Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones

And just in time for the release of the new Twilight movie comes a review of TOUCHED BY A VAMPIRE: DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN MESSAGES IN THE TWILIGHT SAGA.

I was a little worried when I agreed to review this book, because I had read a book about Harry Potter that equaled Harry Potter to Christ because they both went through the heroic journey. Yes, that is ridiculous, and I was afraid I was headed for that kind of nonsense with this book. I was so relieved that I was wrong. First, let me say that I haven't read the Twilight book and I probably never will. I tried to watch the movie with my teen daughter, but I was bored out of my mind and found I really didn't care about the characters. And, as always, the books appear to be better than the movies.

Anyway, on to the book review. I like about the way Jones goes about discussing the series. She gives an overview of the books, then breaks into themes and discusses the themes one by one. Yes, she covers them all. And she is very honest about it. There is a lot of talk about how the characters in the series wait for marriage to have sex, but their relationship is just as unhealthy by the way they do give into their passions. She makes some valid points about the series and had I read this book first, I wouldn't have started my teen daughter on the series.

Another thing that Jones does is compare the themes with scripture. So, this is a great book for youth leaders and parents a like to have discussions with their teens and preteens.

Let me also add, that Jones doesn't bash the series in her book. She has read the stories and understands the phenomena, but she is also honest in her assessment and conversational in her style.

There are a lot of Christians singing the praises of this series, but I think if they stepped back and took an honest look at what the books are really saying, they may not be as zealot.




About the book:


EXAMINING TWILIGHT THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS. People around the world are asking the same question, enraptured with Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl’s relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his “good” side. But the Saga isn’t just another fantasy–it’s teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God’s plan for love?

Touched by a Vampire is the first book to investigate the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer’s Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and pop culture enthusiasts. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

You can purchase the book by going here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422781

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

THIRSTY by Tracey Bateman is an intense book about addiction. Yes, there is a vampire subplot, which is one of its selling points in this vampire crazed world, but as with any "horror" novel, you have to look at the underlying themes and this one is addiction and breaking from that addiction. While some people may pick this book up thinking it's a Christian version of Twilight, it is not. This is a thriller book that has it's own place on the shelves.

About the book:

There's no place like home, they say.

"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

Get the book: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307457158

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Eternity Falls
Marcher Lord Press (October 1, 2009)
by
Kirk Outerbridge
I enjoyed reading this book. It was exciting, with a lot of action and not a lot of romance, even though there is some. This is the type of book that boys will love to read with all of the different villains and gadgets. This is a good publishing credit for Marcher Lord Press and it's easy to see how they are making a different mark in the market place.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kirk Outerbridge developed a passion for storytelling at an early age. Through years of reading Fantasy and Science Fiction novels, comics, table top gaming and watching endless hours Japanese anime, he developed a keen sense for what made stories enjoyable and more importantly—what didn’t.

While pursuing an engineering degree in college, Kirk endeavored to tell his own stories, choosing writing as the easiest and cheapest medium to master—or so he thought. Several years and several hundred thousand words later, he produced a Sci-fi trilogy that shall never (God willing) see the light of day, but that did teach him much needed lessons about the craft of writing fiction.

After college Kirk returned to his homeland of Bermuda where he reunited with his childhood friend and future wife, Ria. But before marrying his lovely wife, Kirk entered an even greater marriage and devoted his life to Christ in 2002.

With a new found direction in life, writing fell by the wayside but the urge to tell futuristic stories never left. After much prayer and contemplation, Kirk purposed his writing for God’s Will, seeking to draw to Christ those who shared his passions for all things futuristic and Sci-fi.

Kirk currently lives with his wife Ria and 18 month old son Miles in beautiful Bermuda. He is a faithful member of the Church of Christ and is a professional engineer employed by the government.



ABOUT THE BOOK

In the future, death is only a problem if you can’t afford the price. Such is the promise of Gentec Corporation’s “Miracle Treatment”, a genetic anti-aging elixir that grants eternal life—or does it?

