by admin | Jul 7, 2009 | Books, Historical
Brides of Gallatin County #3
MY REVIEW:
A Dream to Call My Own is the third and final installment of the Brides of Gallatin County series. The story focuses on Lacy, the youngest Gallatin sister, the tomboy of the group. Her mother’s death in childbirth and the more recent death of her father left her with an irrational burden of guilt and Lacy has spent her life trying to prove herself by trying to outride and outshoot every man in the area. Lacy remained blissfully unaware that her skills were not what attracted the attention of men – especially Dave Shepard. The question is “Will Lacy ever reciprocate Dave’s interest?”
Most of the characters from the first two books return in A Dream to Call My Own so the reader continues to learn more about the lives of Beth and Nick, Gwen and Hank, and even Rafe and Cubby. All of the loose threads of the story are neatly woven together in a satisfying ending for the series. As in the first two installments, A Dream to Call My Own is filled with enough humor, romance, and suspense to keep most readers turning the pages.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When their father is accidentally killed, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, Lacy, becomes a woman with a mission: to find her father’s killer. Haunted by the belief that she’s failed him, Lacy is also battling a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can’t quite figure out.
Dave Shepard, the deputy sheriff, has also been fervently trying to find the man who killed George Gallatin, in part because it’s his job but also because of the beautiful Lacy. When they are together, the tension crackles between them–both when they argue and when they kiss. Yet Dave fears he won’t be able to live up to her expectations. And while Lacy finds him frustratingly irresistible, is it truly love? Will she only fail another person?
by admin | Jul 6, 2009 | Books, Suspense
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today’s Wild Card author is:
and the book:
Valley of the Shadow
Tyndale House Publishers (May 13, 2009)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tom Pawlik, winner of the 2006 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild’s Operation First Novel contest has drawn praise from critics with his first novel, Vanish. Novel Journey has declared, “Tom Pawlik writes a scary, fascinating, suspenseful story; one you won’t want to miss” and Faithful Reader said Vanish “…delivers a Christian message and certainly succeeds in stirring the imagination and the spirit.”
Tom Pawlik has a BA in communication and works in the marketing field. He has been active in Christian teaching, youth work, and music for over twenty years. In addition to writing fiction, Tom is an accomplished songwriter and musician who writes and records at his home studio. He and his wife, Colette, live in Ohio with their four children and a dog.
Visit the author’s website.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (May 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1414326793
ISBN-13: 978-1414326795
AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Freezing. Devon Marshall was freezing.
Darkness enveloped him. Thick and heavy, wrapping around him like a blanket. He could feel its weight pressing in on him. Squeezing him. Smothering him. And far off in the darkness, he heard sounds. A deep rumble mixed with a jumbled, muddied squawking. The noises were muffled and distant but growing steadily louder. Like a train approaching: the thunder of the engines and the clacking of its wheels on the tracks.
A pinprick of light blazed in the darkness. Tiny at first, but getting closer. Every second it grew larger and more intense. The sound roared now as the light rushed toward him and then . . .
Everything exploded into chaos.
Light and sound washed around him like a giant whirlpool. He could feel himself spinning inside it. Being buffeted and pulled along by a current.
And he was still freezing.
Lights flashed in his face. A dizzying array of reds and blues. Light and darkness. Shadows loomed over him and moved about. He tried to focus on the shadowy images as they swirled around him. Then he recognized them.
People?
He was surrounded by people. Actual human beings! They were speaking to one another. Devon could hear distinct voices but still couldn’t make out the words. And the voices sounded worried. Anxious.
Devon’s vision was becoming clearer. Several people with uniforms and badges hovered over him. An ambulance was parked nearby, and two police cars, their lights flashing.
Paramedics? And cops? Was there an accident somewhere?
His mind was a jumble of thoughts and he tried to recall what had just happened. Images flashed through his mind. Terrifying ones. Disjointed and vague memories of huge, empty buildings. Skyscrapers. An entire city, void of life. A dull, overcast sky. Gray, faceless creatures reaching out hands with long, bony fingers like enormous spider legs.
And a farm out in the middle of nowhere . . .
Terrell. Where was Terrell? They had been together just a few days ago. Or had it been only a few minutes?
Devon tried to turn his head but couldn’t. Something was holding him in place. He struggled to move but was too weak.
He had to get out of here. He had to find Terrell.
He could hear the voices better now. One of them called for help. Something about a stretcher. Legs and feet shuffled out of view, then back in again. More lights.
Not far off, a row of strangers huddled together, watching. Devon scanned their faces, and one of them caught his eye. One face seemed out of place in the group. One man was standing off a little ways by himself. Standing in the shadows, staring right at Devon. His face seemed to draw Devon’s gaze toward him, as if pulling him down into a pit.
It was long and narrow. Pale skin almost glowed against the shadows behind him. His cheeks were gaunt and sunken. And his eyes . . .
His eyes shone a pale yellow. But they seemed hollow. Then he smiled. His thin, puckered mouth expanded into a wide grin. Rows of brown, rotted teeth dripped with black saliva.
Devon couldn’t take his eyes off the man. Then someone passed between them and he was gone.
Suddenly Devon felt himself moving. Floating. He could see several people standing around him. Cops and paramedics. They slid him into an enclosed space where white light surrounded him. Two people climbed up beside him.
What was going on?
Devon heard doors slam shut with a thud and a click. A moment later, he could feel himself moving again.
His eyes widened and his breathing grew more rapid. The crowd. The paramedics. The cops . . .
They were there for him!
They had put him into the ambulance!
One of the paramedics leaned close. He had reddish brown hair, green eyes, and a broad, freckled face. “. . . what I’m saying? You’ve been shot. . . . going to be all right . . . Cook County Memorial . . . understand?”
