For years Dennis Shore has thrilled readers with his spooky bestselling novels. Now a widower, Dennis is finally alone in his house, his daughter attending college out of state. When he's stricken by a paralyzing case of writer's block and a looming deadline, Dennis becomes desperate. Against better judgment, he claims someone else's writing as his own, accepting undeserved accolades for the stolen work. He thinks he's gotten away with it . . . until he's greeted by a young man named Cillian Reed--the true author of the stolen manuscript.
What begins as a minor case of harassment quickly spirals out of control. As Cillian's threats escalate, Dennis finds himself on the brink of losing his career, hi
s sanity, and even his life. The horror he's spent years writing about has arrived on his doorstep, and Dennis has nowhere to run.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Ghostwriter, go HERE.
My Review:
I’m a chicken. The only Stephen King I’ve read is his book on writing and a few short stories. There is a reason for this…nightmares.
As an innocent 8th grader I was forever scarred by Poe. The Tell-Tale Heart horrified me and The Black Cat changed my life. Back before "stepping" for aerobic health was introduced as the new big thing, I had mastered the exercise.
My heart began pounding the second I opened the basement door and I could run up twenty backless steps in a matter of seconds.
That said, ghost/horror stories make for apprehensive reading. So you might wonder why I’d choose a book to read and review from the horror genre.
Because the story intrigued me.
I would recommend that ubersensitive souls stay far away. Not only are there supernatural elements and haunting, there are grisly details best not read before bedtime. The story of a man at the edge of losing his
sanity is fascinating and I felt a pull toward Dennis and the sorrow
and the hopelessness that crippled him.
Thrasher writes a solid story and creates three-dimensional characters. The spiritual elements of the story infused hope into the situation of a man who’d all but lost everything he’d ever held dear which makes the horror somehow redeemed
I may not add a lot of horror to my literary diet but Ghostwriter is a book that I can recommend Ghostwriter to those who love a side-dish of terror every once in awhile.
Hiya.
This weekend FLEW by at a whipneck pace.
Before I let one more day pass, I want to encourage rumble lovers to sign up for a chance to win a copy of Baby Shark and her adventures. Note: Not for the weak or sensitive reader. Here's the link to my review of book one. If you are interested in what Robert shares sign up. The winner will be notified via e-mail, so make sure we can get ahold of you.
Mike Dellosso's newest book is out. Read about his previous novel and his interview here.
About the book:
Otherworldly Screams...
A Madman on the Loose...
This Time the Stakes Are Higher Than Ever
While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend's life. When this happens several more times--screams followed by an untimely death--he is compelled to act.
Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Scream, go HERE
My Review:
In his sophomore novel, Mike Dellosso has created an intriguing, spiritually rich story involving rips in the fabric between Hell and earth. Mark Stone, a man with a broken marriage and a cynical outlook on all things religious, hears an otherworldly scream one night while talking to his friend. Moments later that friend is dead. After a couple more random conversations where he hears the same horrific squeals he puts the details together and contacts a minister who explains the likely scenario.
The creepy and multi-layered plot involves a serial killer, whom I correctly guessed a third of the way in, and the abduction and captivity of women. Along with the Hellish screaming this makes the plot a bit intense. Dog lovers may want to use a bit of caution as there are some disturbing dog moments. Chickens and dog lovers take note of the warning, and those who are offended by Jesus and the discussion of where one goes after death may find offensive material as well.
Well-written and solidly spooky story that may satisfy thriller lovers. The Christian thread is woven throughout and may be just what you're looking for if you want a strong Christian message with some thrills and chills.
Click on the book cover and read more about Saints...
My Review:
A literary fiction with a unique storyline, Saints in Limbo is a lazy, beneath-the-wisteria read. Slow and smooth, Saints mixes generations, loss, crushed dreams, brokenness and a swirl of hope in a literary cocktail that surprises and satisfies.
Three-dimensional characters, a touch of whimsy, heavy melancholy, and a surreal adventure with a magical and spiritual undertone make for a lazy summer read. This is my first River Jordan novel and it will not be my last.
The omniscient point of view is not my favorite but it was easier to overlook since I was drawn into the story.
Guess what, book lovers?
I've been told of a website that is giving away one Christian book a day for the month of June.
The Christian Pulse is sponsoring a contest called The Great Escape Summer Reading Contest. They are giving away free autographed copies of books every day in June. Each book is only available for one day, and the daily contests continue until the end of June 2009. All you have to do is go to the address below each day and click. http://www.thechristianpulse.com/ then click on the Great Escape ad near the top of the page and click again. Check the title of the book available to win on that day because the titles change daily. After you click on the ad and checked the title, you will be given an email address to click on. So, there you go.
Lisa has visited before. Check out her interview and reviews of previous books.
To make a new life, she'll have to learn how to breathe again...
By the time Dominic and Moira St. Clair get their ailing sister, Odessa, to Colorado Springs in the winter of 1883, she is nearly dead. Odessa has been seriously aling for the past year from consumption, an illness that claimed the lives of four of her younger brothers, prompting her father, to send his only surviving children west to chase the cure.
Moira is beautiful and dangerously headstrong; and pugnacious Dominic is charged with establishing a new arm of the family business--a business he doesn't want.
Several days after her arrival, Odessa witnesses what she fears is the murder of miner Sam O’Toole, friend and neighbor to the charming Bryce McAllan.
What’s more, Sam leaves her a poem containing clues that seem to direct her to his mine, which is purported to carry a fantastic vein of silver. But if she is ever to rise from her bed again, she must first concentrate on conquering the giant that threatens her─consumption. Indeed, she must learn to breathe again─daring to embrace her life, her future, and hope in her God.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Breathe, go HERE
My Review:
Breathe exhales drama, adventure and the lives of three siblings as their locations and situations rise and fall within the tight four-hundred pages. A silver mine mystery, a tense, suspenseful chase, spiritual changes and growth, occupation and location changes, love and life-threatening situations abound in this page-turner.
Lisa Bergren writes a solid story and multi-dimensional characters. The scenery she paints is vivid and nearly breathtaking. History and the details of the cure for consumption in Colorado Springs are fascinating. This is the beginning of a series and it is sure to be loaded as the unfinished tales are rich for the mining.
Fans of family sagas and historicals set in the wilds of Colorado need to check this novel out.
Lesley wins the Latino set. 
ossmcalc is the winner of the Hachette Asian book giveaway.
Nicole wins the Mother's Day books.Thanks to all of you for the fabulous comments and for not injuring each other in the comment posting frenzy.
Hopefully, Hachette is going to make a habit out of book giveaways.
I will contact each of the winners via e-mail and ask for a snail mail addy. However, if the winner doesn't hear from me check the spam and if all else fails e-mail to me at kelly( period )klepfer( at )gmail( dot )com.
And for the rest of you who are NOT losers...this may make you feel better. We have a young man at our church who has some challenges...one of which is a social disconnect. He plays a great piano though, and every once in awhile will grace us with a passionate worship song.
Yesterday I walked up to him to thank him for playing. He shook my hand, looked me dead in the eye, cocked his head and said. "Kelly? Kelly Klepfer?"
"Yes."
"You don't look like yourself."
"Well, uhhhh, I got my hair cut."
Still staring. He smiled, dropped my hand and waved his in the air. "Oh, we all get older."
So, now don't you feel better about not winning the books?
