9.20.2015

Drawing Fire ~ Review

Drawing Fire
Cold Case Justice 1
By Janice Cantore

For years she's hidden her true identity.  The people responsible for her parents murder all those years ago could be looking for her.  But Abby Hart needs to discover the truth.  But she's not the only person searching for answers.  Luke Murphy, a totally annoying PI, is searching for the truth behind the killings that also cost his uncle his life.

When a series of murders unexpectedly brings Abby and Luke together they agree to pool research to see if together they can discover the truth behind their shared loss.  But to get to the truth they need those most closely involved in this cold case to reveal what they know.  But some people feel the past is best left alone and untouched.  And political aspirations could stop them dead in their tracks, literally and figuratively.

Is the truth being hidden for Abby's safety and protection?  Or is the governor or his staff behind this move?  A move to hide his connection to Abby's parents and Luke's uncle would be motive to keep them quiet.

If you've read Janice Cantore in the past you can expect a continuation of her superb writing style and characters with whom you can empathize.  If you haven't this would be a great book with which to start.  Fans of crime drama will appreciate this look into the minds of the main characters Abby and Luke as see the case through their eyes. 

Don't expect a quick wrap-up to this case ~ book two promises to continue the search for the truth.  

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Tyndale House Publishing through BookFun/TBCN in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book: (416 pages)
One case from her past defines homicide detective Abby Hart. With a possible serial killer stalking elderly women in Long Beach, California, Abby’s best lead is Luke Murphy, an irritating private investigator who saw a suspect flee the scene of the latest homicide. When Abby discovers that the most recent victim is related to the governor, she’s anxious to talk to him about a cold case that’s personal to her―one Luke is interested in as well. 

As she learns more about the restaurant fire that took her parents’ lives years ago, Abby discovers why Luke is so invested in finding the ones responsible. The more they uncover, though, the more questions they have. Can Abby find peace without having all the answers?

About the Author:
A retired Long Beach California police officer of 22 years (16 in uniform and 6 as a non-career officer), Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, patrol, administration, juvenile investigations and training. During the course of her career in uniform Janice found that faith was indispensable to every aspect of the job and published articles on faith at work, one for a quarterly newspaper called "Cop and Christ", and another for the monthly magazine "Today's Christian Woman". With retirement Janice began to write longer pieces and several novels were born. Janice is excited and honored to now be a part of the Tyndale Publishing House family. Accused, the first installment in her new suspense offering, The Pacific Coast Justice Series, was released February 1, 2012 and kicked off a brand new chapter in her writing career. In addition to suspense and action, her books feature strong female leads. Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep you engrossed and leave you inspired.

9.19.2015

Bearskin ~ Review with Giveaway

Bearskin
By Jamie Robyn Wood

He has NOTHING left to lose,
                                             she has EVERYTHING...

The Queen has a demand of her only son.  Heppson must kill his older brother Conrad.  It is the only way that Heppson will become king, securing his mother's place of power beyond the death of his father. 

But the bond between these brothers was something the Queen had not anticipated, nor had she anticipated her daughter's desire to aid both her brother and step-brother.  But the Queen's power was strong and her skills as an evil enchantress, a witch, allowed her to enact one last curse at her death. Her daughter Moiria took on the role her mother had played and Conrad was left to wander the lands with no memory of who he is.  And Heppson takes on the role of a long forgotten being The Bear thanks to a mischievous troublesome individual known as the Trickster.

Living within the far off forested region of the kingdom are two sisters, who like Conrad and Heppson, have a special bond - one forged by the death of the mother years ago.  Lark and Heart live with their Granny until a stranger comes to their home.  This encounter is about to forever alter their lives, leaving each young woman in a unique situation.

As these two stories combine we are whisked away to a world where every decision is of utmost importance.  Good and evil are fighting for the heart of a kingdom while the path of true love may be the answer to what each person seeks.  The unique bonds between brothers and sisters are explored as are the sacrifices one is willing to make for family and love.

This book is based upon the Bearskin fairy tale, which I had never heard of before.  But upon examination of this fairy tale, I truly believe this is the superior telling.  A truly beautiful story that, being told from the viewpoint of several of the main characters, has a depth in both development and feeling.

