Fiction Addict

Listen in as Jake Chism, Lori Twichell, Josh Olds, and James Andrew Wilson analyze and dissect Ted Dekker’s latest novel, Immanuel’s Veins. What did we think about Dekker’s use of the first person? Is this a Books of History Chronicles novel? Vampires or no vampires? We’re tackling all of these questions and lots more. Enjoy!!

SPOILER WARNING!!!! This podcast review contains spoilers throughout. If you have not read the book proceed at your own risk!

Check out our recent podcast interview with Ted Dekker and our print reviews of IV.

(NOTE: The interview with Ted Dekker referenced in this podcast was recorded in March 2010 and can be found here).

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Dylan Runs Ahead has left behind a war that maimed his body and scarred his soul. As time goes by the only solace that can be found is in pain medication and troubled relationships. The tragic past of his sister’s loss haunts him at every turn, and he is basically an outsider to the reservation he grew up on. When Dylan meets Webb, he knows he has found a kindred spirit, someone who knows the pain of loss, and more importantly someone who knows how to hide from it.

Before he knows it, Dylan is involved in a drug deal gone bad and is now the target of both local law enforcement and jilted criminals. What Dylan doesn’t know is that there is an even greater plan for his life, something beyond mortal comprehension. A mysterious girl names Quinn is also on his trail and she must reach him first to open his eyes to the unseen and the true destiny that awaits him.

T.L. Hines has always been bold in his writing, giving his audience truly bizarre characters, plot twists, and story devices. The Falling Away continues this trend and once again Hines gives us another story that really works. The strong characters carry this novel, and I was especially drawn into Dylan’s relationship with his sister, Joni. I won’t give anything away here, but the way that Joni is introduced into the novel is both unique and brilliant.

The Falling Away will spark a lot of discussion amongst Christian readers about the elements of demon possession and spiritual warfare that Hines explores here. Authors like Frank Peretti and Eric Wilson have put highly original spins on these elements in the past, and yet in typical Hines fashion he has found away to blaze his own trail through familiar territory.

The end of this novel takes bizarre to a whole new level, and I imagine some readers will see genius while others will see confusion and possibly disappointment at how easily the major conflict was resolved. While I’m not sure I completely “get” some parts of the ending, all I know is that I couldn’t put this one down. Days after reading I am still contemplating the final pages, and I’m not so sure that is a bad thing. In this case I think there is beauty behind the bizarre and I had a blast experiencing it.

Hines seems to be oozing with talent and ideas and I’m anxiously looking forward to more from this author who deserves much more attention than he has received.

Tim George’s Review:

Like so many returning from war Dylan Runs Ahead brought a lot of baggage back with him. And like some, the experience is all the worse because he was carrying much of that baggage long before he landed in Iraq taking out roadside bombs. Dylan ended up in the Army trying, unsuccessfully, to run from the inner voice of a missing sister. The sister whose loss he feels responsible for. But the ghost of her memory is not alone. He ran to the Army to escape his guilt and now he has limped home with a mangled leg and yet more guilty memories, those of a soldier who died in his place. Now, living on the outskirts of the Crow Nation reservation in Montana, Dylan and his only friend, Webb, find themselves on the wrong end of a drug deal gone bad. They are marked men with drug suppliers on both sides of the deal looking to kill them and the law hot on their trail.

So far The Falling Away sounds like a fairly standard story. But the author is T.L. Hines and ordinary isn’t in his dictionary. Enter Quinn into Dylan’s life. She tells him a story that is incredibly hard to accept yet increasingly evident to be true. She is a member of a group she calls The Falling Away and her calling in life is to root out evil of the most insidious sort imaginable. Dylan is one of “the Chosen”, something the soldier who died for him used to say. What she doesn’t tell Dylan is her job is to keep him from falling under the influence of a cult whose leader spreads evil like a virus. She must prevent that at all costs.

Hines tackles a story line that Frank Peretti used over twenty years ago in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness to practically reinvent Christian fiction. Both authors make us think about things most would rather pretend belong in horror movies rather than the real world. But as always T.L. Himes does it in his own distinctive “Noir Bizarre” style. No cross waving exorcists or Bible pounding preachers in sight. Instead, we have Quinn who amounts to a female spiritual enforcer determined to carry out her mission at all costs. That mission leads her and Dylan to a cult called The Hive which just also happens to supply wind generated electricity to much of the surrounding area along with some other darker commodities.

But in the end, it is Dylan Runs Ahead who must defeat evil or be possessed by it. And in that confrontation he finally comes to understand why his friend took his place in Iraq and why he is called a “chosen”. The Falling Away is a story about facing demons both figurative and literal. In many ways, this is one of Hines’ most spiritual stories as he uses dialogue between Dylan and the friend who died for him to explore powerful truths about life, death, and redemption.  Yes, it is a strange story. Hine’s fans would be disappointed otherwise. But it is a powerful story, a tale about running to the battle rather than away from it. Only in encountering the enemy head on does Dylan find everything he has been running from.

If you have never read T.L. Hines I couldn’t think of a better place to start.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Jake Chism and Lori Twichell share the line with NY Times Bestselling Author Ted Dekker to discuss his new novel, Immanuel’s Veins. Listen in as we discuss whether or not this is a vampire story, his move to a new publisher, and his love for his amazing fans.

You can listen to our podcast review of IV here and read our print reviews  here.

More about Ted Dekker:

Ted Dekker is the New York Time best selling author of more than 25 novels. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil. You can find him online at TedDekker.com and Facebook.com/teddekker.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication Date: August 2010

Reviewed  by Jake Chism

It’s been five hundred years since the Gypsy Morph, Hawk, led a diverse group of survivors out of the destruction of the Great Wars into a safe haven hidden by magic. Since that time the magic has kept the Men, Elves, Spiders, and Lizards safe from the world beyond. Many have forgotten their roots and distanced themselves from the magic that saved them.

Sider Ament is the last known Knight of the Word and he’s just discovered that the magic barrier has been breached. Now he must team up with two Trackers, Panterra Qu and Prue Liss, to convince an unbelieving people that their safe haven is about to be discovered. The Old World they’ve forgotten is about to collide with their own and nothing can prepare them for the danger that waits.

Continuing his massive undertaking to give us the full history of The Shannara series, Terry Brooks delivers another exciting installment full of new characters, trademark fantasy elements, and heartfelt emotion.

Typically in Brooks’ writing, characters don’t last longer than a book or two, very few having lived through multiple series. This is to be expected since this series in particular takes place over thousands of years. Nevertheless, Brook continues to craft characters that readers can’t help but fall in love with. Sider, Panterra, and Prue certainly fit the bill and readers will be moved and captivated by their journey. We’re also treated to some strong supporting roles throughout that would make fascinating main characters themselves.

As a long time fan of Terry Brooks it has been fun to see how the Shannara history is built, and Bearers of the Black Staff feels more like the Shannara books of old and less like the apocalyptic Genesis of Shannara novels that came previously. Some key elements of the series are revealed here that will satisfy hard core fans, while at the same time piquing the interest of new readers.

While there are still plenty of stories to be bridged, this is continually proving to be a journey that is well worth the ride.

Review copy provided by Del Rey.

Genre: Literary

Publisher: Touchstone Books

Publication Date: August 2010

Anne Barnhill’s Review:

Susan Gilbert-Collins’ debut novel, Starting from Scratch, promises to examine grief and give the reader “insight into the grieving process itself,” according to the promotional materials. That’s a lot of weight for this first novel to carry.

The book begins when Olivia Tschetter, the youngest of four children raised in South Dakota, passes her dissertation defense, yet keeps her achievement a secret from her family.  Only her mother knew Olivia was going to defend, but her mother dies suddenly on the very day Olivia completes her ordeal.  With the funeral and her own grief to manage, Olivia never gets around to letting the others know that she has successfully defended her dissertation, though they keep badgering her about completing it.  The more her brother, Dave, and her sisters, Annie and Ruby, badger, the less Olivia wants to tell them she’s already finished the hard part.

This family of intellectuals is an interesting mix, high-achievers all.  Olivia, the youngest, still has a lot to prove to herself.  After her mother’s death, she stays with her father, cooking him meals from her mom’s old recipes.  She also takes it upon herself to complete her mother’s last newsletter, an epistle which is part-Hints-from-Heloise and part-Dear-Abby.  As Olivia begins to piece together the final edition, she makes a shattering discovery about her mother and the rest of her family.

As Olivia tries to find out the details of this, heretofore, unknown episode in her family’s history, she learns to look at herself and her siblings in a new way.  Rather than whine about being the youngest in the family, which she does throughout the novel, she begins to appreciate herself and the others.

The sections of the novel dealing with food preparation and the inclusion of recipes add to the story.  Gilbert-Collins’ use of mid-western dialect and culture seems authentic.  However, there are a few problems with the book. First, to begin a novel discussing an arcane dissertation does not produce a page-turner.  The bits about the scholarly life fall particularly flat.  But the main problem with the novel is Olivia herself.  She tells the reader over and over how sad she is about losing her mother.  However, there is not real evidence of her grief in the story itself.  It doesn’t feel real.  What is more palpable is the resentment Olivia harbors against all of her siblings, an anger that seems whiny and childish.  Vivian, Olivia’s mother, is the most carefully drawn character in the book and she’s dead–not a good balance.

However, there is much here to be commended as well: believable dialogue, interesting relationships among the siblings, and a setting that is unusual.  It will be interesting to see what Gilbert-Collins does next.

Jaci Miller’s Review:

Olivia Tschetter just finished her doctoral dissertation early and can’t wait to share the news with her family. But a phone call cracks her world apart like a broken egg. Vivian, her mother, has died of a stroke.

As she struggles with her grief, her three overachieving older siblings push her to return to the world of academia. Instead Olivia finds comfort in her mother’s recipes. Stalling for time, she finds a part-time job at a Meals-on-Wheels center and continues work on her mother’s unfinished cooking newsletter. In the process, Olivia uncovers old family secrets and faces new surprises from her siblings. Ultimately, this family “baby” must find the strength to cope and to grow into her place in the family.

Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins transports readers from the world of academia to the gentler, familial world of food—a shift as healing as it is heartening. At the same time, the novel tackles issues of grieving, pain and family dynamics. A very full plate for one novel but Gilbert-Collins handles it smoothly and gracefully. Softly literary and lacking in pretension, the narrative and tone soften as Olivia’s character similarly softens.

Refreshing language lights this book without becoming self-absorbed in flowery prose. Gilbert-Collins offers a fine example on pages 79-80. “Doris … reminded Olivia of the pioneer women she had had to study growing up: large-boned, spare-fleshed women with humorless lips and the grim light of survival in their eyes, with gaunt cheeks and big strong hands that could build log cabins and beat out prairie fires and toss rattlers out of their babies’ beds. Women who could do anything as long as it was hard enough: shoe a horse, or shoot one, or eat one, as circumstances demanded.”

The book also includes recipes of some of the dishes discussed within its pages, written in the style of Vivian’s newsletter.

Review copies provided by Touchstone.

Listen in as Jake Chism talks with Randy Singer about his new novel, Fatal Convictions, his upcoming project, and the challenges of balancing the busy life of a writer, pastor, and lawyer.

You can read our review of Fatal Convictions here.

More about Randy:

Randy Singer 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, attorney, and Randy Singer, ministry leader and preacher. When he grows up, he will decide what he really wants to do.

Singer has authored nine novels, including his newest release, Fatal Convictions, The Justice Game (a CBA Bestseller), the Christy-Award nominee By Reason of Insanity, the 2003 Christy-Award winning Directed Verdict, Irreparable Harm, Dying Declaration, Self Incrimination, The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney, and False Witness as well as the novella, The Judge Who Stole Christmas. He has also authored or co-authored three nonfiction titles, including The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ. His books have won critical acclaim from numerous review outlets, including Publishers Weekly, which said, “ … Singer proves himself to be the Christian John Grisham.”

Randy is an adjunct professor at Regent University Law School and also has his own law practice. For several years, he was a litigation partner and head of the trial section at Willcox & Savage—one of Virginia’s largest and most prestigious law firms. He also has served as president of FamilyNet Television and General Counsel of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta. He received his law degree from the College of William and Mary School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Houghton College.

Randy has tried numerous cases in state and federal court, and holds the ignominious distinction of participating in the longest bench trial in Virginia state court history. He also served as lead counsel in the first jury trial in Virginia that ever received gavel-to-gavel television coverage. That case, arising out of a shooting spree by a student at the school attended by Randy’s children, also became the subject matter of the book Fatal Passage by award-winning author Erik Larsen (author of National Book Award finalist Devil in the White City).

In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, VA. He calls it his “Jekyll and Hyde thing”—part lawyer, part pastor. He also serves on the Board of Legal Advisors for the American Center for Law and Justice. Randy and his wife, Rhonda, have two adult children and live in Virginia Beach, VA, even though Randy is a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan.

More information on Randy is available at: www.randysinger.net.

You can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Toma Nicolescu has fought many brave battles for the Russian Empress, yet nothing can prepare him for the battle on the horizon. Toma sets out with his trusted confidant, Alek, for the Cantemir estate in Moldavia. There he is charged with protecting the family at all costs, for political reasons no doubt, yet Toma concerns himself not with such things. Duty and honor drive him and he will proudly do whatever his Empress requests.  However, one look at Lucine Cantemir, one of the daughters under his charge, flings Toma head over heels into an inward war between duty and desire.

Matters spend madly out of control when the charming, yet mysterious Vlad van Valerik begins to court Lucine. This union would solidify relations between Russia and Moldavia, and it is Toma’s responsibility to ensure it happens. When Vlad and his minions begin to show their true colors, Toma finds himself in a race against time to save the one he loves and to stop darkness from sweeping the land.  Torn between duty and love, Toma rushes headlong into the greatest battle he has ever known.

Immanuel’s Veins marks a significant milestone in Ted Dekker’s illustrious career. After ten years and twenty-eight novels he is saying goodbye to Thomas Nelson and moving on to Hachette and the mainstream market.  As Dekker’s fans might expect, he refuses to leave quietly, and does so with one of the most unique and powerful stories he has ever penned.

Have you ever wondered what a Ted Dekker novel would be like written in the first person? Wonder no more! Toma Nicolescu’s first person narrative is absolutely brilliant throughout and the perfect device to effectively tell this story that is full of passion, seduction, and heartache. Toma himself might just be Dekker’s most endearing character and his fight to win Lucine’s love will have readers on the edge of their seats, ready to stand and cheer.

Dekker wastes no time in connecting Immanuel’s Veins to the massive Books of History Chronicles. The prologue alone will have die hard fans foaming at the mouth and postulating “otherworldly” theories. Fortunately, new readers will have no trouble following this story. There is plenty here to keep them churning the pages, even if a few references are lost on them. As a fan, it was fun to see the connections and get one final (?) taste of the redemptive history Dekker created years ago in the Circle Series. We even get a nice peek at a huge part of Dekker lore that some of his readers would gouge their own eyes out to behold.

Fantastic characters, gripping storylines, breathtaking imagery. Might as well go out on top right? As Dekker leaves one journey behind to start another, he leaves us with a story that will resonate in our hearts long after reading.  Immanuel’s Veins will spark much discussion amongst readers about such things as vampires, seduction, blood books, and familiar dungeons. I’ll leave that thunder for other reviewers to steal. This one is special to me (and will be for many others) as it reminds me of how great the journey has been and it assures me that the best is yet to come.

Thanks for the journey, Ted. Let’s do it again soon.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Toma Nicolescu is a warrior for Catherine the Great. He and his friend and fellow warrior, Alec, are sent to protect two young women in a very prominent family. The family is, in fact, key to the power of Catherine’s reign, so their mission is vital. Alec is a lover more than a fighter. Toma is the other half of this equation.  When they arrive at the home of their charges, it’s to find two incredibly delightful and beautiful young sisters named Natasha and Lucine. If these were the only major characters in the book, it would be easy to see where things are headed. Unfortunately, they aren’t. There’s Vlad. And Sofia. And a whole house full of other characters that bring this book to new levels that run far beyond those of simple romance and passion.

Prim. Proper. Perfect. Toma’s always been the warrior who spent more time fighting than considering anything to do with women or romance. Much as Fitzwilliam Darcy has no idea what to do when he meets Elizabeth Bennet (Yes, I did just dare to make a Jane Austen reference in a Ted Dekker review.  And it’s well deserved. So there.) Toma is also plunged into a level of inner conflict and confusion when he meets his beautiful Lucine.  Painfully aware that his duty requires him to not only keep his beloved Lucine safe, but to also keep suitors away from her, Toma struggles with his feelings for her. At the same time, he’s confused by what’s happening with Natasha and Alek. Something very strange and very dangerous is happening. Is it something that he’s even able to fight? Or is it something from beyond this world? And how can Toma juggle his feelings, his duty, and his beloved’s safety? This is far more than just a love story. There’s something deeper and darker hiding within its depths.

