Saints on Fire

Sometimes the most difficult thing about getting involved in reading a trilogy is knowing when you get to the last page of the final book. It's over. It's bittersweet. The characters you have come to know as more than simply something written into a compelling novel, but ones that the author has breathed life into and they feel more than real. They feel like friends and family. This is just such a series, and one that comes with the added thrill of taking the battle into the unseen spiritual realm of angels and demons. The Fire Series from Eric M. Hill is so unforgettable and for this reviewer, a bit of a life change as well. In the final and concluding novel in the series, Saints on Fire is just that. These books need to be read in the order they were written in so you can understand the character motivations of our main characters and why they have progressed to where we find them in this novel.

Once more the Styles family of Reverend Edwin Styles, his wife Barbara, daughter Sharon and son Andrew finds themselves experiencing a fire of sorts in their own spiritual life. In fact Sharon has become a prophetess who can sense through dreams and visions from God the future events of what they will face often clouded or veiled in symbols instead of what you might imagine. Working alongside Jonathan Banks and his wife Elizabeth, their home church in Atlanta is now on fire for God along with miracles and healing. But they sense God is leading them to a suburb called Mahem Courts, also known for it's mayhem along with murders, drugs, prostitution and sex trafficking all run by a man known as Sonny Campbell and his gang the Vice Boys. They are the last hold out in the spiritual realm as well that has been held in bondage from the demons Slavery, Annihilation and Heroine who like things just they way they are but not everyone is happy. Most of the projects residents wish life was different but see no hope in this existence they call home.

No one is willing to take one Sonny and the Vice Boys either until God calls the Styles family and the Banks family to bring their ministry to the projects. Unable to gather any support from the local churches, they realize that Jesus can use the least of these to accomplish His greater purpose as long as they have enough faith and are willing to step out in faith. Unfortunately it will be something that costs a few people their lives and we see what happens when those who reject Jesus find when they are no longer alive and have to face the judgment of their choices in life.

I received Saints on Fire by Eric M. Hill compliments of SunHill Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal review. This truly does wrap things up in the series as the family's faith will be ultimately tested in ways they never imagined and makes one understand that the life of a Christian believer is never easy, and in fact in some ways just puts a bigger target on our backs courtesy of our enemy Satan and his legion of demons. It conveys the way that they can attack the believers and non believers alike and really opens your eyes up to the unseen spiritual realm and how much prayer can truly impact things in a positive way. For me it really put an exclamation mark on the deficiencies in my own prayer life and helped me to understand what it really means to go to battle in prayer daily. Not just over meals. For me this one rated a 4.5 out of 5 stars and was not really my favorite one of the three but still made a huge impact in my own personal spiritual walk. That to me makes this series a must have.

For more information about Saints on Fire, Eric M. Hill or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Saints on Fire by Eric M. Hill

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The Fire Series by Eric M. Hill
1. Bones of Fire
2. Trial by Fire
3. Saints on Fire

Bones of Fire

Whatever happens in this world one truth remains even though we can not see it. There is a war happening in the spiritual realm between angels and demons and they influence what we do, think and say on a daily basis without even realizing it. For a believer in Jesus, we know that our most powerful weapon is the Word of God and prayer, yet we fail to see how these two impact the invisible world that can make all the difference in our lives. Spiritual warfare fiction has long been a favorite of mine since first reading Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness and seeing the overlap between the physical and spiritual world and how we can impact them for good or for evil.

I am so thrilled to offer you another unique find of mine recently and that is Eric M. Hill's newest series of books, The Fire Series and with the first novel Bones of Fire. If you loved Peretti's, you'll feel right at home here with this one. If you are not a believer of Christ, then you will simply chalk this book off to another fantasy series, but I pray that that will not be the case and you will dig a little deeper in your faith and discover a world that exists to the unseen eye that influences us to act and do things we may not even consider.

Edwin Styles is the pastor over a small church within the heart of Atlanta and one he was more than comfortable with as his congregation and it's members had fallen into the same routine of sorts lately so they weren't really experiencing any real growth within the church but it maintain a level of profitability that kept the board members content. No need to change the ways things were going. When they agreed to bring on Jonathan Banks as a speaker they were not concerned at all that anything would happen, but that was all the spark that would be needed to not only create a stir within the church community but begin the spiritual battle that would divide more than church members but family households as well.

Jonathan Banks, was a well renown missionary and had traveled the world over multiple times but was a truly dedicated man of God. A modern day Paul if you will who believed that it was his job to shine the light into the dark places and bring spiritual apathy out of the churches when called. It was just that calling he felt that God has placed upon him when agreed to speak at the church and one that would set the stage for a revival that would rock the nation beginning in Atlanta first. When he spoke that night, not only did he bring miraculous healings to the church members who came to hear him but to those who rallied to the event because of what they had heard. Jonathan would point out to Edwin that what he was doing was impacting the kingdom of darkness more than the kingdom of light by believing the miracles and the power of prayer was simply something from the Bible but not anything people did any more of.

