Book two along the tour of this month’s new releases from Baker Publishing Group is a suspense / thriller with a historical twist. Or at least, it was supposed to be a suspense / thriller… hrmm… *purses lips* …

The Constantine Conspiracy – Gary E. Parker

The innocent don’t run–unless their lives depend on it.

When international playboy Rick Carson stumbles onto a murder in his Montana home, he knows his life will never be the same. But he certainly doesn’t expect to be the prime suspect. And he doesn’t expect to find himself in the middle of a 1700-year-old conspiracy with tentacles reaching into the very highest levels of the government.

Park ranger Shannon Bridge is the first responding law enforcement agent on the scene. She seems legitimate, but is there more to her than meets the eye? Why is she willing to help Rick elude the law?

With unanswered questions and the law closing in, Shannon and Rick must find some way to exonerate him–and expose the truth before it’s too late. In a place where no one is who they say they are and danger lurks around every corner, can they even trust each other?

Get swept up in this thrilling tale of international intrigue, conspiracy, and the power of truth.

My Thoughts:

This is a book that tries to be heavy on action but ends up weak on plot, character development, and logic.

Here’s the thing: an international conspiracy that’s been ongoing since “ancient times” is a plot that’s been done to death by now, and there are only so many ways an author can re-do this as something believable. How many people have read The DaVinci Code? You didn’t have to like it, but the book was huge and had a similar concept. In the same way, how many people are writing about boy wizards going to a school of magic right now? Unless you have something absolutely unique and fresh to offer, rehashing a recently popular plot device is a tough sell.

In The Constantine Conspiracy, rather than having an ancient society that will kill to keep a secret, we have an ancient society that’s been working to undermine Christianity since the days of Constantine. Honestly, in the end I wasn’t entirely sure how Constantine had anything to do with what happened (the connection was tenuous at best), but I can set that aside.

The problem is, having an ancient society whose aim is to eradicate Christianity from the face of the globe, starting with the United States, is a ridiculous premise to begin with. If this group was so determined, why wouldn’t it focus its efforts on other nations where there are growing segments of Christians (ie. certain African countries) before those groups became too big to deal with? And for that matter, why were they only trying to get rid of Christianity and not other religious groups?

I wonder if that question was addressed in the book and I didn’t pick it up… the explanation would have had to be short and vague, which doesn’t help the premise. There are also several occasions in the novel where the female main character, Shannon, pauses to explain things to the main character, Rick. He asks the right questions and the story stops for several pages while the READER learns information along with the character – in a very obvious, “I’m going to explain things now” kind of way. It interrupts the flow of the book, and I wonder why the information wasn’t simply given along the course of the story.

But that’s another problem I had with this book – it begins as a case of people not talking to each other, not telling each other what they need to know. It’s one of those “if these people would only just HAVE A DECENT CONVERSATION at the beginning of the book, we could avoid all this trouble” kind of situations. That frustrates me, and is a contrived way of creating conflict.

Aside from the nonsensical premise (seriously, how has no one found out about this secret society if they’ve been murdering people and manipulating the government for centuries? …surely a journalist or two would have probed into this long before) and the unfortunate plot, I also didn’t care about the characters. Honestly, the main characters could have been shot and died and I wouldn’t have cared. I know that’s harsh, but there was nothing to connect to. They were flat, uninteresting, and difficult to relate to (ie. the main character is famous, wealthy, and a “playboy”, though we don’t actually see this, we’re just told it, so there’s no real way to gauge his development over the course of the story).

In the end, I admit there must be an audience for this book out there – I’ve never read anything else by this author, but he’s written twenty novels, so someone likes his style and storytelling. And that’s great! I’m glad he’s found his niche. I, on the other hand, will not be picking up another book by the author anytime soon.

If you’re really curious, you can read an excerpt from the novel here.

About the Author 

Gary E. Parker is the author of more than twenty books. He and his family live in the Atlanta area.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I’m going to change it up today – give you all a book review to read whilst you mull over the self-editing tips

And… instead of doing the August Blog Tour from Revell/Bethany House and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. all at once at the end of the month (like usual), I’ve decided to spread them out a bit over the next 2 weeks. So, let’s get to it!