Ted Dekker freely admits this is new territory for him. It’s unlike anything he’s ever done before. But honestly, this is Ted Dekker. Very little about Ted is ever like anything that’s been done before. Even when Dekker writes something that’s considered ‘inside the box’, it seems that he likes to take that box, smash it into bits and then warm his hands by the fire built from the parts. So when we venture into this new territory with him, instead of being something odd or uncomfortable, Dekker makes the journey heart achingly rich and beautiful. As Toma stumbles away from his hard line on duty and honor and begins to explore the feelings that are growing and opening within him, you can’t help but feel your own heart squeeze. As you’re reading, it makes you wonder if you, as an outside observer, are feeling this much emotion, what sort of depths could the characters possibly be feeling? At times it threatens to overwhelm the reader and yet you know that this is what Dekker wants to convey. He wants you to feel the overriding overwhelming passion that can nearly drown you with its intensity.

Dekker is a modern day master of the written word. Too often in modern literature, words are forced into creating the visual that the author wants to share. In sharp contrast, Dekker owns every word he uses. The words line up and melt willingly into his creation, eager to play their part in his vision. The story flows so smoothly through your mind that it feels as if the words have flown directly from the Technicolor depths of Dekker’s mind to the page with little effort. Dekker’s style submerges you in the story and even if it feels like you may be drowning in it at times, there’s still few other places you’d rather be.

If you have even a passing interest in Dekker’s work, don’t miss this book. If you’ve never read Dekker, this is a brilliant place to start. If you ever were a Dekker fan and got lost somewhere along the way, this is the book that will bring you back. And if you want mindless entertainment that doesn’t affect you, won’t challenge you, and that you can walk away from unchanged, move along. This isn’t the book for you.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Ted Dekker and our podcast review of Immanuel’s Veins.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

We’re thrilled to offer yet another giveaway of one of the best books we’ve come across this summer. Randy Singer’s Fatal Convictions is a legal thriller you cannot miss (see our review here). Here’s how you can enter for a chance to win a book gift certificate (redeemable at any Christian bookstore or from Tyndale Publishers) plus an autographed book plate:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line, “Fatal Convictions”.

2. Include your mailing address.

3. Let us know how you found out about the contest.

We will draw 5 random winners and they will be notified by email and posted on our homepage on August 23rd, 2010. Entries received after 11:59 CST on August 22nd, 2010 will not be eligible. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.

Genre: Superhero Thriller

Publisher: Ace

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Novelizing Final Crisis is in itself a challenge of epic proportions. Greg Cox has taken the 7 issue crossover mini-series and the year-long 51 issue prelude from the comics and given it the form of a novel, portraying in text the evil Darkseid’s attempt to overthrow all reality. In order to make sense of it all, you have to understand a bit about the uber-complicated maze of universes within DC Comics. I’m no expert, but here’s the sum of it all:

Darkseid is the ruler of the evil planet Apokalips, and he’s gunning for total control of Earth. Human – and alien – free will shall all fall under the power of Darkseid. All shall be indwelt with the evil of Darkseid. All shall be evil. And there is nothing the superheroes of the world can do to stop it.

One by one Darkseid corrupts and takes over the souls of a litany of superheroes and those remaining find themselves warring against their colleagues and friends. As the future of the universe succumbs to the power of Darkseid, Superman and the few remaining heroes must find a way to counter the demon of Apokalips. But an even greater crisis is playing out in the Multiverse. Hushed words that the fallen Guardian Mandrakk has returned just might make this the epitome of the Final Crisis.

Complicated? Yes. Confusing? At times. Like all DC universe crossovers, Final Crisis is written as an epic. Hundreds of superheroes and supervillains converge on the scene, the plot shifts not just between cities, but between time and realities, there is just way too much information to take in – way too much unnecessary information if you ask me. Unless you an absolute DC comics freak, you’re not going to understand it all, so I recommend you just do what I did and just accept it.

At times, the novel sounds like Cox is merely narrating to the reader a description of the comic panels, and at other times his vocabulary gets a little…well…quintessentially florid. All in all, the writing is good. My personal opinion would’ve been to tighten the plot and avoid excessive characters, but I’m sure that would’ve elicited a feral reaction from comic book purists, so perhaps it was best for Cox this was not the case.

Like all modern mythology, the theologian in me searches for the Truth within, and it is that seed of Truth that, to me, makes Final Crisis fascinating. The idea of the removal of free will, the imposition of the will of an evil spirit named Darkseid, and its eventual defeat, primarily orchestrated by the Christic figure of Superman captures me on a thematic level. However, if you’re neither a fan of finding theology in comics, or of the comics themselves, then this is just a decently written book you may or may not enjoy.

Review copy provided by Ace.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date:  August 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

All over Europe young couples are being murdered and no clues are left behind. In every city, the killers send a postcard to the local paper before each slaying, but the police remain baffled and confused as the murderers run free. NYPD Detective Jacob Kanon lost his daughter to these monsters and is desperately traveling from city to city hoping to find one more piece to the puzzle. In Stockholm, Sweden, reporter Dessie Larsson has received the latest postcard indicating the murderers are about to strike again. Larsson and Kanon must now team up to stop this insurmountable foe and uncover the darkness that lies beneath.

What do you get when the #1 Bestselling Author in the U.S. (James Patterson) meets the #1 Bestselling Author in Europe (Liza Marklund)? According to the front cover of the book we get “the scariest vacation thriller ever.” While that may be clever marketing, I think the more appropriate tagline would be, “the most disturbing vacation thriller ever.”

Patterson and his co-authors often resort to over the top gimmicks in their writing that amount to nothing more than shock value. The Postcard Killers is a prime example with loads of graphic content, distasteful sex scenes, and an incestuous relationship thrown in our faces to really make us squirm. All these elements are just loud distractions attempting to cover up the fact that the story is mediocre at best.

As always, Patterson’s tight writing and relentless pacing keep the pages flying, but by the end I was just ready for this one to be over. Had more effort been made into fleshing out the characters or actually making this book scary this could have been a fun story. Sadly, the gimmicks and overall lack of depth drag this story down making this hyped collaboration a sore disappointment. Luckily for Patterson fans, after finding a dud we only have a couple of months at most to wait for his next attempt. I’m hoping the upcoming continuations of the stellar Alex Cross and Michael Bennett series will reflect the talent and creativity that Patterson is more than capable of.

Review copy provided by Little, Brown and Company.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Adventure/Fantasy, Young Adult

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Venom & Song picks up immediately where Curse of the Spider King left off. Our beloved Elves have returned to Allyra, but the immediate problem is getting seven disoriented middle schoolers to safety. (And don’t be fooled: These are some tough little teenagers.) The enemy is, of course, still on their heels (literally), and our band of heroes doesn’t know how to fight yet.

Book two keeps a steady pace, but it’s also paced differently from book one. I know a few people had a hard time with some elements, and a few caught some flaws I missed, but, really, I was pleased with this second installment. As I said, the book takes a natural progression in my estimation.

Whereas Curse dealt with themes of the intricate nature of the past and present, Venom is more concerned with loyalty and self-sacrifice, turning children into men and women, and trust: both in each other and in Ellos. Again, these themes develop naturally from the characters and situations themselves, continuing the same style as its predecessor. Venom & Song does come with its own twist at the end, and, I’ll admit, I can count on one hand the number of books that have struck me as emotionally as this one did.

As always, I’m going to stop before giving any spoilers. I look forward to book three (which, to my knowledge, is at least a year away and, I trust, will answer the questions left at the end of Venom & Song) and whatever Mr. Batson and Mr. Hopper bring next. A word of warning: Make sure you read these books in order…and be prepared.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Travis Thrasher’s Solitary is one of the best novels we’ve come across this summer and we’re thrilled to offer 10 autographed copies to our readers! To enter this awesome giveaway:

1. Send us an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line, “Solitary”.

2. Include your mailing address.

3. Tell us how you found out about the giveaway.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Travis Thrasher and our reviews of Solitary.

NOTE: This contest is only open to residents of the U.S. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on August 16th, 2010. Entries received after 11:59PM CST on August 15th, 2010 will not be eligible.

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Dutton

Publication date: June 2010

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Priests are the evil antagonists and outlaws are the heroes in this inconsistent fantasy debut from British film censor Paul Hoffman. The Left Hand of God displays the elements readers expect in a non-supernatural fantasy—warring regimes, a brooding hero, political intrigue, romance, all set in a familiar-seeming but fictional world. But it overreaches in portraying organized religion, complete with a “Hanged Redeemer” who died to save his followers from their sins, as the primary evil of the age.

Fourteen-year-old Thomas Cale is a prisoner at the Sanctuary, a religious school where the instructors, called “redeemers,” regularly beat their students within an inch of their lives. The school, basically everyone’s worst stereotype of an abusive Catholic boarding school, is just one part of the redeemers’ “ministry”—which ultimately boils down to world domination. When Cale, who as the result of a childhood head injury has a mysterious ability to physically dominate any opponent, discovers a secret being carefully hidden deep within the Sanctuary’s stone walls, he teams up with an unlikely group of buddies and flees. From there, the book follows Cale and friends as they do their best to elude the pursuing redeemers, make nice with the ruling elites in the nearby city, and try to stop the religious conquerors before they can carry out their sinister plans.

While not anywhere near the level of Robert Jordan or George R. R. Martin or Tolkein, Hoffman still does an admirable job creating the world in which his story takes place. The characters are for the most part believable, and the various cultures explored, particularly within the Great City of Memphis, seem to fit well with the genre and tone of the book. The two main problems are the rather meandering story line (though the plot speeds up and becomes genuinely tense right at the end) and the author’s apparent grudge against religion, which is somewhat peculiar in a genre that typically relies so heavily on moral justice as a theme. The fact that the main characters are all young teenagers might make the book seem like a YA title, but the dark themes of abuse and desperation are probably inappropriate for most younger readers.

The book features a couple of sex scenes and plenty of violence, though nothing over the top or out of the ordinary for modern fantasy literature. The cliffhanger ending sets up book two quite well for readers who identify enough with the ambiguously heroic Cale to want to participate in his continuing story. Fantasy fans will find things to enjoy in this book, but The Left Hand of God seems unlikely to generate the kind of loyal following commanded by top-tier fantasy series.

Review copy provided by Dutton.

Genre: YA

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

The America we know lies in tatters; earthquakes have caused whole coasts to slide into the ocean, global warming has caused the oceans to flood the land and people live stacked practically on top of each other. But below the sea in Benthic Territory, life thrives and the resident farmers move, live and work freely there.

This Dark Life, far below the surface, is the only life teenager Ty has ever known. But outlaws threaten to destroy his family’s subsea existence with their marauding and pillaging. While his new Topside friend, Gemma, seeks her long-lost brother, the outlaws attack Ty’s home. As he tries to help Gemma and preserve his way of life, Ty confronts not only the outlaws, but secrets as deep and dark as the canyons that swallowed the States.
Kat Falls’ first novel, Dark Life, offers a mesmerizing account of a futuristic life on the ocean floor with a nod to the past—the Wild West and frontier life are clearly represented in the book. But the story is as much about survival in a harsh political climate as it is about life in an aquatic one. The new colony faces over-taxation and abuse from the Commonwealth, the governing system after the earthquake.

The book feels a little raw in some scenes—as though something deeply emotional is missing from its straightforward prose—but the fast-paced plotting and the wonder of the ocean engage readers so thoroughly that this sensation quickly passes. Abundant twists pepper this exciting tale, propelling the reader from one chapter to another.

Dark Life is an enjoyable read for teen and tween lovers of science fiction and adventure.

Review copy provided by Scholastic.

Genre: Legal Thriller

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: August 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Pastor Alex Madison always enjoys killing two birds with one stone. Whenever he makes hospital visits to his church members, he never overlooks the opportunity to gain some new clients for his law practice. You never know what big case is lying in the next hospital bed and Alex even has the double sided “pastor/lawyer” business card for such occasions. During one such visit Alex meets a Muslim woman suffering from a closed head injury after being run off the road. After some reluctance from the woman’s husband, they agree to hire Alex’s firm for the personal injury case.

Meanwhile, a local murder has the nation in an uproar. A Muslim leader’s wife is brutally murdered after converting to Christianity, along with the American man who taught her. As the evidence pours in, all leads point to the husband of Alex’s client, who just happens to be a respected imam in a local mosque. Alex must now decide whether he wants to help a man he feels is wrongfully accused, or give in to the pressures of his community and congregation and walk away.

Randy Singer is at the top of his game with Fatal Convictions. Backed by meticulous research and likable characters, this story is a tightly woven gem that challenges the reader to question stereotypes and perceptions. For readers whose knowledge of Islam is based solely on United States news reports, Singer provides a balanced and in depth look into the Muslim faith and the different factions within. It’s rare to find a novel in the Christian market portraying Christians and Muslims working together, much less a story featuring a Christian pastor standing up for an imam. Singer handles these potentially controversial elements with an honesty and boldness that I can only admire, giving this market a much needed dose of relevancy.

Randy Singer doesn’t set out to provide easy answers or token solutions; rather he focuses on bringing us a story that engages the reader on every level. The courtroom drama, the disturbing honor killing scenes, even the hints of an unlikely romance. All of it works together to only prove what so many have said for years. Randy Singer is hands down one of the best legal thriller writers around. I truly hope the CBA appreciates the talent Singer consistently brings to the table with each offering. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if a “big fish” mainstream publisher scoops up Singer soon and makes him a household name. He is simply that good.

Don’t miss our interview with Randy Singer.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: August 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

When a Congressman’s daughter is found brutally murdered in Washington D.C., FBI Agent Patrick Bowers is called in to help make sense of the madness. Bowers has a knack for catching high profile killers thanks to his controversial use of geospatial investigative techniques. However, this time around Bowers continually runs into dead ends despite his best efforts. Catching one killer is hard enough, but now all the evidence hints at two.

In Patrick’s personal life things are no less complicated. Tessa’s birth father is back on the scene, Bowers is caught in a dizzying love triangle, and a psychopath from his past pays an unwanted visit. Despite all the obstacles in his path, Patrick Bowers must find a way to do what he does best: catch killers.

Steven James continues his impressive run with his fourth Bowers Files novel.  Series of this nature often run the risk of becoming repetitive and overdone. After awhile familiar characters become stale and the plot twists become less surprising and more manufactured. Steven James shows no signs of falling into these traps, and it only seems his writing is better with each offering.

As always, this novel’s strengths lie in the characters. The first person narrative of Patrick Bowers is nothing short of exceptional, as is James’ depiction of the father/daughter relationship between Patrick and his step-daughter, Tessa. Indeed, Tessa has become a fan favorite of the series with her quick wit and intelligence coupled with a vulnerability that surfaces at just the right moments. This beautifully flawed relationship has been the glue that holds these stories together and that’s certainly the case once again.

The Bishop takes place primarily in the Northeast and its fun to see Patrick working in different locations in each novel. No matter where he finds himself the reader feels like they are there, only proving the level of research that goes into each story. If that wasn’t proof enough, readers will be captivated by the intricacies of geospatial investigative techniques and the procedural elements of FBI investigations. Everything about the story feels real and the reader can’t help but be drawn in.

Steven James continues to impress me with his ability create genuine twists and revelations. While there is nothing mind blowing about the plot execution here, I was still caught off guard by the killer’s identities in the end. James is a master of presenting so many possible angles that it makes it almost impossible to accurately foresee the outcome.

The Bowers Files is in full swing and I am thoroughly enjoying this journey. Up next is The Queen, and I have no doubt it will be well worth the wait.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Steven James.

Review copy provided by Revell.

We are giving away 3 copies of Philippa Gregory’s latest novel, The Red Queen. To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line, “The Red Queen”.

2. Include your mailing address.

3. Tell us how you found out about the giveaway.

Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on August 9th, 2010. Entries received after 11:59PM on  August 8th, 2010 will not be eligible. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. only.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

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

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

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

Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.

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

You can read our review of The Bishop here.

More about Steven James:

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Romance

Publisher: Center Street

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Center Street.

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

More about Travis Thrasher:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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

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

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

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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

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Genre: Literary

Publisher: Riverhead

Released: July 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Riverhead.

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by the author.

Genre: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery

Publication Date: August 2010

Publisher: David C. Cook

Jake Chism’s Review:

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

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

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

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

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

James Andrew Wilson’s Review:

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

Welcome to Solitary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genre: Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Bethany House.

Genre: YA

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Dates: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: YA

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Dates: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by the Amazon Vine Program.

Genre: Suspense, Supernatural, Paranormal

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: June 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

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

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

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

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

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

James Andrew Wilson’s Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copies provided by Bethany House.

After discussing Robin Parrish’s Nightmare in our latest podcast, we just had to get the author on the line. Listen in as we discuss the idea behind the story and get a glimpse of what’s to come.

More about Robin:

Robin is currently a full time writer. He and his wife Karen and son Evan live in High Point, NC. He has an unhealthy obsession with Facebook, he is unable to resist a Krispy Kreme original glazed donut regardless of the time of day, and he does not own nearly as many LEGO Star Wars kits as he feels he should.

If you missed our podcast review of Nightmare, you can find it here. (SPOILER WARNING!!).

