Best of CFRB Day 5: Canadian Authors

With only two days left for the "Best of CFRB" Tour,  I am having difficulty choosing the books that I consider the elite. Sorry folks, but I know I'm going to miss some gems. Today is Canadian day. Thanks to Laura Davis, I was introduced to some great authors from up north. There were four in particular: Marcia Laycock, Laura Davis, Mags Storey, and Keith Clemons.

One Smooth Stone by Marcia Lee Laycock
Two men are running from the law, from their pasts, from society, from themselves, and from God. The thing is, no one can hide from God. As is written in Psalm 130 (NKJV):

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?


Or where can I flee from Your presence?


8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;


If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

Even in the wild and danger-laden northern frontiers of the Yukon, Alex and Gil must face themselves and the pursuing God who will not let them go. Their paths cross unexpectedly as "coincidences" lead them in ways they never wanted.

The story shifts back and forth from Alex Donnelly to Gil, focusing mostly on Alex's story. Just a few weeks after Alex's twenty-first birthday, a lawyer from Seattle found him living the hermit's life in the Canadian wilderness. It seems that the orphaned man had a million dollar inheritance just waiting for him to pick it up. Alex is suspicious, certain there's been a mistake, but he warily agrees to go back to civilization with the lawyer. In Seattle, he meets the sweet young researcher who had worked for so long searching for him, and they form an odd connection. He spends the weekend with her and her parents (her father is a senior partner in the law firm), and comes face-to-face with a family model unknown to him. The close relationships they have with each other and with God beckon to an empty place within him, but in the same time they intensify his dark memories of his own past, a past full of dark secrets and abuse. In agony and fearful of the police, he leaves without getting his money. Back in the Yukon, with winter coming on, he takes a caretaker job in an empty mining camp for the season. n the isolated camp, his only companion is a husky. Oh, and the grizzly. Oh, and a mysterious "ghost" who barely leaves a trace of his existence.

Meanwhile, Kenni, the young researcher, is compelled by God to persevere in pursuit of the troubled Alex. And remember the grizzly and the winter coming on?  And that other guy, Gil? Everything comes together in tense adventurous ways.

The dark truths are eventually revealed as Mrs. Laycock skillfully laid them out piecemeal, drawing us in and making us care about a rough character like Alex Donnelly. When we see through the eyes of Kenni and her parents, we see how God loves even the most wretched and how His forgiveness, love and grace can work all things together.

This suspense and action-packed novel really held my attention  from the very beginning.Marcia Laycock doles out little parcels of information (some of which I've spoiled) so dexterously, kind of like the carrot-on-the-string ploy. It kept me guessing about all sorts of details, some extremely important, right up to the end. It was a very satisfying story, but not all pie-in-the-sky. One Smooth Stone is definitely an adult suspense, although I am sure many teens would enjoy it as well. Once again, the timing for this tour was interesting to me, coming between the Olympics in Canada and the Iditarod (started March 7). Those who enjoy adventure, suspense and mystery should be captivated by One Smooth Stone.

Marcia Lee Laycock is an award-winning Canadian author known for her devotional writings. She received the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for One Smooth Stone, her debut in fiction.

For more information, you can visit the author's website, vinemarc.com .


Purchase One Smooth Stone from
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or the publisher.


If I copy all three of the others, this will be much too long. So please follow the links for the titles to read my reviews. Author websites are given as links under the author names.

Mags Storey's Story: IF ONLY YOU KNEW  (Since I originally wrote this review, Ms. Storey has won some well-deserved awards for her novel. The Word Guild's Canadian Christian Writing Awards bestowed three honors: Best Romance, Best Youth Novel, and the prestigious  Grace Irwin Award for Best Book of 2009.

Keith Clemons: Mohamed's Moon (interview)

    Laura Davis: Come to Me    

Best of CFRB Day 4: League Of Superheroes

The world is full of turmoil and evil. There are scheming powers that want to destroy humanity and take control of the world. Where can the people of the world turn for help? Look! Up in the sky! It’s . . . geeks!?! Make that Teenage mutant ninja geeks. Okay, so they are neither mutants nor ninjas. But they are teenage geeks, and they are definitely pretty cool once they get their super suits. Suits that are designed and created by a seven year old genius that they met online, no less.

League of Superheroes is the book that many a geek (teenage or older) and many a comic book aficionado has been waiting for, whether you knew it or not. I know this from the reaction of several self-proclaimed geeks and comic maniacs when I described the book to them, a reaction that has been further promoted after said geeks and fans read the story. Myself included. Oh, and by the way, this has a really important added dimension: the League is made up of extraordinarily committed Christians who desire to live according to the way that Jesus would want them to. I know: that’s the hardest to swallow of all in this story, right? But Stephen Rice makes it all work, and he does so in a most entertaining way.

