Hands of Darkness

I received a complimentary copy of HANDS OF DARKNESS by Heather James from Kregel.  It is the second book in the Lure of the Serpent series. 

The cover grabs you before you even turn to the first page.  A silhouetted hand presses forward, as though trying to escape from a steaming shower.  Evelyn Barrett, the main character, catches you after that.  She had me chilled and hysterical chapter after chapter.  If Evelyn is anything like Heather James, then I would love to meet this author.

This book should work as a standalone, but I did read the first one, UNHOLY HUNGER, as well.  Like in that first book, Heather James kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was great to visit Evelyn again.  Despite the evil, there are moments that will touch your heart and redeem your faith.  This is the type of book you can’t put down – I’m proof of that.  I sat down at my desk and thought I’d read a few chapters.  Come the final chapter, I had spent the night in a perfect way: with a good book and engaging characters. 

I highly recommend this novel, in fact the series, to anyone who loves Christian suspense.  

Destruction

I received a complimentary copy of DESTRUCTION by Sharon Bayliss.  It is Book One of the December People series.  Let me first say that it is published by Curiosity Quills, the publisher I recently signed with, so I was thrilled to read one of their novels.  The cover, a butterfly against broken glass, blew me away. 

After reading DESTRUCTION, I highly recommend it to my friends.  The writing caught me from the first paragraph, in which David awaits an important phone call.  I started the book at night, but became so involved in it I couldn’t quit.  It ended up taking me a few nights, but each time I started reading, it sucked me in.  The chapters are short, so I kept thinking, “Just one more.”

In a nutshell, this is a book about family and magic.  David, his wife, and their children are “dark wizards.”  I love fantasy and read it often, but those stories don’t usually involve so much family drama.  I loved that aspect about this book.  

DESTRUCTION Cover Reveal

Author Sharon Bayliss is thrilled to share the cover for Destruction (Book One of The December People Series), a family drama about dark wizards living in Houston.

Message from Sharon Bayliss:

"The butterfly will show up on the cover of all four books in the series, as a symbol of redemption, hope, and re-birth. Despite the dark themes in the series, I believe that the most important themes of the series are hopeful ones, such as love, family, and triumph against adversity, which is why the butterfly is in the center.

The broken glass surrounding the butterfly rather obviously symbolizes the concept of destruction, which is also a central theme. The title Destruction refers to the fact that dark magic is inherently destructive, but also refers to how a person can be destroyed, in body or soul.

One thing I was sure of, I wanted the word, Destruction, to be in "pretty" letters. I loved the contrast of having a dark and violent word look beautiful. This also fits the theme, as I wish to show the beauty in darkness and destruction, and the good in people who are supposed to be evil."

Here is the blurb for Destruction, coming out 4/14/14:

David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.

Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without. 

Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children. 

Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.

Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20951394-destruction

https://www.facebook.com/thedecemberpeopleseries

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