Tim Kehoe's The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow ~ Reviewed

The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow
by Tim Kehoe
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316056650


Description:

Vincent Shadow isn't particularly good at sports and is constantly being picked on by his classmates at Central Middle School. But it is Vincent's unusually creative mind that truly separates him from other kids his age.

Vincent's top secret attic lab is crammed with toy prototypes --from Liquid Superballs to Bullz-I Basketballs and Sonic Snorkelz--and he has a sketch book filled with drawings of toys he still wants to build. So when a chance encounter with an eccentric toy inventor offers him the opportunity to go from unknown weird kid to toy inventor extraordinaire, Vincent realizes that playtime is over: it's time to get serious about toys.


Review:

Vincent Shadow, a winsome, spunky eleven-year-old, has lost his Mom, his cohort in inventing toys. . Creating a new stepmom equal to Cinderella's, along with two annoying stepsisters, Kehoe delightfully adds a third stepsister, Stella. With Stella as his new stalwart encourager, Vincent wildly attempts to move from being the school's weird kid to winning the Annual Whizzer Toy Contest (and may I add that the emphasis there is on "wildly."

Except for getting exhausted from charging through his experiments with Vincent working night after night after night with no sleep, and except for constantly worrying how many children are going to read this book, attempt one of the experiments, and blow up his or her house, I found the book a perfect blend of appealing character, a captivating friendship, and a thrilling exploration of scientific ideas. Along with it being a fast-paced, fun romp, The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow will add wonder and excitement to any grade schooler's love of science.

Reviewed by Barbara Davidson

Denise Hunter's Seaside Letters ~ Reviewed

Seaside Letters
By Denise Hunter
Published by Thomas Nelson
ISBN# 978-1-59554-260-1
320 Pages


Back Cover:

Sabrina never intended to fall in love with Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning at a Nantucket café—especially since he’s unwittingly tied to a past she deeply regrets. But she’s fallen hard, though she’s kept her feelings a secret.

When Tucker learns Sabrina is the research assistant for a local mystery writer, he asks Sabrina to help him with a little sleuthing of his own…locating an elusive woman he’s fallen for online.

If Sabrina accepts the job, she’ll spend her evenings in close proximity to a man who can never be hers. If she turns him down, he’ll hire someone else—and that would be a disaster. Because if someone else sifts through all those letters and find out the truth, Tucker will discover her secret…

That the person he’s trying to find is her.



REVIEW:

At first this book reminded me of the movie, You’ve Got Mail, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It’s similar because it talks about an online relationship but brings in so many more twists and turns—it’s great!

Denise Hunter has a note to her readers, it says, “I’m so thankful to have a God who seeks me out, one who persistently pursues me—despite my efforts to hide and build walls—and lavishes love on me like I’m his only child.” What a insight into this creative story.

Sabrina is a waitress and Tucker is a customer at her café. Sabrina knows Tucker really well under the identity of Harbormaster. Tucker knows Sabrina by her computer name Sweet Pea. Neither of them realizes that they know the others secret identity. The only live conversation they have is Tucker asking for breakfast and coffee and Sabrina bringing it to him.

Sabrina has been hurt deeply and wants to keep the relationship at a safe distance—online safe. An internet relationship is easy, she could be accepted at face value; her opinions mattered and she could talk to her friend anytime. All was right with the world until Tucker wanted to meet her face to face. It had been a year and he wanted to take their on-line relationship to the next level.

Denise grabbed my attention from the very beginning and did not disappoint. With every page the plot thickened. I had no idea how this thing could end. Denise is a master at weaving a complicated but simple story with very colorful characters, she makes you root for and have compassion for them. It’s a delightful, fun, soul searching, redeeming love story—you won’t soon forget.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction
Christian Fiction On-line Mag - Columnist

Kirk Outerbridge's Eternity Falls ~ Reviewed

ETERNITY FALLS
By Kirk Outerbridge
Published by Marcher Lord Press
ISBN# 978-0-9821049-7-2
370 Pages

Back Cover:

The stunning starlet Greta Darling, who looked 22 but was really 89, has suddenly died. Of natural causes. Desperate to assure their billions of clients that the Miracle Treatment really does work, company executives call in private investigator Rick Macey. Macey's job is to find out what really happened to Greta Darling-or, failing that, to simply come up with some other explanation for how she died. Macey is a war veteran with very special abilities, and his own reasons for taking this case.

What exactly is so wonderful about living forever? Who is really pulling the strings here? What do the religious clues at the crime scene mean? And who will be left standing...when eternity falls?

To read chapter one click HERE.


REVIEW:

I loved the cover so much I wanted to read what was inside, so I signed up to received a review copy of this book. What a fun, wonderful, surprising wild action adventure, thrill ride reading this book was. I didn’t expect to find a story with heart, soul and something to think about in-between all the action. Wow!

Gen. Rick Macy with the Department of Civil Defense and Intelligence (CDI) office is the best, of the best in his field, That’s why he’s called in to this unusual case. Someone has died of natural causes but Sheila, the CEO of Miracle Treatment,thinks other wise. The victim Greta Darling had been taking Miracle Treatments to live forever. Death wasn’t a possibility. There had to be fowl play.

The character Macy reminds me of John McClaine, played by Bruce Willis in the Die Hard movies. The back drop of this book reminds me of a futuristic space drama. Macy one cop you don’t want to mess with but want on your side. Sheila will pay any price to get to the bottom of this murder. They both will pay more than then they realize.