Briefly, there are four teenage boys who call themselves the Mad Scientists. They each have certain special talents and gifts; each is extremely intelligent. And, as I mentioned, each is unapologetically Christian. They all attend different denominations (except Tom, who is part of a nondenominational church), they tease each other about their differences, but they really respect each other and share a love for certain comic superheroes. One day Allen’s chatty sister Clarice introduces them to her new online friend, Genie. It appears that Genie isn’t in any bottle, but she is able to grant wishes. One by one, super suits start arriving for the guys that equip them with unheard-of technological means to “become” their favorite superheroes. First is Titan for Rod; he’s kind of like a human tank. His strength is incredible, but Rod’s first attempts at controlling his powers and ability to fly are hilarious. As are his first efforts to thwart crime. Within a short time Allen becomes Tachyon, apparently reaching super speeds by distorting time, Tom turns into Darklight with invisible tendencies, and Charlie shrinks into the role of Micromegas (for you DC Comic fans, think the Atom).

The guys are on cloud nine, but to whom much is given, much is required, and life as crime fighters isn’t all fun and games. There’s the kidnapping which ends rather unhappily and alerts the guys to something very sinister behind the people that have Genie under their thumb. Her whole story is strange, and as they all get more acquainted, it becomes all too clear that she is involved with really dangerous people. Is Rod correct in his belief that this corporation has to do with the antichrist and the mysterious Troika? And what about Genie herself? Is she using the guys for her own purposes, revenge and some definitely unchristian activities?

This book is just the introduction to a whole series that Stephen Rice is developing using his characters, but for my vote it is a great beginning. Lots of action, lots of fun and humor, and some deep issues to ponder. Stephen says there is a lot more action and adventure in subsequent tales, leading me to expect a dynamite series!

Visit Stephen Rice's blog: Back to the Mountains and his League of Superheroes Series wiki at ansric.pbwiki.com.

Product Details:

List Price: $ 9.95
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Writers Cafe Press, The (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193428405X
ISBN-13: 978-1934284056

League of Superheroes is available through the publisher, The Writer's Café Press (can be autographed), Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com.

Best of CFRB: Nor Iron Bars a Cage

Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage;

Minds innocent and quiet take that for an hermitage;

If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free,

Angels alone that soar above Enjoy such liberty.( “To Althea From Prison,” Richard
Lovelace 1618-1658)

For her second novel in the Ascendancy trilogy, Caprice Hokstad chose an appropriate title, Nor Iron Bars a Cage, alluding to themes in the above poem as well as referring to events in the novel itself. In a fantasy world where slavery is a normal part of a culture, one of the big questions is, “what is true freedom?”

Events take up right where they left off in The Duke’s Handmaid. In case you haven’t read the first book, there are enough details that you can easily follow the story, although it would be preferable to read both books. Nor Iron Bars a Cage is set in the imaginary country of Latoph. (You can find some cool details about Latoph, including a map, at http://www.latoph.com/) In this world there is a duality to everything: two suns, two moons, two races of people. Even twin brothers who were supposed to reign together as kings, but only one was given the throne. The other one, our hero Duke Vahn, has only his duchy at his control. This is a cause of major sibling tension.

The story starts up a while after the Duke’s former wife had taken off with their son, fleeing with her lover back to her father’s kingdom of Ganluc. Prince Duke Vahn has searched in vain to discover where his former wife Saerula had hidden Dauntère in Ganluc. Finally, kee, his secret wife and handmaiden extraordinaire, devises a plan enter Ganluc as a recaptured runaway slave, reasoning that a slave will not be suspect and may get information that others could not. The plan is dangerous for all of them, but especially kee, who must be kept locked in a cage as they transport her through the country. There are some very serious misadventures, but I won’t spoil that here.

Meanwhile, while kee is gone, the Duke finds himself in hot water due to a hasty bet with an angry duchess who tried in vain to snatch the Duke as a groom. The loser has to act as slave to the winner for eight weeks. As the saying goes, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

There are some very deep issues in this novel, much deeper than they may appear on the surface. Quite honestly, I had to come to terms with the slavery, which is nothing like the slavery that existed in the United States, but there is a natural repulsion to the whole idea. This is a totally different culture, but even more than that is the Biblical example that kee in particular was following. We serve either God or Mammon, as it says in the King James Version, so while we do have free will, we will end up serving someone. True freedom is found when we willingly submit to the will of God and allow Him to be the Lord of our lives. One of the gems that this novel contains is coming to terms with what Lordship means. When God is truly Lord, He is also our Father. He takes care of us, feeds us, protects us, and has our welfare in mind even when He corrects us. Vahn learns to be more of a Christ figure in the second novel. Hebrews 2:18 reads, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” You will have to read the book to discover how he suffered. There are several other Christian values and world views expressed: loyalty, friendship, faithfulness, a desire to bring honor and glory to the Lord, a willingness to accept blame and not find fault with others, respect for all people, and substitution and sacrifice. The virtue is not so much in getting our rights as being submissive to God and others.

One point I wish to make clear: just because this is fantasy, do not expect it to be a Young Adult or children’s book. It is quite definitely written for adults and describes adult issues. Mrs. Hokstad has said that since she couldn’t find the kind of book she wanted to read, she decided to write it herself. Adult scenes are worded carefully, with no vulgarity or cheapness, but it is suggested that parents read the novel first before handing it to any teenagers. You won’t find anything more graphic than is depicted in the Bible, in fact many passages in the Old Testament are a great deal more violent and graphic.