You can also download this interview and all of our podcast episodes from iTunes.

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Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Berkley Books

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

David Loogan has a past he’d rather not talk about. So when he finds a job editing a mystery magazine called Gray Streets that asks no questions, he finds it the perfect way to have his past life forgotten. He throws himself into his work, earning the favor and friendship of his boss, Gray Streets publisher Tom Kristoll. Their friendship runs so deep that when Kristoll asks Loogan to help him dispose of a body – yes, a body – Loogan asks few questions and helps his friend with the deed.

But not too long after that, Kristoll himself ends up dead. Death via defenestration, or in the vernacular someone hit him hard and threw him out a sixth floor window. Ann Arbor Police Detective Elizabeth Waishkey is the one investigating Kristoll’s murder, and when more bodies related to Gray Streets turn up – some killed in a way that mirrors the magazine’s most famous stories – her suspicion turns toward Loogan.

Loogan, despite his past, isn’t the killer. And he’s just as determined to find out who killed Kristoll. With his experience at editing mysteries, Loogan turns his mind towards solving a real-life one, all while trying to avoid the police and the ghosts of his past.

With his debut novel, Harry Dolan creates a thoroughly enjoyable tale of mystery and suspense, sure to appeal to most, but even more so to writers – something confirmed by the endorsements by Stephen King and James Patterson. Dolan’s tale of the murder of a publisher, with the suspects being all members of the writing community, is quite fascinating. Well written with great reversals and twists, Bad Things Happen keeps you on your toes and makes you keep guessing until the end.

Review copy provided Berkley Books.

Join in the fun as Jake Chism, Josh Olds, and James Andrew Wilson share their thoughts on Robin Parrish’s new book, Nightmare. We cover it all, everything from the cover art, the use of the first person narrative, and our thoughts on how the Christian market will react to a paranormal story.

SPOILER WARNING!!! We discuss major plot points, including the ending, so if you don’t want to be spoiled please listen to this podcast AFTER you’ve read the book.

Please leave a comment below or drop us an email (podcast@fictionaddict.com). We’d love to hear what you think about this novel and our audio reviews.

Review copies provided by Bethany House Publishers.

Shortly after we recorded this review we interviewed Robin Parrish and you can find that here. Plus, you can read our print reviews of Nightmare here.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Join Lori Twichell and Loree Lough as they sit down with very busy producer, social media expert, and owner of HOSFU, Eric Highland. Eric has lots of great information on how a book gets made into a film and what producers look for when scripts are submitted! You don’t want to miss this one.

More about Eric:

Aside from being CEO and Co-Founder of HOSFU LC, Eric Highland has been a federal law enforcement officer for the United States Coast Guard for two decades, recently concluded a seven year period of church ministry and has also worked as a professional boxing promoter.

Highland is extremely passionate about his work at HOSFU, an Albuquerque-based company dedicated to promoting Christ through the film industry. He regularly teaches and speaks at Christian media conferences and film festivals about the state and future of the faith-based film industry, with a focus on social media publicity, Search Engine Optimization and other marketing methods available to media-makers today.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Maya Davis is back!!! I can’t believe I started this review with that sentence followed by three exclamation points.  I will not, despite my college writing professor’s voice clamoring in my head, remove even one of those exclamation points. I may even add another at some point. I enjoyed this book that much.

Maya’s life at this juncture is all about change. She’s now dating Jack who is also one of her best friends. This transition is strange for Maya, but so far she thinks it’s a good change. She’s still trying to sort out those feelings when Jack starts at another job. She knows this means she won’t be seeing Jack all day every day at Cool Beans.  Unfortunately it doesn’t take long for her to discover that she may have to go days and sometimes even a week without seeing Jack. To say the very least, this does not sit well with Maya. And just who is this Presley chick that Jack keeps talking about? No, it does not sit well at all. Oh and did I mention that her roommate Jen is getting married to Maya’s ex-boyfriend. And just to mix it up a little bit more, Jen’s mom is not pleased about the pairing. In fact, she comes to visit and ‘take care of things’ and this visit lasts much more than their usual three day rule. Anyone remember that old adage about fish and houseguests stinking after three days? Point proven in this book.  Poor Calvin the Beagle doesn’t even know what to do with himself.

Having recently discovered the wonder that is Erynn Mangum’s writing, I have had the pleasure of devouring two of her books faster than Rocky Road ice cream disappears on a girl’s movie night. My poor husband wasn’t even allowed anywhere near the laptop for several days while I ravenously consumed my advanced e-copy of this fantastic book. I enjoyed Latte Daze even more than I enjoyed Cool Beans. I am now a certified Maya Davis fan and more than that, an Erynn Mangum fan.

Now don’t start thinking this book is perfect. It’s not. Like its delightful characters, it has inconsistencies and flaws, but they aren’t enough to take away from the overall package. The plot doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. There are no secret romances or surprise twist endings. A few times in the book you might catch your breath and be surprised, but those little spins and tricks aren’t what makes this book such a fun read. It’s the characters that make these books special. Complete with flaws, insecurities and quirks that make them more real than paper and ink, each character has the potential to teach you something that may help you become a better person. How can that possibly be fun? Learning life lessons? Really Lori? I’m sure you’re thinking it’s as unpalatable as eating vegetables and ‘health’ food, right? But trust me; it’s not like finding some way to disguise the taste of green veggies so you can choke them down. Mangum confronts her characters with their own flaws and inadequacies in day to day struggles that most, if not all of us, face. And when the characters deal with it, they’re very open about the tools they use to get past them.  Even if it isn’t the character herself that helps you to learn (Mrs. Mitchell, I’m pointing at you right now) it may simply be the way that the people around that character react that teaches you something.

Another thing about the story, you can see the resolution to many of the conflicts during the first moments you see the conflict. And really, there were a couple of storylines that I expected to go somewhere but didn’t venture beyond just a couple of pages. In fact I walked myself back through the previous pages to see if I’d missed something, but I hadn’t. Perhaps because of the types of books I’ve been reading lately, I found myself looking beyond the snafus in Maya’s life and imagining that they were going to be much bigger or more dramatic than they really were. It seems that sometimes a twisted knee is just a twisted knee and not something that will lead to a bigger situation. It became refreshing and allowed me to relax more deeply into the adventure.

This isn’t complex or difficult reading. Layered with sweet flavors that define comfort food, Latte Daze is a satisfying hot fudge sundae garnished with plenty of nuts and a cherry on top.

Review copy provided by NavPress.

Robert Liparulo’s first Dreamhouse Kings series has just wrapped up with the final installment, Frenzy. Join Lori Twichell, Josh Olds, and Jake Chism as we share our thoughts on the series as a whole, Robert Liparulo news, and the possibility of a DK movie. If you missed our recent interview with Robert you can check it out here.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Grand Central

Release Date: February  2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Casey Jordan has got this case in the bag. Open and shut. Dwayne Hubbard has served 17 years of a life sentence after being convicted of raping and murdering a college student, but now Casey – with the help of the Freedom Project – is going to get an innocent man out of jail. Better still, not only is she going to help get the innocent out of prison, the Project’s founder, Robert Graham, is offering her a cool million a year to do it.

But once Casey begins to dig deeper in, she discovers that someone doesn’t want Hubbard out of prison, and the tables turn even as she tries to figure out why, all while just trying to stay alive. Nobody is who they seem to be, and Casey can’t be sure who to trust until it’s almost too late.

For half a novel, Tim Green takes us through a paint-by-numbers legal thriller. Exciting? Yes. Fun? Yes. Anything special? Not really. Then Green gives us one masterful twist and starts coloring outside the lines. Just as you’re lulled into the expected, Green hits you hard and makes you sit up and pay attention, because this not your normal legal thriller – at least not entirely. While the book could have benefitted from a little more explanation or character development in some areas, overall Green pulls off an enjoyable thriller.

It should be noted that False Convictions does contain some language and suggestive scenes that some readers might find offensive. However the matter is treated in a way that is integral to the plot, and not necessarily thrown in there for shock value. Altogether, False Convictions is a solid book that takes a deep look into corruption and how the law must deal with it.

Review copy provided by Grand Central.

Genre: Horror

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication date: June 2010

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Dog Blood, the highly anticipated sequel to Hater (first self-published in 2006), continues the fast-paced, thrilling story of the mysterious and violent condition affecting a third of the world’s population. In Hater, Danny McCoyne was bewildered and overwhelmed by the horrific changes “the Hate” brought to his city and his home. In Dog Blood, reality sets in deeper as Danny must battle not only those around him but his own impulses as well.

Danny McCoyne is a Hater. He has come to understand that anyone who is not like him, who is Unchanged, must be killed. The urge to kill is a physical need, and it can’t be controlled. But as time passes, Danny and others like him realize that if they are to be successful, they have to reign in their bloodlust, at least to some extent. The Unchanged have superior weapons and greater numbers and have sealed themselves inside well-defended cities. The Haters are left to roam the countryside in search of whatever food they can find. The situation is unsustainable, and for Danny, it’s even worse, because he knows that his daughter, who is like him, is out there somewhere. And he’s determined to find her.

Meanwhile, Mark Tillotsen, one of the Unchanged, lives in a city high-rise apartment, crammed in with his pregnant girlfriend, her parents, and another family. He’s a member of a search crew that forages outside the city, looking for food, supplies, and survivors in exchange for slightly higher rations. After a particularly close call with a band of Haters, Mark realizes something has to change. But what?

The story of the hero’s journey is nothing new. From John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, literature is filled with stories of a lone journeyman making his way through a world of obstacles and disappointments. Dog Blood, narrated in first-person present tense, is a new twist on an old genre, as the “hero” is a maniacal killer who manages to restrain his instinct for causing violent death only with a tremendous act of will-power. The reader is torn between wanting to root for Danny’s success while simultaneously identifying with Mark’s plight. In the end, only one of them can triumph.

Like Hater, this book is filled with gruesome descriptions of gory apocalyptic violence, but it has many tender moments as well, particularly as both main characters struggle with their family relationships. Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, Dog Blood is a fast, interesting read and will appeal to zombie lovers and those who just like a good adventure story with a novel approach built on a tried-and-true formula.

Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.

Genre: Young Adult, Adventure

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Dates: May 2008 – May 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

The Dreamhouse Kings is a series of books by Robert Liparulo. It’s written for a young adult audience, but rather than pigeonholing the books into a smaller audience, I’d say that this series is good for anyone in the young adult and up age range.

The series begins with the King family moving to a new home in Pinedale, California, and buying their dream home. It’s out in the middle of nowhere and it appears that the family who lived there previously left in quite a hurry. Odd things start happening around the house right away. In fact, on the first visit, the two central characters of the series, Xander and David, discover that the house isn’t your normal ordinary house.  With a huge rambling Victorian style, closets everywhere and rooms galore, you’d think that would be enough to keep the King boys occupied. In truth, Xander and David might have been happy with exploring a house full of history with tons of space, but that’s not what happens. Instead, they find themselves fighting for their lives at every turn.

Though this is a series of six books, it’s just one story that’s been broken up into six parts. That might sound like the definition of a series, but it’s really not. Some series cover different angles of a story or different characters. This series is the story of a little over one week in the lives of the King family. While you’re reading, it feels like Liparulo penned the whole thing, beginning to end, and pitched it as a gargantuan novel and it was decided to break it up for easier reading. The end of one book literally blends straight into the beginning of the next as if going from chapter to chapter within a book.

Liparulo’s writing throughout the series remains tight, the pacing strong (so strong that in some instances it may not be for the faint of heart!), and the characters believable. The stories were engaging, fascinating, and, above all else, profoundly moving. These characters start out as a normal every day family that might love each other, but in some ways, take each other for granted. By the end of the series, they are a tightly knit cohesive unit that moves together as one and won’t ever take each other for granted again.

This series is a must read for anyone who has kids that love to read or if you’re a family that loves to read together. It’s packed with excitement and adventure that will appeal to older members of the young adult set while it’s been written in a manner that’s easy to follow and understand for the younger members. Parents, this is a brilliant series to read with your kids. Packed with history that will allow you to delve deeper into the research, the books beg questions about the events that the King family experiences during their travels. It’s also filled with a great number of situations that will help parents address questions to their kids about what to do when you’re in an emergency situation. (Although honestly, if your family ends up in a lot of the same situations that the King family did, you may want to consider moving to a new house.)

Moving, touching, exciting, adventurous, educational…you name it and the Dreamhouse Kings series has it all. Liparulo has crafted a world full of amazing adventure that’s sure to please even the pickiest reader. My only advice would be to make sure that you have the next book on hand whenever you start a new one. You’ll be glad you did.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Young Adult, Adventure, Thriller

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2010

Josh Olds’ Review:

It’s only been a little more than a week since the Kings moved to the Victorian mansion known as the old Koenig place, but in that week they’ve lived several lifetimes – nearly literally. The adventure began in House of Dark Shadows when the Kings discovered that the house contained portals to other places throughout time. The Kings’ adventure unfolds throughout the following books in the series. They, along with the reader, learn more about this mysterious house and its connection to their family. Each book ratchets up the tension, accelerates the pace, and sends the Kings into more and more dangerous scenarios. By the time you reach Frenzy, things are about to snap.

But Frenzy is the end. Well it’s not the end of the Kings’ story, more like the conclusion to this series. Unlike each of its predecessors, Frenzy does not begin where the previous book leaves of. In fact, here Liparulo does some time jumping of his own and sets the prologue in the near future. The events of the future show the reader just what is at stake and handcuffs us to the book, making it impossible to put down.

The weary and beaten down Kings, with help from Keal, determine to once and for all take hold of their destiny by defeating Taksidian, finding Mom, and fixing the future. Spanning past and present, from Atlantis to the set of the movie Predator, the battle rages on. And just when all hope is lost and the future seems too big to change, too inevitable to delay, too frightening to face, the Kings find themselves thrown into a portal that changes everything and prepares them for the finish.

In this stunning conclusion to the epic series, Robert Liparulo has crafted a can’t-put-down experience that sucks the reader into the story. For five books, he’s put the Kings through the wringer but with this conclusion draws out the themes of redemption and salvation that make the Kings’ journey through the valley of the shadow of death worth it all. And in the end, well it’s not an end. It’s a beginning.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Frenzy. What else is there to say? It’s the final book in the Dreamhouse Kings series. Wow.

We’re starting out in a very familiar place for this series. Everyone’s in danger. Not just your normal average every day danger, but life threatening loss of limb danger.  And this time around Liparulo has ratcheted the danger up several notches with the idea that one of the major characters is going to die in this book. Right away, one of the first things we learn when reading this book is that Xander is mourning the death of his brother. (Hey, I warned you there’d be spoilers ahead!) It’s an agonizing way to begin the final chapter of the series with the reader knowing that one of his or her favorites is set to die.  As I’m sure Liparulo planned, it colors everything that the characters do throughout the course of the book and in many cases, leaves you gasping as you read.
In Frenzy, everything (and I mean everything!) is a life or death situation for some member of the King family. This is the other side of the hill on the roller coaster. There’s nothing to do at this point for the reader except to put your hands over your head and scream with delight, or hold on tight with your eyes closed. Admittedly that would make it hard to read, so you might want to consider keeping your eyes open.

Previously, I’d said that I wished there was some more spiritual content in the books. As a parent, I would have loved to see more prayers every now and then and perhaps some more leaning on God throughout. Liparulo covered that in this book with grace and creativity in spades. I was in tears throughout several areas of this book and so thankful that he took the opportunity to share that vitally important part of life with the readers in this tale.

For the most part, things get wrapped up in this book. Some things are left to wander around in our imaginations, but that’s not a bad thing. It leaves hope that maybe Liparulo will visit the Kings in their crazy house once more.  The major questions that have been asked throughout the series get answered and that’s a good thing. The King family finds out their mission and purpose in the house and that’s a good thing. Frenzy brings us full circle and that’s a good thing.

I loved this book. I enjoyed this series. My only questions are “Robert, what’s next?! Is there a door upstairs in my house that will get me to your next project sooner?”

Don’t miss our recent interview with Robert Liparulo.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Suspense, Adventure, Young Adult

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: December 2009

Jake Chism’s Review:

Whirlwind is the fifth book in the Dreamhouse Kings series that follows the adventure of brothers Xander and David King as they travel through time via portals found in a secret hallway in their creepy, new house. And yes, that’s all I’m saying about the plot because the story is just too good to be described through any measly attempt on my part.

What I will divulge to Robert Liparulo’s salivating fans is this: When I read Timescape I was quick to crown it my favorite of the series so far. Of course that was before I read Whirlwind, and ladies and gentlemen we have a new favorite!!

I consistently find myself in awe of Liparulo’s ability to make each story better in this series, always ratcheting up the tension and mystery, giving us some answers here and there and more and more questions to keep us guessing.

As we’ve come to expect in previous installments, the time travel scenes are loads of fun brimming with wonder and possibility. What sets this book apart from the rest is the huge twist at the end that completely changes the course of this story. I never saw this coming, and I love the direction Liparulo is moving this story and the characters that I have fallen head over heels for.

