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Book Review: The Way of Things

15 Apr

way-of-thingsThe giants’ presence gives the townspeople a special confidence about life. But they have become much more dependent on the giants than they realize. One morning the people discover the giants have mysteriously disappeared. Fear and panic grip the town. Someone must find them and bring them back! Thomas, a young farmer, volunteers and sets out alone on a great journey of danger and discovery. Thomas learns the true nature of giants and what it means for him and his people. Join Thomas in his timeless rite of passage and learn what it means to become something more than you have been, why it is necessary in life, and how to do it.

 

Clark-Burbidge-PhotoClark Burbidge‘s path to becoming an award winning author had distant beginnings. He received an MBA degree from the University of Southern California and a BS Degree in finance from the University of Utah. His career spans 31 years in banking, project finance, investment banking and more recently as Chief Financial Officer of three separate companies.

He has been actively involved in community and church service, including lay youth and adult ministry, for over 35 years. It has been his long-term dream to write and publish several works that have been kicking around in his mind for many years. His first book, Life on the Narrow Path: A Mountain Biker’s Guide to Spiritual Growth in Troubled Times was released nationally in March 2011. His second book A Piece of Silver was published in July 2011 and is currently entering its 2nd edition. Clark enjoys life in the foothills of the Rockies with his wife, children and three grandchildren. He looks forward to this next phase of life’s wonderful adventures.

 

My Impressions:

The Way of Things by Clark Rich Burbidge is book one in the Giants in The Land series. Geared toward middle readers, the book is a medieval-feeling quest novel. The main character faces a number of obstacles he must overcome to find the answers he seeks. It is filled with physical and emotional challenges and giants!

Burbidge’s allegorical novel focuses on Thomas, a young farmer in a small village who is the only one who steps forward to try to find the giants who have left the area. The villagers have come to depend on the giants who were instrumental in building and farming and protecting. Distraught over the idea of living without giants, the village tasks Thomas with finding them and bringing them back.

While I liked the perseverance and courage exhibited by Thomas, I did not like the overall message of the book. The giants were gifted by the Worldmaker (God) with immortality. Their love of the earth and its inhabitants keep them serving selfishly. So far so good. But their message of becoming one’s own giant seems to be too much reliance on self without the message of reliance on God. Thomas learns that he can become his own giant to lead others in hope and truth. While it seems consistent with Christian values, I found the book lacking in a true spiritual foundation. While this is okay for a secular book, it is not for a book purported to be Christian.

I also received book two in the series, The Prodigals, but I will not be reading it. Others viewed this book differently. For their thoughts on The Way of Things, please click HERE.

(Thanks to PRByTheBook for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Deadly Safari

14 Apr

445891Texas Ranger Alex Markham lands an unusual assignment—protecting an ambassador’s daughter on the African savanna. No one—not even wildlife filmmaker Meghan Jordan herself—can know his true identity. The stubborn but beautiful Meghan is nothing like the bookish woman he expected…and neither is his unguarded reaction to her. For the cowboy-turned-cop, the routine babysitting assignment turns into a lifesaving mission when poachers target the unsuspecting beauty. But when Meghan learns the truth of Alex’s identity, can she forgive him before their chances for a future are destroyed forever?

 

harrislisAward-winning author Lisa Harris has been writing both fiction and nonfiction since 2000 and has twenty novels and novellas in print. She currently lives with her family in Mozambique, where they work as missionaries.

Visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at http://www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com.

 

My Impressions:

Love Inspired Suspense is a Christian imprint of Harlequin. Each month several new books are introduced featuring romance with a suspenseful twist. One of the books for March 2014 is Lisa Harris’ Deadly Safari. Featuring a hunky cowboy, an independent and somewhat stubborn documentary film maker and an exotic locale, Deadly Safari is a great read for those seeking a quick romance.