This was an exciting cyber adventure you won’t want to miss. The author brings up some interesting issues this community and the CEO of Miracle Treatment have to deal with. It leads them to consider there is a God that wants a personal relationship with us. Here’s a sneak peek.

“Despite what the rest of the world does, our duty is to remain faithful as an example to others, don’t you think God could make everyone obey Him? So, why doesn’t He? I’ll tell you why, because God doesn’t want forced obedience. God wants love, and love involves a choice. Every human being needs to choose for himself”

The imagery in this book reminds me of the movie, I Robot with its crazy car chases, high tech. cyber fighting, and new fangled gadgets. Interesting communiation technology is explored in this book that, with an access code you could enter someone’s mind and talk to each other virtually, very cool! I’d read this book again!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Tim Downs's The Ends of The Earth ~ Reviewed

Ends of the Earth (Bug Man Series)
Tim Downs
Pub. Date: September 2009
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Format: Paperback, 358pp
ISBN-13: 9781595543080

Description:

Nick must face the realities of lost opportunities and the passing of time as he struggles to protect a mother and her child from agro-terrorists in this latest novel from award-winning author Tim Downs.

Dr. Nick Polchak is called to a farm community in eastern North Carolina to investigate a murder. The victim is the owner of a failing organic farm who had developed a drug problem, and the police think his murder is drug-related.

Nick finds the remains of a bale of marijuana scattered in the tomato fields--but the South American marijuana seems to be strangely infested with a common North Carolina insect: the tobacco hornworm. To further confound the mystery, the bugs are infected with a fungus from Asia. Nick suspects the man wasn't killed because of the marijuana, but because of the insects it contained.

He then discovers that a vicious agricultural scheme is underway to cripple the U.S.'s corn and ethanol production. But just how far will these terrorists go in their quest?


Review:


I love Nick Polchak. And I love Tim Downs' writing.

Ends of the Earth mostly satisfied my need for more of the above. Mostly.

Nick was classic Nick; focused, clueless in the art of human interactions, sarcastic and brilliant. The story was full of freakishly icky things that hopefully are not likely to become reality. Fascinating plot points include: agroterrorism, dog heroism, bugs, organic farming, murder, bugs, forensic entomology, farming, and autism.

Add to that a love triangle unlike any I've ever encountered and you've got a great, entertaining and detailed read.

However, I struggled a bit with the triangle. I've read all the bug man series within the past couple of months so I have a pretty good feel for what's going on for Nick romantically. Or I thought I did anyway. But I didn't buy some of the dialogue between a couple of characters. There were a couple of conversations that bordered on annoying and unbelievable. I also struggled a bit with the interest in one particular woman. I didn't read sparks in the first story and didn't buy into the long-term emotional connection that seemed much stronger in Ends than it ever did in the original story. Also, there were times where Nick was too far offstage and I really missed his presence.

I feel picky for even stating my issues, but, if you are a fan of Downs/Polchak I want to warn you. The end is very open as well. As a matter of fact, Downs, wants the reader to pick the ending from two different possibilities on his website. I haven't done that yet but plan to. If you aren't a fan of Downs and you like forensic, fun science facts, sarcastic characters and descriptive writing, you really should become one. This series is great.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Chi Libris Members' A Novel Idea ~ Reviewed

A Novel Idea
By the members of Chi Libris
Published by Tyndale
ISBN: 987-1-4143-2994-9


Description:

Have you always wanted to write the next Great American Novel, but don't know where to start? Do you have a story just asking to come out, but aren’t sure how you should set up the plot? Want to know what really defines Christian fiction?

Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce the release of A Novel Idea: Best Advice on Writing Inspirational Fiction, a compilation from a collection of Christian authors including Jerry Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers, Randy Alcorn, Robin Jones Gunn, Angela Hunt, and any other beloved authors, that answers many questions budding writers or seasoned pros may ask.

In this guide to fiction writing, you will find tips for writers block, how to market your writing, and personal stories from the authors who have been through it all before. This valuable guide also contains tips on plotting, dialogue, point of view, characterization, marketing, social networking, and more!


Review:

A Novel Idea is a writers conference in a book. Besides all the great chapters, there are sidebars, which are like the workshops at a conference. Things like the need for conflict, creating characters not constructing them, authentic dialogue, research, a character's "aha" moment, and a ton of others.

To top it all off, all proceeds will benefit MAI (Media Associates International), an international organization whose goal is to help fledgling writers and publishers produce

Christian literature that is culturally relevant.

I have a lot of book about writing, but I haven't seen one yet with such great advice by so many multi-published and best-selling authors. Novel Journey and I give this book a high recommendation.



Reviewed by Ane Mulligan

Editor, Novel Journey

Ronie Kendig's Dead Reckoning ~ Reviewed

Dead Reckoning
By Ronie Kendig
Published by Abingdon Press
ISBN 978-1-4267-0058-3



Description:

Trapped by a nuclear terrorist plot in Mumbai, underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and inflamed at the injustices of life.

When her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she flees for her life. When she spots a man trailing her, the questions are, "Who is he?" and "How is he always one step ahead?"

Reese Jaxon is a former navy seal and now serves his country as a spy. His life is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India.

The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with Reese. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become a spy?


Review:

Reading Dead Reckoning was like watching an action-adventure film. A spy-thriller, it grabs you by the imagination from page one and doesn't let go until the end. I don't like to give anything away on a novel, so suffice it to say the characters are well developed and complex. The plot is completely believable, and Kendig keeps the tension high throughout. I read it on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle, and she made a 5 ½ hour flight seem like a 90-minute one. I definitely recommend Dead Reckoning to anyone who loves spy thrillers. You won't be disappointed!

Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan
Editor, Novel Journey


Bonus Review:

Remind me never to end up as a character in a Ronie Kendig novel! Danger and intrigue lurk around every corner and just when you think safety is in sight, the hammer of heartache drops again, hurtling Shiloh Blake deeper into jeopardy. Then there is Reece Jaxon...okay, on second thoughts maybe I do want to be in her books, after all ;-)

Brilliantly executed in every way, Ronie Kendig has a winner on her hands with her debut novel, Dead Reckoning. The non stop action, fuelled by Shiloh's spirited personality and the indefatigable CIA agent Reece Jaxon's dedication to his mission, is breathtaking and enthralling. While the attraction between Shiloh and Reece is palpable, Ronie doesn't settle for a predictable romance, as Shiloh struggles with feelings for her dearest friend. Complex characters and relationships are plentiful. The setting of Mumbai, India increases the exotic appeal of this story but it is the relentless turmoil and the compelling writing that set this novel apart.

Readers who have been bemoaning the loss of Dee Henderson's writing, need complain no more! Ronie Kendig ups the stakes in Dead Reckoning, reminiscent of Jennifer Garner and Alias in novel form. Ronie's new military suspense series can't come soon enough - be looking for the first of her Discarded Heroes series, Nightshade, in July, 2010 from Barbour.

Reviewed by: Rel Mollet

Kerry Nietz's A Star Curiously Singing ~ Reviewed

A Star Curiously Singing
Kerry Nietz
Paperback: 308 pages
Publisher: Marcher Lord Press (October 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0982104987


Description:

If he fixes the robot, will he break his world? In a future ruled by sharia law machines are managed by debuggers, who in turn are owned by masters. Sandfly is a level 12 debugger. He is sent into Earth orbit to repair a robot-a robot that went on an experimental flight into deep space... And tore itself apart. As Sandfly digs into the mystery aboard the space station, he discovers what the bot heard around that distant star. He discovers that the bot heard...singing. As Sandfly pieces together the clues, the masters spread the trap before his feet. Everyone is racing to the same conclusion, but only one side welcomes what the singing represents.


Review:

The only reality Sandfly knows is that of the dystopian future, in a world where Islamic moral law controls a technology driven society. A debugger of robots, Sandfly is enslaved body and mind to the will of his master, controlled by an implant in his brain, yet ironically possessing greater mental capacity than those who are free.

When Sandfly’s master sends him to a space station to fix a robot that self-destructed after a groundbreaking deep space flight, he immediately faces a mystery beyond his means to grasp. As he works to “debug” the fragmented robot, he begins to suspect the cause of its self destruction may change the nature of the universe as they know it.

Sandfly’s distinctive voice helps make an alien world feel real and provides a strong connection point to him as a character. As he struggles with faith, his role as a slave, and the mysteries he faces, his tale grows in interest and intensity and culminates with a satisfying ending that still leaves room to anticipate the coming sequel.

Reviewed by: Sarah Sawyer

Bonus Review:

Thanks go to the author for my review copy. He allowed me to go on science fiction adventure I normally wouldn’t have taken, but I’m glad I did. This story is written in first person, point of view, inside the main character Sandfly’s head. He is a debugger, which allows him access to the “stream”. The “stream” is a huge internet super highway. He needs access to information in order to do his job, which is to repair and re-program robots from the inside out.

A debugger was a slave to his master and on call 24/7. Sandfly calls himself this, “a tool with emotions.” The master controls him through an implant in his head. If Sandfly rebelled, had “bad” thoughts”-- “free thinking”, he would be zapped like a dog hitting an electrical fence, except it’s inside his head.

The master sends Sandfly to solve a mystery—something went wrong with a robot, its torn himself to pieces. But why? It’s his job to understand what happened and put the pieces back together if he can. He needed to find out what went wrong so he can determine if humans were in danger of the same fate.

The main character Sandfly, I thought was similar to that of Mr. Spock from the Star Trek T.V. Shows; with his serious manner, quick wit and dry sense of humor. I also got the feel that Sandfly was on a space ship the size of the Enterprise.

Sneak peak into one of the cool download capabilities of transferring huge files implant to implant. Sandfly sends the file for Hard Candy to view and experience.

“I made you an FI of everything I know..sending…” Hard Candy looks down, then shuts her eyes as the message hits her—triple encrypted and specially tuned for her frequency. I can see her emotions as she views it. The creases on her forehead deepen and her arms tighten. Her head shakes on more than one occasion. Finally her eyes open.

“That was intense,” she says, “Bright orange intense.”

Can you imagine communicating like that? Wow! I don’t read science fiction often, so it took me a few chapters to get in the grove of this story and understand what was going on, imagine the space ship and picture the interesting characters the author describes. So, don’t give up on this book in the beginning, it will take you to fascinating places.

Reviewed by: Nora St. Laurent
ACFW Book Club Coordinator

Goyer and Yorkey's The Swiss Courier ~ Reviewed

THE SWISS COURIER
By Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey
Published by: Revell
ISBN#978-0-8007-3336-0
324 Pages



Back Cover:

She's risking her life to save a man she doesn't know. But who can she trusts along the way?

It is August 1944, and the Gestapo is mercilessly rounding up suspected enemies of the Third Reich following the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler's life. Gabi Mueller is a young woman working for the newly formed American Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner to the CIA) in Basel, Switzerland. When she is asked to put herself in harm's way to safely "courier" a German scientist working on the atomic bomb project into Allied hands, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. This fast-paced, suspenseful novel will whisk you along the treacherous twists and turns of a fascinating- and deadly- time in history.