The Reluctant Entertainer – Sandy Coughlin

Real Entertaining for Real People

True hospitality is not about being perfect, cooking a fancy meal, or spending a lot of money. Rather, it’s about an open door and an open heart. Popular blogger Sandy Coughlin offers a simple but savvy approach to help women break free of the anxieties that keep them from opening their homes. Emphasizing the forgotten goal of entertaining–connecting deeply with others–she shows how women can use the gifts and talents God gave them to reach out in love.

My Thoughts:  

My first thought when I saw this book was: Did Coughlin write this book for me? Because it’s exactly what I need. Hospitality is not my gift by any means, and I’m beyond reluctant to invite people to my house. Heck, I downright refuse to do so unless absolutely necessary.

Why? It’s probably a combination of reasons. My house is too messy. My house isn’t pretty enough inside. I don’t know how to cook, or can’t cook much beyond pre-packaged meals (I have a few recipes I can make from scratch that I use often, but those have always seemed ‘not good enough’ for company). I’m also busy. And I live far away from my friends. And… excuse, excuse, excuse.

Well, Coughlin takes all those excuses, crunches them up, and tosses them aside. She explains how we don’t need to have the perfect house or the perfect food or even the perfect moment to invite people over. Friends won’t mind if you order pizza. Friends won’t care if your living room looks lived in – you know, like normal people actually live in your house, rather than creating a false, pristine environment where guests are afraid to touch anything.

She breaks down entertaining step by step, with clear explanations from her own experiences of going from reluctant entertainer to perfectionist hostess and finally coming to the realization that hospitality is about people and relationships, not about perfection or impressing others.

Coughlin also provides some VERY easy and tasty recipes (at least they sound really good) that I want to try out. Me! Wants to cook?!? Something must be off…

But I also learned that I can invite people over. The excuses are worthless – but the relationships that get built over a meal and conversation are priceless.

If you’ve been hesitant to open your home to others, this book can and will change your perspective… and your heart. Honest!

Extras

Read a Q&A with Sandy Coughlin here: The Reluctant Entertainer Q&A (PDF)

Read an excerpt from the book here: The Reluctant Entertainer Excerpt (7 pages) (PDF)

About the Author

Sandy Coughlin loves hospitality, cooking, and opening her home to others with her husband and three growing teenagers. She’s the author of The Reluctant Entertainer and co-author (with her husband Paul) ofMarried…But Not Engaged. She’s been featured on numerous media outlets including Moody’s Midday Connection, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and Library Journal.You can find Sandy’s blog about simple but savvy entertaining, as well as the benefits to imperfect living, at ReluctantEntertainer.com

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

In my mailbox is a weekly meme started by The Story Siren to showcase books you’ve received for review, bought, borrowed, or swapped. Anyone can participate, and it’s a great way to showcase new books and encourage blogger/commenter interaction!

Here’s what came in my mailbox this week:

ARC of Maybe Never, Maybe Now – Kimberly Joy Peters (Releases October 1st, 2010)

(I won this in a Lobster Press Twitter contest! I’d link to their website but it seems to be down…)

What came in your mailbox this week?

Just a quick little book review today… with the weekend coming up, I thought you might like to know about a light, breezy read that I think would be most enjoyed in the sunshine (apply sunscreen first, please), with a popsicle or ice cream cone in hand(don’t drip on the book!). Or on the beach, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Forget About It – Caprice Crane

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Jordan Landau is having a bad life. At twenty-five, she is attractive, smart, funny and talented. But all that doesn”t keep her mother from calling her fat, her boss from stealing her ideas, and her boyfriend from cheating on her. Day in and day out, she sits back and watches as everyone walks all over her.

Then one day while riding her bike home from a particularly awful day, Jordan collides with a car door and is knocked clear off her bicycle. Coming to in the hospital, Jordan realizes she has a perfect excuse for a "do-over"; she vows to fake amnesia and reinvent herself.

And it works. Finally, Jordan is able to get the credit she deserves at work, and she stands up to her family and her jerk boyfriend. She”s living the life she always dreamed of–until the unthinkable happens. Suddenly Jordan must start over for real, and figure out what really makes her happy–and how to live a truly memorable life.