When a Gentec client suddenly dies of natural causes, the powers that be will stop at nothing to ensure their version of eternity remains unchallenged; even if it means concocting a religious sabotage conspiracy to cover a lie.

With the media about to blow the story wide open, the credibility of Gentec and the lives of millions of clients rest on one man’s ability to uncover the truth.
Enter detective Rick Macey, religious counterterrorist expert and Gentec executive Sheila Dunn’s last hope for salvation.

Now with the clock ticking and the corporate brass seeking their own solution at any cost, Macey must track down a religious zealot out to destroy the Miracle Treatment for good.

But when Macey finds himself not only falling for his client, but confronted with the possibility that the culprit could hold a connection to his shaded past, the truth suddenly becomes a dangerous thing.

Only through a test of faith can he stop the crisis before it’s all too late and eternity falls.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Eternity Falls, go HERE

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner is an amazing writer. She has the literary touch that is so needed in the industry. Her characters have depth and the plot is driven by those characters, not the other way around. The teenagers are true-to-life and yet the problems the parents endure while trying to appear that they have it all together ring of truth as well. But while there are problems at home, there is also another plot line happening with the Holocaust survivors. This didn't cause a problem for me because real life often has many things going on at once, but I can see where this could aggrevate some readers. They mights say, "Well, which things is this book about?" And I answer, "It's about all of those things and those things boil down to family. The story is about family, the dream of having a family, a little white house, and (yes, you guessed it) a white picket fence. My wife and I both read this book and both believe it's one of the best we've read. You have to check this book out for yourself. There's a little more about the book below.

About the book:

Amanda Janvier’s idyllic home seems the perfect place for her niece Tally to stay while her vagabond brother is in Europe, but the white picket fence life Amanda wants to provide is a mere illusion. Amanda’s husband Neil refuses to admit their teenage son Chase, is haunted by the horrific fire he survived when he was four, and their marriage is crumbling while each looks the other way.

Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.

Readers of emotional dramas that are willing to explore the lies that families tell each other for protection and comfort will love White Picket Fences. The novel is ideal for those who appreciate exploring questions like: what type of honesty do children need from their parents, or how can one move beyond a past that isn’t acknowledged or understood? Is there hope and forgiveness for the tragedies of our past and a way to abundant grace?

Author Bio:
Susan Meissner cannot remember a time when she wasn’t driven to put her thoughts down on paper. Her novel The Shape of Mercy was a Publishers Weekly pick for best religious fiction of 2008 and a Christian Book Award finalist. Susan and her husband live in Southern California, where he is a pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. They are the parents of four grown children.

You can get the book at https://exchange.nccsc.k12.in.us/owa/redir.aspx?C=af1d8818712d417d8e4b60432f32d604&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.randomhouse.com%2fcatalog%2fdisplay.pperl%3fisbn%3d9781400074570%26ref%3dexternallink_wbp_whitepicketfences_sec_0916_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

One Fine Season by Michael Sheehan

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
One Fine Season
AuthorHouse (November 25, 2008)
by
Michael Sheehan

When I first read about this book and signed up for the review, I thought it was a perfect fit for me. I love Christian fiction. I love baseball. And here the two were together. However, you can't judge a book by its cover. While there is a positive message to the book, I was troubled by quite a bit. To begin with, I had a hard time getting pass all of the grammatical errors in the book. Then there were moments when the book seemed to go against Biblical teachings and there is a lot of cussing in the book. I have never had any luck with a self-published book and I wish I had known it was from the beginning. The blurb below sounds good, but I really can't recommend this book. And it's not often that I do that. I think the last time I didn't recommend a book was for a self-published book. I guess there's something to say for the traditional route to publishing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Sheehan is CEO and founder of BioResource, a company that distributes natural remedies including the popular INFLAMYAR ointment for sports injuries. He wrote One Fine Season to honor the memories of two childhood friends who died young, before they could realize their dreams.

