Review: The Fire Gospel

The Fire Gospel by Michel Faber
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

The first book by Michel Farber I read was "The Book of Strange and Wonderful Things". In that book, Faber literally dictated the struggle of belief/non-belief as well as faith vs understanding. With that in mind, I sought out a copy of "The Fire Gospel".

Follow the path of Theo Grippin* as he reveals the newly discovered testament of Malchus, an "untapped" disciple of Jesus that was with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane and on Golgotha as the Savior died. Malchus' account, however, does not "at all" jive with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Being a Christian, some of it was hard to read...felt blasphemous. Nevertheless, Faber again painted a brilliant portrait of religion...the believers, the atheist and agnostic. The book was structured as a quick read, however, it held a wallop of emotion between the covers. Please understand, however, THE BOOK IS A WORK OF FICTION...but it will make you ask questions.



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Review: The Shuddering

The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Do you know those kids that like to take so much time, effort, care and detail in building a sand castle on the beach only to find pleasure in dismantling and destroying it with vigorous enthusiasm? I'm wondering if Ania Alhborn was one of those kids...

"The Shuddering" is a story of five friends (well, three friends, one tag-a-long and one outsider) that are to spend a few days together, one last time, before they each take their fork in the road that leads to the rest of their lives. They do so at a luxurious cabin on a snow capped mountain owned by the father of twins, Ryan and Jane. Everyone had ulterior motives for which all others seemed to know, but ignored out of friendship (an attempt not to ruin this last outing). Who was to know that their hidden secrets and desires that would ultimately unfurl would pale in comparison to monstrosities they would have to encounter!

I realize how much a book has reached me when I find myself getting angry with the author. I found myself cursing the author several times while reading "The Shuddering". She would magically open a door into the lives of her complex characters; feeling intimate with their plight...all for the pleasure of gut punching you when she takes it all away!

"The Shuddering" was a great tale which will have you frustrated, excited and sometimes numbed by the scenes that unfold before you!

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Review: The Resurrectionist

The Resurrectionist by Matthew Guinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Matthew Guinn has penned an astounding novel dealing with the ugly years of American medical history. A time when medical schools utilized shady practices in order to train their medical students...body snatching.

Jacob Thacker is a tarnished doctor forced to serve his penance as an administrative public relations director at South Carolina Medical College. The extenuating grunt work becomes front and center when the reconstruction of the administration building uncovers a mass of skeletons in its basement. Skeletons put there by a slave of the medical school named Nemo Johnston, "The Resurrectionist". The discovery soon turns into a public relations nightmare in which everyone is looking for a way to profit from it or cover it up. The school would do anything or sacrifice anyone to keep hidden a dark secret that is not so much a "secret" to its victims' community.

The more Jacob researches, the more sinister the story becomes and even though the crimes were committed 150 years earlier, someone in the present day is going to have to take the fall.

Rich in history, The Resurrectionist is a wonderful historical thriller!

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Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Neil Gaiman does not need my review, however, I have to reign him "King of the Allegory". I loved this story! So very deep...deep as...an Ocean?

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Review: The Bird Eater

The Bird Eater by Ania Ahlborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the aspects that has drawn me to Ania Ahlborn's writing is that each horror story is plausible. You don't have to stretch your imagination to find yourself in the shoes of her characters. In, "The Bird Eater" she exposed my darkest fear...losing the ability to trust my mind!

Aaron Holbrooke has lived his whole life on borrowed time. Doomed from birth, his whole life is plagued with tragic losses. However, when he loses his son, there is no more hope for his sanity. To find his center, he is persuaded to go back to where it all began, his hometown of Ironwood, Arkansas - where he'd literally vanished 20 years prior.

He returns to the house in which he'd lived 14 years with his Aunt Edie; prepared to renovate it and "maybe" sell it. With the full intention of getting a hold on his life, Aaron is preparing to wage war against his inner demons. What he finds out is that he is severely outnumbered. There are more demons than he ever imagined; some real, some imaginary, but all of them SINISTER! In his downward spiral, Aaron learns the truth about his friends, his family and himself and in the end NO ONE will be the same.



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Review: Sweetness Undone

Sweetness Undone by Chris Grams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My mother used to tell me, "Son, be cautious of a quiet woman...she's thinking of a way to take you out." Someone should have told this to Emma, the skinny, hateful bully that chose to pick on the innocent and "very chubby" Sweetness.