It will be the war that will claim more than one life of those in the community as the battle of good and evil begins to wage war in the world the humans can not see but can impact. It seems that Edwin was gearing all his messages to what the board members and church wanted to hear for fear of offending anyone so all his messages revolved around what was a positive message and very reminiscent of the church of Laodicea from the Bible. But is it too late to change old patterns or is this simply another church the enemy will claim as a trophy for his wall of shame?

I received Bones of Fire by Eric M. Hill compliments of SunHill Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal evaluation. Whenever I read books like this one I am reminded how little we do prayer as individuals and as churches at time. What a difference it makes in the world we cannot see but often times impacts us. "A tablespoon of prayer was more powerful than man's atomic bomb." "Real revival brings people face to face with the holiness of God. It penetrates the darkness of sin and cuts away our perversions." There are so many take aways from this book as a Christian, it has renewed the bones of fire within myself. No longer will I take for granted the ability to pray for my family and friends, community and the government. This is what is lacking in the world today because our answer will not come from picking another worthy president but in returning back to the God who is the able to do all things in this world. Truly an eye opener to anyone who wants to know what is really going on behind that argument that you are having in your home. I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and have already started on the sequel Trial by Fire, which is the second book in the series. These will be coming to paperback soon, but for now are available in electronic form only.

For more information about Bones of Fire, Eric M. Hill or where you can pick up an eBook copy at this time, please click on the links below:

Bones of Fire by Eric M. Hill

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In the Heart of the Dark Wood - Giveaway and Review

"Everyone was lost somehow, turned around in their own darkwood, looking for something that would help them go on. Everyone just wanted to find their way home."

It's been eighteen months since the Carnival Day Storm when life in Mattingly would be defined as "Old" or "New" based on where you were when you arrived in town. For one young 12-year-old girl, Allie Gunderson has been marking it off in days. 542 when the novel opens. Allie has been holding on to her version of faith, refusing to accept that the tornado that tore her mother from her life, had taken her away for good. Allie was the only one in town who believed that somehow, somewhere, her mother was still out there, waiting to find her way back home. It was why she believed in her daily rituals that began each morning, and offered her a hope that she might just make it through this day.
"It started with prayer, nothing extravagant or drawn out like the speeches in church; a simply hello and thank-you were usually enough, and were expressed more through Allie's mouth than her heart."(41).

It was simply a way to mark off the time until her mother, Mary made her way home. Tornadoes were like that some times, picking people up and setting them down miles away from home. But no matter how logical some might argue their point with Allie, her faith remained. The only thing she had left of that day was a compass from the Carnival that her mother had given her. It stopped working long ago, and the strap that held it to her wrist like a watch, was once a bright red, had worn to a faded pink. In fact, she would have lost it several times, had Zach Barnett, not reminded her to keep an eye on it. Zach was one of those parts of her life, where Allie would deny she had feelings for, much like her dog Sam, because Allie knew if you loved someone, God would take them away from you. So she kept them both at arms lengths refusing to acknowledge her feelings for them.

Until the day her compass began working again. It was the day her faith would be put to the test when Allie believed her mother had found a way to communicate with her. She was simply pointing the way for Allie to come find her and help her find her way home. Now all she needed was to convince Zach to come with her and help prove once and for all that her mother was not dead. She was simply lost and needed help to find her way home, back to Allie and her father Marshall. Zach knew that Allie was barely hanging on by a thread, but he wasn't about to let her set off in search of her mother by herself. They both promised themselves that they would only be gone for a few hours, home by dark, he promised his parents. That would be four days from the day they entered the woods.

I received In the Heart of the Dark Wood by Billy Coffey compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Billy Coffey for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions mentioned here are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. This is the third book in this series, and as the author mentions at the beginning, they can be read in any order, but I have to say the way they were written is the best way to begin them. This is a novel in my opinion that explores what faith means in the midst of our darkest times. It is where we face our greatest fears and find our truest strengths. It is where we are tested by fire to see what remains and in this case it is the greatest gift of all, love.

This isn't one of those novels that is wrapped up in a pretty bow at the end, but will cause you to reflect on the journey you find yourself on where you begin reading it. It's not meant to be rushed but savored, explored, and questioned as you the pages not only of Allie's faith, but Zach's character. It is a coming of age story in a different way because each of them has held on to something they have believed in, but hasn't been tested until they day the enter the woods and it will forever change them, not just Allie and Zach, but the entire town of Mattingly. Hands down, one of my favorites by Billy Coffey and I hope that this is not the end of Mattingly. Many more questions remain but perhaps the answers lie buried until another time. Well deserved 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. A Reading Group Guide is included at the conclusion of this novel.

Thanks to Billy Coffey and Thomas Nelson Publishers, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines:

1. "Like" Billy Coffey's Facebook page. If you're already a follower, simply leave a comment on his page.

2. Be a follower of Billy Coffey's blog, What I Learned Today. 

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

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of In the Heart of the Dark Wood. Don't forget to include your email address so I have a way to contact you, if you're the lucky winner of the giveaway. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner by email once the giveaway ends on November 24th, and feel free to share this giveaway opportunities with everyone you know.

For more information about In the Heart of the Dark Wood, Billy Coffey or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

In the Heart of the Dark Wood by Billy Coffey

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To read more reviews on In the Heart of the Dark Wood, please visit Thomas Nelson's website. 