By and large, this was a very entertaining and insightful, richly detailed story. Caprice Hokstad has painstakingly laid out a new world with luxurious descriptions, from the topography and weather to the racial and cultural differences to the events and décor of the homes. The duality theme is carried out in so many levels. Her descriptions made me wince with pain, smile at the sweetness of kee, and feel the thirst in the desert. It was not a book with action packing every paragraph, since a great deal of the action was internal. Nevertheless, there were plenty of exciting scenes along the way, and quite a few truths to ponder as we impatiently wait for the third book in the series.

Nor Iron Bars a Cage by Caprice Hokstad
348 pages
Publisher: Vici Publishing
Copyright: © 2007 Caprice Hokstad Standard Copyright License
Language: English
Country: United States
Available in hardcover, paperback, and download.
If you would like to read a preview of the first three chapters, you can find it at http://www.latoph.com/NIBAC.html
Caprice Hokstad’s website: http://www.latoph.com
Available through her website and http://www.lulu.com/caprice
Should be available very soon at http://www.amazon.com/, but the price is better at lulu.com.

CFRB Book Tour for August: "Best of CFRB"

The Christian Fiction Review Blog (CFRB) has been in operation since January 1, 2007, when the first book toured was Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer. 43 novels have been spotlighted since that time, and there was a feeling that it would be good to recap some of the better titles. Most of the CFRB members weren't there at the beginning; but it's my understanding that quality writing was evident from the outset. This week various members will be reaching into their individual archives to revisit titles that each of them considers top-notch. Since I am not sure just who will be contributing this time, I ask you to look at the scrolling bar--CFRB--on the right side. Current and recent members are listed there, many of whom should be reviewing this week. As for me personally, I have had great difficulty choosing, so I'll be rerunning one review per day. Six still wasn't enough, but choices had to be made.

FORGIVING SEAN by Jessica Adriel

A teenage pregnancy, baby lost, boyfriend walks away, then pops up again two years later. A romantic triangle. If this sounds like the ingredients of a dozen other romance novels or romantic movies, they are. But it isn't really the same. This triangle has another element that really makes it a rectangle. That other element, one that changes everything, is God.

Forgiving Sean continues the story that began in Drawing Marissa, the first of three volumes in the Chatham Series. Apparently the first book followed a teenage Marissa Gladstone and her relationship with the slightly older neighbor boy, Sean. Sean was the very popular jock who went on to play baseball with the Chicago Cubs, but now he was coming home with his leg in a cast, his career possibly in ruins. The King returned, but no one was treating him with the deference he was used to. Even worse, his little brother Phillip (the real reason for Sean's return after two long years--Phillip was graduating) and his father had "got religion" so bad that his father didn't even drink any more. And Sean really wanted a drink--or several. Topmost on his mind was Marissa; he desperately wished there was a way to make up with her, but everyone was against him. And then he saw something he hadn't counted on--a serious rival for her affections.

In the two years since the baby died and Sean left her without a word, Marissa had healed physically and spiritually with another young man, Hawke, by her side all the way. As it turns out, Hawke had some deep wounds of his own. But the two of them had discovered the great healing power only God could give. And as they continued to heal, they were sharing God's power and love with the teens in their church. It looks like everything is going smoothly until Marissa sees Sean again. Old hurts reemerge as do old feelings, and Marissa fights an inward battle.

I always look for the meaning behind a title, and, as is often true, there are several levels of meaning here. Most obvious is that Marissa needs to forgive Sean, but Sean also needs to forgive himself and accept the fact that God will forgive him of every sin. Those who love Marissa also have to forgive Sean--even his own family. Forgiveness, then, is a major theme, as are healthy relationships, the love of God and Jesus, God's healing and the blessings of living by  God's rules.

This book targets a young adult audience, by which I mean teen and college age, not pre-teen. It  deals with some serious issues, like teenage pregnancy and drug abuse, and although Jesus is the answer, the story doesn't candy-coat or whitewash the struggles real people go through. As I understand it, this book and the first one have already had an impact on young people. I do hope and pray that they continue to not only entertain but influence readers.







Visit the author's website and

check out the Free Chapter Downloads.



Purchase Forgiving Sean at

Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

A Soldier's Devotion

Slam! Before he can even react, Vince Reardon found himself catapulted off his Harley and into the rain-sodden intersection. Inside he is seething with rage at the stupid lady driver who hit him. She was too distracted on her cell phone to notice him in time to stop, and now his precious bike was splattered all over the road. If he wasn't in so much pain, Vince would have probably exploded in anger, but instead the woman saw a vulnerable part of him that he kept hidden. Worse yet, she was one of those praying Christians who insisted on praying over him unti the paramedics came. She pitied him, something he couldn't stand. Even worse still, she turned out to be a lawyer, the lowest form of life in Vince's opinion.

Cheryl Wyatt's latest novel, A Soldier's Devotion, starts off with a van-motorcycle wreck, promising action and tension from the very first sentence. In the sixth story of the Wings of Refuge series published by Love Inspired Books, the most cynical and crusty member of the Pararescue Jumpers is featured. Vince Reardon has already shown himself to be antagonistic to God, church, and Christians. He's a hard-drinking, sarcastic, biker dude who likes easy women and parties hard. Ironically, though, Vince is totally dedicated to his special ops team and their rescue work, belying a tender heart underneath all that grump and gruffness. He bemoans the fact that more and more of his team members are going "over to the enemy" by becoming Christian, yet he has a high level of respect for all these guys. His team members understand him better than he supposes: they know he has some deep hurts that have turned him bitter and hard.

