there is just something about Nick Heller that easily places him head and shoulders above other veteran series’ characters that we’ve come to love in the ever expanding thriller genre. Much of this is due to Finder’s masterful use of the first person that makes this book simply impossible to put down.

Of course the break neck pacing of the story and the terror of Alexa Marcus only helps draw us in deeper. Even in some of the darkest scenes where we are plunged into the nightmare of being buried alive, I couldn’t take my eyes off the page. At nearly 400 pages, this novel only feels like half of that and never is there a dull moment or a wasted word. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve recently been blown away by Isaac Marion’s debut novel, Warm Bodies. Listen in as Jake Chism and Lori Twichell discuss the book and chat with Isaac Marion about his backwards journey to publication and the story behind the best book trailer we’ve ever seen.

We’re also giving away 2 copies of Warm Bodies and we give all the details on how to enter the giveaway in the podcast. Enjoy!

Read our print reviews of Warm Bodies here.

More about Isaac Marion:

Isaac Marion was born in north-western Washington in 1981 and has lived in and around Seattle his whole life, working a variety of strange jobs like delivering deathbeds to hospice patients and supervising parental visits for foster-kids. He is not married, has no children, and did not go to college or win any prizes. Warm Bodies is his first novel.

This podcast can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Romance, Horror, Suspense

Publisher: Atria

Publication Date: April 2011

Jake Chism’s Review:

R is a zombie, but R is so much more. He certainly looks the part with his trademark gait and rotting flesh.  Sure he loves to munch on human brains as much as the next dead guy, but something is changing inside. He just met this human girl named Julie on a hunting raid and instead of eating her, he’s decided to save her life and hide her from his friends. In this post apocalyptic world where zombies prey on human survivors, this is certainly a no-no. But R can’t help himself. Julie is causing him to do something he didn’t know he was capable of doing: to feel.   For the first time in his death R has found a reason to live.

The plot summary above does no justice to Isaac Marion’s breathtaking debut. Neither do the “zombie love story” nor “zombie Romeo and Juliet” monikers others have given it. Like its main character, R, Warm Bodies is so much more than what we see on the surface.

The story is told in the first person from R’s POV and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) I’d place this first person narration on the level of Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas. Marion writes like a seasoned pro, making this the kind of story that will send aspiring novelists and veterans alike into fits of jealous rage. Not only is this Isaac Marion’s debut, but he sold the movie rights before the book was even written, much less published. Yeah, the kind of stuff that only happens in publishing fantasy land, but nevertheless the final product is more than worthy of the hype.

Marion infuses the well balanced plot with beautiful themes of compassion, creativity, and humility. R’s “courting” of Julie is beautiful to behold, leaving us with countless scenes that will sear in your mind long after reading. For example, I will never forget R’s Frank Sinatra record skipping serenade that is nothing short of literary genius.

Fans of the zombie mythology will find plenty here to satisfy, but Marion deftly avoids the pitfalls of gratuitousness and overindulgence that one might expect in a zombie tale. There’s more than enough gore, violence, adult content, and language here to warn sensitive readers, but the journey is more than worth it for readers who long to be moved by their fiction. Read the rest of this entry »

Jake Chism chats with NY Times Bestselling Author Andrew Gross about his new novel, Eyes Wide Open. Listen in as Andrew Gross talks about the personal tragedy behind this story, his early encounter with Charles Manson himself, and what’s next for his fans.

More about Andrew Gross:

In 2009 New York Times bestselling author Andrew Gross received the most horrifying phone call of his life — his deeply troubled nephew’s body had been found at the base of a cliff on the Californiacoast. Haunted by this tragedy, Gross turned to his own form of therapy – writing novels. The result is EYES WIDE OPEN (Harper Collins; July 12, 2011) his break-out novel that tells the story of a family haunted by a secret past.

Andrew Gross is the author of The New York Times and international bestsellers The Blue Zone and The Dark Tide, and coauthor of five No. 1 bestselling novels with James Patterson, including Judge & Jury, Lifeguard, and The Jester. Gross lives in Westchester County, New York, with his wife, Lynn. They have three children.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Military Suspense/Thriller

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date: July 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Canyon “Midas” Metcalfe has made many mistakes. The scars on his wrist are proof to his pain, desperation — and failure. He couldn’t even take his own life without messing it up. But that was two years ago. Now he’s part of Nightshade, a covert group of men who are in the business of restoring life and peace to the broken parts of the world — if only it would work for him too.

For the past six months, Danielle Roark has lived every woman’s biggest nightmare. Taken captive by a Venezuelan war lord, she’s been raped, tortured, and broken. Managing to escape only leads her into another living hell. Her government, the people meant to protect her, accuses her of fabricating the story and committing treason — a crime punishable with death. Returning is her only option. But how can Dani survive the jungle that nearly killed her? And what does she hope to find when some of the best secret ops have returned empty handed?

Canyon and Dani’s lives intersect at her court hearing. Their connection is instantaneous.  Now it is up to Nightshade to escort her safely back to Venezuela and secure the evidence needed to prove her innocence. But can Canyon keep his focus with a beautiful, tragic woman threatening to steal his heart? He can’t afford not to, because this is one mission some will stop at nothing to make sure fails.

Ronie Kendig is brilliant in the third installment of her Discarded Heroes series, Wolfsbane. Heart-pounding suspense and adrenaline-pumping action keeps the reader pinned to the edge of the chair. Kendig carries her audience through the dangers and perils of the Venezuelan jungle as Nightshade fights to save Dani. Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Christy Awards!

Check out our reviews of some of the winning novels (for a full list of winners go here):

Sworn to Protect by DiAnn Mills (Contemporary Romance)

The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue (Contemporary Series)

The Bishop by Steven James (Suspense)

To Darkness Fled (Blood of Kings Book 2) by Jill Williamson (Visionary)

Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book by Nancy Rue (Young Adult)

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Dead bodies are a dime a dozen in Lucy Trask’s world. She’s a medical examiner and death holds no surprises for her. All that changes when she stumbles across the mutilated corpse of a friend while jogging through the park. When a trail of tortured bodies is left for Lucy to discover, one thing is certain. Someone is out for revenge, and Lucy is somehow at the center of the killer’s endgame.

Death and violence are nothing new to Afghanistan war veteran J.D. Fitzpatrick. He has seen his share of gruesomeness. However, the mutilated bodies that keep appearing reach a whole new realm. With each murder, J.D. is convinced the killer is reserving Lucy for his/her grand finale. As J.D. struggles to protect the beautiful and independent ME, he finds himself losing control of his heart and emotions. Protecting her becomes as much a personal task as it does his job. But how can he keep Lucy safe with all the secrets she’s keeping? Somehow, he must convince her to trust him.

You Belong to Me by Karen Rose is a gripping novel that stole my breath as my heart beat faster. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Spy Thriller, Political Thriller

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

John Wells isn’t sure whether he follows trouble or trouble follows him. He’s no longer a part of the CIA, true, but international espionage is like a high-speed car wreck—you can’t just walk away from it. When you’re one of the best, people keep dragging you back into the fray and this time it’s someone no less than King Abdullah, the aged leader of Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah is old and talks of who will succeed him as king are rampant. The king fears that if the wrong man—someone like his brother Saeed—takes the throne, it would be the end of the House of Saud’s reign and the rise of radical Islam. The king is a devout Muslim, yes, but terrorism is not the way of Allah.

With treachery coming from inside his own family, the king cannot rely on anybody—anybody except Wells, who finds himself thrown into a delicate and dangerous political situation. As events unfold and Wells seeks to unravel the ever-deepening mystery, he discovers a plot that goes way beyond the confines of political rumblings in the oil-rich nation all the way towards sparking the final battle between America and radical Islam.

There are literally thousands of novels on terrorism and you think you’ve read one you’ve read them all. Bad guys, Allahu Akbar, bombs, and kick-butt spies and Delta Force teams to save the day. But Berenson works hard to make his novel stand out and achieves it with great success. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

The world holds hope and promise for young Esther. As a Jew, she may be considered inferior to her Persian counterparts, but she has a freedom they can only dream of. That is, until she is presented as a candidate for the king. Suddenly, Esther is not only a prisoner to the Persian regulations, but to protocol too. The difference between her and the other girls in the harem is that she doesn’t want to be chosen queen.

King Ahasuerus is tired of the same flighty women and their power grasping families. Then he meets Esther. For the first time, he has met someone who eases his loneliness. Esther sees him for who he is, and not what he is. She is too good to be true.

That is what tortures Esther the most. She isn’t true. Not only has she concealed her Jewishness from her husband, but also the fact that she was sent to the palace in hopes of having a Jewish advocate in the king’s ear. When Haman, the king’s right hand and best friend, issues a decree that calls for the annihilation of the Jewish people, it is up to Esther to speak. If she does, Esther could lose the husband she has come to love. If she doesn’t, thousands of innocent people — her people — will die.

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf is the story of Esther as never told before. And I mean, as never told before. This novel left me with very conflicting emotions. On the one hand it’s a great story that maintains a comfortable pace and keeps the reader’s interest from cover to cover. Wolf creates likeable and convincing characters that will attract the readers. That said, it is not historically or Biblically accurate. While I still would have read it, I wish I’d known this beforehand. If I had been prepared for all the liberties the author took with the story of Esther I don’t think I would have felt so let down. I understand that in historical fiction, an author has to fill a lot of gaps with just that…fiction. But when the writer starts changing actual facts that are known, then I have a problem. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

A church cannot be as big and influential as Diamond Point … and not harbor some ugly secrets. Immorality? Manipulation? Fraud? Abuse of its tax-exempt status? Hypocritical pastors cashing in on the gullible flock? He was looking for a new investigative project … something Pulitzer worthy. As painful as this thing … was, it couldn’t come at a better time.

The Ambition is a story about just one thing – unbridled ambition. And, the best way to introduce it is through its cast of characters and the one ambition that drives each of them.

Tom Ryan O’Sullivan – second rate attorney son of a first rate Chicago legal legend whose one ambition has come to be paying off a gambling debt to people you don’t want to be in debt to.

Gary Strider – investigative journalist whose one ambition is to get that Pulitzer that he has come so close to in the past.

Eric Snow – one time head of a software empire and now CEO of an enterprise of a different sort, Diamond Point Fellowship. Though head of a mega church, his ambition is to do have a bigger stage for his vision of the Gospel.