Hypocrisy

In a world where technology is evolving at an exponential rate, it will only be a matter of time before diseases like cancer finally find a cure and find that it is as treatable as polio. "Only in light of the fact cancer research, cancer treatment, cancer prevention is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Do you have any idea how many people are employed just because there is no real cure for cancer? Do you have any idea how much the pharmaceutical industry makes treating cancer patients with chemotherapy drugs? Ca you even begin to imagine how many hundreds of research centers there are worldwide that are funded by the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute, and other non-profit organizations, and private investors? How about radiology, oncology, surgery? What if Dr. Laura Crawford's clinical research validated her theories, if she had developed an effective treatment for cancer, the entire landscape of cancer research and treatment would dramatically change. So is murder the justification to keep things as they have always been or is there another motive for her death?" (pg 57).

Those are just a handful of the questions that New York City homicide detectives Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown are trying to find answers for. Not only has the murder of Dr. Crawford cost her her own life but possibly the lives of millions who could have been saved by her research findings. She was on the cusp of announcing a discover that would change cancer once and for all and was about to get approval from the FDA to begin using it as treatment for cancer patients everywhere. Is is possible that there are companies willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that that doesn't happen, or even worse that greed has become the sole motivator for companies to take risks like murder to prevent them from losing the potential billions if this drug finding was approved?

As the two detectives interview countless suspects, they also deal with the fact after six months on the job neither of them knows much about the other, and that is what's possibly keeping them from working so well together. As partners, you need to understand the dynamics of what one works and thinks the way they do, and until these two have a true heart to heart, holding nothing back conversation, it may in fact hinder the amount of detective work that they can accomplish. However the closer they get to the truth, one of them will find their own life is at stake and thus upping the ante to find the answers out before there is another murder.

I received Hypocrisy by D.M. Annechino compliments of iRead Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own unless otherwise notated. This is the first time reading one of D.M. Annechino's novels and while the premise behind the novel is initially what drew me in, the constant description of how well endowed naturally Dupree's assets were in light of her working with her other male counterparts was something that I felt detracted me away from the novel. There is a toggling of parallel storylines, the one in which initially drew me to want to read this book, and the conflict in the relationships between the two detectives that had no real purpose in the novel for me. It almost felt like two books in one but with no apparent meaning in moving the story along. I'd have to say for me, this one rates a 3.5 out of 5 stars. There is a fair amount of profanity laced throughout the novel which for most of my readers they may find offensive but overall the storyline is enough to keep you moving through the novel to see how it turns out in the end.

For more information about Hypocrisy, D.M. Annechino, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hypocrisy by D.M Annechino

You can also find D.M. Annechino on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hypocrisy, please visit iRead Book Tours page.

Extended Forecast: Global Chaos

I am sure you have heard the stories of people attempting to control the weather through the process known as cloud seeding or chem trails. What if it was possible to control the weather? What if making a super storm or a drought would cause one to hold keys to ultimate control of the world. Just think of what the ramifications could be from a military perspective if we could control the economy, food and water supply by just taking control of what kind of weather any state or county would receive.

HT Wetco is such a company in the latest novel from Michael Andrisano on the heels of his first novel Operation Seeding. In Extended Forecast: Global Chaos, the second book in the Rain Men Series,  HT Wetco along with the consent of the US government are now involved in the trial of the century for conspiring to control the weather around the entire planet, leaving such countries like Russia in a drought for decades. Rising food costs and shortages of clean water, have left the Russian government at the hands of other countries searching for aid. Now they have learned that America may have been involved to sabotage their economy and there are those in the Russian government that think America is due to be paid back.

Now the hunt for a terrorist known as Gunter is being launched world-wide. He is a known hit man who has no conscience at taking lives of those willing to pay for the job to be completed. In fact he has struck at the heart of the Russian Mafia family and taken down an innocent family while they were vacationing leaving only his calling card, a man hanging upside down on a cross. He has also taken out the grandparents and fiancè of an American FBI agent Clara Beach. The two women form an alliance to hunt down the known killer to stop him from launching a nuclear attack on the United States along with the Muslim Brotherhood. If they don't succeed, the United States will have no choice but to launch a counter attack on Russia and Russia will be forced to defend itself.

Meanwhile, HT Wetco is far from taking this trial lying down.. Todd Thurston, now in control of the company has been hired to create the storm of the century that will wipe Washington D.C. off the map in an internal terrorist plot designed to clear the name of his company and point the finger directly at the US Government instead by killing two influential men who know far too many secrets to be allowed to live and speak at the trial. But as Todd's plans are put into motion, is it possible he has bitten off far more than he can chew by thinking any one man can really control the weather?