Meghan is the only daughter of an ambassador to Equatorial Guinea. An independent go-getter, she is still vulnerable when it comes to relationships. When her father receives threats against Meghan, he contacts a Texas Ranger to join her on location on a South African game reserve. But the ambassador insists that Alex’s real identity and job as protector must remain a secret. The two are immediately drawn together as they face mysterious accidents and murderous poachers.

Deadly Safari is a Christian romance with a faith message front and center. Both main characters are Christians, yet they both struggle with guilt, loss and abandonment from the past. There are definite sparks between Meghan and Alex, though they try valiantly to extinguish them. The action is fast-paced and the romance is sweet. The suspense didn’t really get going until halfway through the book, but when it did, it was non-stop. The setting was great. I appreciated the author’s descriptions of the people and places of South Africa.

Deadly Safari is a good pick for a lazy weekend escape.

Recommended.

(Thanks to the author for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: What Follows After

9 Apr

721201In October 1962, Colt Harrison and his little brother, Timmy, hatched a plan. They would run away from their Florida home, head for their aunt’s house in Savannah, Georgia, and refuse to come home until their parents got back together. But things go terribly, terribly wrong. Colt’s mother and father must come to grips with years of neglect and mistrust in order to recover their beloved sons, their love for one another, and their broken marriage.

 

 

dan-picAbout Dan Walsh (from Amazon):

I was born in Philadelphia in 1957 (guys don’t care if you know) to a mostly blue-collar, hard-working Irish family. My Dad was the first person on either side of the family to earn a college degree. It took him nine years, working during the day, going to college at night, using the GI Bill from his war days in Korea. In the mid-sixties, General Electric hired him as an engineer for the Apollo space program. We packed up and moved to Florida, which is really where I grew up.

I spent my childhood years playing basketball and surfing. In the spring of my senior year in high school I met the woman who would become my wife, Cindi. We dated for a brief period. I asked her to marry me and, to my great surprise, she said yes. We were married near the end of 1976. We have two children, now grown.

The desire to write novels first began in high school. But I didn’t have the time to pursue this passion until 2007. To find out more, visit my website at http://www.danwalshbooks.com.

 

My Impressions:

Dan Walsh has been called the Christian Nicholas Sparks. Although I am not a fan of Sparks, I can see why that comparison has been made. But in my opinion, Walsh is head and shoulders above Sparks, mostly because he writes things that are true according to God’s word. In his latest novel, What Follows After, he has created a story that combines history, suspense and family drama and kept me reading and hoping until the last page. The novel is filled with believable characters, real-life situations and a quiet faith message that is also powerful. If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks, put his novel down and go get What Follows After.

October 1962 was remarkable for the event in American history known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. But for the Harrisons of Daytona Beach, Florida it represented an important turning point for their family. Determined to stop lying about his family’s situation and bring about the reconciliation of his parents, Colt convinces his little brother, Timmy, to run away to their aunt and uncle’s home. Colt reasons that his parents will have to face up to their problems and make a change to restore their life. But what seemed like a good plan for an eleven year old, turns out to be a parent’s worse nightmare when 5 year old Timmy is kidnapped. The country is distracted by the face-off between America and the Soviets and the FBI is short-handed, so what would normally be a huge news story and police action, becomes a story on page 3 or 4.

Walsh does a good job of characterization in What Follows After. The story begins with now grown and retired, Colt, traveling back to the place Timmy was found. His childhood trauma is still very much with him and he has to deal with emotions long buried. Both grown-up Colt and eleven year old Colt are well-drawn and developed, as are the other characters, especially Colt’s father, Scott. Real emotions, attitudes and reactions are presented. And just because the story is set in 1962, don’t think what the Harrison family goes through isn’t relevant today. There is a lot of emotional and spiritual growth going on. The only negative I had with the story was the conversation Scott has with brother-in-law, Mike. Although I agree with everything Mike says, the presentation seems a bit stilted. However the story, the faith message and the great job of capturing America in the early 60s more than make up for that.