Enter Valerie Russo, the van-wielding attorney who makes a bad--and painful--first impression on Vince. She believes God has brought her across his path for a purpose, in spite of the bad beginning, and she is determined to get through to him. So begins a battle of wills and stubbornness, with occasional misunderstandings alons the way.

Vince is the toughest of the team addressed so far, but as the story unfolds we learn what made him the way he is; the hardships of his life have served to both toughen him  for his job and to insulate him from human contact. He cares for others, as he shows with the teens, but he is afraid to open up with peers.

In a secondary story, a group of at-risk teenagers are introduced. They serve to bring Val and Vince together, but through them a serious social issue is addressed. This time it's abuse. Each one of Cheryl's books has included some issue like this, real issues that teens and adults deal with every day.

Cheryl Wyatt has a strong grasp on scripture and what it means to live as a follower of Jesus, and once again it shines through her writing. Her Christian characters live their faith in their daily lives; this is what makes a difference in each of her stories. Two of the guys have been praying for Vince for five years; patiently being real in front of him and not pouncing. There is an understanding here about  things happening in God's time and in God's way.

While A Soldier's Devotion is a part of a series, it definitely can stand alone. The characters from other books walk in and out of the story, but each novel is independent. It is a romance novel, so certain developments are fairly obvious from the beginning, but it still has nuances, turns, and humor that make it lively. Teens (at least 14 or so, anyway) will enjoy it as well as adults.

The way Love Inspired Books work, this will only be on shelves until the end of January in many stores. I found it at a large Kroger Store; I found Cheryl's other books at Target, Meijer's and Walmart. But since I got this review up so late, you can get it online after January ends at such sites as amazon.com, Barnes  and Noble, and christianbook.com.

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Steeple Hill (June 1, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 0373875320
• ISBN-13: 978-0373875320

THICKER THAN BLOOD--It All Comes Back to Relationships

Today is the last day of a week long blog tour for C. J. Darlington's award-winning novel Thicker Than Blood, and I found myself still thinking about the book. In particular, I've been thinking about the themes, the spiritual content, the major issues and just what it is that appeals to me. By and large, it seems to come around to relationships.  The more I ruminated, the more I realized that it's all about relationships--various and sundry relationships--and God's way of running them.

In the review posted earlier I dealt with other, more exciting matters, but I also brought up this issue a bit. How could I ignore it with that title? In most novels, authors tend to gravitate to the easiest relationship to write about, a romantic or dating relationship. C. J. starts her story with one of these, but it doesn't lead to the usual path. In fact, Christy's unhealthy relationship with Vince serves as a cautionary tale: this is NOT God's will for your life! While there are some undertones of other possible romantic interests, I applaud the author's decision to steer away from the easy and often-trod trail, instead focusing on other types of relationships.

What relationships? Let's start with the less obvious.First, there are right and wrong examples of how an employer-employee relationship should be. Vince and his employer = wrong. Vince is a cheating, lying person with no loyalty to his boss. The hired hand at the ranch and May and her partner = a healthy business relationship. He takes nothing from them beyond his wage, shows proper respect and gives much more than a minimum amount of work. Christy has some from both sides, but she wants to be a good and trustworthy employee. In her we see the struggle. Relationship two: partnership. May and Ruth have a healthy partnership at the ranch, based on God's principles. It doesn't mean that they have no problems, but their consciences are clear and they know God will meet their needs one way or another. Some of the practices of certain booksellers contrast with them. Third is friendship, mainly represented by May and the vet. This is an example of "a friend who sticks closer than a brother," er, sister (Proverbs 18:24).

Then there are the blood relationships. Vince and his father had a very unhealthy relationship; the bookstore owner and his son are strained (the father prefers Vince's company to his loyal son). May grew up with her aunt in a very loving relationship in a house where God was honored. Before they died, Christy and May's parents provided a loving home for the girls, although there were some problems. And of course, the big one is the relationship between Christy and May. May has yearned for a reconnection to her sister, never understanding why she had abandoned her. Christy just knows that something is missing.

Of course the biggest relationship is the one that gave rise to the title. What could be thicker than blood? A relationship with God, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the relationship that can turn all others right. If a person seeks God first, all else shall be added. Now, this novel doesn't suggest that once a person turns her life over to Christ all her troubles disappear. No, it is obvious that the trials and struggles are still there, even worse sometimes. But following God's path is the only way to get all the relationships straight. Blood means a lot, but Jesus' blood means everything.

You can read the first chapter here.

For more about C. J. Darlington and her writing, check out her website.

 Thicker Than Blood is available at many Christian and regular bookstores. Online, you can purchase it from Christianbook, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.


Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (Dec. 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1414334486
ISBN-13: 978-1414334486 



My thanks to Tyndale House for sending me a review copy of Thicker Than Blood. My opinions and thoughts are my own and not influenced by anyone else.