I received Extended Forecast: Global Chaos by Michael Andrisano compliments of Outskirts Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions in this are strictly my own. While the premise of this novel was the reason for me reviewing the book, I was disappointed by the overwhelming amount of characters the author attempts to introduce at the beginning of the book. You have to stay on top of things and attempt to connect the dots to see where everyone's motives are and which side they are each on. Couple that with random sexual content from some of the women characters attempting to bride their way into judges lives and you begin to get a distaste for what could have been an exceptionable premise. This is definitely not for the Christian/family reader base my blog reaches out to and for those looking for a suspense story couple with multiple threats to the world, then this may in fact be something you might enjoy. For me, it was simply not something I was looking forward to seeing in the text and feel the author might want to rework the story a bit for a relaunch. It has appeal but just fell flat for me. I would rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Extended Forecast: Global Chaos, Michael Andrisano or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Extended Forecast: Global Chaos by Michael Andrisano

Butterfly Palace

For fans of Downton Abbey who want a little bit more spice in the storyline, you might just want to pick up Colleen Coble's latest novel, Butterfly Palace. Set in Larson and Austin, Texas in the early 1900's we find that the romance between Lily Donaldson and Andy Hawkins have all but fizzled. They were at one time engaged to be married but with the deaths of both of their fathers in a horrible fire, it seemed that Andy blamed himself for not being able to get the men out alive and he left Lily behind in ashes of their love.

Now that four years have passed Lily has found employment working as a ladies maid in Butterfly Palace, the wealthy home of the Marshall family. She finds her job enjoyable as Belle Castle's lady's maid putting her knowledge of fashion and hair design to work for her. She learns that Belle has her sights set on marrying Drew Hawkes, a guest in the Marshall home. Little did she realize that Drew is her Andy from Larson. Why he has changed his name and what he is doing in Austin cause her to be concerned and both hope that neither of them will share their intimate past with their current employers.

While Belle has her sights set on Drew, her father meanwhile wants Belle to marry Mr. Stuart Vesters, an up and coming wealthy politician and businessman. But it seems Mr. Vesters isn't all he appears to be to the Marshall family. Now that Lily has found work in the home, she finds herself the unlucky victim of the Servant Girl Killer, a serial killer that has been murdering maids around the city, preferring women who fit Lily's mold as the intended victim. Will Drew be able to keep up his pretense of acting like he doesn't know who Lily is even when she is almost murdered in the church or will their love reignite once again despite the obstacles facing them both?

I received Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise noted. I found myself completely captivated by this novel because I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey. I think Colleen Coble did an exceptional job at incorporating the characters of the upstairs wealthy aristocratic family from those of the household staff. The intermixing of those stereotypes is necessary to understand when Lily finds herself at odds wanting to talk to Drew but being in her position as a maid, wasn't something that was allowed. There are social barriers keeping them apart as well as the roles each of them in playing in their current situation which complicates their conversations. Lily at one point is discovered conversing with Drew by Belle who believes that Lily it out of place as a maid and threatens to fire her if she doesn't discontinue in her pursuit of being in Drew's company. A little jealous rivalry since despite Lily's attempts to downplay her beauty, she still comes shining through. I honestly had my suspicions about who was the murderer, but Colleen truly mixed me up and had me chasing my own tail by the end. Well done in my opinion and thus a just deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Butterfly Palace, Colleen Coble or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today,  please click on the links below:

Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble

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To read more reviews on Butterfly Palace, please visit Thomas Nelson's website. 


Length: 336 Pages
Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Company: Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10: 1595547835
ISBN-13:9781595547835

Labor Day

Labor Day is usually about time spent together as a family. Having barbeques, swimming and enjoying the last day of summer before school begins. At least that is how it is for most families, but not Henry Wheeler and his mom. Their week would be forever changed by arriving at Pricemart to get some school shopping in before Henry heads back to school. Henry is approached by a man in a Pricemart uniform who tells him that he is hurt and needs a ride. Henry notices he is bleeding from both his leg and his head and when he asks what has happened, the man named Vinnie according to his name tag, tells him that he had to jump out of a window and is now in need of medical attention. Henry finds his mom to ask for help.

His mom Adele just wants to finish up shopping and head back home. Since the divorce from Henry's father, she has found solace in simply being alone as much as possible and Henry is her only outlet. However since he needs pants and underware for school, she needed to drive him to Pricemart. She manages to find a few other things they need as well such as light bulbs since they are down to only one working one in the house. At least once she finishes with this trip, she won't have to go out again for quite some time. When Henry approaches with the strange man named Vinnie who asks for her help, Adele is drawn to help him like she would an injured animal or a hurt child. Asking no questions, she pays for the items and they take Vinnie home.

When they arrive at the house, Vinnie tells her about who he really is Frank, an escaped convict from the state penitentiary, who jumped out a window at the hospital when he was getting his appendix out just 18 months from filling his prison sentence. He manages to convince both Henry and Adele that he poses no threat to their safety if they will only allow him to stay til his leg is well enough. He won't jeopardize either of them for his own gain. Surprisingly Adele and Henry agree and soon Frank is filling in helping them around the house. But like all great stories, this one has a dark twist. Written from author Joyce Maynard this is a two part story of a coming of age for Henry and finding trust and love again for Adele. Both of them are searching in desperation for what they believe they need and Frank seems to fit the bill.