Frenzy is the upcoming last book in this series, and if the events of Whirlwind are any indication, we are in for quite a ride. If you aren’t reading the Dreamhouse Kings novels you are truly missing out on top notch storytelling, dazzling adventure, and heroic characters worth cheering for. Young or old, it doesn’t matter. The Dreamhouse Kings series is a must read for any true fiction addict.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

The Kings are in trouble and this time it’s not like the previous adventures. This time, along with their trouble, they are also on their own. David’s stuck in some cave somewhere and has no idea if anyone will ever find him. He’s transported to this place from somewhere inside Taksidian’s house. That brings us to Xander. He’s still in Taksidian’s house and he’s currently facing the man himself. Where’s dad? Well, he’s stuck in a car that can barely drive and he knows that the boys are in mortal danger. If that’s not heart-wrenching drama and adventure, I don’t know what is. And that doesn’t even cover the King women!

I’ll be honest, during the reading of this book, I started getting really worried about the King boys. They’ve been through more in one week than most people will have gone through in a lifetime.  Physical ailments and pain aside, they’ve gone through some incredibly frightening situations. They’ve watched their mother being kidnapped. Their father’s been arrested. They have strangers in and out of their house while they have no adults in the house. This is some seriously scary stuff.

A lot of questions are answered in this book. We know that the King family has been searching for their mom since book one. We also know that there’s a longer history with the King family than their current crisis. What we discover in this book is what can happen when they interact directly with the historic periods that they visit. The general belief in time travel circles is that you shouldn’t mess with time. Don’t try to change it or you might end up changing your own existence. (Everyone remembers that iconic image of Marty McFly disappearing in the picture during Back to the Future?)  Liparulo doesn’t just disagree with this. He takes the theory and smashes it to pieces by making it the job of the King family to change time. Their interference, it seems changes things for the better when they do what is asked of them. Simple things like giving someone a message or picking up a hammer can change future history for the better.

Liparulo’s skills as a writer are highlighted in this outing as he gives us answers to the questions that have been plaguing us since the beginning of the series while he also gives us new questions and ups the stakes for the King family. Though this is book five, the pacing of the story has not slowed or faltered. It’s almost too much to keep up with when you’re reading and occasionally, you might want to stop and take a breather, although you may wish that Liparulo did this for the characters too.  Next up? Frenzy!

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Adventure, Young Adult

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: July 2009

Jake Chism’s Review:

Things just became a little more complicated for Xander and David King. Not only is their mother still missing, but a sobering look into the future reveals that much more is at stake. As Xander and David search for answers within the time portals they find an unexpected ally who sheds more light on the house and the greater mission they have been called to. With a renewed sense of purpose the King family decides to turn the tables and go after Taksidian to put a stop to the evil plans he has put into motion.

As this series unfolds I continually find myself in awe of Robert Liparulo’s ability to not just write amazing stories, but also his ability to get better with each offering. Timescape is easily the best novel of the Dreamhouse Kings series, showcasing the most intense action sequences and the most gut wrenching suspense we’ve seen. Two of the time portal scenes were actually crafted from ideas students entered into the Dream the Scene contest on Liparulo’s website. In masterful fashion, Liparulo pulls out all the stops making these scenes the most memorable of the series so far.

In a young adult market saturated by commercialism, mediocrity, and unoriginality it’s refreshing to find a series like this that is not only fun to read but also challenging and engaging. These are the kind of books families can love and share together, and no matter your age you will find yourself easily immersed into this marvelous world of adventure that Liparulo has crafted. Once again Robert Liparulo reminds me of the beauty of story and why I love to read.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

We’re back again. In the house that’s haunting the King family. Not really haunting maybe. It feels more like hunting. When we last left our favorite family, they were all in mortal danger. Again. Liparulo is really good at that and I still have two more books to go. I’ve got to wonder what could possibly come after this.

First I suppose I should start with the opening page of the book. STOP! Read House of the Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods and Gatekeepers before continuing!  There are going to be spoilers in this review as I wrap up the synopsis, so don’t read on if you don’t know what’s happening in the series.

So, as I was saying, when we last left our favorite family, they were all in mortal danger. They’d found Grandma in time and brought her back. The boys, dad and Keal were all in the future world where they discovered everything was not peaceful or quiet. And time (yes somewhere, somehow time became a character in and of itself) decided Grandma was not where she belonged and needed to go back into the house. When we ended the last book, Toria was sitting on top of Grandma trying to keep her ‘here.’ The world that Liparulo has created is so fantastic and mind-stretching that sometimes it’s hard to believe what you’re reading. But he handles it was such grace that he allows the characters to address the craziness of their situation. At one point in this book, David is mourning the loss of his favorite shoes in the Civil War. In the next thought he makes the observation that a sentence like that isn’t even strange anymore. It’s a perfect safety valve for the reader’s disbelief.  I love this. Just when I get to a point where I’m thinking that it’s stretched so far I’m not sure I can keep following, one of the characters says the exact same thing that I’m thinking. This helped me settle back into a balance where I could continue enjoying the adventures.

In this book, we learn a lot about how the house works, where it came from and how to deal with time, but there are still a lot of questions. How does the house work? How do you get back to specific worlds? And what’s Jesse got to do with the house? (Admittedly, reading and writing these reviews while experiencing the series finale of “Lost” may not have been a good idea….) Liparulo’s timing, technique, pacing and characters are all spot on. There are no missteps here. Questions are posed but answers are given. It’s a masterful balance that gives the readers enough satisfaction with what they’re learning at the same time it introduces just the right amount of curiosity to keep the reader engaged in the story.

We leave our favorite family in much the same element of danger with uniquely different circumstances. One thing I can say for Liparulo’s mind is that he seems to have endless ways to put your heart into your throat and leave you grasping for the next page.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Young Adult, Adventure

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: January 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Stress. The King family has it in spades. (SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the previous books – stop and go do so before reading this review!) Okay. You’ve been sufficiently warned. Proceed at your own risk. (Funny, this is pretty similar to what Liparulo’s books feel like. Look at the front cover and read the blurbs and you’ve had enough warning…proceed at your own risk.)

At the end of Watcher in the Woods, Mom is still missing and now Dad’s under arrest. Xander says he’s found her, but David’s trying to protect himself and Toria from the gaggle of police officers trying to eject them from the property. What’s that you say? Drama? Yes. And as I mentioned, stress.

When Dad finally does get taken away, the kids are in hiding upstairs. It’s not good. They believe they know where Mom is but now that Dad’s gone, they’re on their own and know that they shouldn’t try to go and save her.

To make matters worse, they know that Taksidian is behind the eviction and their father’s arrest and that being in the house without their parents leaves them vulnerable to whatever he’s got planned. Oh and then there’s that bully at school who figured out how to get into their house without even being anywhere near it! (You have to read it to understand that.)

Liparulo is obviously on a roll. Written as one story that’s been broken up into several different books, Dreamhouse Kings is an amazing adventure that seems to climax again and again but the ride hasn’t even come close to an ending yet. At this point in the story, I wish that there was a little more emphasis on trust in God. I know it’s a fantasy but the King family has been raised as strong believers. There’s more room for insertion of a little faith in some of these situations without being overwhelming or heavy handed. I also (as a mom) keep thinking ahead to who is going to help the kids and how I’d feel if my kids were on their own. Once again it adds another layer of richness while reading the books. It’s something I’m sure that the intended audience (young adult) wouldn’t recognize but as an adult with experience in writing, I can appreciate it deeply. Liparulo has crafted the story to address all of these concerns and fears while also maintaining a fast paced (hold on tight!) storyline that at times, barely gives you a chance to catch your breath before you move on to the next chapter.

His cliffhangers alone are nearly breathtaking enough to be considered evil. If it weren’t for the reassuring “NOT the end” that is placed at the end of each book, I could get very annoyed. As it is, for some reason, books four and five didn’t make it to me in the same shipment that 1-3 and 6 did, so now I’m stuck tapping my fingers and waiting to see what happens in the next segment of the adventure. My poor mail carrier will probably need to seek counseling after experiencing me in ‘wait’ mode. Should I tell him he has Liparulo to thank for this?

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Adventure

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2008

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

The King family is back in Robert Liparulo’s next adventure in his Dreamhouse Kings series. Well, not the whole family, but we’ll get to that in a few minutes. Right now what we know is that the house is still causing no end to chaos in their lives and that the connection to their family goes much further back than anyone suspected when they arrived.

Now, they’re facing a daunting task. Their mother has disappeared into the house and they have no idea how to find her. Xander is angry at his father for hiding their connection to the house and believes that he put them in undue danger. David’s just frightened and he wants to find their mother and leave. Toria is doing her best to hold the family together, much as Mom always did. It’s not easy and it gets even more frightening when a mysterious stranger named Taksidian shows up. He lets them know that he knows more about the house than they do and that they are not welcome. He leaves the family frightened, shaken, and unsure of where to turn. And who exactly is this Jesse character who has decided he needs to leave his nursing home and go to the house immediately? Hmmm.

For the second venture into this amazing series, Liparulo’s writing loses no pacing in his plot or his character development. As the house seems to grow and evolve for the characters, so the characters are growing and evolving for us. Seen from mostly David’s perspective this go around, we get to see Dad through eyes that are a little less judgmental, and experience Xander’s anger and antagonism from his little brother’s perspective. It gives a little softer edge to the storytelling, but this doesn’t, in any way, mean that the story loses its edge. The frightening scenes are just as heart pounding and in some cases the addition of David’s tender heart allows the reader to experience the fear from not only a detail oriented perspective, but with emotion tossed in as well. This gives us a richer and deeper experience and allows us to bond further with the King family through their trials.

As a parent, the things that happen to these kids are terrifying. Even so, this doesn’t come close to the fear inspired by the ‘outside’ world, beyond the house, believing that Dad is the perpetrator of all of the kids’ injuries. If it isn’t bad enough that they’re being shot at with arrows and guns while breaking limbs, then there’s a horrifyingly real thread throughout the story of accusations and assumptions of what exactly is causing these injuries. When one could get lost in the fantastical adventure Liparulo has created, he grounds us with the reality of life outside his world and it adds a new level of stress and fear as you follow the tale.

Once again, when I got to the end of the book, I was happy to have the next book (Gatekeeper) on hand so I could start reading immediately. I am fully and deeply entrenched in the King Family’s trials and am eager to see where Liparulo (shall I call him the Pied Piper?) takes me next.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Adventure

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2008

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

The King family is currently in a state of flux. Mr. King has just accepted a new job in another town, so the entire family has packed up and is moving from the home they’ve always known. When they arrive in Pinedale, California, they have to find a place to live. While house hunting, they come across a place in the middle of the woods that, for some reason, captures their imagination.  So Dad, Mom, Xander, David and Toria decide that this is the house for them.

The house, an old Victorian style, has a virtual litany of very unique things about it. First, there’s no street, driveway or even sidewalk. It’s simply a house stuck in the middle of the woods. And then there’s that noise thing. When someone’s in the kitchen, it sounds like they’re upstairs or in the living room. When Xander does his exploring of the house, he gets an odd creepy feeling about things shifting and moving. All in all, it’s like stepping into a Hitchcock movie. But this isn’t a movie. It’s the King Family’s life.

Later, when mysterious things are discovered in the house and tragedy strikes, everything in the King Family’s world flips upside down and they’re left shattered, frightened, and most of all, unable to move away from the house that now holds more than just their belongings.

Having heard a great deal of buzz about this series, I approached it with a lot of curiosity and some concern. Curiosity is obvious. So why the concern? Well, it’s like this. I tend to be a little bit of a wuss when it comes to scary books. I love thrillers though and since this was young adult, so I figured I’d be alright.

For a first venture into Liparulo’s work, I am extremely impressed. I love the characters and the dialogue. The descriptions are spot on. The plot has me completely hooked. I have told my husband on several different occasions that I am enjoying the tour through Liparulo’s brain. The world that he has created is fun, frightening and adventurous. I’ve been devouring the books since their arrival and I’ve finished three in about five days. I’m waiting for books 4 and 5 of the series before I get into the final book, Frenzy.  I can say without a doubt that if you have boys who enjoy adventure or girls who like reading thrillers, this is a fantastic series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Frenzy (Book 6 of Robert Liparulo’s Dreamhouse Kings series) is finally here! To celebrate we are giving away 5 copies of the book, plus one grand prize winner will receive a complete set of books 1-6. Be sure and check back all week to read our exclusive reviews of all of the Dreamhouse Kings novels. To enter:

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

2. Let us know how/where you heard about the contest.

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

That’s it! All of the winners will be notified by email and announced on our homepage on June 8th. Entries received after 11:59PM CST on June 7th will NOT be eligible. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

LOST has ended it’s groundbreaking run and we’re here to break it all down. Listen in as Jake Chism, Tim George, James Andrew Wilson and novelist Rob Stennett (The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher, and The End is Now) discuss their thoughts on the finale and the series as a whole.

This podcast episode can also be downloaded from iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Zondervan

Released: May  2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Do u want 2 b my friend? It’s undeniable that we live in an age where technology is putting people in contact with one another more than ever. Social networking has become a multi-billion dollar industry – be it Facebook, Twitter, or any one of the number of social networking forums out there. It’s all really good technology. Friends can stay in touch with friends even though they may not be in close proximity. Relatives from far away can see little Timmy’s first haircut because Mom uploaded to her Facebook page. But like any good technology, the depraved mind of humanity can find a multiplicity of ways to use it for evil.

In Predator, Terri Blackstock treats us to such a terrifying tale. Fourteen-year-old Ella Carmichael was brutally kidnapped, raped, and then buried alive in a shallow grave after an online predator watching her every GrapeVyne update sees his opportunity. In the face of such evil, her sister Krista and father David determine to hunt down the killer before more girls find themselves prey.

Krista goes straight to the top – CEO and founder of the social network GrapeVyne, Ryan Adkins. At first reluctant to see GrapeVyne’s responsibility in the matter, as the predator continues his rampage, Ryan finds himself risking his own job and fortune to help stop the killer. Krista and Ryan team up, but when they get to close to the killer’s trail, he turns his sights toward them.

Predator carries the theme of an exploration of the quintessential problem of pain and how a loving God could allow such evil; through the plot of the story we are exposed to the stark reality of the potential dangers of irresponsible social networking; and in subplots we are treated to a father’s agony over such loss and trauma and a sister’s determination to help those destitute and downtrodden. And in and through it all, there is a God who knows, who cares, and who weeps alongside the brokenhearted.

My only real complaint with the novel is that it explicitly tells you its purpose a few too many times. I got it. Social networking can be dangerous, and those using it should be careful. Given that the story surrounded 2 dead, 1 injured, and a killer on the loose as a result of such, it was a mantra that, while important, did not bear that much repeating.

Quite obviously, Predator was written as a cautionary tale for those of the Facebook generation, who in their quest to be loved, in their craving for attention, and in their desire to have purpose have thrown out all notions of privacy and forgotten that all is not always as it appears, and that evil often comes masquerading as light. Though it did touch upon the benefits of social networking (consider that the link for this review shall be Facebook shared and tweeted), I would have liked to have seen it do more to show these positive aspects.

In the end, Predator is a riveting story that could easily have been ripped from tomorrow’s headlines. It has a strong spiritual message as well as a clear and practical earthly message. It’s a solid thriller from a good writer, and, as this was my first Blackstock novel, I must admit that she has gained a fan.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Fantasy/Allegorical

Publisher: Creation House

Release Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Allon was a paradise until the Guardians fell to the Dark Way, led by the evil spirit Dagar. But prophecy speaks of a time when the Guardians would return and Allon would be restored, led by the rightful heir to the throne. That heir is Ellis, and pursued by King Marcellus’ soldiers, he must flee. Having fled to the Forest of Dorigirth, he is told his destiny and begins his training, under an ancient master, to overcome the king and the Dark Way he follows.

The story that Allon tries to tell is a good one, filled with intrigue and mystery, romance and great battles, betrayal and loyalty. It’s a story we’ve all heard and read before. It’s a story told in Eragon, Prince Caspian, even Star Wars – all of these considered iconic stories. So while not the most original novel I’ve ever read, Allon had the seed for a story that, if done well, could bear one more incarnation.

The picture of the supernatural as painted by Lamb is vivid and quite allegorical, with the depictions of the Guardians and the Shadow Warriors clearly being representations of the great battle between the angelic and the demonic, of good and evil. The portrayal of the Guardians was by far my favorite aspect of the book.

Despite that, I had a hard time following the storyline at times because at least once every chapter, I found myself introduced to a new character. While some of these characters came and went in the space of a few paragraphs and others stayed on, it proved to be rather disorienting to sort out who was who. It seemed to me like Lamb was attempting to flesh out an entire fantasy world on a grand scope, but trying to do so in one novel made it seem rather cluttered. In addition to this, the book needs better editing. While I realize that one or two errors may creep in amongst the array of words in a full-length novel, some of these errors were just too noticeable to overlook.