My Thoughts:

Not as bad as I thought it might be! Actually, it was fairly enjoyable. Crane writes smoothly and has the ability to write distinct, interesting characters, and I found the story pretty engaging, with one complaint…

I wanted to smack the main character upside the head. Mind you, I’m pretty sure that’s the point — you spend a few chapters at the beginning wanting to knock some sense into the MC and when she finally *does* get hit in the head (and fakes amnesia) you think "oh GOOD, it’s about time". There were a few occasions when her actions under fake amnesiac pretenses didn’t seem consistent with her decisions, but all told it made for an entertaining story… and the twist, while it made me roll my eyes, provided a decent ending (though my limits of ‘suspension of disbelief’ were sorely tested).

Ultimately, I’d like to read more from Crane. I get the sense that she writes light, fun reads that make for great rainy day (or lazy weekend) entertainment.

This is a ‘buy or borrow’ type of selection (I borrowed!).

Looking for a great dark fantasy read this summer?

Ever heard of author Erin Kellison? Neither had I, until I clicked on a banner ad and ended up with a copy of her book Shadow Bound on my doorstep…

Shadow Bound is one of those unexpected great reads that you would never see coming. Look at the cover — does that look like the cover of a great book? Unfortunately not… it’s a very nice image, but I don’t think it accurately conveys the theme and intensity of the story. It looks more like… something for a YA Romance. Which this is definitely not.

Here’s the Publisher’s Weekly synopsis:

Kellison’s debut, a blend of suspense and paranormal romance, follows Adam Thorne as he attempts to unravel the mystery of the wraiths, possessed humans who feed on human souls. Desperate to free his brother from possession, Adam follows a flimsy lead to half-Fae Talia O’Brien, a young woman with a newly minted doctorate, a mysterious past, and magical abilities that stop wraiths in their tracks.

As the wraiths pursue Talia, determined to destroy her in retribution for her father daring to love and impregnate a human woman, Adam tries to protect her and understand her powers, and finds himself falling in love. Fast-paced without being frenetic, interesting and entertaining if not particularly challenging, this tale deftly avoids romance cliches while delivering plenty of action.

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

And it is! It delivers on all counts. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional (though it takes awhile to get much from Talia, but I think that’s simply due to the personality of the character), and the plot is fast-paced and action-driven.

I also loved the concept of the wraiths, which seemed like a combination of Dementors from Harry Potter and the wraith from Stargate: Atlantis — very creepy, and truly evil. In a way, it’s very refreshing to see truly evil villains, because as great as it is to have villains with pathos, I think recent paranormal/fantasy has got away from that Truly Bad Villain that readers simply want to see destroyed at all costs.

A word of warning to the sensitive, however — there are two sex scenes in this book, but if you’re not comfortable reading these, it’s very easy to flip the page and get on with the story. Just something I thought worth noting, as I don’t want to scare anyone off the book for the sake of missing such a great story.

I should also mention that Kellison is on Twitter, and seems to love interacting with her readers! If you read the book and enjoy it, pop over there and send her a note.

And one final thing… when you get to the end and think “Oh noooes, a cliffhanger?!?”, never fear! Book two, Shadow Fall releases this month — some places are even putting it out early, so keep your eyes open.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme started by The Story Siren to showcase books you’ve received for review, bought, borrowed, or swapped. Anyone can participate, and it’s a great way to showcase new books and encourage blogger/commenter interaction.

Here’s what came in my mailbox this week!

Perfectly Dateless – Kristin Billerbeck (YA)

Back on Murder – J. Mark Bertrand (Mystery/Suspense)

And that’s it for me! What came in your mailbox this week?

What’s ‘In My Mailbox’, you ask?

Well, it’s a weekly meme started by The Story Siren to showcase books you’ve received for review, bought, borrowed, or swapped. Anyone can participate, and it’s a great way to showcase new books and encourage blogger/commenter interaction.

I’m going to do my best to participate in this every week (Sundays are when most IMM posts go up)… as writers, we NEED to read and expand our reading horizons every week, so hopefully I’ll have a book or two each week that’ll inspire you to pick it up — or maybe you’ll have something to recommend to me in return!

