Book Review: Singularity by Steven James

Singularity

By Steven James

ISBN: 9780800734268

$14.99 paperback

$9.99 ebook

From the Publisher: Jevin Banks is searching for a killer--and answers to terrifying questions he never even thought to ask.

When his friend is murdered, illusionist Jevin Banks is determined to find out what really happened. Drawn deep into a web of conspiracy and top-secret research on human consciousness, Jevin won't stop digging until the truth is revealed. Soon he uncovers a dark secret that could change the very fabric--and future--of human life on the planet.

Based on frightening scientific realities and bristling with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, Singularity is the riveting sequel to Placebo.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of the Patrick Bowers series and was a bit worried that Jevin Banks would be a clone to my fav FBI coffee snob. In some ways, a little bit; and mostly, not so much. Banks is still one of those males who can be a bit clueless, needing the help of the women in his life to figure out—yep, women; he still has a cocky sidekick for protection. He’s not a professional crime fighter, which makes him different. As an illusionist, there’s a little bit of Patrick Jane from the Mentalist TV show involved…intriguing. As a multi-millionaire, he has the ability to do things, to make things happen, that most others cannot.

I also admit to having Placebo in my TBR pile and decided not to read that one first. Although James refers to events in the other book, Singularity felt like it stood alone. Gruesome but never over-the-top to thriller fans, with non-judgmental faith elements mixed in, the story was about who gets to play God with the aging process. How far can we go with our science and experiments to trump death?

 

Told from multiple viewpoints, some of which are surprise one-time throw-aways toward the end of the book to ramp up tension, the story was riveting. The opening action sequence was a little OCO, but it did help to set the characters. I enjoyed learning some background staging for magic tricks and the world of Las Vegas felt very real and very sad. Entertaining cast of characters. I look forward to more.

“Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Jo Huddleston and Claiming Peace, the Caney Creek series

About the Author:

Jo’s career has spanned a variety of work. She was a high school teacher and guidance counselor, a state political campaign secretary, two-time small business owner, and a real estate agent.  She is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. Jo has just completed the 3-book Caney Creek Series, her debut novels. Her writing career includes more than 200 articles and short stories, which have appeared in over 50 well-known Christian and secular publications. She contributes to ChristianDevotions.us.

Jo holds a B.A. degree with honors from Lincoln Memorial University (TN), and is a member of their Literary Hall of Fame. She earned a M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University. Professional membership: American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

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Claiming Peace

 

A Southern inspirational historical romance novel 

Facing her lowest moments, Callie’s life begins to crumble.

As he’s done with others of his extended family, can Jim help her find peace?

Visit again the Callaway family and friends in 1951 who live in the Southern Appalachians of East Tennessee. Why did Callie have an appointment with a neurologist? Will she work her way through whatever lies ahead for her and her family? Does Emmajean’s attraction for the young lawyer, Terry, blossom further or die on the vine when he wants her to meet his parents? Can Caroline and Jim find happiness in their long-delayed marriage? You’ll meet some new characters as the Callaway saga continues. Follow the Callaway family throughout the Caney Creek Series—live their triumphs, sorrows, achievements, and losses.

Buy Claiming Peace

Signed paperback copies available in left sidebar at www.johuddleston.com

Paperback copies available at publisher’s website

Paperback and Kindle copies available at Amazon

Nook copies available

 

The author shares:

1.Tell us what you love about Claiming Peace.

What I love most about my book is the characters. Perhaps all authors feel this same way but I know these people to their core. Most of them would be welcome to my dinner table any time. While writing this series, I have cried with them, laughed with them, struggled with them when their faith faltered, cheered with them in the happy times and prayed with them in sorrowful times. I loved watching them mature in years and in their closer walk with God. This book being the last in the Caney Creek Series, I had a real letdown when I finished the book. I had been with these people daily through three books. Then the book ended and they were gone. I moped around for a couple of days and was hard to get along with. It was like a good friend had moved away.

2.What did you learn during the research and publishing of this book?

I found myself letting a character turn on his car’s left blinker then stopped. Did cars have turn signals in 1951? I learned that they did—for the first time that year. I learned about the existence or nonexistence in 1951 of washing machines, dishwashers, bench seats in cars, the Korean War, lingering discrimination toward Japanese after World War II, and many more material things we have today that I had to make sure existed in 1951.