In the end, Allon is a story of a boy who discovers that as a Child of the King it is his destiny to defeat Evil. Though Allon tells this story – which I absolutely love – I feel that many other books tell this story much better, for having been derived from a tried and true storyline, that is the standard on which it will be seen. To read this same basic plotline as a part of a classic, I recommend Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis. If you’re looking for a lesser-known author that tells a similar story, I recommend Protect by Paul Watson. Allon has its charms to be sure, but in the end doesn’t deliver.

Review copy provided by Creation House.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Touchstone

Publication Date:  May 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

In New York in the early 1900s, Ruby Thompson has faced many tragedies in her young life.  By the time she is thirteen, her parents and brother have died from Spanish influenza.  Her other brother, Nick, survives but has personality-altering damages from the flu.  He and his wife, Evie, have two small girls, and they take in Ruby to live with them.  Not long after, Evie is in a train accident and dies, leaving Ruby to fend for herself AND to care for the two girls, Allie and Amanda.  She takes on a lot of unsafe factory jobs and does all she can to make ends meet.  Finally, fed up with not being able to take care of her family, she goes to a side show owner and ends up getting a job.  She has an amazingly fast pitch, so her new boss sets up a booth where people can come in and challenge her for the fastest pitch.  She is so impressive that eventually she is asked to play on a minor league team, and in the process garners the attention of Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, and the famous boxer Jack Dempsey.  Even though she finds a good-paying job doing something she loves, she still has to face challenges: her brother, Nick, is caught up in bootlegging; the Klan is out to make her stop playing baseball because she is a girl; and a bookie blackmails her to throw some games or he will harm the girls.  Rather than being a sad and depressing story, however, Diamond Ruby shows pluck, spunk, and smarts.  She handles things with grace and nerves of steel.

It’s interesting to read a book about a female baseball player in the early 1900s because the reader sees just how far women have come.  Rights and privileges we take for granted are not even dreamed of by those women.  Diamond Ruby shows what people, no matter their gender, can achieve when they set their minds to it.  They can overcome despair and manage to triumph even with the odds stacked against them.  While there are people who succumb to tragedy, it’s nice to read about someone who overcomes the odds to manage and do well in life.  Who doesn’t love to root for the underdog?

There is very little objectionable content in Diamond Ruby in the way of profanity and sexual situations.  While there is not graphic violence, there is a lot of blackmail.  People get beat up or knifed, and in one scene, Ruby is badly beaten.  This is not described in great detail, but it is enough that it could upset people sensitive to violence against women.  In general, however, most readers should not be offended by anything in this book.  It is gritty and downtrodden at times, but it shows how the human spirit can overcome so many tragedies to succeed.

Review copy provided by Touchstone.

Genre: Romance, Mystery

Publisher: Berkeley

Publication Date: June 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Reagan has a big problem. But she also has a plan. With nowhere to go, no family in the world, and none of the normal concerns of a teenager, it seems like there isn’t a lot of hope in her life. But then there’s Harmony. The beautiful small town of Harmony houses a tight knit community of mostly kind hearted folks that all know each other’s business. When Reagan flees the hopeless nonexistent life that she has and comes to Harmony, she knows exactly what she needs to do to fit into the inner workings of this intimate community. She pretends to be the granddaughter of Miss Beverly Truman, one of the town’s residents who moved away long ago. Miss Beverly recently passed away at a nursing home where Reagan volunteered some of her time. During the last years of the old woman’s life, Reagan learned all about the town of Harmony and also grew to love the old woman. So when Miss Beverly passed away, Reagan knew what she needed to do. And that means the small town of Harmony is her future.

Being Miss Beverly’s granddaughter gives her an immediate ‘in’ to the town’s infrastructure, but it also gives her an instant family. Since Miss Beverly left behind an ornery old brother, that means that Reagan’s brilliant plan to insinuate herself into the small town life of Harmony also means she’s going to have to figure out what to do about grumpy old Jeremiah Truman.

Along with the trials that Reagan endures to become part of this community, we also get to meet Alexandra McAllen. McAllen is the local sheriff who is drowning in the agonizing pain of having lost her brother in a dreadful incident that she feels was her fault. Every Saturday evening she loses herself in a bottle at the local bar. And every Saturday night without fail, she’s saved from her self-destructive tendencies by her brother’s best friend who also happens to be the local fire chief. He also happens to be head over heels in love with her. Unfortunately she can’t see past her own pain to understand anything more than his annoying tendency to always be right and always be watching out for her.
Oh and did I mention that someone’s setting dangerous fires around town too? Yes. There’s mystery wrapped in this romantic adventure as well.
Welcome to Harmony is a beautifully woven tale of life in a small town.  The residents of Harmony not only know each other and everyone’s secrets, but they also accept everyone’s, well, for lack of a better term, ticks. The things about people that make them odd or strange or crazy are readily accepted in this small town because that’s just what you do. No one blinks an eye that the local sheriff goes out every Saturday and drinks herself into a stupor. Everyone knows what it was like when her brother passed and no one questions her abilities because of this problem. There is no politically correct rambling, counseling or therapy in this book. People struggle with their issues and work through them the hard way. It may not always be the best way, but it works in the end. And it makes everyone tighter as a community.

I loved the characterization, the plot and the pacing. It never moves too slow or too fast and keeps you interested throughout the story. I devoured this book. I took it with me to a series of medical appointments my husband had and I finished it in a little over a day. When I was done, I felt satisfied with the conclusion of the story, but I wanted to know more. The small town and quirky characters worked their way into my mind until I, too, felt like I was a part of Harmony and when the book ended, I was sad to leave.

Review copy provided by Berkeley.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Jodi Thomas.

Genre: Literary

Publisher: Picador

Released: September 2009

Reviewed by Jonathan Schindler

What does it mean to be home in Gilead, Iowa? For Glory Boughton, it signifies a coming down in the world, a broken engagement, a forced retirement from teaching, and caring for her father—a retired Presbyterian minister—in his last days. For Glory’s prodigal brother Jack, whose return to Gilead after twenty years sets the town quietly abuzz, Gilead is a place of last hope, where grace might be found and new life begun.

Readers familiar with Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Gilead will already know the basic plot of the Orange Prize–winning Home. Home takes place over the same time period as Gilead, and in the same place, but it follows different characters than the earlier book. Whereas Gilead was Reverend John Ames’s first-person account of the events surrounding Jack’s return, a letter of sorts written to his young son, Home is a third-person account specifically following Glory Boughton, a minor player in Ames’s record.

Readers desiring a plot-driven narrative may be bored with Home. But what Home lacks in plot it makes up for in rich characterization. The characters are slowly, methodically drawn. Robinson’s gift for subtle observation and nuance gives the characters a weight that convinces the reader of their reality. But much like relationships in the real world, the reader’s getting to know the characters is not a quick process. The reader must inhabit Gilead in order to understand its people. Robinson does not allow for snap judgments or easy dismissals; she lets the reader know her characters in all their humanity. For this reason, it is impossible to read Home quickly. It is a book that must be savored.

And the savoring brings its own rewards. For much of the book, I liked what I was reading, was interested in the relationships that were forming, and cared about the characters. But I didn’t realize how much I cared until the final third of the book. I found myself feeling the characters’ grief, laughing with them, and desiring their good ends. It is to Robinson’s credit that she was able to produce such emotion discreetly, without the manipulative methods we’re familiar with from Hallmark commercials and many human interest stories, which seek to manufacture sentimental feelings in brief snapshots. In contrast, the feelings that Robinson conjures are the direct product of her painstaking catalogue of the characters’ lives.

The book must also be savored because of its wisdom. Home explores what it means for the prodigal to come home. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son tells us much about his heavenly Father, but how might the story look in an earthly context? In Robinson’s book we have a loving father, worn out from twenty years of waiting, still happy to have his son back but battling his own feelings of bitterness and regret. We have a son who, while trying to enjoy the pleasures of home, still hears the siren call of the world and feels the urge to continue his travels in a distant land. We have those outside the family who know the prodigal’s transgressions, and we have their reactions to his return. And we have a younger sister, the one who didn’t leave, who still has her inheritance, but who is able to bestow the grace that seemed out of the older brother’s reach in Jesus’ parable. Robinson’s novel is a multi-layered and powerful meditation on what it means to be lost and (possibly) found.

Home is a work of genuine beauty, but in some ways an ordinary beauty. It is an escape from the fast-paced world we live in, a reminder of an earlier time, but also a reminder that we inhabit a world of ordinary graces, where the magnificent suffuses the mundane, where we can appreciate the comforts of home.

Review copy provided by Picador.

Jake Chism talks with Tim Downs about his new novel, Wonders Never Cease. Plus, Tim gives us a sneak peek into the next Bug Man novel and shares his thoughts on the future of publishing. More about Tim Downs:

Tim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate until 1986. His cartooning has appeared in more than a hundred major newspapers worldwide. Tim’s first book was awarded the Gold Medallion Award in 2000, and his third novel, PlagueMaker, was awarded the Christy Award for best CBA suspense novel of 2007. Tim lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Joy. He has been featured on many high-profile talk radio programs based on his expert knowledge, stemming from research for his novels.

Visit Tim online at www.authortimdowns.com.

Check out our reviews of Wonders Never Cease.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

When Caitlyn Brown escaped the theocracy of Appalachia, she thought it’d be over. She wouldn’t be hunted anymore. She could rid herself of her condition—her deformity—then she could live a normal life on the Outside. But she was wrong.

With her secret exposed while trying to assimilate into life outside Appalachia, Caitlyn must go on the run from the government, who wants to know her secret. She’s been separated from her friends Theo and Billy for a while now, and they can’t really help her. Enter Razor—fast, sharp dangerous—a man with enough tricks up his sleeve to save Caitlyn, at least temporarily. But his motives are mixed and vague, and certainly cannot be trusted.

Meanwhile, the government isn’t Caitlyn’s only problem. The bounty hunter that chased her through Appalachia in Broken Angel is determined to finish the job. As Caitlyn and Razor work together to team up with Billy and Theo, Caitlyn learns a lot about life on the Outside—and about herself. It’s not just her deformity, it’s her DNA. It’s a genetic makeup that grants her ultimate power.

In a tale of science unchecked and gone awry, Sigmund Brouwer places this suspense-filled chase in the middle of an apocalyptic future where the wars have left the Americas a system of walled city-states with a rigid and harsh social system. Caitlyn must find her friends, outwit her pursuers, decide who she can trust, and finally escape to a life of freedom.

Several motifs run through Flight of Shadows and its prequel, Broken Angel. Flight of Shadows builds on the foundation of science unchecked and unmasks the horror of what man is capable of when the sanctity of life is denied. But primarily, this serves as a focus to the general theme Brouwer is presenting. In Broken Angel, Caitlyn was on the run within Appalachia, a theocracy ran by Bar Elohim where every move was monitored and personal freedoms were not allowed. Bar Elohim saw all. Flight of Shadows introduces the reader to the Outside…but we quickly discover that things are not too much better here.

Here those born in affluence—Influentials—virtually enslave the lower castes of Industrials and Illegals. Those in power can do anything to those without it—and they will do anything to retain their power. It is society taken to the extremes, a foreseeable future that should scare readers into an appreciation for what society still is, and work to make it better.

Brouwer has crafted a top-notch novel of suspense where each page deepens the plot, heightens the intensity, and broadens the action.  The page-turning action is coupled with thought-provoking concepts to create a story that pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the last page is turned.

Review copy provided by WaterBrook Press.

Jake Chism recently caught up with Jeremy Robinson to discuss his new book, Instinct. Listen in as Jeremy shares the idea behind the Chess Team series, his experience with self publishing, and a glimpse into his future projects. More about Jeremy Robinson:

JEREMY ROBINSON is the author of seven novels including PULSE and INSTINCT, the first two installments of his Chess Team series published by Thomas Dunne, and imprint of St. Martin’s Press. His novels have been translated into eight languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.

For more information, free podcast novels, video content, news and contests, visit his Web site at www.jeremyrobinsononline.com, where you can connect with Robinson via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or e-mail.

Check out our reviews of Pulse and Instinct.

You can also subscribe to our podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Mystery, Drama, Romance

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

A killer is on the loose in Sophie Trace and it’s up to Police Chief Brill Jessup to figure out who it is and stop the killing. Worse than that, the situation hits a little too close to home when it involves Ethan Langley, her daughter’s boyfriend.

Ethan is home from school and hopes to spend the summer earning money to pay for school and getting closer to Vanessa, his girlfriend. Ethan’s summer plans are quickly shattered as his cousin’s roommate is murdered. Trying to cope with family issues on top of this, Ethan’s struggling to help his cousin past this horrible tragedy. Then a little girl’s body turns up and things really begin to go south in the small town. It’s not too long before things come right to Ethan’s front door and suddenly, Vanessa’s life is in danger as well.

Police Chief Brill Jessup is unhappy that all of this is happening on her watch. When her daughter (Ethan’s girlfriend) witnesses a murder firsthand, it gets way too close to home. She puts herself and her emotions aside and calls for help from another town. It’s not someone who has respected her in the past and some question her decision, but nothing’s going to stop her from solving these murders.

Since this is my first venture into Sophie Trace, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve loved J.D. Robb’s In Death books and was pleasantly surprised to find that this is a good comparison. With emotional ties that keep her closely connected to friends and neighbors throughout the book, Brill is able to systematically take the evidence apart and follow the trails wherever they may go. With just enough crime specific details to be believable, The Right Call is an emotional journey that will take you down the path of wondering how far you can trust someone when they’ve proven unreliable. It’s also a good balance of crime story/mystery and drama. With just enough danger to make you cringe, but not enough to be unrealistic, it’s a tight story with fast pacing and great characters you want to follow.  The spiritual questions are solid without overwhelming the story and the mystery is complex enough to keep you interested until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed my venture into Sophie Trace and look forward to whatever Kathy Herman brings to the table for her next adventure.

Review copy provided by David C. Cook.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama, Supernatural

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: August 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Grace has a deep connection to the woods behind her home. With self absorbed parents that rarely ever even know where their daughter is, let alone what she’s doing, Grace is much more comfortable in the open air. As she wanders through the woods she can hear sounds and taste elements in the air that most people cannot. She can’t explain this and really, it’s not something about which she’s concerned. It’s just a part of her.  Just like the wolf attack she experienced when she was a small child. Though she should have died, she didn’t. She was saved from death by a wolf with golden eyes.  Where most people would spend their lives concentrating on the horror of the attack, Grace spent her life concentrating on the act of grace that saved her life. It is this perspective that not only helps get Maggie through the difficult times of her life, but that also prepares her for the strange events that are about to take her life in a whole new direction.

Years later, Grace recognizes the same wolf that saved her life when she was a child. For some unknown reason, she sees the wolf outside her home often. He’s always watching her. Where she felt a connection before, she now begins to think of the wolf as her own. So when a boy from her high school class is attacked by the wolves, Grace virulently opposes the proposed wolf hunt. She’s worried for ‘her’ wolf. And her worries are completely justified.

She’s horrified one day when she discovers a boy with yellow eyes lying on her back porch bleeding. It’s the beginning of the rest of her life.

Stiefvater’s tale cannot escape comparisons to the other ‘supernatural teen romance’ series that’s on the market today. With several interesting similarities to Twilight, I was at first worried that I was just reading a knock off of the popular tale.  Imagine my surprise when I was drawn in to a world that actually had some explanations, made sense, and had beautiful writing to boot.  Where I was worried I’d find only teen angst and drama, I discovered a beautiful tale that drew me in and left me wanting more. I needed to know what would happen next.

One of my biggest issues with the story was that of Grace’s parents. Well, actually, all of the parents. They were, for all intents and purposes, non-existent. It would have been nice to see some good parental figures that stuck with the kids, listened, and helped them through trials and traumas. Instead we see parents so caught up in themselves that they have little to no impact whatsoever on the lives of their children. These are kids that are basically raising themselves without any adult input or supervision. In fact, when parents do get involved, they are more a nuisance and don’t understand. Teenagers are already of this frame of mind and it’s hard enough for adults to permeate this belief with real care and concern. I would have felt better if there had been at least one set of  understanding parents who didn’t just comply with everything the kids told them to, but really genuinely helped the kids through their situations.

Other than that, the story remained tight and solid, the characterizations were vivid and beautiful and the descriptions literally leaped off of the page.  This story gives you solid adventure in a supernatural universe where Stiefvater creates her own rules about life and how it happens and they actually make sense.
Shiver is a definite must read for those who like romance and teen drama with a little of the supernatural/fantasy world mixed in for good measure. If you’ve read that ‘other’ teen supernatural drama series, definitely give this a try. You may just like it better. I certainly did.

Review copy provided by Scholastic.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Kemp McAvoy has pulled some fast ones in his time, but nothing like his latest brainchild. Movie star Olivia Hayden has just been hospitalized after a car wreck, and Kemp is the nurse assigned to her in the ICU. Disgusted with is own life and lack of wealth, Kemp develops a get rich quick scheme involving his famous comatose patient and his own impersonation of an angelic being. If all goes according to plan, Olivia Hayden will wake up with a message from an angel that must be published and Kemp and his fellow conspirators will make a fortune from the proceeds. Unfortunately, Kemp will soon find out that impersonating an angel isn’t always the best idea.

