Thursday, June 11, 2009

Unsigned Hype

Revell Publishing Group has released Booker T. Mattison 2009 novel UNSIGNED HYPE, a young teen book. Tory Tyson, who is called Terror Tory in the book is an gifted music maker. Mixmaster Magic hosts a contest and spots Tory's talent. Taking Tory into an environment his Christian mother would prefer he not go. She finds a mentor for her son who adds lots of understanding, wisdom and a male role model, which expands Tory's ambitions into areas more fitting to the youth, and elevates his life beyond just the fame and wealth he acquires by his own mixes.

It offers alot of simple sense and Christian values for the youthful reader. It also gave me a look at a type of music I know little about, a definite bonus for the book. Easy read.

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Monday, May 18, 2009

TUCK, by Stephen R. Lawhead
TUCK is Book 3, the conclusion to the King Raven Trilogy. The first two in the series being HOOD and SCARLET.
Book 3, teaches you how history is changed with the telling and how legends grow up around events changing places and people's names. He leaves us with a new way of seeing and interpreting history. As a storyteller, it will add dimensions to your tales rooted in folklorn. A glimpse of adapting every story you tell to your present audience. Enjoy.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595540873
Stephen R. Lawhead’s Web site - http://www.stephenlawhead.com/
Check out other reviews on TUCK, by Stephen R. Lawhead.
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Alex Field
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Terri Main
Margaret
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Caleb Newell
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Epic Rat
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson

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Friday, May 01, 2009

A Passion Denied, by Julie Lessman
Book Three of The Daughters of Boston series. Book One is the story of Faith and the hurt from the loss of the man she loves by her sister, until she wins out in the end. Book Two is the story of Charity, the second sister, and her struggles with her honesty and her natural flirtation and her role in God's plan for her. Book Three is a book staring the the third sister, Elizabeth, who is coming of age in this story, and the heart-ache caused by falling in love with her mentor, and he stills see her as a child.

The two older sister's help the younger in her plot to win the heart of John Brady. One prays and the other schemes. The book also plays out the early days of the two sisters marriages and the pleasures and happiness in their marriages. Charity pregnant, and Faith still barren after three years of marriage.

The love interest, John Brady, fears his past. His self-doubts stop him from allowing his passions to lead him to love. He does not trust his own deep desires.

Revell sypnosis of the book is as follows: Has she fallen in love with a man who cannot love her back?

Elizabeth O'Connor has been like the little sister John Brady always wanted, sharing his love of literature and his thirst for God. But in the throes of the reckless Roaring Twenties, Lizzie has grown up. Suddenly she wants more from the man who has been her friend since she was a child. When this shy little bookworm blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving John, she discovers that his past won't let him return that love. But Lizzie refuses to give up--until his shocking secrets push her away.

Can true love survive the betrayal and deceitful of a painful past . . . or will it be shattered like the fairy-tale dreams of a girl in love?

Brimming with romance, longing, and redemption, A Passion Denied, will quicken your pulse and gladden your heart with a riveting story of the true power of love.

The book explores the hurt that can surface even after a marriage of many years when there is betrayal before the marriage. It also shows how those we look up to can fall into sin from unexpected hurt, and we too, are victims in a close knit family when one member isn't living the love and faith of God.

The main character tries to stay true to her first love John Brady. Even when he fails to return her open and honest love. He holds his past close and does not tell anyone, until he seek healing and talks to his priest. Healing begins, when circumstances throws him back into the throes of despairs, and he run away to become a priest himself. Elizabeth almost marries his twin on the rebound.

The book introduces us to the third daughter, Katie. This is a fun but not too serious addition to the book. One scene with her first boy interest, Cluny, buying her life savers turns into a truly memorable moment when he demands she say something nice to him for more life savers, and says he will do the same back. Then reneges. She response by kicking Cluny and is seen by her father. Her father starts to scold but then realizes in Cluny calm response that more is going.

The two brothers take a back seat to the story. They are mentioned but are flat characters in this book. The older brother, Sean, was part of previous storyline and it was mentioned, but not followed. This was disappointing.

The book had twist and turns which kept you reading. The book looks at the same situation from characters view, then you see the same from another, when you care about the feelings and thoughts of the people involved, it helps you understand motivation, and gives you the feel of a more old fashion novel, which is a plus in the day of the quick and forgotten books.

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

April CSFF Blog Tour for George Bryan Polivka’s Blaggard’s Moon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0736925376
Author's website: http://www.nearingvast.com/
See other reviews:
Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Keanan Brand
Melissa Carswell
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Alex Field
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespack
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson

With pirates in the news, here is a story told by a pirate as his life balances on a post over threatening waters filled with creature to devour him. He reviews the events before being left to die, and tries to learn to think creatively. He hopes to figure out how to save himself. Not realizing the act leading to his abandonment is the act on which his life is balanced. It determines his outcome, it leads to salvation or destruction. Another great read by George Bryan Polivka.

Among his Christian credentials for writing Christian adventure, is one that caught my eye of traveling to Europe to study after Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri Fellowship is Switzerland. An adventure I wished to make when I was in college, the closest I came was to devour Schaeffer's books. I am sure the experience not only deepened Polivka heart towards God but also his understanding.

God bless the writer and each of us in our own adventures even if we go no further then in the pages of our books.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow, by The Miller Brothers.
A Christian teen novel with Hunter Brown and his two high school friends faced with who and what to believe. The book starts by their attempt to stand up to the school bullies only to find themselves locked into a garbage dumpster. Their rescurer sends has them pick up a book for him at a local bookstore. Only to find latter he has disappeared and the bookstore has vanished too.

Hunter has a conversion type experience at the end of the book, faced with deciding to whom he owes his allegiance. The book is geared mostly to the male teen. Yet there is a group of three pre-teen who play supporting roles to Hunter, I would like to hear more of these three in relationship to Hunter for I found them a strong, supporing force.

Read and enjoy, then pass it on to your teen or pre-teen.

A book that is more like a travel through a new world, then just a plot and resolve the plot book. It leads you into a fantasy world and now, that you are established there and you have decided where to place your trust, you are ready to fight and defend the truth.

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Monday, March 16, 2009

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1593173288
Miller Brothers’ Web site - http://www.codebearers.com/
Miller Brothers’ blog - http://themillerbrothers.blogspot.com/

Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Magma
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Wade Ogletree
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson

The Miller Brothers, who wrote Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow are also animators. Thus take special note of the cover art. They are the founders of the Lumination Studios.

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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Featured book, Cyndere’s Midnight - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400072530
Jeffrey Overstreet’s Web site - http://lookingcloser.org/
Jeffrey Overstreet’s blog - http://lookingcloser.org/category/journal/
Jeffrey Overstreet at Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeffrey-Overstreet/42902959
See the reviews for Jeffrey Overstreet’s Cyndere’s Midnight at the following blogs:
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Magma
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
Wade Ogletree
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Alice M. Roelke
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Jill Williamson

Happy Reading!

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