While The Ambition is Les Strobel’s first novel, he is certainly no newcomer to the world of writing. And his credentials for writing this kind of story are beyond comparison. Strobel was legal journalist for the flagship paper, The Chicago Tribune, of a city known for strong arm politics. He was an atheist turned staff pastor in two of the cutting edge mega churches in America, Willow Creek and Saddle Back. And he has written numerous defenses of the faith seeking to answer some of the deepest questions of the human experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Jake Chism chats with Randy Singer about the re-release of False Witness and how readers can help support the Dalit Christians who are being persecuted in India.

Read our review of False Witness here.

More about Randy Singer:

Randy believes it’s important to simultaneously hold a number of different jobs so that if he gets fired by two employers the same day, he can still avoid the unemployment line. He splits his time and divides his personality between Randy Singer, critically acclaimed author, Randy Singer, veteran trial lawyer, and Randy Singer, ministry leader and preacher. When he grows up, he will decide what he really wants to do.

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Join in the fun as Jake Chism, Lori Twichell, Josh Olds, and James Andrew Wilson discuss Gravestone, the second book in Travis Thrasher’s Solitary Tales series. Spoilers abound for both Solitary and Gravestone, so if you haven’t read the books consider yourself warned!!

Don’t miss our print review of Gravestone here.

This podcast can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Crocket Grey is a school teacher, a divorced weekend dad and a man on a collision course with his own inner demons. His story begins with his annual drunken binge held in honor of a daughter whose death a few years earlier left Crocket missing a piece of himself. But on this night before the Scotch Whiskey has had a chance to completely dull his pain or senses, he sees the ghost of his lost daughter at the window. What follows will change everything about the way Crocket Grey perceives the world and life.

In the Canary List, Sigmund Brouwer, immerses the reader in the story of a man forced to rethink everything about his life and reality. The image at his window is not a ghost but rather, Jamie, a 12 year foster child from his school class. Jamie’s request to spend one night in peace can’t be refused. And even though Crocket has the sense to have his elderly neighbor keep the girl for the night, the die is cast for his world to be turned inside out.

Jamie feels Evil. Not evil in some generic form but rather Evil personified in certain people she comes into contact with.  As a result she has come under the guidance of a psychiatrist seeking to help her and a representative from the Vatican who has answered the doctor’s call for help. Before Crocket knows what is happening he is ensnared in a web of deception, cover-up and an incredible plot that threatens to either save or destroy the Catholic Church.

What makes this story work is its ambiguity. Crocket doesn’t believe in God, the supernatural and certainly not demons. The reader can’t miss the irony of a man who memorializes his dead daughter and failed marriage by drinking himself into oblivion but dismisses the possibility of demons without a thought. When he becomes a captive of a plot within the Vatican to “fix” the selection of the next Pope, he meets Cardinals just as conflicted, including an official exorcist who doesn’t believe any more than Crocket Grey.

If you are beginning to think this is a horror tale with little girls’ heads twisting in the wind, forget it. The Canary List is not that kind of a story. Instead, it is a story of intrigue that will leave you guessing to the very last page what really happened. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Mystery, Horror, Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Kensington

Publication Date:  February 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

This book has been sitting on my pile of books to review for a while, and since I have already read Funaro’s The Sculptor, I was getting antsy to get to The Impaler.  It was definitely worth the wait.  It’s not written in the typical murder mystery style; rather, there are three parts to the story.  In the first part, Detective Markham and the reader are introduced to the gruesome murders that start appearing in rural North Carolina.  People are impaled with large stakes through their rectums and out through their upper torsos.  At first glance, all the victims appear to be gang members, but some sleuthing turns up another connection.  In part two, the reader is introduced to The General, who is the Impaler.  He refers to himself as the General because he is the leader of the army meant to take out certain people in order to reconnect with loved ones on “the other side.”  Obviously, this person has severe mental issues and a lack of connection to reality.  This portion focuses on his history and how he became the General/Impaler.  Finally, in the third part, the reader is treated to the General’s final plans and Markham’s tracking down of this killer.  Where a usual murder mystery would leave the reader guessing until the end to find out who the killer is, Funaro uses a different tactic and decides to let the reader know by the second part.  A great deal of story is written from the General/Impaler’s perspective, which really lends a shot of creepiness to the whole thing.

I have been a fan of some other psychological thriller writers for some time, but they have become old hat compared to Gregory Funaro.  They may sometimes put some more surprises out there, but Funaro manages to get into the sickness, the madness, of what is going on in these killers’ heads.  Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Historical, Romance

Publisher: Risen Books

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Professor Cassie Larson’s life isn’t spectacular. It’s not glorious or amazing. It just is. She’s got a husband she depends on, students she mostly enjoys and there’s a pattern to her life. It all runs with simple expectation and understanding. Even if it’s not perfect or heart pounding, it’s still her life and she’s okay with it. Until the day she meets the man with the brooches. Then everything turns upside down. Literally.

Her husband tells her he’s leaving her. As she tries to absorb this devastating news, she ends up in the water with her brooch and in the arms of a 10^th century Viking named Alarik. Of course he can’t speak English and she understands barely enough to get by, so the initial meeting between the two doesn’t exactly create textbook teaching material.

Soon Cassie realizes that she’s not having a dream and that she’s not going to wake up from this. She’s really honest to goodness in the 10^th century and she’s experiencing history up close and personal.

As for Alarik, he wishes that he was in the middle of a dream too, but he’s not. He’s being blamed for a murder that he’s sure he didn’t commit. At least he’s mostly sure. See when he woke up, he couldn’t remember anything that happened and he knew that he was angry when he went to bed the night before. So is he guilty? Or no? Until he figures it all out, he sees escape as the best option. It will give his faithful friend Ragnar the opportunity to do some investigating and keep Alarik out of further trouble. That is until he meets Cassie. Their destinies become intertwined and neither of them is very happy about it.

I’m a sucker for time travel. It all started with my deep and abiding affection for Quantum Leap and it hasn’t stopped since. If a book has time travel in it, I’m on board. This was a fun romp through time that provided adventure, romance and a lot of fun. Read the rest of this entry »

Listen in as Jake Chism chats with NY Times Bestselling Author Steve Berry about his new novel, The Jefferson Key.

More about Steve Berry:

Steve Berry is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cotton Malone series featuring The Jefferson Key, The Emperor’s Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, and The Templar Legacy. He also has three stand-alone thrillers: The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room —- and two e-book original short stories, The Balkan Escape and The Devil’s Gold. He has 12 million books in print, which have been translated into 40 languages and sold in 51 countries. Steve’s road to publishing was long and arduous, spanning 12 years and 85 rejections over 5 separate manuscripts. He’s also an accomplished instructor, having taught writing to audiences across the globe. When Steve’s not writing, you can find him either on a beach, a golf course, or traveling — discovering more things lost — thinking of the next novel. He lives in the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. Steve and his wife Elizabeth have also started a foundation, History Matters, dedicated to aiding the preservation of our heritage.

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Nick Polchak is a forensic entomologist who understands one thing well … bugs. Everything else about life and people, not so much. And that is what has made Dr. Polchak such an interesting character in all of the novels in Tim Down’s, Bug Man series (Shoo Fly Pie, Chop Shop, First the Dead, Less Than Dead, and Ends of the Earth).

Author, Tim Downs left readers twisting in the wind at the conclusion of his last installment of his “Bug Man” series with Nick was facing the most terrifying crisis of his life. He had faced murderers and examined countless dead bodies but nothing had prepared him for that one. On the last page of Ends of the Earth, Nick asked someone to marry him. Unfortunately we didn’t know who. Nick of Time answers that question.

As we begin Nick of Time we now know Nick and Alena are preparing for their wedding. At least Alena is. Nick is still Nick. He is determined to attend a monthly meeting of experts who assist law enforcement in solving cold cases. Adding fuel to the fire of his determination is a message from an old friend that indicates there is a mystery to solve. So, amidst the protests of his wife-to-be he heads off with a promise to return in just a day. Their wedding, he reasons, isn’t until the weekend and he will be back in plenty of time. If you believe that you haven’t read the other Bug Man stories and you don’t know Nick Polchack. Read the rest of this entry »

Jake Chism recently caught up with Marcher Lord Press novelists Mitchell Bonds, Kathy Tyers, and Jill Williamson to discuss their new releases.

This podcast can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Young Adult / Children

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Excitement cannot begin to describe Rick Riordan’s newest powerhouse The Throne of Fire. Blazing with action, humor, surprises, and a very blatant theme — the newest book in The Kane Chronicles really sets a standard in YA fiction. Riordan brings back all the adventure from The Red Pyramid in his take on Egyptian mythology. And fans will not be disappointed.

Carter and Sadie Kane have fought gods, demons, and magicians from all over the world before — and now they have to do it again. Apophis — the evil Lord of Chaos is rising, and everyone is panicked: who in their right mind would ever be able to stand against such a force? Even just being near the prison of Apophis is enough to disintegrate a mortal. But the Kanes know that they have to do something — anything — to unite the House of Life and all its magicians in the coming battle. And the only way to do that is on a risky gamble: bring back the king of the gods: Ra. But wakening Ra might not be as easy as Carter and Sadie think — and there are rumors that have them both nervous: Ra left for a reason. And he might not want to come back. With the clock ticking down to doomsday, evil villains and insane gods out to kill them, and secrets and lies everywhere, how can the Kanes even expect to survive? Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Ransom Note Press

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Miss Scarlett with the revolver in the billiard room.

To my fellow Clue game lovers, who relish the opportunity at putting their sleuthing skills to work, I have just the book for you! Nine graduates of a detective-training agency receive a mysterious invitation to spend their class reunion in an isolated inn. When the body of their host is discovered, they realize a deadly weekend awaits them. As a ghost-like killer eliminates the guests one by one, the investigators must use their wits in an attempt to survive. Stranded and with the knowledge that the murderer is one of them, suspicion and fear run high. With secrets flowing thicker than blood, some to kill for, who will be the last one standing?

Eric Keith’s, Nine Man’s Murder is like playing Clue, but this time with the background story. The question is, can you figure out the mystery? Read the rest of this entry »

Lori Twichell and Jake Chism share the line with Jason Lethcoe, author of No Place Like Holmes.

Don’t miss our review of the book.