One Fine Season is true to life. It draws on Sheehan’s religious education at a Catholic seminary and his experience as a high school baseball and collegiate soccer player. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Sheehan also earned a master’s degree in science journalism from Boston University. He lives in Northern California.


ABOUT THE BOOK

ONE FINE SEASON tells the story of a promising young athlete who must rise from the ashes of devastating personal loss to fulfill a pact made years earlier with his best friend.

Best friends Pete O’Brien and Danny Grace are gifted college athletes, both hoping for careers as professional baseball players. When tragedy strikes, Danny struggles to cope with his overwhelming grief and fulfill a pact the young men made years earlier: to play in the World Series.

Events unexpectedly thrust Danny into the spotlight with the new expansion team in Sacramento. Three guides – an aging catcher, spiritual centerfielder and wise manager – plus a beautiful woman lead him on a healing journey, revealing that even death cannot break the bonds of true friendship.

If you would like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of One Fine Season, go HERE

A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Slow Burn
Zondervan (October 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth
You should never judge a book by its cover, because I thought this book was an historical romance, but it's not. According to my wife, it's a modern-day thrill that is full of suspense. The message that we all need to love more and definitely love the unlovable resonates throughout. The writing is fast and engaging. When she said the book was little literary, I thought that meant it was slow and meandering, but that's not what she meant at all. The themes and depth of character are more than just the run of the mill book, and this is a book that stays with you after you are done. It is the second book in the series, so check it out for yourself. Hope you enjoy it as much as she did.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. She's also taught in Germany, Austria, Monaco, Italy, France, and the United States. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.



ABOUT THE BOOK


She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.


Watch the video:



If you would like to read the first chapter of A Slow Burn, go HERE

Shadow Government by Grant R. Jeffrey

Nothing scares me more than the actual news and watching the path our government takes.  For everyone that believes big government is just getting bigger and we’ll soon be living in a police state, then Shadow Government by Grant Jeffrey is a book you will want to read.  People give up freedoms for safety.  We keep giving and the government keeps taking.  And even scarier, the government also takes without our permission.  Do I want them watching and listening to some group who might blow up a skyscraper or airport?  Sure.  Do I want them listening to me and my neighbors?  No.  This is not the U.S.S.R.  But sadly, it’s where we’re heading.  Not just in this country, but in the world.  The stage is being set and prepared for the antichrist, and Jeffrey does an excellent job of showing the steps and technology that the antichrist will use.  If you feared this was going on, then your fears are founded and you don’t want to miss this book.

About the book:

Security cameras, surveillance of private financial transactions, radio frequency spy chips hidden in consumer products, eavesdropping on e-mail correspondence and phone calls, and Internet tracking. No one is protected, and privacy is a thing of the past. 

An ultra-secret global elite, functioning as a very real shadow government, controls technology, finance, international law, world trade, political power, and vast military capabilities. These unnamed, unrivaled leaders answer to no earthly authority, and they won’t stop until they control the world.

In Shadow Government, prophecy expert Grant Jeffrey removes the screen that, up to now, has hidden the work of these diabolical agents. Jeffrey reveals the biblical description of Satan’s global conquest and identifies the tools of technology that the Antichrist will use to rule the world.

Readers will have their eyes opened to the real power that is working behind the scenes to destroy America and merge it into the coming global government. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to face spiritual darkness with the light of prophetic truth.

About the author:

Grant R. Jeffrey is the internationally known prophecy researcher, Mideast expert, and author of Countdown to the Apocalypse, The New Temple and the Second Coming, The Next World War, and twenty other best-selling books. He is also the editor of the Prophecy Study Bible. His popular television program, Bible Prophecy Revealed, airs weekly on TBN. Jeffrey earned his master’s and PhD degrees from Louisiana Baptist University. He and his wife, Kaye, live in Toronto.

Get the book: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074426&ref=externallink_wbp_shadowgovernment_sec_0908_01

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.