Illuminated by Matt Brownleewe, Reviewed
October 26, 2007
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band Jars of Clay, has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. His songs have recently been recorded by Disney pop sensations Aly & AJ, American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and more. Bronleewe has worked with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Michael W. Smith, International pop singer Natalie Imbruglia and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Bronleewe was raised on a farm in Kansas, where he lived until he left for college in 1992. At Greenville College in Illinois, Bronleewe formed the band Jars of Clay with his dorm roommate and two neighbors, and the group soon found success. Though Bronleewe opted to leave Jars of Clay early on to pursue an academic career, he soon found himself in Nashville, co-writing, producing, and playing music professionally.
To add to his list of accomplishments, Bronleewe has expanded his love of story telling beyond music into authorship. He is currently penning a 5 book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. Illuminated, in stores now, begins the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within.
Bronleewe currently resides in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers through his church to help disadvantaged youth in the community. Bronleewe enjoys reading, taste-testing good food and watching sports, as well as indulging his interests in art, architecture, design and science.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
IT’S BEEN 500 YEARS IN THE MAKING…PREPARE TO BE ILLUMINATED…
August Adams has failed his family before. He’s sacrificed relationships in pursuit of adventure, fame, and money. Now the very lives of those he loves depend on his ability to decipher a centuries-old puzzle encrypted in the colorful hand-painted illuminations that adorn three rare Gutenberg Bibles.
It’s a secret that could yield unimaginable wealth, undermine two major religions, and change the course of Western civilization. Two ruthless, ancient organizations are willing to do anything to get their hands on it. And August has the span of one transatlantic flight to figure it out.
If he fails, those he holds most dear will die. If he succeeds, he’ll destroy a national treasure.
The clock ticks, the suspense mounts, and the body count rises as August pits his knowledge and his love for his family against the clock, secret societies, and even Johannes Gutenberg himself.
“…this rare breed of suspense thriller combines mysterious hidden clues, secret societies, buried treasure, double agents, and the Knights Templar…if you turned National Treasure into international treasure, traded DaVinci codes for Gutenberg Bibles, married it to Indiana Jones, and added the pacing of 24 you’d be in the neighborhood of Illuminated…on a scale of one to 10, this one goes to 11.”
-Aspiring Retail Magazine
Sally Says: Well, you know me. I really hate having to give less than glowing reviews, but that’s what I need to do here.
This book was advertised as a Christian-style DaVinci Code without all the heresy. Frankly I enjoyed the suspense half of The DaVinci Code until said heresy started halfway through the book. So I was intrigued by Illuminated. But it just didn’t deliver.
I think the plot overall was good, but the book felt underdeveloped. Underdeveloped in character and in drama and suspense. Scenes and action were too short instead of being drawn out for their full impact. And sometimes the dialogue was too bantering between a hostage and villain. I found that not quite believable.
If you’re the type of person who reads only action-driven books, then Illuminated may be for you. It’s full of action, full of movement. But I guess my tastes run more to character-driven stories that still have a strong plot in them. So I was disappointed. I hate saying that because I know how hard it is to write a book, much less publish it, but there it is. My take, for what it’s worth.
Francine Rivers’ Interview
October 23, 2007
Those of you who are fans of Francine Rivers should check out today’s interview with her on Novel Journey. They’re giving away two copies of the latest re-release of Redeeming Love. You’ll need to join their newsletter to be in the running, but they’re worth signing up for if you’re a fan of Christian fiction.
Crimson Eve by Brandilyn Collins, Reviewed
October 19, 2007
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e…® ” She’s so well known in the industry there’s actually a club for her non-readers. That’s right. The Big Honkin’ Chickens Club (BHCC) members are proud of the fact that they’re too wimpy to read Brandilyn’s intense fiction. Now and then one of them tries. Bribing works pretty well. (Just ask Deb Raney.) Somehow they live to tell the tale.
Brandilyn writes for Zondervan, the Christian division of HarperCollins Publishers, and is currently at work on her 17th book. Her first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.
She’s also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons), and often teaches at writers conferences. Brandilyn blogs at Forensics and Faith.
Visit her website to read the first chapters of all her books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Carla stared at the gun and David Thornby—or whatever his name was. Her mind split in two, one side pleading this was some sick joke, the other screaming it was all too real.
“Please. You must have the wrong person. There’s no reason for someone to want me dead. I don’t have any enemies.”
“Then you’d best rethink your friends.”
Realtor Carla Radling shows an “English gentleman” a lakeside estate—and finds herself facing a gun. Who has hired this assassin to kill her, and why?