A Tale of Two Sisters--THICKER THAN BLOOD

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Oops, wrong book! And yet it fits in many ways. Two sisters followed separate paths, both doing the work they love, but they were both facing great difficulties that threatened to turn their worlds upside-down. Sadder still, their bond from youth had long ago been deliberately broken by the older sister, so they didn't have each other to lean on when they most needed each other.

In her debut novel, C. J. Darlington writes as if  she's been a best-seller for years. No doubt her experience as a book seller/broker and book lover have aided her, but so have many years of honing her skills in other writing opportunities. Many of you may know her from her blog or from her work at Title Trakk, in which case you already know that C. J. is handy with words. It has all come together  nicely with Thicker Than Blood, winner of the 2008 Christian Writers' Guild 'Operation First Novel' Contest. That contest meant being published by Tyndale House and all that goes with it.

Christy Williams has had one mess after another in her life, and just when things seem to be coming together for her, it all unravels. She loves her job at the bookstore, and the manager is entrusting her to more and more responsibilities with book auctions and estate sales. But  Vince, her ex and a co-worker, doesn't intend to let her go. Not because of great love but for power and control. When Christy refuses to do as he commands, he makes life impossible for her. She needs an escape.

Her younger sister May has been living her dream life as a partner on a ranch surrounded by horses. Hard work but the only life she really wants. Her problem is that they are so far behind in the ranch mortgage that the bank has given final notice. It looks hopeless, but May has a source of strength that Christy doesn't: she has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and has learned to depend on Him. Still, she doesn't see a way out.

The stage is set for circumstance and 'happenstance' to develop in ways to bring the sisters together again and become enmeshed in each other's lives.

There are heroes/heroines and villains, chase scenes, fire, threats, gunshots, injuries, internal and external conflict, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, hatred, moments of enlightenment, moments of despair. All the elements are here to make a great story, and C. J. combines them deftly. Her timing is well-paced and the build-up to the climax is maddening! The beginning seems to lag a bit, but that really is normal in setting up the story and the characters. Before long, though, it picks up amd moves quickly.

I found myself thinking about the story while  was doing other things (when I wanted to get to the end but had to do the mundane stuff); I was even imagining possible ways for it all to work out. Some of my ideas were right, but others were really off in left field, out in the cow pasture. Now that I've finished, I want to go back and revisit a few places. For me, this means it's a good book.

This is not your run-of-the-mill average Christian romance novel, and I'm relieved to pass that on because there are so many romance novels following  a set, predictable fomula. I kept looking for romances that didn't happen. I think the romance-gone-bad with Vince help set me up for that. And yet...Not going to spoil it any further. Let's just say it is an excellent Christian fiction novel that doesn't really fit into one of the normal genre cubbyholes, at least as far as I can see.

My thanks to Tyndale House for sending me a review copy of Thicker Than Blood. I have no copies to give away; if I could afford another giveaway this month, I would gladly draw for a copy of this book.  Since I can't, I just exhort you to get a copy youself!

You can read the first chapter here.

For more about C. J. Darlington and her writing, check out her website.


Thicker Than Blood is available at many Christian and regular bookstores. Online, you can purchase it from Christianbook, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (December 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1414334486
ISBN-13: 978-1414334486

The Wordsmith Revisited: Names and Pictures Mean Something

Once again,  I found myself paralyzed before the computer because there were too many thoughts competing to be written down. So, I apologize for this blog surfacing so late in the day. I just wish, when I read a book that I enjoy, I could maneuver words well enough to express the spirit of those books. And "spirit" is exactly what I mean about The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux by Clifford Leigh. You might figure that out sooner than I did if you read the book. I was a little dense.

The entire time that I was reading this unusual book, I was struck by two elements in particular: Mr. Leigh's choice of words--especially names--and all the pictures. Therefore, I've decided to focus on these devices.

Ah, what's in a name? Depends. Sometimes names are chosen for heritage, for their sound, and sometimes for their meaning. All three are true in The Wordsmith. At times I was reminded of the fun names in Charles Dickens' books. For example, when Corey has to go to the dentist, Dr. Worell K. Riesen. His nurse has the outstanding name of Pedifoot. Perfectly upside-down for a dentist's assistant. At first I thought the doctor's name was just fuuny, until I said it out loud. Then I heard whirl (like a drill) and caries. 7th graders, fresh from Health classes, will probably pick up on that faster than I did. (Aside: the whole dentist scene reminded me of Dickens for more than the names. It is so funny, very cleverly written. The descriptions of the characters bring them and the situation to clarity in all their ridiculousness, especially the germaphobic, overstuffed, pompous Dr. Riesen. Ah! Just aas I was writing this I realized his name is also a type of candy--more irony?).

For those who are as dense as I am, a character named Ben helps point the way. Corey meets Ben and Benjamin Endben inside The Land Under The Tree, and Ben is quick to snicker at names, even his own. He made me realize the meaning behind Fern and Kosmo Kreechur. Funny names, ridiculous people, but symbolic of much more. See, these two enter the shop of the Wordsmith while Corey, Ben and Benjamin are there. Corey is duly impressed as he watches the Wordsmith's words create something living from nothingness (sound familiar?). The Kreechurs enter the shop and never even see the Wordsmith, yet they are enamored by the creation. Fern is a nature-lover who gives homage to Mother Nature for her own creation while Kosmo calculates (scientifically, of course) that this living creation is 365 days old. To these two, the creature, or creation, was greater than the creator. In fact, they don't even see the creator when He's right in front of them. Sound like anyone you know or have heard about in the real world?

