Bad Connection

by Melody Carlson

If God gave you a vision, would you trust it?

Melody Carlson - winner of the RITA Award and the Golden Medallion - paints a riveting tale of the not so normal, and secret life of Samantha McGregor. Her writing is superb, as if its scripted straight out of the mind of a sixteen—excuse me—almost seventeen year old.

At times it warped me back to my own teenage years, while at other times I found myself thinking of my daughter’s teenage years to come. Either case, Melody does a wonderful job of placing the reader in the life and times of a teenage girl.

That teenage girl, Samantha McGregor, knows that Kayla Henderson likes to break the rules. Fine. That’s Kayla’s thing. Samantha’s not even surprised when Kayla goes missing. Hadn’t she been saying she was going to take off, to go meet her online “boyfriend” in person?

I have to take a moment and laugh at this for a moment considering that’s where I met my wife. Granted, you have to be careful if this sort of thing happens to you, but for Kayla things didn’t turn out so well as they did for my wife. It wasn’t the smartest move in the world, but Kayla would be okay. She always was—or at least that’s what Samantha thought.

Then come the visions—and they reveal that Kayla is far from okay. Samantha freaks. Was her vision from God or just imagined? What would you do?

If Kayla’s really in danger, what can Samantha do? Only one person can help her: Detective Ebony Hamilton. But can Samantha trust Detective Hamilton after what happened to her father?

Can this unlikely pair work together—against the clock and the system—to patch together the truth and find Kayla…before its too late?

Bad Connection has it all; mystery, suspense, romance, and issues that you might find in the life of any teenager throughout America (or any country of your choice).

As a parent, I’d highly recommend this to anyone out there with a teenager of their own. In fact, I’ll be saving this one for my own daughter. If nothing else, they’ll be able to escape their own lives for just a moment and enjoy the secret life of Samantha McGregor.

Bad Connection will make a good connection with any teen.

A SHRED OF TRUTH WRAP UP



In his latest thriller A Shred of Truth, Eric Wilson delivers. A story full of twists, mystery, and intrigue there’s no putting it down. I’ll take a double shot of Back in Black, and I’d suggest you get one yourself.

This page-turner will have you flipping until the end. Late nights and early mornings will become like second nature, but after all it’s just a small price to pay for quality such as this. If your boss confronts you about the bags under your eyes, just tell him you’re reading the latest Aramis Black mystery, and he’ll understand.

Aramis Black is back, and so is his dreaded past. The owner of Black’s Espresso Shop just can’t seem to shake his dark history. In The Best of Evil, Aramis Black uncovered family secrets and historical conspiracies, hoping that his own dark past had come to certain resolution. But sometimes evil has a way of coming back.

In the opening pages Aramis finds his brother tied to a statue in Nashville’s Music Row, unconscious with the initials AX carved into his back. So what does AX stand for? What could it mean?

The mystery of AX sends Aramis reeling to find an answer. A shadow from his life in Oregon reappears, casting threats of violence upon all that Aramis holds dear. The self-righteous blade-man calls for him to “face his sins.”

Throughout the chase Aramis must grapple with his old self. Will the sociopath turn him back into the man he tried so hard to escape…or will he be able to break the guilt of his old ways?

By the end you learn that there’s more than meets the eye in this book. There’s a great lesson to be learned in this spellbinding thriller. Aramis gives us a hint at the end, but you’ll need to read the whole story to figure it out.

A SHRED OF TRUTH BOOK TRAILER






If you have problems viewing the trailer, click here.

A SHRED OF TRUTH

(Waterbrook July 2007)

by

Eric Wilson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eric Wilson is the author of Dark to Mortal Eyes, Expiration Date, and the first book in the Aramis Black series, The Best of Evil. He lives with his wife, Carolyn Rose, and their two daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Eric Wilson returns with another sharp-edged thriller that will appeal to the rising generation of men and women on the fringes of faith.

In The Best of Evil, Aramis Black uncovered family secrets and historical conspiracies, hoping that his own dark past had come to certain resolution.

But now, in A Shred of Truth, he finds his brother unconscious and tied to a statue in downtown Nashville with the initials AX carved into his back.

A shadow from his former life has reappeared, casting threats of violence and retribution. And soon the attacker is swinging his blade of self-righteous judgment directly at Aramis, challenging him to “face his sins.”

Can Aramis finally break free from the guilt of his old ways, or will he succumb to the vengeance of an arrogant sociopath?

Aramis Black’s latest breathtaking adventure will lead readers to discover the resolve of true friends, the depths of family love, and the breadth of God’s forgiveness.

ISLAND INFERNO

by

Chuck Holton

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Chuck served four years in the Elite 75th Ranger Regiment–the same unit profiled in the movie “Black Hawk Down.” Chuck saw combat in Panama in 1989. After leaving active duty, Chuck flew helicopters in the Wisconsin National Guard while attending the University of Wisconsin.

In 2004, after ten years as a stockbroker, Chuck left that profession to pursue full-time writing. At the same time, he began working as the "Adventure Correspondent" for CBN.

