Placebo

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One man must uncover the TRUTH—
Even when others will stop at nothing to keep it BURIED.

 

While investigating a controversial neurological research program, expose filmmaker Jevin Banks is drawn into a far-reaching conspiracy involving one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms.  He seeks answers about the questionable mind-to-mind communication program—and answers to his own family tragedy.

 

Rooted in groundbreaking science, Placebo, explores the far reaches of science, consciousness, and faith.  This taut, intelligent, and emotionally gripping new thriller from master storyteller Steven James will keep you flipping pages late into the night.

Review

This was easily one of the most anticipated novels on my “to be read” list.  I devoured Steven James’ gritty crime drama series, “Patrick Bowers Files” (and if you have not read them – you MUST pick one up!), and was sad to see them come to an end.  Imagine my elation when I found out that Mr. James was writing a new series!  Aptly entitled “The Jevin Banks Experience”, this series follows a former magician, and now exposé filmmaker, Jevin Banks, who seeks to pull the wool from peoples’ eyes regarding false psychics, televangelist con men, and fortune-telling scam artists.

 

Jevin and his faithful compatriots, Xavier, a conspiracy theory buff, and Charlene, a former assistant on his stage shows, are on a mission to blow open the new theory of mind-to-mind communication.  There are many players at work behind this new theory who have invested a lot time and money, so any attempts to dissuade or disapprove the science could be met with deadly force.

 

Given the plot lines for the novel, I have to say that I found it utterly fascinating.  Could two people who are emotionally “entangled” with each other, really affect the one another’s emotions, or even physical feelings?  For example, what is the explanation behind the inherent bond between twins, where sometimes when one feels pain, the other feels it at the exact same time, and in the same area(s) of the body?  How can they often discern each other’s thoughts and feelings – without even being in the same room?  The mysteries and complexities between a bond between twins is nothing new, but what is, is the idea that your thoughts can affect the thoughts of another, particularly those who are in a romantic relationship. 

 

Telepathy has been an interesting and intriguing subject for many years in our culture.  Often, superheroes are given telepathic powers which would ultimately give them an “upper-hand” in fighting the enemy.  Further, the power of the brain has been the topic of many scientific discussions and studies and branches out to the power of positive thinking and visualization, techniques that are often used by professional athletes to help them attain their goals.

 

And on an even different track, recently, evidence has been revealed that suggest that individuals in vegetative states can communicate through measuring their brain activity.  (CBC News, “Canadian in ‘vegetative state’ communicates to scientists”) Whether or not that means we can one day communicate telepathically to one another remains to be seen, and may be an instance of connecting two dots that do not exist. 

 

I apologize for digressing from a review of the novel itself, but needless to say, it provided much food for thought.  Whether or not it is to be taken literally, or just as a work of science fiction, is up to you.  Overall, I really enjoyed this field trip into the area of telepathy and must say that Mr. James has done it again in writing another riveting novel.  Too bad I have to wait nearly a year before the next one comes out…

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Taming the Wind

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A young widow nursing the wounds of her past…
A cowboy with demons of his own…

Though grateful for the blessing of her daughter, Carissa Lowe has accepted that widowhood is her lot in life.  Bound by fear and mistrust, she feels incapable of opening her heart again.

 

Tyler Atherton has never forgotten Carissa.  When he discovers she’s living with her sister on a nearby ranch, his life becomes intertwined with the lovely widow’s.  And Carissa’s daughter, Gloria, seems determined to wrap herself around his little finger.  But while Tyler longs to provide a home and future for Carissa, he is haunted by an obligation he feels unable to fulfill.

 

Challenged by mounting hardships, can Carissa and Tyler preserve their fledgling love in a land as unforgiving and vibrant as the people who call it home?

 

Review

 

Carissa Lowe had a disastrous first marriage.  Now, widowed with a headstrong child of her own (that reminds Carissa so much of when she was younger…), Carissa’s sole purpose in life is to be a good mother to her daughter, Gloria.  Marriage is far from her mind as she cannot deny the feelings of mistrust towards men that prevents her from getting close to any man.  Any man except Tyler Atherton, that is.

 

Tyler finds Carissa very perplexing.  At one moment she is warm and friendly towards him, and the next she gives him the cold shoulder.  On the other hand, there is no denying Gloria’s feelings towards him – and he relishes the precious moments with the toddler.  But it’s Carissa’s heart he wishes to win over more than anything.  Before he could even think of committing to someone, however, Tyler is determined to find the Indians who viciously killed his father, and exact his own revenge.

 

Taming the Wind was a great, well-written novel, and I would say it is the best of the trilogy.  It intertwines tales of war and sorrow and brings it all together with messages of hope, forgiveness, and love.  The romance was sweet and it was wonderful to see two people grow in their faith and learn to lean on God, and trust in His goodness. 