A game filled with children provides all kinds of creativity with names--the game that everyone in New Dragenstoy ( a fun name in itself) played or followed--Darbol. The game itself made me think of the Spanish word for tree--arbol. And, after all, this place is under The Tree. The game was invented by the founder of this city, Coyle Dragenstoy. Think about it. It isn't a nice game, and it doesn't encourage godly behavior. Heritage names show up here, I think, with nods to the founder: Doyle, Boyle, Hoykin, Royzin, etc. Other names have meaning. Benjamin tells Corian that his name meant "some of my right hand", and any of us who have read the Old Testament know the story of Benjamin and of his name. It fits.  I think Corian means something in another language, but I'm not sure. I know a Griffin (his last name) is a mythological beast befitting a fantasy such as this one. Then there are the names Pavo and Cigna (Latin for 'turkey' and 'swan,' repectively) and Loyal that show up later in the tale. You'll probaby notice more that I did. I am a bit dense, after all.

Wow; I haven't even started on the pictures yet, and they are essential to the novel. It is only fitting that a man who is a visual artist and an architect by trade should incorporate art and architecture so heavily into his written artwork. (Oh, and by the way, Cliff Leigh is the very apt illustrator as well as author. All the pictures you have seen--other than our logo--on the blogs for the tour are his work.) The weird trip begins when Corey finds some family picture albums, and falls into one of them,  a tree that is decorated with framed pictures of many, many people. It turns out to be an impossibly large tree. But, after all, it is Corey's family tree in a rather literal sense, covered with images of the people who are literally in his family tree. And it is  a very large tree, including all the human race (we all can trace our heritage back to Noah, after all.) In the land under The Great Tree, there  were pictures everywhere. pictures that Corey and the others could step into, become part of, become lost in. Sometimes the picture up front was a facade for what was really happening. For example, one of the pictures shows a family frozen in a family portrait, all smiles and love.Yet when the boys stepped in, they found that only the front was there, like cardboard props. The real family situation was far from the happy scene out front.

Pictures abound throughout, pictures of people, images that recall scenes from scripture, and images that remind us of ourselves and the condition of the world. Then there are some very special pictures that Benjamin carried with him and showed to anyone who would look. Near the end of the book (a tiny spoiler here), someone identifies them as "The Lambskin Pictures." They include a picture of  the kid, but I'm not going to  describe that one. Or the others. The fact is, though, that everyone who saw those pictures were somehow affected by them, and the affect depended on whether or not that person decided to accept what they saw.  For any readers familiar with the Bible, the images of the book and the images portrayed through the words will make you think about The Word and the One who spoke The Word, the one who is The Word.

So much more I could say, but I think I'll end with Clifford Leigh's own words about words, pictures, and his book:

Just one more thing on the use of  pictures: It is said, “A picture is worth a thousand words” but which words?

  As a professional artist I have learned the limitation of pictures and the absolute supremacy of the Word over images. I have exhibited pictures that I labored to express a particular meaning only to have viewers decipher wholly different interpretations from them. Words are a more specific tool to convey meaning. There fore, I opted to write a book of words describing things that no one is viewing, instead of filling a gallery with paintings of these things." (For the rest of this deep explanation about the book, check it out at "Orgins and Meanings" on his website blog.)

Once again, I urge you to find out more about the book and the Renaissance-man-author, Cliff Leigh, by visiting his website at http://www.cliffleigh.com .

Don't forget, someone who comments on the CFRB blogs (including mine) this week will win a copy of The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux. Since I'm getting this blog up so late in the day, I'm extending the deadline until noon on Monday, January 11.








Purchase The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux at Christianbook.com, Booksamillion.com,
Amazon, Amazon Kindle, or Barnes and Noble.



Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

    

The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux---Huh?? The What?

Many of you may have never heard of an Electrolux, so right away the title may strike you as odd. Even knowing what an Electrolux is (a brand of vacuum cleaner), I thought the title was odd. One thing for sure, though, it got my attention. What possible connection could there be? What does it mean?

As it turns out, there is a very strong connection, a very meaningful connection, but it isn't really apparent for a while. Before I actually found out how the Electrolux figured into the story, though, I was already well engrossed in it.

Clifford Leigh's wild fantasy reminds me of Alice in Wonderland in many ways, including the long fall down the rabbit hole. In The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux, the fall is into a picture in a box and roughly bumping down the branches of a humongous tree. The protagonist of the story meets a number of unusual people in this new place he's fallen into and finds himself in all kinds of difficult and weird situations. It's  a world full of living pictures, framed ones, and the people choose whether or not to enter various photos. It seems that at least part of these images are connected with certain people and events running in and out. Corey, the main character, just kind of meanders along and finds himself following  twins Benjamin and Ben Endben, who are total opposites in personality and behavior, and yet...well, you'll see if you read the book. Benjamin seems to be the spiritual and ethical brother, but he's always rubbing people the wrong way. He shows everyone these pictures that seem to have special meaning. Most people get annoyed, but a few have an 'aha' moment that changes them. Corey doesn't understand as Benjamin seems to speak in riddles (or parables), yet he is drawn to the strange boy and his pictures. They end up getting in a lot of trouble when...well, again, you need to read the book.


