Dark Hour

If you don't already know this about me, I love Supernatural Suspense Thriller and once again Greg Mitchell has managed to completely captivate me and keep me literally on the edge of my seat with the conclusion to his fantastic series The Coming Evil. In the final novel, Dark Hour, things are about to come to an end, quite literally between the remnant of believers located in the town of Greensboro. They have had to resort to hiding in the abandoned church while evil quite literally is running unleashed among the residents in town that either have sided with the new mayor John Graves or have taken a passive approach to remain neutral and avoid either side.

John Graves is not all whom he seems to be, and quite literally is evil personified. He has convinced the town that he is their salvation and whatever their hearts desire is, he can make it happen, if they are willing to put their faith in him. I mean who wants to adhere to the same old strict dogma the church has been forcing people to deal with their whole lives. One in which you have to make sacrifices to give up those things which bring you the most desire, wealth, love and your ability to worship as you please. In fact, so many of the town's residents have bought into the lie, that there is virtually nothing left to redeem in this town. Only now, those who remain strong in their faith in Jesus, are considered evil now, and Mayor Graves has vowed to destroy the remnant that remains. Using all manner of creatures from the depths of hell along with the sin filled presence that inhabits the local lake, he vows to take back the town by the coming Dark Hour.

"The greatest evil is not the devil or his angels but the darkness that resides in the human heart. I'm only offering the people what they have always wanted since the Garden of Eden. Freedom without responsibility. Choice without consequence."

The remnant of believers headed up by Reverend Jeff Weldon believes that redemption is possible for anyone and he will stop at nothing to continue to preach the message of hope to the residents of Greensboro. Along with his wife Isabella and a handful of believers all they understand is that the town in on the verge of some ultimate choice. One that will either take back the town from Mayor Graves, who is known by the believers as the Strange Man or they will simply die trying. They know time is running out for the last opportunity to take a stand for God once and for all and with some divine supernatural help on both ends, the end may be a whole lot closer than most would like to believe.

I received Dark Hour, the third and final novel in The Coming Evil series from author Greg Mitchell for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This one really brings to a close all the unanswered questions that the reader may have had in reading the first two novels in the series, The Strange Man and Enemies of the Cross. Here things are wrapped up in a culmination in the ultimate battle between good and evil  as angels, demons and the prayers of believers go head to head for the salvation of the town of Greensboro. I believe the message of just what the true power of love and forgiveness is found within the pages of this unforgettable novel. It shows just what the Bible tells us that the greatest power on earth is simply love. Love ultimately triumphs over evil in the end. It gave me a new meaning to some of the scriptures I had read so many times, but found great power and faith in them. I rate this one hands down a perfect 5 out of 5 not so much for the overall content in this one, but also due to the fact that it never left me once I finished the novel. It stayed with me and continue to speak volumes to my spiritual heart. You will need to read the novels in order to understand where the story is going. This is not a stand alone novel.

"In the heavenlies, we're never removed from the presence of God. He's our light and our strength. But down here...down here, things are gray. Muddled. The Light is so much harder to see." ~ Christopher (Angel in Heaven)

For more information about Dark Hour, Greg Mitchell or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Dark Hour by Greg Mitchell

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• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Splashdown Books (February 20, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0987653180
• ISBN-13: 978-0987653185
• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.2 x 7.9 inches

Terminus

If I may make one statement about Christian fiction, it is simply this, it's fiction. It's taking a general idea about something the Bible clearly defines and writing a story around that idea. Sometimes when I read reviews about Christian Fiction from other reviewers, the first thing they do is pick the book apart about how untrue the book is relating to certain aspects of what the Bible teaches. Yet what they fail too often to understand is that it's a fictional story not a non fiction. With that being said I have to say Terminus by author Joshua Graham is everything a Christian Fictional book should be. I can sum it up simply by saying City of Angels with dark suspense thriller twist.

