What I'm reading this last week of November 2006

Well, now that I've recovered from my computer crash I'm back on track. I'm reading several great novels. Still reading Like Sheep Gone Astray by Leslie Sherrod. I've started @ Home for the Holidays by Meredith Efken. For those of you who read her first book SAHM I AM, you know how addicting her writing is. I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's fabulous. I've also started Freedom of the Soul by Tracey Bateman. I'm enjoying it as much as the first book in her series. I've got a bunch more lined up, folks, so watch for more additions to the pile!

Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum is up on CFBA this week!

I haven't read the book yet, but my son has (he's 13) and he read it straight through in a day. I take that as a good sign. :)

Isn't this a great cover!


Buy the book on Amazon.

Check out the author's website!

Here is a picture of the author...




........

My review of The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren

Product Description:

What if the apostle Paul had written another letter---one most believers knew nothing about---filled with mysterious prophecies foretelling "gifted ones" who would fight on behalf of the church? In Bergren's fantasy, the letter is real, the year is 1339, the Inquisition is raging, and "the gifted" are gathering. Can they vanquish the darkness?

My review:

To me, everything about The Begotten was so rich and fantastic that I was literally carried into another time and place. The author's vivid description and setting surround you and carry the story to the end with power and conviction. I was there and experienced the terrors of the Middle Ages and the corruption of the times. I felt the pain of Daria, the healer, as she longed to make people whole, yet could only do what the Lord had appointed for her to do. There was always a reason, but it was not always known.

Everything about this story made me ponder the Lord's ways, and I marveled at the power of His written word demonstrated in action. I was caught up in the beautiful prose and awestruck as the magnitude of good and evil were revealed when the two camps waged war. The intrigue and pacing was perfectly done and the action was so riveting that I couldn't stop reading. The intensity of the evil portrayed seemed as realistic as the righteousness found in the Lord's own, "The Gifted". To me, the spiritual messages interwoven throughout the story were healing and emotionally moving.

The next book in Bergren's series is called The Betrayed. I can only imagine the conflict that will lead into the sequel because the author leaves you satisfied at the conclusion of The Begotten, yet hanging just enough to make you want to buy the next book. Well done, and highly recommended!

The Begotten was published by Berkley Praise and released on August 1, 2006

My review of Seahorse in the Thames by Susan Meissner

Book Description:

Alexa Poole’s older sister, Rebecca, has lived at the Falkman Residential Center since an accident left her mentally compromised—vulnerable, innocent. Now, 17 years later, she has vanished. As Alexa searches for Rebecca, disturbing questions surface. Why did the car that Rebecca was riding in swerve off the road killing her college friend, Leanne McNeil? And what about the mysterious check for $50,000 found in Rebecca’s room signed by her friend’s father, Gavin McNeil?

My Review:

For me, Seahorse in the Thames was a completely riveting and thoroughly engrossing novel unlike any I've read this past year. The mystery of the heroine's sister's disappearance is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg in this intense novel. Meissner immediately drew me in to the story with her opening chapter. Her masterfully-crafted pacing and tension kept me reading to the very end. This book was truly hard to put down. I felt like Alexa AKA Lexi was my friend. My heart went out to her because of the struggles she had with her family. I understood her desire for a relationship and clearly saw where the need came from. Also, Lexi's heart for Stephen and the way she saw him intrigued me. In short, I cared about every character in the story. Even the "bad guys."

Meissner also tucks a wealth of life-changing spiritual material seamlessly into the pages of this novel. In many ways the message she delivers is subtle, yet it rings with such a profound and universal truth that for the believer the lesson goes straight to the heart of the matter. Just like the story of the seahorse found in the Thames, the treasure discovered by the fisherman in the murky, polluted waters of the river, a precious lesson was unearthed during one of the worst times in Lexi's life. I was blown away by the author's insight and amazed by the impact this novel had on my heart. I devoured every page. Words can't adequately express how much this story ministered to me. In fact, I'll stop trying, since I've barely skimmed the surface of what I'd meant to say.

On the easier-to-explain craft of writing, I found the characters and their problems to be very realistic. They seemed more like friends than characters in a book. The plot had many unexpected twists and there was nothing cliche or predictable. I loved that about the story. The emotion was genuine, and not once did I feel manipulated by the author. And to top that all off, the setting was so rich I felt like packing up my belongings and heading for the beach! If I were to grade this novel I'd give it an A++. Well done and highly recommended!