Jason Lethcoe has worked as an animator, director, and storyboard artist at several studios including Walt Disney Studios, Sony Feature Animation Warner Bros., and Dreamworks SKG. Amazing Adventures from Zoom’s Academy was his first foray into juvenile fiction, and was produced as the movie Zoom starring Tim Allen in 2006. (Zoom trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flrwVS3T-xg). His second series, the bestselling Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff, is currently in development as a feature film – and No Place Like Holmes, published by Tommy Nelson, is garnering Hollywood interest prior to the book’s release. See more about this author, award-winning animator, and family man at jasonlethcoe.com and join his Facebook page.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: YA, Mystery

Publisher: Tommy Nelson

Publication Dates: May 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Griffin Sharpe isn’t quite sure what to think of his uncle. Never having met him before, he’s only heard a few things from his mother about what life was like growing up with her brother. So when she sends Griffin off to stay with him for the summer, he’s certain there will be lots of adventure and fun. And with his uncle’s very famous address of 221 Baker Street in London? Griffin’s absolutely certain that he knows precisely who his mysterious uncle is. After all, Griffin has an incredible eye for detail and a photographic memory. His mother and father don’t, so he must have gotten it somewhere in the family. A detective at 221 Baker Street? His uncle MUST be Sherlock Holmes!

Imagine his deep disappointment when he discovers that Mr. Holmes resides at 221 B Baker Street. His uncle is, instead, a beaten down, dirty, crude and rude man named Rupert Snodgrass. And Uncle Rupert is not happy at all about having a little boy he doesn’t know on his doorstep.

Instantly, the two of them get along like oil and water. Though Griffin does his best to do every single thing he can to keep his uncle happy, it doesn’t seem to matter. Griffin prays and seeks God’s will at every turn for how he can reach his uncle and at the same time, he tries to survive this trip to London without starving to death or getting himself in trouble. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Religious

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Dates: May 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

When a loved one passes, it’s always hard. Cleaning out their house is almost always difficult and pulling it off in one weekend might seem almost impossible. But three sisters who barely know each other and only get together when it’s absolutely expected of them? Yeah, that sounds like a fun weekend. Throw in an affair, an impending divorce and the fact that one of the sisters is secretly plotting suicide and you have a fun filled adventure packed weekend don’t you? Yeah, I know. That’s what I thought too.

Ginger, the eldest sister, has always been more mother to the other two sisters. She has never learned how to let go of the control and really love her sisters.  Penny, in the middle of the bunch, has always strived to find the man that would make her complete and perfect. Since this won’t ever happen, she’s been through several marriages and may be ending the current one. And last comes Rosie, the youngest daughter who is convinced that she’s not worth anything and that her death will be best for everyone all around.

I wasn’t sure what to think of this book when I got it. Reading heavy material about sisters and death and dysfunctional relationships was not high on my list. I’m an only child and trust me, even that came with its own kinds of dysfunction that weren’t anything like what these three sisters were experiencing. Read the rest of this entry »

Today is the day!! Travis Thrasher’s new novel, 40, is available everywhere and you don’t want to miss it! To celebrate we are concluding our 40 Questions with Travis Thrasher podcast series and we’re talking all about the new book. Listen in to find out how the story came about, whether or not Travis believes in guardian angels, and how he would spend his last day if he knew he would die tomorrow.

Read our review of 40 here.

Travis Thrasher is the author of over a dozen critically acclaimed novels diverse in tone and style. He and his wife, Sharon, live with their daughters in Chicago.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Drama

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Susan Fales-Hill is an award winning television writer and producer who has worked on shows ranging from The Cosby Show to Suddenly Susan.  She is the author of the critically acclaimed Always Wear Joy.  And now, Susan Fales-Hill has written a fun, New York story that has all the elements a good novel should have, love, lies, lust, betrayal and perhaps hope – readers won’t want to put it down, not until the very end!  One Flight Up is a dramatic-comedic romp through the boardrooms, and bedrooms of Manhattan and Paris.

Atlanta, New Jersey and New York housewives meet the wives in, One Flight Up. India, Abby, Esme, and Monique this intelligent spirited foursome have been friends since their days at Manhattan’s Sibley School for Girls.  All grown up now—they seem to be living ideal lives, until the happily ever after fades and they find themselves at the crossroads of their lives, each with her own set of troubles, and suddenly craving more.

It’s not a throw your head back and laugh until you get a cramp in your side, nor is it a grab the box of tissues and boo-hoo type of story – what it is, is a refreshing diversity of characters who at first glance appear to be nice, wholesome and a lot of fun to be around, but perception and truth are miles apart when it comes to this foursome – lying, deceitful adulteress women of means, is a more accurate description.   The author provides a lesson in high-end fashion as she continuously name drops throughout the novel: Chanel clothing, Frette sheets, Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, Cariter watches, Verdura Maltese Cross bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels  – as well as taking the reader on a very descriptive tour of  Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore an exclusive fashion street in Paris. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

To all Cahills:

Warning! This review is for your eyes only. If you fear Vespers are tracking you, immediately shut off your laptop, mobile, or other wireless device. Once you’ve gone a safe distance be sure to delete your browsing history. The Vespers are everywhere, and they’re now beginning to make their final moves. And I don’t think I need to warn you just what is at stake if the Vesper family gets their hands on all 39 Clues and Gideon Cahill’s mysterious ring. The world is in your hands, Cahill agent.

Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman, and Jude Watson team up to bring the latest installment in The 39 Clues saga with book eleven: Vespers Rising. Meant to be a transition between the first ten books and the upcoming series, Cahills Vs. Vespers, this volume offers four stories by the authors. There are no chapters exactly, but instead long “short stories” about four different Cahill family members. Newcomers to the series should really go back to book one, The Maze of Bones, instead of trying to tackle the subtle references and mysteries that would not make much sense otherwise. Read the rest of this entry »

We’re just a week away from the release of Travis Thrasher’s 40 (our review), and this week we have a special treat. Country music star Jimmy Wayne joins us to talk about Paper Angels, his upcoming collaboration with Travis Thrasher. Listen in as the guys answer fan questions about working together, the story behind the novel, and the possibility of a Paper Angels movie. A big thanks to Jimmy Wayne for taking time to join our podcast.

Jimmy Wayne is an American country music singer and songwriter. He released his self-titled debut album in 2003 on the DreamWorks Records label. Four singles were released from it, including “Stay Gone” and “I Love You This Much”, which both reached Top Ten on the Billboard country charts. A second album, Do You Believe Me Now, was released in August 2008 via Big Machine Records subsidiary Valory Music Group, and its title track became his first Number One hit in late 2008.

Travis Thrasher is the author of over a dozen critically acclaimed novels diverse in tone and style. He and his wife, Sharon, live with their daughters in Chicago.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Listen in as Tim George talks with novelist Mike Dellosso about his new book, Darkness Follows.

Mike Dellosso authors fast-paced, gripping thrillers that keep readers turning pages. He is also a columnist, feature writer, and instructor at writing conferences. He lives in southcentral PA with his wife and four daughters. When he’s not writing he’s usually home with his family, his favorite place to be.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Gather round Thrasher fans! It’s time for Part 2 of our 40 Questions with Travis Thrasher podcast. This time around we are tackling all of the personal questions Travis Thrasher fans are curious about. Stay tuned to the end to find out who this week’s winner of an autographed copy of 40 is and to hear a big announcement about next week’s special guest. Enjoy!

Travis Thrasher is the author of over a dozen critically acclaimed novels diverse in tone and style. He and his wife, Sharon, live with their daughters in Chicago.

Read our review of 40 here.

This podcast can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Pssst. Guess what? Travis Thrasher has a new book coming out! Yup, that’s right…Thrasher fans rejoice!! We’ve had a sneak peak at 40, and trust us….you don’t want to miss this novel!  To gear up for the big release we are kicking off a 4 part podcast series in which Travis will answer 40 (see a theme here?) fan submitted questions. In Part 1 Travis answers questions geared towards aspiring writers and a few about his own writing process. Everyone who submits a question will automatically have a chance to win an autographed copy of 40. We hope you enjoy this first episode and be sure to stick around to the end to find out who this week’s winner is and how to submit your own questions.

Read our review of 40 here.

More about Travis:

Travis Thrasher is the author of over a dozen critically acclaimed novels diverse in tone and style. He and his wife, Sharon, live with their daughters in Chicago.

You can download this interview via iTunes or stream the audio below:

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Jake Chism and Josh Olds chat with NY Times Bestselling Author Ted Dekker about his new book The Priest’s Graveyard. Listen in as we discuss why this is Ted’s favorite novel to date, details surrounding The Blood Book, and a sneak peek at Ted’s upcoming collaboration with Tosca Lee.

Read our reviews of The Priest’s Graveyard here.

More about Ted Dekker:

Ted Dekker is a New York Times bestselling author with more than five million books in print. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between unforgettable characters. You can find him online at Teddekker.com and Facebook.com/teddekker.

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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We recently had the opportunity to catch up with thriller novelist Jeremy Robinson. Listen in as Jake Chism talks to the author about his new book, Threshold, his new YA series, and his upcoming projects. Jeremy was also kind enough to answer some questions about fellow novelist, and good friend, Jeremy Bishop.

Read our review of Threshold here.

More about Jeremy Robinson:

JEREMY ROBINSON is the author of seven previous thrillers including Pulse and Instinct, the first two installments of the Chess Team series. His novels have been translated into eight languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Philomel

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Anthony Horowitz has led readers on incredible journeys — across continents, through city streets and beneath them, from the stale halls of MI6 headquarters to the greasy oil rigs of the Pacific. And now, he brings us to the final chapter in Alex Rider’s story: Scorpia Rising.

Twice before Alex has foiled the criminal organization known as Scorpia. And now they want revenge. They want to take Alex Rider down and make sure he never has another chance to spy for MI6 again. And this time, they will stop at absolutely nothing to make sure Rider comes back to England in a body bag. And Alex has no idea the incredible amount of evil that has joined forces with Scorpia to make sure it happens — enemies from the past join with new ones. Old friends come to help, but will it be enough to keep Alex alive?

From the very beginning, Scorpia Rising felt like the end. Horowitz pulls out a style that ends up being very final in every sense. Read the rest of this entry »

We’re big fans of C.J. Darlington here at Fiction Addict and we recently spent some time talking to her about her latest novel, Bound by Guilt. Listen in as Lori Twichell and C.J. discuss writing, books, and everything in between.

More about C.J.:

C. J. Darlington won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over twelve years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web sitewww.TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her Web site at www.cjdarlington.com.