Fans of clean YA and fairy tale retellings will delight in this newest addition to their bookshelf. Appropriate for ages 12 and up (and younger readers if they are at an advanced reading level). Get ready for a book you won't want to put down.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through Cedar Forts blog tour program in exchange for my honest review.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

About the book:
When Conrad, Moiria, and Heppson’s evil enchantress mother tries to convince them to follow her dark ways, they must each decide where the line lies between good and evil, magic and mythology. Based on a lesser-known fairy tale, this young adult book features an impossible romance, an intricate plot, and twists you won’t see coming.
Bearskin-blog-tour-banner2
About the author:
Jamie Robyn Wood is a full-time wife and mother and a part-time fantasy writer and essayist. Jamie never imagined the wind could blow so hard and so cold until she moved to the Midwest. Now she prefers to hunker inside the house with a cup of hot chocolate and a story to write. Bearskin is her first novel. She, her husband, their five children, and their “pet” squirrels currently reside in Coralville, Iowa.

9.16.2015

Where Christ is Present ~ Review with Giveaway

Where Christ is Present
A Theology for All Seasons on the
500th Anniversary of the Reformation
Edited by John Warwick Montgomery
            and Gene Edwards Veith

Where Christ is Present is a book of contemplation with each chapter written by different author.  Through this book we will take a look at the Church of today in contrast to both its beginnings and when Luther acted upon his convictions.

Have we unknowingly fallen back into the trap which Luther found the church of his day mired in?  Have we rejected the truth of Christ's message in favour of works and self-justification?  If so, we are no better off than those who spent their lives in fear that they could never "buy" enough merit with earthly priests to earn a chance to fall before God in His seat of judgment much less gain salvation.

But does this fault lie with us or with Luther for fighting against the ills he saw within the church? Has our lack of unity hurt and hindered our spiritual growth?  Or has it rather been a blessing - allowing believers to come to their own conclusions in regard to Scriptural validity and their own consciences?

These various writers will help us to weed our way through to the truths about the Reformation and what Martin Luther's motivations were when he stood up to the church.  Each chapter includes bibliographic source references so that we can see that their ideas are not just pulled out of a hat, like a magician's trick, but rather painstakingly researched and vetted.

Each chapter is enlightening, but during my reading three really resonated with me.
Chapter 5 The Way of Salvation The Gospel by Rod Rosenbladt in which various church doctrines are compared in how they view the Fall, its effects, and how Christ's death and resurrection SAVE the sinner.
Chapter 6 The Means of Grace The Word and Sacraments by Harold Senkbeil in which we delve into how we attempt to bridge the gaping divide between us and God. Do we turn to the Word?  The Sacraments?
Chapter 9 Christian Liberty, the Arts, and J.S. Bach by Craig A. Parton in which music in regard to the Christian and worship is explored. Should our music change with the world around us?  Or should it be drawn from the Scripture?  Different denominational views are shared as we go through this chapter.

This book is both informative and thought provoking. Be sure to have a dictionary nearby as there are a few words that you'll need to look up as you work your way through.  You won't be sorry that took the time to read this book and explore the Church of today and yesterday.

I was provided a copy of this book through iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.

Book Description for Where Christ Is Present:

Five hundred years ago, the church of Jesus Christ underwent a Reformation.

A lot happened after Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. But the fallout was not simply the start of Protestantism. The Roman Catholic Church also recast itself in response to Luther’s call for reforms. And contrary to common belief, Martin Luther did not set out to start a new church. Rather, he was trying to reform the church that already existed by reemphasizing its essence—namely, the “good news” (the gospel) that Jesus forgives and saves sinners.

The unity of the church was broken when the pope rejected this call for reform and excommunicated Luther, starting a chain of events that did lead to the institutional fracturing of Christendom and to a plethora of alternative Christian theologies. But, as many – including conservative Catholics – now admit, the church did in fact need reforming. Today, the church – including its Protestant branches – also needs reforming. Some of the issues in contemporary Christianity are very similar to those in the late Middle Ages, though others are new. But if Luther’s theology can be blamed – however unfairly – for fragmenting Christianity, perhaps today it can help us recover the wholeness of Christianity.

In the hope of that wholeness, Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Veith commissioned these essays celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, gathering some of the best contemporary voices the Lutheran church has to offer.