Seahorse in the Thames was published by Harvest House and released in July 2006.

Thought for the day...and seahorses...

My computer at home is getting old and may be giving up the ghost soon, so I'm not able to post as often. Pray that I can fix the hard drive problem soon, or just get a new one. I hate computer problems. On a more positive note, I did start reading Seahorse in the Thames by Susan Meissner last night. Talk about a great opening chapter! This one not only hooked me, but it harpooned me right through the midsection. I love a great opening and Susan has done a great job of delivering so far. I have more books at home to read (that she's authored,) but something tells me I will love them, too. After enjoying such a great opening chapter, I hated to turn off the light and go to sleep. I think Seahorse is going to be a great read.

My review of Smuggler's Treasure by Robert Elmer...

This fabulous conclusion to Robert Elmer's Wall series is probably my favorite. Smuggler's Treasure has the kind of pacing and intrigue that kids need to keep them engaged in a book. Plus, they will learn about history while absorbing information about the events that took place in Berlin in 1989.

I'll never forget when the Berlin Wall came down. I was a freshman in college and watched with fascination as the events unfolded on television. The story of years of separation and broken relationships between families within the same city being suddenly restored when the wall was taken down by force touched America's heart. It was a thrilling time in history and one that should never be forgotten. Freedom is an important thing that our children need to learn about so they will appreciate the sacrifices made to hear freedom ring. Unfortunately, the liberal media has nearly destroyed patriotism in the minds of many US citizens over the past several years. I admire Elmer's intention to educate our youth about important historical events that relate to today's world.

Smuggler's Treasure wraps up three generations of history starting with book one, and the ending is guaranteed to make the reader smile. I don't want to give details and spoil the story, but I will say that it got me a bit misty-eyed when I read this final book in the series. I highly recommend Smuggler's Treasure (and the entire series) because it's highly entertaining and historically fascinating...plus it's interesting enough for adults to enjoy. I'm just bummed to see the series end.

My review of Promise Me Always by Christine Lynxwiler

Book Description:

Thirty-five-year-old widow Allie Richards has always dreamed of having her own landscaping business. After losing her job, Allie's Pinky Promise girlfriends convince her to enter Shady Grove's Beautiful Town Landscaping Competition. The prize? The town's landscaping and maintenance contract. But there's a hitch. Every move Allie's ragtag crew makes will be featured in the reality segment of a local TV show. Armed with only a green thumb and a motley crew of helpers, does Allie have any chance of surviving the hype and making her dream a reality? Daniel Montgomery, the man behind the camera, is after more than just a story. Will he be satisfied with anything less than Allie's heart?

My review:

It took me a while to get into the story, and not just because of the first person point of view. I'm not sure what it was. The book has a gorgeous cover, so maybe if Allie looked anything like the model on the cover, I think she'd want a modeling contract rather than a landscaping career. But that wasn't what hung me up, and honestly, this cover will definitely help sell the book. It's very attractive.

However, the more I got to know Allie through her relationship with her kids, the more I liked her. And Daniel is a pretty hot hero. I think the best characterization was with the two competing men. Trent seemed like a control freak, and I think the author showed that very well by the way he acted. Allie struggled with trust and relinquishing control that she never really had in the first place. (But don't we all?)

My heart went out to Allie when her kids got upset about her always working on the project and never being around. I started to get annoyed with Allie when she kept turning Daniel down. Blair was such a witch that I actually enjoyed her interaction with Allie. And the self-depracating thoughts Allie spouted to herself were downright hilarious at times.

I enjoyed the book, but it took me awhile to reach that point. In fact, I'd say it was about halfway through. In the end, the story was worth reading, in my opinion, and that's what matters most. I felt like I did get something out of my time spent with Allie, her family, and Daniel, the perfect hero...with a Harley.

Promise Me Always was published by Barbour Books and will be released Dec. 1, 2006.

Calm, Cool, and Adjusted is up this week on CFBA!

Here is the gorgeous cover. Those marketing people are smart, aren't they?