Tim Downs takes a break from bugs and cadavers to treat his fans with a quirky tale that is fun to read and impossible to put down. On the surface, this plot seems extremely far-fetched, but Downs really nails this one with his tightly woven storylines and unforgettable characters. Kemp McAvoy might just be the most annoying character I’ve ever read, yet at the same time I had so much fun following his every ill conceived move. Perfectly nestled amongst the shenanigans is a nice little love story and a subtle, yet strong theme about belief in things unseen.  There isn’t a wasted word in this novel and Downs’ research really gives this story the depth it needs to hold the reader’s attention.

I had no idea what to expect from this story on the front end. To be sure this was a risky move on Tim Down’s part, especially after the cliffhanger ending of his last Bug Man novel. However, I’ve walked away from this one with an even greater appreciation for Down’s storytelling ability. Bugs and cadavers or angel impersonating con men….if Tim Downs’ name is on the cover you can be sure I’ll be reading it.

Tim George’s Review:

Kemp McAvoy is drop dead handsome, a medical school graduate, and a genius. If you don’t believe the genius part just ask him and he’ll tell you. Kemp is a nurse, which should give you an idea something went wrong after medical school. What he comes up with to finally make it big is also a clue our non-hero is only a genius in his own over-inflated ego. The scheme is simple – convince an actress in a drug induced coma after a car wreck to believe he is an angel come to give her a new message for the world, get her to write a book about it when she wakes up, and rake in the millions after the fact. Thus begins the funny and yet insightful Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs. If you are one of those who get mad when a reviewer gives away the plot, take a breath; it’s the characters and how Downs tells the story that makes this novel worth reading.

Most of the people in this story are as vapid as the city they live in, Hollywood. Among them are the actress’s agent that has been watching his cash cow slowly dry up over the years, a book publisher desperate to find a replacement for his one best-seller (Lattes with God), and a loan shark from the east coast who has already extended far more credit to Kemp than he ever should have. Were it not for Kemp’s girlfriend, her six year old daughter, and a hospital custodian named Emmet one might give up on the whole human race.

Did I mention the little girl really does see angels?  The irony is her Christian school insists she have counseling after she tells her story during a See and Say Session in class. One can hardly miss the satire of the whole thing. On one side we have a greedy confederation of users with no qualms about duping the whole world with fake messages from a fake angel and on the other side people who say they believe in the supernatural but fall all over themselves in questioning the validity of the girl’s visions. As the plot plays out we are given a too real vision of the consumer driven pop-culture religion of our day. Downs throws in everything from Oprah to Dr. Oz to make his point.

Tim Downs is best known for hard boiled suspense like Plague Maker, Head Game, and his popular Bug Man series. Good for him for stepping out of his comfort zone and giving us this sometimes charming, sometimes cutting parable of greed and faith. The writing is sharp with some of the best dialogue the author has ever written. Wonders Never Cease will make you laugh out loud and hang your head in shame all in the same moment. And the ending? I didn’t see it coming until it was almost on top of me. It will make you wonder if perhaps you have entertained angels unaware this very day.

Don’t miss our interview with Tim Downs.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

Special Agent Nicole Hedges, Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce, and crime reporter Cassidy Shaw are back in Lis Wiehl’s second installment of the Triple Threat series, Hand of Fate. If you missed Face of Betrayal, these three professional women are high school friends who reunited over a triple threat chocolate desert and now collaborate from time to time on cases of interest to each.

When radio personality, Jim Fate, is murdered in what at first appears to be a terrorist attack the three women find their careers and personal lives intertwined once again. Fate, a not-so- veiled replica of the Rush Limbaugh’s and Glen Beck’s of the real world, is murdered in his radio booth and the city of Portland is thrown into panic. The first chapters of the novel scream forward at a dizzying pace as we are given an inside view of how quickly mass hysteria can grip a city in our post 9/11 world. And, our three heroines find themselves personally sucked into the ensuing events.

As before, each of the main characters must face personal issues often more daunting than the murder they are investigating. Cassidy continues to face the reality of younger faces in the television journalism world and the consequences of how she has tried to defy age. Allison has yet to tell her friends she and her husband are finally expecting a child. Nicole is still raising a young daughter alone as she balances her FBI duties with motherhood. Issues of faith are presented through the eyes and hearts of each of these women: the shallow news reporter, the true believer, and the hardened agnostic. It is the complexities of this relationship that are most interesting about the series.

Though handled with more maturity than her debut novel, Lis Wiehl and her co-author April Henry give us an ending that still seems hurried. For such a great buildup the conclusion is a bit disappointing. Hand of Fate is what we call in my part of the world, a beach book. If you are looking for intricately woven plots and thought-provoking dialogue you may want to look elsewhere. But if you want a fun read, with strong female leads doing something more than falling for the first hunk that comes along, this one just might be the ticket.

With Heart of Ice coming next year, the Triple Threat Club isn’t finished so perhaps we will still see the satisfying ending I believe this writer is capable of. Until then, grab a chair, find something chocolate, take the afternoon off, and join Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole as they look for a killer.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

The President of the United States is the most protected man in the world, at least that’s what President Tom Duncan thought. All pretense of security vanishes when he falls victim to a weaponized strain of Brugada Syndrome, a genetic disease that kills without warning.  To make matters worse, it seems the President is just the beginning. Brugada will soon wipe out the world’s population if a cure can’t be found.

Enter the Chess Team, a Special Forces unit that is the best of the best. King, Queen, Rook, Knight, and Bishop have fought their fair share of enemies, but none as deadly as this silent killer. They are quickly dispatched to the jungles of Vietnam where this new strain originated. CDC agent Sarah Fogg joins the team as they traverse the rugged terrain in search of a cure. Standing in their way are the Vietnamese Special Forces who will stop at nothing to wipe them out. Unfortunately for the Chess Team, these VPLA Death Volunteers are the least of their worries. An ancient darkness is lurking and waiting to destroy them all.

Jeremy Robinson is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers and Instinct only furthers the cause.  Our heroes from the Chess Team are back in grand style and in true Robinson fashion, the action and the thrills never let up. The jungles of Vietnam are the perfect backdrop for this all out fight for survival. Just when we think the environment couldn’t be more grueling and lethal, we’re treated to an ancient underworld that adds a creepy, yet fun dimension to the story.

Instinct is pure escapist fiction, the kind of novel that you love to get lost in.  Jeremy Robinson sets out to entertain and he does so wonderfully, giving us a well researched plot laced with top notch action sequences. After reading Pulse I wanted to see the main characters fleshed out more, and I did walk away from this installment feeling like I had a better feel for each member of the Chess Team.

I was surprised at a major reveal in only the second book of this series, but on the other hand it’s refreshing to know that Jeremy Robinson is proving to be an author that rewards his readers. This reveal has the potential to really make for some intriguing storylines and I can’t wait to see what’s next. In the end, we’re also left with a nice little surprise that will leave fans hungry for more.

Review copy provided by Thomas Dunne Books.

Genre: Historical

Publisher: Viking

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Mary Sutter, a young 19th century midwife living in New York state, wants more. She longs to be a doctor. Sadly, medical schools will not accept her because of her gender. In desperation, she turns to James Blevens—a doctor whose aid she came to during a dangerous delivery. But Blevens, who has enlisted as a surgeon in the approaching Civil War, turns her down.

Then Dorothea Dix, a national figure, issues a call to the North’s women: nurses are needed. Mary hurries to the capitol, despite the fact that she is too young for service under Ms. Dix. Rejected once again, she finds a role in the Union Hotel Hospital, a squalid, filthy hovel where she assists Dr. William Stipp, who, ironically, is the man who trained Blevens. There, Mary strives to care for the flood of injured and ill men who arrive, but with so little known about medicine, both Stipp and Mary struggle to save lives. Torn between returning home to help deliver her twin sister’s child and the overwhelming needs in Washington, Mary must make the difficult choice between familial duty and her dreams of medicine.

In My Name is Mary Sutter, a historical piece set during the opening of the Civil War, Robin Oliveira creates a bitter, chaotic world where blood, filth and perseverance dominate. The wounds of war scar everyone and she portrays this clearly in this work. Historical details abound, sure to please the most avid amateur historian—Lincoln, John Hay and McClellan are featured among the cast of characters included here—although, these scenes read more slowly and this reader hurried through them to reach Mary’s story.

A bit disappointing was Mary’s persistent stoicism; it prevented the reader from truly empathizing with this character at a deep level. Understandably, this is a prime trait of this character, but readers would have benefitted from an occasional lapse in Mary’s outer restraint as a means of character growth. However, the ending does show a crack in this demeanor which was a relief.

Oliveira’s debut novel offers a wealth of period details and is a well-crafted look at the horrors of the Civil War from the rare perspective of a female medical professional. Readers feel immersed in the wretchedness of the war; our sense of helplessness easily parallels what Mary feels as she tries to treat patients at a time when little is known about treatment.

Review copy provided by Viking.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Publication Date: May 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

The Chess Team has battled its fair share of monsters, albeit monsters of the human variety. Nothing can prepare Special Forces Commander Jack Sigler (“King”) and his team for the mythical nightmare they will soon face.

An ancient relic has just been discovered in Peru that contains the DNA of the legendary Hydra monster that was defeated by Hercules himself. Richard Ridley, head of Manifold Genetics, sets out to distract the DNA in order to bio-engineer an army of soldiers that have the ability to regenerate, thus making them immortal.  The Chess Team is tasked with stopping Ridley before he can get his plans off the ground. If only it were that easy….

I love it when I discover a new author that knocks my socks off and leaves me wondering how or why they have previously flown under my radar.  That’s exactly what was going through my mind when I tore through Pulse with reckless abandon.

Jeremy Robinson’s writing leaps off the page with his over the top characters, awesome action scenes, and stunning locations. This is pure adventure escapist fiction and as other reviewers have pointed out, all of the woman are gorgeous, all the men are bulked out GQ models, and all of the villains are as a nasty as can be. And Robinson’s writing is so great that we don’t even care.

Pulse does contain the type of violence, language, adult content and gore that you would expect from a hard core thriller and readers should not be surprised to find those elements here.

The thriller genre is bursting at the seams with authors trying to make their mark with their own unique style. Jeremy Robinson is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is at times saturated with unoriginality and cookie cutter plots. This guy is the real deal and deserves his share of the spotlight.

Review copy provided by Thomas Dunne Books.

Recently Lori Twichell caught up with NY Times Bestselling novelist Jodi Thomas, author of Welcome to Harmony. Listen in as Jodi shares the idea behind this new series and her love for writing about Texas. Don’t miss our upcoming Welcome to Harmony Giveaway from May 24th-30th.

More about Jodi Thomas:

A fifth-generation Texan who once taught family living, Jodi Thomas chooses to set the majority of her novels in her home state, where her grandmother was born in the back of a covered wagon.  With each new addition to her ever growing booklist, Jodi takes you to the heart of Texas.

With a degree in Family Studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write knowledgeably about relationship dynamics. She is known for her expertise in historical research and genealogy, as well.

Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumnus by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A&M University campus, where she currently serves as its Writer In Residence.

When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and “checking up” on their two grown sons.

Yo can also subscribe to our podcast through iTunes.

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

You can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

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Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

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

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

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

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

Listen to our interview with Andrea Boeshaar here.

Review copy provided by Realms.

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Touchstone.

Genre: Historical, Romance, Adventure

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

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

More about Mike Dellosso:

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

You can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

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

More about Stuart Stockton:

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

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

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

Stuart lives in Colorado with his wife, Tiffany.

More about Kerry Nietz:

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

You can also subscribe to our podcast through iTunes.

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Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Simon and Schuster.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: April 2010

Lori Twichell’s Review:

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

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

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

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

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

Shaun Stevenson’s Review:

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

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

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

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

Don’t miss our interview with Erynn Mangum here.

Review copies provided by NavPress.

Genre: Supernatural, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Faith Words.

We’re giving away 5 copies of Ted Dekker’s new novel, The Bride Collector. Here’s how to enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line: The Bride Collector

2. Tell us how you found out about the giveaway.

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

That’s it!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be notified by email and announced on our homepage on April 28th. Entries received after 11:59pm CST on April 27th will NOT be eligible.

In the meantime check out our recent interview with Ted Dekker and our review of The Bride Collector.

Congratulations to the winners of our Valley of Bones Giveaway! They will each received an autographed copy:

Jan Marie Newby (Indiana)

Brooke Dickinson (Florida)

George Rivera (California)

Sandy Jones (Tennessee)

Perry Noid (Tennessee)

Please come back tomorrow for a chance to win a copy of Ted Dekker’s The Bride Collector.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

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

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

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

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

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

Review copy provided by Dutton.

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

More about David Baldacci:

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

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

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

Check out our reviews of Deliver Us from Evil here.

You can also subscribe to our iTunes feed to download all of our interviews and podcast episodes.

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

We’d love to hear your feedback! Drop us an email at podcast@fictionadddict.com or leave a comment below to let us know what you think and what other writers you’d like to see on our Ask the Writers podcast segment.

You can also subscribe to our podcast episodes and interviews through iTunes.

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

More about Eric Wilson:

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

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

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

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

Websites: WilsonWriter.com and JerusalemsUndead.com

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

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

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This week we’re giving away 5 autographed copies of Eric Wilson’s Valley of Bones. To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line: VOB Giveaway

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

3. Let us know how/where you found about this contest.

That’s it!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Entries received after 11:59pm on April 11th will be discarded. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on April 12th.

Check out our review of Valley of Bones here and our interview with Eric Wilson here.

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

More about Andrew Klavan:

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

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

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

Check out our review of The Long Way Home.

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

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Jake Chism and Lori Twichell recently set down with NY Times Bestselling Author Ted Dekker to discuss his latest release, The Bride Collector. Listen in as we talk about Dekker’s future novels, The Gathering events, and his transition into mainstream fiction. A special thank you to Kevin Kaiser for setting up this interview and to Ted Dekker for allowing us to take a HUGE chunk of his time. We had a blast and we hope you do to.

More about Ted Dekker:

Ted Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. Because his parents’ work often included extended periods of time away from their children, Dekker describes his early life in a culture to which he was a stranger as both fascinating and lonely. It is this unique upbringing that forced him to rely on his own imagination to create a world in which he belonged.

After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States to study Philosophy and Religion. Upon earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he entered the corporate world and proceeded to climb the proverbial ladder. But his personal drive left him restless and, after many successful years, he traded corporate life for wide range of entrepreneurial pursuits that included buying and selling businesses, healthcare services, and marketing.

In the early nineties while visiting a friend who had just written a book, Dekker decided to pursue a long held desire to be a novelist. Over the course of two years he wrote two full length novels before starting from scratch and rewriting both. Now fully enamored by the the process and the stories, he realized that storytelling was in his blood and a new obsession to explore truth through story gripped him anew.

He sold his business, moved his family to the mountains of Western Colorado and began writing full-time on his third novel. Two years and three novels later his first novel, Heaven’s Wager, was published.

Now, eight years from the publication of his first novel, Dekker’s novels had sold over 3.4 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production.

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

See our reviews of The Bride Collector here.

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Genre: Thriller

Publisher:  Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date:  June 2008

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Katherine Dunne, recently widowed and remarried, wants to take her three children on a sailing trip for two months during the summer so they can reconnect.  A dedicated heart surgeon, Katherine believes she has spent too much time on her career and not enough time on her family.  Her children agree.  Her daughter has an eating disorder, her older son has a pot addiction, and her younger son is just lost in the shuffle.  While her successful new husband, Peter, stays behind to work on an important case, her brother-in-law, Jake (with whom she had an affair years ago), agrees to captain the sailboat.  Right off the bat, though, things go wrong.  The family is hit hard by a storm that destroys a great deal of the boat.  The day after the storm, after the family miraculously makes it out alive, the boat explodes.  Jake suffers serious injuries and dies.  Katherine also is seriously injured: she has a compact fracture in her leg.  With nothing left but hope, the family must somehow survive and get safely home.  With betrayal and secrets exposed, it’s not the means in which she intends, but Katherine does pull her family together into a stronger unit.

James Patterson is not at his strongest in Sail.  While the plot does have some twists and turns, it does not have the usual “wow” factor his fans are accustomed to seeing.  It’s nice to get away from a high-speed chase at the end of the story, as this one does not have that, but the whole setup is tired.  The characters are not well-developed and sometimes it is difficult to believe their experiences.  That being said, the twists and turns that DO happen are interesting.  The secondary characters provide more interest than the main ones, and because of them, the story is not horrible.  With some depth added, the story could be a lot better.

There are a few curse words in the story, and quite a bit of sexual encounters.  There is some violence, and some of it is graphic.  For those used to Patterson novels, it is calm by his standards.  Others not accustomed to violence may be unnerved.  There is also mention of an extramarital affair, so people not comfortable with adultery should be warned.

This book, while not a fantastic read, is quick and easy and does provide a somewhat entertaining story.