REVIEW:

Because I’ve read other books by Tricia Goyer that inspired me and this time period-talking about the Gestapo, intrigued me, I signed up to receive a review copy of this book. Once again Tricia working with Mike Yorkey created unforgettable characters and brought history to life. Historical fiction gives you the best of two worlds, one, I learn about history and two, I was moved by the story of brave, heroic characters going up against the odds of their time period for the greater good.

I wondered how things escalated in 1944 with Hitler’s rule and when the atomic bomb was developed. It was amazing how many people risked their lives to see justice was done to fight against the Gestapo and its plans to dominate.

There’s a good blend of the colorful characters and the unbelievable events that made this book quite an enthralling read. I was so thankful for the list of character names and rank in the beginning of the book. I found myself referring to the list to make sure who was on whose side. It was fascinating how farmers, shopkeepers, soldiers all came together for the common good, risked their very life to fight the good fight and see that their agenda was achieved for man kind.

I liked how the authors tell you about Valkir (in the preface), the last attempt to kill Hitler that failed and how it escalated the development of the Atomic bomb. After that event is when this story picks up. Wow!! You’ll want to read this for sure and see history come alive.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Bonus Review:

Wow! This was a page-turner from the first chapter. The authors did a wonderful job of telling a believable story that had plenty of unpredictable plot. It is set during WWII in "neutral" Switzerland. It deals with trust and faith in a way that many authors haven't explored. It made me think about my faith and how much I am willing to risk for it. It also gave me a new appreciation for the people who risked and gave their lives for our freedom. I would recommend this book to anyone and give it two thumbs up.

Reviewed by: Leeann Garben

Camy Tang's Deadly Intent ~ Reviewed

Deadly Intent
By Camy Tang
Published by:Steeple Hill
ISBN#978-0-373-44347-5
212 Pages


Back Cover:

The Grant family’s exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! When Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, everything falls apart. The salon’s reputation is at stake..and so is Naomi’s freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim’s ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn..and whom can she trust?

REVIEW:

I received a complementary copy of this book and I’m so glad I did.

Camy Tang does an incredible job of packing so much action, suspense, humor and drama in only 212 pages. Wow!! What a different writing style than the one I read in her debut novel Sushi for One, which is a chick’lit style light hearted story. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Deadly Intent. Part of me wondered how this chick’lit style writer would write a murder mystery. I was pleasantly surprised and I’m happy to report Camy pens a great who-done-it. I liked the fact that the author kept me guessing up until the very last page. Camy brings the book to a climatic ending that satisfies. Camy had me so hooked to her murder mystery I carried her book with me wherever I went grabbing a few minutes here and there to discover more clues so I could figure out who was behind all these attempted murders and killings.

At the same time Camy Tang touches on issues that cut to the heart of the matter. Because of all the drama and heartache her main character, Naomi, goes through, she starts to wonder about God. Did she really believe in Him and why was God allowing all these bad things to happen to her?

There is something honest and true about Naomi’s struggle—I found out why in the author notes. Camy admits that she had these very same struggles with God that Naomi had in the book, when she was in College. I truly enjoyed this book and the way Camy brought this suspenseful story to life. The characters and their struggles were believable. It was fun to have the setting of this book at a spa. I hope that Camy has the opportunity to write a full length action adventure story. I can only imagine what she could develop with more pages to expand her characters and the plot twists. Way to go Camy!!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Linda S. Clare's The Fence My Father Built ~ Reviewed

The Fence My Father Built
By Linda S. Clare
Published By: Abingdon Press
ISBN# 9781426700736
294 Pages

Back Cover:

When legally separated Muri Pond, a librarian, hauls her kids, teenager Nova and eleven year-old Truman, out to the tiny town of Murkee, Oregon, where her father, Joe Pond lived and died, she's confronted by a neighbor's harassment over water rights and Joe's legacy: a fence made from old oven doors.

The fence and accompanying house trailer horrify rebellious Nova, who runs away to the drug-infested streets of Seattle. Muri searches for her daughter and for something to believe in, all the while trying to save her inheritance from the conniving neighbor who calls her dad Chief Joseph. Along with Joe's sister, Aunt Lutie, and the Red Rock Tabernacle Ladies, Muri must rediscover the faith her alcoholic dad never abandoned in order to reclaim her own spiritual path.


REVIEW:

Linda Clare pens a heart warming and sensitive story about a woman, Muri Pond, whose whole world has been turned upside down with her pending divorce. An Aunt she hardly knows seeks her out for help; help in keeping the property that belonged to her father—the father she never remembered meeting. She had hopes of meeting him someday but learns from her Aunt, her father is dead.

Muri brings her two teenage children to stay with her Aunt while she tries to understand the lawsuit against her father’s property for water rights. When they get to the Central Oregon high desert property; they soon discover that her Aunt lives in a trailer in the middle of nowhere, Muri wonders if she's done the right thing. There's no Super Wal-Mart, or any other modern convenience near by. Reality hits. What has she done?

Life, as Muri and her children have known it, is over. Fighting this legal battle might take longer than Muri thinks. Her oldest child, Nova, gives her mother a really bad time (the way only teenagers can) about taking them away from her friends and the world they left behind. Nova couldn't get out of this desert trap fast enough.

Muri discovers things about herself, her father and the beautiful nature around her that are surprising. In the author notes Linda reveals she’s had a similar journey in life where she was seeking to learn about her father and her Native American roots. I really enjoyed how Linda told this story though the eyes of Muri with all her struggles, feelings and wonder. I received a review copy of this book and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Mary DeMuth's A Slow Burn ~ Reviewed

A Slow Burn (Defiance Texas Trilogy, Book 2)
Mary DeMuth
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; 1 edition (October 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310278376


About the Book:

She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE.