Here is a great picture of Kristin. I think she is soooo cute. Then again, I love Italians. :)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kristin Billerbeck was born in Redwood City, California. She went to San Jose State University and majored in Advertising, then worked at the Fairmont Hotel in PR, a small ad agency as an account exec, and then, she was thrust into the exciting world of shopping mall marketing. She got married, had four kids, and started writing romance novels until she found her passion: Chick Lit.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Calm, Cool, and Adjusted is the third book in the Spa Girls Novels.
Best friends since Johnny Depp wore scissors for hands, "The Spa Girls" live very separate lives, but stay in touch with routine visits to California's Spa Del Mar. The third novel in the Spa Girls Series focuses on Silicon Valley chiropractor Poppy Clayton, who is as calm, cool and adjusted as they come. Or is she? Known for her bad fashion sense, a love for all things natural and the inability to get a second date, Poppy is beginning to wonder if she might be misaligned herself. Her route to self discovery will be an unnatural one - a plastic surgeon, a dilapidated house in Santa Cruz, a flirtatious client, and a blind date from the dark side. It's all enough to send a girl - and her gal pals - running for the comfort zone of their spa.

***
Lucky for me, I've already had the pleasure of reading this story. And because I have quite a few "nature-loving-tree-hugging" friends, I loved it!!! I even have a friend that drinks that green goop in the book, LOL! My favorite thing about Kristin's characters is you wonder through most of the book who the heroine will end up with, but it's ALWAYS the right one. She's good! Here is a link to buy her book...

Calm, Cool, and Adjusted by Kristin Billerbeck

Here is a link to Kristin's website...Kristin Billerbeck

Finally, here is a copy of my review of her book. It's not my best book review, but don't let that stop you from getting a copy...

MY REVIEW:
Another perfect title by Kristin Billerbeck, Calm, Cool & Adjusted sums up Poppy Clayton's life better than any title I could have come up with! Poppy lives for serenity and calmness, or as she calls it, energy. She could care less about looking cool, but that's not the kind of cool the author means. Poppy finds that special cool after thawing out, and I loved the character arc! It's what I live to read!

The adjusted word works very well in regards to defining not only her profession as a chiropractor, but it doubles up to describe her need to work things through and go with the flow, to stop being so anal and overanalyzing everything and heal from the past. Get unstuck and show your love with your words and deeds, Poppy girl!

And the first line is my very favorite opening of all time... Desperation has a scent. Is that incredibly witty, or what?

Though I loved A Girl's Best Friend a lot (probably because I'm blonde, too, and Morgan was just a lovable character), I think I love this story the most! I totally adore Poppy and her quirks and defensiveness. Her obsessions are hilarious and the insightful comments about nutrition and exercise border on convicting at times. LOL!

Billerbeck has an amazing ability to be snarky and yet fun in her style. I love her wit and wisdom, and the faith portion is always gracefully woven into the story. I feel like I learned the most from this book in regards to God's timing, the value of friendship, and the need for inner healing to move on. Wonderful stuff!

Also, the tension is unbearable. Who will Poppy choose to be with, or will she decide to stay single? GAH! That had me going. Fortunately, the author chose the right ending or I would've screamed and it wouldn't have been pretty! Billerbeck knows how to get to a reader's heart and she pulls me in every time. I can't say enough good things about this story! Of all of Kristin's chick lit titles, this one grabbed my heart the most! Bravo!

Calm, Cool, & Adjusted was published by Integrity and released in October 2006.

What I'm reading Thanksgiving week...

Still working on wrapping up Robert Elmer's series with his story Smuggler's Treasure. I'm enjoying it because I was a young adult in the 1980s and that is when the story takes place. I'm over half done with Promise Me Always by Christine Lynxwiler. It's an ARC and the typos are unreal--as in more than most advance review copies--but the story is good, so that makes up for it. I'm totally loving The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren. What a fabulous historical fiction! The Middle Ages here I come! I love the whole concept of the story and the characters are fabulous! Truly! (Okay, so I overdid it with the exclamation marks, but I'm trying to get a point across here...) I haven't picked up Like Sheep Gone Astray in awhile. I need to get back to it soon. Next on my list are The Reluctant Burglar by Jill Elizabeth Nelson and Seahorse in the Thames by Susan Meissner.

For a short story I think I'll try That Wilder Boy by Kim Vogel Sawyer and the third book in the kid series--Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum by Randy Mortenson (because it's coming up soon on the blog alliance that I belong to.) I also have to crack open Meredith Efken's @Home for the Holidays. It looks awesome and experience tells me (from reading book one) that this baby will be really great, too!