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard is now coming to the big screen and after watching the trailer, I knew I had to read this novel to see what it was all about. Joyce shares with readers at the conclusion of the novel why she decided to write this novel against what most people would argue would be a foolish idea to invite a man neither of them know to come to their home especially with a 13-year old boy at home. I absolutely LOVE her reasoning and find myself relating to Adele more than I thought. I could see where she was struggling with her life and the choices it offered her even when she didn't have a say so in any of them. Now I can't wait for the movie due out in 2014.

I received Labor Day by Joyce Maynard compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This novel does focus quite a bit on the adolescence and sex pertaining to Henry as well as his mom and thus some readers might find the reference to these subjects as offensive. With that being included in this novel I find the rating of 4 out of 5 reasonable based on my own rating criteria. This is not the novel for all readers but for those that love Joyce Maynard's writing style this one is a must read.

For more information about Labor Day, Joyce Maynard or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

You can find Joyce Maynard on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Labor Day, please visit William Morrow's website. 

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Mti edition (December 3, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062313630
• ISBN-13: 978-0062313638
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches

Carolina Reckoning

How would you feel if those suspicions you had of your husband were confirmed by finding a photo of them together in the pocket of his raincoat? Well for Alison Monaghan it is the proverbial straw that brings her to a breaking point. With her husband Frank being a bit of a control freak, she's finally going to summon the courage to confront him now that she finally has the proof she's been looking for. The only thing that causes her to reconsider is how it will affect their children, Clare and Justin now that they are in high school. Will it mean a messy divorce? How will she be able to provide for herself and her children since Frank has been their financial safety net all these years as a commercial pilot? All she knows is she has to deal with all the emotions she's been keeping bottled up all these years and tonight when Frank gets home, she's gonna let him have it.

Only Frank never arrives home. Alison receives that fateful knock at the door all wives dread. And the news is just what she never hoped to hear. Frank has been found murdered just seven miles from their home and of course, like most detectives, Alison is their key suspect. Deep in her heart she wanted him to pay, but not like this. She never wanted him dead. But how can she deal with the fact she's not as upset as a wife should be? That is just the thing, Raleigh homicide detective Mike Barefoot is wondering as well. He's been working enough of these cases to know just how convincing wives can be after murdering their husbands. However the more time he spends investigating the case and getting to know the man Frank really was, the more he convinces himself that Alison had nothing to do with his murder. Now if he can only keep his focus on finding the killer instead of finding himself drawn to Alison's heart.

In the latest novel from Lisa Carter, Carolina Recknoning takes the reader inside the murder of Frank Monaghan and the lifestyle he keep secretly from his wife and family. Alison doesn't believe she can move forward until she finds out more about the life Frank kept hidden from her including leaving them penniless and in more debt than she ever could imagine. Her children have their own problems to deal with living in wealthy neighborhood and being part of the affluent class of people in their city. Now all their friends suddenly turn on them they've known forever and the only thing any of them have is one another to survive in high school among the horrible things their friends say about their family. Is it possible to find hope in the midst of this crisis? Will their lives ever go back to normal again? But as the family is drawn into discovering who the murderer is, they suddenly find themselves with targets on their backs as well.

I received Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This novel really draws out the emotions to make you consider what you would do in this situation. How would you move forward? How can you bring yourself to forgive someone when they have hurt you beyond what you think you can bear? How can you forgive someone now that they are gone? This is truly a story about solving a crime but even greater than that is finding redemption for yourself. The family ultimately finds that a relationship with God is the only way they can salvage what is going on and it doesn't happen overnight. In fact, its a realistic portrayal of what happens in the life of a believer. Things don't get easy for them because they start going to church, in fact, it gets worse. They struggle with things just like we all do but there is a peace found when you know you hope is in God instead of what the world has to offer. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Carolina Reckoning, Lisa Carter or where you can preorder a copy of this novel due out in August of this year, please click on the links below:

Carolina Reckoning by Lisa Carter

You can also find Lisa Carter on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Abingdon Press (August 6, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1426757972

ISBN-13: 978-1426757976

Help for the Haunted

"You know the truth already. What I will say is this: each of us is born into this life with a light inside of us. Some, like yours, burn brighter than others. You don't see that yet, but I do. What's most important is to never let that light go out, because when you do, it means you've lost yourself to the darkness. It means you've lost your hope. And hope is what makes this world a beautiful place."

And that is exactly the advice that Sylvie Mason has to hold onto. When she was nine years old, she left with her parents on a cold night in the snow to attempt to meet with her oldest sister Rose who had left home in hopes of reconciling the issues between her parents and Rose that cause her to leave. Only little did Sylvie know that that would be the very last time she would ever see her parents alive. Left alone in the car and having fallen asleep she hears the sounds of a gun being fired and finds her parents murdered on the steps of an old church and her sister is no where to be found. Yet all she remembers is that they were not alone. Someone else was there and it's that someone that is haunting the memories of Sylvie late at night.

