Heart of Ice Posted by Drac , Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:13 PM, in Labels: book

Title: Heart of Ice

Author: Lis Wiehl with April Henry

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Fiction

Buying Link: Click Here 

Heart of Ice is third novel in the Triple Threat series, which follows three fiercely intelligent women: Allison, a federal prosecutor, Nicole, an FBI agent and Cassidy, a TV journalist as they solve crimes. 

Though this book features 3-4 sub plots to keep the story intriguing, the main story revolves around Elizabeth Avery, a sociopath who can go to any limit and beyond to get what she want. Elizabeth can easily manipulate anyone and get them to do what she wants, even murder. 

The Triple Threat ladies have to stop her before the things gets way out of hand along dealing with issues in their personal lives as well. Allison is still mourning the loss of her unborn child and trying to work on her relationship with her sister, Nicole is diagnosed with breast cancer, and Cassidy is still trying to find her way to the top of her career and dealing with self-esteem issues. 

If you have not read the previous novels, you might not develop a good connection with the three characters to grieve over their tragic personal lives. But once the series of killing event begins, you will find yourself dwelling in the pace; which makes it a good page-turner for new readers as well. 

There is not much mystery in the novel as the reader knows since the beginning who is the killer. But unfolding of the events and unpredictable consequences marks it a breathtaking thriller. 

Rating: 3.5/5 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Future Door Posted by Drac , Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 7:35 AM, in Labels: book

Title: The Future Door

Author: Jason Lethcoe

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Fiction

Buying Link: Click Here

The Future Door by Jason Lethcoe is the second installment in ‘No Place Like Holmes’ series and begins where the last one went off. The story revolves around detective and mechanical genius Rupert Snodgrass and his 12-year old nephew Griffin Sharpe, who has a unique ability to observe even the minutest details of everything around him. In a striving attempt to reach the level of Sherlock Holmes and becomes the most famous detective in London, Snodgrass invents a time machine, which gets stolen by his nemesis Nigel Moriarty. And thus begins the time bending adventure of the Uncle-Nephew team to save London and themselves from the evil of Moriarty and his henchmen. 

Though this book does not match the writing of Sherlock Holmes’ books in any manner, but the stimulating flow of the story which includes giant mechanical spiders and strange future worlds will surely keep the targeted readers glued. There is no mystery in the book and it is better to keep your logic aside and consider the time-travel part as a fantasy and not a science-fiction. 

The book contains small chapters ranging from 3 to 8 pages and also features a quiz, two mini-mysteries, and instructions on how to brew a pot of English tea at the end. 

Just like many more children books, The Future Door is also enjoyable by any age group and can be a part of read-aloud family story time. But this book will be cherished most by young adults. 

Rating: 3.5/5 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Consuming Posted by Drac , Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 6:23 AM, in Labels: book

Title: The Consuming 

Author: Todd Boyer 

Publisher: Outskirts Press 

Genre: Fiction 

Buying Link: Click Here

Do not judge this book by its cover or tagline, Todd Boyer’s The Consuming is much more than just a religious fiction thriller. It is one of those few books which make a perfect blend between fiction and religion, leaving their readers mesmerizing. 

The Consuming is the story of a demon scout named Max, who plans the consuming of a human, Jack for his best friend Ike. After a tragedy in his life, Jack has lost his interest in living and his faith in God, making him a perfect vessel for the demons. But the possession doesn’t go as per the demon’s plan and Ike finds himself trapped in Jack’s body. To save his friend, Max leads to a journey of uncharted realms which reveals some astonishing facts, a conspiracy about the Apocalypse and change his perspective towards the mankind. Now both the demons and Jack has to work together against a warrior demon in order to save themselves and the world. 

All the characters in the book have an enthralling depth, giving the reader an inimitable view point on good and evil. All the twists in the tale and its flow is intriguing, making it an enchanting page-turner. Even being a non-Christian, I faced no problem to connect with the story, hence a recommendation for all the fiction fans. As the author is already working on the sequels (can’t wait to get my hands on it), it’s better not to miss the beginning of a splendid series. 

Rating: 4/5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for reviewing purpose. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Bone House Posted by Drac , at 6:15 AM, in Labels: book

Title: The Bone House 
Author: Stephen R. Lawhead 
Publisher : Thomas Nelson 
Genre: Fiction 
Buying Link: Click Here

The Bone House is the second book in Stephen Lawhead’s The Bright Empires Series following The Skin Map.

In this episode the race to find missing pieces of the map continues to explore the uncharted dimensions of the multiverse, with enthralling action. Kit has found one piece of the skin map but others are still left, which will give a complete understanding of the Ley lines enabling him to travel through time and space. The sub plots are also gaining advancement, where Kit’s girlfriend Mina, caught in the Seventeenth century Prague developing her knowledge of Ley lines, Burleigh has also raised his stake and willing to go on any terms to get the map.