One last note...My son Nathan snatched up the book I received yesterday from the blog alliance. At least, I think that's where it came from. I dunno. I need to start keeping track. I need a spreadsheet guys!!! Anyhoo, the story is called A Pagan's Nightmare and it is authored by Ray Blackston. My son devoured that story and finished it in one day. I'm not kidding. Plus, he brought it to church with him and the cover is so crazy that there are now a lineup of people who are considering getting the book. :) Is that cool, or what? Now I can hardly wait to read it myself because my son has excellent taste in regards to books. After all, he loves mine, right? hehehehe

Adorable pictures of my niece Katie...hot off the press!

Katie loves pink!
Katie is all washed up...
Katie finds her thumb...

My review of Scoop by Rene Gutteridge

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Occupational Hazards Books are a series of books about seven homeschooled siblings whose last name is Hazard. The parents died in a freak accident leaving the kids ages 16-26 with a lucrative clown business but the kids realize that God has other plans which doesn't include being a family of clowns for the rest of their lives.

My review:

Scoop is a creative novel with a well-done plot, fantastic dialogue, and great characterization. The setting is superb and I truly felt like I worked in a television news station throughout the story. Scoop is highly entertaining with a strong theme tucked within it's pages regarding the power of a true Christian witness to nonbelievers we work with.

Scoop also contained several points of view. On the one hand, I enjoyed getting to know the cast, but as a result, I didn't feel like I had much time to get to know Hayden Hazard--the main character. I think that was the downside to this otherwise riveting novel. I suppose seeing Hayden through others' eyes did work for the book, but by story's end I wished I'd had a chance to know Hayden more, to discover the way her mind worked. I really enjoyed her philosophy of life and how well the author portrayed it through her actions. Sometimes her naive perspective was downright funny. I also thought the author did an amazing job showing the various character arcs. Well done!

Overall I'd say I enjoyed Scoop enough to recommend it. Though not "hilarious", in my opinion, it did bring me indescribable satisfaction as I perused its pages. Most importantly, I didn't experience a dull moment in this novel. Not once did Scoop feel like a chore to read. I'm looking forward to reading more about the Hazard family though future books in the Occupational Hazards series.

Scoop is published by Waterbrook Press and was released on October 10, 2006.

Isn't this a gorgeous cover?

It's for Shar MacLaren's upcoming historical fiction novel published by Whitaker House. I love it. Unfortunately the book won't release until 2007...which, depending on how you look at it, isn't all that far off.

Scoop by Rene Gutteridge is up this week on CFBA...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rene Gutteridge is the author of several novels, including Ghost Writer (Bethany House Publishers) The Boo Series (WaterBrook Press) and the Storm Series, (Tyndale House Publishers. She will release three novels in 2006: Storm Surge (Tyndale) My Life as a Doormat (WestBow Press, Women of Faith)Occupational Hazards Book #1: Scoop (WaterBrook Press).

She has also been published over thirty times as a playwright, best known for her Christian comedy sketches. She studied screenwriting under a Mass Communications degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Oklahoma City University, and earned the "Excellence in Mass Communication" award. She served as the full-time Director of Drama for First United Methodist Church for five years before leaving to stay home and write. She enjoys instructing at writer's conferences and in college classrooms. She lives with her husband, Sean, a musician, and their children in Oklahoma City.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Occupational Hazards Books are a series of books about seven homeschooled siblings whose last name is Hazard. The parents died in a freak accident leaving the kids ages 16-26 with a lucrative clown business but the kids realize that God has other plans which doesn't include being a family of clowns for the rest of their lives.


Link to Rene Gutteridge's website

Link to Scoop on Amazon

***My take on it*** I'm on page 121 and I totally love it! I hope to finish in the next few days so I can post a full review. So come back and check and maybe by this weekend I'll have something profound to say...or not.

What I'm reading this sort-of second week of November 2006...