Another good book from an author that has become a favorite.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Revell for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Would You Do What They Did?

4 Apr

eab2958cba373493cea36258ea08aeeaCome, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith. Would You Do what they Did? Great Christian Leaders from our Past is a creative nonfiction collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket. It is written in plain, modern English for the average reader to enjoy.

 

 

46e545dc60960a8c0b122e.L._V354082481_SX200_William Dean Hamilton writes This Week in Christian History. He has also published two biographies about Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Junior, and over 1,000 articles, short stories and poems in magazines, literary journals and websites. Mr. Hamilton has degrees from Des Moines Area Community College and Upper Iowa University.

 

My Impressions:

Are you looking for a way to teach your children about dedication and commitment to a life in Christ? What better way than through the example of godly men of the past. Would You Do What They Did? (Great Christian Leaders from Our Past) is a great way to introduce your older elementary and middle school kids to heroes of the faith. Consisting of four biographies (Francis of Assisi, Thomas Becket, John Wesley and Martin Luther), William Dean Hamilton brings these influential men to life. Using the literary form of creative non-fiction, the author takes the reader into each man’s life and supplies notes at the end of each biography to let the reader know just what is fact and what is fiction. The biographies are realistic depictions of these men’s life and do not contain the supernatural stories often attributed to the men. Easy to read and easy to understand, the book, in the author’s words, brings truth to life and shows God’s hand in the lives of these Christian leaders. Perfect for the homeschool or for family time reading, Would You Do What They Did, can serve as a means to show your children what a faithful life in Christ really looks like.

(Thanks to BookCrash for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Maybelle in Stitches

3 Apr

752803Maybelle Kazinzki can’t sew. She was after all, the only girl in the seventh grade Home Economics class to sew the zipper in the neck hole of the A-Line dress they were supposed to make. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house she gets the crazy idea to finish it—somehow, come heck or high water. She thinks it will help fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden, is serving overseas during World War II.
Her recently departed mother’s quilt is made from scraps of material Maybelle traces back to her mother’s childhood, her grandmother’s childhood and her own childhood. She tries to add one of Holden’s stripes to it but the sewing is not going well and neither is her life. After receiving some harsh news, Maybelle’s faith falters and she puts the quilt away and stops trusting God. But God is faithful- no matter what. And it’ll take a group of neighborhood women armed with quilting needles to help Maybelle believe that.

 

 

JMagnin-225Joyce Magnin is the author of the Bright’s Pond novels, including the award-winning The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow. A member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship, Joyce is a frequent workshop leader and the organizer of the StoryCrafters fiction group. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

My Impressions:

Set during the WWII years, Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin, is a story of hope amid the uncertainty of life during war. Bound by common experiences and a need to grasp onto positive thoughts, the women of the Sun Shipyard form a sewing circle and sisterhood by making a crazy quilt of memories. If you like sweet stories from bygone days, then pick up this latest in Abingdon’s Quilts of Love series.

Maybelle is a welderette at the local shipyard, doing her part for the war effort. Her husband, Holden, is serving in Europe, and her thoughts often turn towards him. After her mother’s death, Maybelle discovers pieces of cloth that were destined for a crazy quilt. Despite not being domestically-inclined, she is persuaded by best friend Doris and two new friends from the shipyard to make a quilt that will embody the hope they have for their husbands’ safe return.

Magnin again uses her particular voice to bring to life America during WWII. With references to rationing, black outs and the catchy mottos of the time, she makes the reader feel just what life during the mid-1940s was like. I found Maybelle’s encounter with a new wringer washer and the musing of border Roger on the possibilities of canned dog food amusing and nostalgic. The story is realistic, and there are tears and losses as well as happy reunions for those in the Greatest Generation.

A quick read, Maybelle in Stitches is the perfect thing for a trip back to simpler, yet poignant, times.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Abingdon and LitFuse for my review copy. All opinions are mine alone.)