Review:


Emory Chance was a tragic character in last year's Daisy Chain. In Slow Burn, the story of Emory's loss and failures, she becomes even more tragic. Though Jed Pepper was a character who made my heart ache, Emory was one who frustrated and challenged me.

Mary DeMuth creates characters who behave in awful and ugly ways yet as she reveals the deepest, ugliest parts and pieces of them, she manages to do so with grace so that I found myself filled with pity for Emory and hoping that she'd escape from her emotional prisons.

The subject matter covered includes abuse, negligence, drug abuse, immorality and sensitive readers should consider that this is not your traditional Christian fiction.

At the end of A Slow Burn there is still the mystery of what happened to Daisy and who did it? I am compelled to finish this trilogy as I feel the need for closure and I want to read Ousie's story. I'm hoping that the Pepper family finds much grace and healing and that Emory finds complete and total peace.

DeMuth writes in a literary voice that sometimes crackles with intensity and sometimes oozes molasses-slow emotion into the storyline. Folks who don't care for introspective and deep fiction and the slowness that results may not find the series to their liking. I think people struggling with issues of faith and failures might find some hope and healing within the story of these very broken people and the God who loves them.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Elizabeth Ludwig's I'll Be Home for Christmas (Christmas Homecoming Anthology) ~ Reviewed

I'll Be Home for Christmas
By Elizabeth Ludwig
Part of the Christmas Homecoming anthology
Published by Barbour Publishing
ISBN 978-1-60260-564-0


Description

Winter Christmas Scheirer feels her greed led to her grandfather's death. When she comes across her grandfather's letters, Christmas will do anything to get them published—even if it means butting heads with Marcus Taggert, the guardian of Grandpa's estate. How far will Christmas go to right her wrongs?


Review:

This year's Christmas novels are delightful, and Elizabeth Ludwig gives a wonderful new twist to an old, old story in I'll Be Home for Christmas, part of Barbour's Christmas Homecoming anthology. Be sure to keep a hankie by your side while reading it. With characters that will steal your heart, you'll quickly feel part of the Scheirer family in this anthology. What's even better is you get four, count 'em—4, great stories in one. A perfect book to fill that Christmas list, Novel Reviews and I give it a high recommendation.


Reviewed by: Ane Mulligan,
Editor, Novel Journey

ACFW November Book Releases

1. A SILENT PURSUIT, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Gina Santino has something someone desperately wants. Now, she's on the hunt to find it. Her deceased fiance's best friend, US Ranger, Ian Masterson is her only hope of staying alive while they race to be the first to discover the treasure her fiance left behind.



2. Chasing Shadows, by Terri Reed from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. An heiress turns to her former love, a cop, for help when she fears for her grandmother's life.



3. Close to Home, by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A reunion of old lovers brings up the shadows of past tragedy.



4. Fit To Be Tied, The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book #2

, by Robin Lee Hatcher from Zondervan. Who says a woman can't do a man's job?



5. I'm So Sure, A Charmed Life, Book 2

, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. Its prom time and someone is trying to sabotage the queen contest. Can Bella solve the mystery in time AND keep it together as her life goes public on a wrestling reality show?



6. The Bartered Bride, by Erica Vetsch from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Tempests rage, in the board room, the ball room, and on treacherous Lake Superior as two hearts set sail on a collision course.



7. Together for the Holidays, Fostered by Love series-book 5

, by Margaret Daley from Love Inspired. Can the true meaning of Christmas bring two loners together?

M.L.Tyndall's The Blue Enchantress ~ Reviewed

The Blue Enchantress
Charles Towne Belles Book 2
M. L. Tyndall
Barbour Publishing 2009
978-1-60260-157-4



Still grieving the loss of her mother—and private tragedies of her own—Hope Westcott plays the part of a dutiful admiral’s daughter. But longing for the love and acceptance she never felt at home, Hope plunges into Charles Towne society…and an illicit affair with Lord Falkland.

For Captain Nathaniel Mason, wealth means security, so he is determined to build his shipping business—ignoring God’s call on his life to become an impoverished pastor. He also ignores his attraction to the frivolous, vain Hope Westcott.

Hope’s adventure seeking lands her in the hands of an unscrupulous ship captain who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. When Nathaniel sees Hope on the auction block, will he listen to God and sacrifice his ship, cargo, and security to save her?

The Blue Enchantress is the long awaited second book in the Charles Towne Belle series, and if you think the first book left you hanging, just wait until you finish this installment. Author MaryLu Tyndall has quite the knack for leaving the reader begging for more after the last page.

Main character Nathaniel Mason is everything a hero should be…strong, handsome, a man of integrity. Heroine Hope Westcott has some rough edges at first, but by the end, her bristly flaws are smoothed out. As leading figures in the story, both are multi-faceted characters, but I’ve got to admit—it’s the pirates that captured my attention.

Captain Poole doesn’t even appear until halfway through the story, but when he does come on the scene, he takes front and center. A self-proclaimed ruffian, Pirate Poole has a way of endearing himself not only to Nathaniel and Hope, but to the reader as well. He’s got a sharp wit and a dangerous edge, but beneath his tough exterior is a big heart and fair manner. In fact, Tyndall nails all the pirates’ humor, dialect and swagger, making for an entertaining read.

