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The Dunne’s hit the high seas and immediately things begin to go wrong. Mark is caught smoking pot. Carrie hurls herself into the ocean in an attempt to end her life. All the while, young Ernie looks on as his family is starting to self destruct before his eyes. Unfortunately for the Dunne’s, the trouble is just beginning. Someone wants them all dead and will do anything to make sure their vacation becomes permanent.

James Patterson fans will no doubt eat up his latest summer thrill offering. Sail is a suspense filled story, and one that will have most readers flying through the pages. This is a not a typical Patterson whodunit story keeping readers guessing until the end. The antagonist is revealed early on and the motive is never in doubt. All the tension and suspense are found in the Dunne’s fight for survival and the antagonist’s race to cover his tracks.

Sail held my attention, but there is nothing new or overly exciting here. This is just one more addition to James Patterson’s long line of summer chillers. It’s fast paced and fun, lacking any real substance or charm. The one twist we do get at the end is forced and unnecessary. Luckily for him, Patterson has reached that lofty level for bestselling novelists where it really doesn’t matter what reviewers say. He will always sell a jillion copies of whatever he writes. This will certainly be no exception.

The suicide of Judas Iscariot in 30 A.D. left his blood seeping into the soil of the Field of Blood, in Aramaic the Akeldama. When this same field is disturbed by work crews outside Jerusalem in 1989, a clan of supernatural Collectors is released from the ancient burial chambers. Infused with Judas’s enmity, they seek to corrupt and destroy.

Gina Lazarescu has always felt like she didn’t quite belong. But a bizarre accident with a delivery van leaves her questioning if the differences aren’t more significant than she realized. When a man she met as a young girl in Romania reappears with a fantastic tale of immortality, Gina must decide whether to believe or to ignore what she’s seeing.

Regardless of what she decides, she’s headed for an unavoidable collision with the Akeldama.

This series is bound to be considered controversial since Eric is merging vampire lore with Christian themes. I am really excited about these books and I know Eric will handle the material well. I’m glad he is willing to go where other Christian writers won’t so that he can illuminate the Gospel message in a fresh and powerful way. Check out the video below and let me know what you think. Are you interested in a story from a Christian writer about the undead?

As Odd fully expects, the normalcy doesn’t last and soon he is plagued by a nightmare of catastrophic proportions. His experience with the strange and unusual tells Odd that something big is about to go down, something more ominous than anything he has ever faced before. Using his psychic magnetism, Odd befriends a young girl named Annamaria who seems to be in the middle of whatever is about to happen. As Odd searches for the source of the impending doom, he uncovers a deadly plan that carries global implications. Once again, this lowly fry cook from Pico Mundo is the only one who can save the day. However, this time around the fate of the entire country rests on his shoulders.

Dean Koontz never fails to blow me away with his Odd Thomas novels. As always, the Odd One is clever and endearing with his engaging dialogue and unexpected moves throughout the story. As with the previous Odd novels, Koontz peels back more and more layers of Odd’s intriguing life, never quite giving us clear answers but all but guaranteeing that we will come back for more. The mysterious Annamaria is a delightful addition to the mix and Frank Sinatra’s performance in the police station is one of the best Odd Thomas scenes to date.

I’ve read many of Koontz’s novels, but none capture my heart and imagination as much the Odd Thomas books. Asking me to pick a favorite Odd tale would be like asking me to pick my favorite episode of Lost. Why not have it all? It’s simply that good. Oddie is back and just as enjoyable as ever.

Choas is everything the title promises. This is the most intense novel of the series and the action never lets up for a moment. Dekker’s writing sizzles as he takes us on an unforgettable thrill ride with numerous plot turns and a shocking twist in the end that is anything but predictable. It’s fun to finally see Johnis and company romp around our world for a change and their experiences and encounters are both humorous and engaging. Dekker even dabbles a bit into vampire lore which actually fits right in with the chaotic nature of the plot. Many questions are finally answered, including the mysterious origins of those creepy worms.

In the end Dekker satisfies us with some much needed closure, but as we’ve come to expect from Dekker, the end is never really the end. The table is now cleverly set for Sinner and I, for one, am hungry for more!

Meanwhile, Billos finds himself in the skin between worlds where he goes head to head with the mysterious and ever elusive, Marsuvees Black. Tempted by the dark power Black offers, Billos must now choose whether to fight for truth or give in to his selfish desires. In the end the choice he makes will affect the fate of two worlds and the one he loves the most.

In Chosen and Infidel, Dekker started us off on a mind-spinning journey set in the alternate universe he created in his groundbreaking Circle Trilogy. Renegade raises the bar even higher as we are treated to a delightful adventure full of tension, suspense, and wonder. Dekker fans will once again love the tie-ins to his previous works (Showdown, Skin) and the return of Marsuvees Black is a trip to be sure. While there is enough action and intrigue to go around, this story is also about finding redemption in the most unlikely places. Once again Dekker knocks one out of the park as he beautifully sets the stage for Chaos.

