The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead

Kit Livingstone takes a shortcut through a London alley and finds himself face to face with the great-grandfather he thought long dead. Following him to the end of the alley, he discovers  a quaint little seaside village. As his grandfather begins to talk to him about traveling between worlds, ley lines, and a quest to locate an intricate map made of human skin, Kit eventually joins the quest and the hunt begins.

Travelling between worlds, eluding danger, hunting for pieces of the skin map, making friends, making enemies. This becomes Kit’s life in this dramatic sci-fi adventure. 

Well-written and entertaining, The Skin Map kept me reading. The first in a series, this book is a cliffhanger. I was a little disappointed, as I expected at least one major plotline to be resolved. Having said that, the left-hanging part will sell book two, as readers will be anxious to find out what happened. It was a good book, but I would not call it great because it lacks stand-alone value.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann

If you’re looking for classic Kristen Heitzmann, you won’t find it here. Darker and edgier than her other works, this crime drama is not for the faint of heart. As Police Chief Jonah Westfall looks into animal mutilation, rising drug traffic, and his past, he finds that things are not always what they seem.

This suspense novel was well-written and kept me guessing, but it was not as purely enjoyable as Heitzmann’s other novels. It somehow felt odd. Having said that, it did get better as it went along and I was just curious enough to want to know what happened. Fans of the TV series Criminal Minds might like it for its psychological thriller feel. 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group with no expectation of a positive review.

No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe

Encyclopedia Brown meets Sherlock Holmes in this enjoyable mystery novel for kids. Griffin Sharpe heads to 221 Baker Street to spend the summer with an uncle he’s never met. Certain that his uncle is the famous Sherlock Holmes, Griffin is looking forward to meeting someone who might understand him and his ultra-observant ways. Imagine his disappointment when he realizes that his uncle, though a detective, is unknown, odd, unwelcoming, and has a grudge against Holmes. But when Griffin and his uncle stumble upon a mystery and work toward its solution, a tenuous relationship begins to form. 

Despite Griffin’s attention to detail and his need to count things when nervous, there were times when I felt like the description was overdone. However, it was a clear look into Griffin’s mind and it was more of a hiccup than an interruption in the story’s flow. All in all, I believe it will appeal to readers of Encyclopedia Brown, The Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew books.

The story itself was well put together, creating an intriguing case that have the reader cheering for Griffin and his uncle. And the book ends with a hint of the next mystery, and the first chapter of book 2. As a side note, be sure and read the mini-mysteries and see if you can solve them before you peek at Griffin’s answers.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.

Reggie by Reggie Dabbs with John Driver

Wow! Wow! Wow! This book was a surprising gem. An inspirational autobiography of a man from humble beginnings who found his way, his purpose, and his value in Christ. 

To be honest, this  was one of those books that I thought might be a good story, but I didn’t expect it to be a favorite. I tend to gravitate toward fiction. But I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did. I began reading this in a dentist’s waiting room, not the place one usually shows emotion, and by page 21, I had both laughed out loud and felt tears run down my face. And it got better from there.

Emotional, inspirational, challenging, entertaining, faith-building. Reggie was all these things. Extremely well-written, Reggie was a real pleasure to read and I will be recommending it to others. I especially want my teenage children to read it. 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.

Max on Life by Max Lucado

In this book full of questions, Max Lucado answers in true Lucado fashion. He tells it like it is, uses Scripture to back it up, and still manages to be compassionate. Questions about life and death, angels and demons, heaven and hell. He tackles it all. Sections include Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, and Hereafter. All take on the big questions. If you’re struggling to understand something in light of Scripture, if you find it difficult to reconcile today’s world with the God of the Bible, the answers are here.

Not as enjoyable as other Lucado books to read straight through, Max on Life is perhaps better utilized as a reference book, a resource. Having said that, I did read it straight through and found many parts of it insightful. I’ve never read a Lucado book that was not worth reading, and this was no different. 

 A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

I loved this book! Subtitled “A quest to find the one principle that will save humanity,” this book was a quest, an adventure. Dialogue driven, the weaving of timeless truth and historical events was both inspiring and entertaining.

A stand-alone sequel, this book follows David Ponder as he is tasked with leading a conference, the outcome of which will affect the future of the human race. With time running out, David and the other Travelers (you’ll have to read the book to find out who they are) must solve a mystery of mankind.

A masterfully-woven tale, The Final Summit simultaneously draws the reader into the story and teaches the reader principles to live by. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, having not read The Traveler’s Gift, but I was hooked from the first chapter. Fabulous!

I will definitely be recommending this book!

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl

Disturbing in its realism, Heart of Ice reveals the mind of someone so cold and calculating that she could kill without blinking an eye, so manipulative that she could inspire others to kill for her. As a series of seemingly unrelated crimes make headlines, our triple threat members find themselves closer to the truth than they’d like to be. FBI agent Nicole, Federal Prosecutor Allison, and Crime Reporter Cassidy face personal and professional struggles while unknowingly developing a relationship with a killer.

A real page-turner, this third book in the Triple Threat series was a thrilling read and I will continue to follow this series. Be aware that if you’re conservative in your reading (or recommending to teen children), it likely deserves a PG-13 rating.

My review would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that it could have been published as a secular novel. As with the first book, there was no clear Christian message, although Allison is clearly a Christian. I’d like to see her be a little more proactive in sharing her faith. Having said that, there was a surprising moment near the end that I hope is a foreshadowing of some spiritual changes. You’ll have to read it if you want to know what that moment was!

If you enjoy a good psychological thriller, you’ll enjoy Heart of Ice.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers with no expectation of a positive review.