And we need these voices! The religious climate in the early 21st-century is simultaneously highly religious and highly secularized. It is a time of extraordinary spiritual and theological diversity. This book will propose the kind of Christianity that is best suited for our day. The remedies offered here are available by way of the same theology that was the catalyst for reforming the church five hundred years ago.


Authors’ Bio:

John Warwick Montgomery is the author of more than sixty books in six languages. He holds eleven earned degrees, including a Master of Philosophy in Law from the University of Essex, England, a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, a Doctorate of the University in Protestant Theology from the University of Strasbourg, France, and the higher doctorate in law (LL.D.) from the University of Cardiff, Wales. He is a Lutheran clergyman, an English barrister, and is admitted to practice as a lawyer before the Supreme Court of the United States and is a practicing avocat, Barreau de Paris, France. Dr. Montgomery currently serves as Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy at Concordia University Wisconsin.


Gene Edward Veith is the Provost and Professor of Literature at Patrick Henry College, the Director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, a columnist for World Magazine and TableTalk, and the author of 18 books on different facets of Christianity and Culture.





Connect with the authors:   Website  ~   Facebook   ~  Twitter

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9.15.2015

The Avalon Relics: Lilith Links ~ Review with Excerpt

The Avalon Relics:
                Lilith Links
By J.L. Clark

Sophia Bennett's eighteenth birthday is one she'll never forget and one that will change her life forever.  

Sophia's known for her scientific abilities and interests, though she'd like to be popular enough to have one boyfriend, but her high school crush Jake doesn't seem to know she exists except as a sounding board for his newest girlfriend.  

Fortunately for Sophia she has her best friend Angie.  And Angie is determined that Sophia's eighteenth birthday will be perfect.  What starts out as an almost perfect evening (almost because Jake brings his girlfriend) quickly deteriorates when unknown people crash the party with the intent purpose of targeting Sophia.

But before Sophia can take the time to figure out what is happening she is whisked away to somewhere else.  But an even bigger concern is why Sophia of all people is being targeted.  

What follows is a journey of discovery - a discovery of who she truly is and why the bracelets she received from her mother are so important. 

This story will appeal to fans of YA Fantasy.  And the bits of romance will also appeal to teen readers.  

Overall this book was attention grabbing, so much so that I'm interested to read additional books in this series.  There were a couple of times that the I got bogged down in some of scenes - I think it had to do with slow moving detailing and a few tense structure issues (that may have been only in my review copy).  But once I immersed myself in the story after any break (or pause in reading) I found myself drawn in, wondering what would happen next.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the author in conjunction with this PUYB blog tour in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.

About the Author:

Dr. Jennifer Yen Clark, or J.L. Clark, began her writing career in the fourth grade, when 
her teacher took the detective story she wrote and turned it into a short printed book as a 
gift to her. The encouragement of her teacher, as well as her love for reading and telling 
stories, kept her writing about the worlds that existed in her imagination. In her young 
adult years, J.L. began writing short stories, poetry, and fan-fiction starring strong and 
intelligent girls and women. J.L. was recently inspired to write The Avalon Relics after 
being introduced to several young adult series that depicted weak heroines and unhealthy 
relationships. Recalling her own young adult reading experience and the dearth of 
relatable heroines, she set out to create a series of books that would not only engage and 
entertain, but offer a refreshing and empowering take on fictional heroines.

J.L. Clark resides in Houston, Texas with her family. She splits her time between 
academia and private practice, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. She is an 
assistant professor of psychiatry at UT Health Medical School, and a clinical assistant 
professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Outside of work, she is continually contributing 
to her body of work, posting short stories and fan-fiction on social media outlets for 
enjoyment.

Her latest book is the YA fantasy, The Avalon Relics: Lilith Links.

For More Information
 Visit J.L. Clark’s website.
 Connect with J.L. on Facebook and Twitter.
 Find out more about J.L. at Goodreads.
 Visit J.L.’s blog.
 More books by J.L. Clark.
 Contact J.L.