If you’re looking for a historical swashbuckling adventure, then The Blue Enchantress is the book for you.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Ace Collins's Farraday Road ~ Reviewed

Farraday Road
By Ace Collins
Published by Zondervan
ISBN# 978-0-310-27952-5
352 Pages

Back Cover:

A quiet evening ends in murder on a muddy mountain road.

Local attorney Lije Evans and his beautiful wife, Kaitlyn, are gunned down. But the killers don’t expect one of their victims to live. After burying Kaitlyn, Lije is on a mission to find her killer—and solve a mystery that has more twists and turns than an Ozark-mountain back road.

When the trail of evidence goes cold, complicated by the disappearance of the deputy who found Kaitlyn’s body at the scene of the crime, Lije is driven to find out why he and his wife were hunted down and left for dead along Farraday Road. He begins his dangerous investigation with no clues and little help from the police. As he struggles to uncover evidence, will he learn the truth before the killers strike again?

REVIEW:

I bought this book because of the author Ace Collins, who is best known for his non-fiction books Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas,Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, etc. He has been around for a long time and has written many books I’ve enjoyed. I was curious to see what Ace had up his sleeves in reference to fiction writing. Wow! I was pleasantly surprised, but then again I wasn’t. What else would you expect from such a gifted writer?

Ace starts out this book like the TV show Murder She Wrote. The murder happens in the first chapter or two. I didn’t know where he would go from there. Was it going to be gruesome or not? I’m happy to report, not!! Ace takes his time to let you get to know the town and it’s history, the victims, their lives, hopes and dreams. He does a great job of walking you down a path where clues are uncovered, only to find that more questions come to mind because of something recently discovered.

This book is also a little like the movie National Treasure, in the fact that there is a bit of history to be learned in the middle of all the action, mystery and adventure. Ace is very creative and clever in the way he lets the story unfold. You, the reader, discover all the clues at the same time as the characters in the book. If you are looking for all things to be tied up in a pretty bow at the end of this story, you won’t find it here. But, the good news for you is that Ace Collins’s new book, Swope’s Ridge, the sequel to this one, is out on bookstores right now.

This is definitely a "who-done-it", taken to a brand new level. I enjoyed Lije, the local attorney who’s wife was murdered. He has a whole new lease on life and will stop at nothing to solve his wife’s murder. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Reviewed by: Nora St. Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Tracey Bateman's Thirsty ~ Reviewed

Thirsty
By: Tracey Bateman
Published by WaterBrook Press
ISBN 978-0-307-45715-8


Back Cover:


THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, THEY SAY.

“Hello, I’m Nina Parker…and I’m an alcoholic.”

For Nina, it’s not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier—and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone—or something—igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina’s feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfolds to its startling, unforgettable end.


Review:

Markus knew the moment the air changed that Nina Parker had come home. The spring breeze had lifted her scent and brought it to him, part offering and part beckoning. –Taken from Thirsty by Tracey Bateman.

A Christian vampire story? Really? I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened Ms. Bateman’s book, but as I read those words above, I shivered in anticipation. This was going to be a good read, and I knew it.

In fact, Thirsty was a lot more than just a good read. The underlying analogy between redemption and obsession made me think long and hard about the assumptions I make. Can I automatically toss out a story idea simply because it does not fall into the traditional guidelines of Christian publishing? Should I?

While Thirsty in no way parallels another popular vampire saga currently on the market, it did provide a little bit of the dark undertones that are so attractive to young readers. Vampire storyline aside, this book was primarily an account of the struggle people face in overcoming addiction and obsession. It was a fast, intelligent read with plenty of suspense woven through to keep me turning pages to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and at the end…well…I thirsted for more. (wink)

Reviewed by: Elizabeth Ludwig

Bonus Review:

Horror makes me imagine things going bump in the night and sometimes think I've seen something shadowy in the hall. Twilight is a series I plan to read but have been told I will want to devour the entire series in one sitting so I'm waiting for that perfect block of time. But this review is about Thirsty so I'll get past my meager background with vampires and start reviewing Thirsty.

Bateman writes a story that is fascinating on several levels. And its beyond the usual parameters of Christian fiction. However, there is still a strong Christian message.

I found myself transfixed with some of Bateman's scenes and the compelling voices of Nina and Markus. As Markus shared the story of the Ozark vampire legend I was completely caught up. I also found Nina's journaling at the beginning of each chapter to be compelling as she unfolded into a three-dimensional person. The multiple points of view that Bateman chose to tell the intertwining stories was another excellent way to build on the characterization of Nina and Hunt and their tumultuous relationship. She was able to make Nina a sympathetic character in spite of her addiction and the damage she had done to her family and herself.

The weaknesses in the story were few. Some dialogue and a few scenes pulled me away from the story and more into the many connected plots that weren't quite as compelling. This isn't a bloodless book. Chickens beware.

I would love to see a follow-up story and I'm intrigued by the undead themes and how this one played out within a Christian context. The book cover is one of the most compelling ones I've seen this year.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Bonus Review:

I’m a huge Tracey Bateman fan, so when the opportunity came to sign up for Thirsty’s blog tour and receive a review copy, I quickly signed up. I’ve read Tracey’s Leave it to Claire series, the Westward Heart Series, and the Drama Queen Series, all of them showing different aspects of this talented author. Thirsty shows yet again how versatile Tracey is in her writing.

I’m not a vampire expert by any stretch of the imagination. In fact the only other vampire book I’ve read is Twighlight, which took a lighthearted, humorous look at vampires, their families and how they got along in a High School setting.

Tracey’s book is far from humorous. Thirsty begins with a prologue where you meet Markus, a male vampire. Chapter one you meet Nina, the main character who struggles with addiction. Nina has made decisions under the influence that have cost her dearly.