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Publisher: Putnam

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

When eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan’s parents send him to his grandparents’ South Dakota horse ranch for a summer on his grandparents’ horse ranch, he expects the worst two months of his life. Instead, he meets the neighbors’ daughter, Lillian Chance. She shares his love of baseball and teaches him how to ride horses. With each annual visit their friendship grows and develops into something more, until the year they stumble on the body of a dead hiker.

From that day on, their lives follow different paths. Coop breaks away from his father’s demands while Lil becomes a wildlife biologist and creates the Chance Wildlife Refuge.

Twelve years later their lives intersect once more. Coop leaves his job as a private investigator in New York to care for his grandparents and the ranch. Still hurt by his departure all those years ago, Lil determines to not let his presence hold her back. But when animals are slaughtered, and left for Lil to find, and a man goes missing, Coop will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even if it means disrupting her life and the peace she fought so hard to achieve.

At first, I was very excited to read Nora Roberts’ Black Hills, but the more I read, the greater my disappointment grew. While the plot is intriguing and Roberts draws the reader into the world of wildlife biologists, I grew irritated with the crude language. By this I refer to swear words as well as countless distasteful conversations between the characters. They treat sex in a cavalier fashion, often talking about it or the opposite sex in extremely debasing terms. The words lust and love are thrown around freely and interchangeably, even when it’s lust every time.

Numerous sex scenes leave little to the imagination. Roberts isn’t a bad writer, she pulls her audience into the intricacies of a wildlife refuge and the lives of its inhabitants and caretakers, but if one pulls out the vulgar words, crass conversations, and sex scenes, there isn’t much left to this book. That aside, this novel is for those who prefer figuring out how to catch the culprit rather than learning whodunit, as the reader knows the culprit almost from the beginning.

Overall, Black Hills disappointed me. Knowing that Roberts is a mystery writer and having enjoyed several movies based on her books, I had high expectations for the novel. Unfortunately, I will now have to think twice before reading a Nora Roberts book again and stick to the movies, which are cleaner.

Review copy provided by Putnam.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: April 2010

Josh Olds’ Review:

The ghastly images are set before the panic-stricken man. His eyes take in the grisly scenes of torture and death. He knows why they have come after him, but they will tell him. He knows why they are showing him these images, but they will remind him. He knows why he will die, because he is the one who caused the images set before him.

With his latest thriller, David Baldacci introduces a covert, off-the-record vigilante group dedicated to taking down big-time war criminals. Far beyond serial killers, the guys they take down have killed tens of thousands. With precision they locate a target. Then they become the judge, jury, and executioner—and Reggie Campion is one of their best operatives.

Her latest target is Evan Waller, a Canadian businessman man with a secret past and some not so legal business dealings. No longer content with the humdrum business of human trafficking, Waller is looking to expand his horizons to a field that could ensure his place in the history books—one that could results in millions dead.

This tidbit of information doesn’t go unnoticed by other agencies. Shaw, an agent for a quasi-official agency that was first introduced in Baldacci’s 2008 novel The Whole Truth, is sent to take down Waller as well.

As Reggie and Shaw hunt the same man for different reasons, their paths inevitably cross—and conflict. They can both tell there is something not quite normal about the other, and they seek to learn more about the other even as they continue their separate attempts to get a hit on Waller. But one doesn’t just get away with killing tens of thousands and not be fairly perceptive. They’re going to have to tread carefully if it’s all going to play out correctly. The only question is if they can stay out of the other’s crosshairs.

In Deliver Us from Evil, Baldacci writes an intricately plotted, character driven thriller that plumbs the depths of human evil and confronts the moral dilemma of confronting such evil. The depiction of Waller is downright horrifying: cold, calculating, a ruthless killer. Shaw is introduced for his second novel, though Baldacci expertly ensures that while having read The Whole Truth is a certain benefit, not having read it is not a detriment. Reggie Campion is at the forefront of the story. As the background of her past unfolds, the reader empathizes with her pain and with her drive to kill monsters like Waller. Baldacci could have easily stuck with Shaw, a character already developed, but I think he wisely chose to give the spotlight to this conflicted, broken, and driven soul.

Is it justice to kill killers in cold blood? Or in doing so, does the justice giver become the very thing sought to be destroyed? What separates the normal person from the mass murderer? Do all have the same potential for evil? More than any other Baldacci novel I’ve read, Deliver Us from Evil made me ask the same questions the characters were asking, immersing me in the story. The theme is played masterfully, if sometimes horrifyingly, throughout the book. As a caution, some readers will probably not like the language or some of the more grotesque moments involved in portraying a character of pure evil.

As the book rushes to its climax, Baldacci keeps the thrills coming, which each page building suspense and each chapter bringing new revelations. Nothing is as it seems, and everybody has their own motives.  Deliver Us from Evil is sure to deliver you from humdrum writing, as Baldacci pens one of his best novels yet.

Jake Chism’s Review:

Evan Waller is evil personified. A former war criminal responsible for the deaths of thousands under the communist regime, he now earns a living as a sex trafficker. Intel suggests that Waller has terrorist ties and is looking to enter into a new venture that could kill millions more worldwide. The mysterious agent/operative known as “Shaw” has been tasked with capturing Waller to bring him in for interrogation.  As he closes in on the enemy he discovers another covert group that wants Waller dead. Both sides must find a way to work together because Evan Waller is proving to be far more dangerous than they anticipated.

David Baldacci consistently churns out high quality thrillers that raise the bar for other writers in the genre. Deliver Us from Evil continues that trend in grand fashion giving us not only a tightly knit plot, but some well crafted characters that really carry this story. We’ve met Shaw in Baldacci’s previous release, The Whole Truth, and his character is just as mysterious and even more engaging. The star of the show is easily Reggie Campion, a beautiful, yet tough covert agent who goes head to head with Shaw. Their scenes are easily the best written with some clever dialog and some fun back and forth that Baldacci somehow manages to seamlessly weave into the story.

Never fear, there are some great action sequences and just the right amount of suspense. Indeed, Shaw is a force to be reckoned with and it never gets old as he finds new and inventive ways to take down the bad guys. Even Waller is the perfect villain: on one hand the kind of man you love to hate; on the other, a smooth talker that draws you in with his charm and intelligence, despite the harsh reality of the monster he truly is.

At its core this is a story of good versus evil and the sacrifice that must be made for good to win. Baldacci brings all the elements together to bring his fans another top notch thriller, and easily one of his best. I hope more novels with Shaw and Reggie are planned for the future, because fans will be demanding it after this superb offering.

Don’t miss our audio interview with David Baldacci!

Review copies provided by Grand Central Publishing.

Genre: Children’s, Young Adult

Publisher: Aladdin

Publication Date: January 2009

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I love picking up a book, blasting through to the end, and wishing I had read it sooner. And when that book starts off a series, it’s even better. P. W. Catanese has definitely delivered with Happenstance Found, book one in The Books of Umber.

When a young boy named Happenstance is found left alone in the ruins of an ancient city, Lord Umber takes him into his care, knowing that the boy has been left for him to find. But Happenstance doesn’t know who he is or where he comes from or even why he exists. And the mysteries start to build: why can the boy see in the dark? Why doesn’t he have to sleep? And why does everyone stare at his green eyes as if they’re a curse? Happenstance journeys with his questions into a new world: a world filled with barges strapped to the backs of leviathans, ancient evils, and a nasty creature that will hunt him down to the death.

Catanese has done things right: created strong characters that are easy to connect with and enjoy. The world of Happenstance and Umber is fleshed out nicely, without giving us huge explanations to plod through. When the back stories do emerge, they flow seamlessly with the rest of the novel.

He’s also crafted a strong plot that ducks around the edges of the typical fantasy genres, dishing out a nice bit of humor alongside the suspense of his story. In fact, some of the twists that he delivers are so startling that I found myself nearly breathless as I frantically flipped the pages. The beginning does start out a bit slowly, but there is definitely enough mystery up front to keep things flowing until some of the real twists about midway. And with some insanely creepy scenes thrown in, I couldn’t help checking over my shoulder as I read.

Fans of offbeat fantasy novels will definitely enjoy this one. And since this is the beginning of a series, Catanese doesn’t answer everything by the last page. But he does hand off an incredible twist by the end that will leave readers aching for the next volume.

Tim George spends some time with novelist Sibella Giorello to talk about her new book, The Clouds Roll Away.

More about Sibella:

Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mt. Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

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Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by James Andrew Wilson

In this charming little tale inspired by Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman tells the story of a boy named Odd and his quest to save Asgard, city of the gods. He is accompanied by a bear, a fox, and an eagle—three creatures who are more than their fur and feathers.

The book reads like a fireside story told by an old wise man known for adding a bit of color to his tales. It all seems quite silly, and yet, it is that silliness, that streak of oddness, that gives the book its wonderful charm.

The style is classic Gaiman, with dollops of wit and wonder and the occasional sprinkle of black humor. It is easy reading, and though it is a book designated for a younger audience, adults with an hour to spare will likely find themselves smiling at this fun little escape.

For all that it does right, Odd and the Frost Giants is missing something: more pages! Unlike Gaiman’s Newberry award winning novel The Graveyard Book, Odd and the Frost Giants is over faster than you can say, “The giants of Jotunheim have taken Mjollnir!” Still, the little bit of story that we do get is nearly perfect, and hopefully we will see more stories about Odd in the future.

With some wonderful illustrations by Brett Helquist, the storytelling knack of Mr. Gaiman, and a protagonist who may be a little odd but is completely loveable, Odd and the Frost Giants is an evening of reading well spent and a book that can easily be enjoyed time and time again.

Just make sure to read every page; some of the best laughs are hidden in the biography at the very end.

Genre: Chick Lit

Publisher:  Algonquin

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Told from many different perspectives, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky recounts how a young mixed-race girl ends up living at her African-American grandmother’s home in the Pacific Northwest.  Her father, while in the military, meets a Danish woman and marries her.  Together they have Rachel and her siblings.  Her mother and siblings die tragically and her father doesn’t believe he is fit to raise Rachel, so she lives with her grandmother in a predominantly African-American neighborhood.  The “white” girls tease her for being “black,” and the “black” girls tease her for being “white.”  In addition, she is studious, so Rachel has a terrible time fitting in to any certain group.  Rachel’s story examines how people react to certain racial groups and how deep down, people just want to be liked.

Told in the third person, the reader gets many different perspectives on Rachel’s story and how it unfolds.  At first, it is very difficult to understand what is happening and to whom.  We are transported from the Pacific Northwest to Chicago and back, learning bits and pieces about several different people.  Once the main story is established, the reader is left wanting to know what happens next.  The story moves along at a quick pace and doesn’t get too bogged down in unnecessary details.  Overall, it is a touching, insightful reflection on the life that so many people lead.  There is quite a bit of sadness as the characters end up doing things that have bad consequences.

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is fairly innocuous in general.  There are some racial slurs and some sexual situations.  Most likely to be disturbing, however, are a few scenes depicting child abuse and drug use.  There is a scene describing the death of a small child in a fire and another one describing a mother and her children falling from the top of a building and perishing.  It is believed to be a murder/suicide.  Those not wanting to experience such situations should avoid the book, but those able to handle it will find a touching and compelling read.

Review copy provided by Algonquin.

Jake Chism and Josh Olds present to you an interview with Sigmund Brouwer, author of Broken Angel and Flight of Shadows. Listen in as we discuss the premise of his new novel, the difference between writing children’s and adult fiction, and the plot of his work in progress.

More about Sigmund Brouwer:

SIGMUND BROUWER is the best-selling author of Flight of Shadows and eighteen other novels, with over three million books in print. Over the last two decades, his literacy presentations have taken him from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. Sigmund is married to recording artist Cindy Morgan, has two young daughters. They split their time between his home town of Red Deer, Alberta, and Nashville, Tennessee.

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

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Genre: Historical, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Gina Lazarescu is preparing for a final showdown with the Akeldama Collectors. So much has happened in her life recently, especially the revelation that her son Jacob is alive. Cal Nichols, her father, has kept this secret until now to protect Jacob from the Collectors, who will stop at nothing to destroy the Nistarim and Those Who Resist. While Gina wants to go to Jacob now, Cal insists she wait for the right time when the Nistarim can band together to destroy the Collectors. In the meantime, Gina focuses on rebuilding her relationship with her husband, Jed, and preparing for the imminent battle. Unfortunately, for Gina and the Nistarim, the Collectors have deadly plans of their own and are confident they will be victorious.

I’m always anxious to see how an author will end a series, and it seems that very few are able to really nail it. Often it’s a combination of reader expectations and the writer’s unwillingness to fully let go of the story. Admittedly, I had high expectations going into Valley of Bones. Eric Wilson blew me away with the first two installments and I was hoping he would do so again. Thankfully, my expectations were met and quickly exceeded.

All of the elements that make Field of Blood and Haunt of Jackals so appealing are on display. From the attention to historical detail, to the strong characters and crisp dialogue, to the balanced action and tension throughout, everything really comes together to hook the reader. What I wanted the most is what everyone is no doubt anticipating: an all out throw down between darkness and light. And boy do we get it. All throughout the series I’ve felt the story building toward something big and Wilson holds nothing back in giving his fans a huge payoff.

Eric Wilson’s devoted readers will of course recognize characters from his earlier novels, and they play more of a role here than in the previous Jerusalem’s Undead books. I can see where fans unfamiliar with these characters and stories might feel left out at times, but as a fan I loved spending time with Josee and Sarge again, checking up on Clay Ryker, and even getting a nice little nod towards Aramis Black. To his credit, Wilson does a great job of winking at his fans without taking any important plot details away from new readers.

In the end, I was left with a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, I was amazed at how well the plotlines were pulled together and I was floored by the powerful conclusion. On the other hand, I was sad to see the curtain close on so many characters that have become so special to me since I discovered Eric Wilson’s writing. I’ve always thought it was a shame that these novels seemed to fly under the radar of the masses, and I can’t help but wonder how great it would be to see the Five Senses and Aramis Black series fleshed out the way Wilson originally imagined them.

Even though the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy has come to a close, I do hope new readers will discover these remarkable novels for years to come. I stated this in my review of Field of Blood, but I feel that it bears repeating: Nowhere else will you find the redemptive power of Christ’s blood explored so brilliantly in fiction.

This has truly been an incredible journey and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Eric Wilson and his devoted fans.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Center Street

Publication Date: April 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

He loves them because they are beautiful. He kills them because he loves them.

FBI special agent Brad Raines has never faced a killer like the Bride Collector. He’s followed the mad man all over Denver, from crime scene to crime scene, trying to get one step ahead. Each victim is beautiful and always found dressed as a bride, disturbingly displayed for all to see. Desperate for help, Raines turns to the Center for Well-being and Intelligence, a private home for those who are mentally ill and extraordinarily gifted.

Brad soon befriends a young woman named Paradise, a schizophrenic patient with a sordid past. Brad quickly sees through the madness in Paradise, seeing only brilliance and beauty that overwhelmingly draw him in.  As Brad and Paradise grow closer together they close in on the Bride Collector and enter into his deadly game.

Ted Dekker has done the unthinkable in The Bride Collector. Not only has he given us a serial killer yarn that will no doubt make your skin crawl, but he has given us a powerful love story that has absolutely floored me. It’s hard to nail down exactly what I love the most about this story. Maybe it’s the suspense and tension that pulse through every line. Perhaps it’s the collection of some of the most memorable characters I’ve ever read, especially the hauntingly beautiful Paradise who easily steals the show as Dekker’s best written character to date. The creep out factor is off the charts as the Bride Collector himself takes us down a dark and somber journey into despair, evil, and enlightenment. What do I love the most? Really, what’s not to love here?

I can’t remember the last time a novel has consumed me on this level. Everything comes together seamlessly here, and having read most of Dekker’s previous novels, I was absolutely blown away by the level of writing I found. Stories like Thr3e, The Circle Series, Saint, and Adam totally captured my imagination. As good as they were, they don’t hold a candle to what Dekker has crafted this time around. No doubt many will find elements too disturbing or intense, but it all leads to a beautiful payoff that is more than worth the ride. Leave it to Dekker to use a serial killer and mental illness to explore the true meaning of beauty. Trust me, it works.

Ted Dekker has dominated the CBA market for years and has gathered quite the rabid following. As he transitions into the ABA market, no doubt the eccentric storyteller extraordinaire has his sights set on the top of the bestsellers lists. If Dekker keeps churning out gems like The Bride Collector, it’s only a matter of time before he hits his mark. I’m beyond tempted to dub this latest offering as his best novel, but something tells me he is just getting started.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Quinton is a messenger from God. Seven have been chosen. It’s his job to get them there.

It’s up to Brad Raines to stop him.

As an FBI investigator, Brad Raines has spent his life tracking down murderers. But this case has him consumed. The murderer, dubbed “The Bride Collector”, is a murderer that is so meticulous he has covered all forensic tracks and left nothing to chance. He’s set to murder again and Brad is determined to stop him before he can. That’s why he tries something that everyone, including himself, believes is grasping at straws. He visits the Center for Wellness and Intelligence (CWI). It’s a place that many would call a mental health institution. Raines learns that it’s much, much more than that.