About the Book:
Title: The Avalon Relics: Lilith Links (Volume 1)
Author: J.L. Clark
Publisher: Createspace
Pages: 315
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Nook

Sophia Bennett is looking forward to celebrating her eighteenth birthday with her best 
friend Angie.  After graduating high school and enjoying the last days of her summer 
vacation the most important things on her mind are getting ready for college and catching 
the eye of her high school crush Jake...at least, until the night of her birthday party. 

Suddenly, Sophia is thrust into a world that she never knew existed and finds herself in 
the middle of an ancient struggle between good and evil. Time is against her as she and 
her new friends struggle to take possession of a powerful magic before it falls into the 
wrong hands.

Can Sophia solve the mystery of the Lilith links in time to save her loved ones, or will the 
enemy triumph and destroy all that she holds dear?

The Avalon Relics trilogy is a fast-paced read taking the reader into the magical world of 
fairies and of good versus evil.  It blends references of mythology and tales of old in a 
very real way in that it takes place in two worlds simultaneously:  the world that Sophia 
and her friends physically live in and the fairy realm.

For More Information:
 The Avalon Relics: Lilith Links is available at Amazon.
 Pick up your copy at Barnes and Noble.
 Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Book Excerpt:

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Angie asks as Sophia walks out of the bathroom, a dismayed 
look on her face.

Sophia waves her arms over her body. “All of it! I can’t wear this to the party!”

“Soph, you’ve got a great body! You need to stop hiding behind all those baggy clothes 
you like to wear.”

Angie gestures for her to come over by the full length mirror. “Take a look…you look 
amazing!”

Sophia reluctantly walks over and stares at the tall, thin brunette girl in front of her, 
wearing a skin-tight mid-thigh length black bandage dress. She shakes her head.

“It’s too tight…and it’s too short. I can’t even sit down in this! I’m going to flash the 
entire party.”

“Fine,” Angie says with a dramatic sigh. She grabs a sparkling lace dress off her bed.

“Try this one.”

Sophia looks at the dress doubtfully, but says nothing as she takes it with her into the 
bathroom to change. As she slips the dress on, she feels a familiar tingle run through her
body, and finds that her bracelets seem to be shimmering once again. She blinks, but 
when she looks at them again, nothing seems out of the ordinary. As she pulls the dress 
into place, she calls out to her friend.

“Hey, how did the date with Jeremy go? You never did call or text me, so I assumed you 
didn’t need rescuing.”

“Actually, I had a really good time,” Angie replies. “We actually have a few things in 
common.”

“Are you going to go out with him again?”

“Yeah, I think I might.”

“Good for you,” Sophia encourages. She looks down at herself and gives the hem of the 
dress one quick tug downwards.

“Okay, here I come,” she announces before walking out to show Angie.

“Oh. My. God. That’s it! That’s the dress!”

Angie’s excitement stirs Sophia’s curiosity, and she steps over to take a look for herself.
She is shocked at the reflection in the mirror. The dress is sleeveless, with twin 
V-necklines on the front and the back. The dress itself is light, the material almost sheer in 
color, with hundreds of luminescent silver sequins sewn in a floral pattern over the dress.
The dress ends right above her knees, and seems to glitter from every direction.

“Wow,” Sophia says, stunned. “This is a gorgeous dress.”

“That’s so strange,” Angie states. “I could have sworn I gave you a different dress just 
now.”

“What do you mean?” Sophia replies. “I saw you hand it to me.”

“I know,” Angie says, looking confused, “but I don’t even own a dress like this.”

Sophia raises an eyebrow and meets her friend’s gaze in the mirror.
“Are you sure? You do have a lot of clothes, Ang.”

She seems to ponder that for a moment, then shrugs lightly.

“Maybe you’re right. It does look like something I would buy. I probably just haven’t 
worn it in a while.”

“Oh, by the way,” Angie says suddenly, looking over at Sophia’s head. “Did you dye 
your hair this week without telling me?”

“No…” Sophia answers. “What makes you say that?”

“Look,” her friend states, pointing at her hair in the mirror. “Your hair is usually a dark 
brown. Now it looks almost…honey brown.”

“Honey brown?” Sophia asks, a smile on her lips.

However, the smile fades when she stares at herself hard in the mirror. Her hair
definitely looks like it has lightened several shades within the last few minutes. When she 
had put on the black dress, it looked like it had always looked, a dark, unremarkable 
brown, but now that she is in the sequined dress, her hair has taken on soft golden hues.