He was pressing something against Devon’s chest. Devon glanced down. Now in the light he could see his shirt was cut open and drenched in blood. A large, white piece of gauze was taped to his chest.
Devon looked back up at the medic and his breath caught in his throat.
The man’s face had changed. His eyes glowed yellow. His lips parted in a twisted grin, showing dozens of teeth. Dark and rotted, all jammed together in his mouth. Black liquid, like tar, dripped onto his chin.
“The door is still open,” he croaked. His voice was gargled and deep.
“Leave me alone!” Devon squeezed his eyes shut. “Leave me alone! Leave me alone!”
He felt a hand on his forehead and opened his eyes again. The medic’s face had returned to normal. The guy was working on Devon as if nothing had happened.
Devon tried to slow his breathing. His chest burned and a sharp pain knifed through his ribs with every breath. He struggled for air as darkness began to close in around him. Sounds grew muffled. The medic’s voice sounded urgent but began to fade. Devon could feel them moving around, trying to save him.
And he could feel himself slipping away.
Excerpted from Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik. Copyright© 2009 by Tom Pawlik. Printed with permission from Tyndale House Publishers. All Rights Reserved.
MY REVIEW:
Valley of the Shadow is the sequel to Vanish, Tom Pawlik’s first novel; however enough details are given that the reader is not lost if he missed the first one. I have not had the opportunity to read Vanish and I was able to follow the storyline just fine.
The plot switches between people and events on earth and people trapped in the interworld, the shadowy world between life and death. Residents of the interworld exist in an alternate reality that appears to be a predominately deserted but familiar world where people suddenly appear and disappear or are dragged off by malevolent alien beings.
Valley of the Shadow is a true pageturner that aptly illustrates the very real battle between darkness and light. Characters vary from one man willing to risk all to save a stranger met in the interworld from hell to another man resident in the interworld who has made a deal with Death thinking to save his own life. The action moves quickly, building suspense as it progresses. Valley of the Shadow has a strong spiritual message and will leave the reader with plenty to ponder for awhile after the last page.
by admin | Jul 6, 2009 | Books, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fatal Illusions
Kregel Publications (March 5, 2009)
by
Adam Blumer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Adam Blumer lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his wife, Kim, and his daughters, Laura and Julia.
He works full-time as a freelance writer and editor. A print journalism graduate of Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), he served in editorial roles for fourteen years at Northland Baptist Bible College (Dunbar, WI) and Awana Clubs International Headquarters (Streamwood, IL).
He has published numerous short stories and articles. Fatal Illusions released by Kregel Publications (Grand Rapids, MI) is his first novel.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
An amateur magician, an unassuming family . . . a fatal illusion Haydon Owens wants to be the next Houdini. He has been practicing his craft and has already made four women disappear. All it took was a bit of rope and his two bare hands.
The Thayer family has come to the north woods of Newberry, Michigan, looking for refuge, a peaceful sanctuary from a shattered past. But they are not alone. Little do they know that they are about to become part of Haydon’s next act. Time is running out and already the killer has spotted his next victim. Who will escape alive?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Fatal Illusions, go HERE
“Fatal Illusions is an engaging, fast-paced read with a captivating storyline that grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. Highly recommended!”–Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Night Watchman
“An awesome ride!”–Rosey Dow, Christy Award winning author of Reaping the Whirlwind
“Adam Blumer tells a fast-paced story that weaves together a serial killer, a physically wounded pastor and his spiritually wounded wife. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing.”–Rick Acker, author of Blood Brothers
MY REVIEW:
To see what I had to say in my April 17 review , click here.
by admin | Jul 1, 2009 | Books, Suspense
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Exposure
Zondervan (June 1, 2009)
by
Brandilyn Collins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e . . .”® Brandilyn’s first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.
In addition to Exposure, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Always Watching, first in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When your worst fear comes true.
Someone is watching Kaycee Raye. But who will believe her? Everyone knows she’s a little crazy. Kaycee’s popular syndicated newspaper column pokes fun at her own paranoia and multiple fears. The police in her small town are well aware she makes money writing of her experiences. Worse yet, she has no proof of the threats. Pictures of a dead man mysteriously appear in her home—then vanish before police
arrive. Multisensory images flood Kaycee’s mind. Where is all this coming from?
Maybe she is going over the edge.
High action and psychological suspense collide in this story of terror, twists, and desperate faith. The startling questions surrounding Kaycee pile high. Her descent to answers may prove more than she can survive.
To read the first chapter, go HERE.
“More twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster! Highly recommended.” ~CBA Retailers
“Mesmerizing mystery…authentic characters…a fast-paced, twisting tale of desperate choices.” ~TitleTrakk
“Brandilyn Collins is a master of suspense, and Exposure is her best book yet!” ~Dianne Burnett, Christianbook.com
MY REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Brandilyn Collins’ books for several years and have read them all. Each one is unique yet each faithfully adheres to her signature “seatbelt suspense” theme. Exposure is no exception. From the very first page I was pulled into Kaycee’s dilemma. The plot moves quickly and the reader begins to share Kaycee’s uncertainty about whether what she is experiencing is reality or her imagination.
The counterplot was a little confusing at first. It took me awhile to realize that the seperate events were set in different time frames. Once that was resolved, it was much easier to understand. By the middle of the book, I was sure I had it all figured out – and I had – to a point. Leave it to Brandilyn to throw in some twists and turns that lead to a surprise ending. I think she did that on purpose just to deflate our pride a bit.
I enjoyed Exposure and would recommend it to all suspense fans. However the Hidden Faces series still remains my favorite. I would love to see another Collins book that contains the focus on spiritual warfare found in that series.