He is the author of five books, including A More Elite Soldier, Bulletproof, and Allah's Fire, the first of three books in the Task Force Valor series.

Today, Chuck, Connie, and their five children live on a farm in Appalachia, where Chuck now pursues his varied interests of farming, writing, adventure travel and public speaking, among other things.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

TASK FORCE VALOR

EXPLOSIVE ORDINANCE DISPOSAL--THE BOMB SQUAD

As the global war on terror heats up, the U.S. deploys a team of highly trained special operators overseas to locate and neutralize threats, bringing EOD expertise to dangerous missions that have no room for error.

A DEADLY EXPLOSION

A new specialty explosive is on the black market: ITEB looks like water, but when it's exposed to air, the effects are lethal! The United States government is frantic to keep it from our shores. Staff Sergeant Euripides "Rip" Rubio knows how destructive ITEB can be. He has already risked his life to thwart a horrific terrorist plot involving the chemical. Now Task Force Valor heads to Panama, on the trail of an arms dealer who plans to use ITEB to make a killing...literally.

AN ADVENTURE ABROAD

Fernanda Lerida is a University of Florida grad student who jumps at the chance to join a biological expedition to a mysterious former prison island. But the snakes, bugs, and crocodiles are soon the least of her worries as the group stumbles upon something they were not meant to see. To Make matters worse, Fernanda soon finds herself alone and being pursued by an unseen foe.

A RISKY RESCUE

When Rip's path collides with Fernanda's, they find themselves caught in the midst of a brutal turf war. Can they use the chaos to their advantage, or will one false step set the entire island ablaze?

"Island Inferno is a boy-meets-girl story. But in Chuck Holton's world, boy meets girl in the middle of a jungle at 25mph. hanging under a parachute with an assault rifle strapped across his chest. You'd better plan on reading this in one sitting. And once you're done, you'd better give yourself time for your pulse to calm down."----TOM MORRISEY, Author of Deep Blue, and Dark Fathom

FEARLESS

(Bethany House, July 1, 2007)

by

Robin Parrish

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin Parrish had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist.

In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract.

Born Michael Robin Parrish on October 13, 1975, Robin's earliest writing efforts took place on a plastic, toy typewriter, and resulted in several "books" (most between 10 and 30 pages long) and even a few magazines.

By the age of thirteen, he had begun winning local writing awards and became a regular in his high school's literary magazine. In college, he garnered acclaim from his English professors and fellow students while maturing and honing his skills.

After college, he entered the writing profession through a "side door" -- the Internet. More than ten years he spent writing for various websites, including About.com, CMCentral.com, and his current project Infuze Magazine, which is a unique intersection between art and faith which he also conceived of and created.

One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book, Relentless -- but two sequels. A trilogy, to unfold in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books.

Robin is the Editor in Chief and creator of Infuze Magazine. He and his wife Karen reside in High Point, North Carolina. Karen works for High Point's First Wesleyan Church, where Robin and Karen are members and Small Group leaders.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book Two of the Dominion Trilogy:

The world changed after that terrible day when the sky burned, and now every heart is gripped by fear...Earthquakes, fire, disease, and floods pummel the earth, and its citizens watch in horror.

But in the darkness there is hope -- an anonymous but powerful hero whom the public dubs "Guardian." He is Grant Borrows, one of a chosen few who walk the earth with extraordinary powers. But while Grant enjoys this new life, signs of a dangerous ancient prophecy begin coming true, and those closest to Grant worry he may be hiding a terrible secret.

A search for answers brings Grant and his friends to London, where an extraordinary discovery awaits that will challenge everything they thought they knew. With a deadly new enemy dogging his steps, Grant realizes that the world's only hope may come from unraveling the truth about himself once and for all. But what he comes face-to-face with leaves even this most powerful of men shaken with fear.

Secrets will be revealed.

Friends will make the ultimate sacrifice.

And destiny will not be denied.

The story continues...

THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT

(Howard Books June 5, 2007)

by

Jerome Teel

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jerome Teel is a graduate of Union University, where he received his JD, cum laude, from the Ole Miss School of Law. He is actively involved in his church, local charities, and youth sports.

He has always loved legal-suspense novels and is a political junkie. He is also the author of The Election, another political thriller that we reviewed November of '06.

Jerome and his wife, Jennifer, have three children...Brittney, Trey, and Matthew...and they reside in Tennessee where he practices law and is at work on a new novel.

You could visit Jerome at his Website, or at his blog Christian Political Blog.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

"They aren't hiding just one something, but a bunch of somethings..."Small town southern lawyer, Elijah Faulkner is a dying breed...an attorney that actually takes pleasure in fighting injustice by working hard for the little guy. But when he takes on a case to defend a philandering doctor with a pregnant wife in a seemingly open-and-shut murder trial, Eli is not so sure he is on the 'right' side.