3.How did you carry out the theme of the book in the writing?

I concentrated on one character in the book that had the most need for peace. As this character proclaimed peace through most trying times, other family members and friends realized they could also claim the peace Jesus promised to leave with us. Others drew strength from this character’s holding on to God’s peace.

Book review: Am I Okay, God with Lorilyn Roberts

Best-selling author, Lorilyn Roberts, and her new winner!

 

Am I Okay, God?

Lorilyn Roberts

Kindle: 2.99

 

 

Devotional accompaniment to the Seventh Dimension: The Door

ASIN: B00FTP5G82

 

My review:

I knew Roberts’s The Seventh Dimension: The Door was a terrific story; an allegory that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though it’s targeted to young adult readers. It’s no stretch, then, to see how this lovingly thought-out devotional adds even more depth and meaning to The Door. Each of the twenty-six devotionals deals with an aspect of life we all know, from being bullied, to holding secrets you think no one else shares, to forgiveness and seeing God for who he really is. The individual chapters features a passage from The Door, some long and some just a sentence, which shows how the theme is played out in Roberts’s allegorical world. The author then shares an episode from her life or from another person or book in a brief essay that ties into the theme. Lovingly crafted prayers follow.

The most unique aspect of the devotional is the QR codes (and website links for those of us without smart phones) that take the reader to a YouTube video or song that illustrates the devotional. I appreciated the work that went into preparing this, and learned about a few artists I was unfamiliar with.

Am I Okay, God is a wonderful partner to your faith. Recommended for any junior high and up-aged loved one; younger if more mature. Makes a fantastic godparent/sponsor gift, too!

Book Review: The 10 Biggest Lies, Krystal Kuehn

The 10 Biggest Lies about God

Krystal Kuehn, MA LPC, LLP, NCC

 

 

 

ebook – 2.99

ASIN: B00G64W80O

My review:

Using quotes from some of my favorite authors, like JI Packer and Madeleine L’Engle, Kuehn sets out to debunk lies even Christians still occasionally harbor. The author explains in the introduction that her goal is not to convince agnostics or others of the truth of God’s existence, but to help Christians see God clearly. 

Kuehn chose ten modern-day concepts that I hear often, like God’s somewhere up in the sky and only wants to rain on our parade, or is a mean, old grouch who doesn’t want people to enjoy themselves. Many of these thoughts come from the old downer Puritan stock that tried to suppress any opportunity for sin. 

Each of the ten lies is introduced with a quote and an essay by the author. Kuehn then lists negative things people think, followed by a litany of positives to offset those negatives. A host of carefully selected Bible passages follow, proving the lie is just that—a lie. Not a myth, not a false doctrine, but an outright lie. 

For those who truly have yet to make a decision for Christ, Kuehn offers helps to take that step, as well as a list of resources to encourage all of us to keep our faith. A freebie is also offered! You’ll just have to read the book to learn what it is.

The 10 Biggest Lies packs a lot into a short space. I recommend it as a handy pull-out whenever you’re feeling down, or for a reference when you’re having a conversation with someone who holds one of these lies. Not just as a one-time read.

Prism Books Have Awesome Trailers! The Gingerbread House

Susan Miura, Show Me a Sign

About the Book:

In Show Me a Sign, seventeen-year-old Nathan Boliva is under investigation by the FBI for a kidnapping he didn’t commit. Deaf and beautiful Haylie Summers agreed to go on a date with him, then disappeared the day before. When the Feds discover a text was sent from Nathan’s cell phone, asking Haylie to meet him behind her garage, Nathan becomes a prime suspect.

Tied and blindfolded, Haylie struggles to grasp Nathan’s role in her captivity. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would kidnap her. Then again, if he didn't, who is holding her hostage, and why? 

Desperate to solve the crime and rescue Haylie, Nathan and his best friend, Alec, set out at midnight to gather intel…and end up with far more than they bargained for.

An action-packed plunge into intrigue and danger

 

ISBN: 978-1-60290-385-2

Can be purchased from: www.oaktara.com
Will soon be available (November, I believe) online from Amazon, Target, and other major booksellers.