Forced on the run, Carla must uncover the scathing secrets of her past. Secrets that could destroy some very powerful people…
Brandilyn Collins fans and reviewers are saying Crimson Eve is her best book yet:
“Collins tops herself by creating a suspenseful nonstop thrill ride … Truly the best Christian Fiction suspense title so far this year.”
– Library Journal, starred review“Crimson Eve is Collins at her very best. It left me feeling as if I’d climbed Mount Everest without oxygen … I didn’t think Brandilyn could outdo herself after reading Coral Moon. She did.”
–TitleTrakk.com“I’ve never edited a more tightly crafted, deftly woven, compellingly written book.” –a Crimson Eve editor, with 20 years experience
“This is your best book! I could not stop reading!” – one of many readers with similar responses
Read about Violet Dawn and Coral Moon, books one and two in the Kanner Lake series.
Do you know someone who’s never read a Brandilyn Collins novel? Surely no such person exists. However, should you scrounge up such a friend—someone who enjoys suspense—here’s a special offer from Brandilyn. Be among the first 50 people between now and October 21, 2007 to e-mail her assistant at gayle.brandilyncollins@gmail.com with the person’s name, e-mail address and street address. (Due to exorbitant overseas mailing costs, United States residents only, please).
A signed copy of Crimson Eve will be sent to your friend—free—along with an e-mail from Brandilyn announcing the book is on its way, courtesy of you. (Don’t worry. Brandilyn won’t spam these email addresses. She just wants your friend to know who to thank.) No worries that this story is third in the Kanner Lake series. Each book stands alone. Brandilyn is convinced your friend will so love Crimson Eve, he/she will surely reciprocate with expensive chocolate.
Sally Says: I really enjoyed Crimson Eve, and this book is a bit different than Brandilyn’s usual stories. It’s a real suspense where you think you know the whole story, but you discover more and more as you read on. This one really was fun.
There are two (or maybe three or more) sides out there that say Christian fiction needs the salvation message in there and a big takeaway and others who think Christian fiction is just Christian writers who write fiction. I suppose I’m somewhere in between. I don’t need a specific message in the books I read. I read Christian fiction because I can get a great, clean story — emphasis on the clean. And Crimson Eve is light on the Christian content. Is that bad? Nope. I don’t think so.
But it is heavy on suspense, although not as intense as all of her other suspense books. If you’ve been hesitant to try Brandilyn’s books, this is a great one to start with.
On a Side Note: As for my repeated absence here, sigh. We had another day or so of internet trouble, but the main problem is that I’m just plain busy. I’m working part time at a major bookstore chain and enjoying that, and then I’m working very part time at my local library, as a substitute librarian really.
I’ve now worked in every aspect of the book business (publisher, library, bookstore) except the writing end. Well, I’ve done that too, just haven’t been paid for my book writing yet. I’d love to see that change this year, but God knows when and if that’ll happen so I’m fine shelving other people’s books for now.
So I’m trying to get back to being consistent on blogging. Have a backlog of blog entries I want to get out there. We’ll see how that goes.
Nobody by Creston Mapes, Reviewed
October 11, 2007
Creston Mapes is a talented storyteller whose first two novels, Dark Star and Full Tilt, made him a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards and the Inspirational Readers Choice awards. Creston has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries, including Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Oracle, Focus on the Family, and In Touch Ministries. Committed to his craft and his family, Creston makes his home in Georgia with his wife, Patty, and their four children.He’s been married for twenty-one years to the girl he first loved way back in fourth grade. They have three lovely girls and a boy in a very close-knit family, spending a lot of time together – watching old classic movies, going on outings, and taking in various school and community events and activities. Creston loves to go for morning walks with his dog, read, paint watercolors, meet friends for coffee and Bible study, watch hockey, take his wife on dates, and spend time in God’s Word.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Not everything that happens in Vegas has to stay in Vegas!
They said, “He’s a nobody.”
They were dead wrong.
When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.
His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation–and perhaps a chunk of the money–into his own hands?
With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious dead man, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.
Uncovering bizarre links between a plane crash, a Las Vegas pit boss, a dirty cop, and a widowed Atlanta business mogul, Hudson is forced to find out: who was Chester Holte, what was he doing on the streets, and why are his homeless friends convinced he was an angel in disguise?
“Nobody was absolutely riveting from the opening scene to the final page. With compelling characters, a plot that surprised me at every turn, and a subtle, yet profound message that moved me to tears, this book goes straight to the top of my highly recommended list.”
- Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Within This Circle“A taut, entertaining novel of mystery, intrigue, and spiritual truth. Creston Mapes delivers a winner in Nobody.”
- James Scott Bell, bestselling author of No Legal Grounds and Try Dying“Nobody had me fascinated from the first paragraph and kept the surprises coming to the very end. Somehow, as the pages flew by, it also managed to convey a beautiful picture of faith the size of a mustard seed. From now on I’ll read anything by Creston Mapes the instant it hits the shelves.”
