Fiction Chicks

From the minds of multi-million selling suspense authors Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker comes House--an epic supernatural thriller that gives a new meaning to the phrase "haunted house."

In rural Alabama, two couples find themselves in a fight for survival. Running from a maniac bent on killing them, they flee deep into the woods and seek refuge in a house. They soon realize the killer has purposely lured them to this house and that they are now trapped. As they huddle around an old fireplace, a tin can falls through the chimney. Scrawled on its side is a message from the killer, establishing his House Rules. The rules call for their deaths unless they kill at least one of the four.

They have less than 12 hours to find a way to survive. At sunrise the game is over and everyone dies if the killer's demands aren't met. What they quickly learn is that the only way out . . . is in. But going further into this house--where unknown challenges await them--is equally deadly.


April's thoughts...Ted Dekker is one of my favorite authors and this novel does not disappoint. (And adding Frank Peretti in there just makes it all that much better.) I enjoy his books because they are so on the cutting edge! You think to yourself, "A Christian author wrote this?" It is so refreshing to have an author write and you really don't know what is coming.

This is a supernatural thriller that mostly takes place in one setting, the house. While I would not let my children read this, as they may have nightmares, it is a thrilling read. Just be sure to keep the lights on! And if you are prone to fear, especially with being afraid of the dark or being home alone, I would caution you on this one.

5 out of 5 rating from me. And be sure to check out the trailer for the movie at www.teddekker.com if you dare!

You'll have to turn your brain-o on for this one, unless you're an engineer like my husband is, but it's a very engaging, albeit technical, read. Here you'll follow Dillon, Rachel, and Keryn as they face a race-for-time to finish a project that has the potential to change the world of security as we know it. I'm not going to give away any suprises, but the drawn-out ending will have you guessing (and finding it a bit predictable after a bit). A meaty mystery, that's very worth the time!
My rating - 4 out of 5 stars, only because I had to skip and bounce around the techno-speak some.

It's the year A.D. 57...Jerusalem teeters on the brink of revolt against Rome. James - the brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jewish-Christian community - has an enemy in high places. And two very strange friends...Rivka Meyers and her husband, Ari Kazan, don't belong. Not in this city. Not in this century. Rivka is a Messianic Jewish archaelogist from California. Ari is an Israeli physicist slowly coming to grips with his Jewish heritage - and the Christianity he was raised with. Both are now trapped in first-century Jerusalem by a physics experiment gone horribly wrong.
(Back cover, Premonition)

Premonition is actually the second book in a series (the third book is reviewed below: Retribution). The first book, Transgression, is out of print, and while I would love to read it to see the premises of this story, the author assures us that it isn't necessary to read the first one, and I found this to be true. (Warning - there are some adult situations addressed in this story and it's follow-up, so please use discretion when recommending this to a young person.)

A fascinating and educational walk through the first century...

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

The third book in this series, Retribution is a continuation of the previous story. We catch up with Rivka and Ari and their friends for dramatic and shocking historical sequences that will hold you fast. If you read Premonition, don't miss this sequel!

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

If you have not read anything by Rene Gutteridge, you are missing out. I began by reading the Boo series, and was hooked on her writing with the first book. She writes great, unique stories, and cracks me up along the way. I really enjoy her writing style.

That said, I found My Life as a Doormat to be a bit different from her previous books. I enjoyed it, but not as much as Boo. The story follows the emotions and actions of Leah, a frustrated playwright, who is at a crossroads with her current beau, the dull, dependable Edward. When she shows up at his stodgy business party in an uncharacteristic, impulsively-purchased-very-pink dress, he signs her up for a conflict-management class. Thus begins a busy story that will hold your interest, but might make you wish that the end came a bit sooner than it does.

One of the things that I adore about the author's stories are her supporting characters. She holds no punches, and makes them as fun and interesting as the main characters (sometimes more so!). This holds true in My Life as a Doormat, Leah's latest heroine, Jodie Bellarosa, a creative, fun, and welcome diversion. I also thought that although Leah's mother drove her up the wall, I enjoyed her appearances in the story from time to time!