This interview can be downloaded from iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Fantasy, YA

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Achan Cham has fully embraced Arman’s will and is ready to take the throne once and for all. As war stirs around him he faces an enemy that is as mysterious as he is dark. To make matters worse, rumors abound that Esek has survived and is still planning to steal the crown. Amidst the turmoil Achan is broken hearted and tossed and turned by his emotions. Even though he is engaged to Lady Averella of Carmine, his heart still lies with Vrell Sparrow. While he questions Arman’s will in regards to his heart, he still has no idea that Lady Averella and Vrell Sparrow are one in the same.

Vrell wants to give her heart to Achan and reveal her true identity, but she refuses to fall in love with a man who does not follow Arman. Seeking to both distance herself from her complicated love life and find a way to serve Arman, Vrell sneaks away to serve as a healer in the upcoming war. Things quickly spin out of control and Vrell finds herself lost in the Veil.

Now Achan and Vrell find themselves in over their heads as darkness is spreading and threatens to overtake all of Er’Rets. They’ve always known that without Arman all would be hopeless, but the sacrifices are greater than they ever imagined and the odds are seemingly stacked against them. Can they find the strength to submit fully to Arman’s will and put an end to the reign of darkness?

From Darkness Won is exactly what I wanted it to be. Throughout this trilogy Jill Williamson has kept us churning the pages with anticipation that answers and closure were coming. Fans of the series get a huge payoff here and not only that, but Williamson also saved the best story for last. Read the rest of this entry »

We recently reviewed The Kensei by Jon F. Merz, and we were more than impressed. Check out our recent conversation with the author as we discuss vampire ninjas, his recent success with eBooks, and plans for The Fixer TV series.

More about Jon:

As a writer, Jon has published over a dozen novels including four Lawson Vampire adventures (2002-2003) with Kensington’s Pinnacle Books, the Jake Thunder mystery/thriller DANGER-CLOSE (2004) with Five Star Mystery/Thorndike Press, and eight installments in the internationally bestselling adventure series Rogue Angel (2006-present) with Harlequin’s Gold Eagle line. His latest thriller PARALLAX debuted in March 2009 as an exclusive ebook. Praised by bestselling authors like Robert B. Parker, Douglas Clegg, and Thomas Monteleone, Jon’s novels will continue to thrill readers for many years to come. His short fiction story “Prisoner 392″ (appeared alongside Stephen King in FROM THE BORDERLANDS, 2004, Warner Books) earned him an Honorable Mention in 2004′s Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror edited by Ellen Datlow. Jon has also co-authored two non-fiction books: LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER with Nancy Merz Nordstrom (2006, Sentient Publications) and THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO ULTIMATE FIGHTING with Rich “Ace” Franklin (2007, Alpha Books/Penguin/Putnam). Jon’s next Lawson vampire novel, THE KENSEI, debuted in January 2011 from St. Martin’s Press.

You can subscribe to our podcast via iTunes or stream the audio below:

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Genre: Historical, Romance

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Lewton Paterson is a gambler with a wild reputation. He’s grown up on the streets and he knows all the different ways of the law – inside and out. But as he’s begun to edge farther away from his teens and deeper into his manhood, he’s realized he’s bored with the life of a gambler. He’d like to settle down, marry into a respectable family and become a respectable man. The problem is that as much as everyone in town likes him, they also see him as an unsavory gambler with few honorable qualities. This makes it hard for Lewt to step into the life he so desires.

Duncan McMurray is one of the only men that Lewt can even begin to call a friend. He’s a Texas Ranger and he loves his life in the outdoors. When he bumps into Lewt, he has two things on his mind. One is his unmarried female cousins. Duncan had just put a plan into motion to bring several eligible bachelors into town by train to meet his cousins so that he could get them married off and consequently, out of his hair.  Duncan’s task was to escort these fine gentlemen to his family’s ranch. The other thing on his mind was the group of Mexican criminals that his unit was in the middle of pursuing. In his mind, the fine gentlemen could find their own way to his family’s ranch. The criminals and the men he served with wouldn’t wait.

So when these strange men started arriving in town, Lewton Paterson took it upon himself to help his friend Duncan with his problem. He would meet these fine gentlemen, figure out what it was that they had (and he didn’t) and he might just be able to catch himself a McMurray wife in the process. He sends one of the ‘fine gentleman’ packing after a hard night of gambling and takes his place. Hopefully by the time Duncan finds out, it’ll be too late. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Literary

Publisher: Europa

Publication Date:  April 2011

Reviewed by: Jennifer S. Roman

Poor Rosa has to do everything.  When her daughter, “dumb Sulfia” becomes pregnant at 17, Rosa makes the efforts to take care of things.  Unfortunately, in her eyes, there were twins, and only one baby was aborted.  Now Rosa has to take care of her dumb daughter and her granddaughter, because she knows that Sulfia isn’t capable of taking care of herself, let alone her new infant.  She takes care of her husband, Kalganow, and helps him to boost his career.  On top of all of this, Rosa holds down a full-time job as an educator.  As the story progresses and the family faces over-the-top drama, Rosa again tackles the responsibilities and makes sure that the family is safe.  She even goes so far as to find husbands for Sulfia.  How can it be possible, then, that her husband no longer appreciates her and ends up leaving her for a Russian literature professor?  How can Sulfia be so avant-garde and stupid as to leave, with the baby, and go to nursing school?  How can her granddaughter, Aminat, run away from Rosa and become famous without ever speaking to her grandmother?  Nobody appreciates the sacrifices Rosa has made.

Of course, we readers learn that Rosa is the narrator of the story, so of course we see things from her perspective.  We see how beautiful and smart she is, how resourceful and clever she is, and how hard-working she is.  We see how devoted she is to her family.  We catch just slight glimpses of how others really see her.  It’s always interesting to see how people view themselves versus how others see them.  Sulfia actually sees her mother as overbearing and meddling.  Kalganow sees Rosa as being cold, rigid, and always right.  Eventually, Aminat becomes an orphan but still runs away from Rosa.  Rather than being “abused” and belittled by her grandmother, she would rather be on her own with nothing and try to make something of herself.  She does not want to be the rich and famous surgeon her grandmother aspires her to be.  Clearly, Rosa is a piece of work, and most likely, most readers will be able to relate to having a family member similar to her.  If she weren’t so entertaining, Rosa would be absolutely annoying with her high esteem.  Instead, one has to laugh at her ideas and her beliefs of how she can fix absolutely everything.  This book is highly entertaining because we do not have to live with her.  Instead, we can peek at a family’s dynamics and watch the drama from a safe distance. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: The Fiction Studio

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Marcus Williams is trying to start over after his controversial dismissal from the NYPD. He escapes to small town Asherton, TX, where he has inherited a ranch from his aunt. While Marcus settles into his new surroundings, he quickly stumbles into a living nightmare. Francis Ackerman, Jr., a notorious serial killer, has also set his sights on Asherton and has begun one of his trademark murder sprees. Marcus wants to lend his experience to the local police, but nothing is as it seems in Asherton. Marcus now finds himself caught in the middle of a madman’s crosshairs and a conspiracy with deep roots in the government. As Marcus tries to make sense of the chaos around him, he strives to hold on to the integrity and honor that have always driven him. Marcus must now balance that goodness with the shadows of his past in order to stop the evil that has invaded Asherton.

The Shepherd is a nice twist on the familiar serial killer genre, bringing loads of surprises and twists around every corner. Francis Ackerman Jr., is one sick man and Cross excels in transporting the reader into his depraved persona. This is one villain who will make your skin crawl as you find yourself hanging onto his every diabolical word. Indeed, this character may be too much for some readers, but I thought he really fit with the tone of the novel. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Aladdin

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

The end of a book series is always bittersweet. There’s the excitement of finally seeing what happens, but also the sadness of leaving a world behind. And now P.W. Catanese brings readers to the finale of The Books of Umber trilogy with the last installment, The End of Time. I wondered if the ending would live up to the previous two books, Happenstance Found and Dragon Games. But I have to say: The End of Time is the best one yet.

Umber has sunk deep into another depression, and things in the kingdom are grim with Prince Loden looking to claim the throne. Happenstance, Umber’s ward, dreads the moment when he will be faced with the challenge of saving an entire world – all while old enemies are drawing close. And that’s when the whispers begin: something powerful and unknown is coming across the ocean from the mysterious Far Continent. To make things even worse, deep beneath the Aerie, an evil is growing, biding its time before striking. Everything is coming to the pivotal moment when Happenstance must face his true fears and powers: can he save his friends? Or will he led them all to a fate worse than death? Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Publication Date: January 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Vampire ninjas.

Need any more really be said? Lawson is a hundred and fifty year old vampire known as a Fixer. It’s his job to maintain the shaky balance between humans and vampires—which most humans, of course, don’t know exist. After a prolonged time in the trenches, Lawson is finally given a reprieve for some R&R and advanced ninjutsu training in Japan, and that is where The Kensei begins.

Of course, a sanguine tale about a vacationing vampire would hardly be worth writing about—even if he is a ninja vampire. That’s probably why author Jon Merz wastes no time in messing with his protagonist’s vacation plans. From an encounter with an assassin on the train ride in, to becoming involved in a Yakusa turf war that’s a front for much more, Lawson barely has time to catch his breath as he tries to unravel the mystery and understand why the vampire known as the Kensei wants him dead. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren

Beth Kennedy is a single working mother, so her plate is plenty full.  Her two kids are finally getting used to her marital situation.  She’s making a go of her independent bookstore in the small town of Rynwood, Wisconsin.  When her best friend Marina suggests she run for secretary of the local PTA, Beth is less than excited.  Marina is good at arm-twisting; Beth agrees to run.  As anyone who has ever lived in a small town knows, there are no such things as elections for PTA officers.  One mentions one might consider it – one is sworn in at once.  So it goes with Beth.

At her first meeting as official secretary, the principal of the elementary school drops a bombshell.  Agnes Mephisto is approaching retirement age, and there doesn’t seem to be a soul in the town who would mourn that day.  She has an uncanny knack for rubbing people the wrong way, alienating parents, wearing down teachers, going around the school board.  Her news?  She has come up with private funding for an addition, and has already consulted an architect, who has drawn up plans for this addition.  The crowd goes wild, and not in a good way.

Because Beth owns the children’s bookstore, every parent in town comes to her to complain and kvetch.  Not that she can do anything, as she keeps telling everyone.  Then Agnes is killed.  The suspect list is huge.  Marina and Beth decide they must find the killer, although their reasons for making this decision are quite disparate.