 

Postscript:  I had the privilege of reviewing the first two books in this trilogy (“Land of the Lone Star”), Chasing the Sun, and Touching the Sky.  Taming the Wind brings this trilogy to a very satisfying end.  While each book is stand-alone, I would definitely recommend reading the books in order, as the characters make recurring appearances throughout the trilogy. 

 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Change of Fortune

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Lady Eliza Sumner is on a mission.  After losing her family, her fiancé, and her faith, the disappearance of her fortune is the last straw.  Now, masquerading as Miss Eliza Sumner, governess-at-large, she’s determined to find the man who ran off with her fortune, reclaim the money, and head straight back to London.

 

Much to Mr. Hamilton Beckett’s chagrin, all the eyes of New York society—all the female ones, at least—are on him.  Unfortunately for all the matchmaking mothers and eligible daughters, he has no plans to marry again, especially with his hands full keeping his business afloat and raising his two children alone.

 

When Eliza’s hapless attempts to regain her fortune put her right in Hamilton’s path, sparks instantly begin to fly.  The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces, but with all their plans falling by the wayside and their enemies getting the better of them, it will take a riot of complications for Hamilton and Eliza to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.

 

Review

 

Lady Eliza has a plan:  find the people who stole her fortune and return to England.  She has many obstacles to overcome, however, and her fumbling attempts to gain information often land her in hot water.  It’s obvious she needs a sidekick or someone to help her locate her fortune, and the people responsible for its disappearance.

 

Mr. Beckett is fairly self-sufficient, and is not in need of anyone.  Except, maybe, a governess for his precocious children.  Lady Eliza smoothly integrates herself into his family, and upon discovering that they have a mutual enemy, they join forces to right the wrongs done to them.

 

Joined by one of Lady Eliza’s previous charges, an outspoken and headstrong young woman, and a chauvinist, arrogant private investigator, their investigations would undoubtedly be met with hair-raising escapades, nightly break-ins, and lots of laughter over the mixed results.

 

It’s been a long time since I laughed so much while reading one novel.  This is such a brilliantly written novel, and the dialogue is so witty that it kept me in stitches from chapter to chapter.  It is hard to believe that it is a first novel for Jen Turano, for it is so well-crafted.  I cannot wait for her next novel!

 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

No Safe Harbor

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New York City, 1897

She came to America searching for her brother.

Instead all she’s found is a web of danger.

Cara Hamilton had thought her brother to be dead.  Now, clutching his letter, she leaves Ireland for America, desperate to find him.  Her search leads her to a houseful of curious strangers, and one man who claims to be a friend – Rourke Walsh.  Despite her brother’s warning, Cara trusts Rourke, revealing her purpose in coming to New York.

She’s then thrust into a world of subterfuge, veiled threats, and attempted murder, including political revolutionaries from the homeland out for revenge.  Her questions guide her ever nearer to locating her brother – but they also bring her closer to destruction as those who want to kill him track her footsteps.

With her faith in tatters, all hope flees.  Will her brother finally surface?  Can he save Cara from the truth about Rourke…the man she’s grown to love?

Review

Cara Hamilton’s got spunk.  An orphan, she crosses the ocean to a foreign country on slim hopes that her brother is still alive and waiting for her there.  Her hopes are nearly dashed however, when upon arrival, her brother doesn’t show.  Alone, and without a home or a job, and when most would be sorely overwhelmed by their situation, Cara squared her shoulders, lifted up her chin, and forged her way onward.  It is this quiet strength that greatly appealed Cara to me.  She was resilient, and not helpless, when her situation got dire.

The story was really good, and including all the right elements: history, romance, and suspense.  The history was rich and very intriguing, the romance delightful, and the suspense just enough to add some extra ``bite`` to the story.  I very much enjoyed this read and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up the next novel in the series.

 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Full Disclosure

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Paul Falcon and Ann Silver

-A Love Story-

Ann Silver is a cop’s cop.  As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder.  Hers is one of the rgion’s most trusted investigative positions.

Paul Falcon is the FBI’s top murder cop in the Midwest.  If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.

Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his.  A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking.  Paul isn’t expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.

The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is.  She knows spies and soldiers and US Marshals, and has written books about them.  She is friends with the former vice president.  People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her.  Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him the John Doe Killer case file, and he starts to realize just who this lady he is failing in love really is…

Review

Dee Henderson is one of my all-time favourite authors.  I devoured her “O’Malley” and “Uncommon Heroes” series in a matter of days, and I have re-read several of them (which I only do if it is a really, really good book).  So you can just imagine how much jumping off the walls I was doing when I heard Dee had a new book coming out. 