Paradise has spent far too much of her 24 years being chased and abused. Now she’s at the CWI and it’s a place of relative peace for her. She’s learned how to control her fears and cope with the horrific memories of her past. She’s also learned that she has a gift for seeing unusual things. Most people would call these things supernatural. Brad Raines isn’t sure what to think of them. Or Paradise.

As I began to read The Bride Collector, I knew that Dekker’s latest offering was more of what we’d come to expect from him in recent years. I recognized from the blurb on the back that it would be a murder mystery with elements of the supernatural woven throughout. The first few pages underscored this and to be honest, I put the book down and wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish it. A few days later, I picked it back up and I’m very glad I did.  It was when I continued reading that I discovered (much like Brad and his discovery of CWI) this book so much more than just a murder mystery. This is a tightly knit, fast moving story that will engage you on all levels. Though he sets up exactly where the story is going to go, how it gets there is a ride you won’t soon forget.

It’s amazing how Dekker is able to craft an enthralling and exquisite story that is at the same time horrifying and beautiful. In one moment you’re inside the mind of a serial killer and in the next, you’re laughing at the antics of the residents of CWI. Dekker’s exploration into the minds of these characters is beyond noteworthy. It’s brilliant. The characters are more than just three dimensional. They live and breathe in front of you as you’re reading. You can imagine them with all of five of your senses. Taste their tears. Smell their shampoo. Touch their nervous fluttering hands.  Hear their panic. This is more than just description on a page. I know it’s a cliché, but in this case, it’s very true. Dekker has brought these characters to life.

The way Dekker can dive into the criminal mind is stunning. His book Adam gave me nightmares. I was worried that this one might, but thankfully, it’s not as detailed in the same way. In an odd way, this enabled me to be able to connect on a deeper level with the character. Quinton is a brilliantly crafted criminal mastermind with the best intentions. You can hate him. You may admire him. But you’ll never stop being fascinated by him.

Throughout the murder mystery, you may be surprised to find a love story. I was told this before I read the book, but still, it surprised me. Dekker captures the opening stages of romance with a depth that is breathtaking. Like toddlers learning how to walk, the characters stumble and weave, unsure of themselves and grasping for something solid to keep them balanced.  They venture through these new feelings, both of them frightened of what’s happening, at the same time they’re wondering at what’s been awakened within them. It’s a beautiful rendering of the freshness of new romance.

Like the prismatic beauty of a soap bubble, Dekker’s writing enraptures your thoughts, burrows into your brain, and makes you forget that you’re reading a story. It’s like he’s taken the magic you feel when you reach out to touch the bubble and wrapped it around you. I found myself encapsulated inside the resplendence of the bubble with the characters. As I was reading the words in front of me, the book in my hands, and the sounds around me fell away. I was as much a part of the story as anything Dekker wrote on the page.

I’ve always been a fan of Dekker’s. He is one of my favorite authors and I recommend his books often. In my opinion, this book blows the others out of the water. Dekker hit a creative stride and took off at a dead sprint with this one. I believe that this will easily be one of the best fiction releases we’ll see this year.

Don’t miss our audio interview with Ted Dekker here.

Review copies provided by Center Street/Hachette.

It’s that time again! Loree Lough and Lori Twichell have  recorded a new podcast episode and this one is all about you! Since they received a nice full inbox of questions regarding the last podcast the two of them decided to devote this podcast to answering your questions. Candid discussion on the ins and outs of publicity and marketing, blogging, social media, the writing process…you wanted to know so Loree and Lori deliver!

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

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We present to you our interview between Lori Twichell and debut novelist, Patricia Falvey, author of The Yellow House. Listen in as they discuss the story behind the book, the challenges/joys of writing, and the differences between Ireland and Texas. A special thanks goes out to Patricia Falvey for her time and to Miriam Parker at Hachette Book Group for setting up this interview.

More about Patricia Falvey:

I was born and raised by my grandmother in Newry, Northern Ireland. At the age of eight I was brought to England to live with my parents. Never feeling a sense of belonging I set off, as we Irish are wont to do through dint of our DNA, to find my fortune in the New World. I was twenty years old and had $200 in my pocket. I landed in New York and made my way via Greyhound bus to Omaha, Nebraska.

After two years working for the Job Corps, I arrived in Boston hoping to complete my University education, I received a foreign student scholarship from Suffolk University where I enrolled as an English major. However, my limited financial resources being what they were, I succumbed to the pressure to switch my major to Business and thus occurred an abandonment of my dream of becoming a writer – an abandonment that was to last over 30 years.

When I first arrived in the U.S. I had hopes of a career as a writer. However, limited economic means steered me towards a more financially reliable profession. Even though my professional career was in the financial environment, I never lost my love for writing. Over the years I participated in numerous writing seminars, including attendance at Wesleyan University Writers’ Conferences in Connecticut, The Fine Arts Workshops in writing at Provincetown, Mass., and the International Women’s Writers Guild conferences at Skidmore College in New York. I belonged to writers’ groups both in Connecticut and Dallas, where I currently reside. In June of 2007, I finally made the decision to leave my position with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP, and devote myself full time to my first love – writing.

“The Yellow House” is essentially the story of a young woman’s search for home. No matter how long we spend “away” I believe we Irish immigrants always think of Ireland as home. I know I certainly do. And this book is my way of paying tribute to my birthplace. (www.patriciafalvey.com)

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

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Genre: Suspense

Release Date: November 2007

Publisher: Zondervan

Reviewed by Josh Olds

To boldly go where no man has gone before…That’s the job of Benjamin “Tuck” Tucker, Space Shuttle Commander. Problem is, his crewmates must’ve been wearing red shirts. He awakes in a daze, unsure of what knocked him out. Never a good thing while in space. With his mind clouded, Tuck realizes that something has gone horribly wrong. He launched a Space Shuttle and landed a hearse. An investigation would blame a certain medicine as the reason for his crewmates’ death

Fast forward one year. NASA has pretty much grounded Tuck, who is hailed a hero for his valiant if failed efforts. In steps Ted Roos, video game designer and head of SpaceVentures, Inc., a company poised to make the first commercial space flight. Roos asks that Tuck command the inaugural journey and Tuck agrees. But space is a dangerous place, his crewmates’ death a year ago might not have been an accident, and there could still be a killer gunning for him.

Zero-G by Alton Gansky has the right premise. Biological warfare? Check. Space travel? Check. A brilliant yet psychotic killer? Yessir. Unfortunately, I don’t think Gansky pulls this one off. Even though a major plot point is about biological warfare, Gansky says very little about it other than it kills people. The book would have benefitted from some research in this area.

Gansky also has a habit in this book of killing off random people to, I suppose, heighten the suspense of the biological warfare. Instead it comes off as a disjointed scene having little or no connection to the rest of the book. Lastly, the book, in my opinion, is a bit heavily preachy. I’m not against having a book containing Christian thematic elements, as a matter of fact I love it, but in Zero-G it’s written to an almost unnatural and awkward point. The various other side plots also seem to have very little connection to the story.

I wanted to like Zero-G, I really did. And it does have its bright points. I loved the witty banter that several of the characters engaged in. The character of Ted Roos is outstandingly written. The killer is deranged and psychotic. I just don’t think it was pulled together all that well.

If you’re in the mood to read an Alton Gansky novel, check out his J.D. Stanton mysteries, or The Prodigy, those are excellent. If space excites you, read Oxygen by John Olsen and Randy Ingermanson. If biological warfare is what you want, pick up Robert Liparulo’s Germ. Unless you’re a hardcore Gansky fan, you may want to pass on this one.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher:  Pinnacle

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

The format for The Sculptor is similar to many thrillers out there: The Sculptor, a psychopathic killer (most likely with homosexual tendencies and mother issues) is on the loose.  After killing his victims, he guts them, plasticizes them, and then arranges them on metal rods to pose them in the manner of famous Michelangelo statues.  An up-and-coming FBI agent (in this case, Sam Markham) is assigned to the case.  Along the way the FBI agent needs help from a local, who ends up being the love interest of the story.  Dr. Catherine Hildebrant, a world-renowned authority on the works of Michelangelo, fits the bill.  They work together, grow closer to each other, and move closer to finding the killer.

This truly is a psychological thriller, as the reader’s mind is engaged and constantly trying to figure out when and where the killer will strike next.  Along the way, there are plenty of twists and turns to really mess with what we THINK will happen.  What is really enjoyable is the ability of the reader to see into the mind of the killer, who is so “out there” that the reader is waiting to see what crazy or horrific act he performs next.

True to the genre, this book contains a lot of graphic violence.  Not only does the killer murder innocent people, but he takes out their innards, and it is described in living color.  He has a difficult family life, which includes an incestuous relationship as an adolescent with his mother, and that is described in detail.  There is some vulgar language.  Basically, it is a realistic look at the dark side of the human condition, and it is not pretty.  Those with weak stomachs or little tolerance for the dark and macabre may not find the book to their liking.  The story moves quickly and captures our interest, however, so for those of us willing to tolerate it, it’s a fantastic read that makes us want more.  From the way the book ends, that may just happen.

Review copy provided by the author.

Jake Chism and Josh Olds recently caught up with author J.S. Earls to discuss his new projects, The Realm Unseen and Pistolfist, his work with National Geographic’s Border Wars, and his graphic novel adaptations of Ted Dekker’s novels. A special thanks to J.S. Earls for answering our questions and spending some time with us!

More about J.S. Earls:

J.S. Earls was born in 1969 in Dunedin, Florida. He then lived in Georgia, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Wisconsin before eventually returning home to the Sunshine State.

Throughout his childhood, J.S. frequently divided his time between writing, illustration and music. In high school, he co-created a comic with then best friend and now fellow author Dwight L. MacPherson which outsold Superman and Spider-Man in local stores. A few years later, his music group won the Tampa Bay area award for Best Alternative Christian Band.

He then began writing — primarily for local entertainment magazines — and then as a ghost writer on the legendary Steve Roper & Mike Nomad syndicated strip. The next year, he created The Sorrow anti-child-abuse anthologies and his historic, critically-acclaimed Pistolfist comic. After this J.S. was hired to script six volumes of Zondervan’s Manga Bible and five Thomas Nelson graphic novels based on the works of bestselling author Ted Dekker.

Last year, J.S. began writing and producing an interactive audiogame called The Realm Unseen. National Geographic was so impressed with this project that they enlisted him to write three interactive story games for their online audience. Now, while awaiting the release of The Realm Unseen and the upcoming trade paperback edition of Pistolfist, J.S. is feverishly working on his first novel — an action/comedy/thriller currently titled I Kill Me.

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

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Genre: Suspense, Comedy, Drama

Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Kevin Quinn is a man. He’s not extraordinary. He’s a liberal. He’s older. He’s on his way to Austin for a job interview. It’s a job he’s not really sure he even wants, but he knows he wants a change. He’s not married. He’s not a dad. He’s a little scared. And he’s a wealth of fantastic comedic and dramatic material. He’s so rich with observations and memories that this entire novel encompasses only eight hours of Kevin’s life. Just eight hours. And despite that, it’s an amazingly full story of a man with a very complete beginning, middle and end.

James Hynes delves into the mind of this character with such clarity that you sometimes find yourself laughing out loud and at others you’re stunned into silence. You may even find your mouth hanging open in shock as you page back and reread passages again to find out if that really happened or if it’s something just rolling around in Kevin’s vividly creative mind.  Sometimes his thoughts can seem too implausible to believe and you want to laugh out loud at the audacity. Seconds later though, Kevin’s thoughts might mirror your own and you’ll shake your head as he backtracks and apologizes in his own mind for even thinking such things.

Hynes’ descriptions are vivid, beautiful and stunning. Echoing with shades of Updike, his word choices are sweet and rich and they melt across your tongue like ice cream in the Austin heat. They beg for you to savor them, roll them around in your mouth, speak them out loud and then share them with someone else because they’re so utterly delightful. (My husband had large passages of this book either read aloud to him or forced on him as I was reading because it was just too entertaining not to share.)

The book takes a turn at one point that is so stunning it will spin you180 degrees at breakneck speed. You may even find yourself having trouble holding on to the reality in the book. It took me several times rereading passages to fully comprehend how quickly and completely everything had changed and even then I was left speechless.  Like I’d been on a rollercoaster ride, zooming toward the bottom of a long hill and then suddenly, without warning, found myself without tracks, I flailed a little at first. Then I wondered at how well Hynes managed to capture the reality of life turning on a dime and sometimes being completely out of our control.

Since Hynes dives into the deep end of a man’s mind without any filters, expect some forays into very deeply personal moments and memories. If you’re uncomfortable with frank discussion of sexual ideas or thoughts, this may not be the book for you. Though thankfully, Kevin’s thoughts do not follow the traditional understanding that men think about sex every few seconds, it is a thread of memories and description that is woven throughout the book. If you’re bothered by this, you might not want to try it. But on the other hand, if you want to know what the average American male who’s just slightly past his prime is thinking, this is definitely an interesting and adventurous read.

Review copy provided by Reagan Arthur Books.

Genre: Classic s Revisited

Publisher:  Quirk Classics

Publication Date:  March 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

In a take on the classic Pride and Prejudice, Hockensmith takes a leap from the original Bennet saga and turns the privileged family into zombie-killing warriors.  While the proper Mrs. Bennet fusses and frets, Mr. Bennet transforms his five daughters from silly, socialite girls into nunchuk-wielding, sword-bearing, killing machines.

At a local man’s funeral, the girls notice that the “deceased” is actually coming back to life as a zombie.  Their father rushes to the front of the church and cuts off the “dreadful’s” head before he can do more harm, but this change from dead to undead announces the coming of many more undead.  Knowing what the future holds, Oscar Bennet enlists the help of his five daughters: Elizabeth, Jane, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia.  He also summons help from the King’s Army, which arrives just in time to train for the battle of its life.  The ensuing training and killing are actually quite hilarious.  In one scene, the girls awaken in the middle of the night because they hear a noise.  Thinking it is a zombie, they rush down the hall just in time to catch their mother trying to enter their father’s bedchamber for a romantic interlude.  After realizing what they interrupted, they are more mortified than if they HAD seen a zombie.

There are some parallels to the original Pride and Prejudice, but the changes turn the once-classic into a campy romp of fun and hilarity.  While keeping some of the same style of language, Hockensmith manages to update the text and make it a pleasant, quick read.  The reader gets to see the English propriety as somewhat silly and frivolous: Mrs. Bennet and her “high society” friends get into a disagreement over the girls’ training.  There is to be a ball, and it is Elizabeth’s début.  Because of her “scandalous” training, however, the hostess of the ball refuses to invite her.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls is innocuous for just about any reader.  Keeping with English propriety, there is no foul language.  In fact, the girls are not allowed to say the word “zombie” because it is improper.  Instead they call them “the Zed word.”  There are allusions to sex, but only in the vaguest form.  There are descriptions of beheading and the cutting off of limbs, but not in a grisly, raw manner.  Even those with the weakest of stomachs should be able to handle that.

Hockensmith manages to combine the old with the new in PP&Z with wit and humor.  He makes fun of late 1800s English propriety and throws in some political satire as well.  The story is quirky and fun, and most of all, an easy read.  Those looking for some fun and humor should enjoy this off-the-wall tale.

Genre: Psychological, Literary

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: January 2010

Reviewed by Marianne Peters

Tim Farnsworth seems to be a lucky man, with a wife and daughter, a thriving law practice, and a large home in the suburbs. Lucky except for one thing: periodically, inexplicably, he begins to walk.  He walks until he collapses, and then his wife Jane comes to find him wherever he has ended up, asleep, sometimes frostbitten or injured. After he sleeps, the walking starts again. He sees doctors, psychologists, even gurus, but no one can fix his problem. To explain his absences from work, he tells his puzzled partners at the law firm that his wife has terminal cancer.

Joshua Ferris, author of the novel Then We Came to the End, has penned a heartbreaking story about a family in the midst of a mysterious health crisis. Farnsworth’s illness is never named or cured. It goes into sudden remission, and then starts up again just as suddenly. While he copes with the distressing realities of walking himself into exhaustion, his wife Jane and daughter Becka cope with their own fear, guilt, anger and frustration – ambivalent feelings that would be familiar to anyone caring for a chronically ill loved one.

Tim and Jane Farnsworth also struggle to maintain their affection for each other, playing out their roles as husband and wife, but also as impaired person and caregiver. When does he decide to abandon treatment? When does she decide that enough is enough?

The Unnamed is not a cheery read, but it is a mesmerizing one. Joshua Ferris’ lucid writing lifts his characters from the page until they are flesh and blood, and we find ourselves asking, would I do the same thing? Would I give up or hang on? The walking itself is a device, the difficult circumstance that allows these characters to demonstrate their strengths and their loyalties, while simultaneously forcing them to expose their weaknesses to themselves and to each other. The truth about them – about us – is painful, but redemptive. We all have weaknesses that hardship will reveal. And once everything is revealed, the only thing left to do is to keep walking.

Review copy provided by Little, Brown and Company.