I'm reading Scoop by Renee Gutteridge. It isn't super-LOL funny, but I like it. I'm also reading The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren. For all you historical fiction lovers, you might like this one. It's kind of freaky and about the early church, but I am really enjoying it so far. I'm still reading Like Sheep Gone Astray by Leslie Sherrod. I need to pick this book up again soon. I finally got around to reading the final book in Robert Elmer's youth fiction series. The title is Smuggler's Treasure. I like it so far because the time period was my childhood that he's talking about (when the Berlin Wall came down.) Remember Ronald Regan egging Mikhail Gorbechev on by telling him to take down the wall? (Technically, I was 20 at the time, but who is keeping track? Hehehe) I'm also about 1/4 the way through Promise Me Always by Christine Lynxwiler. It's okay so far. It's a chick lit about a widow with two kids. She's 35. Last, but not least (I know, cliche) I plan to start Seahorse in the Thames by Susan Meissner once I get any one of these other novels finished.

My review of When the Storm Breaks by Bonnie Leon

Product Description:

A terrible drought has settled on Thornton Creek and has parched both the land and the strength of all who live there. After a devastating fire eats up most of Douloo and leaves them with barely enough to survive, Daniel and Rebecca Thornton are forced to go to extremes to provide for their growing family.

My review:

I've always enjoyed historical fiction, and especially Bonnie Leon's WWII stories, though I admit I haven't read anything written by her in about six years. For some reason When the Storm Breaks didn't excite me very much. Maybe because it was the third book in a series and I hadn't read the first two? I liked the characters, the setting, the culture in Australia (then called Queensland because it was the 1870s) and the Aboriginal peoples. However, the conflict wasn't very unique. It was another "western-type" story where someone was going to lose their land due to harsh conditions. Then when the bank wouldn't loan the rancher the money, the man went to a loan shark--something like a 19th Century mobster who charged ridiculously high interest and extracted their payment in flesh if it didn't mean their requirements. Then, of course, the cattle must be nearly wiped out so the rancher's means of payment is trashed. Normally that would be a reasonable amount of tension for me, but I've read several stories like that lately, so maybe that's what bugged me.

I did like the spiritual theme in regards to the heroine's witness to the native woman whom she called "friend", though in Queensland that was frowned upon just like whites associating with slaves in the south. Overall it was a good story. I just didn't hold my breath. Ironically, I read the story straight through. I think it's because I kept hoping I would really care about what happened in the story. Yeah, there was a ranch hand who was unjustly hanged. That did get to me a bit. But otherwise the story failed to jerk my heart-chain. At the end of the novel I was disappointed because I wanted to feel more, but then the story was over. So for fans who enjoy historical fiction, you may like this one. I thought it was good, just not great.

When the Storm Breaks was published by Baker/Revell and released in April 2006.

What I'm reading this Veteran's Day weekend...

So many books to choose from! I'm feeling pretty good today because I finished a book last night and one this afternoon. I finally started lining up my books in my TBR pile according to release dates and other priorities - like a review promised for a specific blog by a set date. Today I picked up When the Storm Breaks by Bonnie Leon. I've been "sitting on" this book for awhile. I need to get cracking and read it for the Novel Review site. I'm planning to start Scoop by Renee Gutteridge because it's the featured book next week for CFBA. I'm still reading Like Sheep Gone Astray by Leslie Sherrod. That's a pretty thick story, but I'm almost 1/4 way through it. I have also started Smuggler's Treasure by Robert Elmer. It's third in a series. Last, but not least (by any means...) is How to Study the Bible for Yourself - Youth Edition, a non-fiction book by Tim LaHaye. I plan to pry open a few others, but haven't decided which ones yet. Oh, and I have The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren at my office to read during breaks and whatnot. When I'm not working on my own stuff, I'm cracking open a book. What are you guys reading right now?

My review of A Vow to Cherish by Deborah Raney

A Vow to Cherish touched me deeply--for many reasons. To me, this story is about having no regrets and allowing God to work things out in our lives with His perfect timing. I remember seeing the movie when it first came out and holding my breath as I watched John fall in love with Julia. I recall the same conflicting feelings when I read this book. Part of me wanted John to be happy with Julia. I truly felt for the guy. Part of me also cared deeply about his commitment to his wife.

The author did a fabulous job taking a difficult situation and covering it with flesh. The emotion and the loneliness were real as was the temptation both John and Julia experienced. Many people would justify John and Julia's relationship outside of marriage--especially for John. I hurt for the man. My mother was bedridden with MS for twenty years and my father cared for her until the very end. He cherished her and remained faithful when so many men in the same situations dumped their spouses when they could no longer perform their wifely duties.

John Brighton honored his vow to cherish his wife until they parted at her death. I'm convinced it made all the difference for his enduring happiness. John could then marry Julia free from guilt and knowing he gave his wife his undivided love and attention to the very end--once he overcame the temptation to vault his flesh into a forbidden zone that he would end up regretting later.

I've never read a book that more vividly portrays the deep pain of loneliness and all of the issues that go with it. My heart swelled and my throat tightened more than once through this beautiful story. I loved it!

A Vow to Cherish was re-released in June 2006 and published by Steeple Hill.

My review of Trial by Ordeal by Craig Parshall

Trial by Ordeal was different from any book I've ever read. The author used first person past tense to describe the events that took place literally in the past...as in beyond just a few minutes ago. At first, I found the unique presentation difficult to read. But by the end, I realized the style actually worked well for the story.

The main character, Kevin, gets himself in one mess after another. Things just keep getting worse the harder he tries to fix his problems himself. The tension from protagonists was excellent. The fact that bad things kept happening to Kevin kept me reading. I would've like to have seen more dialogue, but maybe that was difficult because of the style the author used to present the story to the reader.

Overall, I'd say the story was a pleasurable ride for me. I really liked Kevin by story's end. How the author showed Kevin's messed up life and the changes that slowly took place when he give his heart to the Lord--how Christ can truly make a difference in a person's life--was probably my favorite part of the story. The spiritual arc was awesome. :)

Trial by Ordeal was published by Harvest House and released in May 2006.

An annoying but true statement...

It's so beautiful in Arizona where I live that I haven't needed to turn on the heater even once this fall. I hear it's going to continue to be gorgeous for at leat the rest of the week. For all of you unfortunates who are freezing your tails off today, check my weather pixie at the bottom left corner of this blog. It tells you the temperature at any given time throughout the day. I should confess, I'm gloating. But I had to say something because I'm so glad the Lord prompted me to leave frigid NY to move here back in 1991.

Siri Mitchell's Cubicle Next Door is featured on CFBA this week...

I love this story and the author as well. I posted a review on Amazon, CBD, ACFW book review section, Barnes & Noble, and even the ACFW Afictionado newsletter's September debut edition because I loved the story so much. Check it out!



Buy it now on Amazon.com!

The Cubicle Next Door

Go to the author's website...

Siri Mitchell


Now here is a similar copy of my review to top that all off!

Jackie Harrison is an ultra-conservative-environmentalist-geek, a civilian employee of the military, and blogger on the sly. She is one quirky lady and her ordered world is flawless until an attractive, single, Lieutenant Colonel invades her personal space—-literally. A cubicle wall is all that divides their offices, hence the title of Jackie’s anonymous blog. Jackie uses her TCND blog to express her private thoughts without fear of discovery—until her posts appear on television. Dedicated to pulling Jackie from her comfort zone, Lt. Col. “Joe” Gallagher discovers his officemate’s unresolved issues. Abandonment caused Jackie to insulate her feelings to avoid pain. Undeterred, Joe stirs her heart until she can’t see straight, and when the proverbial calm follows the storm, Jackie has some tough choices to make. Cubicle is an enchanting tale and the characterization is flawless. Jackie’s hang-up about straw usage is hilarious. Joe’s dimpled charm makes him endearing. The setting grabbed me. I experienced Manitou’s unique traditions, it’s frigid weather, and the Air Force “culture.” The ending was to-die-for-perfect, and had me smiling and zipping through the TCND blog posts one more time. A joyride I’ll not soon forget, Cubicle explores an important question: What if God has more planned for your life than you do? Siri Mitchell is one of my favorite authors because she knows how to bring characters to life on the page!