For more reviews, click HERE.

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

 

Don’t miss this month’s Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.

 

qol-maybelle-400-clickJoyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!

One winner will receive:
A $200 Modcloth gift card
Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

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Book Review: The Queen’s Handmaid

3 Apr

686840From the servant halls of Cleopatra’s Egyptian palace to the courts of Herod the Great, Lydia will serve two queens to see prophecy fulfilled.

Alexandria, Egypt 39 BC

Orphaned at birth, Lydia was raised as a servant in Cleopatra’s palace, working hard to please while keeping everyone at arm’s length. She’s been rejected and left with a broken heart too many times in her short life.
But then her dying mentor entrusts her with secret writings of the prophet Daniel and charges her to deliver this vital information to those watching for the promised King of Israel. Lydia must leave the nearest thing she’s had to a family and flee to Jerusalem. Once in the Holy City, she attaches herself to the newly appointed king, Herod the Great, as handmaid to Queen Mariamme.

Trapped among the scheming women of Herod’s political family—his sister, his wife, and their mothers—and forced to serve in the palace to protect her treasure, Lydia must deliver the scrolls before dark forces warring against the truth destroy all hope of the coming Messiah.

 

 

THigley-213Tracy L. Higley started her first novel at age eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. She has authored many novels, including Garden of Madness and So Shines the Night. Tracy is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Ancient History and has traveled through Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Italy, researching her novels and falling into adventures. See her travel journals and more at tracyhigley.com.

 

My Impressions:

Tracy L. Higley consistently writes well-research historical novels with a fictional thread that not only fits the context, but adds depth and meaning. In The Queen’s Handmaid, Higley tackles the story of the Herodian, Hasmonean and Ptolemaic dynasties during the expansion of the Roman Empire. Sound daunting? Well think about the importance of this time in history — three decades before the birth of Christ. This was a time I new little about, but The Queen’s Handmaid put the political and spiritual implications in perspective for me. A great read for fans of Biblical history.

Lydia is the nursemaid for Cleopatra’s son Caesarion. An orphan with no idea of her family origins, she finds family in those she serves and serves with. But she has often found that relationships end and often painfully. So she keeps her distance while drawing people to herself at the same time. Through her studies with Samuel, Lydia is placed in a position to serve the Jewish One God, and this places her on a spiritual journey from Egypt through Rome to Judea, as she serves as the handmaid for wives of influential leaders of the time.

The reigns of the Ptolemys and the Herodians are filled with cruelty, murder and incest (at least in modern terms). They married uncles, nieces and cousins and had no compunction in killing anyone on their way to power, including wives, brothers and children. They also repeated the same names, even within the same generation, causing some identification problem for this reader. Higley does include genealogies to help with this. And while there are huge power struggles — Greek Ptolemys ruling Egypt and Idumean Herodians conquering Judea — it is the portrayal of the Jewish spirit of independence and the anticipation of the Messiah that brings this novel a depth perhaps not seen in the historical record. Lydia’s character, while fictional, is realistic. Her quiet strength, faithfulness and determination draw others to her, while also garnering her very formidable enemies. Her struggle to find identity, which leads her to the One God, is one we all face. The quest entrusted to her by her mentor, Samuel, doesn’t end with the last page of the novel, and I am looking forward to seeing just where her story will take us. Hopefully her next stop will be among the Wise Men of the East.

Not a quick read — there is just too much history and political intrigue to digest — it is, nevertheless, a page turner. I recommend The Queen’s Handmaid to those who want to know more about the time leading up to Jesus’s birth. The words, In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1), just might take on a new meaning.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson and LitFuse for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

For more reviews, click HERE.

