Forsaken by Gina Detwiler

Book description:

He was forsaken but not forgotten.

Nine months have passed since Grace Fortune saw the boy she loves, Jared Lorn, die before her eyes. But Grace’s suspicions have her wondering if Jared really dead. Along with her friends, she sets out to find answers, and the investigation leads to an unexpected place: Silo City, an abandoned silo complex that houses as many dark secrets as it does forsaken people.

Very much alive, Jared’s on a mission to save the girl he loves by collaborating with the enemy—a young, brash rock star named Lester Crow who fronts the punk metal band Blood Moon. Jared’s “deal with the devil” will take him on a cross-country journey into the heartland of darkness. The music of Blood Moon is a weapon against God, and Jared must wield this weapon while trying desperately to preserve his mind and soul from its power.

Jared and Grace are desperate to be reunited, but first, they must defeat the demonic forces arrayed against them. And pray that Jared, a Nephilim forsaken in God’s eyes, has a chance at a future. 

My review:

   I really liked the first book in this series, but this one was even better. At the end of book one, Jared, a main character, was killed off....and then it was revealed that he was not dead. Book two begins with Grace still believing he is dead.

 Detwiler has done a great job on creating some great likable characters, and character development. In my opinion, none are as likable as Jared. Half angel, half human, doomed from his birth, yet determined to do right and fight evil with all he has in him. In both books the author switches back and forth between first and third person point of view, but I Jared was only third person in the first book. In book two, he has a lot of first person point of view, which is cool as you get to see what he is thinking and going through better.

 I'll do my best to avoid giving away any spoilers, but I will say I kept wishing the author would move something along faster, but then it did make a climatic moment when it finally happened.....so I guess she knew what she was doing. :)

 This book gives an interesting look at the possible link between some kinds of music and demon possession and how the devil can use that music. I am no fan of rock music, and believe it is not for Christians, but I don't think the author is trying to say all rock music is connected to the devil and demon possession. And what happens in the book and the effects of certain kinds of music on people may not happen exactly the way it is portrayed, but it is food for thought.

 Forsaken was even more suspenseful than Forlorn, and it had its share of surprises and kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I don't know where the author is headed with Jared, who wonders if redemption for someone like him is possible and if God can love him, but I guess that will be addressed more in the next two books in the series which I am looking forward to reading when they are released.

 These are books for teen readers, so I was bothered more than usual by a few words I don't like to see in Christian books: pissed, ass, and I think damn. But overall this book and the one before are very awesome reads, and as I said in the previous book review, similar to Frank Peretti's earlier books with his battle between angels and demons.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.



About the author:

Gina Detwiler was planning to be a teacher but switched to writing so she wouldn't have to get up so early in the morning. She is the co-author with bestselling author and speaker Priscilla Shirer of The Prince Warrior series for middle grade readers. She has also written the novels Hammer of God and Avalon under the name Gina Miani.


 Check out her website: Ginadetwiler.com

Lies Men Believe by Robert Wolgemuth

Book description:

You are being hunted.

Like a seasoned angler, our enemy opens his tackle box and selects the lure most likely to attract his intended prey—usually the one you and I are least likely to consider harmful. Each lie we bite on causes us to feel pain, lose or injure relationships, and miss out on the abundant life that God wants us to have. Lies Men Believe exposes the lies that men most commonly believe, and shows you how to combat those lies with the truth.

Lies like:


Pleasure and Entertainment Can Truly Satisfy Me
If I Mean Well, That’s Good Enough
If I Discipline My Children, They’ll Rebel.
I’m Measured by How I Compare with Other Men.
Find out how lies are holding you back from freedom, joy, and intimacy with God and others. Discover the power of the truth. Because once you fully embrace the truth, nothing is ever the same.

My review:

 This book is split up into 8 sections of lies believe:

1) About God
2) About themselves
3) About sin
4) About sexuality
5) About marriage and family
6) About work and wealth
7) About circumstances
8) About the world

  None of the chapters are very long, and he mainly hits on some main points of what he discusses in that chapter. For example, one that was of particular interest to me since I have that particular struggle is chapter 19: if I experience same-sex attraction, I should pursue a same-sex relationship. This chapter, and most of the others, covers 5 brief pages. However, in those 5 pages, I feel he covered why homosexuality is wrong, and why a Christian cannot have a same-sex relationship.

 Wolgemuth does a great job covering the many other lies that men can tend to believe, and he also did a great job picking out the ones to address. I found the book an interesting read as he has a way f writing about these issues that is not at all dull and boring, and I also feel this is a book that will be helpful to any man following Christ. With the wide variety and the amount of issues addressed in the book, there is something in here for everyone.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.