The Bible speaks briefly of the Nephilium, a child created by fallen angels and humans that lived in the Old Testament times. Joshua uses just this analogy to create some of his characters in Terminus. Nikolai is an angel who has made some mistakes in choosing to fall in love with a human in the late 1900s' against the laws of Angels forbidding such an interaction. Now serving time for his disobedience to God shuttling souls of those that he believes shouldn't have to die, he grows weary of being a Reaper 3rd Class. When he gets an opportunity to transport souls that should have to die, he feels a sense of justification for this job.

Assigned to his new boss, Lena gives Nicolai details of his tasks. To make sure the three humans follow through on the paths they have chosen, each will have a hand at misguiding many thousands of people and in the process altering the future in disastrous ways. He needs to hasten them to self-destructive ends they have chosen before they can cause incalculable harm. The first is a well known and publicized evangelist, Jonathan Hartwell, the second is Hope Matheson, a suicidal homeless woman, and the third, Lito Guzman, a notorious drug lord. Unsure just what the connection between them is, Nicolai soon learns that not everything is as it appears and begins to question his latest assignment.

I received Terminus by Joshua Graham compliments of Redhaven Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and received no compensation for a favorable one. I love books on spiritual warfare and I think Joshua Graham did an incredible job at taking us into the heart of Nicolai. To see how they can interact with humans and the powers that some of them are able to possess. You have to read this with an open mind because there are those occasions where we may in fact find ourselves in the company of angels or being influenced by demons. One thing is clear in reading this novel is that forgiveness can be found in the most dire of circumstances and any life can be turned around if we are willing to seek God. The best part I really enjoyed was the constructs, something angels can create at will. To find out more, you'll have to read this one. I loved this twist on a spiritual warfare novel and can't wait to add Joshua Graham to my watch list. Terminus has found a forever home in my personal library and rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Terminus, Joshua Graham or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Terminus by Joshua Graham

You can also follow Joshua Graham on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

For more reviews on Terminus on the Pump Up Your Book Tour, please click here. 

The Last Hunt

I found it truly a treasure when I can find a Christian writer whose book moves me so much it keeps me up long after I've read it. In some ways, that could be a good thing, in others when you are too afraid to turn off the lights, that could be a bad thing, in a good way. Mike Dellosso is one such talented author I have stumbled upon in my search to find great Christian authors who can write a really scary book with a powerful punch in the end. Mike's books never fail me.

In the short story The Last Hunt which I found interestingly enough through a Facebook post, Mike had on his page about a fan made video of the book. Short and sweet, it was enough to gain my curiosity and had me immediately purchasing this one for my Kindle. At just 34 pages, a warning to the reader: Do Not Read This At Night!!! It will keep you up wondering what every strange sound is in the darkness. That's the point I think Mike is trying to make. He writes his books along those very lines.  The details he provides puts you right in the front seat to face everything that the characters themselves do and make you want to keep coming back for more!

The Last Hunt is about an nondescript and isolated hunting cabin located deep in the Darlington Woods, accessible by four wheel vehicle only and even then, you are necessarily guaranteed to make it due to the rough and treacherous woods. Perhaps that is why the Bishop family kept this cabin in the woods. It was a place they could be completely set apart from the day to day routine of normal life and just get away, back to nature. His father, Uncle, Grandfather and friend Andy were among the men that routinely made this trip to spend the weekend hunting deer. Over the years, it became something of a tradition. Only this time, this trip would be different. Life changing in fact.

"If I only knew then what I know now, what that night would hold, I'd have done everything and anything I could get us out of that valley."

 I received no monetary compensation to review The Last Hunt or to provide a favorable review. The opinions expressed are my own thoughts on what I thought of this book. Hands down for me, Mike has done it again. After reading this one, I found myself almost unable to close my bedroom blinds once it got dark because I feared what might be waiting just outside my window just out of my eyesight. It truly made me question the noises I heard during the gusty evening I chose to read this one. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and Highly Recommend this one to ANYONE looking for a bit of something more to their average suspense thrillers.I can only imagine the stories Mike would tell late at night around the campfire!