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars - fun story...just a bit thin...Make sure you read Boo, though!

"What would you die for? That's the question suddenly thrust upon a small band of women and children in Bosnia at the close of World War II. When a group of bitter soldiers stumble upon their peaceful village, they suddenly face an insidious evil, and the ultimate test. It is then, in the midst of chaos and pain that the Martyr's Song is first heard. It is then that the window into heaven first opens. It is then that love and beauty are shown in breathtaking reality. You have in your hands the story and the song that changed...everything."
(Back cover of book, The Martyr's Song)

In a surprisingly short story, you'll walk with the selfless, but physically weak Father Michael, the sweet, crippled birthday girl Nadia, and her brave mother, Marie. You'll grit your teeth at the wicked Karadzik, and find yourself begging Janjic for his help. You'll wonder with Marci, the schoolgirl and weep with Eve, the storyteller.

Maybe, because of this story within a story, you just might see yourself in one of the characters. And maybe someday you might hear for yourself the Martyr's Song...

(This book comes with a CD with a recording of "The Martyr's Song", recorded by Todd Agnew, an interview with Ted Dekker, and an advance excerpt of Dekker's upcoming book, Showdown.)

My rating - 5 out of 5 stars. I can't think of a reason someone shouldn't read this story.

Just a reminder to myself of the list of books that I wanted to review soon. If anyone is interested in one (or more) in particular, make sure you comment, and I'll do it first.

A Man Called Blessed, Bill Bright and Ted Dekker
Bad Heiress Day, Allie Pleiter
Premonition and Retribution, Randal Ingermanson
Double Vision, Randall Ingermanson
The Martyr's Song, Ted Dekker
My Life as a Doormat (in Three Acts), Rene Gutteridge

"Madeline Weaver is putting everything on the line. Her hometown is dying, and she will stop at nothing to save it. Using her fortune to buy up the town's land, she holds a national contest to give away the property, piece by piece. As modern-day pioneers apply for a place in Madeline's hyper-controlled world, she chooses only those who spark her interest and seem suited to her own designs.

There's an egotistical banker from Manhattan, a Jewish retired couple from Phoenix, a hometown boy turned cop, and a family from Arkansas running away from grief. In spite of Madeline's best efforts, the lives of these new residents quickly weave together in ways completely out of her control.

Now faced with long-buried secrets, Madeline finds herself at
the ultimate crossroads, where she must make the most difficult decision of her life..."

Thus shares the back of this most recent read of mine...And the concept held my attention, but not without my grumbling along the way:
~Did every family have to have someone who was not liking the changes?
~Couldn't we read about a winning family who was utterly thrilled and fulfilled by it all?
~There were more gaps in the story than I wanted - I wanted to see the interviews, know more about the town and the jobs that were available. I wanted to PICTURE more.

But for the most part, the creativity of the story-line did hold me - it was unique and most of the characters were enjoyable, although some were more thinly developed than others. Seth's character (the cop), for one, was a bit boring and unnecessary; but if the author had decided to share more about Seth's "work" as the sheriff in a town where crime was minimal, it could have been a very enjoyable character to read about.

[Spoiler Warning:] One more thing. As I rate books, I will on occasion note whether or not the particular book is appropriate for younger readers or not. Having 2 daughters that read voraciously (and they're always intrigued with what I'm reading), I pay particular attention to content in this light as I read. I anticipate some debate on this from time to time, because I'm sure that some will find some topics appropriate for their kids, where I will not, and vice versa. That's life, and I think we can still get along, don't you?

In light of this, I want to mention that there is a particular topic in this story-line (adultery) that I would want to keep away from my daughters' minds. I don't want seeds of interest or knowledge planted at this young age (or ever, but the topic is inevitable at some point!), and while there was repentance demonstrated, I viewed it as only partial-repentance, and therefore not complete enough for any redemptive value in my mind.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Worth a read, but be prepared for some plot and character disappointments.

I am excited for this group. I love to read and am always looking for a good recommendation! Can't wait hear from my fellow fiction chicks.

--April