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

 

The Queen’s Handmaid is the latest from author Tracy L. Higley. CBA Retailers gave it this glowing review: “Rich in historic detail, Higley’s vivid writing brings to life the plots and intrigues that swirled through the ancient world as alliances were built and broken on the calculated schemes of power-mad monarchs.”
Tracy is celebrating the release with a fun giveaway.

queenshandmaid-400-click-1A Kindle Fire HDX

The Queen’s Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced April 21st on Tracy’s blog.

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; ENTER TODAY AND BE SURE TO STOP BY TRACY’S BLOG ON APRIL 21ST TO SEE IF YOU WON.

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Audiobook Review: Misery Loves Company

31 Mar

349330Don’t tell me it’s terrifying. Terrify me.

Filled with grief, Jules Belleno rarely leaves the house since her husband’s death while on duty as a police officer. Other than the reviews Jules writes on her blog, she has little contact with the outside world.

But one day when she ventures out to the local grocery store, Jules bumps into a fellow customer . . . and recognizes him as her favorite author, Patrick Reagan. Jules gushes and thoroughly embarrasses herself before Regan graciously talks with her.

And that’s the last thing she remembers—until she wakes up in a strange room with a splitting headache. She’s been kidnapped. And what she discovers will change everything she believed about her husband’s death . . . her career . . . and her faith.

 

 

rene-10-2012Rene Gutteridge (from the author’s website) is the author of seventeen novels, including her latest releases, HEART OF THE COUNTRY, ESCAPEMENT, POSSESSION and LISTEN, from Tyndale House Publishers. Her other suspense titles include, THE SPLITTING STORM, STORM GATHERING and STORM SURGE, plus her very first novel, GHOST WRITER (Bethany House Publishers). She is also known as a comedy writer. Her latest comedic novel is NEVER THE BRIDE (winner of the 2010 Carol Award for best women’s fiction), co-written with screenwriter Cheryl McKay (of The Ultimate Gift).Her other comedy titles from WaterBrook/Multnomah Publishers include The BOO SERIES: Boo, Boo Who, Boo Hiss, Boo Humbug and THE OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS SERIES; (Scoop, Snitch, Skid). Another very popular comedy title is MY LIFE AS A DOORMAT, a Women of Faith selection for 2006, from Thomas Nelson. She has written one novelization, THE ULTIMATE GIFT, for Thomas Nelson.

She also has extensive experience writing comedy sketches, and worked for five years as the director of drama for a church. She has a degree specializing in Screenwriting, for which she earned the Excellence in Mass Communication Award, and graduated magna cum laude.

She is married to Sean, a musician and worship leader, and has two children. They reside in Oklahoma, where Rene writes full time and enjoys instructing in college classrooms and writers conferences.

 

My Impressions:

Rene Gutteridge has long been one of my favorite authors, and I have read and enjoyed so many of her books. The premise of Misery Loves Company was very intriguing, so it had been on my TBR list for a long time. At the risk of sounding a bit like main character, Jules Belleno, I really wanted to like this book, but I just didn’t. I really could not connect with the characters, leaving me not caring about what was happening to them. I also found my attention wandering and would have to rewind to figure out what I had missed. Not sure if it was just me, but this book is probably my least favorite of all that I have read/listened to. Lots of readers did like it, so be sure to check out other opinions HERE.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: An Easter Gift for Me

28 Mar

738275Introduce your toddlers to the joy of Jesus’ resurrection! Pairing bright illustrations with catchy rhymed couplets, this easy-to-understand retelling of the Easter story proclaims, “But Jesus is God so he didn’t stay dead. ‘He’s alive! He’s alive!’ the glad angel said.” A wonderful springtime gift for ages 1 to 4.

 

 

 

bowman_07Crystal Bowman loves writing books for kids. Her books come in all shapes and sizes and many of them have become best sellers. Whether her stories are written in playful rhythm and rhyme, or short sentences for beginning readers, she tries to make them so enjoyable that kids will want to read them over and over again. “But the most important part,” she says, “is to teach children that God loves them and cares about them very much.”