About the author:

ROBERT WOLGEMUTH has been in the media business for thirty-nine years. He is former president of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the owner of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc., a literary agency exclusively representing the writing work of more than one hundred authors. Dr. Wolgemuth is a speaker and best-selling author of over twenty books, including She Calls Me Daddy, the notes to the Dad's Devotional Bible, The Most Important Place on Earth, and What's in the Bible: The Story of God Through Time and Eternity, co-written with R. C. Sproul. He is a 1969 graduate of Taylor University, where he received an honorary doctorate in May 2005. Dr. Wolgemuth is married to Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and has two grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.
 

Forlorn by Gina Detwiler

Book description:

Bad luck seems to follow Grace Fortune wherever she goes. She was orphaned at a young age, and her musical talent got her accepted to a prestigious school for the arts, where she was caught in the middle of horrific school shooting that nearly takes her life.

But then she meets gorgeous loner, Jared Lorn, and falls madly in love. There is only one problem. Jared is not exactly human. He's a Nephilim, an angel/human hybrid, descended from a cursed line of fallen angels known as the Watchers.

Having a half-demon boyfriend who's under a curse from God can be tough enough. But then Grace decides that she wants to help free Jared from the curse by killing his angel father, Azazel, who is bound up in the Abyss, where he will be judged at the End of Days.

She has a powerful ally in her guardian angel Ariel, who has given her a weapon: a Song that can tame demons. With a crew of loyal friends, Grace and Jared will travel to the ends of the earth, battling the forces of heaven and hell that seek to defeat them. Yet as their love grows stronger, they will find themselves in danger of succumbing to the very corruption that caused the Watchers' downfall.

My review:

  Gina Detwiler is a new author to me, and I was looking forward to reading and reviewing her books since I got the opportunity to do so.

 There is a passage in Genesis that talks about the sons of God coming into the daughters of men and children were borne of those unions. Much has been theorized and said about what that could mean. Many Bible scholars believe it was angels who were the sons of God. This author took that approach, and is not the first to come up with beings half angel and half human as a result of that union. These beings are referred to as Nephilim, a term that has been around for a while.

 I really enjoyed Frank Pertetti's earliest novels with tales of angels and demons fighting for and against God and God's people. This novel falls into the same category of books, but is geared for teens.

 I really enjoyed the book. Characters are important to me, and can make or break a book. Detwilwer did a great job on all of her characters, but especially the main ones who take center stage in the book. My favorite character is Jared, the 150 year old half angel/half human who looks like a teenager in appearance. Though his future looks bleak and bad, he has the desire to do right and to protect his friends, especially the girl he falls in love with. Then there us Grace - the heroine of the story, her friends Ethan, Bree, and Penny, and the self appointed guardian of Jared.....Ralph.

 There is a lot of action in the book, conversations between angels, fights among angels, demons, and manifestations of demons in people. There is definitely a spirit world, and more of a battle for our souls than we comprehend. I thought the author did a great job of portraying what that unseen world may look like.

 There are guardian angels in the book, and I liked the way the author portrayed them and how they possibly may work and act. Sure, it is the author's imagination, but it is still fascinating to read and think about.

 The book is a fast and easy read. There were times I read it on my breaks at work, and had a hard time putting it down to go back to work. Though it is written and geared for teens, I am proof that adults can enjoy it also.

 There is an ending to the book that makes you want to immediately start the next book, which I do have ready to dive into.

 This is going to be at least a 4-book series, and Forlorn is a great start to the series. I am looking forward to reading more about these characters, and the war between good and evil.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.



About the author:

Gina Detwiler was planning to be a teacher but switched to writing so she wouldn't have to get up so early in the morning. She is the co-author with bestselling author and speaker Priscilla Shirer of The Prince Warrior series for middle grade readers. She has also written the novels Hammer of God and Avalon under the name Gina Miani.

30 Days to Understanding the Bible, 30th Anniversary Edition by Max Anders....with a giveaway

Book description:

If you've ever confused the ark of the covenant with the ark of Noah, or Jericho with Jeroboam, Max Anders' classic book, 30 Days to Understanding the Bible, is for you. In just fifteen minutes a day, you'll learn the Bible's key people, events, and doctrines to get more out of God's Word. This simple-to-use, straightforward guide has been recommended by Bible teachers and pastors for thirty years, and now it's available in an expanded thirtieth anniversary edition—with the most requested topics from the original edition restored and updated for today's readers.