“That is so weird…” Sophia tilts her head back and forth, and then starts taking a step 
back and forth away and towards the mirror, trying to make sense of it. “Maybe it’s the 
lighting?”

Angie gives her a skeptical look, but still nods in agreement.

“Maybe. I have been meaning to tell Dad that the light in my room isn’t the right
wavelength for my well-being.”

Hair color forgotten, Sophia laughs out loud. “There’s a wavelength for well-being?”

“Of course there is, Sophia Bennett! You should know…I read it online…something
about how natural light helps your mood.”

“Ah, right, I forgot about that,” she replies. “That explains your…sunny personality.”

Angie groans loudly. “Don’t ever say that again. That was terrible!”

Sophia chuckles. “Okay, I promise.”

Angie walks over to her closet again, and starts rummaging through the bottom shelves.

“Now all we have to do is find you a pair of hot heels!”

9.09.2015

The Atheist Who Didn't Exist ~ Review

The Atheist Who Didn't Exist
       Or the Dreadful Consequences
                              of Bad Arguments

By Andy Bannister
          with a Foreword by Ravi Zacharias

The Atheist Who Didn't Exist is an intriguing and rather amusing look at the off the wall arguments that are used to justify personal beliefs.  In the case of this book the arguments to justify not believing in God are examined.  What can seem, on the surface, like a profoundly intelligent argument can in fact be a bunch of confusing word play.

Atheists don't believe God is dead, rather He never existed and the New Atheist movement has some interesting arguments to backup this belief.  What is a "New Atheist" you ask - well this is a small group of media savvy Atheists who have taken to attacking all religions and Christianity in particular with books that have an angry and confrontational tone.  

Some of the arguments presented are an attempt to ridicule one into thinking that only the uneducated person could believe in such an impossible myth.  After all God was merely a crutch to create rules and guidelines that individuals were forced against their will to adhere to.  

This book questions the foundations that Atheism bases its beliefs on.  Belief in non-belief is powerful draw to many today who are searching for meaning while trying to exclude God from ALL aspects of life.  I found the chapter "Humpty Dumpty and the Vegan" to be quite amusing.  The vegan friend's argument that he was a liberal vegan was rather humorous while at the same time sad as many use the same type of arguments to reject God.  In essence the vegan's justification in eating meat was he that he would determine for himself what the term vegan meant for him.  

All too often this same argument is used to define good and evil.  Who or what is the definer of good and evil when we reject God.  Without God how can there be a measure to justify or vilify any one person or groups actions?  

This book is a plea with all people to think and to ponder what they believe.  Do you believe in God? A higher being? Or your own-self?  Then question is Why do you believe?  Is it something you thought through?  Or were you just following along with others and not truly making the decision for yourself?

This is a book that will make one think, which is after all the author's intention in writing it.  This would make for an interesting book club selection and I would love to hear the various readers and their individual takes on the book.  Atheist or Christian there is much food for thought in this book whether or not  you agree with the author's views.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the Kregel reviewer program in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

Addressing some of the more popular atheist sound bites about the Christian faith, The Atheist Who Didn't Exist clears the space for a deeper and more honest discussion about the big questions of life.

Our culture now assumes that atheism is the default position--indeed, the only position for anyone who wishes to be seen as educated, contemporary, and urbane. In the media, atheism is usually portrayed as scientific and rational versus religion, which is seen as stuffy, outdated, and irrational.

Blending humor with serious thought, The Atheist Who Didn't Exist will help readers to think a little deeper about the popular claims of atheism. Whether the reader is a Christian who desires to be able to start a conversation with secular friends or simply an agnostic dissatisfied with some of the arguments that pass for serious thought, Andy Bannister shows that when it comes to the most important questions of life, we need to move beyond simplistic sound bites.

9.08.2015

Last Chance Hero ~ Review

Last Chance Hero
A Place to Call Home 4
By Cathleen Armstrong

After At Home at Last Chance I wasn't expecting another Last Chance book, but I can honestly say I was thrilled to learn a fourth book was coming out.

Small town local football hero Andy Ryan is returning to Last Chance after time in the NFL.  And Last Chance couldn't be happier to welcome him back home as the new high school football coach.