 

My Impressions:

An Easter Gift for Me is a colorful, rhyming board book that clearly explains the Easter story for toddlers. The colorful illustrations depict Christ’s life and ministry while the the message is of God’s love and provision of eternal life, but on a level that is perfect for ages 1-4. A great addition for an Easter basket.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Zonderkidz for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

122a95373a1f6020cfdc5388_440x275

This book is included in the Easter package for Toddlers that Zonderkidz is giving away. For more details for entering the giveaway, please click HERE.

 

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Book Review: Dancing with Fireflies

27 Mar

687021Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.
The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt.” Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

 

 

DHunter-211Denise Hunter is an internationally published best-selling author. Her books have won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist. In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all of her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps, too. When Denise isn’t writing, she’s busy raising three heroes-in-the-making with her husband.

 

My Impressions:

Dancing with Fireflies is the second book in Denise Hunter’s Chapel Springs Romance series. While it can be read as a standalone novel, characters from book 1, Barefoot Summer make a reprise appearance. It is again a sweet, contemporary romance with an endearing heroine and a very hunky hero. Difficult subjects are handled gently and the sparks fly in the relationship. A good pick for a lazy weekend, especially if you are going to spend it at the lake or beach.

Jade McKinley, the free-spririt of the McKinley clan, has had a difficult year away from home in Chicago. She returns to Chapel Springs wounded and determined not to allow herself to be hurt again. The little girl that twirled among fireflies seems to have disappeared altogether. But Daniel Dawson, mayor and volunteer fireman with big political ambitions, can keep secrets and has always been a friend to Jade. With a baby on the way and Daniel’s matchmaking skills, Jade is intent on finding a safe and reliable husband for her future, definitely NOT love!

I like the characters that Hunter creates. They are a little quirky, a little vulnerable, with a big dose of charm. They wrestle with real-life trauma and decisions. They often, as in the case of Jade, have a lot to figure out about themselves and their relationships with God. And of course the romance is always fun with strong, yet understanding male characters that make the story extra special. And there is more to come in the next installment, The Wishing Season, due out later this year.

If you like contemporary romance, you definitely need to get Dancing with Fireflies.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson and LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

For more reviews, click HERE.

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Beyond Justice

27 Mar

-382180778Sam Hudson, a reputable San Diego attorney, learns this when the authorities wrongfully convict him of the brutal rape and murder of his wife and daughter, and sends him to death row. There he awaits execution by lethal injection. If he survives that long. In prison, Sam fights for his life while his attorney works frantically on his appeal. It is then that he embraces the faith of his departed wife and begins to manifest supernatural abilities. Abilities which help him save lives- his own, those of his unlikely allies-and uncover the true killer’s identity, unlocking the door to his exoneration. Now a free man, Sam’s newfound faith confronts him with the most insurmountable challenge yet. A challenge beyond vengeance, beyond rage, beyond anything Sam believes himself capable of: to forgive the very man who murdered his family, according to his faith. But this endeavor reveals darker secrets than either Sam or the killer could ever have imagined. Secrets that hurtle them into a fateful collision course.

 

Beyond-Justice-Joshua-Graham-AuthorWINNER OF the INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (Beyond Justice), #1 bestselling author Joshua Graham‘s award-winning novel DARKROOM hit 3 bestseller lists on Amazon the night of its release.

CBS NEWS described DARKROOM as a book with “action, political intrigue and well-rounded characters…a novel that thriller fans will devour.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY described BEYOND JUSTICE as: “A riveting legal thriller…breaking new ground with a vengeance…demonically entertaining and surprisingly inspiring.”

Suspense Magazine listed BEYOND JUSTICE in its BEST OF 2010, alongside titles by Scott Turrow, Ted Dekker, Steven James and Brad Thor.

His short story THE DOOR’S OPEN won the HarperCollins Authonomy Competition (Christmas 2010.)