My review of Relentless by Robin Parrish

Relentless is almost ridiculously addicting. I obsessed over it until I read the last page. Then I found out there will be two more books AND they are coming out in 2007 and 2008. Sheesh, I almost wish I had waited to read it now. I'm not one for delayed gratification (being American, and all that.) However, I do love a book I can burn through in very little time because it keeps my attention. I despise a boring story. The characters in Relentless were beat up and nearly pummeled to death so often that it was almost funny (in a twisted way), and like a soap opera, some of the characters refused to die or came back though you thought they were dead. GAH! I'd say that the violence was one of the things that made the story so vivid, yet it was a bit much for me in regards to description. I can still envision some of the stuff in the story and it ain't purty. It reminds me of a chop-chop flick with the near constant fighting, but at least there was a purpose for it in Relentless. Almost everyone wanted someone else dead. Sometimes the bad guys were actually the good guys and sometimes the good guys did bad things. All around it was a five for entertainment value except for the gore, which tempts me to rate it lower, however, in all fairness it was still riveting. Great plot, wacko scenes, cliff hanger moments, and even some heart tugging emotion are packed into this story. I'm thinking that Parrish and Dekker must be friends because they think alike in regards to depth and intrigue.

Relentless is published by Bethany House and was released in June 2006.

Call me crazy but...

I started missing the relentless tension in that crazy Relentless story by Robin Parrish, so I picked up my copy of Trial by Ordeal by Craig Parshall (since it was the next closest thing and I left Relentless at the office so I wouldn't read it obsessively) and now I'm going gaga for the poor hero's troubles in Craig Parshall's story. That guy is in a real sticky-wicket and I'm totally wondering how he's going to get out with his skin still attached. :)

My review of Anna's Journey by Nancy Toback

From the back cover:

Anna McCort always wanted to serve the Lord in a third-world orphanage, but she ignored His leading to focus on romance. When her ex-boyfriend threatens violence, the emotionally devastated Anna knows she made the right decision to break up with him. This time around, she won't let anything--or anyone--deter her from her God-given mission. Then, a very handsome stranger from church takes notice of Anna. Can she trust herself to do what's right?

Daniel Boccini never had to work hard for a woman's attention--until he met Anna. No matter how hard he tries, he finds he has to manipulate the situation just to be with her. At least he doesn't have to worry that she will ever want him just for his money. If only he could figure out why she keeps him at arms' length... Will Daniel ever be able to give lower priority to his worldly possessions? Can Anna catch a glimpse of just how much the Lord loves her and wants her to be happy?

My review:

Up until I read Anna's Journey, my favorite Heartsong title had always been Love Online (also authored by Nancy Toback) because she has a fabulous gift for drawing the reader in. Many times I find category romances boring, but this story had incredible pull and I devoured it. I loved the believable conflict, the feelings of longing, the tension with the violent ex, the honorable qualities of the hero (and his foreign accent), the innocence of the heroine and her struggle to trust, the character growth, etc. Even the secondary characters like Jane had depth. Nothing cardboard in this story. Just about everything in Anna's Journey plucked my heartstrings. Especially the epilogue. I actually cried real tears of joy. That's a rarity for me. I loved the "edgy" content, especially for a Heartsong, and the kisses were delectable. If Heartsong Presents continues to print novels of this quality I may just have to join their club!

A few thoughts on what I'm reading...

I forced myself to leave Robin Parrish's Relentless at my office over the weekend because I worried if I didn't do that I'd read the sucker this weekend and not get any writing done. That book is psycho, but a page turner. I've never read anything as unpredictable in my life. I like the fact that everything is insane, though sometimes it's almost too much. Anyhoo...I'm halfway done with Anna's Journey by Nancy Toback, which is a fabulous Heartsong and so edgy for one of their stories that I can't help but be impressed. Wonderful story and tension. Go Heartsong!!! Anyway, one last thing. I'm at about the same place with the other books I was already reading, but I did pull out Scoop by Renee Gutteridge because I received it in the mail this week and when I saw it was going to be featured on the blog alliance the week of the 15th, I decided I wanted to make sure I read it first. :) Now I'm off to add word count to a novella (that used to be 80K) to make it fit the specs as a full novel again (since a full was requested.) Is that cool, or what?

About Relentless by Robin Parrish...

My son was right. The story is addicting. I have to force myself to not read it continually at the expense of everything else (like work.) It reminds me of Schwarzenegger in The Sixth Day with a bit of Logan's Run and The Terminator in the mix. It's definitely a dude kind of story. But the author is a master at making you want to keep reading. I'm a tad over half done and things are starting to pull together. One thing I must add, however, is some of the images are graphic and brutal so it's not for the weak stomach, that's for sure. The violence is very descriptive and I found myself cringing several times. Gross and realistic beatings, the works. :) It's definitely an alpha male's type of novel. Hehehehehe.