In the latest novel by John Searles, Help for the Haunted is a suspense thriller that takes you on an unforgettable ride into the darkest places of a persons soul. She knows her parents help troubled people that no one else can and has been the reason for people treating her and her sister Rose different from other kids you'd know in school. Most people in school avoid Sylvie and give her plenty of room whenever she walks into a room. Most are simply afraid of what they don't understand and since the deaths of her parents, most people believe that the people the Mason's helped carried some evil right alongside them. It was that evil that they hoped to find relief from when all other attempts had failed. Now the basement is the only place that has been left virtually undisturbed and both girls were warned by their parents to stay out. But just what is happening in the basement now, sounds that seem to emanate from beneath the house, it seems like something below is not happy that Sylvie's parents are no longer among the living and are deeply upset with the current state of things.

I received Help for the Haunted by John Searles, compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This one literally gave me what I was expecting and then some. Rave reviews comparing John Searles work with that of Stephen King is what drew me to read this one. I was not disappointed. 90% of the way through this novel that author creates such a suspenseful atmosphere you think you have it figured out, you're just waiting for an unveiling. This one really creeped me out and for me, that's the perfect sign of an amazing suspense novel. The ending I truly did not see coming and it's true that there is always more to the story than what you see. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to many more novels from John Searles in the future.

For more information about Help for the Haunted, John Searles or where you can preorder a copy of this novel that is due out in mid September of 2013, please click on the links below:

Help for the Haunted by John Searles

You can find John Searles on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

ISBN: 9780060779634; ISBN10: 0060779632; Imprint: William Morrow ; On Sale: 9/17/2013; Format: Hardcover; Trimsize: 6 x 9; Pages: 368; $26.99; Ages: 18 and Up; BISAC1:FIC019000; BISAC2:FIC022000; BISAC3:FIC043000

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

"Adults follow paths. Children explore. Adults are content to walk the same way, hundreds of times, or thousands; perhaps it never occurs to adults to step off the paths, to creep beneath rhododendrons, to find the spaces between fences."

This was the one quote that really made me stop reading the novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane by author Neil Gaiman and really consider all the profound truth that may lie within the simple quote. It is very true and it takes the imagination of a child to really appreciate all the things that Neil brings to life in this one. An adult would try to reason there way through this, while a child would just accept what is happening and move forward without needing to know why.

In this dark, fairy tale story, monsters are really and the things you think are real, really are. In fact I am reminded of Tim Burton's movies as I read through this one. At first, it doesn't make a lot of sense much like a child explaining something out of the ordinary. You just need to stop over analyzing it and just take it as face value and continue to dig deeper.

In this one the narrator, who's name I don't believe is ever mention is remembering back to a childhood experience that happened to him when he was only seven. Now much older he has returned to the place when the horror began and where the nightmare was something he truly lived and not dreamed. It begins with the death of the boy's only companion, a kitten that was accidentally run over and killed by their border, an Opal Miner who thinks simply replacing the cat will appease the damage he has done. This is the beginning of a not so happy story. Much like A Series of Unfortunate Events, Neil Gaiman takes his much deeper and to a darker place where evil now has an open door into the current world in which to find a foothold in solving what people believe makes them happy. To do so, requires a bit of finesse, but one our character can see through.

It's when he follows his father one morning when their car is reported missing that he discovers the body of the Opal Miner in the car and thus introduces us to the women in the Hempstock household who have the uncanny ability to solve things that no one else can see. He is soon befriended by Lettie, an eleven year old girl who has been eleven for quite some time and has a prophetic vision to what is really happening in town. Lettie and her family live at the end of the lane and care for the boy until his father comes calling for him. Soon he finds out that Lettie and her family have far more powers than he could ever imagine and thus the novel turns into a darker more menacing version of Alice in Wonderland meets Bridge to Terabithia.

I received The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable one. This is not recommended for young teens and falls in the upper young adult category to be age appropriate. I would have to say the writers ability to pull off an exceptional fantasy tale with a dark twist is wonderful and I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars. It is a surprisingly thin novel that draws out the story to feel like you've read a whole lot more pages than you did, a mark of an exceptional writer. I look forward to reading more from this author and fully enjoyed his unique writing style. This is the very same author who wrote Coraline, so you can prepare yourself for what you are about to find inside.

For more information about The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman, or where to pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

You can also find Neil Gaiman on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can also visit his website by clicking here.

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (June 18, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062255657
• ISBN-13: 978-0062255655
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches 

You can find this novel at your local book retailer in paperback, audio, hardcover and eBook formats

Slingshot

If you're a fan of movies like Mission Impossible or any of the Bourne films, then you will love the Spycatcher series from Matthew Dunn as he launches his latest novel, Slingshot into the literary world. The best part of any action adventure novel is when the author has either done his research remarkably well or he has working knowledge of what he is writing about, and in this case Matthew Dunn has both. As a former MI6 field officer, Matthew Dunn was trained in all aspects of intelligence collection, deep-cover deployments, small arms, explosives, military unarmed combat, surveillance, and infiltration, and conducted approximately seventy missions - all of them successful. That to me makes for some incredible background to launch his Spycatcher series of novels.