Many of Graham’s readers blame him for sleepless nights, arriving to work late, neglected dishes and family members, and not allowing them to put the book down.

Josh grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he lived for the better part of 30 years. He holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree and went on to earn his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. During his time in Maryland, he taught as a professor at Shepherd College (WV), Western Maryland College, and Columbia Union College (MD).

Today he lives with his beautiful wife and children on the West Coast. Several of Graham’s short fiction works have been published under various pen names by Pocket Books and Dawn Treader Press. Writing under the pen name Ian Alexander, Graham debuted with his first Epic Fantasy novel ONCE WE WERE KINGS, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in multiple categories and Award-Winning Finalist in the SciFi/Fantasy category of The USA “Best Books 2011 Awards, as well as an Award-Winning Finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of The USA “Best Books 2011 Awards, and an Award Winner in the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards in the Teen/Young Adult category. ONCE WE WERE KINGS is available in ebook and hardcover editions.

 

My Impressions:

Not your typical Christian book. That is how I would first describe Joshua Graham’s novel, Beyond Justice. While it does have may of the elements of recognizable Christian suspense — characters that struggle with God’s plans, good vs. evil working in the characters’ lives, and a few salvation scenes — it is its edginess, its dark violence, adult situations and use of profanity that might turn a Christian audience away. Yet it all seems to work within this author’s framework. If you are offended by an R rated book, then please don’t get this one. But if you want a gritty, realistic look at sin and redemption, you just might like Beyond Justice.

Sam Hudson steps into his home thinking a date night is on the agenda with his wife. but what he finds is the stuff of nightmares, not romantic dreams. His wife and daughter brutally murdered and his son bludgeoned into a coma, the nightmare deepens when Sam is arrested for the crimes. Rejected by co-workers and friends, vilified by the press, Sam finds unlikely support from his wife’s church. Although he has long dismissed God and His followers, when faced with a loss of everything, Sam finds comfort from those he just recently dismissed. But the story doesn’t end there. Sam faces deeper and deeper pits of agony and despair.

Beyond Justice is first a suspense-filled mystery. There is courtroom drama, a man falsely accused and convicted and the fight to find true justice. This could be a John Grisham novel. But Graham adds a spiritual dimension that will have you holding your breath and examining what you believe about the nature and power of God. As I said, it is not for the faint of heart. But amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope continues to shine as God works things out in His way. The characters react realistically when forced to endure adversity and extend forgiveness. There are some really weird and believable spiritual elements. Beyond Justice is definitely real world.

I really enjoyed this book. As I said, there are a few things that might offend. But the novel is a realistic, not whitewashed,  depiction of life in this sad and fallen world.

Recommended, with an adults only advisory.

(Thanks to Partners in Crime and the author for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below. The Kindle version is currently $3.99!

Tour Schedule

2/01 ~ Guest Post @ The Book Divas Reads
2/02 ~ Interview @ Starting Fresh blog
2/03 ~ Review @ 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
2/04 Interview & Showcase~CMash Reads
2/05 ~ Review @ Vics Media Room
2/06 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Reviews From The Heart
2/07 ~ Showcase @ jc-martin – fighterwriter
2/10 ~ Review @ just reviews
2/11 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Mommabears Book Blog
2/12 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Deal Sharing Aunt
2/13 ~ Interview, Review & Giveaway @ The Nook Users Book Club
2/14 ~ Interview @ Lauries Thoughts and Reviews
2/17 ~ Showcase & Excerpt @ Brooke Blogs
2/18 ~ Review @ Hotchpotch
2/19 ~ Showcase @ Bookalicious Traveladdict
2/24 ~ Review @ Kritters Ramblings
3/01 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Amy {The Crafty Book Nerd}
3/08 ~ Showcase @ Hott Books
3/14 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
3/24 ~ Guest Post @ Writers and Authors
3/26 ~ Review & Giveaway @ Celticlady’s Reviews

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