- Athol Dickson, Christy Award—winning author of River Rising and The Cure
Sally Says: The characters in this book get very little sleep throughout the story — interesting because if you choose to read the book, you’ll get very little sleep, too.
This was a fantastic book. I’ve read all three of Creston’s books and was really blown away by his first two, but this one just might be my favorite. If you like a mystery or suspense, you’ll enjoy this book. It’s a blend of both, and it works so well. The story is fast-paced, and there’s just no place to put it down. I really loved it.
I will say that I didn’t care for the way the church in the book reached the lost of Las Vegas — by becoming gambling dealers and such themselves. Yes, we need to go out and reach those who need God, but I don’t agree that working in a place like a casino in order to reach the lost is the way to do it. The whole “avoid all appearance of evil” thing comes to my mind right off the bat. So that was the one aspect of the story that disappointed me.
Other than that, Nobody is one of the most fun, riveting books I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it.
Side Note: Sorry I’ve been so absent this week. We’ve had no internet access for a couple days. But we survived.
American Christian Fiction Writers on CBD’s Website
October 4, 2007
The Saturday night awards banquet at the ACFW conference was really something special. After an incredible steak and a super-rich chocolate dessert very few of us could finish (rats), there were two straight hours of awards.
Of course there was the Genesis contest of which I was a part of, but there were also awards for Book of the Year based on different categories — suspense, romance, historical, etc.
I told my husband that I’d never seen an organization that did a great job of blending industry professionals with those like me who are hoping to become the next industry professionals. The winners of one category after another received their awards and gave their short thank-you speeches just like those award shows on TV that I never watch. But it was fun to see people I’ve read be honored for their work and become emotional at receiving a Book of the Year award.
And now CBD has a webpage that shows all the books that placed and won in each of their categories. It also lists all the unpubbed writers who placed and won in the Genesis contest. If you’d like to check it out, here’s the link.
The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck, Reviewed
October 3, 2007
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristin Billerbeck was born in Redwood City, California. She went to San Jose State University and majored in Advertising, then worked at the Fairmont Hotel in PR, a small ad agency as an account exec, and then,
she was thrust into the exciting world of shopping mall marketing. She got married, had four kids, and started writing romance novels until she found her passion: Chick Lit. She is a CBA bestselling author and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year. Featured in the New York Times and USA Today, Kristin has appeared on the Today Show for her pioneering role in Christian chick lit.
Her last three books were:
Split Ends: Sometimes the End is Really the Beginning (April 17, 2007)
She’s Out of Control (Ashley Stockingdale Series #1) (Nov 13, 2007)
Calm, Cool & Adjusted (Spa Girls Series #3) (Oct 1, 2006)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Haley Cutler is the consummate trophy wife. Perhaps “was” is the more accurate term. Haley married Prince Charming when she was only twenty years old – back in the day when highlights came from an afternoon at the beach, not three hours in the salon.
When Jay first turned his eye to Haley, she was putty in his slender, graceful hands. No one ever treated her like she was important, and on the arm of Jay Cutler, she became someone people listened to and admired. Unfortunately, after seven years of marriage, her Prince Charming seems to belong to the Henry the XIII line of royalty. When Haley loses Jay, she not only loses her husband, she loses her identity.
With her first independent decision, Haley leaves LA and moves home to Northern California. Feeling freedom just within her grasp, Haley learns that her settlement payments must go through one of Jay’s financial advisors, Hamilton Lowe. Haley believes he’s nothing more than a spy. And the feelings of distrust are mutual. Yet somehow, Hamilton finds himself handing over the monthly checks in person, and Haley can’t deny that there’s a kind of tenderness and protectiveness in Hamilton that she’s never experienced in a man before.
But before Haley can even consider another relationship, she must learn to accept her inherent worth, and what it is to be loved for who she is, not what’s on the outside.
Sally Says:
The more I read of Kristin Billerbeck, the bigger of a fan I become. The Trophy Wives Club has got to be one of her best books ever because, even though it’s chick lit, it touches on a lot of deep, real life issues that we can all relate to. Billerbeck just doesn’t pull any punches in her writing.
And she’s also incredibly good at capturing the culture of an area and making it intrinsic to the story. If you’ve read her Ashley Stockingdale series or her Spa Girls series, you’ll remember that they take place in Silicon Valley, and she totally captures the lifestyle of that area. She does it again here with a book set in LA and dealing with the behind-the-scenes people in showbiz. I’m not a big TV/movie buff, but I found TTWC a wonderful read because of how authentic her characters are. If you’re a fan of women’s fiction or chicklit, you’ll really enjoy The Trophy Wives Club.