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Book Reviews

An Exciting New Read from Morgan Busse

In this steampunk novel, we meet Kat Bloodmayne, a young, smart and beautiful woman who has powers she doesn’t understand, powers she can’t control. This “monster” as she calls it, can start fires and throw people and objects across the room. She wants to be cured of whatever this is. …

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The Liberation: A Review

In this sequel to The First Principle, Marissa Shrock writes one of the best Christian speculative novels I’ve read in a long time. Shrock keeps us right with her heroine, Vivica Wilkins, from page one to the climax. We are with Vivica as she enters a new world of being …

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Dead Wake

The sinking of the Lusitania was one of the incidents that helped propel the United States into World War I. A luxury liner loaded with civilians sunk by a German submarine. In Dead Wake, Erik Larson tells the story of the ship, the crew, and the passengers of the greyhound …

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A Dangerous Place

I’ve shared that among my favorite authors is Jacqueline Winspear and her Maisie Dobbs series. So it was with great anticipation I opened Winspear’s newest novel, #11 in the series, A Dangerous Place. My first reaction—now for something completely different… The beginning feels like a cheat at first read. Several …

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Unbroken

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is the heart-rending, gut-wrenching biography of Olympic runner and WW II veteran Louis Zamperini. From his delinquent adolescence through his harrowing experiences as a prisoner of war to his redemption at a Billy Graham crusade, Hillenbrand tells Zamperini’s story, flaws and heroism, bravery and failures, without …

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A World Flipped Upside Down

The First Principle A Novel Marissa Shock Vivica Wilkins is sixteen years old, and a bit of a rebel. She has hacked her school’s computer network so her fellow students can exchange messages without the school knowing. For the right price, she can get into the grading system and change …

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The Rising, A Review

The Rising is a contemporary suspense novel by Lynn Chandler Willis Detective Ellie Saunders’ world is flipped on its axis when the homicide victim in her latest case, a six-year-old boy, comes back to life. The case becomes a life-threatening adventure in finding out who the little boy is and who …

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One of the Best Writing Books

I’ve just finished reading one of the best books on the writing craft I’ve ever read. Story Trumps Structure is an insightful, quick-moving discussion of writing from the perspective of an organic writer, Steven James http://www.stevenjames.net. This is a great book for people who don’t like to outline, who may find …

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A Novel That Cranks Up the Excitement

This week I want to invite you into the exciting world of Firewall, DiAnn Mills’ latest romantic suspense novel. Taryn Young is super-computer geek, writing programs to strengthen the US economy. As she is about to leave on her honeymoon after a whirlwind courtship of three months, a bomb destroys the airport …

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The Canary List Is Not a Story for the Birds

Jaimie Piper is a twelve-year-old girl with a powerful gift that is driving her crazy. She can detect evil in other people. This dark, overwhelming force has tormented her for years. When its latest manifestation threatens, she turns to her favorite teacher, Crocket Grey, for help. His efforts to help …

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