Back in Washington D.C., supreme Court Justice Martha Robinson has died, presenting an unprecedented opportunity for conservative President Richard Wallace to impact the direction of the highest court in the land. He believes God put him in the presidency for just such a time as this...to make a Divine Appointment. Not everyone is thrilled with the president's nominee, however. And some will stop at nothing, including murder, to prevent his confirmation by the Senate.

A lobbyist with a vendetta, a small-time Mafioso, an investigative reporter with a Watergate complex, and a powerful Washington political machine combine to create a fast-paced suspense novel that explores the anatomy of a murder, and the ripple effect that it creates across the country.

"Jerome Teel has crafted an intriguing political thriller...nice twists and turns to keep you reading. he paints vivid mental pictures that bring characters and locales to life."--Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee's 7th District

Light at the Edge of Darkness: Video Trailer

Light at the Edge of Darkness Book Trailer




Trailer curtousy of Daniel I Weaver.

Light at the Edge of Darkness is a Lost Genre Guild Anthology.

Light at the Edge of Darkness Edited by Cynthia MacKinnon

Light at the Edge of Darkness


When forced to the edge of darkness, there’s only one way back: embrace the Light.Venture to futures where religious "Terrorists" smuggle frozen embryos to save lives, resist technologies designed to break their souls, and fight to protect sacred texts. Explore dying alien worlds scouring the galaxies for hope. Get abducted and discover the universe’s secrets or the trial of a lifetime.Teetering on the edge, escape inbred captors through a haunted labyrinth. Survive a house where nightmares walk, or settle in for a martyr's tribulation. Join an epic quest through the ridiculous, cross swords with monsters, sneak a glimpse at heaven, and traverse the planes where angels and demons tread. Follow these tales and more to the edge of darkness, to the brink of despair, and bask in the Savior’s redeeming Light.


Launched as a short story project, Light at the Edge of Darkness quickly became known within the Lost Genre Guild as the Daniel I Weaver Anthology project. Spearheading a group of talented writers hoping to fill a vacany on CBA bookshelves, the Lost Genre Guild authors have compiled an exiting collection of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror/Supernatural Suspense, Dystopia, Cyberpunk, and more.

The list of contributing authors include:

A.P. Fuchs
Daniel I. Weaver
Alethea Knight
S.M. Kirkland
Karen McSpadden
Donna Sundbland
Carizz Cruzem
Stephen L. Rice
Andrea Graham
C.E. Lavender
Deborah Cullins-Smith
Frank Creed
Joseph Ficor
Steve Doyle
Adam Graham
V.B. Tenery
Aisha K. Moore

Yes, my name is listed among the contributors. Sure, this could be a shameless plug, but don’t take my word for it. Read what others are saying.

For the reader who likes the challenge and edge of horror, fantasy, or sci-fi but is leery of the philosophy behind most of the popular works, this book is for you. – Debbie W. Wilson, Christian Book Previews.com

The authors of these stories are well crafted word-smiths, who have sharpened their pens and powered-up their word processors to brings some nail biting and chill-bumps to raise the hairs on the back of any reader’s neck. -- Yellow30SciFi.com

I enjoyed having my horizons widened once more – laughter and tears and unexpected twists, beauty and hardship, farce and danger, evil and bravery, trials, faith, and the ultimate supremacy of God. -- Grace Bridges, author

Light at the Edge of the Darkness, edited by Cynthia MacKinnon and published by Writer's Café Press, is an introspective and eclectic anthology of dark, speculative tales musing about what goes on in the shadows we don't dare think of in the light of day, and how God's mercy shines at the shadow's edge, beckoning to all, saving some, and judging others. -- Kevin Lucia, author and reviewer

Tribulation House by Chris Well

Tribulation House

(Harvest House 2007)

By

Chris Well

About the Author:



Chris Well is a member of CFBA and founder of its sister organization, FIRST. He is an acclaimed novelist and award-winning magazine editor and has previously written the "laugh-out-loud Christian thrillers" Deliver Us from Evelyn and Forgiving Solomon Long (one of Booklist's Top 10 Christian Novels of 2005).

He has also contributed to 7ball, Infuze, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Chris and his wife live in Tennessee, where he is hard at work on his next novel.


About the Book:


IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD-WHICH COULD BE A PROBLEM...

Mark Hogan has it all. The job. The family. A position on the board at church. All he's missing is a boat. Not just any boat-a 2008 Bayliner 192.

When Reverend Daniel Glory announces that the Rapture is taking place on October 17 at 5:51am, Hogan realizes his boat-buying days are numbered. So he does what any man in his situation would do-he borrows a load of money from the mob.

Not that there's any risk involved: After all, when the Rapture comes, Hogan will be long gone. The mob will never find him.

But when Jesus fails to come back on schedule, Mark Hogan finds the mob is in no mood to discuss the finer points of end-times theology...

Chris Well's laugh-out-loud Christian thrillers appeal to the millions of readers who gobble up the rollicking crime fiction of Janet Evanovich and Elmore Leonard. TRIBULATION HOUSE does not disappoint!

Check out Chris Well on the web at http://www.studiowell.com/Chrispage.html