This is Alden’s first book, and it has been nominated for an Agatha Award.  Rightly so.  Alden creates believable characters acting and reacting in believable ways.  The actual situation might be a stretch, but not a very big one.  The motive, when it becomes apparent, is as old as time.  There are the beginnings of a romance for Beth; Alden seems to be taking her time with this story arc, which bodes well for the reader and for the series.  All in all, a commendable book for a new author.

Review Copy provided by the publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

In that moment I felt pity for her, a woman whose spiritual quest was destined to circle back to hopelessness and despair. She searched without listening. She wanted truth only if it was convenient. But something bothered me even more. Who was more despicable, Claire the lost soul, are the one manipulating her?

Special Agent Raleigh Harmon has been a lot of places in her career with the FBI. Since author Sibella Giorello first introduced us to Raleigh in The Stones Cry Out, she has been shuttled from Virginia to Seattle and back again because of various issues with superiors. Now engaged, Raleigh is still battling a certain restlessness as she embarks, minus her fiancé,  on a cruise to Alaska with her mentally failing mother, her caring but misguided Aunt, and her aunt’s wacked out new age clairvoyant friend by the name of Claire. That’s right, Claire the Clairvoyant. While that and other snippets of The Mountains Bow Down are as humorous as Claire’s name, don’t mistake this story for a lighthearted adventure. As in all of Giorello’s novels, this is a tale both of an unsolved crime and of the mysteries of the human condition.

Raleigh’s vacation to see Alaska’s grandeur and escape thoughts of her approaching wedding is cut short when a woman is found hanging from the ship as an apparent suicide. To complicate matters more, the woman is the wife of an actor staring in a movie being shot on the ship. A movie for which Raleigh’s aunt is a “spiritual” consultant. What follows is a classic mystery as Raleigh races the clock to prove this was no suicide and to find a killer hiding among 2000 passengers before the ship reaches port.

At every turn Raleigh is stymied by suspects, family and the crew of the ship. The captain is so concerned with his reputation he refuses to believe there has even been a murder. The cast and crew of the movie are too caught up in themselves to care about anything else. Claire the Clairvoyant is a thorn in Raleigh’s side. And of all things, Raleigh is joined by Jack an agent who gave her nothing but grief the last time they worked together. As the case progresses Raleigh becomes more certain the killer is among them, more conflicted between her career and her mother’s failing mental health and less certain about the future to which she is committed.

Every time I begin a novel by this gifted author I always think, “This isn’t the kind of book I usually like to read.” But it never takes more than a couple of pages for me to forget such a misguided notion and find myself sucked in by Giorello’s first-person immediacy, unvarnished honesty, and determination to peel back the façade of human goodness to reveal what lies beneath. It isn’t just the vain lives of the Hollywood elite who are being exposed in this story. Raleigh Harmon, a believer, is having yet another layer of duplicity scraped away in a painful process of self-discovery. And it is the depth of her character and the power of the author’s prose that keeps me coming back.

Captain Geert’s disdainful “Arnold Swartsinagerish” pronunciation of California will amuse you. Claire the Clarivoyant’s silly predictions of the obvious will give you relief after scenes filled with painful insights into the things that unite and rip families apart. The veneer of celebrity that unsuccessfully covers the ugliness of human nature will make your shake your head. The mystery of the who, how, and why of a murder will keep you guessing. But it is Raleigh’s story that will keep you reading. She is a unique woman who is honest about her own duplicity. She wants to do the right thing, has an undying faith in the one she follows, loves her family with sincere passion and yet is still working on solving the greatest mystery of all – the mystery of the why’s of her own heart.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Jeffrey Overstreet’s The Auralia’s Thread series has been warmly embraced by fans and critics alike since 2007 when we were introduced to Auralia and her wondrous colors. The final book in the series, The Ale Boy’s Feast, is finally here and we invited Jeffrey Overstreet to share his thoughts as the journey comes to a close. Listen in as Jake Chism talks with the author about his beloved characters, the connection between faith and art, and a glimpse at what is to come.

More about Jeffrey:

Jeffrey Overstreet is the author of three previous books in The Auralia Thread. Publisher’s Weekly called Auralia’s Colors a story “precise and beautiful… masterfully told,” and it was a dual finalist for a Christy Award. An award-winning film reviewer, he has written a moviegoer’s memoir, Through a Screen Darkly, and contributes regularly to Image and other journals. He lives in Shoreline, Washington and works at Seattle Pacific University. Find him online at lookingcloser.org.

Click here for your chance to win the entire series in our Auralia Thread giveaway.

You can subscribe to our podcast via iTunes or stream this interview below.

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Genre: Thriller

Publisher: AmazonEncore

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren

Shaken flips back and forth from present day Chicago to Chicago twenty-five years ago, and stops at various times in between.  Present day finds Jackie Daniels tied up in a storage locker, the next victim of Mr. K, a serial killer she’s been hunting for (you guessed it) twenty-five years.

The flashbacks give us a lot of history about Jackie, about her experiences on the force, about the people on the force and the relationships that were forged so long ago and where they are now.  There are some mistakes in Jackie’s past, both personal and professional; the effect those mistakes have in the long-term is quite serious.

A significant portion of the book deals with the hunt by the Chicago Police, and Jackie’s friends, to find her before she is killed in a most horrendous and painful fashion.  This hunt leads directly to people involved in some of the less brilliant of Jackie’s decisions and previous cases.  Most of these people are not people anyone really wants to get up close and personal with, at least not without a serious death wish.

Konrath had written another suspenseful thriller.  Although the reader knows from the beginning that Jackie is rescued (there’s a “From the Author” forward, so there is no giving anything away here), Konrath is still able to build great suspense.  He also offers several choices for “the bad guy”; again keeping the reader guessing up to the very last minute.

Shaken, as a title, is an obvious play on the way the novel is structured; Jackie’s life is given to us in bits and pieces, not in consecutive order.  It’s also a play on Jackie’s emotions during her captivity; the killer wants to break her will, and almost succeeds.  There is the continuing play on drink-related titles.  As with the title, the book plays on the reader’s fears and emotional attachment to this character – a strong woman with a lot going on in her life.

Warning: While very well written, this book is definitely not for people with queasy stomachs or people with an optimistic view of the probability of real evil being non-existent. Konrath can be very violent and sexual, either implied or explicit.  For mature audiences only.

Review copy provided by the author.

Genre: Literary, Comedy

Publisher: The Dial Press

Publication Date: January 2011

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

Why would Cyrus Ott, a wealthy businessman known for his savvy investment skills, leave his family and his home and sink a substantial fortune into an international newspaper doomed to fail? The answer to this question, while known to the reader, is hidden from Ott’s descendants, who assume his love of the news is what has compelled him to start this venture in Rome. They double their efforts to keep the newspaper afloat for over fifty years in Ott’s memory. Their misunderstanding provides the backdrop to The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman’s hilarious novel-in-stories that catalogues the misadventures of the final batch of employees at Ott’s newspaper.

The Imperfectionists is divided into eleven stories, each bearing a headline from the newspaper and each story following a different character in some way connected to Ott’s newspaper. The stories follow editors, correspondents, a reader, an accountant, one of Ott’s descendants—a motley cast of characters, to be sure, but one that reveals the broad scope of the newspaper’s reach. After each story follows a short bit of history about the founding of the paper. I liked this shift from the present back to an earlier period because it allows the story to develop and gain momentum, rather than revealing the necessary facts at one shot.

What I really appreciate about The Imperfectionists is not only the breadth of characters included but also the range of situations in which we are able to see them. Characters amble in and out of each other’s stories, and a character we meet in one is likely to appear in another. I like this approach because it mirrors real life in many ways: the people we meet wear many different hats, and who they are at work is not always who they are at home. Seeing the characters in different lights fosters empathy where it might otherwise be absent.

I said at the beginning of this review that The Imperfectionists is hilarious, and it is. There are several lines and situations that had me laughing out loud, and several dry sentences that perfectly captured the working-in-an-office experience. (One of my favorites, for example: “Nobody throws anything away here; nobody knows whose job that is.”) But for a book that is in many ways comedic, The Imperfectionists is surprisingly poignant. Rachman shows the reader the funny side of life and work at a subpar paper, but he presents the characters honestly, exposing all their failings and weaknesses yet without passing judgment on them. Sometimes readers will laugh, sometimes they will want to cry, but they will always feel, and normally they will feel with the characters.

In conclusion, I will say that part of the reason why I loved this book is how I related to it. I’ve had some experience with newspapers and editorial curmudgeons (and might even be one myself), and as far as my (limited) experience will take me, I can see the accuracy (or at least the caricatured accuracy) of Rachman’s account. Sensitive readers should be warned that there are some adult situations and language in The Imperfectionists, but for readers desiring an entertaining, well-written, and character-driven look at the underbelly of a fading, albeit well-respected, institution, I can’t recommend The Imperfectionists enough.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Publisher: Living Ink Books

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Hadyn Barlow and his brother, Ewan, have never wanted to live in the middle of nowhere Missouri, but after the tragic loss of their mother that is just where life has brought them. Making the best of the situation they set out to help their father with some chores while on Thanksgiving break. Amidst their work they discover a mysterious stone formation hidden on their land. The discovery is highlighted by a frightening encounter with four large birds that seem to be delivering them a message. It seems the formation they have uncovered is an ancient rune stone that serves as a portal to another world. As the brothers explore this fascinating new land they soon discover that their arrival is anything but coincidence. Darkness threatens to destroy the ancient world of Karac Tor and Hadyn and Ewan have been called to fight it.

The Book of Names is everything you could want in an epic fantasy adventure: Good vs. evil, wondrous landscapes and settings, intriguing characters, mysterious magic, and action scenes galore. D. Barkley Briggs works his own brilliant magic as he weaves all of these elements together into a dazzling journey that leaps off the pages as each new chapter unfolds.

Briggs will no doubt be lauded for his clever writing and delectable prose, but his strength is his ability to tell a story. We are given characters that we care about and clear cut heroes and villains that we love to cheer and loathe. Themes of faith and redemption ring loud and true without seeming manufactured or irrelevant to the story. In the end Briggs gives us a delightful taste of what is to come with a brilliant twist that will surely send this series in an altogether exciting new direction.