After rehab, Nina moves back to her childhood home in Texas, with the support of her ex-husband Hunt and her family that lived there. Nina desired a new beginning. She needed strength to face the demons and pain that haunted her mind and emotions daily. They lived there. She was facing them without a pain killer? Would she make it?

Tracy explores the struggles Nina faces trying to change her life. God is the only one who can bring change and healing in relationships. This is what her ex-husband says about loving Nina, “Too bad winning her heart meant giving her the power to break mine into a million pieces.” Hunt knows all too well that loving someone makes you vulnerable.

Markus the vampire seeks Nina out because she is the only one that can truly understand him. She struggled with demons inside her like he did. The struggle he had to battle with his thirst to kill humans for their blood, he knew she could relate to that struggle.

This story surprised me. Tracey really gets to the heart of an addicts struggle to be free. The only way to truly do that is through Jesus Christ. No way around it; this was part of Nina’s struggle too. She was running from God. This is a heartfelt story. Tracey has you care about her characters even the vampires. I could feel the characters struggles, cheer with them in their victories and feel sad for their loss.

Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Maggie Brendan's The Jewel of His Heart ~ Reviewed

The Jewel of His Heart
by Maggie Brendan
Published by Revell
ISBN 978-0-8007-3350-6

Description:

Their future is as wide open as the Montana sky. Juliana Brady is alone in an 1890s Montana mining town, with few prospects for making a living. But she is determined not to be dependent on the charity of others.

Josh McBride is trying to scrape up a living from his sheep herd while he builds his ranch. But when he discovers some rare stones on his property, he’s tempted by the prospect of fast money.

When their paths cross, Juliana and Josh must make a choice - the world’s riches and promises, or the eternal value of love.

Review:

Maggie Brendan’s characters make this novel stand out among the rest of the historical romance genre. The hero and heroine fast become your friends, and the supporting cast cries out for their stories to be told. Although it follows some of the predictable paths romances do, paradoxically, Brendan weaves in enough of her unique style to keep it unpredictable. I didn’t read the first book in the Heart of the West series, but I’m going to buy it, and I’m looking forward to the third book in the series. This from a reviewer who is not a fan of historical romances. If you are, you’ll love it. If like me, you’ aren’t, you’ll still love it. Novel Reviews and I give it a high recommendation.


Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
Editor, Novel Journey




Bonus Review:

3/5 Stars

Originally, in reading the first book in the Hearts of the West Series "No Place for a Lady", I had to say: Having a plot line that starts and grows with tragedy, this is a novel that grabs your heart and makes you silently or even sometimes verbally cheer on the heroine to succeed at her current goal. Maggie Brendan has done well with her first novel and I definitely look forward to more. This is easily one of those stories where you are screaming for the characters to see what you as a reader are seeing. There are times where I thought something would come out differently, but with the story coming to a close I could not have imagined anything better than the way it was itself. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!

My review of the second in the series, The Jewel of His Heart: The romantic prose of Maggie Brendan is very visual and a reader can easily imagine what it was in Montana in the late period of the 1800s. The writing and characterization of the protagonist was good, I could tell, because they aggravated me to no end with the decisions and flip flops of emotions. A slight thing that threw me was some of the serious events that occurred in the lives of our main characters and how quickly the story just seemed to move forward without much time for the characters much less a reader to reflect. This is a sequel in continuing the life of main character Josh McBride from No Place for a Lady yet this story completely holds it's own as a stand-alone. Once a cattle-rancher's son, McBride is attempting to make his own as a sheepherder. The details of the life are intriguing and as a reader going along for the journey one routes for Josh to succeed. Juliana Brady has had it rough and has her pride, but with each day as she grows closer to Christ she learns a bit more of what He has in store. I definitely plan to read more titles to come from Maggie Brendan. This was a great story, I just did not personally mesh with the character's personalities and felt they were quick to jump and assume, but then that just hits a nerve. The romance is vivid and chill bumps present, this is one to read with imagination and time to reflect the lessons within as well as revel in the kisses stolen.

Reviewed by: Margaret Chind

Ginger Garrett's In the Arms of Immortals ~ Reviewed

In the Arms of Immortals
Book II Chronicles of the Scribe
Ginger Garrett
David C. Cook, publisher
ISBN: 978-0-7814-4888-8



Sicily, 1347. It starts with a strange ship in the village harbor. That night an old man falls ill… then the baker’s wife… then a street urchin. By morning half the townspeople are dead and more are dying—horribly. Civic order breaks down. Wolves move in from the countryside. And no one has a clue what is happening or how to stop it. Not the local priest. Not the rich baron. Not the baron’s proud daughter, nor the powerful knight who loves her. Certainly not the outcast healer whom many call a witch.

Only the Destroyer and the unseen Watchers know the real story… along with an unwilling visitor from another time. Mariskka recognizes the Black Death that will soon decimate Europe. But she has no voice to speak, no way to help… until she dares open her pain-hardened heart to the unfathomable truth.

Not only does Ginger Garrett take one of her main characters back to the past, but by reading In the Arms of Immortals, you’ll travel along as well—and it’s not a fluffy B&B excursion. As much as I personally love to view history through romantic colored glasses, the ugly side of humanity and sin is revealed through this tale…which makes the amazing love and mercy God holds for His creation all the more awesome.