Now onto the third novel, Slingshot picks up once more with the special agent Will Cochrane who is dispatches to locate a rogue Russian Foreign Intelligence Service double agent who has stolen some important document that no one knows the content of. The only thing that the American handlers do know it that it can kill and now it has fallen into the wrong hands and they need Will Cochrane to find him before its too late. This is your true spy versus spy action packed thriller and Matthew Dunn does an exceptional job at keeping his readers guessing and following along this fast paced suspense thriller. The character of Will Cochrane reminded me of Tom Cruise's portrayal of Jack Reacher, a man who likes to remain the lone wolf but who is often called upon to get the job done when it seems like all else has failed and time is of the essence.

This is truly an unforgettable novel that will have you racing quite literally all over Europe while other countries are using their own agents to find this same document. It literally is filled to the brim with action, excitement, explosions, twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat for its climatic ending. The beginning may get to be a load full of information but if you persevere through it you will see where the action begins to blend and merge to create a fast paced, page turner. I received Slingshot by Matthew Dunn compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. For those of you that LOVE action adventure suspense fiction, than this one is a definite for you. Even though this is part of a larger series, much like Mission Impossible or the Bourne Series, you can pick this one up as a stand alone because this is an entirely different mission for Will Cochrane to solve and thus you can immerse yourself in the content from the get go. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Slingshot, Matthew Dunn or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Slingshot by Matthew Dunn

You can also find Matthew Dunn on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

Sandustee

If you're a fan of movies like National Treasure and the DaVinci Code then you will LOVE, Sandustee by author Bob Aramov. It centers around solving a major puzzle which the world has been seeking to solve, the location of the Nazarene's Code. It is purported to be a document in existence that has been rumored for centuries. Jesus allegedly authored the Nazarene's Code for a short time before his arrest and crucifixion. It reportedly contains the key to using the powerful forces of heaven and earth to change lives - and it reveals hidden secrets to controlling the world.

It seems that the Legend of 13 began with Jesus and the twelve disciples and the number 13 has had a significant impact on world events and for some strange reason that number holds the key to this puzzle. Look at the groups or individuals who had thirteen affiliated with them. There were the European Union, United Kingdom, and most recently, Osama Bin Laden. All have thirteen letters in their names. Play with it and you'll be amazed with key historical links to the number thirteen.

Now Emerson Moore, an investigative reporter for the Washington Post begins hunting for clues to find the elusive Nazarene's Code before it falls into the wrong hands. That is if in fact the scroll actually exists. It seems like the trail of bodies soon begin to add up as more and more people gain closer to finding it. Could it be possible that something like this really exists and if so, think of the implications for the country that is able to harness its powers.

This action-packed novel is filled with murder, cross and double-cross, scuba action, a touch of Knights Templar, Masonic symbolism, and political intrigue in D.C. and the world intelligence community.It pits country against country as some of the most intelligent minds work together to see who can find it first. I received Sandustee by Bob Adamov compliments of Media Connect, a division of Finn-Partners and Packard Island Publishing for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is the seventh novel in the Emerson Moore series and his writing style has been compared to that of Tom Clancy. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and for those that love solving mysteries like Indiana Jones, than you will definitely LOVE this one.

For more information about Sandustee, Bob Adamov, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

Sandustee by Bob Adamov

Eyes Wide Open

First of all, if you're a Ted Dekker fan, you definitely want to pick this one up. If you've never heard of Ted Dekker, think of Stephen King and you get the picture. In this unique series Ted Dekker launched the first part of this four part book to those who had electronic readers for Free until the rest in the series launched. Now priced for a very limited time for $5.99 for all four, you won't lose out wait for the next part of the book to be released. That's when I jumped on board. I've been a fan of Ted Dekker's for quite some time and just reading the premise of the book was enough to make me want to pick this one up. See for yourself.

"Who am I? 

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die.

I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I’m lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won’t stop shaking.

Some will say that I m not really here. Some will say I’m delusional. Some will say that I don t even exist. But who are they? I’m the one buried in a grave. \

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen. I’m about to die.

So who are you? " (Excerpt from back cover).

When Christy Snow loses her silver locket in a storage shed behind St. Matthews Hospital, she discovers by accident a trap door in the floor that drops her into a concrete room with apparently no way out. When she located a shelf used for the transportation of alcohol during the prohibition era, she wedges herself inside to try the wood panel at the end. All she manages to do, it lock herself inside a coffin size area. Unable to call for help since her cell phone is dead, she panics and forces the wood panel to come lose.

She realizes she has probably found her way into the hospital basement and hopes she can find her way out. What she discovers is that she is now in the mental hospital wing and no matter how hard she tries to convince the doctors there she isn't a patient, with no identification on her, they believe she is suffering from a delusion and she isn't who she is claiming to be. Her only hope is the message she left for her friend Austin before her phone died. But when Austin shows up, he too is unable to convince the hospital staff he came for Christy and now they have both wound up lost beneath the hospital. Unfortunately when patient head counts come up two short, Austin and Christy soon begin to wonder if they aren't really crazy after all.