Jessica MacLeod's dream has been to be a doctor in a small town and Last Chance, New Mexico, fits into her plans.  But there is just one small problem - Jess doesn't know the first thing about football and she has no plans to change that.  But Last Chance LOVES its football, so something will need to change - the question is who or what...

All your favorite characters are back - ready to welcome you back into their homes and their lives. There is Rita Sandoval the take-charge mayor who is determined to get Last Chance on the map. And everyone's favorite Dip 'n' Dine waitress Juanita Sheppard.  And my personal favorite Elizabeth Cooley - gotta love her!

Last Chance is hoping to return to the glory days when Andy was a player and the team was undefeated.  But the past is the past and the present is unique unto itself as Last Chance is about to discover.  

Though this is the fourth book in the series, it can stand alone.  If you haven't read the first three books you can get to know the town and its residents with Jess.  Get ready to fall in love with small town living - where your business is now everyone's and secrets aren't meant to be kept.  I hope this is a town that we will be able to revisit yet again.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
What happens when your heart is intercepted before you even know it's in play?

The folks in Last Chance, New Mexico, could not be more pleased. Dr. Jessica MacLeod has opened an office right on Main Street and Andy Ryan, the best athlete the little town ever produced, has come home from the NFL to coach the high school football team. Unfortunately, Dr. Jess immediately gets off on the wrong foot with this football-obsessed town when she admits that she's never seen a football game, isn't really interested in doing so, and in fact doesn't know a first down from a goalpost. 

Despite having little in common, Jess and Andy find themselves drawn to each other. But when a disagreement over the future of an injured player puts them both on the defensive, it begins to look like this game is over . . . 

Cathleen Armstrong lives in Orange County, California, with her husband, Ed, and their corgi. Though she has been in California for many years now, her roots remain deep in New Mexico. Her debut novel Welcome to Last Chance won the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction. She is also the author of One More Last Chance and At Home in Last Chance. Learn more at www.cathleenarmstrong.com.

8.29.2015

Hostage Run ~ Review

Hostage Run
The Mindwar Trilogy 2
By Andrew Klavan

Rick Dial's first foray into the MindWar Realm was a victory against Kurador.  But the war is not over and he is determined to somehow, someway get Mariel and Favian out of the Realm and back to Real Life (RL).

But Kurador is determined to keep Rick from entering the Realm ever again.  And he'll do anything to convince Rick to stay out.  And his plan of attack - kidnap Molly Jameson.

What's a guy to do when a massive attack is about to happen and his best friend is being used as leverage against him?  This is a choice that Rick now faces.  He alone can stop Kurador.  And he is the only chance Mariel and Favian have of surviving the Realm.  But Molly may lose her life if he so much as breathes in the direction of the Realm.

Hostage Run is an exciting sequel to MindWar.  The Dial family is together in the secured compound they now called home, reunited after being torn apart by a lie, a lie that did not protect them.  Rick is suffering from his forays into the Realm.  And he is keeping these side-effects secret so that he won't be prevented from entering the Realm and rescuing his friends.

In Hostage Run the lines between the Realm and Real Life are about to become even more blurred as Kurador takes his war to a new level.  And this new level is about to make the Realm even more dangerous than it was before.

Are you ready to enter a world that is about to change everything you thought you knew?


Rick dial is faced with an impossible choice: 
save the life of his best friend Molly . . . 
Or save the free world.

Rick Dial’s career as a superstar quarterback ended when a car accident left him unable to walk. But his uncanny gaming ability caught the attention of a secret government organization trying to stop a high-tech terrorist attack on America. He’s been to the fantastical cyber world called the MindWar Realm . . . and returned to Real Life victorious.

But the stakes have just gone up. Another attack is imminent, and Rick is the only one who can stop it. How can he, though, when terrorists have kidnapped his best friend Molly and are threatening to kill her if Rick returns to the Realm?

As Molly uses every resource of mind and body to outwit her brutal captors, Rick races against time inside a nightmare video game where a fate worse than death may be waiting for him.

Hundreds of miles apart, both will have to test the power of their faith and the strength of their spirits. They’re being forced to a moment of sacrifice . . . one that could cost them everything.