What really shines through in Garrett’s characterization is that you’ll not only find bits and pieces of yourself in the hero and heroine but also in the antagonist. Panthea is a woman who slowly gives herself over to sin, and it all starts with simple little thoughts she knows she shouldn’t be harboring. How many times have I caught myself doing the very same thing? A great reminder that the path leading away from God is taken one step at a time. But though this is a dark tale, the hope God offers is woven throughout. Even until her dying breath, Panthea is offered complete and total forgiveness.

Another aspect worth mentioning is the glimpses Garrett gives of the unseen spirits around us. There’s a reason the first thing out of an angel’s mouth is, “Fear not.” You’ll understand why after you read some of the shocking descriptions of these immortals.

With the usual Garrett style, In the Arms of the Immortals is filled with wit, irony and truth, all packed into a fast paced story. Make sure to buckle up for a great ride when you crack this book open…a satisfying adventure indeed!


Review by: Michelle Griep


Bonus Review:

Ginger Garrett has a unique talent for blending history, imagination and the supernatural. In the Chronicles of the Scribes series Garrett takes a slice of history, looks at it through a different than usual angle, then slips in a present-day character who sees/participates or "writes" the story. Then, if that's not enough plot, there is the addition of angels and demons.

In the Arms of Immortals finds a thief being sent back to mutely witness the Sicilian plague. As the story unfolds, so does the horror and the sorrow of the time and of the choices made by the thief. Garrett writes with realism and poetry at times, but the scene changes were sometimes choppy. I found it difficult to love the story but it was a fascinating read. Anyone who is a fan of tweaky historicals might want to check it out.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Lynch, Thrall, McNicols' Bo's Cafe ~ Reviewed

BO'S CAFE
By John Lynch, Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol
Published by Windblown Media
246 Pages

Back Cover:

High-powered exec Steven Kerner has no idea his tightly wound American dream is about to come crashing down. His high-profile, high-octane life has always provided everything he’s wanted. Or so he thought.
When his unresolved anger threatens his marriage, and his attempts to fix it only drive the one he loves further away, he is pushed to the brink. An invitation from mystery man, Andy Monroe, may be the greatest hope Steven’s ever been handed.

REVIEW:

After reading the last page of this book I’m speechless, pondering all that I had read. Where do I begin to tell you the hope this book released in my heart, mind and emotions. The thing I LOVE about Christian Fiction is the fact that it can take you places you’d never go on your own. It can help you explain things that are just unexplainable, and put you in situations where you can see GRACE and LOVE in a very real way.

The opening scene read like the movie Mr. Destiny, where a distraught man heads to a run-down restaurant, meets a man that knows everything about him, then the distraught man makes a wish and lives his dream. No magic here -- only a book filled with hope in the future and a way to live life to the fullest. What does a real loving community of believers look like? You’ll meet Andy, Hank, Carlos and Cynthia, just to name a few of the fun loving, real characters; who tell it like it is. It’s refreshing and at times painful to read because I found them talking right to my heart!

Here’s a clip from the book—Steven and Andy first meet—he asks Andy a question.
” It starts young doesn’t it? They get hurt.”

Andy says, “All those people down there, walking and driving around, confused—angry, hurt, wounded, afraid, resentful—they all have something in common.”

“What’s that?” Steven says.

“…they’ve learned to protect themselves. Now they’re adults and they’re discovering this cruel secret: they can’t protect themselves. In fact, the last person who can protect them is them.” Wow!!
Bo’s Café helps me identify some of the lies that I believed about myself, some of the old tapes I had playing in my head until Jesus set me free. Andy takes it a little deeper in a very simple but profound way. It think this is a must read for everyone. I know that I’m going to be reading this book again and again, giving it out to my family and friends.

Reviewed By: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction

Christa Parrish's Watch Over Me ~ Reviewed

Watch Over Me
By Christa Parrish
Published by: Bethany House
ISBN# 978-0-7642-0554-5
349 Pages

Back Cover:

Things like this don’t happen in Beck County. Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant girl, hours old, abandoned in a field.

As police work to identify the mother, Ben and his wife Abbi, seem like the obvious couple to serve as foster parents. But the newborn’s arrival opens old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastating military tour.


REVIEW:

When this book became available to read through an author blog tour I signed up. I had read Home Another Way, Christa’s first book, and couldn’t wait to see where this new author would take me next!

Edgy! Christa has away of not only talking about the elephant in the room, but describes it too. Not in great detail, but enough to make you experience the moment and maybe start to have some compassion and understanding of an uncomfortable situation.

This book is gut-wrenchingly honest, transparent and difficult to read in parts because of the subject matter. God loves what most people deem unlovable. Christa shows this very aspect of God’s love in a powerful and moving way!

Another fascinating aspect of Watch Over Me, is the fact that a young deaf boy is one of her main characters. No one makes special accommodations for him; he’s a deaf boy making his way in a hearing world. He learns to adjust. He explains himself to someone that asks him if it’s hard.

“What part?”

“Any of it.” She asks.

He thinks..."this part. The communication. His inability to say the very thing he had pent up inside.

“It’s hard to fit everything I want to say on a scrap of paper!”

The font in the book is set to look like Matt, the deaf boy's, actual handwriting. I liked that. Christa showed many struggles a deaf boy might have going to school, also living day-in and day-out trying to talk to everyone he met, by writing everything he wanted to say on a note pad. I can't even imagine doing that.

The author describes what goes on inside a person’s heart, mind, and emotions when someone meets God where it hurts. Where the rubber meets the road; where life is messy and uncomfortable. When life happens fast and furious, when you lose control and there seems to be no hope. Can you really lean on God? Does He care? Will He help? Christa Parrish answers these questions and so much more in a very honest, riveting way. These characters and this story will stay with you long after you close the book.

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction