"Through the Fire" by Shawn Grady

This is the debut novel from veteran fireman Shawn Grady, and it appears that the man has a talent for weaving an engaging story. The story centers around a fireman named Aidan who is still reeling from the accidental death of his father (who was also a fireman). As the book unfolds, Aidan passionately searches for answers regarding his father's death. He is so passionate, in fact, that it costs him his bride-to-be. With some help, Aidan begins to unravel the mystery around his father's death - while daily risking his own life. 

The story is solid and well-written. Shawn Grady also does a great job of letting an outsider like me peek into the daily life of those heroes who save lives every day. The details are not overwhelming - just enough to educate me on the ways of the firefighter. There is a back-story of Aidan's distance from the faith of his father, but I felt like it was a token nod to the target audience (mainly Christians). In fact, all of the scenes in the book that dealt with salvation or Christianity were EXTREMELY vague. So much so that the power of the Gospel is weakened to a degree. There is a difference between avoiding "preachiness" and muddying the water so much that it is no longer clear. I fear the author made the water just a tad too murky. In fact, the scenes of the character getting drunk were more clearly articulated than any of the Christian elements.

One other criticism that I have is the choice of adjectives and nouns used. I'm not talking about swear words. I'm talking about words I've never heard before. I like to think that I have a fairly decent vocabulary - but there were probably two dozen words in the book (maybe more) that were so uncommon that I had to break out the dictionary. This is not a bad thing, per se. Books SHOULD be educational! But it got wearisome. One could picture the author sitting at his writing desk with a fat thesaurus in hand, fervently flipping through the pages to locate the ideal word to use. Sometimes people just want to be moved by the story, not flabbergasted by the words.

All in all, I look forward to reading the next two books by Shawn Grady. I give "Through the Fire" 4 out of 5 stars.

Update on Book Reviews

I thought I would give you an idea of the books that I am planning on reviewing soon:

Recently finished reading, but not yet reviewed:
1. Passages Book 3: Annison's Risk - by Paul McCusker
2. Passages Book 4: Glennall's Betrayal - by Paul McCusker
3. The Man Who Was Thursday - by G. K. Chesterton
4. The Chronicles of Narnia (entire series) - by C. S. Lewis
5. The Knight - by Steven James

Have not yet finished reading (yes, I typically read about 5 books at a time):
1. Enemies Among Us - by Bob Hamer
2. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy - by Eric Metaxas
3. Unveiling the End Times in Our Time - by Adrian Rogers
4. Worship Matters - by Bob Kauflin

Will start reading soon:
1. The Bishop - by Steven James
2. Dreamhouse Kings Book 4: Timescape - by Robert Liparulo
3. Inside Threat - by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn
4. Going Deep - by Gordon MacDonald
5. Book of Days - by James Rubart

"Bright Empires Book 1: The Skin Map" by Stephen Lawhead

The writing of Stephen Lawhead has always impressed me. He is a true master of the craft. He has the rare gift of being able to approach familiar subjects (like time travel and parallel dimensions) and to introduce them in new and engaging ways. And, I must say, that this story is very engaging.
The summary of the plot doesn't quite do it justice: two modern-day people are magically transported to a different world, where they must race against the evil men to get the ultimate prize. That is the gist of the story, but there is SO much more to it!
Mister Lawhead is able to lead you along, following several different characters - and only give you enough information to know their stories are crucially connected, but never enough information to have you guess the outcome. That is the mark of a great writer. His version of time travel possibility is one of the more complete (and clearly stated) that I've ever read, which gives the story a certain credibility. And the idea of the map being made of human skin is certainly realistic (as it has been done by real people), but wonderfully creative nonetheless.
There were a few times where the story focused on one person for so long that, when the next chapter re-visited another character, it took me a moment to remember what was going on the last time I read about them - but this is not a criticism of the writing as much as it is a criticism of my memory! Other than that, I can think of no negative comments to make of this book. The characters are believable, the emotions are tangible, and the mystery is tantalizing. In short, I can hardly wait to read the second story in the series!
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers as part of the Booksneeze bloggers' program. I was not required to write a positive review.

"Swope's Ridge" by Ace Collins

The second book in the "Lije Evans Mysteries" series picks up easily where the last book left off. However, Ace Collins masterfully introduced a secondary plotline in such a way that you could read this book as a stand-alone novel. The talent required to pull this off is extraordinary!
Only a few minor items were negative to me. The first of which is the sheer complexity of the plot. I like twists and stories that bring it all together at the end, but I couldn't keep up with all the facts. (The characters in the novel could, though... and it kinda bothered me that they could but I couldn't....)
The next negative issue revolved around the fact that the protagonists too easily stumbled across necessary information at exactly the right time. Everything was WAY too neat and tidy. It was like one guy would say, "Hey, we need to find out if so-and-so ever had a condo in Miami." Then guy #2 would be like, "Let me check. (whips out cell phone for a brief conversation) Yep, between March and June of 1998."  Not all info was gathered so easily, however.
On a positive note, this book was a little more overtly Christian in content than the last one. And there was one pretty good twist at the end, even though you could see it coming for a little while. Many scenarios in the book were just too far-fetched, though. I'm fairly forgiving, but don't abuse my leniency.
I'd give this book an enjoyable 3.5 out of 5 stars.

"Strike the Dragon" by Charles Dyer and Mark Tobey

I hate to say this, but usually books are put on the "bargain buy" shelf for a reason. If you pay a buck for a brand new book in a bookstore, then don't expect it to be the best book you've ever read. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised though. This book falls somewhere in between. It was a decent (if unoriginal) concept, but the execution was lacking a little bit.... Let me start with the negatives so we can end on a good note.
There were typos scattered throughout, but I can forgive that. Really, my two biggest issues were these:
1) The authors frequently felt the need to describe in very minute detail things that had absolutely no bearing on the plot of the book. It got a little annoying as the book went on. Explanatory comments were inserted at times when they were not necessary at all.
2) Everyone talked like Christians. The cops, the CIA, the Mossad agents, the Muslim terrorists - all of them phrased things in ways that you only hear at church. Now, if you've read any of my other reviews, you know I appreciate CLEAN dialogue. I have little tolerance for Christian authors using curse words. But I mean, there were hardly any contractions used in the dialogue, no slang, no normal street language. (It's hard to explain, but just read about 25 pages from the middle of the book and you'll see what I'm talking about). And the CIA, Mossad, and Chicago Police apparently love to refer to terrorists as "bad guys" over their communication lines with each other. This made the dialogue unrealistic. In fact, more than once I almost gave up on reading the book at all.
Now for the good points. It was truly a Christian novel. In fact one character trusts Christ at the end of the book! The authors used a few opportunities to work in some apologetics, and I appreciated that (even though some would see that as a negative). The book also had some good action near the beginning and some more near the end (however, I feel the authors missed out on some GREAT opportunities for nail-biting suspense). In all, the story was weaved together fairly well.
I would give the book a 3 out of 5.

"Rooms" by James L. Rubart

This book was 100 times more than what I had hoped for. It is the exact kind of Christian Fiction novel I have been waiting for since Frank Peretti's "The Visitation." Rubart writes for more than just thrills; he writes to make a point and to help us grow as Christians.
There are too many lessons to be learned from this book than I could list here, but here's a short sample: the power of prayer, the lure of materialism, the deceit of our own heart, forgiveness, making the right choices, Godly friendship, true joy, and the amazing gift of salvation.
The story centers around a young software tycoon who inherits a house on the beach from his great uncle. But all is not what it seems....
This book impacted me so tremendously, I'm not even going to try to describe it or critique it. (Sure there were probably a few things I could pick out if I wanted to super-critical, but I refuse to focus on the minor negatives)
GO BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. You need it. I know I sure did. I made an earlier reference to "The Visitation" by Frank Peretti. That book influenced my life so profoundly I read it over a dozen times.
I have no doubt that I will be reading "Rooms" again.
10 out of 5 stars!

"Dreamhouse Kings Book 3: Gatekeepers" by Robert Liparulo

Well, I am halfway through the series, and it has (so far) been getting better and better. In fact, there were more overt Christian references in book 3 than either of the other two. The villains have gotten creepier. The house has gotten a little more active. And the King family is getting some unexpected help.
This book marks the first time the family makes progress. I won't tell you what it is, that would be cheating! They are starting to figure out a lot more about the doors and the house in general.
Xander and Dad reconcile a bit more in this book. The kids have made quite a habit out of lying to their dad, using the justification that he had been lying to them about the house. Let's hope the young readers don't miss the point: it is NEVER right to lie.
These books are the perfect length for young readers. Any longer and you run the risk of losing interest. Any shorter, and you would wonder why he had to take 6 books to tell the story instead of just making a trilogy out of it.
So far, I've had no luck in finding books #4  and #5 at my bargain bookstore. I can get it for full price at Lifeway Christian (and I might wind up doing that), but I was hoping to find it for a little cheaper. Not because the books aren't worth the price, but because I'm broke!
Still 5 out of 5 stars!

"Nick of Time" by Tim Downs

I've read all of Tim Downs' novels, and I must say this one was BY FAR the best! Nick Polchak is a great character, and all of the books are fascinating. Tim Downs has a great skill at mixing the drama of the situation with the realistic emotions of the characters.
In this book, Nick is about to get married to Alena Savard (who is also an amazing character that was introduced in a previous book). He decides to take a short trip to meet an old friend - but instead finds out the friend is missing. Nick smells murder, and the chase is on! In the meantime, Nick is being chased as well - by Alena!
It is probably no secret to long time fans that Tim Downs also has written books on marriage, and he also speaks at FamilyLife events. His experience in this area gives him the opportunity to tackle problems encountered in the marriage relationship - but in a very subtle way. To me, Nick became much more "human" in this book, and I loved it! Tim Downs has done nothing but improve Nick Polchak from the first novel, and he takes a giant leap in this book.
I can think of nothing negative about this book. The plot was complex and the twist at the end is amazing (and hilarious). In addition, the very last page presents an excellent "to-be-continued" ending.
If you are a long time fan of the Bug Man, you will be amazed. And if you are new to Tim Downs and his Bug Man, prepare yourself to buy a half-dozen other books by this great author!
I give it a HUGE 5 out of 5 stars!

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers as part of their BookSneeze bloggers’ review program. I was not required to write a positive review.

"Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo (with Lynn Vincent)

My approach to books of this type is ALWAYS: "I'm-skeptical-so-convince-me." It is much easier to hide behind our own assumptions that way. Sometimes, my assumptions are questioned by such a story. (See my review of "23 Minutes in Hell" by Bill Wiese)
This book was very intriguing... But I'm still not sure I'm convinced. In no way am I passing judgment on the family, or calling Todd Burpo a liar. I assure you, that is not my intention.
The basic facts are these: The Burpo's four year old son Colton is taken to the hospital for emergency surgery due to a severe case of appendicitis. The boy comes very close to dying (in fact, the medical staff seemed sure that he would). Colton makes a dramatic and miraculous recovery. As time goes on, Colton begins to make statements to the effect that he had been in Heaven with Jesus for a short time during the surgery. Amazingly, he has knowledge of some facts that should not have been known to him - including the fact that his parents had lost a baby before Colton was born (he meets her in Heaven).
The story is very uplifting in many ways. There is the honest confession by the father that he had been angry at God. There is the healing that takes place concerning the miscarriage. There is the miracle story of Colton's recovery. It is all very encouraging.
But the real issue is whether or not Colton really took a temporary trip to Heaven. My own observations are an attempt at a balance. Again, I do not mean to imply that anyone is lying. The father repeatedly states that "Colton couldn't have known" some of the things the Bible says about Heaven, such as where Jesus was in relation to God's throne, and what the colors were like. Or the fact that there were animals in heaven. But, being the son of a pastor, even a four year old could learn much about Heaven. I wasn't a pastor's son, but I'm sure I could have told you there were horses in heaven, and that the colors were beautiful. It is just a little difficult for me to believe that a boy could go to Sunday School for any length of time, and no teacher ever said, "Heaven is a wonderful place! There will be animals there! And the colors will be much prettier than they are here!" After all, when evangelizing young children, there are two common tactics: 1) scare them with Hell, and 2) make them think Heaven is so wonderful they want to go there. (I'm not mocking anyone - I was the product of tactic #1!!!! I got saved at 4 years old because of a scary video about Hell)
Now the other information, like seeing his great-grandfather and recognizing his picture, and meeting his sister.... I have no skeptical explanation for. So, I have to assume that it is at least true that the boy said these things (whether or not he was actually there and saw them). That is the real kink in my skepticism. The other kink involves the boy's attempt at identifying a close description of Jesus based on contemporary illustrations of Him. I have no reason to think that God would PREVENT us from knowing what Jesus looked like, but then again there are PAINFULLY few descriptions about Jesus from while He was on earth. The only two I can think of are His beard, and the scars from His crucifixion. (And no, I don't believe Jesus had long hair!)
All I can say is, I'm not sure.... For some reason, my gut instinct is that all is not as it appears. But I would never call the character of this man or his family into question without reasonable proof, which I do not have.
Either way, it is a fascinating book. My only lament is that people seem more excited about the issue of Heaven through this book than they do about all the many wonderful descriptions of Heaven given in the Holy Bible.....

"Dreamhouse Kings Series Book 2: Watcher in the Woods" by Robert Liparulo

If the house weren't creepy enough..... Now, the King family must deal with several new problems - problems like strange people watching their house at night, the threat of losing their home, and the first day of school! Will they be able to find their mom? Can they bring her back from the worlds beyond the portals? Can they figure out how the portals work? And who is the man who wants to take their house?
These questions are asked but not answered in this book.
It is not easy to write a series of books that is multiple volumes long and retain interest and curiosity throughout the middle parts. Usually the first and last books are most interesting, because they contain the introduction and the resolution of the story. In Book #2 of this series, author Robert Liparulo does a superb job of carrying on the story, introducing new information, and enticing us to reach for Book #3.
While Book #1 seemed to focus more on Xander, the eldest King child, this book gives a better glimpse at the character of David, second child and youngest boy. He wrestles with the choice between submitting to Dad's cautious plan of action (or INaction) or secretly joining Xander on forbidden and dangerous schemes of their own. There is also a sinister new villain with a mysterious history....
In all, the book did an admirable job of delivering more of what Book #1 great, while leaving just enough to be desired so that I'll finish the series. I'm a little ashamed to think of these books as JUVENILE fiction! They are just as good (although a good deal shorter) than much "adult" fiction I've read. I read this book easily in three days, at a slow pace. So, it will not be difficult to finish the series of six books.
I give this book five out of five stars!

"Farraday Road" by Ace Collins

A man with the name "Ace" should surely be able to write a decent thriller novel, right? Right! "Farraday Road" is the story of an attorney named Elijah Evans (shortened to "Lije" almost every time in the book....which actually drove me crazy after a while) whose wife was murdered on a rainy night. After the murder, it appears that the real target was Elijah, since several more attempts on his life are made. But who is after him, and why?
One of the best things about this book is the ending. It is truly a continuing story! Most books of series that I've read are written in a way that any book in the series can be read alone and still enjoyed. THIS book, however, ends with a true cliffhanger! Right in the middle of an intense scene, the book just ends with "To be continued...."  I love it! If the book had resolved in some way, I may not have been interested in picking up book #2, but now I have to find out what happens.
It is a very original story with some interesting twists, but there are a few negative issues. The characters are a bit wooden to me.... Their dialogue and actions are just a little stiff. I mean, some of the lines spoken in the book are phrased in ways that no one that I've ever met would actually phrase them. They work on paper, but you can't imagine anyone actually SAYING those lines.
There is one or two unnecessary expletives thrown in, which boggles my mind. My only question is, "why?" If you cuss in a book, and do it consistently, then I have the feeling that you talk that way and have no problem with it. If you don't cuss at all, I appreciate it and feel like you have a conviction about it (as I do - because I don't swear). But to use like 2 cuss words? It's almost like your publisher said, "Hey, man, throw some hard language in there to make it realistic!"... and you fight your hesitation and sprinkle a few in there to please someone. *Sigh*
The biggest problem with the book (in my mind) is a GLARING error. It's hard to explain without spoiling something, so let me just try it this way:
1. Characters A and B think character C might be a bad guy, so they hide their work from C.
2. Characters A and B get in a car wreck (a little more complicated than just a wreck, but I'm trying not to spoil anything)
3. Character C also gets in a car wreck. (all three survive)
4. Characters A and B go to see character C after C's wreck.
5. Characters A and B wonder how character C knew about THEIR wreck.........
But THE BOOK NEVER TELLS US THAT CHARACTER C DID KNOW ABOUT IT!!!!!
Nothing is said that implies character C knew about their accident. Suddenly, character A just wonders, "How did _________  know about our accident?"  This is unforgivable to me..... It bothered me SO MUCH! I don't know if it was just a mistake in the edition that I own.... Anyway, I got over it. But it still bothers me.

All in all, it is a mediocre book with mediocre characters, but the innumerable twists in the story make it interesting. I'd give it a three out of five stars.

"Homeland Insecurity" by Richard & Evangeline Abanes

Shaken. I was shaken after reading this book. I enjoy fiction novels involving terrorism, because I like to see the good guys winning. It helps me deal with my emotions regarding 9/11. But this book didn't HELP me with any emotions.... It created some new ones.
I had never really heard much about (or thought much about) white supremist groups in America. I knew they existed. I knew about the KKK, but I had no idea who they are and what they believe. The terrorists in this book are MUCH more frightening to me than the Islamists in Joel Rosenberg's books, mainly because I don't know any Muslims personally. I have no knowledge to compare them to. But as I met the characters in this book, I realized that I MIGHT know some people like this... People I grew up around, people I went to church with, people I went to school with. My neighbors. My friends. Is it possible? I suppose it is possible, and it scares me to death. I pray to God that none of my relatives, friends, or acquaintances have any beliefs that mirror the terrorists in this book - although racism is at least faintly present in some of the people I know. And to me, racism is one step toward the horrors of these terrorists. GOD CREATED ALL MEN OF ONE BLOOD, the Bible says! (Acts 17:24-27)  We are all humans, and we are all sinners, and we all need to be saved. We don't all need to be white. God offers salvation to WHOSOEVER will believe on Christ. This is the plain teaching of Scripture. Racism is an affront to the redemptive nature of God.
Now, for some plain facts. This book was not the greatest or best-written novel I have ever read. However, it was a good story, and very captivating. The ending was (in my opinion) a little obvious. But I still enjoyed it. ***NOTE: There are quotes by white supremists and terrorists in this book that contain racial and disturbing language. Please be advised before reading.
I am glad Richard and Evangeline Abanes had the guts to write this book. It was something that I needed to hear. So, from a pure thrilling-story fiction-loving side, this book is five out of five stars. But be warned: you cannot un-read what you have read. It may change the way you think.....

"Faces in the Fire" by T. L. Hines

So, I'm taking back some of the bad things I thought about T. L. Hines after reading "The Unseen." If you are going to read his books, don't read "The Unseen" first, because it will bore you compared to this one and "Waking Lazarus."
This book is a masterpiece - a MASTERPIECE - of creative writing. The book is structured around the lives of four people who have (seemingly) no connection to each other. But at some point, their paths cross each other. Each person has an experience with a traumatic fire, and a catfish, and a long number. (I know it sounds weird....and in reality, the book IS pretty weird). The way the author weaves these four tales together is a work of genius, plain and simple.
Back to what I just said: the book is weird. The whole reason I quite reading it the first time I tried is because the first part of the story involves a guy who can hear ghosts talking through dead people's clothes. When I picked the book back up and pressed on, I found a lot more weirdness. The book is not a work of Christian fiction, in my opinion, so I haven't labeled it as such. But there is a LOT of the supernatural in it. Just not the Christian kind. In fact, if you can't handle books that deal frankly with murder, drug abuse, and other such harsh realities, don't read it.
Still, the book was fantastic. It was not tremendously thrilling - in fact it had a fairly leisurely pace. But the characters were so HUMAN. I felt as if they were real people (with made-up experiences, of course). A nice touch in the structure of the book was the fact that each chapter started with a number, but the numbers weren't progressive. They followed the chronology of the story. So when a character is in the present in chapter 25 and then she starts thinking about her past, the "flash-back" chapter will be chapter 18, not chapter 26.
The ending was very somber to me. It was a great ending, and it really brought the whole work together splendidly. But the subject matter just put me in a reflective mode.
If it weren't for the "weirdness," this book would definitely surpass "Waking Lazarus" as my favorite by this author. Still, the book is marvelous, and deserves a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

"Curiosities of the Civil War" by Webb Garrison

This is the first book on the Civil War that I have ever read, and I must say that I was quite astounded by its scope. There are facts and topics covered that I would never have even begun to think about concerning this war - things like hostages and pirates, improvements in weaponry with inventions such as land mines and grenades, how (and if) soldiers got paid, spies and deserters, US Supreme Court cases involving the conflict, and the list goes on and on.
This is not a read-through volume. It is more of a topical reference or casual trivia book (like a bathroom reader). Each factoid is explained in a few sentences or a few short paragraphs; very few nuggets of information took up even one printed page. This is a positive aspect, in my opinion, because I was not forced to read an entire chapter about a certain time period or battle or person - just snippets grouped loosely under broad categories.
There were a few negatives to me. For one, towards the end of the book there were a few typographical errors. In the most extreme case, "n" was all that survived of the intended preposition "in." Considering this is a reprint, a new edition, typos like these are inexcusable. Did no one proofread the reprint?
Other than that, the biggest negative was repetition. Due to the size and scope of the work, it unfortunately delivers many re-tellings of the same battles and situations, although from different perspectives concerning different subjects. So, reading the book straight through (as I did in a few days) is not recommended. Read it in spurts, a chapter or so at a time over a long period. You will appreciate it more that way.
In all, it is an excellent book that was very insightful for me!
I received this book from the publisher as part of the BookSneeze bloggers' review program. I was not required to give a positive review, and the opinions stated are my own.

"Waking Lazarus" by T.L. Hines

I am really astounded.....   My first experience with T. L. Hines was "The Unseen," and I pretty much had to sludge through it, forcing myself to turn page after page. My second experience was "Faces in the Fire," which fell outside my tastes, so I stopped reading after about 50 pages. This book was a complete shocker! The characters were believable (some frighteningly so), the pacing was masterful, the storyline was just sensational enough to be enthralling and not ridiculous, and the ending was emotional.  OK, I didn't actually cry, but it was definitely heart-warming. And this is Hines' first novel???????  Sorry if I sound incredulous. Maybe I should re-try "Faces in the Fire" and see if I'm missing something.... Hines writes in "Waking Lazarus"  with the elegance of a master craftsman. He uses words and phrases like a magician uses handkerchiefs and cards. (Not to mention, one of my old slang phrases, "No big whoop," made an appearance!)

There are some minor criticisms. The author used one choice word that I felt was unnecessary, especially for a book marketed to a Christian audience. We expect swearing in non-Christian reading, but in a Christian book? It could have been easily removed, but he chose to put it in for some reason. The second criticism relates to the lack of Biblical redemption. There is definitely redemption of relationship and purpose of the main character, but no redemption of the soul-saving kind. On the positive note, there WAS plenty of talk about God, although mostly in a bitter way from the main character's point of view.

Some of you will be skeptical, but I knew fairly early on who the bad guy would be, and I also figured out Kristina almost immediately. But it was still a breath-taking read! I would definitely give the book a 5 out of 5 rating.

"Elisha's Bones" by Don Hoesel

I really must say that this book by Don Hoesel was IMMENSELY more enjoyable than "Hunter's Moon," which surprises me because this book was written first.
In this story, we have a professor of archaeology who is hired by a billionaire to find the bones of the prophet Elisha. These bones, in Scripture, apparently brought a dead man back to life. (It really is in the Bible, so it is definitely a true story...and one that I had never really payed much attention to: see 2 Kings 13:21)
Unfortunately for our professor, there are others who have an interest in the bones....and they are willing to kill for them.
The story is very engaging, so that's all I'm going to give away.
Pros: The characters are realistic and comfortable, the exotic locations are described impeccably, the pace is well-balanced, the humor is good but not excessive, the ending is unexpected, and the story is extremely original.
Cons: Just me being picky... The author had this habit of starting sentences like this: "Too, blah blah blah." Now, I'm no scholar of English and Grammar, but it was just annoying. I don't talk like that, and I've never read any other book that utilized this sentence structure. I can see someone beginning a sentence with "also", but "too"?
The Christian elements in the story were not abundant, really. The main character is a skeptic, and the supporting female character is a supposed Christian who really doesn't seem to be one. There is a slight attempt at converting the main character at the end, when he finally cries out to God; but it was not definitive enough for me.
Some elements may be a little far-fetched, but it IS a work of fiction.
In all I'd give the book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

"The Rook" by Steven James

In the second release of the Patrick Bowers series, Steven James takes all of the plot devices that made "The Pawn" excellent and turns them up a notch. There are innumerable plot twists in this story, and each page just begs you to keep on reading without stopping (which is what I pretty much did ever since I started reading it two days ago...).
The author has INCREDIBLE skills when it comes to giving the reader just what they need to know, when they need to know it - and no more than that. All of the law enforcement and FBI procedures became part of the excitement instead of the dull "this-is-what-cops-do-whenever-_______________-happens". I absolutely love the way that Steven James weaves the story seamlessy between the first-person narrative of Patrick Bowers, and the third-person scenes with the other characters.
I'm not even going to try to explain the complicated plot of the book...you'll just have to read it. Now, for some level-headed pros/cons.

Pros:  In this book, Steven James introduced a clearer (but still thinly-veiled) Christian element into his writing. Tessa and Lien-hua express some conflicting spiritual ideas in one conversation, surrounding the idea of mankind being able to rise above the tendency to be evil. This concept is further explored with one character discussing the murder of Abel by Cain, and how God told Cain that sin desired to master him.
One character ponders "what if someone can lift us up?" By the end of the book, Another character decides that God (though unnamed) may be able to lift us up beyond our evil nature. Tessa also thinks back to her mother's strong Christian faith and to some conversations they had about spiritual things.
Secondly, I thought that the death scenes were a little less gruesome than the first book. Fewer people died in this book, I believe. Although I think that there is a boundary to what is appropriate when it comes to describing death and killing, in my opinion it is mostly a matter of taste. And Steven James stays well within my tastes in his writing.

Cons: Patrick does a poor job of parenting his step-daughter... She dances a fine line between rebellion and submission, but more often than not she would rather have her freedom. This topic is very broad in the book (since it was introduced in book 1), so I believe that it is just part of the ongoing story between Patrick and Tessa.
Patrick and Lien-hua share an intimate moment that I was afraid would become a little TOO intimate. But it didn't. Again, I think this relationship will be developed more as the series goes on, so we'll see....
On that note, Tessa almost gets sexually assaulted, but she gets away. The scene was not graphic, but it was intense.
I may have found one typo......the word was "files" when I am pretty sure it should have been "fires".....but maybe I'm wrong. (I'm usually not this picky....but I have to really stretch to find many cons in this book).

My conclusion is that "The Rook" was even better than "The Pawn," and I hope I will be able to say the same thing after I read "The Knight."
5 out of 5 stars!

"Passages Manuscript 2: Arin's Judgment" by Paul McCusker

"Arin's Judgment" is another fantastic book by Paul McCusker. This is the second in the "Passages" series, and I guarantee you that I will read all of them.
The story centers around a manuscript that was found by John Avery Whitaker of Odyssey. In the manuscript (which is the main portion of the book), we have the story of young Wade. He is transported from his home during the days following World War II to a different time and place.
The stories in the "Passages" series always parallel a Bible story, but with modern twists. The Biblical story re-portrayed in this book is the story of Noah and God's judgment on the sins of man in Genesis 6....only in this case, God doesn't destroy the earth with a flood, but with a.......... you didn't think I was gonna TELL you, did you? The counterpart to Noah is Arin, the books title character.
Young Wade faces some hard temptations, and we learn a great lesson about the grace of God. Even though Arin and his family are spared from God's wrath, they clearly know that they don't deserve to be spared. As Arin so eloquently points out to Wade near the end of the book, they are only spared because they trusted in the "Unseen One", their name for God.
I would caution that there are some gruesome moments of death and illness. The book is intended for 10 year olds and up. However, the story is a wonderful adventure!
Five out of five stars, with a smile!

"Breakthrough Prayer" by Jim Cymbala

I did not find this book to be exactly what I had expected. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy it; I did enjoy it thorougly. The content just did not match my expectations.
I devoured Jim Cymbala's books, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire", "Fresh Faith", and "Fresh Power". Those books are far superior to this one. This book caused me to trudge through a little bit.
Pastor Cymbala's theology is right on the money, but I felt that some of the points he made were weaker than they could have been. Some points were tremendously strong - even overpowering. That's good; it's the kind of theology we need from books and preaching these days. (Sometimes, it takes a smack upside my head to get the point across to me)
Basically, I felt that it was not a book exclusively on prayer. He had whole chapters devoted to other things, like joy. Had it been more focused, it would have made a greater impact on me.
I will say that the stories of the people Pastor Cymbala has met in his ministry is worth the price of the book. My heart is ALWAYS stirred to hear about God changing someone's life when all things seemed hopeless.
I would still give the book 3 out of 5 stars.

"Dreamhouse Kings Series Book 1: House of Dark Shadows" by Robert Liparulo

Do you know that feeling you get when you are reading a scary part in a book, and you get kinda nervous? Almost like the bad thing is going to happen to YOU instead of the characters in the story? I had that feeling a lot in this book. It is a perfectly executed tale where the sense of imminent danger almost never goes away. The moments of intense action are blended with a sense of humor that is very realistic. (After all, many of our actions or emotions or thoughts in tense situations WOULD be funny if we were merely reading them instead of experiencing them!)
The story surrounds a family of five: mom, dad, two sons, and a daughter. The depth of the characters is surprising for a moderate-length juvenile fiction. There are many complex emotions explored in the book, particularly surrounding the eldest child, Xander. In fact, the book is quite well suited for the more "mature" reader as well as the young person.
As you can tell by the title, the house is the reason for most of the suspense in the story. The King family has just moved into their new home...but it is not a normal house. This house has sounds that come from nowhere, and secret doors that can transport a person to distant lands (and times). The house also seems to be occupied by a mysterious hulking shadow of a man, who comes and goes like a ghost. I won't give away any more of the story - you'll just have to read it.
The concept of "portals" that transport people from normal places to fantastic ones may not seem to be extremely unique to some; every young boy's imagination has at one time or another wished that such a portal would be opened to him and whisk him away to great adventures. But it is precisely this emotion from my childhood that made the story so intriguing to me! (Why couldn't MY childhood home have magic portals?)
There are very few negative elements to the story. A small amount of violence takes place, along with a few bloody descriptions, but they are by no means excessive. The suspense and violence may cause some parents to hesitate, but I believe any twelve year old would be mature enough to read the story.
A few times throughout the book, the author made references to some old movies that I have never seen. I don't know anything about the movies, so I didn't understand the references. To me they may have not been necessary in the story, but they didn't really hurt anything either.
The only other observation I will make is that it is not really a story about Christians - and undoubtedly many people will criticize the author for writing a "Christian" book without anything Christian in it. Very little "Christian" terminology makes its way into the book, so don't expect to see characters praying together or preaching on street corners. My personal opinion, though, is that we don't read fiction stories and expect to get deep theological and Biblical insight out of them. We should read the Bible for spiritual illumination, not a man-made tale.
On its own merits, therefore, "House of Dark Shadows" is a wonderful book! The story is masterfully written, and I will finish reading the series as soon as I purchase the other books!

