At first glance, a story about  vampires, alcoholism and God seems bizarre.  It’s definitely unexpected from a Christian novelist.  Tracey Bateman’s Thirsty combines these themes in a beautifully executed novel.  Nina Parker, newly sober and attempting to rebuild her life, returns to her tiny hometown in the Missouri Ozarks.  Her teenage daughter, Megan, reluctantly accompanies her during Spring Break.  Nina holds out little hope for at least some semblance of reconciliation.   As Megan spends time getting acquainted with the grandparents she has never known, Nina begins to form a friendship with a mysterious neighbor.  All the while, she is unaware that her return has stirred the centuries-old desires of a dark force.   As memories of her past begin to haunt her, sobriety and survival become an overwhelming battle.  Is she doomed to remain powerless against the evil?  Thirsty, a story that combines fantasy and truth, remains convincing without becoming clichéd.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was frightening at times and heart-wrenching throughout. 

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This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

If you’ve been hiding out for the past couple of years you may not know that vampires have taken over.  Wander through any bookstore, glance at a magazine cover, look through the television listings and you’ll find the legendary bloodsuckers are all around us.  Today’s most celebrated vampires are found in Stephenie Meyer’s extraordinarily popular Twilight series.  In Touched by a Vampire, Beth Felker Jones examines Twilight’s themes under a Biblical microscope.  Her assessments and accompanying discussion questions would make an excellent group study for fans of Bella and Edward.  I was a little put off that Touched by a Vampire is subtitled “Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga”, which seems to imply a veiled agenda.  I have seen nor heard no such evidence regarding Ms. Meyer’s purpose for writing the novels.  Her stories have fascinated, frightened and entertained audiences of all ages, myself included.  I do understand the need to exercise caution and apply wisdom toward everything we choose to read or view.  Whether you are a fan of the series or not, Touched by a Vampire is excellent food for thought that I highly recommend for a discussion group.

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 This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Often when faced with a crisis, I get in my car and drive.  No particular destination in mind, just wheels to the pavement and time alone to think.  Years ago during one such excursion, as I passed perfectly manicured homes, it occurred to me that no one truly knows what goes on behind those decorative doors.  In Susan Meissner’s White Picket Fences, the Janvier family lives what appears to be a perfect life.  When mom Amanda takes in the 16 year old daughter of her wandering brother, their seemingly ideal world begins to fall apart.  Her husband, Neil, is not quite as enthusiastic about trying to provide their niece, Tally, with a stable home.  Their children, Chase and Delcey are unsurprisingly absorbed in their own lives and give little thought to their cousin’s stay.   Things change, however, when Chase and Tally work together on a school assignment involving Holocaust survivors.  They begin to develop a closer bond as their project progresses and family secrets rise to the surface.  White Picket Fences is a dramatic, engaging story that looks beyond the façade and finds the heart of a family.  

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If you’d like to win a FREE copy of White Picket Fences, please leave a comment below.  Winner will be chosen at random from all comments left between 11/13/09 and 11/23/09.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.