Young and old alike will be charmed and captivated by D. Barkley Briggs and his exceptional storytelling prowess. The Book of Names is certainly worthy of your attention and the perfect first installment to what is sure to be a groundbreaking new series.

Review copy provided by publisher.

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Marc Schooley’s latest novel, Konig’s Fire. This one more than lived up to the hype in our minds and we couldn’t wait to chat with the author about it. Listen in as Jake Chism and Marc Schooley talk about his writing, the possibility of a “plant men” sub genre in speculative fiction,  and his experience with Marcher Lord Press.

Read our review of Konig’s Fire here.

More about Marc Schooley:

Marc Schooley is a Texan, which may be empirically verified if you ever hear him speak. He is a Christian philosopher, theologian, Bible teacher, speaker, musician, and Christian fiction writer who welcomes you to communicate with him at marcschooley.com. MS Quixote—which may or may not be Marc’s alter ego (a special commission has been established to investigate this matter)—wouldn’t mind a note every now and then as well. With regard to alter egos, MS Quixote wears glasses and Marc does not, so the mystery is a bit difficult to unravel.

You can subscribe to our podcast via iTunes or stream this interview below.

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Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: January 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Thomas Nelson has been hitting YA gold lately. With their wildly good Dreamhouse Kings by Robert Liparulo, The Homelanders by Andrew Klavan, The Lost Books by Ted Dekker & Kaci Hill, the publisher has been a real powerhouse in putting out solid fiction with solid stories and characters. And now, Jon S. Lewis enters the fray with his equally great Invasion, book one in the C.H.A.O.S. series.

Colt McAlister’s parents are dead. And he doesn’t understand what’s happening. Especially when he has to move in with his grandfather in Arizona. Things aren’t quite what they seem to be, and soon more questions are flying around than Colt has answers for. And then things get really crazy as Colt learns the truth: this planet isn’t alone. And there are evil forces threatening to invade. And now it all falls to Colt — can he save the world and keep his friends alive at the same time?

Lewis isn’t a stranger to the YA world. With his popular Grey Griffins books, he definitely knows what he’s doing. And he creates a fun universe filled with all kinds of strange stuff from shape-shifting aliens to flying motorcycles and jet packs. The writing moves along swiftly, and Lewis balances character and plot well. The chapters are fairly short, but don’t feel too stunted or quick. Some of the action scenes are top-notch, often reminiscent of Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider books. Things leave off well at the end of the story, but not so much that Lewis has nowhere to go next time around. A sketchbook of sorts is included detailing different characters and highlighting possible future mysteries to be solved.

But this isn’t just a straight-up, non-stop action extravaganza. Lewis takes some time to dive into the emotions behind Colt losing his parents, and issues of revenge and being open to others. Colt’s character is well explored and given enough depth to keep things interesting. A couple of side characters do tend to seem similar, but overall, Lewis does a good job with his supporting cast.

At times Invasion almost reads like a fun nostalgic throwback — mixing elements of stories like The Rocketeer, Captain America, and 1940′s action-adventure serials into something new and fun. Lewis will definitely gain many new fans through this series. I know I’m one.

Book purchased by reviewer.

Genre: Religious, YA

Publisher: Risen Books

Publication Dates: March 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Robyn is a typical Christian teenager. She loves her friends, her youth group, and she’s generally happy with her life. One day, when she arrives at school, she sees one of her friends in the middle of a very large group of people and realizes she’s being interviewed by a local news reporter. Her friend isn’t in a good place and Robyn can tell she’s very uncomfortable. Without even a thought for herself, Robyn wades into the fray to help her friend and consequently, into the middle of a very dangerous spiritual battle.

The news reporter turns all of Robyn’s words upside down, the new boy at school is suddenly very interested in who she is, and her little show of courage has caused her Bible study to vote her as their new leader. Now she’s in the sights of the Principal, the caustic reporter, and forces that are far more dangerous than she realizes.

I’ve been reading a lot of YA books lately and some of them have really hit the mark. Others, unfortunately, have not. I had mixed feelings about this book right away. I liked where she was going, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the tone of the book. It took me a little bit of time to get into it and really enjoy the story. Once I did, I devoured the rest of the book very quickly. (One evening actually.)

When I got to the end I realized I’d liked the mystery, the characters, and the way that she built the story. The plot moved quickly, kept you guessing and threw a few twists into the middle. The characters seemed spot on for teenagers and the situations were realistic.

I thought to myself though that this is a book that really should be ready WITH a parent or a spiritual leader as a mentor. That way some of the situations and more tense scenes can be discussed and talked through so they’re understood.

These situations are serious and could be heavy for a young person. This could be especially so with one who has just become a Christian or who is young in their walk. Don’t get me wrong. This is a good book. Shellie Neumeier pulls no punches in what spiritual warfare is about and she writes some really good creepy scenes. Some of her situations gave me goose bumps and I was reading during the daylight hours surrounded by people. It was GOOD stuff. But because of the subject matter, I’d recommend parents realize that this could open some heavy topics of conversation and in some cases, might open up some fears in young people.

If you decide to read it or gift it to a young person – get two copies so you can have one for yourself. It’s well worth the read and everything she addresses needs to be discussed. But it’s not for younger readers (under 15/16) and it needs follow up from a good adult mentor/parent/role model that can help answer any questions that may pop up.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Jake Chism recently had the privilege of interviewing NY Times Bestselling Author Douglas Preston. Listen in as they discuss the recent Monster of Florence movie news, the new Preston and Child novel (Gideon’s Sword), and the beloved Agent Pendergast.

More about Douglas Preston:

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are coauthors of the bestselling novels Relic,Mount Dragon, Reliquary, Riptide, Thunderhead, The Ice Limit, The Cabinet of Curiosities, Still Life with Crows, Brimstone, Dance of Death, The Book of the Dead,The Wheel of Darkness, Cemetery Dance, and Fever Dream. Preston’s bestselling nonfiction book, The Monster of Florence, is being made into a major motion picture. His interests include horses, scuba diving, skiing, and exploring the Maine coast in an old lobster boat. Lincoln Child is a former book editor who has published four bestselling novels of his own. He is passionate about motorcycles, exotic parrots, and nineteenth-century English literature. The authors welcome email from their readers; visit their website at www.prestonchild.com

You can subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

Read our review of Gideon’s Sword here.

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Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Grand Central

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Gideon Crew is out for revenge. When he was twelve, his father was accused of treason and gunned down. Years later, as his mother is moments away from death she reveals the shocking truth: Gideon’s father was betrayed. Using his unique skill sets Gideon sets out to clear his father’s name and bring the murderers to justice. And succeed he does. So well, in fact, that a covert agency wants to recruit Gideon to work for them. Reluctantly Gideon sets out on this new mission that will place him in more danger than he could ever fathom.

Preston and Child are giants in the thriller genre. From the beloved Agent Pendergast novels to the edge of your seat stand alones, this dynamic duo has long been frontrunners in the ever expanding genre. With Gideon’s Sword they introduce fans to not only an intriguing new character, but also an electrifying start to a new series.

Gideon Crew could have easily been a clichéd character with his reluctant hero persona and the almost unnatural set of “tricks” up his sleeve. However, early on Preston and Child take a huge risk with the revelation of a major personal dilemma with Gideon that only serves to heighten the intrigue and intensity. Without spoiling anything, let me just say that I can’t wait to see how they pull this off as the series unfolds. In this initial installment Preston and Child more than accomplish what they needed to do: giving us a character we want to follow.

Thriller fans will enjoy the swift pacing of this story, interspersed with some great action sequences and creative plot twists. Social engineering plays a major role here and readers will love Gideon’s use of his wits and charm to manipulate his way through and around obstacles.

In the end, it all leads to a grand finale on Hart Island (New York’s real life “potter’s field”) complete with a duel you just have to read to believe, body parts galore, and a towering confrontation. The climax truly is the perfect combination of wacky, thrilling, and fun. Gideon’s Sword is not just a good read, but also a bold, confident first step in a series that is bound to be a fan favorite.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Listen to our interview with Douglas Preston here.

Genre: Romance, Religious, YA, Supernatural

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Dates: February 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Gabriella Bettarini is a typical seventeen year old who is trying to find her way through life since her father passed away. For her and her younger sister, Lia, the struggle has been to figure out where they fit in their mother’s life since her father’s death. An archaeologist who devoted herself to her husband and her work, Gabi’s mother has spent more of her life studying the past than connecting with her present.

When Gabi, her mother and her sister go on another trip to Italy to explore Etruscan remains, Gabi’s bored and trying to figure out how to have some fun. When she wanders into an ancient tomb that her mother discovers and puts her hand on a really interesting handprint, she and her sister are suddenly transported to sixteenth century Italy. Seriously.

A 17 year old girl in skinny jeans, cami top and thin cardigan lands in the middle (literally) of a battle between two separate groups of knights. Oh and one of the knights? Total hottie. Yup. She’s 17 – what are we supposed to expect?

So Gabi, rescued by aforementioned hottie, now has to figure out not only how she got into 14^th century Italy, but if Lia, her sister came with her and how they can get back. In many instances, this becomes a fight for her life as she struggles with new customs, clothes and the daily grind of violence and death that many romanticize out of medieval romances.

I’m going to cut to the chase. I loved this book. In fact, I loved it with a deep abiding passion. When I finished it (in less than 2 days) I slammed the cover shut and pronounced to my whole family that I loved the book. If you’ve read any of my previous reviews you know that I’m a little vocal when reading books that I enjoy. I was frantic to try and get my hands on the next book. I immediately went online and began searching for more information. Lest you miss what I’m saying here, I LOVED THIS BOOK.

The characters were fabulous. Spot on teenagers for the modern day girls mixed with what I can only assume are wonderful characterizations of teenagers in medieval times. (Hey- I grew up in the 80’s… I’m not that old!) I loved the parallels between 17 year old girls of the time mixed with modern day girls. The differences in the way that they see themselves, their futures and handle their daily lives are wonderfully described by Bergren. What I loved the most was that she also showed how teenage girls aren’t that different. As anyone who has been a teenage girl can attest, they aren’t always all sunshine and roses. In fact, in some instances, they can be scheming, manipulative and very much not nice. Bergren hits on this pretty quickly as Gabi begins to work her way through her time travel dilemma.

Where she could have created clear cut enemies and friends, she didn’t though. All is not black and white with Lady Rossi, the potential enemy of Gabi. She’s obviously calculating (the hottie mentioned above is her betrothed) but she also doesn’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due and reach out the olive branch when needed.