There are only a handful of series in which a novel gets better than the previous one, and this is that novel. This book is fast paced since the first chapter and keeps the reader hooked till the end and craving for more. Apart from developing more depth to the characters, the writing has also been eased in the flow, to tag along new readers.

At the end of the book there is an essay which depicts the research work done by the author to make this story such intriguing. The Spirit Well coming in September 2012 will mark the next installment in the series.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Skin Map Posted by Drac , at 1:01 AM, in Labels: book

Title: The Skin Map

Author: Stephen R. Lawhead

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Fiction

Buying Link: Click Here

Without giving much of the spoilers, The Skin Map portrays the journey of Kit Livingstone. Leading a routine life, Kit has never expected what turn his life would take when he had a visit from his great grandfather Cosimo. He discovers the truth about various Ley lines across Britain which is used to travel across time and space; and about a lost skin map enveloping all those Ley lines, which a brave traveler had tattooed on his skin in a coded form. Many people are behind this map, so the pursuit begins with twisted tales of time, fate and even a grandfather paradox of H. G. Wells.

Stephen Lawhead’s writing gives you the assorted expressions of Dan Brown’s thriller and Stephen Hawking’s scientific approach. All the scientific facts inscribed in the intrigue are purely factual and shows current theoretical development of time travel and parallel universes. Still, the writer doesn’t lose his touch and keep the language simple and each concept understandable for the layman reader.

This book is not just a science fiction but a philosophical tale to contemplate. I loved the flow of the story, but as this book is fast paced, some readers might find it confusing at some places. This is a story of a lifetime, actually multiple lifetimes.

The Skin Map marks the beginning of the Bright Empires series.

Rating: 5/5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Pony Principles Posted by Drac , Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 4:26 AM, in Labels: book

Title: The Pony Principles

Author: Keith Elkins

Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Genre: Non-Fiction / Self-Help

Buying Link: Click Here

The Pony Principles by Keith Elkins is one of a kind motivational experience. At first look, this book may appear as a children’s fantasy, but actually, author has used Pony as a metaphor to showcase readers the principles by which they can achieve what they have fantasized throughout their life.

The four basic principles mentioned in this book are:

#1 Developing vision to see and focus on your hidden talent and beliefs. (See the Pony)

#2 Processing your life experience to nourish your mind body and spirit. (Feed the Pony)

#3 Working hard and getting yourself trained. (Train the Pony)

#4 Having passion and total commitment to achieve success. (Ride the Pony)

Elkins elaborates these four important principles of success in 38 chapters giving out the most appropriate to-do and do-not advices in the simplest way possible. Importance of optimism, new definitions of ego, priority over time and other such valuable lessons would surely help the reader get success in their work & personal lives and achieve better. At the end of every chapter there are Pony Principle Assignments to help you further putting these principles into practice. The book is thoroughly flooded with inspirational quotes and statements to develop the confidence of the reader and make them ride the Pony of their dreams.

Rating: 4/5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for reviewing purpose. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Rise and Fall of the Antichrist Posted by Drac , Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 1:13 AM, in Labels: book

Title: The Rise and Fall of the Antichrist

Author: Charles Massegee

Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Genre: Non-Fiction / Religion

Buying Link: Click Here

The Rise and Fall of the Antichrist by Charles Massegee is a comprehensive exploration of the Book of Revelation. Not only this book just points out at the prophecies led by God in the Bible but also makes a complete sense of every verse by showing not only how it pertained in the history but also how it still relates to us.

If you have tried to read the Book of Revelation before you might have noticed that it is too hard to read and understand may be because of the language and symbolism or because of the wrath it contains about the judgment and end times. Each person who believes in Jesus would understand that god has ordained the end times from the very beginning itself and the one who is adored by Jesus’ love and a follower of his teaching have nothing to fear.

Massegee has decoded each verse, each church and each judgment of each chapter of Revelation to breaks up the Scripture in tiny pieces and elaborates its meaning. He opens up the secrets hidden in God’s Words to John and bestow readers a deeper understanding of the times we are now living through.

Though at some point Massegee has been very bold to openly accuse some other religion and their God to be antichrist, just to show how some churches under a political influence is embracing something completely in negation to their teachings and God. But this unbiased and straight forward approach only proves his belief in his research, trust in Bible and faith in Jesus Christ.

This book helps in strengthen your love and trust for God, provide compassion for the poor and lays path for the bewildered. Reading this book will fill your heart with hope and thankfulness for the mercy of the God, to prepare you for the second appearance of the Lord. Also, if you have an interest in prophecy books or you are a Bible student, this book makes a must read.

Rating: 4/5

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for reviewing purpose. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”