The book takes a while getting to the fall into the box and down the tree, but it's necessary in order to build the back story. Corian "Corey" Griffin is a very selfish boy who doesn't really care for his parents or little sister except for what they can do for him. He starts stealing money from his father's change box so that he can get instant gratification with an ice cream fix. He is oblivious to the family situation, and when his father has to leave home in order to get a job to support the family, Corey's only concern is that his money source won't be replenished. It all comes to a head when the box no longer contains any quarters, and Corey is afraid of being found out. Then the Electrolux starts acting up, and Corey takes off for the adventure of his life.

The main reason I liken this book to Alice in Wonderland is because it is so much more than it seems. With a young boy as a protagonist and a story around his bad behavior and family relationship, it appears to be a middle-grade fantasy. Just like Alice, though, this is quite deceptive. The symbolism and truths that unfold are definitely adult level in a tale with deep corners. I think a younger person can appreciate one level, a teenager another, and adults yet another level. I guess it's kind of like C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia in that way. As you might predict, Corey's relationship with his family will change, but more importantly, he comes to terms with another Father and the Son as well. I don't want to give too much  away, but I was awestruck by the way Leigh explains Jesus' sacrifice and so much more.

I'll have more to say about this book later on this week. Granted, it's a bit odd, but if you take a chance on reading it, it will be well worth your while, whether you're 11 or 41.

I received a review copy of this book free for review purposes, but I never recommend a book or give a good review unless I honestly mean it. And I heartily recommend  The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux. In fact, I am going to give away a copy on my own dime. On Sunday, January 10, I'll choose one name from those who leave comments here and elsewhere on the CFRB tour. This will include comments on all my blogs on the tour and all those by other CFRB members.





Visit the author's website and the WKE Blog.


Purchase The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux at

Amazon, Amazon Kindle, or Barnes and Noble.



Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

    

So What About the Cat That Made Nothing Something Again?

This is a little fable-type story, even a parable of sorts, that is written for children but also targeted for adults. Personally, I found it delightful, but I don't want to base my reviews solely on personal reactions.

A cat-with-no-name lives in a medieval type town in a country where evil, greedy sponges have sucked the moisture out of everything and everyone. They didn't kill them, but the lack of moisture took the important signs of life away. It left boring, dry people with no interests, no love and no energy. This cat got tired of a boring existence with no petting and no one concerned about him, so he decided one day to try to bring the water back. The story goes on to follow the cat's adventures all the way to the king's castle and back.


It's fairly easy for adults to make a connection between this water and Jesus as the Living Water. As the cat travels, he finds many examples of how people and all life, even trees, were affected when their life-giving substance was taken from them. All the good was gone, leaving squabbling, apathy, folly, lack of creativity, no joy and general misery. Most people didn't even seem to notice the sad condition they were in; they just went through the drudgery of their existence like automatons. And it isn't only people that are affected. Along the way, he tries to climb a tree that has turned to stone. This tree has an importance later in the story, but I don't want to give any more details here.

The narration is clever and witty with some unexpected events along the way. A couple of surprises for me had to do with a seed which reminded me immediately of the Parable of the Sower that Jesus told. The parable was there, but it went further. That's all I'm saying... I saw many places in the story that would be prime for discussions with a child who is reading the story, possibilities for discussing several character points and themes from Scripture. The way it is written, it would be easy to just slide into such discussions.


[Little SPOILER] Yeah, spoiler, but you are probably expecting it. The best part of the story is all the changes that happen once the cat achieves his goal, changes that again present some great talking points for parent, or even a discussion group with a class of young readers. Chief among these changes: the transformation of the cat himself. Yes, he had a desire to seek the water and made the effort to find it, but even before it was possible, he had to come to terms with the Creator of all. It was only then that the miracles of life could begin.


Back to a personal note, this was one of my favorite reads this year, juvenile though it may be. I think that the themes are so well expressed, so cleverly written, that it transcends a mere children's tale. This is one that I would hope becomes well-known and often-read.




ISBN-10: 1440485275
ISBN-13: 978-1440485275
ASIN: B001P05M8O (for Kindle edition)
Available at Amazon in paperback ($6.99) and Kindle edition (presently $2.99)


You can learn more at James D. Maxon's website, and even get a copy of the book (free download) there.



Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the story for review purposes, although I will not give a favorable review of anything if I don't really mean it.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

TALKING TO THE DEAD--Ghosts in a Christian Book?

My first thoughts when I started reading Talking to the Dead were, "What kind of Christian book is this? Christians don't believe in ghosts, other than the Holy Ghost." In other words, I was skeptical at best as I tackled the story.