So here we go! This week, I received 2 books in my mailbox:

The King’s Mistress – Emma Campion (ARC)

Releases July 6th, 2010

Scent of the Missing – Susannah Charleson (Review Copy)

Hardcover Released April 14th, 2010

Paperback Releases December 22nd, 2010

Reviews of both books forthcoming! I’m excited to read both of them, though I’m pretty sure I’ll need a box of tissues to get through the dog book…

I almost forgot! There’s one more book I wanted to remind you about that wasn’t part of the books I read for the tour this month… but which I read a few months back as a part of Librarything.com’s Early Reviewer’s Program.

However, Graf-Martin Communications & Baker Publishing Group included it as part of their selection of tour books this month, and I figured… since I liked the book when I read it… it wouldn’t hurt to give it a little extra promotion, right?

So, in case you didn’t get a chance to read my review back in April, here’s a LINK BACK to my review of ‘Heartless’ by Anne Elisabeth Spengl.

The writing style is a bit ethereal, and it’s an unusual story & development for a CBA book… but ultimately, I enjoyed it, and have since recommended it to a number of people.

Who knows, if you like fantasy? You might like it too.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog posts to bring you… okay, fine, nothing around here is regularly scheduled. But that’s part of the excitement, right? Er… *cough*… anyway… at least there’s one recurring feature you can count on, and that’s the monthly blog tour brought to you by Graf-Martin, Revell, and Bethany House.

If you’ve never been here before, here’s a recap: the Blog Tour happens every month in the final few days of the month… then we go back to talking about writing and other interesting books. Easy as that!

For June, we have 2 books to look at. I liked them both (surprise!), but we’ll start with the second favorite today and move on to the one I liked best tomorrow.

Here we go…!

A Tailor-Made Bride – Karen Witemeyer (Historical Romance)

Synopsis (from the publisher):

My Thoughts:

I figured this would be yet another hum-drum historical romance, though the concept of a dressmaker as the main character intrigued me. So, I read it… keeping in mind that it’s Witemeyer’s debut novel… and found myself pleasantly surprised by the characters, the story, and the overall feel of the novel.

To begin, the main character seems like a flawless heroine — that is, until she meets the hero, a young liveryman. When you read a book like this, you expect that they’ll hate each other from the beginning (despite the initial physical attraction), so that’s nothing new… but the real gem of this novel was the way the love story played out. Both hero and heroine exchange heated words on more than one occasion, and the heroine goes out of her way to learn the hero’s real name so she can taunt him with it, simply because he hates it.

Yes, it sounds trite when I write it down, but I thought the heroine was pretty darn cruel with some of her insults and how she responded to the hero, and I liked it. It felt real and natural, and the relationship as a whole drew out very well to the expected conclusion.

On the other hand, some of the subplots were a bit weak, especially the subplot featuring the hero’s sister and the man who wants to marry her (but she doesn’t feel the same way). The man’s reactions are violent and severe, but we don’t really see this until more than halfway through the book. It felt as though this subplot was missing some buildup, or like it was inserted after the fact to fill up more space in the story.

I understand what the author was trying to do with it, but it didn’t work for me.

In Conclusion…

Despite the awkward proportions of the people on the front cover (seriously… look at where the man’s knee should be and then where his waist is, then look at the woman… what the HECK?!?!), the story itself is sweet, relatively well-drawn, and more realistic than some historical romances I’ve recently read. We have a main character and supporting cast who are depicted as real people with real flaws, and although some of the subplots weigh down the story, I commend Witemeyer for her realistic historical portrayal of the period and for giving us a love story that doesn’t seem overly ‘set up’, if you will.

It’s the kind of novel you’d pick up on a rainy day if nothing else was around, or that you could pass on to a family member (or your mother) without feeling too awkward about it.

I will say that the Christian element is stronger in this book than in some of the other Blog Tour books I’ve reviewed, so if that’s not your thing, I’m not sure this one would be up your alley. Still, I didn’t find that it overwhelmed the story, so each potential reader will have to make a judgment call based on their level of comfort with Christian content.

If you’re interested in learning more about the author and why she wrote this book, here’s a LINK to a Q & A she did with the publisher — enjoy!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.