I found this review I did about two years ago for a new author. I decided to see if I could find the book itself online, simply because it was published by a small as-yet-unknown publisher, Breakneck Books (now merged with Variance) and to see how it was doing. I was happy to see that on Amazon that there were 14 reviews and all of them were quite positive. And then I was quite pleasantly surprised to see that on the back cover, there is a blurb of my review! I got a back-cover blurb! I had forgotten that when my review was finished, they were looking for something to put there. For a book reviewer, this is an exciting thing, almost as exciting as a new author having his first book published.
For those interested, I have re-posted my review below. Unfortunately, this is only a partial review. I have switched blogs several times and in the midst of moving, I lost many of my past reviews.
Debut author James Somers has started his writing career off with a bang with this first book in his Chronicles of Soone series - Heir to the King.
A young man is given the task of restoring peace between warring clans before the dark forces who oppose his every effort succeed in enslaving all humanity. Born into the warrior Barudii clan, Tiet Soone is the only surviving member of the royal family. Bent on revenge, peace with the Vorn and Horva people is the last thing on his mind. Soon, all three face a greater enemy, and it's only under Tiet's leadership that they can defeat it.
I was excited to read this book after I accidentally received an email from James Somers that was meant to go to someone else. I became hooked on the idea after reading the synopsis on James' website, and I asked to review the book. There aren't very many Christian science-fiction authors, so I was pleased to see another one come up.
James Somers has written an exciting debut that promises to be as epic as Star Wars. The plot moved quickly and there was not a dull moment throughout the entire book.
This first book has hooked me for the series. I plan to keep updated for the rest of it! -- Wren Reviews, first posted 10/5/06
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
TitleTrakk - Fantastic Fall Giveaway Contest!
Welcome to the 1st ever TitleTrakk.com Blog Tour!
This week we're chatting about:
The Fantastic Fall Giveaway Contest!
Just in time for the holidays, you could win over $335 worth of books, cds and dvds!
Sponsored by our friends at:
The Grand Prize Winner will receive:BOOKS:
Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark
Rachel's Secret by BJ Hoff
Beach Dreams by Trish Perry
Playing God by Michelle McKinney Hammond
White Soul by Brandt Dodson
The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka
Finding Marie by Susan Paige Davis
The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian
A Man After God's Own Heart by Jim George
Evidence for Faith 101 by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz
CDS:
Wake Up! Wake Up! by Everyday Sunday
Rock What You Got by Superchick
Sunday by Tree63
Houston We Are Go by Newsboys (Live CD/DVD)
Nothing Left To Lose by Mat Kearney
I Am Free Worship Collection
Salvation Station by Newworldson
Not Without Love by Jimmy Needham
Pages by Shane & Shane
Colors and Sounds by Article One
MOVIES:
Love's Unfolding Dream
The Ten Commandments Animated
Between the Walls
But that's not all!We're giving away even more!
During this blog tour (November 10th - 16th) we'll be drawing 2 winners daily from the contest entries to win an additional free book or cd!
Visit the TitleTrakk.com Contest page today to enter the contest and place yourself in the running to receive the Grand Prize, plus all the daily prizes! Deadline to enter is November 17th.
About TitleTrakk.com:
Founded in 2006 by Tracy & C.J. Darlington, TitleTrakk.com is an interactive website spotlighting Christian books, music & movies. Updated weekly, we feature author and musician interviews, album and book reviews, music videos, movie reviews and interviews, book excerpts, surveys, polls, and fun contests. Learn more: http://www.titletrakk.com/
Monday, September 15, 2008
Isolation - Travis Thrasher
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
It was during third grade after a teacher encouraged him in his writing and as he read through The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis that Travis decided he wanted to be a writer. The dream never left him, and allowed him to fulfill that dream of writing fulltime in 2007.Travis Thrasher is the author of numerous works of fiction, including his most personal and perhaps his deepest work, Sky Blue, that was published in summer of 2007. This year he has to novels published, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, and a supernatural thriller, Isolation.
Travis is married to Sharon and they are the proud parents of Kylie, born in November, 2006, and Hailey, a Shih-Tzu that looks like an Ewok. They live in suburban Chicago.
ABOUT THE BOOK
TrappedExhausted
Terrified
. . . Alone
When a missionary family moves into a secluded mansion in the mountains of North Carolina, they think they are escaping their nightmares. But when a snowstorm hits and they are trapped inside their new home, their worst fears become reality. As they fight to stay alive, they will be tested in ways they never imagined. Can their love for one another and their faith in God save them from the dangers lurking here?
A masterfully written story that will grip you from its mysterious beginning to its chilling end.
From Publishers Weekly:
"In this dark chiller, Thrasher (Sky Blue; The Promise Remains) demonstrates a considerable talent for the horror genre. Like Stephen King, Thrasher pits flawed but likable characters against evil forces that at first seem escapable but gradually take on a terrifying ubiquity.
The Miller family has recently returned to suburban Chicago after a harrowing experience on the mission field. Hoping to get away from the busyness of suburban living, they travel to the mountains of North Carolina for an extended stay in an enormous, remote lodge where husband and father Jim plans to write a book while trying to reconnect with his family.
When a snowstorm isolates them further and spiritual attacks make them feel they are losing their minds, both Jim and his wife, Stephanie, begin to wonder if God can rescue them and their two young children. Aside from sharing too many plot points with The Shining, this novel hits very few false notes and should appeal to fans of Christian fiction, the horror genre and all who enjoy well-crafted and suspenseful stories."
If you would like to read the first chapter of Isolation, go HERE
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My Two Cents:
I like thrillers. I like suspense. I can handle some horror, but not a lot. This book was scary in the sense that I certainly didn't firgure anything out until nealy the time the author revealed evertyhing. That's pretty good writing. And until I figured it out, I certainly didn't expect the turn it took. However, it made sense once everything was revealed.
I understood the wife's spiritual struggle, but I couldn't quite grasp the husband's. The author repeatedly made references to something that had happened to the family while on the mission field, but to me it never became quite clear enough as to why there was that struggle. And I thought that everything did wrap up just a tad bit too neatly in the end. I wasn't left with much to think about or really any desire to revisit any of the scenes.
On the whole, I did like the book and I would recommend it to those who I believed could handle the content, however I would certainly suggest you review it before letting the younger members of your family read it.
And that's my two cents. - Wren
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