 

About the Author:

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, longing for a horse and reading books by Marguarite Henry, Walter Farley, and Anna Sewell. A week after receiving my BA in journalism, I was hired at a local newspaper. Seeing my byline in every issue was a dream come true, but there was another goal to attain – moving out west. A year after graduating I headed for the wide-open spaces of New Mexico, where I worked in television for two years until my heart lead me back home to Illinois. Love and marriage followed, along with a career in public relations. Though my professional world involved writing, it didn’t provide a release for the stories in my head. When they wouldn’t stay captive any longer, I began a fiction journey, rough and rocky, but blessed with people who loved, mentored, cheered, taught, critiqued, and believed in me.

For the past 13 years I’ve worked full time as the public relations coordinator for the Schaumburg Library. I review books for The Book Reporter and give travel presentations throughout the Chicago suburbs. I’m the mother of two, stepmother of a married daughter, and wife of a police sergeant (who helps me get my crime scenes right). And…I am a member of the ACFW and Willow Creek Community Church.

 

Visit Susan's website.

 

Susan, what do you love about this book?

That it’s done and published! But I also love the relationship between my main character and his best friend, which I modeled after my son and his friends. It gave me the opportunity to mesh some humor into the drama. And I really like my other main character, Haylie, who is held captive during most of the book. Haylie is deaf, but I didn’t want the story to revolve around that because being deaf is not what defines her. She is smart, brave, and sticks to her faith even when faced with terrifying circumstances. I guess another aspect that I think/hope teens will like is that the characters are not stereotype sanitized, purified, saintly Christians. They’re real kids with real attitudes, desires, insecurities, dreams and emotions.  

 

Introduce us to the main character.

Well they get equal billing and have their own chapters, so I’ll have to do both. Nathan is Peruvian-American, which I chose because I always include different ethnicities in my books, and I happen to have Peruvian relatives. He’s got two adopted greyhounds, Ruby and Cougar, which his mom brought home from the animal shelter where she volunteers. Nathan doesn’t share the “ladies’ man” reputation of his English friend, Alec, but he works up the courage to ask Haylie on a date. Much to his surprise, she says yes. Unfortunately, she gets kidnapped before that happens. Haylie is an “A” student whose mother is a scientist for Zetalab, a high-energy physics research facility. Her stepdad is a zoo veterinarian. Both of these occupations play a role in the book.

 

What do you hope readers will tell other readers about your story?

That it’s on the New York Times Best Seller list…because that would mean it actually is. Seriously, I hope they find it to be a “page-turner,” funny in some spots, suspenseful in others, and that readers will grasp the subtle message that God is with us, even when He’s not making it obvious. Even when those miracles we ache for don’t seem to be coming our way. I also hope at least some readers will see the author’s note about human trafficking and decide to take action, or at least become more knowledgeable about an issue that breaks my heart.  

 

Susan Says:
Anyone living in the Schaumburg area is invited to my Book Launch Party at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9^th at the Schaumburg Library. There will be cake, lots of prizes, and a self-defense demo. Plus a very short and hopefully funny PowerPoint I’m putting together. Show Me a Sign will be available at a discounted price ($10).

CrossReads Book Blast: Carlene Havel's "Here Today Gone Tomorrow"

Here Today Gone Tomorrow

By Carlene Havel

About the Book

Disappointed, dumped, divorced. Everything Casey Slaughter counted on is gone. While contemporaries start their families, Casey works two jobs to haul herself out of debt. Friends and family recommend a new husband to solve all her problems, but Casey resists their well-intentioned advice. Although she longs for a soul mate, the last thing her flattened self-esteem needs is more rejection—and comparisons to her beautiful, talented older sister do nothing to enhance Casey’s confidence. Unable to have children, she feels she has nothing to offer in marriage. Will bitterness and insecurity destroy her, or can renewed faith in God provide some measure of comfort for this wounded heart? Can Casey ever find love again, or will a string of disasters keep her forever on the run?

LINK to KINDLE | LINK to PAPERBACK

  Carlene Havel has lived in numerous US states, the Philippines, and Turkey. Like most writers, Carlene has always loved to read, and her taste is eclectic. Her other hobbies include sewing, knitting, crochet and embroidery. She especially enjoys Bible study, normally devoting one day each week delving into the scriptures with a small focus group. The Havels make their home in San Antonio, Texas, in the midst of a big, extended family.

Follow Carlene Havel

 

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