Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingVicious CycleZondervan (February 22, 2011)byTerri Blackstock



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.



Besides entertaining her readers, Terri tackles issues that she hopes will change lives. Her recent book, Predator, was inspired by her experiences on Facebook and Twitter, and her concern that people posted too much personal information about themselves. The book deals with an online predator who uses social networks as his playground. She hopes the book will change readers’ online habits. Her New York Times best-seller, Intervention, was inspired by her own personal struggles with a daughter on drugs. In the book, a mother hires an interventionist for her drug-addicted daughter. But on the way to treatment, the interventionist is murdered, and the daughter disappears. Barbara, the mother, sets out to search for her daughter. Terri modeled Barbara after herself, and poured many of her own emotions and experiences into that character. As a result, many families experiencing drug addiction have written to thank her for telling their story and giving them hope. Vicious Cycle, Book Two of the Intervention Series, releases February 22, 2011. She’s currently working on Book Three.

Other recent books include a stand-alone novel called Double Minds, as well as Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light (from her acclaimed Restoration Series). She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 Series and Cape Refuge Series. Terri makes her home in Mississippi, where she and her husband Ken are enjoying their empty nest after raising three children.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When fifteen-year-old Lance Covington finds an abandoned baby in the backseat of a car, he knows she's the newborn daughter of a meth addict he's been trying to help. But when police arrest him for kidnapping, Lance is thrust into a criminal world of baby trafficking and drug abuse.



His mother, Barbara, looks for help from Kent Harlan---the man whom she secretly, reluctantly loves and who once helped rescue her daughter from a mess of her own. Kent flies to her aid and begins the impossible work of getting Lance out of trouble, protecting a baby who has no home, and finding help for a teenage mother hiding behind her lies.



In this latest novel of suspense and family loyalty, bestselling author Terri Blackstock offers a harrowing look at drug addiction, human trafficking, and the devastating choices that can change lives forever.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Vicious Cycle, go HERE.

Watch the Book Video:





My review:
Terri Blackstock is and has always been one of my favorite authors. The first Christian suspense novel I read was her book, Evidence of Mercy in the 90's. I was hooked. I love suspense, and here was a Christian novel that was suspense. It was a great book, and she has only gotten better over the years.

She has always impressed me. You will never find inappropriate content or language in her books. The message of salvation is never watered down or obscured. And I have always thought it neat how she dedicates every one of her books. Most authors dedicate their books to friends or relatives. She dedicates each book to "The Nazarene." How fitting.

This book is the sequel to Intervention. And this book is even better. I liked her characters in Intervention, and was looking forward to reading another book with them in. I wasn't disappointed.

In Vicious Cycle, fifteen-year-old Lance is the central character. Terri has created a great character in this kid. Fatherless, yet turning out well, thanks to a Christian mother. In trying to do the right thing, he ends up with a kidnapping charge.

The plot was very suspenseful, and takes the reader into the world of drug addicts. Though fictional, it still gives a picture of what the life of a drug addict is like, the depths they will go to in getting another fix, and what a battle getting clean can be.

A little romance is thrown in also that makes the story even more interesting and enjoyable.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it, though Intervention should be read first.

Thanks to Zondervan and the Christian Fiction Alliance for the review copy.

And thanks to Terri Blackstock for being a pioneer in Christian suspense and for writing another great novel.