Happily, it soon became apparent that Bonnie Grove wasn't writing a script for Ghost Whisperer. It does get a little creepy for a while, though, and I don't want to spoil the story by saying too much. Actually, there isn't ever a full explanation of the phenomenon of Kate hearing her dead husband talking to her.

Whoa--I guess I'm getting ahead of myself here, jumping right into the middle of the story. It seems that Kevin Davis, a young, upwardly mobile bank employee, has died quite suddenly while away from home. He was already dead and in the hospital before his wife, Kate, was even notified. The devoted wife was understandably in shock and stayed there for days. Her mother, sister, and Kevin's best friend Blair all stepped in to take care of the arrangements while Kate remained in a zombie-like state. It was too much to register; how could her husband of only seven years be gone like that?

The first time Kate hears Kevin talking to her is that night after the funeral. She was upstairs in the bedroom, and it freaked her out enough that she didn't go back upstairs for several days. Instead, she camped out on the living room floor, more or less in a fetal position. She wasn't coping with life after his death well at all, but she also wasn't letting others help her out. Her mother, who had just been widowed a few months earlier, brought over a bunch of books that had helped her get through her grief, but Kate just pushed them aside. When her sister Heather tried to clean up the dishes for her, she woke up a bit from her catatonic state and screamed at Heather to go away and leave her alone. It's hard to help someone who refuses to be helped, but as days passed this way, everyone become increasingly alarmed. Enter eccentric Maggie, an older lady, an acquaintance of Kate's mother, who has a pushy way of putting her two cents' worth in. By this time, though, Kate was starting to realize she might be grieving in an unhealthy way, and after mulling it over a bit, calls Maggie back to get the list of counselors from her. Slowly, Kate begins a journey through her grief, trying to find her sanity, but some of the counselors she runs into make it worse. All the while, Kevin pops up unexpectedly talking to her about things, even yelling at her, which was uncharacteristic. Of course, his appearances and conversations, things she doesn't dare tell anyone else, eventually convince Kate that she must be losing her mind. But it seems so real! And why does he tell her things she wouldn't otherwise know, like the location of his important papers, if it isn't real?

Kate spends a lot of time reminiscing-- her wedding, an anniversary, different moments of life with Kevin. It appears that they were madly in love, one of those nearly perfect couples. And yet...before too long there is a little crack developing. Something was amiss, but what? I don't want to give away any clues before you read it for yourselves, but Kevin had some secrets. And Kate had lost memories of the most recent times--she didn't remember the last time she saw Kevin alive--which slowly come back to her in flashes.

Oh, by the way, neither Kate nor her mother know anything about God. He hasn't come into the picture at all, and when Kate first thinks about Him, it's in a negative way: if there is a God, how could He let such horrible things happen? She even talks to a famous preacher called a 'miracle man' who makes her feel worse than ever. Forget this angry God. Then, quite by accident, she meets a really unconventional preacher while he's playing basketball with some young punks. Little by little, he introduces her to the love of God and the idea of a God who actually cares about her. This 'chance' meeting takes Kate in a new direction, one he didn't even know was there.

Talking to the Dead is a powerful piece of writing. Even the style changes as Kate herself changes: short, staccato sentence and fragments in the beginning emphasize the grief and shock that Kate undergoes. It's hard to breath or feel, and those of us who have known grief can identify. As her story unfolds and she seeks help, however, the style become more fluid and flowing. It's very much psychological suspense, but that doesn't exclude action. In fact, Kate's actions get pretty out-of-control before it's all over--it isn't a case of total recovery and peace once she hears about a loving God. I found myself surprised more than once by the events whenever Kate turned a corner. For me, the most powerful thing was the expression of how grief plays out with different people. I'll write more about that tomorrow. Mrs. Grove also skillfully dropped new hints to the 'whole' story little by little as the tale grew. As it turned out, there was so much more going on than just tragic death and widowhood. The writing evoked lots of different emotions for me, even made me laugh a little bit with the unsinkable Maggie.

The only thing that disappointed me, really, was that I didn't see any mention of Jesus. The love of God is key, but the sacrificial love doesn't enter the picture, unless I missed it. However, not every book written from a Christian worldview has to go through the entire plan of salvation, so I'm not going to dwell on this. It leads in that direction, and it is obvious that God's love was a crucial missing ingredient in Kate' life.

Overall, I can truly recommend Talking to the Dead. It is most definitely an adult book although older teens would also enjoy it. I tend to think of it as a suspense story, although it is also the story of a romance and much, much more. The intensity builds in such a way that the reader doesn't want to put it down until reaching the end. It isn't a romance novel, although that's a part of it, so I guess I'd have to recommend it for a general audience.


THE AUTHOR:

Bonnie Grove started writing when her parents bought a manual typewriter, and she hasn’t stopped since. Trained in Christian Counseling (Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchener, ON), and secular psychology (University of Alberta), she developed and wrote social programs for families at risk while landing articles and stories in anthologies. She is the author of Working Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You; Talking to the Dead is her first novel. Grove and her pastor husband, Steve, have two children; they live in Saskatchewan.




You can learn more about her at her website, http://www.bonniegrove.com/index.html. ( I love the subtitle: "Life is messy. God is love.")

Purchase Talking to the Dead at
Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.






Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.