"Brothers, We are not Professionals" by John Piper

I'm very glad John Piper wrote this book. This is probably one of those ministry-related works that I will re-read often. The author tackled some issues that desperately needed a strong defense from a conservative theological standpoint.
The best way to describe the book is that it is a collection of roughly thirty short articles, each focusing on a different area. The title of each chapter is addressed to fellowservants in the ministry, like the very title of the book.
The topics covered are very broad - everything from baptism to abortion. Piper is a skillful wordsmith, and his arguments are very sound both Biblically and logically. One of my favorite chapters was "Brothers, Sever the Root of Racism." This is a passionate issue for me, and I believe that his chapter should be read from every pulpit - including my own church - at least once a year. Racism is killing our churches and reflecting poorly on the body of Christ and Christian unity.
Another great chapter was on loving our wives. So many pastors and ministers have wives who seem to sit in the shadows of the man's "ministry." Pastors, of all people, should have Christ-honoring relationships with their wives... My former and current pastors both stressed to me the importance of ministering to my wife before ministering to others, and I have tried hard to do so.
But perhaps the greatest chapter - and most convicting - was the chapter on God's glory... How could I have missed the fact that the thing God loves most of all is not people, but His own glory? This was an earth-shattering lesson for me to learn, and I was greatly convicted.
If you are a pastor or minister, you would be greatly blessed, encouraged, and challenged by this great book. It is (so far) the only book by John Piper I have read, but it will not be the last. Highly HIGHLY recommended!

"Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G. K. Chesterton" by Kevin Belmonte

G. K. Chesterton is one of my favorite authors to read. His work never ceases to stimulate the mind. How many other writers can take mundane items, habits, or points of culture and transform the way you think about them? At times, after reading one of Chesterton's wonderfully famous "paradoxes", the book falls limp into my lap while I throw my head back and offer up a laugh that is a mixture of joy at getting the profound joke and of puzzlement about how I could have let something so simple escape my notice.
However, I was terribly disappointed by this biography. It is really a biography of the [selected] WORKS of G. K. Chesterton more than of the man himself. Very few details of his life emerge outside of his literary accomplishments and their critical reception - which is discussed at great length. There was not even a clear telling of the time of Chesterton's conversion or a lengthy discussion of his family.
The author takes great pains, however, to defend Chesterton's works and skill - I felt as though the book could have been written by someone who was Chesterton's father or mother. At times, praise for G.K.C.'s literary offerings bordered on "gushing", and became very tedious to wade through.
One other negative item was the issue of block quotes. There are HUNDREDS of them, nearly two on every page. They severely disrupt the flow of the book. I appreciate the author's research and effort, but the block quotes made reading his book a chore. (Just a pet peeve: most block quotes began with an interruption. Here's an example. The quoted passage begins in normal type: "The main thing," Chesterton once wrote, [then proceed after this with the block quote]. It seems trivial, but it drove me crazy!)
This is not the book to buy if you are looking for detailed information about the MAN. But if you are interested in the impact of his works during his lifetime, you will find it interesting.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers through http://www.booksneeze.com/. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.

"Why Revival Tarries" by Leonard Ravenhill

The author of this book had the power of God behind his words. Not infrequently while reading its pages was I deeply convicted and ashamed. In fact, hardly a chapter could go by without my pondering how perfectly the words written apply to my life.
Do not make the mistake of assuming this is a work strictly about revival; it is a call to holy living and prayerfulness and preaching the truth of God's Word without fear. It is a mandate for all believers to embrace the Spirit of the Living God and to continue the mission that was started by those amazing Christians of the book of Acts.
While I must admit that a few statements and cultural references were dated, the bedrock truth remains as fresh and as needed today as it was when Christ walked the earth. Sprinkled throughout each page of the book are wonderful nuggets of inspired wisdom, worthy of remembering and telling others - and Ravenhill had a remarkable talent for phrasing things in such a way to be easily recalled later. ("Catchy phrases" we would call them; but that title does not diminish the power and truth of the statements he makes).
Leonard Ravenhill's preaching echoes the power of many of the ancient men of God whose voices are lost in time but whose words and lives still impact Christianity today. I have a feeling that this book will only GAIN influence and reach MORE people as the days go on, unlike many of the thousands of books churned out by Christian authors each year. READ THIS BOOK, and read it on your knees with the mirror of God's Word exposing your own heart; and be changed.