As things begin to unravel in Jay’s personal life he starts to wonder where it all went wrong. His relationship with his son is lacking at best. He and his wife Judy are expecting their second child, yet it seems the spark in their marriage has gone out. To top it all off, his dealership is going under and no amount of dishonest deals will be able to save it. As Jay steps back and looks closely at his life he realizes that like the Triumph, he too needs a major renovation inside. For far too long he has done things his way and has ended up nowhere. With determination in his gut and a new found faith in his heart, Jay decides once and for all to give all areas of his life fully to God. What happens next will forever change Jay and impact not only his family, but his community as well.

Eric Wilson and the Kendrick Brothers have teamed up once again to create an inspiring story that will resonate with readers long after the last line. Alex and Stephen Kendrick are best known for their movie Facing The Giants, a successful Christian film about a high school football team that decides to let God lead their season. Flywheel was the first movie they made, and just like with Facing The Giants, Eric Wilson was later brought on board to write the novelization. Something tells me Alex and Stephen couldn’t be happier with this genius move.

Eric Wilson is certainly known more for his edgy suspenseful thrillers, but with Facing the Giants and Flywheel he has revealed another side to his writing that is every bit as enjoyable. Jay Austin is a flawed, yet endearing character that I was rooting for from page one. Many fathers will find themselves relating to the numerous struggles and spiritual triumphs he faces throughout the novel. Wilson treats us not only with strong characters, but a tight storyline that never loses steam or direction. We are beautifully reminded that God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives: family, relationships, and even business. When we do truly live for Him, He will work in ways we could never have imagined.

It was recently announced that Eric Wilson will be writing the novel for the upcoming Kendrick Brothers film, Fireproof. No doubt this will be another amazing collaboration effort. Eric Wilson consistently churns out riveting fiction and finally more and more people are starting to notice. Very few writers have the ability to keep you glued to your seat while at the same time opening your eyes to spiritual truth in such an effective manor. There is no better time than now to discover this incredible writing talent. After the upcoming Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy many will be asking themselves why they’ve never read this guy before. Do yourself a favor and don’t be late to the party.

If things weren’t bad enough, a stranger shows up who tries to run the family out of the house. He seems intent on destroying the family’s reputation and soon has the local authorities on his side. Now the King’s must deal with a new school and unfair perceptions as they secretly band together to find a way to bring back their missing loved one. The more they search the more they begin to understand just how dangerous this house is.

Robert Liparulo opens this second installment right where the first left off. Immediately we are sucked back into the tension and mystery that made House of Dark Shadows so enjoyable. Round two is just as exciting as we are taken on another whirlwind thrill ride that never lets up. David King gets most of the spotlight here and it’s a blast getting to know this character more. We are treated to more alternate world adventures that are chocked full of action and suspense. Even more secrets are revealed and more questions created, adding to the clever plotlines that Liparulo masterfully weaves. Never is it obvious where the story is going and that’s what makes it so addicting. As with the first book, the themes of love and family are beautifully explored bringing a welcome dose of heart to the story.

Some readers may be turned off by the “juvenile fiction” tag on the back of the book. Don’t let the marketing fool you! This is a quality series that readers of all ages will enjoy. There are enough thrills, chills, mysteries, and action to keep all ages coming back for more. Liparulo’s die hard fans will love this series and new readers will be charging to the nearest book store to discover his other works. This is top-notch storytelling on every level!

Xander’s parents instantly fall in love with the old house and set to work trying to make it livable. Xander and his brother, David, begin exploring and make startling discoveries. It seems one of the closets is some sort of gateway to a locker in their new school. If that wasn’t strange enough, they also discover a secret passageway that is full of rooms that are portals to other worlds. After a couple of exploring adventures gone bad, the boys soon realize that this house is much more dangerous than they could have ever imagined. Unfortunately, the King’s are about to discover just how real that danger is.

Robert Liparulo is known for pulse-pounding thrillers. With winners like Comes a Horseman, Germ, and Deadfall under his belt, he has truly left his mark on the genre. Now Liparulo graces his fans with a new young adult series that has everything we’ve come to expect from him and more. House of Dark Shadows is a fun story that is full of thrills and chills that never feel watered down for the young adult audience. Xander and David’s mini adventures and discoveries are laced with just the right amount of action and intrigue to keep you nervously flying through the pages. The house itself is one of the strongest characters in the book, bringing a delightfully creepy tone to this well crafted tale.

As always, Liparulo’s writing carries deeper meaning beyond the action and thrills. At its heart this story is about the bond of family and love, and the power therein. With every new novel Liparulo continues to prove what an incredible storyteller he is and this new series is no exception. The end will leave you begging for more and loving every moment. This is Robert Liparulo at his best!