I won't spoil the remainder of the book, but trust me, you'll question what is the truth and what is merely an illusion in this latest book by Ted Dekker. Each book is divided into the mini books, Identity, Mirrors, Unseen and Seer, that you can purchase one at a time, but trust me, pick up the whole thing so you don't lose momentum in the storyline. True to Dekker's writing style, you will wind up in a different place then where you were headed and soon begin to feel as if you are part of the story itself. Great storyline but the ending for me, fell short from what I was anticipating. It's like it reached it's climax and then all the air was let out of the balloon, This does introduce the reader into a new series from Ted Dekker called the Outlaw Chronicles, with the first  book Water Walker coming out soon. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and would have rated it a 5 out of 5 but like I stated earlier the ending just fell flat for me. However the message behind the story is reason enough to pick this one up. For those of you with questions about your own self esteem, this is a must read novel for you! You might want to pick up Showdown before reading this one to see the connection at the end.

For more information about Eyes Wide Open, Ted Dekker or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker

You can also find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

The Intercept - Giveaway and Review

July 4th is usually a time when most of us are looking forward to spending some time with our families, but when an attempted airline hi-jacking on Scandinavian Flight 903 is stopped by six heroic passengers and crew, it seems there is more there than just an ill conceived plan. Jeremy Fisk, a detective assigned to NYPD's Intelligence Division believes it may have just been a diversion to a much deeper terrorist plot. Having worked with bringing down Osama Bin Laden and deciphering clues from his network, he believes that something big is going to happen in New York and soon. As he works with other agencies to break down the passenger manifest to see if anyone interacted with the hi-jacker while in route to New York. He soon finds another man on the plane, Baada Bin-Hezam, has terrorist backgrounds but seems his plan was to stage the hi-jacking with another man so he could find his way into New York to simply disappear until it was time.

Now it's a race against time for Jeremy Fisk and his team to try and find a proverbial needle in the haystack before his terrorist plan is attempted. On the heels of the biggest 4th of July celebration planned along the Hudson River, there is also the dedication ceremony for the new Freedom Tower at Ground Zero. If Jeremy and his team can't locate Baada Bin-Hezam in time, he wonders which target may have the greatest threat. Will it be a bomb, a deadly viral assault, or will it be bigger than any of them could ever possibly imagine? It's simply a race against time and the clues are getting harder and harder to find.

In the latest suspense thriller from Dick Wolf, the legendary talent behind the iconic Law & Order TV drama, he makes his literary debut with this extraordinary tale filled with the ingenious twists and high-wire drama that we have come to expect from this master storyteller in The Intercept. The reader is in for a roller coaster ride as each new lead that Fisk chases soon fizzles to another dead end while the time continues to edge closer to the 4th of July. If you love suspense action thrillers, then this will be a must read for you to pick up and enjoy.

I received The Intercept by Dick Wolf, compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. The storyline was amazing but the thing I didn't care for was how much the book jumped around between different aspects of the story in the beginning. At one point he is working with Osama Bin Laden and the next chapter they are working with trying to find clues amongst his affects and it's apparent he is now dead. There needs to be a little bit more continuity to help the reader maintain that connection, and I found myself flipping back pages to see if I missed a page along the way. Yet all in all by 1/3 of the way through the storyline is gripping and soon your buried deep with Detective Fisk to uncover the plot before it's too late. In my opinion, I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about The Intercept, Dick Wolf or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Intercept by Dick Wolf

You can also stay on top of the Jeremy Fisk novels by Dick Wolf on Facebook. 

Now the fun part....

William Morrow is providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog. Here's all you need to do to enter to win:

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

2. "Like" my Facebook Reviews From The Heart Page. 

3. Must live in the the US or have a US shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. I will notify the winner by email when the giveaway ends on January 6th.

Ionshaker

Death or near-death experiences can shake ions in the body to reveal well hidden secrets, suppressed emotions and unspoken passions.

In the futuristic novel, Ionshaker by Felix Timothy, Trey Woodley is a wanted man! Everyone wants to find him and some will stop at nothing to see him dead! When Trey's wife is murdered with no apparent motive, the police and FBI believe that he is the suspect. Especially when a husband who is madly in love with his wife, stays out all night at work and doesn't bother checking in.

However when the police locate him, he is on his way to meet his ex-girlfriend, Robin Ironside, who he was informed was in an accident and not expected to live. Having Trey listed as her next of kin, he was in route to see Robin but didn't want his wife to know. When the police track Trey down, the soon discover that Robin's accident was intentional. She wasn't suppose to live. How can two women be linked to Trey and both are slated to be murdered only Robin manages to escape death? What is Trey's connection to Robin and how many more will die as they cross paths with Trey in the process?

With the FBI agents Nicole Anderson and Brett Dawson trying to locate Trey, he eludes them long enough to stay one step ahead. Only the FBI aren't the only ones trying to find him, a group known as Al Fakir is also looking for Trey and the secrets that he holds make him the man to find. Trey knows about a a cutting edge interstate Nuclear arming/disarming software called the Ionshaker, that will control any device that is operated by nuclear power, from power plants to weapons of mass destruction and they will stop at nothing to find him.



I received this eBook formats of Ionshaker compliments of Felix Timothy for my honest review. I felt the author has a great premise for the storyline and one can imagine how the device can be used to gain control over any country if they have it. At times the dialogue can be a bit corny and uses a lot of catch phrases, but I feel overall the author did an exceptional job with his novel. In this case I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

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

Ionshaker by Felix Timothy