Chris Grams paints a cute little picture of a seemingly ordinary family get-together that turns sour in a hurry; with an ending that is "bittersweet"!

Get the free ebook at http://www.chrisgramsfiction.com/#!sw.... It's a steal!

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Review: Seed

Seed by Ania Ahlborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"It was I, it was me. It was us, it was We!"

Seed is another great masterpiece of Ania Ahlborn! Set in the deep south (between Georgia and New Orleans) Seed delves deep into the very source of evil and evokes the age old question, "Is it nature or nurture?"

Like a psychotherapist, Ahlborn takes you deep into the mind (and the highly guarded past) of Jack Winter, a loving father of two beautiful girls and a decent husband to his lovely, delicate wife. Happy together in a small house, making ends meet, all is sustainable until the night of the accident. Jack swerves to miss something in the road and flips the vehicle carrying himself and all three of his girls! They all come out physically unscathed...but I can assure you - they are NOT ALL RIGHT!

The presence causing the whole fiasco turns out not to be a surprise foe, but a very old fiend (or friend - take your pick) that has spent many "Winters" with our man Jack. And when all is said and done, there will be no more secrets left to tell and likely no more ears to hear the wails!

Seed is an awesome thriller for which I hope will spawn a sequel!

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Review: Brother

Brother by Ania Ahlborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ania Ahlborn, The Voice of New Horror...
www.aniaahlborn.com
When I read this, I thought to myself "That's a tough statement to back up!" Then I read Brother and said, "Well, I think I'm convinced!" Having read Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Joe Hill, Ted Dekker and so many others, I'm always looking for someone new and different. I believe I've found it in Ania Ahlborn!
Brother is the story of young Michael Morrow, kidnapped at 4 years old to be used as a pet for Ray/Reb -- his "older brother". To say the Morrow family is a bit twisted would be an understatement. The whole family knows their role. Claudine the evil "mother", Wade the submissive "father", Ray/Rebel the "brother" and brains of the operation, Misty Dawn the lonely "sister" and Michael, the pet, the cleaner, the "brother" and protector of Misty. The brothers are forced (at least one of them is forced) to kidnap young girls to be tortured and murdered by Claudine, their demented mother. Michael maintains his role in the family until he meets the love of his life, Alice...better known as "Snow White".
It is true that love breaks all bonds and Michael gains incredible strength as his love for Alice grows...but can he bring her into the family fold? Rebel thinks so, but not in the way Michael wants.
I can't tell you any more because telling you too much will destroy the incredible twists and turns the story takes, several that hit me from left field...I never saw it coming!
An incredible storyteller, Ahlborn crafts a tell of horror that shakes you to the core, not only because it's scary...but because its totally plausible! Ania Ahlborn, I'M A FAN and am looking forward to reading other yarns you have spun!

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Review: Lust of Innocence

Lust of Innocence by P.J. MacDowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm sure if you look at my other books, you probably thought this book was placed on my feed by accident. Well, it wasn't. I had a short exchange this morning with the author, P.J. MacDowell and was intrigued...so I loaded it in my queue.

Though this is not my normal genre, I have to tell you, once I got started...I couldn't stop. Though there are some racy elements to the story, it is a good story. Ms. MacDowell describes herself "As a writer of tasteful, short, erotic-historical stories.." and I profess she hit every single note.

With full attention to the era, I was taken to a European countryside where sibling rivalry is taken to a whole different level. Male and Female siblings struggle for the favor of their father whilst competing for the affection of the sensual, statuesque slave girl, Syreena.

"Lust of Innocence" was not what I expected but I was very, pleasantly surprised. It is the beginning in a series of upcoming books by Author P.J. MacDowell. I can say that I'm anxiously awaiting the next installment.

For more info, visit http://www.pjmacdowell.com.

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Review: The Girl In The Ice

The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I came across this book by accident. I read the synopsis and said "What the heck? Why not?" So, I got it. Man, aren't I lucky I did!

"The Girl In The Ice" was a gripping story of murder, sex, political influence and betrayal. As I went through this novel, I literally suspected every single character as the murder except the main character, DCI Foster. Robert Bryndza did an excellent job in writing the story and I'm looking forward to the next one, "The Night Stalker".

Mr. Bryndza, you have a new fan!

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