Full of action and adventure that keep the plot moving forward at a good clip, Bergren’s tale of romance out of time delights, enthralls, and leaves the reader yearning to find out what happens to these beloved characters. Oh and did I mention ROMANCE? Seriously. Lots of romance. Good, clean, romantic, heart rending romance. Bergren filled this book with so much goodness that I can’t highly recommend it enough.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Publisher: Putnam Adult

Publication Dates: February 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Eve Dallas loves being a cop. She loves the ‘blue line’ and as difficult as it can be sometimes, she does love investigating homicides. Putting the pieces together to bring justice to homicide victims is more than her job. It IS Eve Dallas. So when her partner, Peabody, stumbles across a dirty cop ring in Eve’s precinct, there’s no question that she’s going to do something about it.  As she says, “The blue line breaks for wrong cops.”

Instead of working this through her division as she normally does, Dallas has to walk cautiously. How can she get involved in what should be an internal investigation? Her opening comes when one of these dirty cops calls for a hit on an informant, assuming that no one will care about a dead junkie on the street somewhere. It’s set up to look like a suicide, but Dallas knows better and this is where she’s going to drive Renee Oberman absolutely mad.

Oberman, the daughter of a famed and revered police chief, has taken everything that her father held honorable and turned it on its head. Respect, honor, dignity and justice all have completely different meanings for Oberman and Dallas is determined that she’s going to go down.

In this Dallas mystery, Robb takes everything that we’ve learned about Eve Dallas over the past 30+ books and creates the exact mirror image of her in Oberman. In a very literal way, Oberman and Dallas are two nearly identical cops on the opposite sides of everything. Where Dallas is less worried about her clothes and her appearance, Oberman is precise, perfect and always in order. Where Dallas is always concerned about justice and truth, Oberman couldn’t care less. Her world has an order and you must fall into that order.

Robb’s storytelling is, much like Oberman’s appearance, precision at its best. Every piece of the puzzle fits together into a glorious end result that will leave you reeling with the adventure you’ve just experienced. If you would have told me six months ago that I would have been delighted and even giggling at a female cat fight witnessed by officers in a police station, I would have categorically insisted that you were wrong. That is not me and it’s not something that I enjoy. Yet Robb’s accounting of these two women is spot on, brilliant, and by the time you’re halfway through this book, you’ll be just as eager as Dallas to see Oberman’s fall.

You would think that with 30+ books in this series alone, that there’s no way Robb can keep up the pace of excellence. She shatters that idea with this book. Though I haven’t read all of the Eve Dallas mysteries, I can say that of the ones that I have read, her books seem to be getting better and better. Treachery in Death was my favorite thus far and I am thrilled to say that Robb appears to be nowhere near slowing down.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Suspense, Speculative

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Sascha Konig has just been assigned to a mysterious Nazi torture center buried deep in a Romanian forest. Konig is a man of science possessing the skill sets needed to master the furnace used to snuff out Nazi dissenters. Indeed, he is soon dubbed “Nebuchadnezzar” for his uncanny ability to maximize the heat. As Konig tries to feel at home in this chamber of death he makes friends and enemies amongst the soldiers assigned. Despite differences they must learn to band together against the supernatural monsters that threaten to break through their defenses and tear them to pieces.

The threats from outside are nothing compared to the fears and struggles Konig faces within. Despite his faithful service to Hitler, Konig has secretly despised the infamous Führer, always struggling with how to remain faithful to Christ. As Konig bands together with his new found friends he discovers that they too are Christians, fighting the same inward battle that ensnares him. As dangers escalate this remnant of believers must find a way to survive the onslaught of supernatural terror while trying to save those they have been charged to kill.

Told in the gripping first person narrative of Sascha Konig, this novel leaps out of the gates in a rapid pace that is intoxicating to say the least. With every turn of the page I was giddy with excitement while I wondered what Schooley could possibly throw at me next. Creepy plant men, gory man VS monster battles, otherworldly characters that both haunted and enthralled…every surprise was fresh and every plot twist executed masterfully.

Marc Schooley uses his skillful pen to easily transport readers into the madness his characters are drowning in. Just when you think the story is smothered in darkness, we quickly realize that true evil is deeper than we can imagine. Fortunately, Schooley doesn’t leave us wandering around blindly in despair. In the end the light shines through in a way I never saw coming, lifting this story from great to superb.

If you long for fiction that will move you and linger long after reading, then give Konig’s Fire a try. Marc Schooley is a new name to me, but one I will follow with eager anticipation.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Tim George recently caught up with novelist Vicki Hinze to discuss her new book, Deadly Ties and her fascinating journey into faith based fiction.

More about Vicki Hinze:

Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of more than twenty novels (including Forget Me Not), three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a vice president on the International Thriller Writers board of directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com for more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

Don’t miss our review of Deadly Ties and enter here for your chance to win a copy.

You can subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Religious Fiction

Publisher: B&H Books

Publication Dates: February 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Kaylee loves words. She keeps them in a box in her room and in a special place in her mind. She loves the shape of the letters and the way that words can convey meaning. As much as she loves words, she doesn’t ever speak them. She hasn’t since her mother left so long ago and she believes that she never will speak them again.

Trapped in an abusive relationship with her father, Kaylee escapes her reality by reading the dictionary and memorizing the definitions. She was told once that she has a photographic memory. She doesn’t know that. All she does know is that she retreats into the words in her mind when things get really bad.

Sierra Dawn is an artist who is trapped in grief that she supplies to herself in spades.  Twelve years ago she was using drugs while she was pregnant and that ultimately killed her newborn daughter. Since then, Sierra has spent her life wrapped in guilt. She knows that she was to blame for the death of her daughter and she can’t let go of that pain.

On the anniversary of her daughter’s passing, Sierra goes to visit her daughter’s grave and then afterward, overcome with emotion, heads out to a place near the coast to be alone and cry. It happens to be the same place where Kaylee escapes to her ‘safe place’ when she’s having a bad day with her father.  From deep inside a massive redwood tree, Kaylee watches the beautiful artist crying and sobbing and wonders what could hurt a woman that way. She stays still, worried that she’ll be discovered and she thinks for a moment that she might have been. But then the artist leaves.

Sierra knows she saw something but she’s not ready to acknowledge that she did. After the idea that a little girl may have been stuck inside the tree doesn’t let her go, she goes back to the tree multiple times – soon meeting Kaylee face to face.

Thus begins a gorgeous relationship and journey of healing and depth that transcends simple storytelling. How does a broken women help protect a shattered child? How can the two of them make their way through what should, by all rights, be a terribly dysfunctional relationship? By the blood of Jesus, the realization of redemption and healing, and God’s ever present mercy.

When I saw what this book was about, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to read it. It sat on my stack of books mocking me. Being a writer and an avid reader, I love words, so the title and the cover drew me, but each time I picked it up, I wondered if it would be too heavy for me to enjoy. Though I’ve been a reader all my life, I’m a mom first. When a child is injured or deliberately hurt, it’s difficult for me to read. But I heard such great and beautiful things (and I got a couple of copies in the mail- that’s usually a good sign I should give it a shot) that I decided to give it a chance.

I am so glad that I did. Yttrup’s journey of healing, redemption and faith is gorgeous, uplifting, difficult at times, but oh so beautiful and stunning. I loved Kaylee and the mom in me wanted to reach out, love her and give her peace and comfort. I’ve got three children and I could understand the doubts that Sierra had. Was she doing the right thing? Did she give her what she needed?

And on top of all of this, a beautiful, tentative and redeeming romance is built into the book as well.

I loved this book. It’s far too deep and powerful to be considered simply a story. It’s a life changing journey not only for the main characters, but for the readers who join the travels as well.

Give this one a try. It might be difficult in places, but trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Legal Thriller

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: January 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

I knew I’d like this book when, ten pages in, it refers to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as “renowned for its bizarre rulings.” Even though the statement itself isn’t a major part of the story, it does set the stage for everything that happens while making subtle (or perhaps not so subtle) political commentary.

Damage centers around Ro Curtlee—a convicted murderer and rapist—and his ultra-wealthy family who sees no qualms in using their billions to pervert justice. When Ro was first convicted nearly a decade prior, the Curtlee’s wrath was swift and harsh. Using their money and influence, they made sure that those who prosecuted their son would never have success in the professional world again.

But after a decade, Ro’s lawyers won him a retrial thanks to the Ninth Circuit, and now the convicted felon is out on $10 million bail. Immediately things begin to go wrong. The original trial’s star witness is killed and her home destroyed. Another fire claims the life of the jury foreman’s wife. Abe Glitsky, the former head detective in Ro’s case is convinced that the psychopath is out for revenge. Unfortunately, Ro is covering his tracks well and, using his parents’ influence, making the police out to be the bad guys in the story. He’s cocky and convinced that he can get away with anything  It all boils down to one final chance and one surprise twist.

John Lescroart is a long time New York Times bestselling author, but this is the first of his novels it’s been my pleasure to enjoy. More than just a fast-paced and entertaining story, Lescroart hits upon themes such as judicial activism, media sensationalism, and the raw power of money. Damage serves as an affront to our senses, because with the reader’s perspective we know that justice is being perverted, and it drives us to ask the tough questions about how our justice system can be improved. Perhaps most compelling in these regards are the intermittent asides written as newspaper articles from the paper owned by the Curtlee’s. Brilliantly written, they show just how much power the mass media has in persuading the people to a certain view.

Overall, Damage is a winner. Combining three-dimensional characters with an intriguing storyline and unforeseen twist ending, Damage makes Lescroart one of those authors I’ll have to start following more closely.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Scribner

Release Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

They call him The Priest because he makes the sign of the Cross as he mutilates them. They call him The Priest because he seeks out those who wear the Cross. They call him The Priest because he burns symbols of the Cross all over his victims’ bodies. But he is The Priest because he will not allow God to be mocked.

Mike Mulcahey is supposed to be a drugs crime cop. But after a lengthy job with Europol in Spain ends abruptly, he finds himself hung out to dry. And when he’s called in to serve as an interpreter for the Spanish victim of a sex crime—the victim is the daughter of a prominent foreign politician—he soon finds himself in quite unfamiliar territory. The case proceeds as usual, with Mulcahey struggling to learn the process. But as he does, he becomes convinced that the sex crimes unit he’s now temporarily attached to is sniffing down the wrong rabbit trail.