Features include:


The “Arc of Bible History” to help you visualize the Bible’s overarching themes
The “Story of the Bible” summarizing Genesis through Revelation in just a few pages
The core beliefs of the Christian faith, focusing on the teachings that have united Christians for the last 2,000 years
13-week plan that provides teacher’s every creative and effective tool for teaching the Bible in 30 days 
Fan-favorite bonus content, previously removed, now restored from the original edition.

My review:

  The original book has been around for 30 years, but I can't remember if I read it before or not. I have read a lot of books in my life.

 This book is more of a reference type of book, but it is written in an interesting and easy to read manner...which is not always the case with reference books.

  The book is split up into 7 sections:
The Old Testament Era
The New Testament Era
10 Great Doctrines of the Bible
NanoSummery of the Bible
How to Master the Bible so well that the Bible Masters You
Teaching Plan
Bonus Chapters

 Scattered throughout are also some self-tests and review sections. I have been familiar with the Bible for most of my life, but I still found the book informative, helpful, and interesting. It would be idea for new Christians, but it would also be good for any Christian, no matter how familiar they are with the Bible. It would also make a good Bible study book. I definitely recommend it.

Giveaway: 

 Courtesy of FlyBy Promotions, I have one copy to give away. Just comment on this post, and I will pick a winner using random.org one week from today. If you do not have a blogger account, email me using my email off to the left.

About the author:

Max Anders (Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary, D.Min. Western Seminary) is the author of over 20 books and the creator and general editor of the Holman Bible Commentary. Dr. Anders has taught on the college and seminary level, was one of the original team members with Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and has pastored for over 20 years. He is the founder and president of 7 Marks, Inc., a ministry specializing in discipleship strategies and materials for local churches.


Thanks to FlyBy Promotions for the review and giveaway copies.

Orion by Tony Ross

Book review:


David Johansen thought he'd escaped the violence of his past. He had no idea how wrong he was. Faced with a killer's deadly ultimatum, and trapped in an overcrowded, snowbound hotel, David must protect both a frightened young woman and the people of the small town he calls home...while confronting the darkest secrets of his heart. Orion is the suspenseful, page-turning sequel to the award-winning Victor: The Reloaded Edition.



My review:

  This is the second in a series of books that I have reviewed. They are different from your average Christians suspense in that they deal with cloning. It is a good different though, and I enjoyed the book a lot.

 Orion is even more suspenseful than the first book, and I would actually label it more of a thriller than just suspense. A lot happens in the book, and it is pretty much non-stop page turning suspense and drama. It is one of those types of books that I had no clue what was going to happen next, and was clueless to the who. The author did a great job of not just spinning a great story that is a nail biter, but he also showed a realistic picture of what fear in a large crowd of people can be like and what some of those people will do to protect themselves.

 The identity of the killer wasn't just a surprise to me, it was actually a shock. I truly did not see it coming. I have to give the author kudos for doing such a great job on that. Orion is truly a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

 I was given a copy of this book by a friend for the purpose of reviewing it.



About the author:

Tony Ross is an author who's not afraid of the dark.

In his first book, The Ugly Duckling's Revenge, he opens the door to his own past struggles with alcoholism and depression. He shares what God did to pull him out and offers a message of hope to readers: "If God can do it for me, He can do it for you!"

His next two books, Victor and Orion, are what Tony defines as "thrillers for thinkers," stories filled with action, adrenalin and deep spiritual meaning, stories that look into the deepest darkness of man to shine a brighter light. Victor won a silver medal for Christian Fiction in the Readers Favorite 2013 International Award Contest.

Melody's Memory is a departure from thrillers; it's a novella focusing less on suspense and action and more on the condition of the heart. Tony invites readers to open the long-locked doors of their own hearts, shine the light on what may be hidden there, and allow healing to come.

Tony is now revisiting the world he created in Victor and Orion in The Black Cat Chronicles, a series of short novellas set before Victor. He is also in the process of editing Brimstone, the third book following Victor and Orion.

When he's not writing, Tony enjoys country living, backyard campfires, recreational reading and outdoor sports. He has been a member of the ministry team at Calvary Apostolic Church in Clintonville, WI since 2004. Tony is happily married and has five children.

Dead Sea Rising, Dead Sea Chronicles #1 by Jerry Jenkins

Book description:



Nicole Berman is an archaeologist on the brink of a world-changing discovery. During her first dig in Jordan, she believes she has found concrete evidence of a biblical patriarch that could change history books forever. But someone doesn’t want the truth revealed. While urgently trying to connect pieces of an ancient puzzle, a dangerous enemy is out to stop her.



My review: 

  This is going to be a mixed review. The book was well written and interesting, as Jenkin's books always are.