For more information about The Last Hunt, Mike Dellosso or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Last Hunt by Mike Dellosso

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Hide Me Among The Graves - Giveaway and Review

If you love a story set in the mid 1800's in the dark and cold world of old London, where the monsters that lie await when the sun goes down is your type of thriller/suspense, then Hide Me Among The Graves by Tim Powers will be the perfect novel for you.

When I set out to review this one, I didn't realize that there was a prequel of sorts that would help the reader get a bit of historical background on the creatures that roam the dark London streets in this novel so The Stress of Her Regard might be the answer if you find yourself questioning what you're reading as you begin. I implore you to continue your effort because once you understand that there are two different stories that combine as you read on, then the ride will become more enjoyable.

The premise behind this one involves the first set of characters The Rossetti family. Through a brief discussion with her father before his dies, Christina is informed that her father possesses a stone figure that has invited supernatural creatures into their lives. The creatures are vampire/ghosts that benefit their hosts by offering them enhanced-talents such as the ability to paint or write well, but there is also a price to pay. Unfortunately for Christina instead of taking her father's advice and destroying the figure, she duplicates her father's ritual and brings forth her dead uncle, Polidori. Only now, she wishes to find a way to get rid of it before the curse destroys more that just her family.

The second set of characters that the reader is introduced to are an ex-prostitute known as Adelaide McKee and a veterinary-surgeon, John Crawford who are brought together by their uncanny ability to protect themselves from the creatures of the night. Now years later, Adelaide confesses to John that she lied to him when they first met and subsequently had his child. The child has died and now Adelaide is convinced they have to try and find a way to keep her from becoming a vampire/ghost.

I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers, for my honest review and love the rich detail the author uses to construct the setting and characters for his story. I almost gave up at the beginning because the storyline is a bit confusing but after reading what others had written that read this one, I knew I had to go back with a bit of gusto and complete it. I was so glad I did! This is not your sparkly vampire love story, but one that most writers created long ago, when monsters and shadows did not stay where they should. For those of you looking for those old suspense thrillers, this is the perfect book for you. Be prepared however, the beginning can be difficult but once you know that two sets of characters exist you can proceed along at a great pace. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Hide Me Among The Graves by Tim Powers

Thanks to the generous folks at William Morrow/Harper Collins, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog. Here's all you need to do to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" and leave a comment on my Facebook Page, Reviews From The Heart.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave me a comment telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address too! You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner via email when the giveaway end on April 2nd.

Pastor Evil

Robert McCabe feels he's been given a unique gift, a calling from God to rid the world of evil that no one else seems to be able to do. Using his talents he developed over his career as an IT specialist and programmer, he can track down criminals that are able to slip through the hands of justice and continue their reign of terror over the world.

However Robert has another supernatural ability to do this. He is able to utilize the powers of those who are truly evil to battle against them. Only these powers that evil men have are outside those most people would never consider. A friend he grew up with in the small town of Irmo, South Carolina, by the name of Michael who believed that the local pastor Reverend John Ford was out to get him. Ford was a man who was growing financial successful with acquiring more churches as well as a local car dealership. However Michael believed that Reverend Ford was pressuring people to the point of blackmail in order to continue to become a rich man. So when Michael was let go from his position at the car dealership Ford owned, he began to plot for a way to get back at the man he felt was responsible.

Only Michael himself has a unique ability, and that is to be able to move metal with his mind and with that power, he can murder at will and no one would be able prove he had done it, and that is where Robert comes in to play. He has to stop Michael regardless of the costs.

I received Pastor Evil by Robert McCabe compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and actually enjoyed this short novel. At 180 pages, the story line is unique and engages the reader. I would have loved to seen the ending a little more detailed instead of so short and quick after all the build up the reader gets to before it ends. I am looking forward to his next book Physician Evil which the reader is given a sneak peek at in the end of the book. This book is for fans of supernatural suspense thrillers and thus would rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Pastor Evil by Robert McCabe