His colleagues aren’t convinced, leaving him with no option than to seek out the real killer on his own. As the Priest burns more victims—even crossing the line from assault to murder—and the press gets wind of Dublin’s serial rapist and murderer, Mulcahey and the sex crimes unit are under even more pressure to find and prosecute a killer. In order for justice to be served, Mulcahey must strike an uneasy alliance with Siobhan Fallon, the reporter who’s been the bane of the investigation. She’s been the one leaking information about the supposedly secret investigation since it started, but teaming up with her is the only way he’s going to figure things out. Everything leads to a final showdown that brings Mulcahey and his reporter friend right into the Priest’s lair.

Gerard O’Donovan creates a great character-driven novel, which, despite the title, is centered around Mike Mulcahey. Mulcahey is crafted into a likable character that is both tough and fair, and even though this gig isn’t something he wants, he turns out to be the only one truly seeking justice. The novel is a bit dialogue-heavy, which is a mixed bag. It slows down the action a bit (it takes well over a hundred pages for the investigation to really get rolling) but allows for O’Donovan to mix in plenty of Irish word usages that give the novel distinction and flavor.

While a bit slow and plodding to begin, The Priest—just like its namesake killer—soon picks up in pace and intensity. O’Donovan slowly fleshes out the killer’s character well, helping the reader understand his deranged religious and psychological motivations. The result is a thrilling journey through Dublin filled with red herrings, plot twists, and an exciting and explosive ending. As the first in a series, Gerard O’Donovan has given me good reasons to be looking forward to the next Mike Mulcahey adventure.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Having discovered his true identity, Achan Cham flees to Darkness from those who would destroy him. By his side are Vrell Sparrow, Sir Gavin, and his fellow Kingsguard Knights. Their mission is to break into the Ice Island prison to free their imprisoned comrades. Esek is hot on their trail and they will need an army if Achan is to successfully claim his throne.

All the while Achan and Vrell grow closer, which makes it more difficult for Vrell to hide her true identity. She must balance her emotions if she is to help Achan embrace his destiny. Arman’s path has never been easy, but this leg of the journey will test her faith more than anything that has come before.

Jill Williamson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and this brilliant second offering further proves why. As much as I loved the first book in this series (By Darkness Hid), I found myself even more captivated this time around. Much of this story takes place in the Darkness side of Er’Rets, taking us on a pulse pounding journey filled with new locations, eerie villains, and even more adventure. Indeed, this book is much darker than the first allowing Williams to showcase her uncanny ability to plunge her characters (and readers) into despair without losing sight of the light that is always within reach.

Having Achan and Vrell together for the majority of this story really pays off for fans who want more interaction between the two.  Vrell’s struggle to keep her identity brings just the right amount of humor to the story, balanced with the emotional and spiritual turmoil she finds herself in. In the end, we are left with an intriguing glimpse of what is to come, all but ensuring that the “tension” between Achan and Vrell is only just beginning.

Even though this series is full of lovable characters, grand adventure, and surprising twists it all only works together to display the powerful spiritual messages Williamson has carefully woven throughout. Never preachy, yet always relevant and stirring, this is the kind of faith based fiction I love. The final book in the series, From Darkness Won, is just around the corner and you can be sure that I will fight my way to the front of the line.

Review copy provided by author.

Don’t miss our review of By Darkness Hid and our podcast interview with Jill Williamson.

Genre: Political Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

“I’m a meat-eater. My existence allows the plant-eater to contribute. Some plant-eaters, living in a so-called civilized world, call me evil, but at the end of the day, when the bad man comes and the plant-eater’s praying for a miracle, I’m what shows up.”

That’s Pike Logan’s worldview in a nutshell. Evil is not something to play around with. Instead you have to grab it by the face the snap its neck. As a team leader in an unofficial paramilitary organization called the Taskforce, this outlook on life and death, good and evil, is absolutely imperative. Pike’s team exists by Presidential order but isn’t subject to Congressional oversight. They are altogether necessary to thwart terrorism on a global level, yet absolutely illegal. No doubt about it, Pike Logan is One Rough Man.

But even the toughest men fold under the harshest of tragedies. While away on a mission, Pike family is murdered, leaving Pike feeling responsible for their deaths. He leaves the Taskforce and goes off the grid. But trouble has a way of finding Pike. Through a series of unlikely circumstances, he finds himself compelled to kill once more.

The situation unfolds rapidly as Pike discovers that Jennifer—a girl he’d literally just met minutes ago—had some loose ties to a major smuggling operation in Guatemala. Pike reluctantly finds himself roped in to helping her out of predicament, and finds that he’s just struck the tip of the iceberg. The story that follows races along at a breakneck pace, unveiling a terrorist plot that could have global implications. But Pike doesn’t have his Taskforce any more: it’s just One Rough Man against everyone.

Debut author Brad Taylor has a storied past that could itself be a book. Taylor spent over twenty-one years in the U.S. Army including eight as a part of the 1^st Special Forces Operations Detachment-Delta—the vaunted Delta Force. Needless to say, that experience shines through into the novel, leaving the reader wondering how many bits of conversations and events had their origins in the Taylor’s real-life past.

One Rough Man is compelling and intriguing, building the foundation for what is apparently a new series centered around Pike Logan. Taylor is at his best when he relies on his special-ops background to tell the story from the first-person perspective. Things get a bit convoluted because Taylor throws in a number of scenes from a third-person omniscient perspective that, without carefully discernment on the reader’s part, can completely throw the reader off-track. The core of the plot—that there is actually a WMD hidden in an ancient Mayan temple—could also have been developed a bit more, but the novel’s ending leads me to wonder if readers might not find that answer in the sequel.

In the end, One Rough Man is a decently-written, pulse-pounding tale of a modern day Rambo. Though written mostly for entertainment, Taylor also manages to educate his readers on current thought in terrorist as well as the bureaucracy and its involvement on clandestine affairs. While not flawless, this debut novel is a solid read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Drama, Religious

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Roxi Gold has never understood stability. From the time she was a young child she knew that she was not only unloved but unwanted and completely unnecessary. Foster homes, abuse and constant fear make up her daily life and the only thing she really wants is a family and a home. So when she gets an offer to travel the country in an RV with a roof over her head and food in her stomach, she jumps on it. Even if it means that every now and then, she may need to do something illegal, she’ll do what she needs to do for acceptance. She’s not happy about it and she knows it’s wrong but she sees no other options.

Abby Dawson is a police officer with a chip on her shoulder. Her ex-husband left and remarried and when he did, he took their daughter with him. Now all she has is her job and even that isn’t filling the gaping holes that she has in her life. She’s left with no direction and not a single goal. Then a phone call in the middle of the night sends her flying back to the small hometown that she thought she’d left behind years ago and embroiled in a police case that threatens everything she thought she understood about life.

C.J. Darlington’s sophomore release marks her first venture into publishing after winning the 2008 Christian Writers Guild’s Operation First Novel contest. Her first book, Thicker than Blood, was an excellent glimpse into the world of antique book collecting and selling. Now she has continued this story in a fascinating new way, focusing on external characters while, at the same time, returning to the familiar favorites that we loved from the first book.

Though her career started out as a contest winner, with this release, Darlington has firmly established her reputation as a respected author with a great future. The characters, the plot and the description once again show us that Darlington’s talent extends far beyond expertise in book selling and reviewing. C.J.’s characters are heartwarming and genuine with real questions, real mistakes and no ‘Christian-ese’ answers.

Roxi’s journey is so real that at times, it begs the question as to how C.J. could have possibly captured this story with such vivid clarity without living on the street herself. I loved watching how this young girl experienced very real and painful guilt over actions that couldn’t be reversed and consequences that needed to be owned. I cried as she struggled with self value and always feeling unwanted and unloved. And I rejoiced in the journey when I got to the end. This book was nothing short of fabulous.

If this book is any indicator, C.J. Darlington is someone we’ll all want to watch in the future. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next and what God’s going to be doing with this fantastic new writer.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Ruby woke more than a dead boy, and the secrets she unleashed threaten to destroy them all.

Reverend Ian Clark is in the midst of a spiritual discovery – the discovery that he is unsure of everything he ever claimed to believe. He has hidden his doubts from everyone save an ethereal uninvited guest that mocks him in the confines of his pastor’s office. Ironically, the good reverend doesn’t believe in the supernatural yet is unknowingly being pulled into a secret religious order led by his old professor from seminary days. A man who has long since given up on things he once said he believed himself.

What taunts Ian Clark in secret places is just a foreshadowing of what lies lurking in the dark corners and hidden places of the heart among the good and not-so-good people of the city of Stonetree. Overlooking the city in a graveyard looms a petrified oak reminding all who know the story of monstrous things that occurred a century earlier. Things thought buried but very much alive.

A wonderful trio of praying women led by Ruby Case don’t know it but they are about to shake things up in their town long held in the unseen hand of evil. Ruby has a limp but she is certainly no cripple. One spring morning Ruby prays for God to visit her city – to do something, anything, to wake everyone up. She had no idea how literally that prayer would be answered until she visits the casket of a dead boy at the local funeral home and he sits up, alive to all. Needless to say, The Resurrection throws the sleepy town into chaos. Some see Ruby as a celebrity while others, even within her church, are less than pleased by the event. What follows propels both Reverend Clark and Ruby on separate quests for answers. That quest will rip the town’s quaint facade to shreds and unleash a battle that has been brewing in the shadows of Stonetree for centuries

The conclusion will be satisfying to most and leave others with questions and I suspect the author intended it that way. Too much faith based fiction wraps everything up in a neat package at the end leaving no room for ambiguity. Not so with The Resurrection. Instead we are shown the lives of real people who struggle on the path much like Bunyan’s Pilgrim. Some, like Ruby, become stronger in the battle and others leave us shaking our heads wondering if they will ever rest in the arms of a faithful God.

Mike Duran’s debut novel will undoubtedly be compared to another pair of books that practically created faith-based suspense a generation ago. Many have sought to match what Frank Peretti accomplished in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness but few like Mike Duran have accomplished it. The characters (in particular Ruby) are memorable, the plot never lets you rest, and the conclusion will leave you thinking long after the book is put away. Duran masterfully blends fear, evil, hope, and redemption to paint a memorable portrait of how even the least of the servants of the Light can overcome the prevailing darkness around them. The Resurrection is a debut novel that promises many more are sure to follow.

Review copy provided by publisher.