  There are three stories going on in the book, and the author bounces back and forth between the three. First, there is the modern day story with the main character's mother having an accident that doesn't appear to be an accident. The second story is about her father's time fighting in Vietnam. The third story is way back B.C. centering on Abraham's father and the birth of Abraham. Maybe the next book will solve my confusion, but I was left confused at the end of the story. I kept expecting the three stories to come together and have something to do with each other, but they didn't.

 I felt the plot did not reflect the description of the book, unless I missed something. And as I said, maybe the next book will resolve that.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the author:

Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye. Jenkins has written over 185 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins now teaches writers to become authors here at his website. He and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.

Under the Midnight Sun, The Heart of Alaska #3 by Kimberly Woodhouse & Tracie Peterson

Book description:

Tayler Hale is ahead of her time as one of the first women naturalists. She has always loved adventure and the great outdoors, and her remote job location also helps keep her away from the clutches of the man to whom she once made a foolish promise. It seems she must keep running, however, and in secret, her boss from Yellowstone arranges for a new job . . . in Alaska.

The popular Curry Hotel continues to thrive in 1929 as more visitors come to Alaska and venture into the massive national park surrounding Denali. Recent graduate Thomas Smith has returned to the hotel and the people he considers family. But when a woman naturalist comes to fill the open position and he must work with her, everything becomes complicated.

The summer brings unexpected guests and trouble to Curry. With his reputation at stake, will Thomas be able to protect Tayler from the danger that follows?

My review:

  Unless you read a lot of fiction, you may not understand getting attached to fictional characters....but it happens, especially with a series. In the first book of this trilogy, the authors introduce the then late teens Thomas, a likable clumsy and gangly orphan. He had a crush on the main female character of book #1, but she had other romantic interests, and he was like a brother. The authors may not have planned it, but Thomas became the most liked character of the series, not just by me, but by other readers. This.....finally....is his story.

  Words can be overused at times, and some words used to exaggerate. Awesome may be a word that is overused, but is not an exaggeration for this book. It is no surprise, as this was a great series.

 What's to like?

The characters: 

There is the already mentioned Thomas, who has been a focused on in the other books, but becomes one of the two main characters in this story. He has to be the most likable person in these books, and there have been several. Then there is the female protagonist, Tayler, trying to make it as a woman in a man's world, and getting push-back from the young college graduate, Thomas. The budding attraction between these two who rub each other wrong for a lot of the time is enjoyable and humorous.

 Others from the previous two books are back, including the grumpy head of the hotel kitchen, Mrs Johnson, and her two would be suitors.....whose antics had me laughing out loud.

The suspense:

 This isn't suspenseful as the books I usually read, but it does have its suspenseful moments and its not-so-nice guys making an appearance. I always enjoy that in a book.

The romance:

 I may be a bachelor, but I am a romantic at heart, and have come to enjoy romance in a book, as long as it is done right and not overly gushy or unrealistic. There were actually three romances going on in this book, one that was downright hilarious (mentioned already). The main one involved the hero and heroine of the story, and it was also humorous at times, and very entertaining. I admit I was cheering on Thomas, and hoping and figuring he would get the girl. Spoiler: he does.

Christian content:

 I have never understood Christian fiction authors who avoid Christian content, or readers who don't like it - and both exist. Woodhouse and Peterson are not afraid to go there, and they go there very well in this book. The main takeaway in that area from this book is forgiveness. Via a fictional preacher, they tackle that subject well enough that I had to say "ouch". It is an area I need help in, and am undoubtedly alone in.

Plot and setting:

  This book and series was set in the early 1900's at the Curry Hotel, an actual hotel near a railroad and Mount Denali. The authors did a tremendous job of describing the hotel, mountain, and other areas. I feel it is a mark of a great author who can paint a great picture with words and cause the reader to feel they are stepping into the story and seeing what the fictional characters are seeing. And that happened in this book, and the previous two. It caused me to wish I could visit that area some day.

  The Heart of Alaska was a great read, and a true treat to enjoy. I was sad to see it end, but Under the Midnight Sun brought the series to a truly great and satisfying end, and left the recurring characters in a great place to end the book. I definitely recommend this book, and the whole series.

 I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the authors: 

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than fifteen fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she's shared her theme of "Joy Through Trials" with more than half a million people across the country at more than 2,000 events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She's passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story. You can connect with Kimberley on her website and at www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAuthor.

Tracie Peterson (www.traciepeterson.com) is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 100 novels. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.


 Under the Midnight Sun, and the other two books in the Heart of Alaska Series is available from Bethny House Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.