Full Disclosure is exactly what the writing on the back says, “a love story”.  It chronicles the sweet and slow romance between two high-powered law enforcement individuals.  If anything, it might have been a bit too slow, as I found the story didn’t really pick up until about a 1/3 of the way through, which is a bit unlike Dee.  There was so much stuff in the book, and it read a bit more of character summaries on Paul and Ann, as opposed to just telling their story.  I wasn’t able to connect with Ann as well as I would have liked.  All the characters in the book described her nothing short of a saint and super-woman.  By the end of the book, you discover that Ann is an artist, pilot, author, coin collector, top murder investigator, etc.  Perhaps it is just envy speaking out, but Ann was painted at being good at so many things, that it felt a tad unbelievable.  What probably threw me off the most, however, was stating that she wrote the “O’Malley” and “Uncommon Heroes” series about her best friends.  Granted, I LOVED having the cameos by some of the “O’Malley” and “Uncommon Heroes” characters in the book, and having them as friends of Ann’s and Paul’s would have been just fine, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around Ann actually writing the books…it just seemed a little odd. 

The writing of Full Disclosure is unquestionably fabulous.  Dee is and always will be an awesome writer.  I liked that she weaved in some “crime mysteries” in the story to add a bit of excitement to the plot.  So while I’m not jumping up and down after reading the novel like I was before, it is still a good story with good writing.  And I still will be one of the first in line to read Dee’s next book.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Borders of the Heart

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Every life has a turning point, where one choice changes everything. 

Once that line is crossed, there’s no going back.

J.D. Jessup finds his line in the desert near Tuscon, as far from his home as the moon.  He’s traded his guitar and the songs in his head for the daily grind of an organic farm – a mind-numbing existence that dulls the pain of his memories.

His boss has one rule:  if J.D. sees an illegal, call Border Patrol. 

But when an early morning ride along the fence line leads him to Maria, a beautiful young woman near death, J.D.’s heart pushes him toward another choice.  Longing to atone for the mistakes that drove him to the desert, J.D. Hides her and unleashes a chain of deadly events he could never have imagined.  Soon the two are running from a killer and struggling to stay alive.  As the secrets that haunt him collide with Maria’s past, J.D. realizes that saving her may be the only way to save himself.

Part thrill ride, part love story, Borders of the Heart is a tender yet gripping odyssey of hope.

Review

Borders of the Heart was an incredibly well-written novel.  I love Chris Fabry’s use of words in his descriptions.  He makes the scene come alive for readers, making one think you are seeing, touching, and experiencing the moment with the character.  One example of his great descriptions is found on the first page:

“Sweating in the stillness, lying on top of the old quilt given to him by Slocum’s wife, and straining to feel any air movement from the clacking metal fan he had found in the barn, he felt beads of perspiration run past his mouth and onto the dusty pillow.”

This novel grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let me go until I read the last word.  The plot had several twists and turns, but it is the characters that drive the story.  Both J.D. and Maria have inner demons they have to deal with, making them very real, very compelling characters to follow.

All in all, a great read!

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Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

With Every Letter

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They know everything about each other – except their real names.

Lt. Mellie Blake is looking forward to beginning her training as a flight nurse.  She is not looking forward to writing a letter to a man she’s never met – even if it is anonymous and part of a morale-building program.  Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer stationed in North Africa, welcomes the idea of an anonymous correspondence – he’s been trying to escape his infamous name for years.

As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other’s true identity.  When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face-to-face for the first time.  Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage by their pasts?

Combining a flair for romance with excellent research and attention to detail, Sarah Sundin vividly brings to life the perilous challenges of WWII aviation, nursing – and true love.

Review

With Every Letter is a unique love story surrounding two characters who hold similar fears.  Lt. Mellie Blake has become used to being the “oddball” amongst any group of people, and rejection is, while painful each time, very commonplace to her.  In order to protect herself from rejection, she has erected a huge wall around herself and makes no attempt to make friends.  Lt. Tom MacGilliver, on the other hand, tries extremely hard to make friends and makes everyone think he is a happy, care-free guy in order to escape the stigma of his father’s wrong-doings.

Their similar fears are that of rejection.  While Mellie does everything in her power to avoid any circumstance that could cause rejection (namely, making friends), Tom ensures that everyone will like him so no one would want to reject him.  It’s in this that these two find common ground, and their anonymity in writing letters gives them a place to share their fears with someone who understands.  Neither of them expected the wonderful friendship that would come of it, nor the romance that blossomed between them.

I was discussing this book with a fellow reviewer (her review can be found here), and one thing that popped out was the fact that this story was about two flawed people, which in essence is two very real people.  Mellie and Tom aren’t perfect, but neither is any human being!  But what Mellie and Tom do is strengthen each other’s weaknesses and bolster their strengths to help the other become the person God wants them to be.

With Every Letter was a very touching, sweet story, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.